Love for You

She said she loved him, wanted him to be with her, returned to Tengcheng just for him, wanted to take him away...

What the hell...

Miao Jing!!!

It felt like a sharp blade plunging straight from the throat deep into the chest, blood splattering everywhere, spreading across the body—all scalding hot, so hot it made one tremble and left them helplessly wanting to cry.

"Just wander the world with me, making anywhere our home." Miao Jing lowered her head, tapping away on her phone, her voice unnervingly calm. Suddenly, a large hand slapped onto her head, cupping it fiercely as if to ravage her, then tightly embracing her, pressing her into his chest. His expression was complex, his voice hoarse and low, almost gritting through choked sobs: "Miao Jing... Miao Jing..."

Miao Jing stopped moving, her expression stiff and blank in a subtle way, seemingly unaccustomed to the man's clingy, pent-up emotions. She just stood there dazedly, letting Chen Yi hold her for a while. Then, sensing him abruptly rein in his emotions, exhaling steadily, he straightened up and stiffly wrapped his arm around her. Their eyes locked firmly, each overwhelmed with countless feelings. Seeing the faint redness in his eyes and the turbulent emotions swirling within, she suddenly felt a clarity in that moment. She could clearly define her feelings for him, but what about his for her? After knowing each other for so many years, they had formed deep bonds, both physically and emotionally. She was destined to become an indelible part of his life and memories.

Besides, he was in her hands now—how could he possibly escape?

The forty-hour journey was bumpy, transitioning from an early morning train to the airport. The long, distant trip to a foreign land was filled with determination. The remarkably calm one was Miao Jing; she had fully grasped the unfolding of her future. Meanwhile, the man beside her, who had rushed out of the hospital, suppressed his emotions on the train, his actions and words trembling with a profound, quiet intensity. Standing in the bright, spacious international airport, his handsome face momentarily lost and bewildered, Miao Jing, while busy on the phone handling matters, took his hand, as if leading a large, gentle dog. They checked luggage, passed through security, and entered the waiting lounge. Watching the warm winter sun gradually leap from the horizon, the dazzling morning glow reflecting in their eyes, it suddenly ignited a spark of color—renewed vitality and hopes for the future. In the extremely quiet waiting lounge, Chen Yi saw Miao Jing's gentle smile, and his heart suddenly brightened with joy.

She stood on her toes and reached out; he embraced her tenderly, sighing very softly, his handsome features also tinged with the shimmering light of the dawn.

"Like that time."

"What time?"

His voice was soft and raspy: "One year, you came out of the train station, and I pulled you onto my motorcycle, took you up the mountain for a ride... Then we sat on the hillside, enjoying the view and the breeze. You cried yourself tired and curled up beside me to sleep. I woke you up, you got back on the motorcycle, and we went home together..."

"I remember. It was after graduating from junior high, almost ten years ago. You said you'd let me stay for three more years."

Chen Yi's lips carefully brushed her forehead.

Like tempered steel wrapped in tenderness.

The plane flew westward, traveling under the brilliant morning sun and through thick clouds, much like their future and new beginning. During the long journey, Miao Jing had fallen asleep quietly, nestling in his arms with her eyes closed. He gazed at her sleeping face, lost in thought and contemplation, still not fully recovered from the sudden impact.

They arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport in the afternoon.Chen Yi didn’t feel the slightest bit intimidated amidst the tall, blond, and blue-eyed foreigners, though communication was entirely impossible. Glancing at the airport signs and the chatting travelers around him, he coolly slipped his hands into his pockets, his thick brows furrowed, and he feigned an air of inscrutable mystery by lifting his chiseled chin.

Forget French—he only recognized a few English words at this point. Having studied English for three years in middle school, he still had some vague recollection. He remembered being decent at science subjects, while his humanities grades were just passable, not exactly dragging him down. His mind was sharp, and his memory was good, but his spoken English was utterly rustic. He could only stammer out phrases like "hello" and "nice to meet you." Standing in the airport, even guessing and piecing things together left him clueless.

Miao Jing was also visiting Europe for the first time, but she had already prepared a transit guide for the airport. After a moment’s thought, she knew exactly what to do next. Chen Yi trailed beside her, watching languidly and indifferently as she spoke with airport staff. Though utterly bewildered, he maintained a façade of composure. When Miao Jing suddenly turned to face him, she smiled and asked if he was hungry, suggesting they grab a bite nearby.

He responded with a nonchalant "Mm," straightened his shoulders, and followed behind her, his demeanor anything but that of a subordinate. After a moment’s thought, he even mustered an international topic: "Back in the Golden Triangle, I knew a few foreigners too. There was this French guy, a real pro in underground casinos…"

Miao Jing pressed her lips together, stifling a laugh.

Of course, they walked side by side through the bright, clean public space. Close in age, well-matched in appearance, and perfectly in sync, holding hands or embracing would have felt entirely natural. Every glance cast their way was filled with goodwill and admiration. Standing tall and unashamed, they cast aside all past burdens and constraints, stepping toward freedom and a new life.

Chen Yi did feel a subtle, unraveling sense of ease spreading through his body, reminiscent of turning eighteen and graduating from vocational school, stepping into a dazzling, extravagant world, brimming with ambition and high spirits, his mind teeming with boundless illusions of the future.

His emotions were a tangled mess, and for a moment, he didn’t know how to face her.

The flight from Paris to Bogotá spanned a long twilight. The vast Atlantic Ocean swallowed the last rays of the setting sun as passengers on the plane huddled under blankets, drowsy and half-asleep. The two of them, however, were wide awake despite the jet lag, their shoulders pressed close as they chatted softly, their conversation drifting aimlessly.

"After we land, the company has arranged a driver to pick me up. Once we’re there, I’ll meet the project lead first. I’ll start work in a few days after some preparation. The company provides staff dormitories—you can stay with me there or rent a place outside. But I’ve heard Bogotá isn’t very safe, so try to stick to tourist areas and affluent neighborhoods. Don’t carry too much cash or valuables. The local currency is pesos. We’ll exchange some cash at the bank first, and after we get to the company, I’ll have a colleague take us to a casa de cambio to get more."

"There aren’t many Chinese locals here, and English isn’t widely spoken. Daily communication is mostly in Spanish. After we arrive, we’ll both need to learn a bit of the language."

"Bogotá is in a high-altitude region, with spring-like weather year-round and significant temperature differences between day and night. It’s not as hot and humid as Tengcheng. The local diet mainly consists of potatoes, corn, and various grilled meats, with plenty of tropical fruits…"