"Maybe you can consider other foods and eat foods that don't cause symptoms." Chen Ying suggested.

"But I really don't like to eat those." He said with some frustration.

Seeing his expression, Chen Ying breathed a sigh of relief. She knew that they were back to their former state, and it was only in front of her that Qin Hong would show that childish and occasionally willful look. She knew the sign that he had relaxed at this point, and she knew that he was also worried about the change between them, and now she finally let go of her guards.

"What do I want you to eat at noon?" She asked.

"No, I'll invite you."

Before leaving the door, she took out a small gift from her bag and filled his table. He took a photo album from the shelf, gently blew the dust off it, and spread it out in front of her. That's every postcard she sends him from Europe. In addition, he developed the photos she sent through the email and inserted them in a transparent plastic film along with them.

"I want to show these to my parents when I go home for the Chinese New Year." He said.

She looked at Qin Hong, remembering the scene of meeting him in the school corridor on the first night, remembering the bits and pieces she had spent with him for more than a year, and remembering the disheartening and frustrating words he said when he was in Europe. She was a little overwhelmed.

"Just look, because it's hard for me to describe what you look like to them." He added.

Chen Ying stood up with a smile, walked over and put her hand in Qin Hong's palm. It was her familiar palm prints, the familiar temperature, and the hard cocoon at the first joint of her middle finger. He gently grasped her hand, as if it hurt to pinch her, and in a few moments he returned to the state of interlocking his fingers. They looked at each other and smiled, and the void created by five months of separation was filled in that instant. He turned around and hugged her tightly, twisting her wrists.

"I miss you so much, I really miss you." He muttered, "Without you, my life would be boring." ”

"I miss you too." She replied.

If it weren't for the thick clothes, she believed he would have pressed her into his body. Qin Hong was not as tall as Wang Yi, but she was much harder than him, and she could barely breathe. Wang Yi was always very cautious when he hugged her, as if he was afraid of pinching her and hurting her. A few strands of her long hair floated up and pressed against his cheeks. His face pressed against her neck, cocking her jaw high.

The neighbor's security door rattled, and the two men hurriedly separated as if they had done something wrong, and walked towards the elevator with their heads down. Chen Ying stood by the window of the corridor, looking at the slightly empty streets and the traffic coming and going, and there was no trace of snow everywhere. The wind blows empty plastic bags in the sky, and it is a dry and cold winter.

When they came out into the street, the trees were still as she remembered, but all the green leaves had faded. The sand and dust in the air kept her eyes open, and he turned to stand in front of her, walking backwards. They walked to the diner, holding hands together, opened the door and went in, finding two empty seats and sitting next to each other. The waiter walked over and handed them the menu.

"Want something?" Qin Hong asked while watching.

"Listen to you." Chen Ying said.

Qin Hong reached out and touched Chen Ying's head. She lowered her head, tears rolling in her eyes. She knew that five months had passed. When she was alone in a room in Denmark or in a hotel room in Europe, she could always remember the casual habitual movements between them. When she first arrived in Europe, she relied on these memories to keep herself from being overwhelmed by her schoolwork and the language and culture around her. And in the days that followed, she was afraid that she would forget his temperature and body sensations, which would be the key to her return to life in China.

"I'm fine, fine." She saw that Qin Hong was a little frightened, and she was busy wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes with a napkin.

"I'll take you home after dinner." After ordering, he said to her, "Rest well tomorrow and don't go anywhere." ”

"Okay." She agreed.

On the way back to Qin Hong's dormitory after dinner, lead-gray clouds gathered in the sky, and the wind made people shiver. They returned to the house, and their hands were pressed against the heating for a while before they recovered. She sorted things out as he stood by and threw used tickets and bags into the trash. Before leaving, she helped him wipe down his desk and windowsill, and neatly placed the dried branches and plums in a vase.

"There's something I want to tell you." Qin Hong said as he went downstairs.

Chen Ying nodded, indicating that she was listening.

"Liang Jing didn't come to pick you up, it seems that something happened on her side." He added, "She hasn't told me yet. When you go back to school the day after tomorrow, if you see her, it's best not to ask. I think you'll know when she's willing to speak. ”