Shine on Me

Holding two cups of warm water, we sat together on the sofa overlooking the river view.

Perhaps because it was still the Spring Festival, the lights on the river remained dazzling even late into the night. The water reflected the glow as it flowed quietly, serene yet bustling.

"This apartment was bought and renovated by my father, but my parents never lived here for a single day." After a long pause, Lin Yusen spoke softly.

I looked up in surprise, taking in the apartment again, and suddenly felt it seemed vast and lonely.

What must it have been like for Lin Yusen every time he stepped into this home left by his parents—yet never lived in by them? Were there many nights when he sat alone on this sofa, just like now, with no one by his side?

A pang of sorrow struck my heart. I handed him my cup, and he set it aside before gently pulling me into his arms.

"The apartment wasn’t fully renovated when my father was sent abroad. After his accident, my mother left China and settled in Switzerland long-term. She remarried a few years ago and now lives peacefully. Back then, she wanted to take me with her, but my grandparents’ health was poor. She couldn’t bear to take their grandson away after they’d just lost their son, so she left me in Shanghai. I was seven. For a long time, I lived with my grandparents in a small, sixty-square-meter old apartment in Puxi."

"My grandfather would often bring me to the Sheng family for a few days. My grandparents never stopped him, but they never came with me. As a child, I wondered why but never dwelled on it. Perhaps the grief of losing their son was too much—my grandparents passed away one after another not long after. My mother wanted me to move abroad again, but by then, I’d already been admitted to a prestigious high school and wanted to attend university in China. So at thirteen, I moved into the Sheng family’s old residence."

"Grandfather," he paused, "was always very good to me."

"I took the college entrance exam early. My first choice was business school—partly to help my grandfather, partly to fulfill my father’s legacy. That was when someone finally told me the truth about my father."

It was clear someone didn’t want him helping. But to tell Lin Yusen this right before his exams—that was truly despicable.

"I changed my application and enrolled in medical school. I’d always been more interested in medicine anyway. As a child, I even dreamed of being a Doctors Without Borders volunteer, rushing wherever I was needed."

My heart twinged as I recalled my uncle mentioning the cause of Lin Yusen’s father’s death.

He continued, "Throughout university, I used my studies as an excuse to rarely visit the Sheng family. When I couldn’t avoid it, I mostly stayed in my room reading. Later, I went to study in the U.S. and eventually returned to China to practice medicine. Seeing so much life and death in the profession, I gradually let go of the past, but I still had little contact with the Sheng family. That time I accompanied my grandfather to your godmother’s banquet—it was a coincidence. I was at a hospital exchange in Wuxi, and my grandfather sent a car to pick me up, so I went along... Then I had the car accident."

I instinctively gripped his hand. He looked down quietly, interlacing his fingers with mine.

"During that time, I was filled with bitterness. So when my grandfather asked me to work at Shengyuan, I agreed immediately. I started from the bottom—no one paid much attention to me at first, since I’d never studied business. But handling small projects—do you really need to learn that?"

...Oh, Shengyuan’s "small projects."Mingming's mood had been quite low, but at this moment, she couldn't help but laugh despite herself.

"Half a year after joining Shengyuan, one of Sheng Xingjie's projects ran into trouble. I found a way to resolve it, and my grandfather directly promoted me to the same level as Sheng Xingjie. I accomplished some things, made some friends, and, well, also caused some minor troubles for President Nie."

His casual tone almost made me believe him, but considering how deeply my father remembered him, only a fool would think they were just minor troubles.

I already knew what came next: "Later, you went to Suzhou."

"Mm. And then, after that, there was Miss Nie." At this point, the corners of his lips finally curved slightly upward. "Then my perspective changed."

"What changed?"

"I seemed to regain my rationality, as if I had been compensated, and my mind became peaceful." His expression now carried the calmness that comes after weathering storms. "I asked myself whether it was meaningful to waste my time doing things I had no interest in, just to make others unhappy."

"Of course, it used to be meaningful because I was being overly sensitive back then, feeling like I had nothing left. But now, I have something again." He tightened his grip on my hand slightly, his gaze focused intently on me. "Xiguang, I don’t want to give up. I don’t want all my hard work over the past decade to go to waste."

I sat up straighter. So he really was going back to medicine?!

"During this trip to Switzerland to spend the Spring Festival with my mom, I went skiing with her. At one moment, standing on the mountaintop, I suddenly felt the vastness of the world. The usefulness of studying medicine isn’t limited to clinical practice or the operating table—there are many things I can do. If one path is blocked, I’ll take another. I can still put my knowledge to use. My hands may be ruined, but do I only have my hands? Isn’t my brain the most valuable thing?"

I stared at him dumbfounded.

I knew I should encourage and affirm him at this moment, but for a while, I couldn’t find the words.

This person, despite enduring so much hardship—family struggles, career setbacks—still remained so open-minded and confident, with a kindness that came from the heart.

My expression must have looked a bit silly because when he saw me, he suddenly laughed.

"What’s with that look?"

"I just think you’re, well, incredibly strong." I felt a bit frustrated that such an ordinary adjective was all I could come up with.

He pinched my cheek. "You’re way too easy to fool."

Mumbling, I said, "Seems like I’ve already been fooled. Let go~"

After swatting his hand away, I turned to more practical concerns: "So what exactly are you planning to do? Become an internist? Go into research? Or teach at a medical school?"

"No need to rush the decision. Even within the medical field, different specialties are worlds apart. I’ll explore first."

"Mm." I nodded repeatedly. "Then take your time looking around."

The lights along the river dimmed abruptly as I spoke. Lin Yusheng glanced at his watch. "It’s getting late. I’ll walk you back to the hotel."

We walked back to the hotel from Lin Yusheng’s place.

The winter night was bitterly cold, our breaths turning into white mist, but my heart was filled with such joy. Bundled in my down jacket and holding onto Lin Yusheng’s arm, my steps felt light and buoyant.

I didn’t know why I was so happy—maybe because the person beside me had shared all of his past with me, or maybe because he had decided to pursue what he truly loved?Or perhaps it was simply because, on such a late night, walking arm in arm with someone down an empty street filled me with joy.

My giddy excitement even made Lin Yusen laugh. "Why are you so happy?"

"Of course I'm happy that you're doing something you love. Honestly, compared to having a boyfriend who's a domineering CEO, I'd much prefer one who's an amazing doctor or researcher. After all, domineering CEOs are a dime a dozen."

"I used to be very good at it. What if I'm not as good in the future?"

"Impossible!" I stopped walking and said earnestly.

"So certain?" Lin Yusen also halted.

"Absolutely certain."

"Alright."

Lin Yusen agreed swiftly.

Ah~ It was so cold, yet my face felt strangely warm. I withdrew my hand and walked ahead quickly.

"Hurry up, I'm sleepy."

Lin Yusen didn't rush to catch up, maintaining a leisurely pace behind me. When we left, we had both unconsciously chosen the path along the river because it was longer.

The dim streetlights cast faint glows upon us as the river flowed silently by, with only sporadic lights twinkling in the distance.

As we walked, an inexplicable melancholy suddenly washed over me, and my steps slowed.

"What's wrong?" Lin Yusen caught up to me.

"If you go back to practicing medicine, you won't be in Suzhou anymore. Are we going to be in a long-distance relationship?"

"Didn't I say it wouldn't happen so soon? Besides, Suzhou is so close. If I want to see you, I can commute daily."

"That sounds a bit irresponsible."

Lin Yusen chuckled.

I said, "I probably won't stay in Suzhou forever either. In the future..."

As I spoke, I grew a little lost. The person before me had a clear goal and direction for the future, but what about me?

Lin Yusen seemed to sense something and suddenly asked, "Xiguang, have you ever thought about what you want to do?"

I struggled to answer. It seemed I had never considered this question—not even my parents had ever expressed any expectations of me. Was it because I was too carefree?

Lin Yusen nodded understandingly, thought for a moment, and then suggested, "Since you don't have any ideas for now, why not start by being a good boss?"

Huh?

I was momentarily stunned.

"And earn money to support the family. Sounds good." He affirmed his own idea, patting my shoulder encouragingly with a solemn expression. "I'll leave the Suzhou company to you. No matter which direction I take in the future, I probably won't make much money at first, so it'll be up to you."

Wait a minute—weren't we just talking about the long-distance issue? How did it suddenly turn into me supporting you?

"Of course, I'll work hard too. If I ever achieve even modest success in the medical field, I'll be sure to thank my... Ms. Nie first." ???

The cold wind howled under the moonless sky. Having only been in a relationship for a month, I faintly felt as though my boyfriend had just painted me a grand, cosmic pie—and I had unwittingly boarded a pirate ship bound for the stars.