All wishes fulfilled
Tan Huaiyu returned to the hotel, leaned back in a chair, and wearily rubbed his temples. Outside the window, darkness had fallen, and the city lights were gradually coming on, casting dappled shadows on the glass.
He stared at the ceiling, his thoughts still lingering in that corner of the library, in Qi Shuo's cold and distant gaze.
His phone suddenly vibrated. Tan Huaiyu picked it up and glanced at it; it was his teacher calling. He took a deep breath and answered, "Teacher."
"Huaiyu, what's wrong with you?" A gentle but reproachful voice came from the other end of the phone. "Why didn't you go to the accommodation I arranged for you? Why did you go to stay in a hotel?"
“I’m not used to living here,” Tan Huaiyu said softly. “Besides… I have a place to stay.”
"A place to live?" The teacher was taken aback. "Didn't you say last time that there were no houses to live in in the north of the city?"
"Yes." Tan Huaiyu didn't explain further. "We have it now."
“…Okay.” The teacher seemed to sense something and didn’t press further. “So when are you moving in? Do you need any help?”
"No need, teacher," Tan Huaiyu said. "I can handle it myself."
"Alright," the teacher sighed. "By the way, have all the paperwork with the law firm been completed?"
"It's done."
"That's good. Remember to contact me anytime if anything happens."
"Yes, thank you, teacher."
Hanging up the phone, Tan Huaiyu stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the night view outside. The night scene in the northern part of the city was beautiful, with dazzling lights and bustling traffic. Five years had passed... This city had changed a lot, yet it seemed that nothing had changed at all.
He picked up his coat and keys, walked out of the hotel, and hailed a taxi.
"Master, go to Yucaiyuan."
"Okay."
The car drove away from the hotel and merged into the evening rush hour traffic. Tan Huaiyu leaned back in his seat, watching the scenery outside the window rush by.
Yucaiyuan... that old, simple neighborhood that holds so many of his memories.
Five years later, he's finally back.
The car stopped at the entrance of the residential compound. Tan Huaiyu paid the fare, got out, and stood in front of the rusty iron gate. The compound was still the same as before, with mottled walls, dimly lit stairwells, and only a few streetlights shining forlornly.
He took a deep breath, stepped into the residential area, and followed the familiar path to the familiar floor.
He took the key out of his pocket—a key he had kept for five years and never lost.
Insert the key into the lock and turn it gently.
With a click, the door opened.
Tan Huaiyu pushed open the door, and a faint, old, dusty smell wafted out. He fumbled for the light switch, pressed it, and a dim, yellow light instantly filled the entire room.
The room was the same as always. A dusty sofa, a low coffee table, and a few plastic chairs piled in the corner. A thin layer of dust covered the kitchen stove, and the refrigerator was empty. In the bedroom, the sheets on the single bed were yellowed, but still neatly made up.
Five years ago, before leaving Beicheng, he spent a large sum of money to buy this house. The transfer of ownership went smoothly because the landlord was eager to get rid of this old, dilapidated apartment as soon as possible. But he never told anyone, including his teachers and Qi Shuo.
This is... his home.
The only home he truly acknowledged.
Tan Huaiyu stood in the center of the living room, looking around. Five years ago, he had lived here for a little over a year. Those days, though difficult and lonely, were the most authentic and free time of his life.
Because... there are traces of Qi Shuo here.
Qi Shuo once taught him how to cook porridge here, once ate with him here, once... gave him a brief, warm haven here.
Any place that bears traces of Qi Shuo is his home.
Tan Huaiyu slowly walked to the sofa and sat down. The sofa was hard, and the cushions had lost their elasticity, but he found it incredibly comfortable. He tilted his head back, looked at the ceiling, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
He's back.
Returning to this place that bears traces of Qi Shuo.
He returned to this...the only home he acknowledged.
After lying down for a while, Tan Huaiyu slowly stood up and began cleaning. He rolled up his sleeves, picked up a rag, and wiped the dust off the furniture bit by bit. Sofa, coffee table, chairs, kitchen stove, bedroom desk... he cleaned every corner carefully.
Two hours later, the room was completely transformed. Although still simple, it was at least clean and tidy, and had a sense of life. Tan Huaiyu was exhausted and covered in sweat, but a sense of unprecedented satisfaction welled up inside him.
He took a shower, changed into clean pajamas, and curled up on the sofa. Exhaustion washed over him, and he closed his eyes, quickly falling into a deep sleep.
In his dream, he returned to that rainy night five years ago. Qi Shuo stood at the door and said to him, "Tan Huaiyu, after you go to the capital, live a good life. Forget Beicheng, forget... everything from the past."
But he did not forget.
He never forgot.
On the other side, at the entrance to the factory workshop.
Qi Shuo was standing in the changing room, preparing to change into his cleanroom suit. As he locked his phone in the box outside, the screen suddenly lit up with a message—it was from Xiao Jue.
He and Lin Ye went abroad these past few days, and no one knows what they did there. Qi Shuo opened the chat window, and what he saw was a photo—a marriage certificate.
Both individuals on the marriage certificate are wearing white shirts and looking at the camera. Xiao Jue appears somewhat nervous, only slightly raising the corners of his mouth, looking a bit dazed.
Lin Ye looked incredibly relaxed, tilting his head slightly and gazing at the camera with a smile in his eyes.
"?"
Qi Shuo was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening.
Oh, so they went abroad to get their marriage certificate?
He shook his head speechlessly, about to turn off his phone, when Xiao Jue sent another series of voice messages. Qi Shuo casually clicked on one, and Xiao Jue's excited, incoherent voice came through: "Qi Shuo! We got our marriage certificate! It's legal! You know, the procedures abroad are much simpler than in China, we..."
Qi Shuo smiled, turned off his phone, locked it in the cabinet, and turned to walk towards the workshop.
very nice.
Xiao Jue and Lin Ye finally got married.
And he...
Qi Shuo walked into the workshop, put on a mask and hat, and began his day's work. Amid the roar of the machines, his thoughts drifted back to that corner of the library, back to Tan Huaiyu's calm and detached eyes.
There's nothing to worry about.
Qi Shuo told himself to focus on the work at hand. But the inexplicable, complex emotions in his heart were impossible to suppress.
The machines in the workshop finally stopped; it was one in the morning, time to rest. Qi Shuo took off his mask and hat, changed out of his cleanroom suit, and walked out of the workshop to the rest area. He took out his phone, unlocked it, and countless message notifications immediately popped up on the screen—all from family group chats.
It's 1 a.m. and you're still awake?
Qi Shuo raised an eyebrow in surprise.
He opened the group chat, and the screen was instantly flooded with messages.
Qin Zhou: [Brother Xiao Jue! The wedding must be a grand affair! I want to be the best man!]
Song Yungui: [I want to be a groomsman too.]
Qin Zhou: [@Song Yungui, what kind of best man are you? You're mine!]
Song Yungui: [...]
Xiao Jue: [Alright, stop fooling around. We plan to keep the wedding simple; just a meal with a few close friends and family will suffice.]
Lin Ye: [I didn't agree, no way. @Xiao Jue I want to give you the best wedding.]
Xiao Jue: [Really, there's no need...]
Lin Ye: [Must be used. ]
Qin Zhou: [Wow, Lin Ye is so cool!]
Sister Jin: [You two stop arguing. The wedding needs to be held; it can't be rushed. Such an important event as a wedding certainly deserves some attention, but it can't be too extravagant. @Xiao Jue @Lin Ye]
Xiao Jue: [Sister Jin is right.]
Lin Ye: […]
Qin Zhou: [Hahaha, Brother Lin Ye got his comeuppance!]
Qi Shuo read through the messages one by one, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up. The group chat was as lively as during the New Year, with everyone offering suggestions for Xiao Jue and Lin Ye's wedding.
Xiao Jue wanted to keep things simple, but Lin Ye insisted on giving him the best. A group of people chattered back and forth in the group chat, making quite a scene, like a bunch of children arguing endlessly.
Suddenly, Sister Jin sent two voice messages.
Qi Shuo clicked on the first message, and it was Qing Ran's voice.
The little girl was clearly still a bit dazed, speaking very slowly, as if she were repeating after Sister Jin, word by word: "Brother Xiaojue... Brother Linye... May you have a long and happy marriage... happiness... happiness and joy..."
The childish voice came through the speaker, carrying a pure blessing.
Qi Shuo couldn't help but laugh.
Immediately after, Sister Jin sent another voice message, still in Qingran's voice. This time, the little girl seemed to have thought of something herself, her tone tinged with curiosity: "Brother Xiaojue... Brother Xiaoye... who's your sister-in-law..."
The group chat exploded instantly.
Qin Zhou: [Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha]
Qin Zhou: [Qing Ran asked a good question!]
Qin Zhou: [@Xiao Jue Xiao Jue, I'm also curious, who is the sister-in-law?]
Song Yungui: [eating melon.jpg]
Lin Ye: […]
Xiao Jue: [@Qin Zhou, are you asking for trouble?]
Jin Jie: [[Voice message] Ranran, don't talk nonsense.]
In the voice recording, Qingran obediently said "Oh..."
Qi Shuo laughed uncontrollably, his fingers rapidly typing on the screen: [Qing Ran's question is good.]
Qin Zhou: [Brother Shuo! You're here too!]
Qin Zhou: [@Qi Shuoshuo, who do you think is the sister-in-law?]
Qi Shuo: [...I don't know, and I won't guess.]
Xiao Jue: [@Qin Zhou, you're finished.]
The group chat continued to buzz, with messages flooding the screen one after another. Looking at these messages, Qi Shuo felt a warm current welling up inside him. This was his home—lively, cozy, and full of life.
He left the group chat, opened his mobile banking app, and transferred some money to Xiao Jue's bank card. This was part of his savings accumulated over the years; although it wasn't much, it was enough to express his feelings.
After the transfer was completed, he sent Xiao Jue a private message, very short, only three words:
"All wishes have been fulfilled."
Xiao Jue quickly replied: [Thank you, Brother Shuo.]
Xiao Jue: [But I can't accept this money.]
Qi Shuo: [Keep it. Consider it a wedding gift from your brother.]
Xiao Jue: [...]
Xiao Jue: [Then I shall accept.]
Qi Shuo: [When are you planning to hold the wedding?]
Xiao Jue: [It's not decided yet. Lin Ye said we need to plan carefully. The current plan is for next spring.]
Qi Shuo: [Okay. Just say so if you need any help.]
Xiao Jue: [Okay.]
Xiao Jue: [By the way, Tan Huaiyu is back?]
Qi Shuo: [Hmm.]
Xiao Jue: [You...you've met?]
Qi Shuo: [I've met you.]
Xiao Jue: [And then?]
Qi Shuo: [Nothing much. Just... said hello.]
Xiao Jue: [Oh.]
Xiao Jue: [So... are you alright?]
Qi Shuo: [I'm fine.]
Xiao Jue: [Alright, contact me anytime if you need anything, don't keep it bottled up inside.]
Qi Shuo: [I know.]
Qi Shuo turned off his phone, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes. His break was almost over, and he needed to recharge for the second half of the night's work.
Involuntarily, the corner of the library appeared in my mind, along with Tan Huaiyu's amber eyes, calm yet distant.
After resting for a while, when it was almost time, Qi Shuo put his mask and hat back on, put on his cleanroom suit, and headed to the workshop.
The machine started up again, drowning out all my thoughts.
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