Cheng Yi began her days at Fang Zhiyuan's apartment, caring for him, cleaning, doing laundry, and cooking meals.
Within two days, Zhiyuan's complexion improved visibly, and his spirits lifted with it. On the third day, Xie Yufan and Yang Li dropped by with bags of groceries, making sure they wouldn't have to leave the apartment to eat well. They had hot pot for lunch, even though it was the middle of summer with the air conditioning running full blast—only someone like Xie Yufan would think of such a thing. You had to admire his thoughtfulness; considering that Fang Zhiyuan usually didn't cook and only had salt and oil in the kitchen, and with him being sick and unable to eat anything spicy, what else could they make but a plain, non-spicy hot pot?
Yang Li wasn't empty-handed either; she brought a month's supply of remedies from the head of gastroenterology at her hospital. Fang Zhiyuan, looking like he could strangle someone, only made Yang Li more delighted.
After lunch and giving Fang Zhiyuan his medicine, Cheng Yi went out to the balcony to hang up the laundry. Yang Li followed, handing her the clothes hangers.
"You're really just going to let things end like this?"
"He's my brother. He took care of me a lot when I was little—I was always sick back then"
"Brother?"
Yang Li paused for a moment, her hand hovering mid-air with the hanger. Cheng Yi took it from her and deftly hung up a white shirt. The breeze swayed the shirt back and forth. Yang Li studied her for a moment, and then something seemed to click.
"So, you've made up your mind?"
"We can't be together." Her voice left no room for doubt.
Yang Li's gaze drifted from the swaying white shirt to the living room, where Fang Zhiyuan sat, smiling contentedly. She couldn't fathom what he must be feeling.
"Isn't it worth trying one more time? Are you sure it's really over?"
Cheng Yi said nothing, focused on folding laundry, showing no sign of wavering.
Later that afternoon, they took a walk through Z University nearby. At sunset, they grabbed dinner at the campus cafeteria.
Cheng Yi found it quietly absurd. If Fang Zhiyuan was so intent on avoiding the past, why come back to Z University at all? Why revisit every old corner as if retracing their memories? After dinner, Xie Yufan and Yang Li left first. Fang Zhiyuan, however, used the excuse of helping Cheng Yi carry some clothes to follow her back to her small rented flat.
"Yi, this place is lovely."
"It's nothing. Just a bit of decoration."
"I heard they're redeveloping this area soon. Why not move in with me a bit earlier?"
"We have dorms near the office. It's convenient."
Sensing it was the right moment, Cheng Yi decided it was time to be straightforward about her decisions.
"We grew up together. After my parents passed, you and Aunt Mei took me in. You're the only family I have left in this world."
"Yi, we'll be happy again, just like before."
"I don't want to ruin that bond."
The first time he heard her call him "brother," Fang Zhiyuan had forced himself to hold back. But now he saw it clearly, she was drawing a line, and she meant to keep it.
"Don't do this, Yi."
"Do you remember our last phone call? Six years ago?"
"Of course I do. I was in the U.S., completely lost. Your call brought me back."
"We promised each other, we'd live well, even apart."
"But that doesn't mean—Yi, it doesn't mean we can't—"
"We broke up, but we'll always be family. We grew up together."
That pushed him to the brink. This was her final word, whether he agreed or not, he was losing her.
"We're not just siblings. We're supposed to be together."
"I haven't been alone these past few years."
"What are you saying?"
"We supported each other. For years…."
Fang Zhiyuan's mind went blank. Blood rushed to his head, and all reason vanished. He lunged forward and seized her like a man possessed, kissing her fiercely and desperately, as if trying to wipe away everything she had just said. His thoughts spiraled:Had another man kissed these soft, familiar lips? The kiss grew rough, wild, and consuming, almost like a bite. Cheng Yi stood frozen like a puppet, limp and unresponsive in his arms, offering no resistance.
"Is this what you wanted?"
Cheng Yi's voice, hollow and resigned, whispered in his ear, tears falling onto his face.
Fang Zhiyuan stopped, suddenly realizing what he was doing. He released her, trembling, gently wiping her face, smoothing out her disheveled clothes. But when he met her eyes, filled with utter despair, it felt like a knife twisting in his chest.
He turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Six years ago, after one phone call,
One climbed out of the abyss.
The other stayed buried in it.