“Hello, I’m Bai Lingling, just moved in yesterday.” “I’m Bo Bing, room 322, and you?” “421.” I was secretly worried for this beautiful woman, wanting to warn her about the pervert downstairs, but held back to avoid misunderstandings. Lingling, also an engineering doctoral student, had been in Japan for almost a year, finally applying for the Osaka University international student dormitory this vacation. We got along well quickly. Learning her dorm had no internet and she stayed in the study room online late every night, I gave her Ye Zhengchen’s account and password, thinking it was just Japanese resources. One rainy day during a holiday, I invited Lingling to Arashiyama in Kyoto to see cherry blossoms. In the light rain, Arashiyama was filled with dancing cherry blossoms, no longer the lush red leaves of autumn from last year. She gazed into the distance, a tear sliding down her cheek, perhaps missing home. I stood quietly, seeing myself from last year, remembering Ye Zhengchen holding my hand running across Togetsukyo Bridge… That clear memory made me understand: During the last Kyoto trip, Ye Zhengchen had already paused in a corner of my heart. I just didn’t want to admit it! “What are you thinking?” I asked Lingling. She looked distantly.
“Thinking of someone, wondering how he’s doing.” “Your boyfriend?” “Yes, we’ve already broken up.” Perhaps due to the recent breakup, I sensed the helplessness and lack of regret in her eyes. I believed that man must have hurt her deeply, yet she remained complaint-free. I looked up, breathing in the crisp air and said, “It’s okay, it will pass.” She smiled and wiped away her tears. I took her hand and walked quickly toward the bridge’s end: “Come, I’ll show you the stone tablet with our premier’s inscription!”
It rained all day. After returning from Kyoto, I went to the convenience store for my shift. I arranged the lunch boxes on the counter. With no customers around, Li Kai asked, “Xiao Bing, are you free tomorrow?” “Tomorrow? Do you want me to cover your shift?” I glanced at the calendar; tomorrow was Ye Zhengchen’s birthday, and I considered taking leave. “No!” Li Kai said. “Brother Feng said everyone wants to celebrate his birthday with dinner and karaoke.” “Oh.” “Are you coming?”
