Sangsang was just about to flip open the book cover when suddenly, her phone rang. She answered it, and Zhong Shuyun’s voice ca through: "Sangsang, I’ve heated the buns for you. Co quickly and eat them while they’re still hot."
"Alright, I’ll be right over." Sangsang put the book back on the shelf and climbed down from her chair. She grabbed the books she had gathered today, packing them into a bag, but the bag couldn’t hold them all—one book had to be carried in her hand. Taking a last look around the study, Sangsang closed the door.
The copy of *Through Emotions* she had picked up earlier was placed back in its original spot, hidden in the shadows, just as it was in the past.
The buns were served in two bamboo stears, neatly arranged one by one. Sangsang ate two, her stomach already feeling a bit full since she’d had breakfast that morning. But Zhong Shuyun’s cooking was good, and the buns were delicious. Under Zhong Shuyun’s urging, Sangsang buried her head and ate another bun, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Zhong Shuyun laughed, selected a stear of buns and a plate of dumplings for Sangsang to take ho, saying, "Co, Auntie will walk you back."
"Auntie Zhong, no." Sangsang hurriedly grabbed her things, picked up her bag, and dashed to the door. She turned back, saying, "I’ll take the subway ho myself. You rest up; it’s so hot outside. It’s almost noon, and I’m young—it’s no trouble for to take the subway. There’s no need for you to send ."
Sangsang was well accustod to Auntie Zhong’s enthusiasm, but considering the midsumr heat, she felt it inappropriate to have soone escort her when she could easily travel by herself.
She understood Zhong Shuyun’s character—unyielding, unlikely to take no for an answer. Sangsang quickly flung the door open, poked her head out, grinned, and waved a hand: "Auntie Zhong, goodbye!"
"Sangsang, take it slow on the way!" Zhong Shuyun chased after her, opening the door again, but the hallway was already empty—Sangsang was gone.
"Ah, that kid," she sighed helplessly, standing at the door for a while, her gaze lingering on Sangsang’s disappearing figure until it was completely out of sight. Then she finally closed the door. Lying on the sofa was a book, *Night Banquet*. Zhong Shuyun’s eyes flashed with a realization; she picked it up, intending to return it to Sangsang later. A photo tucked inside the book fell to the floor.
Zhong Shuyun bent to retrieve the photo, her expression mirroring Sangsang’s earlier bewildernt. She murmured in confusion, "This is Zhenxing. But this one... I’ve never seen before."
Sangsang carried two bags back ho. As soon as she stepped through the door, the aroma of food greeted her.
Xu Zhenxing’s father erged from the kitchen, carrying a dish of freshly braised crystal pork shoulder. He placed it on the dining table, which was draped with green checkered cloth, and moved to help Sangsang with her bags, offering a kind smile: "Here, give your things. Go wash your hands—it’s ti to eat."
"Dad, here, take this." Sangsang handed him the bag from Zhong Shuyun. "I bumped into Auntie Zhong on the way back. These are buns and dumplings she made for us."
Xu’s father, hearing Zhong Shuyun’s na, let out a sigh that blended nostalgia with resignation: "Shuyun hasn’t changed a bit. You must thank her properly."
"If anyone’s thanking her, it’s on you, Dad. Auntie Zhong said they’re specially saved for you."
Sangsang joked slyly, not waiting for her father’s reply as she carried her books upstairs, arranging them one by one on her newly purchased bookshelf. Once the books were neatly placed, she glanced at her work with satisfaction, closed the door, and was about to head out. As the door clicked shut behind her, sothing ca to her mind, and she let out a frustrated cry, "I’m missing a book—I left it at Auntie Zhong’s place."
It hadn’t occurred to her earlier, but now the thought of the book, which she’d carried in her hand, popped into her mind.
When Sangsang went downstairs, her father was on the phone. She passed by, noticing his nodding expression. His voice was warm and casual, the tone one reserved for old friends, "Shuyun, I can’t match your cooking skills. When we were younger, everyone used to rush to your house for buns."
On the other end of the line: "Ah, yes, those were such long-ago days. In the blink of an eye, we’ve grown old."
"But you’re still the sa—always strong-willed. Shuyun, you should find soone to share your life with. I have Sangsang to look after in the future, but you’re alone—it’s isolating."
Zhong Shuyun seed to sigh but didn’t fully respond: "Well, actually, I wanted to tell you sothing. Sangsang was at my place today and left a book behind. Tell her about it, or it can wait—I’ll bring it over soti when I’m free. Oh, Zhenxing, about that photo in the book—what’s the story? Sangsang seed puzzled—it’s soone she’s never seen before."
Xu Zhenxing paused: "What photo?"
"The one inside the book. It’s you when you were young, standing next to a girl. You both were wearing our high school uniforms. Maybe I’m just old and my mory’s failing, but I don’t recall us having soone like her in our class—it’s strange." Zhong Shuyun’s real concern was that she’d known most of the people Xu Zhenxing was close to during his youth. It seed impossible for him to have been close to a girl without her knowing. Even now-famous Xia Danhui, she recognized.
A sharp pang struck Xu Zhenxing, his fingers clutching the phone tighter. His middle-aged face suddenly appeared weathered, as if he had aged a decade in an instant. His sowhat cloudy eyes gazed forward, as though trying to peer through an invisible barrier into another realm—a place buried deep within his mories, slipping away through the sands of ti, only to be casually dredged back up.
Real yet unreal, dreamlike yet grounded.
Sangsang had been listening from the sidelines, hoping to catch ntion of her book, but was instead taken aback by the discovery of a father she had never seen before—deep, lancholic, harboring secrets.
"Zhenxing? Zhenxing?" Zhong Shuyun’s voice called out in confusion.
"I’ll go get it right now!" Xu Zhenxing said, his voice shaking slightly. He ended the call and staggered towards the door.
"Dad." Sangsang asked with concern, "Are you going to Auntie Zhong’s house?"
"Yes. Sangsang, go ahead and eat—you don’t need to wait for ."
Sangsang hesitated briefly before responding, "Dad, I left a book at Auntie Zhong’s place. Could you bring it back for ?"
"Alright."
...
At the intersection, the traffic light turned red. A car in front ca to a stop, and Xu Zhenxing’s car slowed as it approached.
He gazed at the bustling scene through the left-side window, his eyes glazed over. Turning back, he reached for the photo he had picked up from Zhong Shuyun’s place—his fingers, slightly wrinkled, brushed against the image of the beautiful woman. He didn’t rember ever eting her, yet there was a profound sense of familiarity gnawing at him.
Every cell, every nerve of his ached for her, but he couldn’t conjure a single mory.
That woman, that woman...
With just one glance, his heart surged and trembled. Who was she?
The blaring sound of car horns startled him awake. The car in front had already moved on—it was now green light, and his delay had provoked those behind him. He pressed the gas pedal, his car inching forward. The towering buildings and flowing crowds started to recede, like fleeting images of bygone years.
By chance, he glanced sideways. The City Library lood into view. All the blood in his body seed to boil over, his heart felt as though it were exploding. Without realizing it, he uttered a sound: "Library... Sunday... Youi! It’s Youi! It’s You—"
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