CITM - 34

Ye Yun didn’t sleep well that night. She wasn’t used to sharing a bed with Tong Mingfang, feeling awkward and restrained. But under the circumstances, this was the most suitable arrangement. Late into the night, her mind was flooded with tangled thoughts, making it hard for her to find peace.

Reflecting on it, she had been in the city for quite some time now, but truly peaceful days had been few and far between.

Only after solidifying her relationship with Bai Wenfu did she gradually stop caring about others’ opinions and enjoy a few days of comfort and tranquility. However, with Wenbin’s return, those days were once again shattered.

In the morning, Ye Yun woke up slightly later than usual. When she returned from the washroom, Wenbin had already prepared a bowl of warm porridge for her and sat beside her, keeping her company.

Tong Mingfang was busy somewhere nearby, bustling around the table. Bai Wenfu had risen early; a light bulb in the house had burned out, so he bought a new one early in the morning and was now troubleshooting the wiring issues.

Seeing that Ye Yun had nearly finished eating, Wenbin said to her: “Let me show you something.”

He pulled a crumpled piece of paper from the inner pocket of his coat and placed it in front of Ye Yun.

This piece of paper had traveled across oceans, through life and death, always kept close to his heart.

Ye Yun set down her spoon and picked up the palm-sized piece of paper. On it, her likeness was sketched with lines. She stared at the drawing, her thoughts swirling with confusion and surprise.

Wenbin leaned closer and said: “I drew this when I first went overseas. Whenever I missed you, I would take it out and look at it. How do you think it turned out?”

Ye Yun’s fingers holding the paper grew warm. The figure on the paper still wore two braids, dressed in that floral-patterned polyester dress, smiling gently.

She placed the paper back on the table and handed it to him: “It’s good.”

Wenbin picked up the paper, his eyes clouded with an indelible melancholy: “After I was sent to the mountains and lay on the straw in that earthen hut, it was you who stayed with me…”

Ye Yun’s expression froze. Tong Mingfang waved a cloth unconsciously, her peripheral vision tightly fixed on her second son. Bai Wenfu, standing on a stool at a height, also lowered his gaze at that moment.

The companionship Wenbin spoke of wasn’t Ye Yun herself but rather the person in the drawing, more like a spiritual presence. His ability to utter these words was enough to stir Ye Yun’s emotions uncontrollably.

A faint trace of pain appeared on Wenbin’s pale face as he said to Ye Yun: “I kept telling myself, I couldn’t die. If I died, what would you do? I couldn’t leave you behind…”

By the end of his sentence, his voice choked up. A grown man’s eyes reddened in front of Ye Yun—how could she remain unmoved? After hearing these words, her eyes were already moist.

She had almost forgotten this man’s face. Yet, he should have been her original husband. On the other side of the Earth, even on the brink of death, he had always thought of her. Relying on his longing for her, he endured. Such a revelation weighed heavily on Ye Yun, making it hard for her to breathe.

The human heart is soft. To say she wasn’t moved would be a lie. More than anything, she felt guilt. This emotion seeped into every pore of Ye Yun’s body, eroding her, making her reluctant to do anything that might hurt him further.

Wenbin’s sudden emotional fluctuations alerted the Bai family. The Wenbin they knew before was open and cheerful, embodying the saying that “men don’t easily shed tears.” He shouldn’t have become so emotional.

His gaze firmly locked onto Ye Yun. Suddenly, he grabbed her wrist resting on the table, his eyes brimming with an ocean of unshed tears, deep and intense: “My greatest regret is not going to the photo studio with you before I left. If I had a picture of you, I wouldn’t feel so lost without seeing your face when I miss you. Why don’t we go to the photo studio now?”

Tong Mingfang glanced at the look Bai Wenfu shot over and hastily dropped the cloth, interjecting: “Oh, just got home and you’re talking about going to the photo studio? Ye Yun has to go to the tailor shop; there’s so much work waiting. Hurry up, don’t be late.”

As Tong Mingfang spoke, Ye Yun subtly withdrew her hand and wiped the corner of her eye.

Wenbin also reined in his sentimental emotions and asked: “Mom told me you’re working at Master Zhang’s place now?”

Ye Yun nodded.

Wenbin suggested: “I’ll take you there.”

Bai Wenfu climbed down from the high place, picked a stool, and sat by the door, lowering his head. He bit a cigarette in his mouth but didn’t light it immediately.

“No need, I’ll ride my bike.”

Wenbin paused: “Riding a bike? When did you buy it?”

“Just... recently.” Unconsciously, she glanced at Bai Wenfu. His eyes were lowered; his expression unreadable.

Wenbin didn’t insist further, only advising her to be careful on the road.

Ye Yun picked up her things and headed toward the door. Bai Wenfu stretched out his long legs, blocking her path. She stopped, but he remained motionless, seemingly unaware of her intention to leave.

She softly called out: “Big Brother, please move aside.”

Bai Wenfu’s dark eyes flickered, slowly raising his head, his gaze piercing. Just a few days ago, he was simply “Wenfu,” and now he was back to being “Big Brother.”

Looking at Ye Yun’s tear-reddened eyes because of Wenbin, Bai Wenfu’s lips curled into a cold, enigmatic smile. In the end, he retracted his legs and let her go.

Upon arriving at the tailor shop, a regular customer came with fabric in hand and asked Ye Yun: “I heard that your Wenbin is back alive. Is it true or false?”

Ye Yun tightly clutched the fabric and nodded slightly. The person wanted to ask more, but Master Zhang raised his gaze, looked at Ye Yun, and said to the customer: “Come take a look at this.”

Thus, the topic was deflected.

However, in places where Ye Yun couldn’t see, news of Wenbin’s return quietly spread throughout Erwei Alley. Adding to the mix, Peng Liang, who was originally expected to return, couldn’t come back. The Peng family mourned loudly, and the story spread wider.

Before Aunt Ma Jianliang returned to the village, she visited the supply and marketing cooperative, planning to bring some scarce items back. Hearing others discussing the Bai family’s affairs, she listened attentively and learned that the man Ye Yun married had returned alive. This was joyous news, and she planned to visit Ye Yun’s family in the village to deliver the good news.

In the evening, Ye Yun rode her bike home, and Wenbin was already waiting for her in the corridor. People passing by carefully observed and whispered among themselves. These murmurs formed dark clouds hanging overhead, pressing down on Ye Yun, making her feel an invisible pressure.

Tong Mingfang had prepared dinner. After Ye Yun returned home and washed her hands, she went to help serve the food. Wenbin practically never left her side. As she served the food, he carried the bowls.

When Bai Wenfu returned home, the first thing he saw was the pair standing close together. He didn’t know what Wenbin said to Ye Yun, but she smiled at him, presenting a harmonious and warm scene. Ironically, just a few days ago, the man beside Ye Yun was him.

Unaware of Bai Wenfu’s return, Ye Yun tidied up the stove and prepared to enter the house. As she turned around, she saw Bai Wenfu leaning against the pull rod behind her, staring at her with a complex expression.

Ye Yun’s heart tightened instantly, beating wildly. Flustered, she turned around, prepared a bowl of food for Bai Wenfu, handed it to him, and avoided his gaze, saying: “Come home for dinner.”

Bai Wenfu straightened up, raised his hand to take the bowl. His fingertips brushed against hers, and Ye Yun instinctively pulled back. She turned and entered the house.

After dinner, Lei Zi came to visit Wenbin, and Wenbin went to the corridor to catch up with him. Ye Yun stood up to collect the dishes, and Bai Wenfu lifted his eyelids, took the dishes, and placed them back on the table, gripping her hand.

When his warm palm covered hers, Ye Yun’s nose reddened. She glanced at the doorway; although Wenbin’s figure wasn’t visible, she could still hear him chatting with Lei Zi.

She nervously tried to pull away, and Bai Wenfu seemed to want to say something. Just then, Tong Mingfang emerged from the room, startled at the sight. She hurriedly ran over to Ye Yun and said: “Quick, quick, go wash the dishes. I’ll go with you.”

Bai Wenfu pursed his lips, his gaze cold as he released her hand.

Since the day Wenbin returned, Ye Yun hadn’t touched that sewing machine again. Bai Wenfu’s door was usually closed year-round, and Wenbin hadn’t noticed anything unusual. Tong Mingfang was tacitly aware of this matter. Given the current situation at home, she dared not leave the house, especially in the evenings when all three were home, causing her to be highly strung.

Bai Wenfu rarely had the chance to speak with Ye Yun. After Wenbin’s return, his feelings for Ye Yun, beyond romantic affection, developed an additional layer of indescribable attachment. Whenever Ye Yun was at home, his eyes always lingered on her. This made Ye Yun very cautious, increasingly avoiding intersections with Bai Wenfu. It wasn’t just fear of Wenbin noticing something and being triggered—it was primarily because she didn’t know how to continue with Bai Wenfu.

Such seemingly calm days passed for a few days. One night, Ye Yun got up to use the restroom. Bai Wenfu was smoking in the corridor. When she opened the door and saw him, her steps hesitated.

Bai Wenfu didn’t turn his head, so Ye Yun pretended not to see him, closed the door, and walked toward the end of the corridor.

On her way back, Bai Wenfu’s broad figure stood by the stairs. She intended to pretend not to see him again. Just as she reached him, his arm swept across her waist, pulling her close and lifting her off the ground.

When her feet touched the ground again, she was placed in the corner of the corridor. His towering shadow enveloped her completely, pressing her against him. Her lips were ravaged, crushed.

Ye Yun wanted to escape, but he held her head, leaving no room for retreat.

The long-lost flutter exploded in her chest. She trembled, enduring his kiss, her legs weak, like a dehydrated fish, tense with fear and uncontrollable emotions, barely able to stand.

He supported her weight, letting her lean into his embrace.

The moment he released her, moisture had gathered in the corners of Ye Yun’s eyes: “Don’t do this anymore.”

“What?” He forcefully parted her limp knees, his gaze burning with scorching heat.

“Otherwise... we should stop...” Ye Yun hid in his arms, warily watching the staircase entrance, not knowing when someone might pass by, too scared to speak.

But Bai Wenfu turned her face, forcing her to look directly at him.

“Look at me. Stop what? Stop being with me? Then who do you want to be with? Wenbin?”

Her face puckered under his grip, her eyes brimming with tears, looking pitiful. Though she didn’t know how to handle the future, given the unclear situation, she didn’t want to maintain such a twisted relationship with Bai Wenfu.

Clearly, Bai Wenfu saw through her thoughts. He tightened his fingers, a faint blush covering his elongated eyes: “Are you scared now? Wanting to retreat? Did you ask if I agreed?”

His hand slipped under her shirt. After several days without touching her, the moment her soft body fell into his arms, he was about to lose control. Breathing heavily, he bit her lips, and amidst her dazed consciousness, she heard him say: “You are mine. I won’t agree to you retreating, not even for Wenbin.”

He cupped her face, looking deeply into her eyes: “Promise me.”

Only after hearing her faint “Mm” did he release her.

With a low voice, he said: “Give Wenbin some time to adjust. Later, I will find a way.”

He adjusted her blouse and watched her return.

As Ye Yun reached the front of the house, she turned back. Bai Wenfu was still there, his brows furrowed, gazing at her. His figure appeared cold and desolate.

She felt uneasy, and he surely felt the same. He was his younger brother; he must be in an even more difficult position, caught between a rock and a hard place. But he didn’t choose to give up. The determination in his eyes deeply moved Ye Yun. How could she so easily give up on him?

Opening the door in the dark, Ye Yun had just gotten into bed when Tong Mingfang’s voice came from the darkness: “Where did you go?”

Startled, Ye Yun replied: “To the bathroom.”

“For so long?”

“There was a line…”

Tong Mingfang turned over and stopped speaking.