Chapter Text
October 2021
YiBo’s POV
Of course tonight of all nights my shift at the bar had to run long. I’m late — Zhan must already be waiting for me. With that thought, I swung onto my motorbike, started it up, and sped off to him. Dusk was falling, and the first stars sparkled in the sky. It’s going to be a beautiful night, I thought.
I passed house after house, tree after tree, the bike’s wheels spinning fast against the road. I couldn’t wait to see him. That dazzling smile, those wide eyes every time he looked at me. I twisted the throttle harder.
Crossing the bridge, I caught sight of the moon’s reflection shimmering on the river’s surface. I smiled faintly. Maybe we could come here after dinner, I thought. A magical place to ask Zhan to marry me. My heart beat faster at the thought. I gave it more gas. I couldn’t wait.
Just a few more turns to go, and I’d be there. My smile widened—until suddenly a car shot out of the next curve straight toward me. It was going too fast. No way it could hold the turn. My body froze as its headlights blinded me and it veered into my lane. I squinted but saw nothing. I heard tires screech. My heart pounded in fear now. My throat went dry. The smile slipped from my face.
A violent jolt shook the bike and my grip slipped. I went flying, crashing hard into the car in front of me. My body tumbled before slamming down on the cold asphalt, skidding toward the guardrail. My back hit it hard, and I felt bones crack. My body curled up on instinct against the pain. I tried to move, to get up, but my body wouldn’t listen. I coughed, blood spilling from my lungs. My head throbbed like someone was kicking it. My breathing grew shallow and labored.
In the distance, I heard sirens. Someone nearby was shouting frantically: “He needs to get to a hospital immediately!” More and more people crowded around, everyone yelling something different, intensifying the pain in my head.
“Maybe he has a head injury or spinal injury!” They were probably talking about me.
“He’s dying!”
That startled me. Dying? No—I can’t! I don’t want to!
But if… if it really was this bad, more than anything I wished Zhan wouldn’t see me like this. I didn’t want him here when I died. With all the strength I had left, I fumbled inside my jacket for the little box. It was still there. Relief washed through me. Right where it belonged, close to my heart. I gripped it tightly. My heart skipped a beat. Zhan-ge… I won’t make it. I’m so sorry. Forgive me.
I had to tell them to take me somewhere else—some hospital other than the one where Zhan worked.
"Take me to the hospital on the other side of the city!" I tried to scream, but the words caught in my throat. Please. Don’t let Zhan see me like this. It would hurt him too much. He… he can’t cry. He has to keep smiling. Always. I just… I just want to see him smile.
My eyes fluttered shut. Memories flooded my mind like a film reel—flashes of all the beautiful moments. My whole life. The last three wonderful years by Zhan’s side. A faint smile tugged at my lips. I was grateful he’d been part of my too-short life. I felt his love filling my shattered heart. I was slipping away from everything I ever loved. My body felt another wave of relief as, in my final seconds, I tried to picture Zhan’s smile. The most beautiful smile I’d ever seen. I felt my strength and energy leave me completely. One single tear slipped out from under my closed eyelids—full of pain and love—and disappeared into the pool of blood beneath me.
"Zhan-ge!" In agony, on the brink of eternal exhaustion, I breathed out his name.
Xiao Zhan’s POV
I never thought my best friend would one day become my boyfriend. If someone had told me that three years ago, I probably would’ve laughed in their face. And yet here I am, sitting in a restaurant, waiting for him.
Lately I’d noticed something strange about him. He seemed restless, quieter, and kept touching his pockets like he was checking something. Every time I got close to him, he got nervous. We hadn’t seen each other yesterday—both of us were busy—but he’d promised we’d go out for our favorite meal tonight. He said he wanted to talk.
I had no idea what he wanted to talk about, but my heart beat with anticipation. It had to be something special if he’d booked a table at this fancy restaurant. The soft blue light of the ceiling reflected in the crystal chandeliers, the heavy wooden tables and cream leather chairs gleamed, and right in front of our table, where a candle flame danced, there was an impressive bamboo forest installation inviting you to walk through it. The whole atmosphere was warm and inviting.
Suddenly a waiter appeared at my side, smiling. “Good evening, my name is Wei Qi and I’ll be your server tonight. May I take your order?”
I shook my head gently. “Good evening. I’ll wait for my friend.”
“Of course,” he said with a nod and walked away. I poured myself some water from the carafe on the table and took a sip. Then I checked the time on my watch. Yibo was late—probably stuck at the bar with some annoying drunk who wouldn’t go home. I smiled at the memory of him telling me about a similar incident once.
The second time I checked my watch, I realized I’d been sitting here for over half an hour and Yibo still hadn’t shown up. No text, no call. I started to fidget, unease creeping in. Where is he? Why hasn’t he called? My thoughts scattered in every direction, and the sound of sirens outside didn’t help.
"I’m waiting for you," I typed and sent the message. Seeing his name on my screen calmed me a little. But ten minutes passed, and still no reply. I tried calling, but his phone was out of service. I chuckled to myself. Of course—he probably forgot to charge his phone. Classic him.
I wondered if I should go ahead and order for us and surprise him, just to show how well I knew him. Almost on cue, Wei Qi came back, and I ordered hot pot for the two of us.
“I’m sorry if this is out of line, sir,” the waiter said cautiously, “but are you sure your friend is coming?”
“He’ll come,” I said firmly, brushing him off. He’ll come!
When, after another long twenty minutes, the waiter served the broth and ingredients with that same doubtful look, I really started to wonder if Yibo wasn’t coming. Could he really do that? Why drag me out here and then not show up? Why isn’t he answering me? Did he even want to see me? Did something happen? Or…
No. That couldn’t be it. Still, the thought gnawed at me—was this really the end? Is that what he wanted to talk about? Is that why he’d been acting weird these past few days? Was this his big, dramatic way of breaking up? And in the end he didn’t even have the guts to show? Am I not even worth breaking up with face to face? Does he not love me anymore?
My chair scraped the floor as I stood up abruptly. I pulled a wad of cash from my pocket and tucked it under one of the plates. At the bar, I told them the money was on the table. Deeply shaken by my own thoughts, I headed straight for the door, fury simmering in my chest. I couldn’t stay here another minute.
Outside, it had started to rain. I didn’t have an umbrella, so the rain soaked through my clothes. I took a deep breath and let the cool air fill my mind. I needed to calm down. In the distance, around a corner, I saw ambulance lights flashing. So that’s what those sirens were earlier. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should go take a look. I was a doctor, after all. But then it hit me—help was already there. Whatever happened, I wasn’t the only one whose night wasn’t going as planned. Hopefully it wasn’t anything serious.
I turned and walked in the other direction.