jasmine tea
Chapter 20: Jasmine Tea
Shen Qingci's perspective
The plane back home landed in a familiar city, and Shen Qingci felt both excited and nervous.
A year later, she finally returned. She didn't tell anyone about her return, not even Grandpa Chen or Grandma Zhang. She wanted to give herself some time to adjust to life in China before slowly facing the people and things she had been avoiding for a year.
She stood at the airport exit, her suitcase in hand, watching the people coming and going, unsure of where to go. Finally, she decided to visit the Wanxiang Tea House on Tea Street.
She walked slowly along the familiar street, her heart mingling with longing and fear. As she got closer to the teahouse, her heartbeat quickened.
Finally, she spotted the sign for "Evening Fragrance Teahouse." It was cleaned spotlessly, and pots of blooming jasmine flowers stood by the entrance, emitting a delicate fragrance. The door to the teahouse was open, and the faint sound of guests chatting and laughing could be heard from within.
She mustered up her courage, opened the door and walked in.
"jingle--"
The doorbell rang crisply, and everyone inside turned to look at her.
Shen Qingci's eyes subconsciously searched the crowd, and then she saw the familiar figure.
Gu Yanchen, wearing a simple white shirt, was standing behind the counter, brewing tea for customers. His hair seemed shorter than before, and his features more robust. Hearing the doorbell, he looked up and toward the door.
The moment their eyes met, time seemed to stand still.
Gu Yanchen's teapot clattered onto the table, spilling scalding tea and soaking his shirt. He was completely oblivious, staring blankly at Shen Qingci at the door, his eyes filled with shock, disbelief, and a hint of unconcealable joy.
Shen Qingci's eyes instantly turned red. She looked at Gu Yanchen, the man she had missed for a year, the man who had silently guarded her teahouse after she left. The grievances, longings, and resentments in her heart turned into tears at this moment.
Gu Yanchen reacted and walked towards her quickly. His steps were a little unsteady, and his eyes were full of anxiety.
"Qingci..." His voice was a little trembling, and thousands of words were stuck in his throat, but he didn't know what to say.
Shen Qingci looked at him, tears streaming down her face. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found herself speechless.
At this moment, Gu Yanchen suddenly walked forward and hugged her tightly in his arms.
"I'm sorry, Qingci, I'm sorry..." His voice was choked with sobs, "I was wrong. I shouldn't have forced you, shouldn't have quarreled with you, shouldn't have let you go alone..."
Shen Qingci leaned in his arms, smelling the familiar scent on him, and finally couldn't help crying out.
The guests in the teahouse looked at them in surprise, and then smiled kindly. Grandpa Chen came out from the back hall and saw this scene, and he also smiled with relief.
Gu Yanchen gently stroked Shen Qingci's hair and whispered softly in her ear, "Qingci, please don't leave again, okay? I will wait for you, always, until you are willing to forgive me."
Shen Qingci nodded vigorously in his arms, tears soaking his shirt.
Sunlight streamed through the windows, shining on them, warm and dazzling. The air was filled with the fragrance of jasmine and the faint aroma of tea, a scent that belonged to them, the scent of "Evening Fragrance Tea House."
Their story finally ended with them reuniting after a year apart, and this time, they both knew they would never let go of each other's hands so easily.
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