“Don’t be fooled by his refined looks—he’s an old bachelor, nearly thirty and still unwed. Word has it he’s got issues in that department. The more he can’t have, the more he craves it. Around here, women of all ages steer clear of him.”
Zhang Wenyue spoke quickly, then belatedly realized that discussing such matters with Lin Aiyun—an unmarried young lady—might not be appropriate. She cut herself off, offering only a few brief warnings before changing the subject.
Before long, they reached the street where the vegetable stalls were set up.
Small vendors were scattered sparsely along the narrow street. The planned economy hadn’t been implemented yet, so trade was still free. Farmers from nearby villages would carry bamboo baskets into town to sell their homegrown produce—likely picked just this morning, as it all looked very fresh.
Zhang Wenyue was a master at haggling; her glib tongue left Lin Aiyun feeling inadequate. She dutifully followed behind, helping carry the groceries.
“It’s muddy here—stand over there and wait for me.”
It had drizzled the night before, and the potholed ground was bound to hold puddles of grime. Lin Aiyun was wearing the new leather shoes Zhang Wenhua had bought her not long ago—it would be a shame to get them dirty. So Zhang Wenyue told her to wait on the clean roadside with the bags while she finished shopping.
Unable to argue with her aunt, Lin Aiyun headed toward the roadside ahead of her.
There were many shops along this street, and the crowd was thick. Not wanting to be jostled, she stood close to the wall.
Suddenly, a commotion rippled through the crowd. Lin Aiyun looked up and saw a sleek black sedan brush past her, the breeze from it lifting her hem and sending her hair swirling into her eyes.
“Oh my, since when does our little town have people who can afford a car?” Zhang Wenyue had just finished shopping and walked up beside Lin Aiyun, scraping some mud off her soles on the curb. She only caught a glimpse of the car’s rear.
“Probably came from the provincial capital,” Lin Aiyun replied with a smile, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She didn’t give it much thought.
“Not our concern anyway. Come on—there’s an old shop down that alley that sells mung bean cakes. Let’s go buy a few catties.”
The two turned and walked away, ducking into a side alley.
What they didn’t know was that the car would turn around and drive back, stopping exactly where they had been standing.
Before the car had even fully stopped, a tall figure flung open the door and leaped out, searching the area frantically—but found nothing. He pinched the bridge of his nose, squeezed his eyes shut, and tried to steady his increasingly rapid breathing.
“Brother Cheng, what’s wrong?” Jiang Yan hurried out of the driver’s seat, scanned the surroundings, and saw nothing out of the ordinary, so he asked in confusion.
“Shut up!” Xiao Cheng slowly opened his eyes. In his dark pupils reflected the dim alleyway not far off. The cries of street vendors fell on his ears, but he only found them grating. He instinctively reached into his pocket for a cigarette, only to remember he’d left his jacket in the car.
“Yes.” Jiang Yan lowered his head and said no more.
Though he’d only seen a side profile, Xiao Cheng was certain it was her. He never doubted his instincts—especially about a woman who appeared in his dreams night after night. He had etched every detail deep into his memory. Even if she turned to ash, he wouldn’t mistake her.
Damn it. Where the hell did she go?
Xiao Cheng clenched his fists, unwilling to give up. He personally searched every shop nearby, but still came up empty.
“I’m giving you three days. Find her.” Xiao Cheng opened the car door, bent down, and pulled a neatly folded portrait from his jacket. His voice was taut and hoarse, laced with a hint of frustrated agitation.
This was the first time Jiang Yan had ever seen such emotion from Xiao Cheng. He was momentarily stunned, but his hands moved automatically, taking the portrait with both hands in deference. He quickly opened it for a glance—and his eyes widened involuntarily.
Wasn’t this the woman Brother Cheng had been making such a fuss about finding back in the capital?
Could it be that the real reason they came here wasn’t to see a doctor, but to search for this woman again?
But clearly, Xiao Cheng wasn’t about to offer any explanations.
The car started again. Before long, it pulled up outside an old, quaint residence. Xiao Cheng told Jiang Yan to stay in the car, then walked up to the door with the familiarity of a regular visitor. He knocked—the iron ring striking the heavy wooden door with a dull, jarring thud.
Before long, a middle-aged woman opened the door and respectfully ushered him inside.
The courtyard was small, with bamboo trays of drying herbs set out everywhere. The air was thick with the pungent smell of medicinal plants—sharp and overwhelming. Xiao Cheng raised his hand to cover his nose in discomfort, only lowering it once he’d grown accustomed to the scent.
“Same as today—acupuncture and herbal bath.” An elderly man in a black long robe stood beneath the corridor, seemingly waiting for some time. He raised his hand, signaling Xiao Cheng to follow. They turned a corner and entered an inner bath chamber.
The sound of water trickled steadily—scalding and steaming. Xiao Cheng removed his clothes and lowered himself into the wooden tub. He closed his eyes, letting the old man insert silver needles at various points on his body.
Only after the final needle was in place did the old man break the silence: “Have you still been dreaming lately?”
The moment the words left his mouth, Xiao Cheng’s eyes snapped open. His arms rested on the edge of the tub, his fingertips pressing against his temples. A low chuckle escaped from deep in his throat: “Mm. Still every night.”
The old man was momentarily at a loss. His hands trembled slightly as he packed up his medical kit. Before he could offer any explanation, the other man continued: “But the duration has shortened a lot. Your method does help.”
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come back.
“That’s good. With continued treatment, it should improve further.” Liu Chengzhang let out a breath of relief. He’d nearly been scared witless by Xiao Cheng’s habit of leaving sentences half-finished.
This young man was truly not to be trifled with—ill-tempered and eccentric. He had traveled all the way from the capital to seek treatment for a most peculiar ailment, unlike anything Liu had seen in his lifetime. He hadn’t wanted to take the case, but the man paid far too generously.
During his return to his hometown to escape the turmoil in Shanghai, Liu Chengzhang had spent most of his life’s savings. With the consultation fee Xiao Cheng was offering, it would be more than enough for him and his daughter to live out their days here in peace and stability.
So, despite the difficulty, he had gritted his teeth and taken the case on. He’d groped his way toward a relatively gentle approach to alleviate the young man’s abysmal sleep. He’d been somewhat anxious about the results, but thankfully, the prescription had worked.
“I’ll leave you to it.” With that, Liu Chengzhang quietly withdrew.
Only when he was alone in the room did Xiao Cheng truly relax. His long lashes lowered, his gaze falling on the greenish-black water. Yet against his will, the fleeting side profile he’d glimpsed surfaced in his mind.
Unlike in his dreams, she was extraordinarily young and vivid—a living, breathing person.
“Who exactly are you?”
·
“Aiyun Jie, you’re finally here!”
A bright, girlish voice rang out from the doorway—heard before seen. In an instant, a figure darted over and threw herself into Lin Aiyun’s arms as she was helping pick vegetables in the kitchen.
“Xiaochun.” Lin Aiyun caught Ding Rongchun in her arms. At the sight of her, the coolness in her brows melted away, her almond-shaped eyes brimming with a warm, radiant smile.
“Aiyun Jie.” Her brother Ding Ronghao came in a step later and greeted her equally politely.
Lin Aiyun responded, then reached out to measure their heights, surprised: “Ronghao, have you grown taller again? You’re almost as tall as I am now.”
Boys of that age changed day by day. Ding Ronghao, a little embarrassed, pressed his thumb and forefinger together to indicate “just a little” and grinned mischievously. “Just a tiny bit—a tiny bit!”
The room burst into laughter.
“These two have been thinking about you all along.” Ding Weidong appeared at the door, carrying a briefcase and the children’s textbooks. Middle-aged now, he had put on a little weight and wore glasses over his nose, giving him a refined and steady air.
Before Lin Aiyun could say anything, Ding Rongchun had already latched onto her. “Aiyun Jie, I want you to braid my hair like you did during New Year’s. My mom’s all thumbs—she can never get it right.”
“Braids, braids! We’re about to eat. And you’ll just have to take them out before bed anyway—how long can you show off?” Zhang Wenyue didn’t indulge Ding Rongchun’s whims. She came out of the kitchen carrying dishes and scolded her daughter without pause.
At that, Ding Rongchun pouted so hard it could hang a soy sauce bottle.
“Your Aiyun Jie had a long ride today—she must be exhausted. Do it tomorrow. Listen to your mother.” Fortunately, Ding Weidong stepped in as peacemaker.
“I know.” Ding Rongchun wasn’t unreasonable. Hearing this, she even ran over to offer Lin Aiyun a shoulder massage.
Before long, the Ding grandparents returned from work as well. After exchanging greetings, they all sat down to eat together. No one expressed any dissatisfaction about the sudden addition to the household—on the contrary, they were quite welcoming.
Lin Aiyun had felt a little out of place at first, but as the conversation flowed, she gradually relaxed.
In those days, there weren’t nearly as many forms of entertainment as in later times. Typically, after dinner, everyone chatted for a while, then washed up and went to bed. Soon, the household had drifted off to sleep.
But Lin Aiyun, who had been traveling all day, found herself unable to sleep. She helped Ding Rongchun pull up the covers, then lay on her back, staring blankly at the ceiling. Moonlight filtered through the window, draping over her like a thin veil.
She wanted to go to the capital to find Xiao Cheng.
It had been an obsession weighing on her heart since her rebirth—something she thought about constantly.
Yet reality didn’t allow her to act on it immediately. For one, she had no valid reason to go to the capital, so her family would never agree to let her travel alone, nor would they provide the funds. Train tickets and living expenses were exorbitant in these times; without money, every step would be a struggle.
For another, the country was still at war—the New China had not yet been established, and chaos reigned everywhere. Jiangming Province, not yet liberated, saw arson, looting, and murder going unchecked in some areas.
No matter how much she missed Xiao Cheng, she couldn’t act impulsively. She had to ensure her own safety before going to find him.
Lin Aiyun turned over again and slowly closed her eyes. For now, she’d focus on saving money.
Tomorrow, she’d look around the neighborhood to see if anyone was hiring. If not, she’d have to ask her aunt for help. She couldn’t just let these months go to waste, could she?
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