Mei Ran could clearly hear the thumping of her own heart, like the most rapid drumbeat she had ever heard, dense and powerful, striking against her chest cavity again and again.
She felt her entire body go weak…
“Careful.”
A warm breath from the man brushed past her cheek. Mei Ran felt his hand grasp her wrist, preventing her from tipping backward. He politely released her grip once she steadied herself.
She was just about to walk around to the other side of the car when he had already stepped aside to make space. Mei Ran got in and softly said, “Thank you.”
Old Zhou, having collected everyone, deftly started the car and set off. The weather was fine, a gentle breeze was blowing, and rows of bougainvillea trees whizzed past the window.
The world truly is too small. Round and round we go, and now the two of them had met again in another city.
It’s just… was he really the “honored guest” Father had mentioned?
“Mr. Fu, what a coincidence.”
Those deep brown eyes looked over, profound as a deep pool of water. “I too only just now learned you are Mr. Mei’s daughter.”
A simple statement conveying that he was also somewhat surprised by this reunion.
Mei Ran’s heart kept pounding, yet she smiled lightly. “And before this, I also didn’t know you were my father’s ‘honored guest.’”
Fair is fair.
Hearing this, the man’s thinly pursed lips slowly curved into an arc. The summer sunlight happened to stream directly onto his side, outlining his slightly aloof features thread by thread, aglow with shimmering light. It seemed as if his entire being was radiating.
Mei Ran quickly averted her gaze.
Her wrist seemed to still hold a lingering trace of warmth. She couldn’t help but rub it lightly.
The drive from the airport back to the Mei family home was almost two hours. Mei Ran had originally planned to sleep the whole way, but now, that seemed rather impossible.
She took her thermos flask from her bag, intending to have a sip of water to soothe her throat. Somehow, no matter how many times she twisted, the lid remained stubbornly unmoving.
It was normal for a thermos flask filled with hot water to be difficult to open due to pressure differences, but this particular instance seemed unusually stubborn. Mei Ran had no choice but to stuff the flask back into her bag.
After a moment’s thought, she pulled it out again. “Could you help me open this?”
Fu Shijin glanced at her calmly, took the flask without a word. Mei Ran watched as his long, well-proportioned fingers rested on the lid, gave a light twist, and after a few turns, a faint aroma of ginseng tea wafted from the mouth of the flask.
Mei Ran took the flask back and casually handed him a bottle of mineral water in return. “This is tangible thanks.”
He understood. Staring at her crimson earlobes, he softly let out an “Mm.”
Old Zhou, observing from the rearview mirror, asked curiously, “Young Lady Ran, did you know each other before?”
“We’ve only met recently.”
Mei Ran added silently in her heart, *But I have known of him for a long, long time, back when he didn’t yet know who I was.*
With Old Zhou making conversation, time passed much faster. The car drove over a mountain, and the Mei family compound came hazily into view.
The small town was dotted with quaint, standalone courtyards, scattered like stars across the sky, each with its own character. Although the Mei family was prosperous locally, they still lived in the ancestral old house. However, keeping up with the times, many modern household amenities had been added in recent years.
Knowing the master had an honored guest arriving, Old Zhou’s wife had long since cleaned the guest room spotlessly, with windows shining brightly, not a speck of dust in sight. Having not slept much the previous night and having sat through hours of travel, Fu Shijin was feeling slightly weary and went to rest first.
After settling the guest, Old Zhou’s wife took Mei Ran’s hand and chuckled, “Young Lady Ran, if I didn’t know in advance he was the master’s guest, I would’ve thought he was your beau you brought home! Such a handsome young man! Standing next to you, the two of you make a truly perfect couple.”
Mei Ran’s face flushed slightly. “Aunt Zhou, don’t say such nonsense.”
Obediently, Old Zhou’s wife made a “Shh” gesture against her lips. “I understand. Not yet doesn’t mean not ever. ‘Proximity favors the observant.’ I think this man is really quite fine. That face, that bearing…”
*Of course I know he’s quite fine,* Mei Ran thought. *It’s just that I’m afraid this moon might merely be a reflection in the water. If the moon’s reflection is disturbed, the cold moon still hangs high in the sky, untouched. Wouldn’t that be a futile loss?*
“Let’s not talk about that,” Old Zhou’s wife patted her hand. “The master is at the mountain cemetery. You should prepare and go quickly.”
Mei Hongyuan’s birthday was a significant matter for the clan. With various social engagements, he was always terribly busy on the actual day. He always returned a day earlier, ascending the mountain with his daughter to pay respects to his late wife, celebrating his birthday peacefully as a family of three.
The tombstone was gilded by a layer of golden sunlight. The woman in the photograph held a clear gaze in her eyes, smiling gently. The passing of time in this world could no longer affect her. Like a solitary plum blossom in a mountain stream, she bloomed alone and quietly faded, year after year.
“Rongrong,” Mei Hongyuan gently stroked the edge of the photo, “You’re still so beautiful. And I’ve aged another year.”
There were no longer any gentle words to answer him. There was only the wind blowing down from the mountains, lightly lifting the hem of his clothes, now slightly stained with earth.
Footsteps approached, carried on the wind. Mei Hongyuan looked up. An elegant, graceful figure in white was slowly approaching. He raised a hand to shield his already dampened eyes. “Xiangxiang, you’re back.”
“Dad.” Mei Ran drew near, placed the Peace Lily she held in her arms in front of the tombstone, arranging it alongside the original bouquet, one on the left, one on the right. “Aunt Zhou said you came very early.”
“Managed to find a rare moment of leisure,” Mei Hongyuan smiled, “so I thought to come earlier to spend time with your mother.”
Mei Ran nodded, first burning incense for her mother. “Mom, I’ve come back to see you.”
The woman gazed calmly at her, her gaze tender.
“Mom, are you doing well over there? Dad and I both… miss you very much. Today, Dad turns fifty-one. Last night, he anxiously called me,” Mei Ran let out a light laugh, her eyes slightly reddened, “asking if there’s any medicine that could slow aging. He said he doesn’t want to grow old too quickly, afraid that if he ages too fast, you won’t recognize him…”
“Ah,” Mei Hongyuan sighed, “Xiangxiang, can’t you save some face for your dad in front of your mom?”
Mei Ran continued, “Mom, Dad is very disobedient. I told him not to drink, but his secretary says he often pays lip service and disobeys in secret!”
“Rongrong, your daughter isn’t exactly a model of obedience either, frequently not eating or sleeping on time,” Mei Hongyuan helplessly massaged his temples, “Don’t you think I should quickly find a man for her to help manage her?”
Mei Ran pouted. “Mom, look. Dad’s complaining about me. He can hardly wait to marry me off.”
Mei Hongyuan could not bear that accusation. He waved his hands repeatedly. “Nonsense! I would actually love to keep you by my side forever!”
*Xiangxiang, I miss your mother terribly. But Dad still has to accompany you along a very, very long road in this world. Long enough to entrust you to another man truly worthy of spending your life with. Long enough for you to bring forth new life. Long enough until I no longer have the strength to walk on. I believe this is also your mother’s wish.*
A surge of emotion pricked Mei Ran’s nose.
The night before her mother passed away, in a final rallying glow, she had said, “Hongyuan, I feel a little tired.”
Her father had held her hand, repeating to her over and over, “I’ll accompany you as far as you can go. If you can’t walk anymore, I’ll carry you. You…”
Time had ultimately claimed this woman he cherished.
But Mei Ran knew that somewhere in her father’s heart, a lamp burned eternally for her mother.
A place where no one else could enter.
Dusk was like a pair of dexterous hands, silently picking up scattered pieces of sunset glow piece by piece from the horizon, then quickly replacing them with a full moon and scattered stars.
Father and daughter walked shoulder-to-shoulder back home under the moonlight.
Mei Ran entered the kitchen to boil longevity noodles for her father. Seeing leftover kneaded dough, she rolled it out into thin wrappers and made dumplings.
The Mei family matriarch had unique tastes and her own small kitchen, so she normally didn’t eat with everyone. Thus, aside from Fu Shijin, only Mei Hongyuan, his daughter, and his second brother, Mei Qingyuan, were at the table.
Old Zhou’s wife brought the noodles and placed them before Mei Hongyuan. “Master, this was made especially for you by Young Lady Ran. Unique in all the world! May your fortune be as immense as the Eastern Sea, and your life as long as the Southern Mountain!”
Mei Hongyuan smiled, “Thank you.”
Old Zhou’s wife beamed. “Tonight’s dishes were also made by the young lady. I only lent a hand.”
“Oh?” Mei Hongyuan gave his daughter a surprised look and laughed heartily, “Then I must try them thoroughly!”
He then looked toward Fu Shijin. “Shijin, don’t stand on ceremony. Treat it as your own home.”
Fu Shijin nodded, picked up a piece of bamboo shoot. The flavor was indeed good.
Mei Ran also glanced over, saw his complexion was a little better than when he arrived, and felt a touch of relief.
Suddenly, there was movement outside. Covered in travel dust, Mei Liangzhi followed the delicious aroma inside, washed his hands quickly, and speared a dumpling with his chopsticks, popping it into his mouth and swallowing it down after a few hasty chews.
“Hours of driving! I was starving!” His voice was muffled.
Mei Ran slid over a small dish of dipping sauce. “Slow down, you’ll choke.”
Mei Qingyuan also said, “Even though you’re a professor now, you’re still so hasty.”
Mei Liangzhi scoffed. “Professors don’t need to eat?”
“You, child…”
After satisfying his hunger with wine, Mei Liangzhi sighed contentedly, “Uncle, your daughter here is accomplished both in the public sphere and the domestic one. Any man fortunate enough to marry her in the future would be blessed indeed!”
Mei Ran knew her cousin was a bit under the influence of alcohol, yet this “drunken rambling” struck a chord within her for some reason. Her earlobes grew warm, and she stole a glance in a certain direction…
Those beautiful, clear deep eyes met hers quietly. It was as if she had plunged into a soft lake of spring water in March—stifled, drowning, unable to extricate herself.
Had he been looking at her all this time?
This time, Mei Ran did not avert her gaze.
She suddenly realized: to this man, she seemed to be… different.
After dinner, everyone chatted comfortably in the living room, and Mei Ran went into the kitchen to prepare tea and fruit for them.
She had just finished washing a plate of cherry tomatoes when Old Zhou’s wife rushed in hurriedly. “Miss Mengran has returned.”