Rain Bell
That evening, Zhiwei simply cooked pasta at home. Around seven o'clock, May returned home, still damp and chilly.
"Is it raining outside?"
"Yes, it was fine in the afternoon, but suddenly it started raining and it got very cold."
Zhiwei walked to the window and saw fine rain and a chilly spring breeze. She was about to urge May to go wash up when her voice suddenly stopped—across the street downstairs, a familiar figure was looking up at their window.
"Damn it," she muttered to herself, and immediately moved away from the window.
Downstairs, Zhou Xuanyu watched the figure flash by and disappear without a trace, knowing she had no intention of seeing him. He stubbornly dialed her number. The ringtone rang defiantly in the silent room.
Zhiwei stared at the names flashing on the screen, finally sighed, picked up two umbrellas, and went downstairs.
Seeing her come out, Xuan Yu felt relieved. She handed him an umbrella without saying a word.
He took the umbrella, his words caught in his throat, but amidst the pattering rain, he could only manage to ask, "How is your aunt?"
"Thank you for your concern. I have a doctor to take care of me," she replied politely.
"When did this happen?" he asked abruptly, but she understood.
Zhiwei smiled, her face calm in the night: "In every relationship, I have a clear conscience. Only when it ends will I start anew."
"Zhiwei, are you getting revenge on me? I'm sorry, I was wrong."
“No, Mr. Zhou, you’re overthinking it. I won’t use myself as a bargaining chip to retaliate against anyone. On the contrary, I’m grateful to you.” Her tone was calm, without a trace of resentment. “You’ve given me a choice during difficult times, and I don’t have to face the judgment of my own heart. My family’s affairs are my personal matters, and no one has an obligation to help me bear them.”
"Don't you resent that he had ulterior motives?"
"Hidden motives?" She smiled sweetly. "Ask yourself honestly, has anyone coerced or deceived you? At least I haven't. My mother's illness has no cause whatsoever, so how can you blame others? Everything was a voluntary choice, and once you've made the choice, don't regret it."
She paused, then said, "We don't need to see each other again."
After saying that, he turned and left, his expression calm and his mind at peace.
Xuan Yu watched her retreating figure, a bitter taste in his mouth. Her question pounded in his ears like drumbeats. Yes, from beginning to end, had You Lin ever coerced him, ever deceived him? Staying that night was his own choice, and falling deeper and deeper into this situation was also his own free will. If asked why, even he himself was ashamed to face it. It was also he who, when Zhi Wei's family encountered trouble, decisively broke up with her after she overheard You Lin's voice on the phone.
If she harbored even a trace of resentment, he might have felt better. But her nonchalant attitude clearly indicated that she had completely moved on from him. And Youlin, in order to send Zhiwei back to China, hadn't even thought to inform her. It turns out, the clown is ultimately only himself.
He stood forlornly under his umbrella, disappearing into the rainy night.
Around 9 p.m., Youlin was handling business in her hotel room when her phone rang. It was Xuanyu.
She sighed and answered the call.
On the other end of the phone, his voice was cold and calm: "Ms. Zhao, I'm at the coffee shop downstairs. If you have time, please come down for a bit; it won't take long."
Youlin put on a cashmere sweater and came downstairs. When Xuanyu saw her, he politely stood up. She smiled bitterly to herself; he had at least maintained his composure.
He pushed the sports car keys in front of her: "Here, take this back. The car is in the hotel parking lot."
"Xuanyu, you can keep driving this car. I'm not interested in sports cars."
He gave a wry smile: "So this was also bait prepared specifically for me."
“I lost my composure. Zhiwei is right. From beginning to end, no one coerced or deceived me. I was just willing to take the bait.”
He pushed the key forward a little further. "Goodbye, Miss Zhao. If there were a way to undo regrets, I really wish I hadn't gone to that Christmas ball."
After saying that, he got up and left. Youlin watched his retreating figure, a hint of regret flashing across her face.
It was originally just a fling, but the youthful energy of the young man was undeniable. However, such a beginning left a thorn in her heart. This time, she had drawn him away from Zhiwei; who could guarantee that next time he wouldn't be drawn to someone else in the same way?
If a thorn remains in one's heart, continuing down this path will only cause the wound to fester. A swift and decisive action now is far cleaner. However, Xuan Yu's temperament only adds a touch of regret to her feelings.
Who would have thought that their hardships and pain would instead enhance Shen Zhiwei's purity and innocence, leading her to sacrifice herself for her mother? Yet, it seems everyone owes her something. Who can she blame for all of this?
Zhiwei went upstairs, and May came out with her hair dried. The two of them, holding hot drinks, nestled on the sofa and chatted.
"Graduation is just around the corner, Zhiwei, what are your plans for the future?"
"I will probably go back to China."
May nodded, understanding her mother's situation. "That's good, things are getting better and better in mainland China. I don't plan to go back. Maggie said this week that if I'm willing, she can give me a formal job offer after graduation."
She had been worried that if they interned together, only she would get the offer, and she wouldn't know how to tell her friend. Zhiwei, however, was genuinely happy for her, putting down her cup and hugging her: "Congratulations! With the offer in hand, I feel at ease."
May said somewhat shyly, "The experiment you did before was about using this project to create differentiated designs for different users. I'd like to continue doing it as a reference for future work. I wonder if you mind?"
"Of course, no problem. We did this together. Next time I go to the studio, I'll save it to the shared directory."
"To be honest, after studying architecture for so many years, I feel a little guilty about switching to home decoration."
"What's the big deal? As long as you can make money. Maybe you'll be able to open your own studio in the future, and do design and decoration."
"Thank you for your kind words. So what are you planning to do when you return to China?"
On a chilly New York winter night, two girls nestled on a warm sofa, chatting about the future. Youth always seems to hold endless possibilities, and time seems inexhaustible. When they grow old and look back, even those leisurely days seem incredibly beautiful, imbued with the rosy hues of youth in their memories.
But at the time, it was all in vain.
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