If not for Lu Xialan’s appearance, this period might have been the happiest time in Sima Qiuyun’s entire life.
She had found the father she had yearned for, met the mother she had never known, and even witnessed their love story firsthand. She also had Liang He—her own love. If the age gap weren't so bizarre, she would have jumped for joy and declared, "The four of us are one big, loving family!"
This sense of fulfillment and happiness was a feeling she found nearly impossible to describe.
But what was the deal with Lu Xialan? Why did she have to show up in the middle of all this?
Feeling unsettled, Qiuyun went to Liang He’s room that evening to get some answers, only to find Sima Feng alone, just as he was about to head out.
Sima Feng told her, "After dinner, that Teacher Lu came looking for Teacher Liang. They went out together."
The summer heat was stifling; even at night, the breeze felt warm. By the river, some villagers were taking advantage of the moonlight to wash clothes, the rhythmic sound of wooden beaters mixing with the croaking of frogs in the wind. Liang He followed Lu Xialan for a while before slowing his pace and calling out to her, "Xialan, if there’s something you want to say, let’s say it here."
Lu Xialan turned back and gave him a playful smile. "It’s just a stroll. Why so serious?"
"I have other things to attend to."
"Are you going to find Qiu Xiaoyun?" Lu Xialan blurted out, then gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I was just asking."
"Yes." Liang He didn't avoid the question; he did indeed want to talk to Qiu Xiaoyun about Sima Feng.
Lu Xialan turned her face away, looking at the shimmering waters of the Ten-Mile River, and let out a long sigh.
"Is your family..." Liang He began tentatively, "doing alright?"
"Quite well," Lu Xialan replied, knowing what he was asking. "My young uncle’s funeral arrangements were finished long ago. Dust to dust, earth to earth—it’s all passed now."
"Then..." Liang He sighed, "that’s good."
"I don't know why," Lu Xialan mused, "but even though it only happened last month, it feels like a century has passed. The things from our childhood are still vivid in my mind—us chasing each other in the compound, me coming to the countryside to find you, then us going to school together, and later when I went to the university..."
"Xialan," Liang He said, not wanting to hear her reminisce, "did you come here today just to talk about the past?"
"Wasn't the past wonderful...?" Lu Xialan murmured softly. "Confucius was right: 'Time flows away like this river, never to return.' But why..." She stared at a protruding rock in the middle of the river. "I’m like that rock, stuck in the middle of the water, refusing to move a single inch."
"Liang He, my family doesn't know I came to Datong. I lied and told them the school had an event—a seminar in another city—and that I had to go as a volunteer. But in reality, I sought out the professors from the archaeology team myself and requested to come along."
Liang He’s lips moved slightly. "Why put yourself through this..."
"Why? Don't you know?" Lu Xialan took a step forward, looking at him intently. "We’ve known each other for so many years; we’ve spent four-fifths of our lives together. Do you really not know? Now that my young uncle has passed, all those old grudges have vanished with him. Can't we..."
"Xialan," Liang He interrupted her, "there is no 'can't we.' There isn't."
"Liang He," Lu Xialan said, as if refusing to believe him. She stared at his face for a long time, searching for any trace of hesitation.
But Liang He remained unmoved.
Tears welled up in Lu Xialan’s eyes. "How can you be so heartless? Oh! Is it... is it because of the relationship between our families? But everything is settled between us now. I can convince my family, and as for Auntie He..."
"Xialan," Liang He took a deep breath. Since things had come to this, he had to look her straight in the eye. "You shouldn't have come to Datong. Perhaps, if I had known you were coming, I shouldn't have accepted the role of art consultant for B University."
"Why... am I not good enough...?"
"No," Liang He said bluntly. "I thought that for both our families and for the two of us, the distance established in that letter you gave me was the most appropriate distance to keep."
Lu Xialan’s heart sank abruptly.
"I admit, our parents' generation left us with many grudges beyond our control. I haven't forgotten those childhood memories you mentioned, those carefree times, or the fact that you saved my life. I will never forget them. They are beautiful and unique memories of our lives. But, Xialan," Liang He’s coldness felt foreign to her, "the past is the past. Those beautiful memories can only exist in the past. If you try to force other emotions onto them now, it will only ruin that beauty."
"Other emotions...?" Lu Xialan was on the verge of sobbing. "You’re saying... it’s all just 'other emotions'?"
"You, like Cheng Daguan and Cheng Xiaojing, are a friend I cherish deeply. Beyond that—there is nothing else."
"Liang He..." Lu Xialan shook her head gently. She closed her eyes, and a string of tears slid down her cheeks. When she opened them, her beautiful eyes were filled with sorrow. She asked, refusing to give up, "Is it because of Qiu Xiaoyun?"
"Xialan, over these years," Liang He’s face remained expressionless, yet Lu Xialan felt he was being incredibly cruel at this moment as his thin lips spoke, "regardless of the relationship between our families or whether Qiu Xiaoyun appeared, you should know better than anyone how I feel about you."
When Liang He returned to the courtyard, he felt exhausted.
Was it because they were young? Did they have to hear a clear, negative answer and shed final tears of parting before they could learn to turn away?
He had tried to preserve the image of that cute, bright girl—the innocent little sister from his childhood—but they had to grow up eventually. It was a pity that, in the process of growing up, they had taken different paths.
Perhaps he had long anticipated this day, but when it finally arrived, he couldn't help but feel a sense of regret.
The room was dark; Sima Feng likely hadn't returned from Wang Chen’s place yet. Liang He turned on the light, only to be startled by a figure sitting by the bed.
"You scared me! Why are you here? It’s pitch black—why didn't you turn on a light?"
Qiuyun asked coolly, "Where did you go?"
Liang He turned to pour her a cup of water. "Just a walk by the river."
"Alone?"
Liang He didn't answer. Seeing the room was otherwise empty, he asked instead, "Where’s Sima Feng?"
"Answer my question first." Qiuyun gave a half-smile. "What were you doing by the river? Meeting a lady for a date?"
Liang He felt a headache coming on and massaged the bridge of his nose. "Lu Xialan came to see me about something."
"Oh—" Qiuyun suppressed the small flame of anger in her heart and gave a meaningful 'oh.' "See, I guessed right. I was actually going to ask you—why is she even here? This is a field term for the Archaeology Department; what is a Literature major like her doing here?"
"How should I know?" Liang He paused, suddenly realizing that Qiuyun’s words were laced with hostility. He looked up at her before saying, "Apparently there’s some research project, but I don't know the details."
"You don't know?" Qiuyun looked at Liang He with exaggerated surprise, an ambiguous smile on her face. "Oh... those three days in Datong must have been very pleasant for you. I heard that during those three days, you and Teacher Lu were inseparable, sitting side-by-side at the same table..."
"Who told you that?" Liang He set down the teapot.
"Everyone."
*Who has such a big mouth?* Liang He thought. He placed the water cup on the small table in front of Qiuyun. A book was lying there, with three large characters written on the cover: *Sima Feng*. He had intended to ask why she was angry, but seeing that name, his movements slowed. He looked up and replied unhurriedly, "My studies over those three days were indeed very productive. However—I think you must have had a very happy three days yourself, haven't you?"
"Ha!" He actually had the nerve to admit it. Qiuyun jumped off the bed. To be honest, she *had* been very happy these past three days—dad on her left, mom on her right, a happy family of three! But that wasn't the point right now. Qiuyun said with a forced smile, "It was alright, certainly not as happy as someone was in Datong."
But Liang He had already seen the natural joy that had been flickering in her eyes earlier, and his expression grew even colder. "As long as you’re happy. Why bother asking how I was in Datong?"
"You..." Qiuyun was choked with indignation. He was the one having a secret affair in Datong, and now the woman had followed him all the way to Yunma Village, yet he was acting like this? On her way over, she had happened to overhear some girls from B University chatting about "rekindling an old flame" and "a match made in heaven." Qiuyun had barely managed to suppress her fury. She had planned to get a clear explanation from Liang He, but not only had he met the lady by the river, he had come back acting nonchalant and told her, "As long as you’re happy."
*I’m happy?*
*I’m not happy at all!*
The universe of anger in Qiuyun’s heart was beginning to burn. *This lady is very unhappy right now.*
Seeing Qiuyun staring at him in silence, Liang He softened his tone slightly. "It’s just as well that you’re here. Even if you hadn't come looking for me, I would have looked for you."
Qiuyun gave a cold snort. "Fine, you go first."
Liang He saw Qiuyun cross her arms, looking ready for a confrontation. Just as he was considering how to start, Qiuyun beat him to it. "If you can't say it, I’ll ask first. I’ll ask, and you answer honestly."
Liang He rubbed his forehead. "...Go ahead."
"During those three days, were you and Lu Xialan constantly together, attending classes together?"
"Yes. But..."
"Fine, so everything I heard was true," Qiuyun concluded, gritting her teeth before he could explain. She asked again, "And tonight, did you go for a walk by the river with her?"
"Yes, but..."
"Fine," Qiuyun interrupted him again. "So she came here specifically for you, didn't she?"
"..." Liang He was speechless.
"Fine, I’m done asking." Fuming with rage, Qiuyun turned to leave.
Liang He grabbed her arm and said quickly, "She confessed to me tonight, and I rejected her."
"She confessed to you?" Qiuyun caught only that part and nearly jumped.
"I rejected her. There is no possibility for us, objectively or subjectively. There never has been," Liang He added rapidly.
Qiuyun stopped in her tracks. She didn't turn around, but her eyes darted toward him.
Liang He continued, "You should be the one who understands the relationship between her and me best."
"If you don't, I’ll explain it to you slowly after I’m done questioning you."
Qiuyun turned around, her momentum weakening, though she still muttered, "I knew she was here for you. You’re just a 'bee-attracting' charmer."
"Attracting bees?" Liang He laughed at the phrase. "I’m not sure who’s the one attracting 'Feng,' and exactly what kind of 'Feng' they’re attracting."
"What do you mean?" Qiuyun didn't understand the pun on Sima Feng's name.
"Alright, you’ve finished your questions. Now it’s my turn." Liang He sat down calmly in the chair by the table.
"What is there to ask me?" Qiuyun found it ridiculous. "I’ve done nothing wrong. What could you possibly have to ask?"
"You’ve been very happy these past three days? Actually, you’ve probably been very happy this entire period, haven't you?"
Qiuyun was baffled. "Should I be spending my days crying instead of being happy?"
Liang He stared at her face without saying a word.
Qiuyun couldn't take it anymore. "What are you trying to say?"
Liang He’s expression wasn't great. He had been bottling this up for days, so he decided to be direct. "What exactly is going on between you and Sima Feng?"
"Me and Sima Feng?" *What does this have to do with Dad?* Qiuyun was completely lost. "What do you mean, 'what’s going on'?"
Did he know Sima Feng was her father? Impossible. That was absolutely impossible.
Liang He looked at Qiuyun’s innocent and bewildered face. He seemed to think of something and shook his head slightly, his face darkening further. "He’s Wang Chen’s boyfriend, isn't he?"
"Yes."
"You’ve never met him before?"
"No."
"Then you..." Liang He looked at Qiuyun with downcast eyes, then suddenly stopped. After a long moment, he let out a meaningful, half-mocking snort.
"What are you snorting for?" Qiuyun was even more confused.
Liang He didn't answer. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, resting his hands on the armrests, watching her expectantly, like a teacher waiting for a child who had made a mistake to reflect on their own actions.
???
Qiuyun’s mind raced through a thousand possibilities until a sudden realization struck her. *Wait... is he jealous of Sima Feng?*
Does he think she’s too close to Sima Feng?
No way... that’s her father!
Since when does a son-in-law get jealous of his father-in-law?
Oh no... wait, Liang He isn't Sima Feng’s son-in-law yet... why was she automatically thinking like that... but still!
This was one massive misunderstanding!
Qiuyun burst out laughing, unable to hold it in no matter how hard she tried.
As she laughed, Liang He’s face became even sourer.
Qiuyun felt like quoting a popular internet meme to him: "Lemon fruits on the lemon tree, and Liang He is sitting under the lemon tree, being sour."
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
十里河 | Ten-Mile River | A local river in the story.
招蜂引蝶 | Attracting bees and butterflies | A Chinese idiom for being flirtatious or charming; Liang He uses it to make a pun on Sima Feng's name (Feng/Peak vs. Bee).
柠檬树上柠檬果 | Lemon fruits on the lemon tree | Part of a Chinese internet meme ("Eating lemons") used to describe someone who is feeling jealous or "sour."
