Mei Ran had nearly forgotten about this matter.
"Okay, I know," she said, turning her back to avoid her assistant’s probing gaze. She took a deep breath to calm her emotions.
Xia Tiantian showed no sign of noticing her unusual state. She strode in cheerfully. "Senior Sister, is there good news? My idol sure moves fast!"
Hearing a sound from the doorway, she turned her head. Her eyes instantly lit up like two bright little lanterns. Speak of the devil and he appears.
"Fu…" Glancing at those calm, deep eyes, Xia Tiantian cleverly switched on the spot, "Brother-in-law, you’re here?"
Brother-in-law?
Mei Ran’s eyes were still rimmed red. Hearing this, she forgot what she was about to say and simply turned to look over blankly. She watched as the man gave a slight nod, revealing a smile he rarely showed to outsiders. Then, his long legs carried him towards her.
Xia Tiantian gave a meaningful chuckle—"heh heh heh"—and silently closed the door behind them.
"You cried?" He first placed the breakfast he’d bought earlier on the table, then pulled her close for a careful look. His long finger curved slightly, catching a sparkling teardrop clinging to her long eyelashes. A gentle rub of his fingertip made it dissolve.
The two of them had gotten up very early today. There were no ingredients at home for breakfast, nor the mood to make it, their minds fixed solely on going to the hospital for a checkup. Fu Shijin accompanied her from the gynecology department, she returned to her office, and he went out to buy breakfast. On the way, he received a call from Ye Qihan and learned about the explosive news.
"Ranran," his warm palm lightly cupped her cheek, pulling her entire body into his embrace. "No one can be responsible for another person’s life."
Without saying a word, with just one look, he had peered into the deepest corner of her heart. This man truly was the one who understood her best in the world.
Mei Ran clutched his sleeve.
He held her arm tightly. "This result has its cause…"
"Alright," he said, gently stroking her hair. "Don’t overthink it. Have some breakfast first."
After hearing his words, Mei Ran’s thoughts cleared like clouds parting to reveal the moon, much brighter than before. For some reason, she felt inexplicably certain of one thing: Mei Mengran would not die.
To continue living was already the best outcome.
Mei Ran took a sip of warm milk. "The checkup results are in."
"Good. I’ll go with you later."
She looked up at him. The man unconsciously curved his lips, the gentle smile in his eyes boundless. Mei Ran suddenly felt this winter morning was extraordinarily beautiful, filling her with anticipation for each day to come.
So what the books said was true. Falling in love with someone meant that every day spent with him was like a flower blooming.
"Don’t be nervous."
Mei Ran nodded. "Mm."
The man’s hand holding hers was also slightly damp, gripping almost too tightly. She could tell from his tightly pressed lips that this statement was partly for his own comfort as well. Thinking this, her mood calmed considerably.
Dr. Liu was in her forties, slightly plump, with a pair of glasses resting on her nose. When she smiled, two dimples appeared, making her look very amiable.
"It’s probably recent stress affecting your cycle…" She looked at them both with a gentle smile. "You’re both young and healthy. If you’re not deliberately trying to prevent pregnancy, it’s only a matter of time."
Being a colleague, Dr. Liu, as an experienced person, shared some personal insights not often disclosed: which positions could increase the chances of pregnancy, what to do after intercourse…
Mei Ran glanced occasionally at the man beside her, listening earnestly and unabashedly. Twenty minutes later, when they came out, her face was already flushed red, slightly diluting the feeling of disappointment after hearing the results.
"Although this result is a bit disappointing," Fu Shijin looked at her and said, "I’ve just mastered the essentials…"
Right there in the busy corridor, he hugged her close like that, his warm breath falling on her ear. "Ranran, we’ll continue our efforts when we get back tonight."
"Mm?"
Already sensing curious glances, Mei Ran’s cheeks burned. She responded softly, "Mm."
"I’ll pick you up after work."
Mei Ran nodded. "Okay."
Back in her office, she went to wash her face. Looking at the woman in the mirror with slightly swollen lips and eyes glowing with warmth, she thought of what happened just before they parted in the stairwell… and couldn’t help but feel a wave of fluttering heartbeats.
She had thought that once they were together, this man would bring her mostly a sense of security. But now Mei Ran realized he still made her heart race just like their first meeting.
Mei Ran dried her face with a towel and was about to leave when she noticed Xia Tiantian looking at her with tearful eyes. She quickly asked, "What’s wrong, Junior Sister?"
Her assistant pouted silently, walked over, and suddenly hugged her. Startled, Mei Ran let herself be held.
After almost five minutes, a slightly choked voice came from beside her shoulder. "You’re so mean! Why didn’t you tell me? You’ve always known how much I liked you, haven’t you? You meanie! I hate you so much!"
Mei Ran: "…"
Utterly confused, she tentatively asked, "Did you have a breakup?"
"Yeah! I had a breakup, I was abandoned," Xia Tiantian sniffled, her accusation thick with nasality. "You’re that heartbreaker!"
She suddenly tightened her arms, squeezing Mei Ran almost breathless. "MR, I finally found you!"
For a moment, Mei Ran’s entire body stiffened. Then, she slowly raised her hands and placed them on Xia Tiantian’s heaving back, gently patting to soothe her.
Xia Tiantian cried unrestrainedly, soaking a large patch of the white coat on Mei Ran’s shoulder. After a while, she finally calmed down, her already small eyes now puffy and swollen.
Mei Ran sighed softly, pulling a few tissues to wipe her tears.
"You won’t… won’t suddenly disappear again in the future, will you?" This was the most important question. Xia Tiantian told herself silently.
"No."
"Why did you disappear suddenly seven years ago?" Second most important.
Mei Ran fell silent for a moment, rubbing her wrist. "An accident happened. I hurt it here."
Xia Tiantian nearly jumped up. How hadn’t she known this before?
"Did it hurt?"
"It hurt then," Mei Ran said. "It doesn’t now."
Xia Tiantian breathed a sigh of relief. "So my idol… is Ansel?"
"Yes."
Still holding her tightly, Xia Tiantian wouldn’t let go. Mei Ran chuckled softly. "My turn to ask you. How did you recognize me?"
"The video."
"A bit more specific?"
"From the start, I thought the woman’s back in the video looked so familiar. It felt like I’d seen her somewhere, but the vague impression just wouldn’t fully form. Then I saw that pale blue dress you’d put in the locker before. I remember you wore it out for a date that evening. I watched your back disappear into the night… Just now, I observed you outside the door for a while longer, and that confirmed my guess."
She finally released her, saying with utmost seriousness, "You are MR."
So he was right; there really were people who could recognize her from her back alone.
"Senior Sister," her assistant crept closer again, cat-like. "Could you fulfill a tiny wish for me, a seasoned MR fan?"
Was she going to request a song? Mei Ran wondered.
She had already pulled out a prepared notebook and pen from her pocket, her eyes still wet but her smile as brilliant as flowers. "Sign this for me."
Such a simple request. Mei Ran didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
She signed "MR" swiftly and returned the notebook, only for Xia Tiantian to push it back. "I want a 'to' signature."
"What’s that?"
Xia Tiantian pointed to the top. "Write here: 'To the dearest little sweetheart of MR'."
"Like this?" Mei Ran wrote as instructed.
Xia Tiantian was already grinning from ear to ear. "Perfect, perfect! Wow, I’m so happy! I’m going to show this off!"
A moment later, Mei Ran’s phone pinged with a notification. She opened it and couldn’t help but give a small smile.
MR’s Little Sweetheart: Ahhhhh! My goddess’s signature, fresh off the pen! One of a kind in the world! So happy I feel like I’m flying beyond the edge of the universe! [Picture][Heart][Love You][Dizzy]
Retweets: 15. Comments: 30. Likes: 100.
Mei Ran smiled and was about to exit. Her eyes inadvertently caught the private message count in the top left corner visibly increasing. Perplexed, she opened it.
The Sunny Skies Pilot: "Think it over carefully. You are MR, aren’t you? I remember on the night of *China’s Best Singer* finale, the queen Yu Sheng said she was waiting for someone to return. And the song she sang, 'Encounter,' was MR’s hit. Was there a hidden meaning? If I’m not mistaken, you were right there. And when she said it, she was looking right in your direction. Besides, MR is just the abbreviation of 'Mei Ran,' right? Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. This is our secret. [Wink]"
Spring Arrives Unnoticed: "I know you are MR… I’m a die-hard fan of Fu Shijin. I know every single contour of his face clearly, let alone seeing his full side profile in the video. And that look he gave you at the end of the video is exactly like in that screenshot I took during the *China’s Best Singer* finale. I can’t imagine him looking at another woman with that kind of deep affection. So what other doubts are there? The two people I like love each other. What could be more beautiful than that? Goddess, I’ve waited for you for so long! I have so much to say, and I just want to give you a virtual hug through the screen. [Hug]"
Out of the Gloom Comes Brightness: "Just thinking about attending your 'memorial service' months ago makes me inexplicably cry. I know it sounds cheesy, but I’ve finally waited for you. Thank goodness I never gave up! Please, please take care of yourself!"
Don’t Wanna Say Goodbye: "Many in the fan group said they’ve figured out your true identity, but I was totally confused. Then I found out there’s an MR Loyalty Test Questionnaire with all these questions about you. I answered every single one correctly! The final step gave me the answer. So if someone truly loves you, it really isn’t that hard to figure out who you are. But we all understand and respect your choice. We’ll keep it a secret. We’ll keep silently guarding you! Love you forever and ever!"
MR Fan Club: "I am the president of the fan club. Welcome back, dear MR. PS: The '0 Follows' is because you are the only one he quietly follows. For the day you’re ready to truly step into the public eye, this '1' is always saved for you."
Thousands of new private messages were pouring in constantly. Mei Ran didn’t keep scrolling through them one by one. She stared out the window at the bare branches for a while, yet a warmth spread within her like lake water gently lapping.
Year-end brought fewer patients. The real time and effort went into settlements and summaries. Mei Ran left work on time. Back home, she took a shower first. Coming out, she saw the man sitting on the small sofa by the window, flipping through something with immense focus. That cat called Niannian obediently lay on his lap, and his hand idly stroked its head from time to time…
The scene, one man and one cat, looked extremely cozy.
Spotting her, Niannian’s eyes brightened. It meowed and jumped down, circling her feet.
"Done showering," he also looked up.
Holding the cat that was endlessly seeking affection, Mei Ran walked over. "My fans recognized me…"
He didn’t seem surprised. "When you like someone, it’s only natural to think from their perspective," he frowned slightly. "But since sparks have already appeared, perhaps later it might be impossible to completely contain…"
Mei Ran felt the same. Remembering something, she asked, "Will 'If Missing Had a Sound' be released as a single?"
"Tianxing Entertainment has plans. Actually, I meant to discuss it with you last night." Fu Shijin thought for a moment. "If you prefer not to, you can decline."
"I want to release it."
"Hmm?" He seemed somewhat disbelieving.
"Firstly, to repay the fans’ enthusiasm," Mei Ran said. "Also, I want to donate all proceeds from this single."
Working in a hospital exposed her to birth, aging, illness, and death on a daily basis and made her see through life’s inevitable hardships. She had received so much; she was already more than satisfied. If a small gesture could help more people, why wouldn’t she do it?
The man suddenly broke into a wide smile. "Good."
Mei Ran leaned closer. "What are you reading?"
Without any reservation, he directly handed the book to her, giving a soft kiss near her earlobe. "Take a look too. I’ll go take a shower first. Later…" His voice had already taken on a tone she recognized all too well. "We’ll try it."
Even after the sound of water came from the bathroom, Mei Ran stood frozen, staring at the colorful little booklet in her hands. Those soft yet clear characters on it were like little sparks, setting her eyes ablaze, spreading to her heart, burning until she felt warmth, until her entire body became scorching.
Spring.Palace.Picture.Album.
And it was a collector’s edition, at that.
How did he end up having something like this? Mei Ran thought, torn between embarrassment and annoyance. What had he just said?
She should take a look, and later… they would try?