A Peach Wood Comb

Lai Hui began to feel puzzled. Why did Zhou Yuqian take that path that day? “Of course, he wouldn’t go that way; the road conditions are terrible, and there’s a cliff on the side. Unless he was in a rush, because it saves nearly an hour compared to the national highway,” Xiao Zhang glanced at Lai Hui, scratched his head, and continued, “Speaking of which, Mr. Zhou is really wealthy. He doesn’t even mind damaging his JAGUAR on such a rough road…” His words were unintentional, but they hit Lai Hui hard. She was like someone who had been hit with a pressure point, sitting there stiffly, her expression numb. Could it be that he took that path to save time to accompany her to Dalian to see the snow, and that’s why he was attacked? She crushed the now-empty disposable water cup, her heart aching as if it were being torn. If something had happened to him that day, if he couldn’t come back, wouldn’t it be because of her birthday that he lost his life? Why is it always like this? He never says anything, does things without letting anyone know. Does he have to wait until after we break up to make someone worry about him, to make someone scared for him? In the end, Xiao Zhang used his connections to have a small factory owner in town drive her up the mountain. Last time, she was too anxious to notice the road conditions, her mind only on Zhou Yuqian’s whereabouts. But this time, perhaps because she was more attentive, she truly felt the bumps and potholes of the road, each jolt making her unusually uncomfortable. The trees on the mountain cliff were now green, with sunlight casting golden spots on the mud. Lai Hui thanked the person who drove her, then got out of the car. Walking to the trees by the cliff’s edge, the slope was covered with grass taller than a person, with lush woods below. The mountains in early summer showed no trace of winter. She looked at the opposite mountain; the waterfall seemed like a suspended white ribbon flowing down. Such a beautiful and quiet place only made her feel estranged — has everything changed? She could hardly recognize anything anymore. She found a patch of grass to sit on, staring blankly at the setting sun by the mountain, lost in thought. She had clearly come here, so why was she still recalling that night on the cliff? From that night, she realized that saving Zhou Yuqian wasn’t about getting back her money, but about ensuring he was safe, no matter what. Yet, when both were living healthily in another city, they broke up. Why must human emotions be so complex? Why can’t they love each other and walk through all paths together? Life is short, yet wasted on unnecessary struggles. Later, she might not meet another man she loves, yet she would still have to marry him, and on some day when flipping through the calendar, she’d remember today is an anniversary with someone else. And Yuqian, he might meet someone he loves too, but would he think of the time when he risked his life just to be with her when passing by a certain cliff? As the seasons passed, so did their love. Is every unforgettable love destined to be cherished only in the years that follow? She was lost in thought, forgetting time, as the sky darkened, birds returned to their nests, and the silence of the forest was eerily quiet. A light rain began, its cool touch brushing her face. The darkness below the cliff resembled that night, yet she felt a comforting familiarity. The mountain was indeed terrifying, with strange, muffled sounds that she knew were just the wind passing through the trees, but still, it made her hair stand on end. She began to regret lingering here for so long, with no car in sight, would she have to spend the night here? She leaned over to look down the cliff a few more times, an absurd thought crossing her mind — if she fell, would Yuqian come looking for her? If he found her, could they start over? She shook her head, laughing at her own foolishness. Even if he still had feelings for her, being miles away, how could he come to her rescue? Falling would be seeking death. Better to find a farmer to stay with tonight and take a car down the mountain tomorrow. She took one last look at the cliff, as if to confirm her thoughts were impractical, and was about to turn when a beam of light shone from the mountain road, casting a dim yellow veil over the trees by the road. A car approached, stopping not far from her. She blinked, stunned. The headlights were still on, and the person who stepped out — tall, standing by the car, watched her for a moment before walking towards her. “What are you doing here? You left a Zhou Yuqian in City A, are you trying to pick up another one here?” Zhou Yuqian walked straight towards her, his teasing words reaching Lai Hui’s ears. The silence was so unreal, his deep voice seemed to travel through time, startling her regular heartbeat — it was Yuqian! She forgot to breathe, standing there, watching his figure come closer, closer until her face was against his jacket, smelling the faint scent of smoke on him. Then, his arms wrapped around her — he was holding her, whispering in her ear, “Were you thinking if you jumped, I’d come looking for you? You fool!” His voice was as gentle as a warm breeze brushing past her earlobe. Lai Hui’s shoulders trembled violently, tears sliding from her eyes. She finally reached out her arms to tightly hug his waist, her forehead pressed against his shoulder, murmuring anxiously, “I wasn’t thinking of jumping, I was just looking, then I was about to leave, but I’m not that foolish —” She felt clumsy, unable to express herself clearly, wanting to stop talking, yet unable to control her mouth, or perhaps her heart, which was in turmoil, leaving her hands and feet in disarray. Moments later, she heard a sigh, which made her stop talking, just clutching his collar tightly, crying silently in his embrace. “Don’t cry every time like this, as if all the reason is on your side. Tell me, what were you doing here alone at night? What if something happened? You’re not that young anymore, are you trying to worry me on purpose?” He knew why she was here, asking only to hear the truth from her, and he should let her know he was worried about her, not like before, thinking that doing things with care was enough. Misunderstandings often arise this way. “I don’t know what happened, I just sat here until night,” Lai Hui lifted her tear-stained face, looking at Zhou Yuqian, suddenly smiling, “Maybe like you said, trying to pick up another Zhou Yuqian, and I actually did.” She stood on her toes, closed her eyes, and kissed him. Initially, it was just a light brush of lips, but then Yuqian bent down, tightened his grip around her waist, deepening the kiss. The night deepened, and the car lights remained brightly lit. Raindrops, like silver threads, intertwined and twisted in the air. Lai Hui’s back was pressed against the rough bark of a tree, the coarse texture scraping her skin, sending a fiery pain through her nerves, yet she felt no discomfort. Instead, a sense of joy welled up from within her heart. She clung tightly to Yu Qian’s neck, the mountain breeze making her feel increasingly warm. Yu Qian moved away from her lips, kissing her neck, and she called out in a low, melodious voice, “Yu Qian, Yu Qian, Yu Qian!” Her voice gradually softened, but her courage grew. Following her heart, she said, “Yu Qian, I love you!”