Overdo

He said, "It's cheap, only ten cents." She replied cheerfully, "Such a luxury, don't do it again." The corners of his lips couldn't help but curl into a smile. She couldn't resist glaring at him again, "Ten cents can buy a lot of things." He said softly, "If ten cents can buy your happiness, then it's worth it." She couldn't suppress the smile in her eyes and brows. The streetlights on both sides lit up, and fine raindrops clung to his hair, sparkling like tiny stars. His eyes also shimmered with starlight.

She said, "My mother worked tirelessly to raise my sister and me. I know every penny is earned through sweat and blood, and I wish I could split each one in half to make it last. I know every penny has its use. Now my sister is married, and I've graduated from nursing school and can earn money. I have a wish—to save up enough one day to buy a house with a small courtyard, so my mother can bask in the sun and grow flowers in the yard. Not like now, crammed in a damp, narrow apartment where the balcony only gets three hours of sunlight a day."

She didn't know what had come over her. These thoughts she had kept hidden in her heart, never shared with anyone, yet she had unexpectedly told him. But he was so kind, like the best listener, making her unwittingly pour out her heart. She talked so much—about jokes at the hospital, the quirks of her colleagues, the trivial matters at home. She spoke animatedly, and he listened with keen interest. Finally, she suddenly laughed, "Oh, three dollars and fifty cents, I still don't even know your name."

He found it amusing too but extended his hand seriously, "Miss Fang, pleased to meet you. I am Zhuo Zheng. 'Zhuo' as in excellence, 'Zheng' as in normal." She laughed and shook his hand, "Mr. Excellent and Normal, pleased to meet you." After a pause, she asked, "Your surname is Zhuo? That's a really unique surname." A shadow suddenly crossed his face, "Actually, I don't have the surname Zhuo." He looked at her frankly, "I grew up in an orphanage. My adoptive mother's surname is Zhuo. Not long ago... not long ago, I met my biological parents. My biological mother's surname is Ren. I think I should probably be surnamed Ren. My father... he will never be able to publicly acknowledge my identity."

Her heart ached softly for him. He had confided in her his most difficult background, and sympathy welled up in her. They were both children without fathers—only, her father had passed away early, while his was unknown. She blurted out, "Do you hate your father?" He said slowly, "Hate? Of course I've hated him, especially for making my mother suffer so much—but when I actually faced him, I quickly softened. He's actually quite pitiful. He's just a lonely man, and he's lost far more than he has." He gazed wistfully at the fragrant orchid grass in her arms, "Every time I see him wandering alone among those orchids, I feel that the bitterness in his heart runs even deeper."

She thought he looked slightly melancholic, with an indescribable sorrow that made a corner of her heart ache tenderly. Deliberately changing the subject, she asked, "Do you keep many orchids at home? Is your family in the flower-selling business?"

He was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly laughed, "Yes, my family sells flowers." When he laughed like that, it was as if the gloomy clouds had cleared, and his whole being shone brightly again.They continued down the street, where the faint yellow streetlights cast a glow on the fine drizzle, shimmering like countless strands of transparent glass. The delicate fragrance of the orchid grass filled the air, and a gentle breeze brought a hint of cool moisture, yet it didn’t feel cold. Unconsciously, he murmured softly, “A drizzle that dampens the apricot blossom rain, a breeze that brushes the face yet feels not the willow’s chill.”

She glanced around and remarked, “There are no apricot blossoms here, nor willows.”

He burst into laughter. “Then it’s ‘A drizzle that dampens the orchid grass rain, a breeze that brushes the face yet feels not the electric pole’s chill.’”

She looked at the street’s electric poles and couldn’t help but chuckle.

Suddenly, he said, “On your day off, I’ll take you somewhere with apricot blossoms and willows.”

She replied, “The park already has apricot blossoms and willows.”

Standing under the streetlight, he seemed to glow brilliantly amid the rain-filled sky. “It’s different. The park only has a few trees, but there, the entire embankment is covered with apricot blossoms and willows. The apricot blossoms are like clouds and rosy clouds, the willows adorned like jade. When you look up, all you see are red apricot blossoms and green willow strands veiling the sky, as if it were a fairyland.”

Captivated by his description, she couldn’t help but say, “How could there be such a beautiful place in Wuchi?”

He smiled faintly. “Wuchi has its own hidden paradise.”

Only then did she realize that not only was he skilled at small favors, but he was also eloquent—no wonder he had charmed his colleagues so effortlessly.

Yet, that day, they spoke so much it seemed as if they had exhausted a lifetime’s worth of words. She spoke of her childhood, the difficult days after her father passed away, how she helped her mother with household chores at a young age. Later, as she grew older, she attended school while working at a neighbor’s snack shop to earn tuition, somehow managing to complete nursing school.

He, too, shared stories of his childhood—being bullied at school, called a parentless wild child, and fiercely fighting back. He laughed lightly, “I was so fierce back then. Later, I studied hard, earned scholarships, and finally graduated. When I finally met my mother, I never told her about those childhood struggles. She always feels guilty whenever she sees me, and I couldn’t bear to make her sadder. But it’s all in the past now.”

Yes, it was all in the past. Both she and he had endured many hardships in their youth—materially and emotionally. Yet, they were both optimists, and with such a lighthearted remark, it felt as if all the past had long been left behind, and now everything was clear and bright. She exclaimed joyfully, “The rain has stopped.”

The rain had indeed ceased. The streetlights illuminated the wires on either side, where raindrops clung like pearls, dripping steadily. The lights cast her and his shadows, bathing everything in a soft, warm, orange glow. After all, it was spring—the night breeze carried a gentle moisture, and from the courtyard walls at the alley’s entrance, new leaves of the banana plant emerged. Under the streetlights, the tender green seemed so fresh it could drip with water. She stopped and said, “I’m here.”

He suddenly felt a pang of melancholy. “So soon.”"Yes, so fast." Behind her was the familiar building entrance. She hid her face in the shadow of the building. "Goodbye." He also softly said, "Goodbye." She had already entered the stairwell when he suddenly hurried after her a few steps. "When exactly is your day off? I'll take you to see the apricot blossoms." She said, "I don't know when my day off is—the hospital is in a special state these two days." He quickly replied, "Then I'll wait for you tomorrow. I have to visit patients every day anyway."

Her heart suddenly overflowed with joy. The usually narrow and stuffy staircase suddenly seemed bright and spacious. Step by step, her pace lightened as she climbed. The feeling of an enemy suddenly turning into a friend was truly quite nice.

Sure enough, he waited for her every day after work. As soon as her shift ended, he would promptly appear with a cheerful grin, carrying various snacks—either cold jelly, small cakes, or sweet pastries. That evening, he treated her to shrimp dumplings. She couldn't help but ask, "How much is your monthly salary?" He looked as if he had been scalded, and she quickly handed him tea. He glanced at her but still answered honestly, "My monthly salary is three hundred and seventy-six yuan. Why do you ask?" No wonder—his salary was quite generous. She said, "I see you treating me every day, spending almost seven or eight yuan each time. You're so extravagant."