Returning Swallows (Part 1)
He only sent this one message, which you can see without opening it.
CA547.
Ji Qingzhou's flight back from abroad.
Their last conversation was just over ten days ago. He told An that he was on vacation and wanted to come to her place, and An only replied with a "okay".
Just like last time, she typed "okay" and then clicked delete.
She wanted to reply with something else to make the chat more lively, but after hovering her finger in the air for a while, she couldn't think of anything and had to give up, simply replying with "okay".
It's strange. When she's writing novels, she can transform into a tentacle monster, producing thousands of words with ease. But when it comes to her, she can't type a single word more than that.
An had closed her eyes and was rubbing her neck.
The view outside the window was already a deep blue.
She often does this; once she starts writing, she forgets to eat.
An paused in brushing her teeth; there was only one cup on the shelf.
There was some foam at the rim of the cup, but it has dried.
She picked up her phone and opened Ji Qingzhou's chat window. "Should I prepare some toothbrush and toothpaste for you?"
The other party replied quickly, "No need."
An had already calculated that it should be around three or four in the afternoon in Sweden, and he should be in the lab at that time.
Since she had some time, An looked around the bathroom and asked him, "Do you need any shower gel, shampoo, or other bathroom supplies?"
"Need not."
A few seconds later, I received another message: "I'll use yours."
An nodded casually, then, remembering he couldn't see her, a slight smile appeared on her lips as she brushed her teeth and walked out of the bathroom. She considered whether to ask him anything else, taking advantage of his time to ask everything at once.
Do you need slippers?
"Need not."
What else? In the small one-bedroom apartment, An had already moved to the bedroom when she suddenly thought of a problem.
Should we sleep together?
This time, the other party remained silent for a long time before saying, "If you think it's okay."
An was already holding a toothbrush in her mouth, her gaze shifting back and forth between the bed and her phone.
"Do you need a blanket?"
"If it's convenient, could you please buy one for me?"
What color is it?
"Just like you is fine."
Since we're already lying in the same bed.
"Should we do it?" An asked, already thinking this.
If so, should we also buy some small umbrellas?
When I was shopping at the supermarket, I saw some products that seemed to be categorized by size and thickness.
She doesn't understand these things, so does she have to spend time doing her homework? An Yi frowned slightly, as if it was a bit troublesome.
An had been waiting for a while but hadn't received any new messages. Foam dripped from her mouth onto the back of her hand. She put her phone away and went to the bathroom to wash up.
After getting off work, An went to buy a quilt.
The quilt she had previously bought at this store was no longer available. An had already browsed around, wanting to pick any style she could find, but was worried that the person using it might not like it.
I don't know what Ji Qingzhou's attitude is towards bedding, but An already takes it very seriously. If she puts a color or material that she doesn't like on the bed as a quilt, she probably won't get a good night's sleep for months.
An wanted to ask for his opinion, but she wondered if such a small matter would bother him, or if he had already boarded the plane.
The proprietress came over; she noticed that An had been loitering around there for quite a while.
"Beautiful lady, what kind of one are you looking to buy? I can recommend one for you," the shopkeeper asked.
An no longer knows.
The shop owner then asked her, "Who are you planning to buy this from?"
“I…” An paused before saying, “My boyfriend.”
She rarely called him that.
The proprietress recommended a black quilt to An Yi, which had a pattern of several small dogs on it.
An had no particular idea at first, but after listening to just a few words, she bought it and asked the shop owner to deliver it to her home.
An had already bought some more things that she had asked the man about, even though he said he didn't want them, just in case.
If something is truly missing, there won't be any panic or chaos.
When I got home, I steamed two sweet potatoes and ate them. Then I sat down at my desk, turned on my computer, and typed only a few words before I couldn't type anymore.
An has a nine-to-five job. After get off work, she occasionally writes to satisfy her hobby. She writes occasionally because she doesn't often have a burst of inspiration. Usually, she can only write a few words before she can't write anymore.
She sometimes writes reviews and sometimes writes novels: she doesn't pursue profit, and once she finishes writing, she puts it directly on the platform for everyone to read, and she has nearly 100,000 followers.
An opened the message list out of sheer boredom. He had been pushed to the very bottom of the page, and the last message was still the one An had sent.
She opened the window for the cod and asked her for the day off.
I wasn't planning on going, but this was Ji Qingzhou's first time back in China after a year abroad, and she was coming to my city. Even if it was just to be a good host, I should go and pick her up at the airport.
An had calculated the time perfectly and arrived at the airport right on time, waiting for him at the corner of the exit.
Ji Qingzhou came out quickly, dragging a small black suitcase. She walked past An Yi with slightly faster steps.
An opened her mouth to call out to him, but the words caught in her throat as she hesitated, unsure of what to call him.
Ji Bo? I've heard that's what PhD students call each other, but she's not his classmate or colleague.
"Light boat? Isn't that a bit too intimate?"
Brother Qingzhou? No, I can't bring myself to call him that.
The man was only a few steps away, but An Yi already had a dozen thoughts running through her mind. Seeing that he was about to leave, An Yi quickly called out, "Senior Brother!"
Amidst the surrounding noise, Ji Qingzhou happened to hear that soft voice. His heart skipped a beat, and he turned around.
I hadn't seen her for a year, and she was exactly the same as I remembered.
He saw An Yi smiling and waving at him in the bustling airport.
Her smile was gentle, like a flower in the rainy season of Jiangnan, bright yet damp.
Ji Qingzhou strode over to her side. Afraid that the crowd would rush towards An Yi, he led her to the side.
What brings you here?
"The company isn't too busy, so I had time to take leave and came here," An replied truthfully.
When An speaks to Ji Qingzhou, she should raise her head slightly.
She was only a head taller than Ji Qingzhou's shoulders.
An Yi's height is considered outstanding among girls.
Was he always this tall? An tried to recall, but couldn't.
I hadn't seen them much before.
Everyone says boys develop later, so is he still developing at his age?
An was amused by her own thoughts and felt a little happy.
Many people from Ji Qingzhou's flight have left one after another.
An wanted to pull Ji Qingzhou's arm, but withdrew her hand before it touched his sleeve, and simply said, "Let's go."
An had already taken a few steps when she realized that Ji Qingzhou hadn't kept up. When she turned around, she saw Ji Qingzhou still standing there against the flow of people, her eyes lowered, seemingly lost in thought.
An had already entered the foyer and brought out a new pair of men's slippers for Ji Qingzhou.
She sat in the entryway changing her shoes when Ji Qingzhou's voice rang out above her head, "Did you buy this for me?"
An had already looked up. "Right?"
From this angle, Ji Qingzhou's jawline is clearly visible.
His face wasn't the thin type; it wasn't wide or fat, and his jawline had a bit of flesh, just the right amount.
It's a little different from a year ago, yet it seems like nothing has changed.
Forget it, we haven't seen each other much to begin with, so I shouldn't force myself to find some difference between now and then in this long-awaited reunion.
An said, "Put your suitcase in the bedroom, wash your hands, and then you can come out to eat."
She pointed in the direction of the bathroom.
Ji Qingzhou nodded and sat down quietly to change her shoes.
An had gone into the kitchen and busied herself for a few minutes, then brought out several plates of steaming hot food.
An had already given him a bowl and chopsticks and served him some rice.
"Are you hungry? Eat up."
"fine."
Ji Qingzhou tasted a little; it wasn't particularly delicious, but it was still a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.
"Did you make this? It's delicious."
An smiled and said, "Then you've praised the wrong person."
She doesn't know how to cook, but she specifically ordered hotel delivery because he was coming back today.
I was worried it would get cold when I got back late, so I kept it warm in the microwave.
The two of them didn't speak again and quietly finished their meal.
Ji Qingzhou was very conscientious and planned to wash the dishes after finishing her meal, but An Yi stopped her.
"It's your first day back, go wash up and rest first."
Finally, he added, "Don't worry, everything that's meant to be will be."
...if he stays long enough.
Ji Qingzhou watched An's retreating figure as she walked into the kitchen and chuckled silently.
She was genuinely afraid that he wouldn't wash the dishes.
An Yi's bed was not big, and Ji Qingzhou lay on the outer side of the bed.
The two were an arm's length apart.
Ji Qingzhou lay on the outside of the bed, looking at her black blanket with a puppy pattern in the light of the bedside lamp.
That's a bit childish; he would never buy himself this style.
However, An Yi's blanket was white, which made it look like a matching set with his black one. He remembered saying at the time that he would just buy the same one as hers.
"Did you pick this?" Ji Qingzhou asked.
An turned her head and realized he meant the blanket.
“No, the shop owner picked it out,” An explained. “This one is no longer available.”
There was no sound from the other party.
An asked, "Don't you like it?"
"like."
"If you like it, that's fine."
An had turned off the bedside lamp, yawned slightly, turned over, and faced away from Ji Qingzhou.
Her hair was very long, spread out on the pillow and bed. Ji Qingzhou looked at it for a long time, his fingers slowly stroking the long hair.
Just a second before she touched him, An had already said, "Don't you feel a little cramped?"
He thought she was already asleep.
"fine."
Actually, he didn't feel crowded at all.
Another long silence followed.
"real?"
An Yi's voice sounded very energetic.
Ji Qingzhou understood An Yi's meaning.
"I'll go sleep on the sofa."
Ji Qingzhou thought that she only liked him a little, or maybe not even a little bit at the moment, so it was really asking too much of her to lie in bed with him.
He left the bedroom carrying the blanket.
An didn't stop him. After Ji Qingzhou left, she lay down facing the ceiling, her eyes wide open, showing no signs of sleepiness.
It wasn't that she was being squeezed; she overestimated herself.
The first time I slept with a man, I felt uncomfortable with someone lying next to me.
An didn't fall asleep for a long time after Ji Qingzhou left.
An has entered that dream again.
The dream was filled with crabapple blossoms, and a huge, ancient pear tree had a person wearing armor and helmet.
The person stood holding an umbrella, as if waiting for someone.
A gentle breeze swept by, and the tea-white oil-paper umbrella was covered with fallen crabapple blossoms.
With his long hair tied high and hanging down his back, he stood tall and elegant, just like a young general with illustrious military achievements in history books.
Who exactly is he? She stood behind him and patted him on the shoulder.
The young man turned his head slightly, and in an instant, a crabapple petal sliced across his neck like a sharp sword!
—His head fell to the ground with a thud!
Blood gushed out instantly, staining the oiled paper umbrella crimson!
An suddenly opened her eyes, plunging from a sea of crimson into a deep, silent darkness.
She could never see that face clearly.
She huddled in a corner, her heart feeling as if it were being tightly gripped, not out of fear, but out of heartache.
My heart aches as if I'm on the verge of death.
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