In the blink of an eye, March hurried away, and April arrived. The surrounding woods grew increasingly lush and verdant, brimming with vitality.
After finishing his class, He Qingshi went to Lan Yi’s house for a meal.
Lan Yi was about to finish her postpartum month. Gui Shu had taken excellent care of her this past month, and she had filled out considerably.
As the two chatted, He Qingshi asked about Xiao Qingtian’s full-month celebration. “For Qingtian’s full month, are you and Gui Shu planning to arrange something?”
Lan Yi said, “We don’t have many relatives or friends. We’ll just invite them over for a meal at home. We won’t host a formal banquet.”
“You and Gui Shu waited so many years for Qingtian. Don’t you plan to celebrate properly? This is a joyous occasion. It wouldn’t be excessive to arrange a proper celebration.”
“Your Gui Shu and I are getting old. We want to keep things simple, so we won’t host one.” Lan Yi understood perfectly well the couple’s limitations. If they held a full-month banquet, they would inevitably have to trouble He Qingshi again.
He Qingshi could mostly guess the elderly couple’s thoughts. However, since they were unwilling to host one, he didn’t press the matter.
Lan Yi said, “For Qingtian’s full month, I plan to invite Director Fang and Doctor Huo. What do you think? They’ve helped us so much, especially Doctor Huo. She’s been busy running around for Qingtian since his birth, utterly dedicated and responsible. Your Gui Shu and I want to take this chance to properly thank them.”
He Qingshi said, “That sounds good. Let’s settle on that.”
Early in the morning, Huo Chuxue followed Fang Ru on her ward rounds.
After the rounds, Fang Ru called Huo Chuxue into her office.
Sitting behind her computer, Fang Ru got straight to the point. “Yesterday, I received a call from Zhang Shulan. She wants to invite us to the child’s full-month banquet. I have an academic conference that day and can’t go. Are you going?”
Huo Chuxue flipped through her duty roster. “I’m off duty that day. I have time.”
Fang Ru was somewhat surprised. “You’re going?”
In the vast obstetrics department, it wasn’t uncommon for patients to thank their doctors in similar ways. However, Huo Chuxue had a clear head and strictly adhered to the doctor-patient boundaries, never crossing the line. So, seeing her agree to go this time, Fang Ru was genuinely taken aback.
Huo Chuxue said naturally, “I’ll go. To see the child. He must be very cute by now.”
Fang Ru looked at her niece, her tone meaningful. “You’re quite invested in this family!”
Huo Chuxue: “…”
Feeling a bit guilty and afraid her aunt would see through her, Huo Chuxue quickly found a reason to brush it off. “I really admire that elderly couple.”
“If you’re going, give them a call back.” Fang Ru waved her hand, indicating Huo Chuxue could leave.
Xiao Qingtian’s full-month celebration was very simple. A few relatives and friends had a meal together at home.
He Qingshi was probably genuinely happy. During the meal, he drank some alcohol. His alcohol tolerance really wasn’t great. Huo Chuxue saw that after just two glasses of beer, he seemed a bit drunk.
Lan Yi asked Huo Chuxue to drive him home.
Perhaps because of the alcohol, He Qingshi was more talkative than usual. He talked a lot along the way.
After some casual conversation, he said, “Turn on some music.”
Huo Chuxue nodded. “Okay.”
She turned on the music. Familiar melody and lyrics poured forth.
I roamed the Earth
In search of this
I knew I’d know you
Know you by your kiss
And by your kiss
You’ve shown true love
I’m yours forever
My own true love
…
It was actually My Own True Love again!
“Mr. He, you like this song?” Huo Chuxue perked up her ears to listen, feeling somewhat surprised.
“Is it nice?” He Qingshi’s eyes were closed as he leaned against the passenger seat, his voice clear, mellow, and low.
“It’s quite nice. I’ve heard this song before, but I can’t remember where.”
“We heard it not long ago at the Japanese restaurant. Have you forgotten, Doctor Huo?” He Qingshi lazily lifted his eyelids, turned to look at Huo Chuxue, his gaze calm.
“I mean before that.”
“The movie Gone with the Wind is a classic. This song is its theme. Many people have probably heard it.”
“Then maybe I heard this song when I watched the movie.” Huo Chuxue didn’t pay it much mind and smiled. “This song is very old. Mr. He, you’re quite nostalgic.”
He Qingshi laughed at himself. “Probably because I’m getting old. My tastes are rather nostalgic.”
Huo Chuxue: “…”
He Qingshi’s home was in Yanshan, in the northern suburbs of Qingling, far from the bustling city center, exceptionally quiet.
This area had many plane trees, their trunks robust, lush, and verdant, casting patches of deep shade.
A few birds perched on the branches. As the car passed, they flapped their wings and flew far away in an instant.
A three-story villa stood there, magnificent and splendid. The glow of the sunset illuminated the white roof ridge. The roof lines were smooth, shimmering with color.
Through the windshield, Huo Chuxue saw a window dyed golden by the sunlight. Spider plants and trumpet creeper climbed all over the wall on the right side.
Looking more carefully, she realized there was also a very large courtyard behind the villa, planted with many flowers and plants.
In this part of Yanshan, every inch of land was worth its weight in gold. It was where the wealthiest residents of Qingling lived.
She knew this Professor He was wealthy, but Huo Chuxue was still quite surprised by the extent of his affluence.
The house was elegantly decorated, with a cold, hard style. Everything in sight was in cool tones of gray, black, and white. It was large, very empty, and felt extremely desolate. It was clean and tidy, yet also devoid of life, lacking any sense of lived-in warmth.
After delivering He Qingshi home, Huo Chuxue didn’t plan to stay long.
She rummaged in her canvas bag and pulled out the book she had prepared earlier. “Here, for you.”
He Qingshi lounged lazily on the sofa, lifting his heavy eyelids to take a look. “What is it?”
“Siluo’s special signed book.” She deliberately raised her voice, enunciating clearly.
He Qingshi: “…”
He was stunned for a moment, quickly sat up straight, and reached out to take the book.
He opened the cover. It was indeed Siluo’s personal signature.
That day, when Huo Chuxue said she could get Siluo to give him a special signed copy, he thought she was just joking and didn’t take it seriously at all. He never expected she would actually bring him a special signed book from Siluo.
He was utterly astonished. “Where did you get this?”
Huo Chuxue shrugged, smiling very casually. “You might not believe it if I told you. My mother is Siluo.”
He Qingshi: “…”
He Qingshi stared at the book for a long time without speaking. After what felt like an age, he finally said, “Thank you.”
Huo Chuxue didn’t sit down but remained standing. “Let me tell you a story.”
He Qingshi clearly couldn’t keep up with her train of thought and said blankly, “Okay.”
After saying that, he patted the sofa beside him. “Sit down and tell it.”
“Okay.” Carrying her bag, she sat down next to He Qingshi, placing the canvas bag neatly on her lap.
Drawing from memory, she began narrating slowly: “Several years ago, in our town, there was an old lady who lost her husband when she was young and relied on her only son. The son raised a Shiba Inu. It was very smart, had a lot of spirit, and was very close to its owner.
One day, the son, in his prime at thirty, died in a car accident. The old lady lost her only child in her old age, a devastating blow. From then on, she could only keep company with this Shiba Inu.
The old lady lived a long life, reaching ninety. And that Shiba Inu accompanied the old lady until she was ninety, living longer than ordinary dogs. The day after the old lady was buried, that Shiba Inu died, right in front of her grave.”
She paused, then continued, “This is a story I heard from a fortune teller when I was little. That mystical fortune teller said the old lady’s son had transferred his life to that Shiba Inu, letting it stay by the old lady’s side in his place. Just like that loquat tree in your home in Cenling, I think it must also have been left by your wife, to stay by your side in her place. She must have hoped you would be well.”
After finishing the story, Huo Chuxue didn’t linger. She got up and walked towards the door. “Find a time to burn this book for your wife. Consider it fulfilling one of her wishes.”
That day, after returning from He Qingshi’s home, Huo Chuxue dug out Gone with the Wind and watched it again.
She curled up alone in her bedroom. The curtains were drawn, tightly shut. The room was dim, with only a sliver of faint light.
Qiao Shengxi came to her house looking for her and was startled by the scene. “What are you doing? Drawing the curtains in broad daylight, so dark… it’s spooky!”
Huo Chuxue replied, “Watching a movie.”
Qiao Shengxi glanced at the lit laptop on the floor. The image was very familiar.
Qiao Shengxi immediately laughed, letting out a snort. “Doctor Huo, you’re so nostalgic! How many years old is this movie, and you’re digging it out to watch?”
Huo Chuxue looked at the screen, listening to the dialogue, feeling more and more familiar. “I don’t think I’ve watched this movie in the past few years, but I’m very familiar with it, as if I’ve seen it before. But I really can’t remember when I saw it.”
Qiao Shengxi sat down cross-legged beside her and said, “I told you your memory was bad, and you didn’t believe me. Have you forgotten? Back in high school, during English class, Teacher Su often showed us movies. She showed this one.”