October 25, 2017.

The Rockets flew to Philadelphia.

At 7 p.m. the next day, they had an away game against the 76ers.

1/

Yu Xiaochun didn't expect to return to Philadelphia.

Once upon a time, Philadelphia was his favorite American city.

"Let's stay in Philadelphia for a few more days."

"Aren't we going to New York?"

"Don't go, I want to keep a thought, when you graduate, we'll go to New York together." She happily jumped up and down the long steps in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. This is the filming location of many movies, such as the boxing movie Lokiri starring Stallone, which has scenes of him exercising and preparing for the fight on this step. It's morning, the museum hasn't opened yet, there are only two of them on the huge front porch and steps, and she has already asked Yu Xiaochun to take many photos.

"And you see, isn't Philadelphia very good, too. Let's stay a few more days. ”

"Okay, it's all up to you, as long as you're happy." Yu Xiaochun's tone sounded reluctant, but there was a smile between his eyebrows.

"Of course it's happy. Yu Xiansen, it's still your best! ”

"Wenwen's wife, I love you." Yu Xiaochun took the camera away from his face and exaggeratedly blew a flying kiss at the girl in front of him.

"Who's your wife? Nasty! Wenwen's name is Tang Wen, and she and Yu Xiaochun are classmates in the law department of a southern university. The two have been officially dating since their sophomore year, and their relationship has always been very good. Before graduation, Yu Xiaochun was admitted to a master's degree in a school in Virginia in the eastern United States, and during the semester of one year, Tang Wen chose an Internet company in Beijing to intern in the legal department. The two agreed that they would return to China to prepare for marriage at the end of Xiaochun's one-year semester. This is four years ago, taking advantage of the autumn break in the middle of the semester, Tang Wen and Yu Xiaochun traveled all the way north on the East Coast of the United States, and the penultimate stop was originally planned.

"Why do you like Philadelphia in these places?"

"Because it's beautiful."

"You've only been here for a while." In order to save a sum of money on accommodation, Yu Xiaochun, who was still a poor student at the time, could not arrive by plane like the team traveled today, so they boarded the train from the Baltimore train station the night before, stayed in the Amtrak carriage for the night, and arrived in Philadelphia in the early morning. Exit the station, walk through Penn's quiet, retro campus, cross the Skukill River, and walk along Franklin Avenue to the front of the Philadelphia Museum of Fine Arts.

"Isn't it?" There was still a while before leaving the hall, and Tang Wen sat down casually on the steps. The sun had risen in the distance, and the faint morning light had now turned into a light that sprinkled the entire city, unobstructed on the land in front of the museum. Tang Wen squinted her eyes slightly, and the tiredness of the night didn't seem to leave a mark on her face. Her lips were as thin as pink as she spoke, and her wavy hair flowed from one shoulder to her chest. Because of the bouncing just now, her chest still rose and fell slightly with her breathing.

It's beautiful!

"If you like, we can come here later." Yu Xiaochun also sat down on the steps, next to Tang Wen, "Or New York." I've heard that New York is also very good. ”

"Huh?" Tang Wen rested her head on Xiaochun's shoulder and snorted softly, as if asking a question.

"I mean, we can stay in the U.S. as well." Yu Xiaochun stretched out his arm and hugged Tang Wen into his arms, "I think the United States is very free, and there are many job opportunities in big cities. ”

She listened silently, without speaking.

"The important thing is that we're always together."

"Hmm." Tang Wen bowed her head in her arms.

"Silly Fish," as he called Tang Wen's nickname, "I found out that there is a famous Philly Cheesesteak in South Philadelphia, let's go eat it in the evening." ”

Looking at the rising sun, she said lightly.

2/

Philadelphia was once the most heartbreaking place for him.

"Wenwen, has your flight arrived in Beijing? Did everything go well? Because I didn't hear from you yesterday, I'm a little worried. Love you silly fish. ”

"I just arrived. Are you back in school? ”

"I came back yesterday, I messaged you at the time."

"Oh, I see."

"How are you, are you too tired from international flights?"

"Hmm. I'll go pick up my luggage first and go home and tell you. ”

When Yu Xiaochun received Tang Wen's message again, it was already another dawn. To save money, he rented a storage room in a two-bedroom apartment off campus. The room was less than 5 square meters, and there was a narrow window 30 centimeters wide, and at this time there was a faint light, which softly shone in and fell to the foot of his bed.

"Honey, I didn't hear from you after yesterday, did you go home and fall asleep? How's the rest? ”

"I slept for a while. It's daylight here for us. ”

A few minutes of silence.

"I'm going to clean up and get ready for class."

"Are you alone in the room?"

"yes, what's wrong? My Wenwen wife. Yu Xiaochun also gave this message a naughty expression.

"You better don't call me wife in the future."

"What's wrong? Something's wrong, Wenwen. This time, his expression changed to crying.

"I went to see someone during the day. He kept chasing me. ”

"What did you say?"

This time the silence was longer, and it wasn't until I don't know how long it took for Tang Wen's next message to be sent. The message is written in a long paragraph.

"Koharu, thank you for being with me during this time. Especially in these days in Philadelphia. I especially like the city, with so many streets with people's names, Dalí and Van Gogh in the art gallery, the cracked Liberty Bell... So I thought it would be better for the two of us to stay in Philadelphia for more than three years. Maybe one day I'll go back again, but for the time being, I'm going to go first. I don't know what to expect on this journey. ”

"I wish you all the best in the United States."

This was the last message Tang Wen sent.

3/

But these places that Tang Wen mentioned, Yu Xiaochun has not had a chance to go to this time again.

Because of the one-hour time difference between Houston and Philadelphia, it was already eight o'clock in the evening when the Rockets landed on the afternoon flight. The team took a bus from the airport and stayed directly near the sports center on the south side of the city, where the home of several professional league teams in Philadelphia, including the 76ers, landed.

After settling down in the hotel, Yang Yiming, who had no team arrangement, begged Yu Xiaochun to take him into the city to see, "It's okay to have a closer place, let's go early and return early." ”

So, Yu Xiaochun returned to the cheese and beef sandwich shop recommended by Tang Wen at the beginning. This long-established shop in the south of the city is still brightly lit at night. The mustard-yellow façade stands out at the end of the dark and dark neighborhood. Standing in front of the glass window facing the street to order, the smell of hot cheese, chopped onion and roast beef wafting from it brought Yu Xiaochun into his memories in an instant.

"It's worth it, it's delicious." Yang Yiming, who took a big bite, couldn't wait to praise before he could swallow all the food in his mouth.

"Wow, it's so fragrant, you can taste it." Tang Wen, who had been queuing for ten minutes, held the hot sandwich in her hand and handed it to Yu Xiaochun.

"You eat first, I'll watch you." Looking at Tang Wen's index finger moving, Yu Xiaochun also smiled, "How is it, is it delicious?" ”

"Delicious!"

Yu Xiaochun also took a bite. The comfort of food, starting from his mouth, warmed his whole body on the cool night streets of the East Coast, as if opening some secret ditch.

Ten days ago, he didn't think that he would be able to return to the United States, to the city of Philadelphia.

Tonight, he's back.

And where is she at this time?