Birthday
Chapter 27 Birthday
The university campus in June was filled with the air of farewell. The graduation ceremony had just concluded, and graduates in their academic gowns posed for photos at the school gate, their caps tossed high, drawing a youthful arc in the sunlight.
Bai Ke stood alone under the sycamore tree in front of the library, watching the noisy crowd in the distance. The plaster on her right hand had been removed, but a shallow scar still remained on her wrist, like the mark left by this unrequited love.
"Thinking about him?" Lu Zihan's voice came from behind.
Bai Ke didn't look back, but just said softly, "No."
For the past month, Lu Zihan had played out this act with her as her "boyfriend." He had accompanied her to graduation ceremonies and taken graduation photos with her, playing the role of an enviable couple in front of everyone. Only they knew it was all a tacit performance.
"His flight is tomorrow." Lu Zihan stood beside her, "I'll see you off."
Bai Ke shook his head: "No need. It's time to end."
Lu Zihan was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Bai Ke, in the past month, have you ever been moved by me for even a moment?"
Bai Ke finally turned around and looked at the man who had accompanied her through the most difficult times. There was a seriousness in his eyes that she had never seen before.
"I'm sorry," she said softly.
Lu Zihan smiled, a smile of relief in it: "It doesn't matter, I'm already very satisfied to be able to accompany you through this."
The next day, Bai Ke went to the airport again. She hid behind a pillar in the departure hall and watched Chen Yiyu check in. He looked as if he were covered in a layer of light gray.
Chen's mother and Qiu Luodi stood beside him. Qiu Luodi held his arm tightly, with a triumphant smile on her face. Chen Yiyu's expression was very calm, so calm that it made people feel distressed.
Before passing through security, Chen Yiyu suddenly turned around, searching the crowd for something. Bai Ke subconsciously retreated behind a pillar, her heart pounding like a drum.
Is he looking for her?
In the end, Chen Yiyu turned around and walked into the passage, his figure disappearing around the corner.
Bai Ke slowly squatted down, tears silently falling. This time, he really left.
Bai Ke finally got her wish and stayed at the mental health institution. Her life after becoming a regular employee was busy and fulfilling. She was responsible for more and more projects and often worked overtime until late at night.
One Friday in July, while sorting through materials from her overseas collaborative research, she came across a familiar name: Chen Yiyu. It was his application for a collaborative project with the Max Planck Institute, and the attached resume described his current situation.
"What are you looking at so intently?" Xiao Zhang, my colleague, leaned over. "Oh, this Chinese student. I heard he's quite impressive. Last time, Professor Zhou went to a conference in Germany and came back saying he's working two jobs while studying. He looks so skinny."
Bai Ke's heart suddenly tightened: "Why... do you have to work two jobs?"
"I heard the family is in a lot of debt," Xiao Zhang said, lowering his voice. "I don't know the exact details, but life is pretty tough."
That night, Bai Ke couldn't sleep. Lying in bed, she thought about what Chen Yiyu's mother had said, about the old house that might be repossessed, and about Chen Yiyu's decision to go to Germany.
He carried more than she could have imagined.
Heidelberg, Germany.
Chen Yiyu lives in a small attic in the old town. The room can only fit a bed and a desk, but the window faces the Neckar River and the scenery is beautiful.
The research at the Max Planck Institute was more demanding than he had imagined. Although he had a scholarship, he still found two part-time jobs - working in a Chinese restaurant every Wednesday night and tutoring physics to local high school students on weekends.
He needed money, needed to pay off the Qiu family's debt as soon as possible, and take back the house that carried family memories.
In the dead of night, he would often take out his dark blue umbrella and gently stroke the already blurred name on the handle. It was the only light in his dark days, but now it has become his deepest pain.
Occasionally, he would hear news about Bai Ke from Li Meng. He heard that she was still working at a mental health institution, that she and Lu Zihan were still together, and that she was doing well...
One night, while working in a Chinese restaurant, Chen Yiyu accidentally broke a plate. The fragments cut his hand and blood flowed out.
The proprietress hurriedly brought the medicine box and said, "Be careful, you still need to do experiments on your hands."
Chen Yiyu shook his head and cleaned the wound silently. The pain in his body made him feel better. At least it could temporarily forget the pain in his heart.
"Have you been heartbroken?" the lady boss suddenly asked. "You always seem to be worried."
Chen Yiyu bit his lip and didn't answer.
"Young man," the proprietress sighed, "sometimes giving up is for a better reunion. If we are truly destined to meet, we will meet again sooner or later."
Chen Yiyu lowered his head and looked at the fresh scar on his palm. Could they really meet again?
August 12th is Chen Yiyu’s birthday.
It was already ten o'clock in the evening when Bai Ke finished her overtime work. A light rain was falling outside the window, reminding her of the rainy day that changed everything.
She turned on her phone and clicked on the long-silent dialog box. Her fingers lingered on the keyboard for a long time before she finally typed a line:
"Happy birthday. I hope everything is going well for you."
After sending the message successfully, she immediately turned off her phone, as if she was afraid of seeing the reply, but also as if she was expecting something.
When she got home, she tossed and turned, and finally turned the computer back on.
No reply.
Just as she was about to put down her phone, the screen suddenly lit up.
"Thank you. You still remember."
Those five simple words instantly made her eyes wet. She stared at the message for a long time, unable to fall asleep.
In the small attic in Heidelberg, Chen Yiyu stayed awake all night looking at the birthday greeting on the screen of his mobile phone.
The rain is still falling, falling on the land of two countries, and also in the hearts of two people who love each other but cannot be together.
The dark blue umbrella stood quietly in the corner, witnessing the longing that spanned thousands of mountains and rivers.
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