“Are we going to spend the night out?” Mei Ran asked curiously over breakfast, watching him pack folded clothes into a suitcase.
Fu Shijin turned around. His gray-checked pajamas had wrinkled, and the buttons weren’t properly fastened, leaving a glimpse of his chest exposed. His short black hair was slightly tousled, lending him a lazy, unrestrained air. Yet, it didn’t give an unkempt impression at all.
Four words suddenly floated into Mei Ran's mind: gentle and home-loving.
Even she couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. Frankly, if she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would never have been able to connect the aloof, elegant man she'd once glimpsed in France with such warm, domesticated words.
Fu Shijin continued packing. She walked over and sat down opposite him, nibbling her bread and swinging her legs as she asked, “Where are we going?”
He named a location.
“What kind of place is that?” Mei Ran pressed.
The man just glanced sideways at her, his deep eyes holding a trace of a smile. “You’ll like it there.”
Mei Ran rested her chin on his back. “I trust your taste!”
“Want some?” She offered him the half-eaten pineapple bun to his lips.
He took a bite from the exact spot she had just bitten, deliberately chewing slowly. Mei Ran only saw his Adam's apple bob down, causing a slight warmth to creep into the tips of her ears.
With so many experiences under her belt, she had more or less mastered a few tricks. This man had astonishing endurance in a certain activity. Whenever he was unwilling to let her go, just a gentle lick or nibble on his Adam's apple acted like an end-switch, tried and true…
“Finish your milk. We can head out once you're ready.”
Mei Ran obediently complied.
Half an hour later, seated in the car, she suddenly remembered something. “Did Daddy find out about what happened yesterday?”
Before he could answer, Mei Ran retrieved her phone from her bag, turned it on, and saw at least a dozen missed calls from “Old Mei.” That was answer enough.
“Did you tell him?”
Mei Ran remembered her father should still be in Macau. Plus, since the news had been contained quickly, he couldn't have learned about it that fast. That left only this possibility.
“Ranran,” Fu Shijin said seriously, eyes firmly on the road ahead as he drove. “Dad has the right to know about this, and he would have found out sooner or later anyway.”
He paused briefly. “But how to handle it… is now my matter.”
He had already promised to entrust you to me. From now on, everything concerning you is my business.
The gentle winter sun shone from the driver’s side, softening the edges of his profile. A sliver of light danced on his high-bridged nose. Mei Ran stared fixedly at that spot; her heart, too, seemed to be painted peaceful and serene by that soft glow.
Where there seemed to be silence, thousands of words had already been spoken.
As the car drove onto the overpass, Mei Ran received a call from her father. “Dad.”
“Ranran.” That was all he said before sinking into a profound silence.
“Dad,” Mei Ran's voice was gentle, and upon closer listening, held a hint of huskiness. “I dreamed about Mom last night. She spoke to me at length.”
“What did she say?”
“She said you were sad and that I should comfort you.”
Mei Hongyuan chuckled softly. “Dad understands.”
Having such a thoughtful daughter was, after all, his greatest happiness, wasn't it?
Father and daughter chatted a while longer before hanging up. Mei Ran let out a light sigh. “My dad doesn’t seem to completely believe me. But I really did dream about Mom.”
“I know.”
“Huh?”
He also knew she had dreamed of that year's events. The her in the dream was so fragile, clutching his pajamas tightly, like someone adrift at sea suddenly finding a piece of driftwood… He held her, not sleeping a wink all night.
In the still of the night, Fu Shijin was suddenly gripped by a wave of intense fear. If it hadn't been for that loud shout from the security guard, he would have walked straight through the main hospital entrance. If she had really been taken… A chill went through him… He couldn’t bear to think about that 'if'.
“Was I talking in my sleep?”
Just then, they were coming down from the overpass. Fu Shijin glanced around, then turned the car onto a less conspicuous side road, flanked by green trees.
“You did.” The man gave a light cough, covering his lips with his hand. “You held onto me and kept calling for 'Mom'.”
Just thinking about that scene made Mei Ran feel both amused and helpless. “I didn't say anything else, right?”
“Nothing else.”
“Hmm,” she turned back from the window. “You're not using GPS? Have you been here before?”
If she wasn't mistaken, they'd been driving for over three hours. This place shouldn't be within the A City area anymore.
“Once before.”
The mountain road was rugged and muddy, causing the car to rock and sway. Fu Shijin had to slow down. Mei Ran noticed several cars parked on the grassy area ahead and glanced casually at the license plates; most were from different provinces or cities.
Maybe there was some important event?
As Mei Ran pondered, a girl in a white down jacket ran over, waving energetically at them. Fu Shijin stopped the car and slowly rolled down the window.
The girl covered her mouth with a gasp, seemingly unable to believe her eyes. She looked again, never expecting that casually flagging down someone would land her a hottie. Her heart fluttered. “Sir, do you have any mineral water in your car?”
A boy about her age then appeared behind her—probably her boyfriend. “Look at you, drooling! Hurry up and wipe your mouth!”
The girl nudged him with her elbow, joking, “It's your fault for looking so plain, dragging down my aesthetic standards all by yourself! I finally get to see someone handsome, so what?” She turned and glared at him defiantly. “I can't even look?”
The boy seemed accustomed to her teasing and retorted a bit weakly, “Go ahead and look. Stare long enough and will he become your boyfriend?”
As the 'catalyst' of their banter, Fu Shijin's expression remained cool and detached, almost a casual bystander. Meanwhile, Mei Ran listened to their bickering, finding it increasingly amusing.
“Seems like we've never had a fight?”
“Hmm?”
Mei Ran covered her mouth, smiling. “How about we have an argument sometime?”
This was the first time he'd heard someone volunteering for a quarrel. Fu Shijin rubbed his temples, a helpless yet indulgent smile curling at his lips. “As you wish.”
“You're being so agreeable. How are we supposed to argue like this?”
The girl, having gained the upper hand, patted her boyfriend's shoulder contentedly. Looking at the handsome profile of the man in the car, she seemed to finally remember the original purpose. She leaned down, her gaze sweeping past and landing on Mei Ran, her mouth hanging open for a while.
Oh, turns out the handsome guy already has a girlfriend.
She tapped on the car window. “Excuse me for bothering you. Do you have any water?”
“Yes.” Mei Ran took two bottles of water from the storage compartment and handed them over.
The girl took them while expressing thanks. She stared dumbfounded at the labels on the bottles; the ten-yuan note in her hand remained un-offered. She just bowed again with another thank you.
Another half hour of driving later, the car finally stopped in front of a house. Fu Shijin got out, walked around to the trunk, and retrieved several bags of gifts. Mei Ran hadn't known he had prepared all these things in advance, and she secretly began to think this outing might not be a simple 'getaway for a change of air' after all.
Someone inside heard the commotion and came out. The wooden door creaked open, and a round head poked out first. Blinking his big, black eyes full of curiosity at Fu Shijin and Mei Ran, he asked in a child's voice, “Who are you looking for?”
At the same time, an elderly voice sounded from inside. “Shunshun, who is it?”
The old woman had already arrived at the doorway, seeing the two outside. Delight overtook the surprise on her face. “Shijin, you came. Is this your wife?”
She gave Mei Ran a look, her smile warm and kind. “Come, come, come in and sit.”
The old woman before them wore simple clothes, an orange headscarf wrapped around her head, with a few grey hairs peeking out at the edges. Her smile carved deep wrinkles into her face; she looked at least eighty years old.
“She is Grand Aunt's elder sister.”
Mei Ran caught on, greeting her accordingly. The old woman nodded repeatedly. “Yes! Good! Such a pretty girl!”
“You two, coming yourselves is enough. Bringing so many things… you're being too polite!” She turned to call her little grandson, who was hiding behind her. “Shunshun, greet them properly.”
The little boy peeked out shyly, glanced at them, then turned and darted back inside.
“This child… he's shy with strangers!”
The furnishings inside were simple, and there weren't many pieces of furniture, but the saving grace was every corner was practically spotless, showing careful, meticulous upkeep.
“They're all busy with business in the city. Now it’s just me and Shunshun at home,” the old woman said cheerfully. “Having one old and one young keeping each other company isn't bad either.”
“How has your health been lately?”
“I’m good!” the old woman said. “It’s just that old age comes with forgetfulness. I heard a few days ago you'd be bringing your wife over. Afraid I'd forget, I asked Shunshun to come remind me in my room every morning. For the past couple of days, many cars have come from outside, and I come out every half hour to see if it's you…”
A few days ago? Mei Ran thought. So this outing wasn't a spur-of-the-moment idea? He had planned to bring her here all along?
The man suddenly took her hand under the table, laughing softly as he asked, “Lost in thought?”
He leaned in a bit close, drawing the gaze of the old woman across from them. Mei Ran picked up her teacup and took a sip to mask her slight embarrassment.
Over ten minutes later, Mei Ran began to feel restless. Having already drunk a lot of water in the car, her lower abdomen now felt uncomfortably full. She tugged at his sleeve and whispered, “I need to use the restroom.”
It had been many years since Fu Shijin had visited here, so he naturally couldn’t recall the bathroom’s location and had to ask the old woman. She immediately stood up when she heard. “It’s outside. I’ll show you the way.”
Mei Ran waved her hands. “No need to trouble you. I can find it myself.”
After using the restroom, she wandered around outside, enjoying the fresh, pleasant air. Just then, a vehicle passed by the open gate to the courtyard. She looked and saw it was a news van from a television station, which increased her curiosity even more.
As she turned to go back inside, a mother hen leisurely paraded past with a flock of chicks. This was the first time Mei Ran had seen such fluffy little creatures up close. She couldn't resist crouching down to touch one. However, before she could make contact, the imposing mother hen, craning her neck, charged at her. Mei Ran was startled, dodging left and right. The hen, undeterred by failure and seemingly harboring a grudge that could only be resolved by a peck, pursued her relentlessly.
In a moment of helplessness, the little chubby boy appeared. First, he blew a loud whistle, trying to stop the angry hen. It didn't work, and he felt his sense of manly pride crumbling in front of the guests. His round little face flushed red. He simply bent down, picked up a small stick from the ground, and shooed the hen and her adorable chicks out through the big gate.
Patting her chest, still a little shaken, Mei Ran walked over to the boy. “Shunshun, thank you.”
He lifted his face, a spirited, bold-looking little thing, and replied with solemn maturity. “You're welcome.”
After lunch, the two rested in their room for a nap. Just as Mei Ran was about to climb onto the bed, a knock sounded at the door.
“The weather is so cold lately; I figured just one quilt might not be enough.” The old woman appeared at the door, holding a bright red comforter. The child was behind her, peeking curiously, seemingly still too timid to get close to the slightly aloof and stern-looking man inside.
“We had a rare heavy rain in the mountains a few days back. The woodshed leaked, and most of the firewood prepared for winter got wet, so the heated brick bed can't be fired up. The room gets pretty cold at night…” The old woman's look suggested the wisdom of an experienced elder, “… but you two being together, you probably won’t feel the chill.”
“Grandma,” the child asked with pure innocence, “Why wouldn’t two people sleeping together feel cold?”
“You silly boy!” The old woman lovingly poked his forehead, taking his hand. “The journey must have been tiring. Rest well. You'll need energy tonight.”
“Aren't you sleeping?”
Fu Shijin looked at her. “I’m thinking about the question, too.”
Mei Ran asked instinctively, “What?”
“How one should sleep together not to feel cold at night.”
This man clearly knew full well but insisted on teasing her. Mei Ran burrowed into the quilt, finding a comfortable position. “Then you think it over slowly. I'm going to sleep first.”
That nap lasted straight until dusk. Awoken by the increasingly loud bursts of firecrackers outside, Mei Ran rubbed her temples and sat up. Something big must be going on out there.
She pushed the door open and stepped out. The red sunset was nearly disappearing behind the green mountains. The smoke and steam from countless household stoves rose gently, dispersing high in the air before the wind could carry them away far, floating in the sky like white floss.
The old woman had already laid out a large spread of dishes on the table. Mei Ran stood beside it counting: eight dishes in total—a mix of meat and vegetables, each one looking and smelling delicious.
But there were only four of them; could they possibly eat so much?
Shunshun was practically drooling, staring intently at everyone, his tongue darting out to lick his lips.
The old woman laughed. “Look at you.” But out of affection for her grandson, she still placed a piece of sweet and sour spare rib in his bowl. “Go ahead, eat.”
The boy, given the signal, began eating gleefully.
The old woman watched him lovingly. “Slow down, nobody’s competing with you.”
She then went inside and brought out homemade sweet osmanthus glutinous rice wine. Just smelling the fragrance made Mei Ran's eyes brighten. She couldn't resist downing two cups. When she went to pour a third, her cup was held firmly in place. She looked up questioningly.
“No more.”
Mei Ran blinked. “But it's so delicious.”
The old woman sat down. “This sweet wine isn’t that high in alcohol,” she said, recalling something. “But weren't you two planning to go watch the meteor shower tonight?”
“Meteor shower?”
“Yes!” The boy, his mouth greasy, looked at Mei Ran. “They said on TV it’s the Geminid meteor shower.”
The old woman added, “The experts say our village is the best observation point. Lots of people have been coming from outside for the past couple of days, all for this once-in-a-century meteor shower.”
Mei Ran finally understood the real reason for their trip.
So this was the true purpose.
After the meal, the sky outside darkened. The couple stayed chatting with the old woman until after nine. Once she had settled in for the night, they headed out. The meteor shower’s peak was supposed to be around midnight, so they still had plenty of time.
They encountered many people along the way, carrying either professional or amateur equipment, all discussing the Geminid shower. Mei Ran and Fu Shijin followed behind them, walking slowly, feeling more relaxed than ever before.
They arrived at an observation platform, a spot with an excellent view, almost fully occupied.
The moonlight was faint, as if veiled in gauze. The stars seemed shyly hidden behind layers of clouds. The whole night sky appeared vast, mysterious, and beautifully tranquil.
People were everywhere. Some had set up tents for an all-night vigil, while others had lit small campfires, playing card games like Dou Dizhu around the flames.
Fu Shijin kept walking, leading Mei Ran straight to a particular spot. It was backed by the observation platform, with tall trees blocking some of the chill wind and the noise. He took a blanket from his backpack, spread it on the ground, pulled her down to sit, seating her on his lap, and wrapped another thick woolen blanket tightly around them both.
“How did you know about this spot?”
“Shunshun told me.”
The boy was quite mischievous, not yet of school age. He often snuck up the mountain behind the old woman's back to steal bird eggs, and went down the river to catch shrimp and crabs; the fish on the dinner table was one he'd caught.
Hearing this, Mei Ran couldn't help but marvel. “He’s amazing.”
Such a rich and colorful childhood was something she couldn't imagine for herself.
The two held each other, chatting idly about this and that, hardly feeling the cold at all. Time slipped by unnoticed. Drowsiness began to set in, and Mei Ran felt herself nodding off. Just as she was about to tilt her head and drift asleep, a loud cry erupted, “Look, a meteor!”
With that shout, the previously scattered crowd almost erupted in excitement. Mei Ran also opened her eyes to look, just in time to see a flash of bright light streak across the night sky, gone in an instant, leaving only a faint greenish tail.
This was followed by sighs of disappointment falling across the ground.
“Just one?”
“So few! They promised once-in-a-century!”
“Don’t panic. Haste makes waste.”
Another meteor streaked by, then two…
“Aren’t you making a wish?”
Mei Ran shook her head. Looking up at the boundless heavens, then turning her gaze back to rest softly and intimately on the man's face, she said, “My wishes have all come true.”
He pressed his cheek against hers, pulled his hands out from beneath the blanket, and clasped them piously before her chest. “Then I want to make one.” Warm breath brushed past her ear as Mei Ran heard him murmur softly, “My wish hasn't been fulfilled yet.”
Listening to his steady heartbeat, a very gentle smile appeared on her face. “It will definitely come true.”
“The party herself says so,” Fu Shijin also smiled. “It’d be unnatural not to.”
His wish involved only her.
“Look! So many meteors!”
“Whoa! Meteor shower!”
Hundreds of meteors seemed to fall all at once from the edge of the sky, their radiance illuminating half the night sky. After a brief, stunning display, they began to fade slowly, disappearing into the vast darkness…
Many eyes and hearts captured that beautiful moment. They were silent, sighing inaudibly.
A loud yell broke the silence. “Tian Lulu, will you marry me?”
“Say yes, say yes!”
“Cut the crap. You’re so plain-looking and not the least bit gentle. For the sake of the next generation, this lady needs to think it over.”
The crowd burst into laughter.
Someone whistled. “Bro, forget asking for her hand. Just scoop her up, throw her on the bed, and settle in. Women's bodies are always more honest than their mouths!”
“You dare!”
“I don’t dare…”
“Hahaha…”
Why did that exchange feel so familiar? Mei Ran wondered. Were those the same young couple from earlier that day?
“Aaaaaah! Another meteor shower!”
“It truly is once in a century!”
Some even began singing with emotion. “In the soft starlight, you should be moved…”
Mei Ran softly hummed along.
The cool breeze lifted her dark, silky hair, its faint, moonlight-like fragrance gently brushing the man's cheek. Seeing her smiling face, more beautiful than the entire starlit sky, he felt utterly enchanted.
He forgot meticulous planning, forgot technique, forgot all clever and original ideas.
In that instant, only one phrase grew increasingly clear in his heart. “Ranran, marry me.”
At that very moment, everyone else hit the chorus: “I'll accompany you to watch the meteor shower falling upon this earth…”
“What did you say just now?” Mei Ran turned her head to ask.
She seemed to recall something, then broke into a smile. “Sure.”
His heart suddenly swelled with fervor, like a rising tide.
But then she added, “Let’s go back. I’m getting sleepy.”
She had mistaken his words for asking “Shall we go back?” Unable to say whether he felt relieved or disappointed—after all, it couldn’t count as a proper proposal without a ring or vow—he rose from the ground, quickly gathering their things.
“I was saying…,” Mei Ran slowly drew out her words, “… sure.”
“Hmm?” He was still enveloped in a fog.
Mei Ran pulled out a silver chain from her neck, took off the plain platinum ring threaded on it, slipped it onto her ring finger, then raised both hands. “Mr. Husband-to-be, will you carry me down the mountain?”
The man stood utterly stunned for a solid three minutes.
The path down the mountain seemed endless. Mei Ran, resting on his back, began to feel herself drifting toward sleep. He walked steadily, but so slowly, moving with great care.
In the distance, village lights flickered like a flower blooming in the darkness. It was unclear how much longer this journey would last.
The man’s firm back was, after all, not as comfortable as a bed. Mei Ran yawned, gently poked his shoulder a few times, and murmured drowsily, “How much farther?”
“A lifetime.”