What is love?
Later, while recording a radio segment on this very theme, Lin Jiang gave serious thought to the meaning of love.
At the end of the broadcast, she read these words:
"Rather than a grand, public display of affection every day, I hope that decades from now, your lover is still me.
Rather than a gift bought specifically for an anniversary, I hope that one day while we are out, you suddenly see a dress, your eyes light up as you say it suits me perfectly, and you hold it up against me like an excited child before saying with a cocky grin, 'It looks great, let’s get it.'
Rather than the sweetness others see, I hope you are the one who tucks me in at dawn when I am half-asleep.
I hope I am your favorite, and that while loving you, I never have to envy anyone else.
Isn't love just finding sweetness in the cracks of a mundane life, making the trivialities of the everyday shine?"
The days were lingering and beautiful, ticking forward without pause.
At the end of August, it was Wang Jiaqian’s birthday.
Qin Zhao had helped her book a place called Blossom Nook on Hong Kong Street. By the time Lin Jiang and Jiang Weifeng arrived, the party was already in full swing.
Lin Jiang went to give Wang Jiaqian her gift, and just as she handed over a box, Jiang Weifeng hurriedly offered a second one. Wang Jiaqian raised an eyebrow playfully. "Well, look at you two, preparing two gifts for me? You shouldn't have, really."
Jiang Weifeng smiled. "Xiang said if you tried to thank us, I should tell you not to mention it—it’s only right."
Wang Jiaqian’s expression immediately soured.
Just then, Qin Zhao approached, dressed in a sharp suit to greet them. "Why is everyone chatting here? Everyone is waiting for the birthday girl."
Wang Jiaqian pursed her lips. "I’ll head over then."
Qin Zhao patted Lin Jiang on the shoulder. "Jiang, you go have fun too." After speaking, he didn't forget to give Jiang Weifeng a polite nod and a smile.
Jiang Weifeng’s eyes turned cold enough to freeze. Watching Qin Zhao’s retreating back, he asked, "What exactly is Wang Jiaqian’s taste in men?"
Lin Jiang shrugged and asked, "Did Gu Xiang really say that to you?"
Jiang Weifeng subtly rubbed the shoulder Qin Zhao had just touched. "Half and half."
The "don't mention it" part was true; the "it's only right" part was a lie.
The birthday party lasted until eleven at night.
As things broke up, Qin Zhao was already a mess from drinking, leaning haphazardly against Wang Jiaqian’s petite frame.
In the end, Jiang Weifeng drove. He dropped Zhou Wan off first, then took a detour to take Wang Jiaqian and the drunken Qin Zhao home. On the way, Qin Zhao’s phone kept ringing. Lin Jiang asked Wang Jiaqian, "Should you answer it? In case it’s something important?"
Wang Jiaqian mumbled, "It’s just a friend of his, I know him. It shouldn't be anything."
Lin Jiang turned her head and stopped asking. Two traffic lights later, they reached their destination.
By then, Qin Zhao had sobered up slightly. Though he was still dazed, he could walk in a straight line with Wang Jiaqian’s support.
Lin Jiang asked if Jiang Weifeng should help them up, but Wang Jiaqian said it wasn't necessary and hurried Qin Zhao toward the building. As Qin Zhao turned, he mumbled, "Lin Jiang, come on, come inside for a bit..."
Lin Jiang quickly waved her hand, signaling Wang Jiaqian to take him away.
Watching the two enter the building, Lin Jiang returned to the car.
As fate would have it, Gu Xiang called at that exact moment. Jiang Weifeng answered while reversing the car. Just as he finished the maneuver, Lin Jiang’s sharp eyes spotted a phone on the back seat.
She tugged at Jiang Weifeng’s sleeve, signaling him to stop, and grabbed Wang Jiaqian’s phone to return it.
Jiang Weifeng, still on the phone, mouthed to her: "Hurry back."
It was an old residential area with buildings no higher than six stories. Wang Jiaqian lived on the third floor—not too high, not too low. Lin Jiang climbed the stairs quickly.
She was about to knock when she realized the door was slightly ajar.
She knocked politely anyway and called out tentatively a couple of times. No one answered. Entering the apartment, she heard the sound of running water from the bathroom. She walked toward it, but as she passed the bedroom, the door suddenly swung open.
Lin Jiang jumped in fright.
Qin Zhao was tall, and standing before her, he cast a large shadow. He seemed to have come out for water, frowning and complaining of thirst.
Lin Jiang quickly called out for Wang Jiaqian.
To her horror, Qin Zhao suddenly grabbed her with force and shoved her into the bedroom. She fell face-down on the floor, the pain making her gasp. She heard the door being shut and locked, but before she could react, someone grabbed her foot from behind, flipped her over, and tried to pin her down.
Lin Jiang was terrified. She instinctively kicked out wildly, losing a shoe in the struggle.
Qin Zhao’s face drew closer. He lunged at her with his full weight. Lin Jiang fought with everything she had, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face, but her throat felt as if it were filled with ash; she couldn't make a sound. Memories cut into her like shards of glass, flooding over her.
Qin Zhao’s eyes flickered like a hungry wolf that had finally found prey. He laughed recklessly. "Tsk, tsk. Lin Jiang, am I dreaming tonight?"
As he reached out to tear at her clothes, Lin Jiang shrank back, retreating until she hit the window. There was nowhere left to go.
A breeze blew through the screen, bringing a flicker of clarity to Lin Jiang’s mind. In a flash of desperation, she forced herself up and screamed toward the window: "Jiang Weifeng! Help!"
Those four words felt as though they had cost her her very lifeblood, exhausting all her strength.
This enraged Qin Zhao.
The last shred of his restraint vanished. He grabbed her and raised his hand to strike.
"Qin Zhao!" Wang Jiaqian pushed the door open, frozen in shock.
She burst into tears instantly but still bravely rushed forward, pulling at the man with all her might. "Are you out of your mind? This is Lin Jiang! Let her go!"
Qin Zhao shoved Wang Jiaqian away. The slap intended for Lin Jiang landed squarely on Wang Jiaqian’s face with a sharp *crack*. His gaze was manic. "It’s Lin Jiang I fucking want!"
"You absolute bastard!"
Jiang Weifeng had been chatting idly with Gu Xiang on the phone when he heard a piercing scream from upstairs. Realizing what was happening, he sprinted up the stairs and into the apartment like a madman.
The moment he entered, he heard those words.
Filthy, insulting, soul-crushing words.
He froze for a single second, saw the woman lying on the bed with hollow eyes, and his own eyes instantly turned bloodshot.
Without a word, he strode over to Qin Zhao and threw a heavy punch, landing it squarely and ruthlessly on his face. Qin Zhao was stunned, but before he could react, Jiang Weifeng—his gaze fierce and teeth clenched—hit him a second time, a third, a fourth...
The sound of fists hitting flesh made Lin Jiang’s heart race with terror. Seeing that Qin Zhao’s face was already covered in blood, she used the last of her strength to shout: "Jiang Weifeng!"
The man stopped, his breathing heavy and ragged.
She stood up, walked to him, and hugged him. "I want to go home."
Jiang Weifeng stroked her hair with aching tenderness. He glanced at Wang Jiaqian, who was sitting on the floor weeping, then dialed a number. "I’m giving you an address. Get over here right now."
Then, he carefully picked Lin Jiang up and carried her away, step by step.
She trembled the entire way. Once they reached Bliss Apartments, Jiang Weifeng parked the car and carried her upstairs.
Later, she said she wanted to bathe. She stayed in the bathroom for two full hours before coming out.
Jiang Weifeng used that time to make some porridge.
Lin Jiang took two bites and said she was tired. Jiang Weifeng held her as she lay down. Her breathing was incredibly faint, as if she had used up every ounce of energy. She had nightmares in the middle of the night and couldn't fall back asleep afterward.
Jiang Weifeng held her like that all night, not daring to shift his position.
The next morning, Jiang Weifeng got up early to make something in the kitchen, but Lin Jiang grabbed his arm.
Jiang Weifeng’s heart softened instantly. He leaned down to kiss her lips. "Lin Jiang, I’m not leaving."
Only then did Lin Jiang loosen her grip.
"But you need to eat something." Jiang Weifeng traced the corner of her mouth with his thumb. "Come to the kitchen with me?"
Lin Jiang stared blankly for a few seconds before nodding. "Okay."
Since they had started their relationship, Jiang Weifeng often stayed at her place. He knew exactly where every spoon in her kitchen was kept.
Once in the kitchen, he expertly warmed some milk and toasted some bread. When he brought it to her, he found her still dazed. He patted her back, gently tucked her hair behind her ears, and leaned down to feed her.
Lin Jiang took two bites of the toast, and tears began to fall again.
Distressed and anxious, Jiang Weifeng pulled her into his arms. "It’s okay. It’s over now."
He comforted her for a long time before she finally fell asleep.
Jiang Weifeng took his phone to the bathroom and splashed his face with cold water to calm himself. He called Gu Xiang. "How is it?"
Gu Xiang’s voice was also cold. "Wang Jiaqian was terrified. She cried for most of the night and hasn't woken up yet."
"And him?"
"I didn't dare send him to the hospital. What do you want to do?"
"Look into him. I haven't had much contact with him, but based on my impression... he’s the type who likes to show off. There will be dirt to find."
Water dripped from the ends of his hair. Jiang Weifeng stared at himself in the mirror, his gaze sharp and unforgiving.
It had never been such a long day. Jiang Weifeng sat on the edge of the bed, counting the seconds as they passed.
Lin Jiang slept for a long time, though her brow remained furrowed. Jiang Weifeng tried to smooth it several times but failed. She woke up in the afternoon, her eyes meeting Jiang Weifeng’s face. He looked haggard, with a shadow of stubble on his chin, but his eyes were still bright.
Seeing her open her eyes, he smiled. "You're awake."
It was just like the other times they had stayed together; he would wake up first, and when he finished washing up, he would find her watching him get ready. His tone was casual, even carrying a hint of a smile at the end.
As if nothing had happened.
Lin Jiang took a deep breath. "What time is it?"
"Not quite six yet," he smiled.
She propped herself up. "I just had a very long dream."
Jiang Weifeng propped up the pillow and helped her lean against it. "If I’m not in it, I don't want to hear it."
She smiled. "I don't know if it was a dream. It was just some things from the past. I haven't looked back at them in a long time, and now they feel surreal."
Jiang Weifeng watched her silently for a few seconds. "I want to hear."
Where to begin?
Lin Jiang was silent for a while, until the sky outside began to darken and the harsh sunlight turned soft.
During this time, Jiang Weifeng waited patiently for the girl before him to speak.
Lin Jiang swallowed. Before speaking, she organized her thoughts. "You once asked me why I used to run all over the world, didn't you?"
Lin Jiang looked at Jiang Weifeng, licked her lips, and continued. "When I was young, I really liked Sanmao. I used to fantasize about the thousands of miles she traveled. Later, when I encountered something I couldn't face, I simply went wandering. It was a form of self-exile."
Jiang Weifeng sat on the edge of the bed, holding her hand.
Her voice was soft but steady. "Back then, the classmates who knew where I was going all said they envied me..." She paused and gave a small smile. "After all, at that age, everyone was either just entering the workforce as corporate drones or still studying."
At this point, Lin Jiang suddenly fell silent.
Jiang Weifeng felt a pang of pain in his hand; she was gripping him tightly, as if making a final decision.
Finally, she spoke. "Zhang Juntao... do you know him? Well... Aunt Zheng should know... During my senior year, I interned with him. He... he did to me what Qin Zhao tried to do yesterday."
***
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