On the night before their departure, Ah Yu and Zhong Hua arranged to have dinner together. Both of them felt a little heavy-hearted. They had a lot to say, but neither of them knew where to begin.
“This business trip will last quite a while, and I’m really going to miss this place, I’m going to miss… all those days we spent taking photos together.” Zhong Hua lowered her head and gently stirred the food in her bowl with her chopsticks.
Ah Yu looked at her, her heart filled with reluctance: "Yes, I will miss you a lot too, but this is a good opportunity. You will definitely learn a lot over there, and when you come back, we will have lots of new photos to take."
Although he said that, Ah Yu had a little worry in his heart. He was afraid that the separation during this period would cause the feelings that had just been cultivated between the two of them to fade. He also didn't know how deep Zhong Hua's feelings for him were, since they hadn't officially confirmed their relationship yet.
Zhong Hua, on the other hand, was also conflicted. On one hand, she hoped this business trip would lead to new artistic breakthroughs, but on the other hand, she was afraid that the distance between her and A Yu would cause them to drift apart. She wondered if she should clearly express her feelings for A Yu before leaving, but she was also afraid that if it was just wishful thinking on her part, they wouldn't even be able to remain friends, which would be incredibly awkward.
In the end, neither of them spoke their minds. They simply finished their meal in silence, and then Ah Yu escorted Zhong Hua home. At Zhong Hua's doorstep, they smiled at each other, but their smiles concealed a hint of bitterness and helplessness.
"Remember to take good care of yourself when you get there. Call me anytime if anything happens," Ah Yu reminded her.
Zhong Hua nodded: "Yeah, you too. I'm leaving now." With that, she turned and went into her house. As she closed the door, she leaned against it and sighed softly. Ah Yu stood outside the door for a while before slowly turning and leaving. Her lonely figure was stretched long under the streetlights.
Meanwhile, a friend Su Yao met through outdoor sports developed feelings for her and began frequently asking her out. This friend, Lin Yu, was sunny, handsome, and outgoing, and very popular in the outdoor sports community. He meticulously prepared outdoor gear for Su Yao and took excellent care of her on every trip. Su Yao also had a good impression of him, but she was unsure whether her feelings for Lin Yu were merely friendly admiration or something more. After all, her relationship with her husband had always been stable, and she was caught in a dilemma, unsure how to deal with Lin Yu's feelings.
Chapter Six: Longing from Afar
After Zhong Hua went to another city, he was very busy with work every day. He had to communicate with different artists and curators, and also personally participate in the arrangement and design of the exhibits. He had almost no free time.
But whenever the night was quiet, after finishing her day's work and returning to her hotel room, looking at the unfamiliar city's night view outside the window, she would involuntarily think of Ah Yu. She would think of the days they spent shooting photos together on the street, Ah Yu's earnest and patient manner when teaching her photography techniques, and Ah Yu's concerned gaze and warm back when she sprained her ankle.
She would take out her phone and look at her chat history with Ah Yu. It contained their shared photography and playful banter; those simple words seemed especially precious at that moment. Sometimes she wanted to message Ah Yu to ask how his day was, but she was afraid of bothering him, knowing his work here wasn't easy either. After much hesitation, she would just silently look at the chat interface, keeping her longing hidden in her heart.
Ah Yu was the same way. Every weekend, he would still habitually take his camera out, but without Zhong Hua by his side, he always felt something was missing. He would go to the places they used to frequent, photographing the same scenery, and then imagine what angle Zhong Hua would take the photos from, and what kind of shooting advice she would give if she were there.
Once, he took a particularly satisfying photo of a city night scene. The dazzling lights and bustling streets presented a unique and prosperous beauty through the lens. He immediately wanted to share it with Zhong Hua, but after hesitating for a moment, he still sent it to her with the text: "I came to take night photos today, and I suddenly thought of you. If you were here, you could definitely take even more beautiful photos."
When Zhong Hua received the message, she was busy in the exhibition hall. Upon seeing Ah Yu's message and the photo, her eyes immediately welled up with tears, her heart filled with emotion and longing. She quickly replied, "Wow, it's so beautiful! When I get back, let's go take more beautiful night photos together."
And so, during these days of separation, they maintained their still-undefined feelings through occasional messages and their longing for each other. Under the test of distance, those feelings seemed to become even deeper and more precious.
Despite Lin Yu's frequent invitations, Su Yao decided to have an honest talk with him. After a bike ride, the two sat on a grassy field in the suburbs to rest. Su Yao looked at Lin Yu and said earnestly, "Lin Yu, you are a very good person, and I've had a lot of fun traveling with you these past few days. But I'm married now, and I cherish my relationship with my husband. So I hope we can remain friends, okay?"
Lin Yu listened to Su Yao's words and, although he felt a little disappointed, he still smiled and nodded: "Su Yao, I understand what you mean. Don't worry, I respect you. We can still be good friends and hang out together."
Su Yao breathed a sigh of relief. She was very grateful that Lin Yu could understand her, and she became even more determined to protect her existing relationship.
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