Li Mo
The winter nights in Beichuan are bitterly cold.
Li Mo curled up on the bed in her rented room, the pain in her lower abdomen coming in waves, like countless cold needles churning inside her.
Cold sweat soaked her forehead, she bit her pale lower lip, her fingers pressed hard against her stomach, but she could not relieve the tormenting cramps at all.
A strong sense of weakness and loneliness swept over her along with the pain. Finally, she couldn't help herself and reached for her phone on the bedside table. Almost instinctively, she dialed Liang Xinchong's video call.
The call was answered quickly, and Liang Xinchong's concerned face appeared on the screen, with his familiar dormitory desk in the background.
"Momo?" He had barely uttered her name when he sensed something was wrong—on the screen, her face was as pale as paper, her eyes were red-rimmed, and her forehead was covered in a fine layer of cold sweat.
“Liang Xinchong…” Li Mo’s voice was choked with sobs, so weak it was almost a whisper, “My stomach hurts…it hurts so much…”
Seeing her like this, Liang Xinchong's heart clenched instantly, and he wished he could reach through the screen and hug her immediately.
"Why is it hurting so much? Did you eat something bad? Or..." he asked anxiously, speaking rapidly, "Did you drink brown sugar water? Did you put on a heat pack?"
Li Mo was in too much pain to say anything, she just shook her head, and tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably, dripping onto the pillow.
Seeing her silently weeping, Liang Xinchong felt a pain running through his internal organs.
For the first time, he hated this damned distance so much.
He could only futilely comfort her through the screen: "Baby, don't cry, I'm here..."
"Wait here, I'll order you some hot porridge and brown sugar ginger tea for delivery." His fingers flew across another phone as he transferred the money to her, reminding her to open the door and pick up the delivery later.
But after doing all that, a tremendous sense of powerlessness almost overwhelmed him.
He could only watch her suffer, unable to even offer her a cup of hot water.
The video call ended abruptly amidst Li Mo's intermittent groans and Liang Xinchong's anxious yet powerless attempts at comforting her.
Silence returned to the room, broken only by the howling wind outside the window and her own suppressed gasps.
The pain did not lessen in the slightest because of his comfort; the physical discomfort and emotional vulnerability intertwined, making it especially difficult for her to endure.
I don't know how much time passed, maybe an hour, maybe longer.
The pain subsided slightly, and Li Mo lay there in a daze when her phone screen suddenly lit up.
This is information from Liang Xinchong.
She reluctantly took the phone and opened it.
"Go downstairs."
It only has two simple words.
Li Mo was stunned for a moment, thinking she was hallucinating from the pain. She struggled to sit up and looked suspiciously at the dark night outside the window.
Immediately afterwards, another message popped up:
"I've arrived, I'm downstairs at your place. I brought medicine and food."
In an instant, Li Mo's heart felt as if it had been struck by something, almost leaping out of her chest.
She couldn't believe it, and ignoring the pain, she hastily put on a thick down jacket and staggered downstairs.
Outside the building entrance, under the cold streetlights, Liang Xinchong stood there.
He was wearing a long black down jacket, with a scarf casually draped around his neck. He looked travel-worn, and his nose and ears were red from the cold.
He had a bulging backpack at his feet, and was also carrying an insulated bag and a plastic bag from the pharmacy in his hand.
The moment he saw her, he immediately rushed over, his brows furrowed and his eyes filled with undisguised heartache.
"Why is it hurting so much?" He reached out to support her as she staggered, his fingertips icy cold, yet carrying a reassuring strength.
Li Mo looked up at him, at the tiny frost flowers on his eyelashes that hadn't completely melted, at the clear reflection of herself in his eyes, at his figure that appeared like a miracle in this cold night...
The grievances I had been holding back all along the way intertwined with the overwhelming sense of relief that surged up at this moment. My nose tingled, and the tears I had just stopped burst forth again, more turbulent than ever before.
She couldn't say anything, she just threw herself into his arms, hugged his waist tightly, buried her tear-streaked face in his chest which was still chilly from outside, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Liang Xinchong's heart broke at her crying. He quickly put down what he was holding, hugged her tightly, and stroked her back repeatedly with his warm hands, coaxing her in a low, hoarse voice, "Don't cry, don't cry, I'm here..."
"I bought the medicine, some for pain relief, some to warm the uterus... I also brought you some hot porridge and soup..."
"Don't be afraid, I'm here."
Under his gentle soothing words, Li Mo's emotions gradually calmed down, but she did not loosen her grip on his hand at all.
She lifted her head from his arms, looking at him through teary eyes, her voice still trembling with sobs: "Why...why are you here?"
"I went to the station right after I hung up the phone," he said casually, wiping away the tears on her face with his fingertips. "The next high-speed train. Luckily, I made it."
Just over an hour ago, he was in a city more than 100 kilometers away from her, helplessly staring at the screen.
More than an hour later, filled with all his worries and everything he could think of, he crossed the cold night and came to her side.
Looking at his face, red from the cold, and feeling the real warmth of his embrace, Li Mo felt the fortress in her heart, which had occasionally wavered due to the long-distance relationship, become indestructible at this moment.
An incredibly clear and unwavering thought, like a new sprout breaking through the soil, instantly filled her entire mind.
He's the one. For the rest of my life, he'll be the only one.
She said nothing, but hugged him even tighter, as if she wanted to blend the chill from his body and all her dependence into each other's lives.
The winter night was still cold, but the two people embracing each other lit the warmest light for one another.
That night, Liang Xinchong barely slept a wink.
He stayed by Li Mo's side, watching her drink the warm porridge, take her medicine, and carefully put a heat pack on her.
It wasn't until late at night, when Li Mo's abdominal pain finally subsided completely, her breathing became even and long, and she fell into a deep sleep, that he dared to take a short nap on the chair by the bed.
As dawn broke, he rubbed his bloodshot eyes and quietly packed his things.
Before leaving, he leaned down and gently kissed Li Mo's smooth forehead, tucked her in, and then quietly closed the door before heading to the station to attend his 8 a.m. class.
After that day, they continued to keep in touch every day, with constant phone calls, video chats, and messages.
But the feeling is subtly different from before. Before, it was a clingy intimacy tinged with anxiety; now it's a more comfortable and natural kind of intimacy.
They would share more mundane daily routines, and when they were busy, they would simply send a message like "reading" or "in a meeting," knowing that the other person was there, which brought them peace of mind.
Even Li Mo's roommate couldn't help but tease her: "Mo Mo, how long have you and your Liang been dating? How come you're still like you're in the honeymoon phase?"
Li Mo simply smiled and offered no explanation.
Only she knew how that cold winter night, that travel-worn figure, completely melted away all her doubts about the relationship, leaving only an unwavering longing.
The days passed by in anticipation, and finally, the winter vacation arrived.
The train station exit is always crowded, but Li Mo spotted the tall, upright figure in a black down jacket at a glance.
Liang Xinchong also saw her. Even through the crowd, he couldn't help but smile and quickly walked towards her, dragging his suitcase.
Without any hesitation, he opened his arms and hugged her tightly, then lowered his head and took a deep breath through her hair—a familiar and longed-for scent.
"I've arrived." His voice was slightly hoarse from the long journey, but full of joy.
Li Mo hugged him back, burying her cheek in his warm chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, and felt the cold of the whole winter dissipate.
He loosened his grip on her slightly, cupped her face in his hands, and gently stroked her cheeks with his fingertips, his gaze carefully tracing her eyebrows and eyes, as if trying to make up for the time they had been apart.
Then, he lowered his head and gently kissed her lips.
This kiss was devoid of any lust, only the pent-up longing of months. Lips met, warm and soft, silently expressing the most straightforward love in the bustling train station.
After a long while, he reluctantly separated, his forehead touching hers, their noses brushing together, and he whispered, "Did you miss me?"
Li Mo's cheeks flushed slightly, her eyes glistening with tears, and she softly hummed in agreement.
He smiled with satisfaction, took her hand again, and intertwined their fingers. With his other hand, he pulled the suitcase over. "Let's go," he said, "let's go home."
The plane landed smoothly at Yuehai Airport, and the moist, warm air rushed towards us, carrying the familiar scent of the South.
With the New Year approaching, the whole city is filled with a festive atmosphere.
This year's Spring Festival was particularly different. Thanks to the thoughtful arrangements made by Zhou Man and Shen Peixian, the two families got together for a lively New Year's Eve dinner. The table was laden with delicious food, and laughter filled the air.
Zhou Man looked at Liang Xinchong and Li Mo sitting side by side, one constantly putting the other's favorite dishes on her plate. Their eyes met, revealing an unspoken understanding and affection. She couldn't help but smile and sigh:
"Look at these two kids, they get along so well. If this continues, maybe we'll be able to attend their wedding right after they graduate from university!"
Upon hearing this, all the adults at the table laughed and echoed his sentiments.
Li Mo's face instantly turned as red as a ripe shrimp, and she was so embarrassed that she almost buried her face in the bowl.
Liang Xinchong quietly took her slightly sweaty hand under the table, squeezed it hard, and looked at her with an uncontrollable smile and bright eyes.
After dinner, the adults continued chatting and watching the evening show in the living room, while Liang Xinchong pulled Li Mo to the balcony.
Night had already fallen, and in the distance, sporadic fireworks began to shoot into the sky, exploding into dazzling lights in the dark night.
“What do you think about what my mother just said?” Liang Xinchong turned around to face her, with fireworks flashing behind them. His eyes looked particularly deep and serious in the light.
Li Mo's heart skipped a beat, and she pretended not to understand: "What do you mean, what do you think?"
"Let's get married." He said it directly, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching her ears, carrying a hint of barely perceptible nervousness. "After I graduate from university, let's get married, okay?"
Just then, a huge golden firework burst open in the night sky above them, instantly illuminating their faces.
Li Mo could see her own reflection in his eyes, as well as the unmistakable solemnity and expectation in his eyes.
She didn't answer immediately, but just looked at him quietly, at this boy who had entered her life in high school, radiating light and persistence, and pulling her out of the gloomy reality; this man who would rush to another city overnight because of her stomachache, and who would be as happy as a child because of her saying "I like you".
Time seemed to flow backward. She remembered the boy who took her picture under the wisteria trellis, the boy who drew the curtains for her in the art studio, the boy who insisted on signing her name on the chest of her school uniform on the eve of graduation...
All the images eventually converged into the face before me, with its increasingly defined features and unwavering focus in its eyes.
She took a deep breath; the air was thick with the faint smell of gunpowder and the crisp chill of winter. She met his tense gaze, her voice soft yet exceptionally clear and firm, like a vow:
"I will not marry anyone but you."
There are no flowery words, no coy shyness, only the most straightforward and thorough conviction.
“I only want you for the rest of my life, Liang Xinchong,” she added, looking at him.
Liang Xinchong's pupils dilated slightly, and an overwhelming surge of joy instantly overwhelmed all his composure.
He suddenly reached out and pulled her into a tight, tight embrace, so tightly that he almost wanted to meld her into his body.
“Li Mo…” he called her name, his voice hoarse with excitement and trembling slightly.
Li Mo hugged him back, feeling his rapid heartbeat and slightly trembling body, and felt an unprecedented sense of peace and fulfillment in her heart.
He lowered his head, found her lips, and kissed them deeply.
This kiss was different from the tender kiss filled with longing at the train station, and unlike any other kiss before.
It carries the weight of a promise, and the boundless longing for the future; it is passionate and tender, as if it wants to imprint each other's souls together.
In the distance, more fireworks burst into the sky, crackling and painting the night sky with vibrant colors. The dazzling lights repeatedly illuminated the two people embracing and kissing on the balcony, like the most beautiful scene in the world.
Amidst the deafening sound of firecrackers and dazzling fireworks, they kissed quietly, exchanging the most important promises of their lives.
When the kiss ended, their foreheads touched, and they breathed softly. Liang Xinchong looked at her eyes, which were particularly bright in the light of the fireworks, and couldn't help but lower his head and lightly peck her lips, then again, as if he couldn't get enough of kissing her.
“It’s a promise,” he whispered, his forehead pressed against hers, his voice filled with an unprecedented sense of security and happiness, “you will marry me after you graduate from university.”
"Okay." Li Mo smiled, wrapped her arms around his neck, and offered her lips again.
Inside the balcony, there is the warmth of home and the joyful laughter of family reunions;
Beyond the balcony, dazzling fireworks and their brand new future await.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
