Shen Tingwan looked at her. “If I wear yours, what about you?”
“I brought an extra one,” Sang Ning explained. “It’s cold in the mountains, and I was afraid someone might forget theirs, so I prepared an extra.”
“You’re so thoughtful,” Shen Tingwan said as she took the jacket and thanked her again.
Sang Ning smiled silently.
The fleece-lined jacket wrapped around her body, warming her up immediately. It carried a clean, pleasant fragrance, and Shen Tingwan inexplicably felt that it was the scent Sang Ning would have—clean and comfortable. She asked again, “You said you were busy this week, so why didn’t you just tell me directly?”
The topic circled back, but Sang Ning replied breezily, “It wasn’t that busy. I came because I had time.”
Shen Tingwan tightened the jacket around herself and smiled for a moment without pressing the issue, afraid that someone with thin skin might feel embarrassed.
After chatting idly for a bit, Sang Ning stood up to check on the camera’s shooting progress.
Shen Tingwan continued sitting in the chair to rest, her gaze leisurely sweeping over the people taking photos. She seemed as quiet and aloof as the stars in the sky, but once you got close with thick skin, you’d discover she was warm and considerate.
Gazing up at the night sky, meteors occasionally streaked by—it was the season for meteor showers.
Shen Tingwan noticed the smile tugging at Sang Ning’s lips and smiled too. She was such a rare person who was easy to please. She walked over to the camera. “Did you capture it?”
Sang Ning didn’t realize Shen Tingwan had approached. Hearing her voice, she turned back, and a warm, gentle face was right in front of her.
Shen Tingwan paused too, her gaze brushing over the still-curved corners of her lips…
After a stiff moment, Sang Ning silently turned her face away, creating some distance.
Shen Tingwan looked at the screen, wanting to laugh. She’d seen shy people before, aloof ones too, but never someone so aloof yet so easily embarrassed. She asked, “How is it?”
Sang Ning stared at the photo, her mind wandering as she murmured softly, “I got it. The weather conditions are pretty good today.”
Shen Tingwan stood beside her. “Do you come here often?”
Sang Ning nodded. “It’s good for unwinding. The sunrises are beautiful too.”
They chatted, and soon other friends joined in the fun. In the end, everyone gathered around to chat and wait for more meteors.
Time in the mountains passed slowly. The next day, they hiked and strolled, going to the summit to see the sea of clouds.
Shen Tingwan had traveled to many places abroad while working for a travel magazine. The scenery here wasn’t the most stunning, but this trip was relaxing and enjoyable. The only small regret was the cloudy morning, which meant they missed the sunrise.
Back in the city, life sped up to double time again.
“Aaaah, why is there always so much work? Sang Ning, a client is coming this afternoon—can you handle reception? I have to head out.”
On Monday, the studio was filled with Yu Shuang’s wails.
“Sure.”
After the brief relaxation, Sang Ning faced an endless workload once more, returning to her uneventful routine. Except now, every time she opened WeChat, she subconsciously anticipated something.
After a few busy days, she got off work early one evening.
Back home, Sang Ning first removed her Hearing Aid and took a shower in the bathroom. She changed into clean loungewear and sat down at the computer, finally having time to process the photos from Little Mi Mountain.
After working for a long time, she stacked up a few satisfying shots of the Milky Way and casually posted them to her Moments.
She posted to Moments every few days, mostly to record her life, which revolved around daily photography. No wonder Yu Shuang always teased her about spending her life with the camera.
After posting, notifications poured in one after another. She opened the message alerts several times, then backed out.
Alone, she didn’t wear her Hearing Aid, filtering out all silence and noise. It wasn’t until she went to the kitchen for water that she noticed it was raining outside.
The rain was nice—it would cool down the heat. The past few days had been stifling.
The rain even seeped into her dreams.
Sang Ning hated silent dreams the most, and that night she had one. She dreamed of standing in a thunderstorm with lightning flashing and thunder crashing, yet hearing nothing around her. She just stood there in the downpour, drenched and at a loss, from day to night…
Until morning, when the fitness tracker on her wrist vibrated nonstop. Sang Ning groggily opened her eyes, turned off the vibrating alarm, and found her neck and forehead covered in fine sweat.
She sat up and put on her Hearing Aid.
With sounds amplified in her ears, she breathed a sigh of relief, feeling grounded. She might need a hearing check in a couple of days, and the psychological pressure had probably caused the nightmare.
That weekend, she made time to visit the fitting center. Her Hearing Aid was due for maintenance, so she got a hearing test too.
She had hearing checks every year, as her right ear also risked deterioration like her left. She often worried about it. When the results came back normal, she finally relaxed.
That evening, she received a call from Sang Mingjuan asking about the checkup. Sang Ning explained the situation and reassured her with a smile, “No problems. Don’t worry.”
Sang Mingjuan sighed in relief. She’d always felt guilty about Sang Ning’s ears, imagining countless times that if she’d noticed her daughter’s illness sooner and gotten treatment right away, her daughter could have lived a normal life without so much hardship.
Sang Ning had never resented her for it. She knew how tough it had been for Sang Mingjuan, who had divorced her irresponsible cheating husband early on. From as far back as Sang Ning could remember, Sang Mingjuan had raised her alone, juggling multiple jobs and leaving early and returning late as the norm.
People back home often said that if Sang Mingjuan had been less ambitious, endured it, not divorced, and focused on raising the child at home, her daughter’s ears wouldn’t have been damaged.
Sang Ning found those people ridiculously off-base. The blame should fall on that irresponsible man. Sang Mingjuan’s decisive divorce showed more backbone than most.
There weren’t many tender words between mother and daughter, but they always thought of each other. Sang Ning made a habit of sharing good news and withholding the bad, while Sang Mingjuan quietly met her daughter’s needs.
Sang Ning’s first camera had been bought by Sang Mingjuan. The family hadn’t been well-off then, but when she learned Sang Ning had joined the school’s Photography Society, Sang Mingjuan transferred several thousand yuan to her card at once for her to buy one.
From childhood to now, Sang Mingjuan never told her they were poor. Instead, she’d say Sang Ning was no different from others—she could have whatever they had.
Sang Ning’s quiet yet stubborn personality took after Sang Mingjuan’s.
After chatting about daily trifles, as they were about to hang up, Sang Ning called out, “Mom.”
Sang Mingjuan: “Something else?”
Sang Ning: “Do you have more peaches? Send some over.”
Sang Mingjuan didn’t ask why. “I do. I’ll ship them tomorrow.”
Afraid Sang Mingjuan would send too many like last time, Sang Ning laughed and said, “Not too many. I’ll just make two jars of jam.”
Sang Mingjuan: “Okay.”
The next evening, Sang Ning saw the package at her door—Sang Mingjuan had used the fastest shipping again. She smiled and brought the box inside.
Every season, Sang Mingjuan sent her fresh peaches from home. When there were leftovers, Sang Ning made peach jam. Last time’s extras became jam too—she kept one jar and gave the rest to close friends.
After work, Sang Ning busied herself in the kitchen. She cooled the cooked jam slightly, then filled clean sealed jars—two full ones, with some left over.
She picked up her phone and took a photo.
Then, she proactively sent it to Shen Tingwan…
Shen Tingwan had been busy with work since returning to Birch City. After overtime that evening, she was at Jiang Yunchun’s house eating a late-night snack, complaining that the old lady’s tremella soup was too sweet.
Jiang Yunchun retorted that she should be grateful to have it.
After finishing half a bowl of tremella soup, Shen Tingwan checked her phone and saw a recent unread message.
[Sang Ning] Made jam again
[Sang Ning] Want to try some?
It was unprecedented for her to message first. Shen Tingwan smiled down at her phone and opened the photo. Wasn’t this because of what she’d said before—had she made it specially?
Jiang Yunchun looked up and saw the usually drained-from-overtime woman suddenly beaming. She teased, “What message is that? You’re so happy.”
Shen Tingwan smiled at Jiang Yunchun and replied: Sure.
Sang Ning stared at the response for a moment. Logically, she should ask for an address and number to ship it… She hesitated, deleted her draft, and typed something else.
Soon, Shen Tingwan saw the new message.
[Sang Ning] I can bring it to you after work tomorrow?
[Sang Ning] I have a shoot nearby your company anyway
Sang Ning waited quietly for a reply.
[Shen Tingwan] I’m not at the company tomorrow afternoon
Sang Ning’s eyes dimmed a little. She started typing to ask for the address and contact info, but before sending, she saw Shen Tingwan reply again.
[Shen Tingwan] When are you free?
[Shen Tingwan] I’ll pick it up from your studio after work
Sang Ning’s restless little thoughts bubbled up again. She replied: Tomorrow works. I’ll be at the studio in the evening.
Shen Tingwan smiled at the message. Such a workaholic.
The next day, Sang Ning brought the jam to the studio. Shen Tingwan said she had a dinner engagement that evening and would come by at eight.
From morning to evening, perhaps because of the anticipation, Sang Ning felt the day dragged on unusually slowly, checking the time frequently.
Around six, Yu Shuang prepared to leave. Seeing Sang Ning still sitting motionless, she asked curiously, “Not heading out? You’re not working overtime today, right?”
Sang Ning glanced at her. “A client is coming later.”
“Then I’m off.”
With nothing else to do, Sang Ning worked on post-processing. As eight approached, she checked the studio door several times.
Her phone buzzed with vibrations.
Sang Ning saw it was Shen Tingwan calling. She picked up and held it to her right ear. “Senior?”
“I’m not coming today. It hasn’t ended yet.” Shen Tingwan called specifically, not wanting Sang Ning to wait on purpose.
Sang Ning paused blankly, then smiled nonchalantly. “Okay…”
Shen Tingwan didn’t hang up.
Sang Ning heard noisy clamor on the other end, like people urging drinks, and Shen Tingwan’s voice sounded different from usual—she’d probably been drinking. “Senior.”
Shen Tingwan hummed warmly. “Mm?”
Sang Ning’s heart softened at the sound. She lowered her head and asked earnestly, “When will you finish? I can come to you.”
So greedy. They’d only met a few days ago, and she already wanted to see her again…
