Chapter 49 – Li Jiangluo – Extra 2

We finally saw the Northern Lights.

As summer solstice approached, all company affairs were wrapped up, and Brother Baichuan delegated the trivial matters to others. The two of us, dragging our luggage, boarded the plane.

The last time we flew here, we were burdened with heavy hearts, overwhelmed with sorrow. Now, our mindset was completely different, and we could hold hands without caring about others’ gazes as we boarded the plane.

Ever since I’ve been with him, I’ve truly become braver.

Being too concerned about people and things irrelevant to you can cloud the happiness that should have been there.

I no longer care about how others perceive me, seizing joy when it comes, unafraid and undaunted. Life suddenly feels less heavy.

On the plane, I watched him read. He would first sleep, then wake up and kiss my forehead.

If you were to count, the time we’ve spent together has been short, yet I feel as though we’ve been in love for a long time. There haven’t been any grand passions or sickeningly sweet moments; we’ve simply lived like ordinary people. But every time I think of him, I can’t help but smile.

Meeting him has been wonderful; otherwise, I couldn’t imagine what my life would have been like after Bolin died.

After disembarking from the plane, Brother Baichuan had slept well, but I felt a bit sleepy.

He held my hand as we queued to retrieve our luggage, asking me, “Are you hungry?”

I shook my head and stretched, “A bit tired.”

“We’ll eat later, then go back to the hotel to sleep.”

Our schedule for this trip wasn’t as tight, and we didn’t hire the talkative guide from last time. We planned to relax here properly, hoping for the chance to see the Northern Lights.

Having retrieved our luggage, Brother Baichuan opened his suitcase and took out a long-sleeved jacket to hand to me. Even at the end of June, the temperature here wasn’t high, and stepping out of the airport made me feel like I’d traveled from summer to a sunny spring day.

The temperature was pleasant. On the way to the hotel, with the car window open and the breeze caressing me, I dozed off against his shoulder.

“It would be nice to live here,” I said, squinting as I looked out the window.

Brother Baichuan chuckled and asked me, “Do you want to retire here in the future?”

I laughed, scratching his palm and asking, “Do you want to?”

“Wherever you go, I’ll follow. We could even travel around the world.”

I closed my eyes and imagined two old men with gray hair, each wearing a camera around their necks, holding hands and traveling the world. It seemed quite interesting.

“Okay,” I said. “Then let’s make money quickly while we can, or we won’t have enough funds to travel the world when we’re old.”

The hotel Brother Baichuan booked was the same one we stayed in before. Since there were only two of us this time, we didn’t book a family suite.

Two men in a room with a large bed, the receptionist girl who checked us in kept sneaking glances at us. Brother Baichuan seemed to notice and casually pulled me into his arms.

He leaned close to my ear, smiling as he said, “Guess what she’s thinking?”

I’ve become rather peculiar now. Even though I used to be a sex repulsion patient, I could easily get aroused whenever he teased me after we made love.

I tried to push him away and hid behind the hotel brochure to cover my embarrassing situation.

The girl blushed and quickly finished checking us in, returning our room card and identification.

Once we reached the floor, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. With no one else around, I muttered softly, “Why are you like this now…”

Brother Baichuan laughed heartily, ignoring me, and ran toward the room with the luggage.

Even though he’s almost thirty, he sometimes acts like a naive young man.

Looking at his retreating figure, I found him adorable.

Brother Baichuan did his homework thoroughly, finding out the possible days and times for the appearance of the Northern Lights.

Although everyone said it was difficult to see them, some tourists came every year but never got to witness them. However, I always felt confident that we would encounter them. Every time I mentioned this, he would laugh at my inexplicable confidence.

Anyway, we weren’t in a hurry. Upon entering the room, I immediately drew the curtains shut.

“In broad daylight, what are you in such a rush for?” Brother Baichuan embraced me from behind. Honestly, I had reacted, but I was very tired and didn’t want to make haste to be intimate with him.

I turned my head and kissed him, saying, “Brother, you’re thinking too much. I just need to take off my clothes to shower.”

He paused for a moment, cradling the back of my head as he kissed me forcefully.

We ended up collapsing on the bed again, but we only kissed. After we were both panting, he got up and said, “Come on, let’s shower together.”

We were lovers and had already done what lovers do, there was no need to be overly cautious about certain contacts between us. However, we had never showered together.

I glanced at the direction of the bathroom, which was separated from the bed by a transparent glass panel. Inside was a double bathtub, and I suddenly wondered why this hotel seemed like a love hotel.

After hesitating for a moment, I still took off my clothes.

We were familiar with each other’s bodies, but for some reason, I suddenly felt shy looking at him in this situation.

He held my hand and led me into the bathroom. Once inside, he bent down to turn on the water, and I couldn’t stop staring at his naked back.

Brother Baichuan had an excellent physique, strong and powerful. Whenever he held me, I felt incredibly safe.

I quietly approached him, standing behind him, and suddenly hugged him.

He was startled and nearly fell into the bathtub.

“Hahaha, did I scare you?” I laughed as I hugged him. Two naked men splashed water at each other like elementary school students in the bathroom.

We both became particularly childish, unsure who influenced whom.

The bathwater was warm and gentle. Sitting inside, he wrapped his arms around me from behind.

A certain part of his body was poking my lower back. Sometimes, I deliberately misbehaved and touched it accidentally, hearing him moan in my ear.

My body, soaked in hot water, finally relaxed. My drowsiness swept over me once again.

I don’t know when I fell asleep, probably during the bath.

When I opened my eyes, I was already clean and nestled under the covers.

I was tightly embraced by that familiar person, his nose touching my face.

I turned over and draped my leg over his waist.

He also opened his eyes, hazy, and smiled at me.

His smile was especially silly at such times, but I liked it.

I leaned in and hugged him. Originally planning to go out for a walk after waking up, but now I didn’t want to leave the warmth of the bed.

What could compare to the bliss of sleeping in your lover’s embrace?

We saw the Northern Lights on the night following the summer solstice.

We had almost given up hope, as the best opportunity seemed to be slipping away.

While drinking at the bar that evening, we heard people nearby say that they might appear tonight. We followed the crowd with a casual attitude, walking to the small square where we rang in the New Year.

During the summer solstice, the Arctic Village experienced extremely long days, feeling as though it was daytime for 24 hours.

We wandered among the crowd, and before we reached the square, the sky changed color.

The sudden magnificent sight left us in awe. At that moment, we felt as though we were in another dimension, mesmerized by the unpredictable and colorful Northern Lights.

Everyone fell silent, even those drunkards who had been loudly quarreling just moments before.

I stood frozen, suddenly spun around by Brother Baichuan. He looked at me and said, “This is the perfect moment for a kiss.”

He kissed me, but I didn’t close my eyes.

In this dazzling and dreamlike world, we shared a passionate embrace.

At that moment, no one else existed in my heart, nor was there any regret.

My only thought was that fate had truly favored me.


Chapter 50: Extra Three – Yi Li

I’m probably the most unlucky person in the world.

Or rather, the most unlucky bottom in the world.

All I wanted was to have a proper relationship with someone I liked, especially after seeing how even someone as introverted as Xing Baichuan could find his match.

After years of not returning home, I stepped foot on the land I had longed for and met my heart’s desire.

But clearly, my heart’s desire only wanted me for bed, nothing more.

We met in a bar, he mistook me for some college student, and when we were intimate, he called out another name.

At the time, I didn’t think much of it, but later on, I realized that the name he called was actually Li Jiangluo.

The world really is small, too small for me to believe.

When I met Li Jiangluo at the cafe, I knew Xing Baichuan must have taken a fancy to him. But the two of them were quite amusing, seemingly avoiding the issue altogether.

They couldn’t admit their feelings, and I didn’t bother getting involved.

I was indifferent then, and later, I considered myself their matchmaker.

Doing good deeds doesn’t necessarily bring blessings, that’s my experience.

I helped them connect and answer questions, but what about me? I was still just a tool for others to release their desires.

I felt like a pretty lousy psychologist, able to cure others but not myself.

Knowing Xu Zhao’s entire focus was on Li Jiangluo, I still relentlessly pursued him.

I was in a rush, since my time in the country was limited. If I couldn’t capture his heart during this short period, I might never get another chance.

I’m the kind of person who won’t turn back until I hit rock bottom.

So, I endured a lot of hardship with Xu Zhao.

Always thinking things would eventually improve, all I received from him was indifference.

It was exhausting, truly.

I, Yi Li, am not unwanted, yet I shamelessly clung to Xu Zhao. What was I hoping for?

On his birthday, I went to buy him a gift, the wallet that I never gave him. Later, I burned it.

Because when I was about to present the gift, I noticed that the wallet he was using was exactly the same as the one Li Jiangluo bought that day.

I had no doubt that it was the one Li Jiangluo bought, nor did I doubt whether Li Jiangluo also liked Xu Zhao.

Jiangluo was my patient, and I understood his thoughts better than anyone. I liked him very much, in that rare way one can feel for a friend.

I hoped he could overcome his shadows and live a good life, have a good romance. But he would never choose Xu Zhao, I knew that too.

That day was the last time I slept with Xu Zhao. I was devastated.

Devastated to the point that when he came inside me, I bit through my own hand.

I didn’t think it would be the last time then, just as I didn’t expect Xu Zhao and Jiangluo to meet in my office.

I was embarrassed, as a psychologist, I felt like I was falling apart in that moment.

Fortunately, my patient, my Jiangluo, saved me from the awkward situation.

So, you never know when you’ll meet someone, or who will help you under what circumstances.

In these thirty years, the thing I regret least is treating Li Jiangluo as a true friend.

Speaking of which, I’ve been pretty unlucky already.

Isn’t that right?

My ex-boyfriend introduced me to my current best friend, they both liked each other, and the person I liked liked the person my ex-boyfriend liked, who was also my best friend now.

This web of relationships was complicated enough.

But, the misfortune didn’t stop there.

Just after I made a bet with Jiangluo and decided I had to make a decision, I got hit by a car.

Yes, I was in a car accident, run over by a college kid still in school.

This brat’s name was An Sinen, and when faced with trouble, he only knew how to scratch his head. I was almost dying from pain over here, and he fucking cried.

Shouldn’t I be the one crying?

But fortunately, he didn’t flee the scene. Under my guidance, he called 120 and reported the accident.

I was so angry at him, if I ever had a son, I’d never raise him to be like this.

Just like that, before I could sever ties with Xu Zhao, I was hospitalized, and then, I could only ungracefully break up with him via WeChat.

This wasn’t my style. We should sit down and talk face-to-face, lay everything out on the table. I was determined to return all the cold treatment Xu Zhao had given me.

An Sinen completely ruined my image.

I was annoyed with An Sinen. He messed up my plans, I hated him forever.

But, what was comforting was that my dear Jiangluo and Xing Baichuan confirmed their relationship. There was only a thin layer between them, once punctured, everything was fine.

So many obstacles seemed like insurmountable chasms to them, but to us outsiders, they weren’t big problems.

Making a couple was making a couple, watching them send secret glances at each other, I was happy for them.

Perhaps because of them, my mood improved. Even Xu Zhao’s occasional messages cursing me didn’t bother me as much.

He was a strange person. When I was chasing after him, he was indifferent and even disdainful towards me. Now that I said we were done, he came looking for me, constantly asking why we couldn’t meet.

He even found me in the hospital, a classic case of abusing power.

That day, An Sinen was there too, and they even fought.

Xu Zhao cursed me, calling me a slut, saying I was cheap. He was drunk, I could smell the alcohol.

As soon as he finished, An Sinen pounced on him. The two of them wrestled on the floor of the ward, fighting fiercely. I didn’t even want to stop them.

An Sinen, that weakling, couldn’t beat Xu Zhao, who was trained. In no time, he was beaten black and blue.

I rolled my eyes and said, “An Sinen, you can sue him. He’s a cop.”

Then Xu Zhao left, leaving me watching the show and An Sinen lying on the ground bleeding from his nose.

After that, I found An Sinen less annoying. Honestly, he looked pretty good, except I didn’t go for that type. Men my age preferred strong, muscular types.

Still, I ended up slapping myself in the face.

Because I realized An Sinen was pretty good, he would make a good boyfriend.

I stayed in the hospital for a long time, and later, I could wander around freely, but An Sinen wouldn’t let me be discharged.

Later, he said, “I don’t want you to leave. You’re going back to Canada as soon as you’re discharged.”

What was he like then?

Almost a head taller than me, carrying a backpack, hanging his head, expression unseen.

Quite dejected, it made me want to laugh.

“I was going to go back anyway,” I said. “My family is there, my work is there, coming back here was just temporary.”

“You were already planning to buy your ticket back on the day… no, the day I hit you, right?” An Sinen still had his head down.

I thought about it and messed up his soft hair. “Yeah, aren’t you annoying? Causing me to stay here for so long. Don’t you know this is where I feel sad?”

“Do you still like that dumbass?” He raised his head, frowning at me.

“Which dumbass?”

“The cop.”

I leaned against the wall and laughed, I liked it when he called Xu Zhao a dumbass.

We each leaned against the walls behind us, separated by the hospital corridor.

I shook my head and said, “I only like myself.”

I meant it, I was tired, didn’t want to love anymore.

An Sinen didn’t say anything for a while. Nurses passed back and forth, stealing glances at us.

After a long time, he walked over and suddenly picked me up.

“What are you doing?” I was startled by him, almost falling.

“Back to the ward.”

“Why?”

He said, “I only like you, I don’t want others looking at you!”

My name is Yi Li, and I finally got discharged.

Canada was urging me to return. Before boarding the plane, I asked An Sinen, “Can you handle it? Don’t force it if you can’t pass.”

He nodded firmly and said, “Old Yi, don’t worry. I’ll fly over to sleep with you, uh, I mean, to be with you.”