Chapter 106 - 091 A Decade Ago, A Decade Later (Seeking First Subscription)_12
But what am I supposed to do when I’ve never seen you as a sister?
Over ten years of companionship, watching you grow from a young girl with hair knotted at the temples to a graceful young lady standing tall, watching you climb to the pinnacle of the medical world with your brilliant mind and tenacious will, watching you become more beautiful and outstanding by the day, like a carefully nurtured flower that has finally bloomed into the most splendid blossom, I’m filled with sincere joy and delight.
I don’t know when you took root in the depths of my heart, but it’s the greatest joy and the most unspeakable sentiment I’ve ever felt, tossing and turning night after night,sleep eluding me by day.
My dearest girl, when will you see the flame that beats only for you in the depths of my eyes?
——
In the evening, after Yun Miao fell asleep, Yun Ya sat by her bed for a while before returning to his own room.
The room was decorated in pale blue tones, soft and dreamlike. It was Qin Du who had taken the initiative to decorate her room. Actually, Yun Ya didn’t like it very much; it was too princess-like for her taste. She preferred simple, cool black and white tones. But since Brother Ah Du liked it, she went along with it.
She dealt with various documents in her email first, then video-called Professor Bird for a few minutes, and chatted with an online friend for a while.
This friend was someone Yun Ya met on a medical forum. The person had asked a question that was highly professional, and no one replied except for Yun Ya, who patiently and thoroughly provided an answer. Later, the person started a private chat with Yun Ya. Normally, Yun Ya was too busy with studies and work to spend much time online, but this person was always there, virtually 24/7, engaging Yun Ya in endless conversations. Yun Ya blocked him, but somehow he always found a way to add her again.
Gradually, they became familiar through their exchanges, and Yun Ya learned some basic information about him. His name was Yun Zhan, a medical student at a domestic university, Nan, 21 years old, smart and lively with a strong desire to learn, a bit neurotic, and from what she could infer, likely from a very wealthy family.
Later, when Yun Zhan realized he’d been led on and that he knew nothing about the other party, he dug deep and insisted on getting to the bottom of it. Yun Ya simply mentioned she was studying abroad and refused to divulge anything else.
From the way he spoke and his precision in conversation, as well as his unique and shrewd insights into medical issues, he guessed that Yun Ya was probably a man in his thirties, a doctoral student abroad, wearing a pair of thick black-framed glasses, a dull and uninteresting old scholar.
He clamored to become a disciple and even said that he would definitely come to pick her up at the airport the day she returned to the country, insisting on meeting her no matter what.
Even though the kid was humorous and unreliable, Yun Ya was able to dig out a lot of useful information from him, such as the current state of the medical field in the country and some advanced research topics. The kid was an open book, spilling everything he knew like beans from a bamboo tube.
[I’ll be returning to the country soon] Yun Ya typed and sent the message.
The other side immediately sent back a smiling face, responding so fast it was as if they were on standby at the computer.
[Master, you’re finally coming back, do you know how long I’ve been looking forward to this day? Wuuuu...]
[Master, which flight are you on? I must pick you up. Master, I’ll treat you to Deshengju’s roast duck, the most famous one in Great Kyoto. I’ll reserve a spot right away. You have no idea, to eat here, you need to book half a year in advance...]
[Master, did you know, the night before last, I even dreamed of you. I dreamt you were an old lady even scarier than Sister Rong; my goodness, it startled me awake. How could my most admired master be like Sister Rong, an old lady? You must be a handsome and elegant man, unparalleled, and charmingly carefree...]
[Eh? Master, why aren’t you talking? Are you upset? I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said I dreamt you were Sister Rong...]
After taking a bath, Yun Ya saw almost his entire chat box filled by the other’s messages, which made him chuckle.
[Don’t bother, the flight isn’t booked yet, and I’ll be staying in the country for a long time, so there will be plenty of opportunities to meet.]
Before the other side could flood the chat again, Yun Ya closed the computer.
Yun Ya glanced at the clock on the desk; it was 11:40 p.m.
The door was knocked upon, "Tap tap tap," it sounded in the deep and quiet night, like a drumbeat striking at the heart.
At this time of night, there was almost no need to guess.
Yun Ya walked over and opened the door to find Qin Du standing under the dim yellow light in his homewear. The warm light draped him in a layer of soft glow, his tall figure nearly blocking all the light, the heavy scent of male hormones wafting through the air, heady in the deep night.
Looking at his handsome and gentle face, Yun Ya smiled, "Brother Ah Du, what’s the matter?"
The girl in front had on a simple white straight-cut nightgown. Its roomy hem further accentuated her slender frame and long limbs. The buds of youth were faintly visible at her chest, emitting the delicate fragrance of a virgin...
His breathing became abruptly erratic as he struggled to calm the restlessness within him, his gaze settling on her face.
To describe her as a lotus-like face with willowy brows must surely be talking about her, those beautiful eyes gathering the most dazzling light in the world, stars twinkling, ripples jagged, yet in an instant covered by a layer of tranquil water, deep and still, mysterious and vast.
Damp long hair draped over her frail shoulders, those dripping tips adding a touch of coquettishness to her innocent features, every smile and frown indescribably charming.
Qin Du heard his own heartbeat skipping several beats. He hurriedly looked down to hide his lapse, clearing his throat.
"I came out for water and saw the light was still on in your room, so I came to check. It’s late, you should rest. Leave any work until tomorrow, you shouldn’t harm your young body by overdoing it," Qin Du said with concern, his voice like a warm cup of tea in the boundless night, warming right to the core.
Yun Ya curved her lips, "I understand, Brother Ah Du, you should rest early too."
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Not until the door slowly closed, cutting off the girl’s graceful figure, and a cool breeze blew in from the hallway’s windowsill, dispersing the intimate thoughts in his mind, did he lower his head and let out a wry smile.
Another long night, destined to be sleepless.
——
At Jingdu International Airport of Country Hua, a civilian aircraft slowly descended from the blue sky.
The three o’clock afternoon sunlight pierced through the airport’s immense glass windows, casting a myriad of silhouettes on the shiny floor, over which hurried travelers and passengers quickly paced.
The arrival gate was bustling with people, their faces either filled with expectation or anxiety as they frequently looked around, some even holding up signs.
A tall figure in a black coat, wearing a duckbill cap, slowly emerged from the crowd. With her head slightly lowered and hands tucked into her coat pockets, she slipped by unnoticed and hurried out of the airport.
Standing outside in the plaza of the airport hall, Yun Ya lifted her gaze to the broad blue sky.
The corners of her lips slowly turned up in a smile, tender yet cool.
I’m back.
Qin Du, pushing his luggage, came over, "Let’s go."