041—Dawn

Xia Yuwei watched him leave, listening to the soft rustle of the crystal bead curtain, and silently asked herself: how much must he hate her to say such cruel words? To do something so mad?

She lowered her head, splashed cold water on her face to clear her muddled mind. Only by bracing herself against the black marble counter could she steady her wavering legs.

Sensing someone approaching, Xia Yuwei quickly composed herself, dabbed her face with a tissue, grabbed her small purse, and left in haste. The restroom was just around the corner from the stairs, so she slipped out without greeting anyone and went straight downstairs.

The café was just outside the campus, near the apartment she shared with Xin Xin off campus. In her first year of university, she, like everyone else, had lived in a dormitory arranged by the school. But college was the season for romance—young women, radiant and bashful, would inevitably bring back armfuls of flowers, drawing envious glances. For Xia Yuwei, who suffered from a severe pollen allergy, receiving flowers from admirers or even seeing her roommates gifted bouquets felt like a disaster. After several such ordeals, she resolved not to play the odd one out in others’ eyes and decided to move out on her own. The simple-minded, single-celled Xin Xin, who had no interest in romance, clamored to join her, and together they rented a two-bedroom apartment in the Qinglian Community off campus. They looked after each other, and their life together was harmonious and pleasant.

She walked home, left the lights off, and headed straight to her bedroom by memory, collapsing onto the bed. After lying there for a long while, she finally took out her phone and typed a message: “I wasn’t feeling well, so I left early. Try to come back soon. When you do, find me—I have something important to tell you.”

She felt it necessary to warn Xin Xin not to get caught up in this game. Xin Xin, so naïve and inexperienced in matters of the heart, didn’t deserve to be hurt by Lu Yichen’s immaturity and impulsiveness. Xin Xin ought to seize her youth and experience love, but not with him.

Once she made sure the message was sent, Xia Yuwei drifted off into a feverish sleep. There were many things she didn’t want to think about—couldn’t afford to think about.

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The morning light spilled over Xia Yuwei, waking her as it always did. Her life had always been governed by routine, unwavering except on rainy days. When the sky was gray, she’d linger in bed for half the day, skipping even her classes and taking it as a reward for her usual diligence.

She showered briefly, let her damp hair hang loose, and began making breakfast. By the time she had fried the eggs and poured the soy milk, arranging everything on the table, Xin Xin emerged from her bedroom right on cue. Wrinkling her little nose like a kitten catching a trace of something fishy, Xin Xin walked toward the table with her eyes half-shut, feeling her way along.

Her drowsy appearance made Xia Yuwei laugh. She slapped away Xin Xin’s outstretched hand that was reaching for the cutlery. “Lazy kitten, go wash up first or you won’t get to eat!”

“Oh, Yuwei, you’re so mean…” Xin Xin pouted, eyes barely open, and shuffled off toward the bathroom.

Xia Yuwei sat at the table, waiting for Xin Xin to return, when the doorbell rang. She opened the door to find Lu Yichen standing on the threshold.