The wind and snow intensified. In the darkness, walking home through the residential complex, past rows of buildings, the wind whipped snowflakes against his face. This was a complex built on a hillside. Reaching the central main road leading uphill, the parking lot to his left lay at the foot of the hill, its orange lights illuminating the plaza. Li Haojun turned right onto the main road and began climbing upwards. Cold steel and concrete lined both sides, few lights emanating from the windows, and the parking lot lights behind him grew dimmer.
Continuing forward, he approached the highest point of the hill. The night deepened, the wind and snow intensified. Beyond the hill, the residential buildings on the other side of the slope seemed buried in snow, only their rooftops visible, just below his feet. Standing on the rooftop, Li Haojun looked back down the hill. There were no more buildings; this was the last one. There was a door on the roof leading to the stairwell inside. He walked towards it, wanting to go home. But how to open this door…? Accompanied by the pitter-patter of dripping water outside the window, Li Haojun awoke from his deep sleep. Opening his eyes, warm sunlight streamed through the curtains, illuminating the bedroom. Recalling his dream, he remembered the hillside neighborhood and the path leading up the mountain. Could he have once lived there? He looked to the side, searching for Qin Wenjing. There she was, gazing lovingly at him from beside him.
Li Haojun turned around and gently took her hand. A smile appeared on her face, previously hidden by her hair.
“You slept well?” Qin Wenjing asked softly,
"Mmm," Li Haojun stroked her hand, feeling her tangible presence.
"This feeling...it's a bit like going back to my childhood. Back then, my dad worked the night shift, and when he wasn't home at night, I'd fall asleep, and when I woke up in the morning, he'd be home with me." As she spoke, Qin Wenjing's face was filled with a sweet smile of reminiscence.
"Now I'm here with you," Li Haojun said, pulling her into his arms.
After a while, Qin Wenjing tilted her head back, buried in his chest, and looked at Li Haojun, asking,
"Was your work trip going smoothly?"
"It was alright, but I still need to handle some things next week to finish everything," she said. Li Haojun was a little surprised that she brought up work now. Did she have some thoughts about bringing Cassia home last time? But he didn't want to ask directly, so he waited to see what Qin Wenjing would say next.
"Did you get along well with Cassia?"
"Don't worry, we're just colleagues," Li Haojun quickly explained,
"I have nothing to worry about. Haven't you noticed that most of the colleagues and field staff you interact with at the company are women?"
"Yes, I thought it was because of the industry,"
"No, it's a company strategy. To retain core employees, most of their colleagues are women," Qin Wenjing explained.
"Oh, I see,"
"So it's been like this all these years. You've come this far, still by my side. What do I have to worry about?" Hearing Qin Wenjing say this, Li Haojun couldn't help but feel moved, having Qin Wenjing by his side all this time. He reached out and brushed her bangs aside, not letting the strands obscure her affectionate gaze.
Qin Wenjing continued,
"Before, it was mostly mature female employees or field staff. You gradually become familiar with them at work, and then more tasks will be assigned to you. They'll take you further and further away from me, and then you don't know what they'll lead you to, haha," Qin Wenjing paused for a moment, then continued... “But this time it’s a young girl, so I’m actually quite relieved. She’s unlikely to drag you into doing anything adventurous.” Li Haojun listened silently, stroking Qin Wenjing’s arm, shoulder, and neck.
“Maybe it’s because you’re too old, no longer suited for adventure,” Qin Wenjing added.
“Okay, then I’ll stay with you,” Li Haojun answered without hesitation, stroking the person he cared about.
“I’m just a little curious, which direction will Kashia take you this time?” Hearing Qin Wenjing talk about this for the first time, Li Haojun recalled the insecurity he felt when he first woke up, and the fear of being separated from Qin Wenjing again. Now, that cold fear seemed to be slowly melting away, replaced by his companionship with Qin Wenjing, Kashia’s youthful radiance, and Maria’s innocent charm. Was he adapting to this new life? "What are you thinking about?" Seeing Li Haojun remain silent, Qin Wenjing asked softly.
"Nothing,"
"Are you thinking about your time with her these past few days?"
"No, no," Li Haojun hurriedly denied, then added,
"Actually, I missed you too,"
"Heh," Qin Wenjing smiled seemingly dismissively,
"You mean, 'also'?"
"Ah, no, I meant I missed you when I was in Boise. I knew you would miss me,"
Qin Wenjing wanted to see him anxiously explain, then smiled and placed her hand on his chest, slipping it between the buttons of his shirt to caress his skin.
Seeing that she wasn't angry and was just looking at him with a grin, Li Haojun realized Qin Wenjing was teasing him. He retaliated by pulling her waist closer, laughing self-deprecatingly.
The sun was already high, melting the snow on the roof, water droplets pattering onto the paved floor. Sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting the shadows of the window frame onto the bed and onto the two of them. This precious, cozy time together was precious, and neither of them wanted to break it, so they lay face to face.
"Do you like her?" Qin Wenjing asked casually, unbuttoning Li Haojun's shirt with her right hand while tracing circles on his chest with her fingernail. Her eyes didn't meet Li Haojun's, as if she didn't care whether his answer was a lie; she simply watched her fingers slide across his chest, playing idly.
Li Haojun gently stroked Qin Wenjing's cheek, thinking about what she looked like when he wasn't by her side, and casually replied,
"I don't know,"
"She probably likes you; I can see the look in her eyes when she looks at you."
"I don't know either. My feelings for her are different from yours. After all, she's so young, and we haven't known each other for very long." Qin Wenjing looked up at him and gently pushed Li Haojun away.
"At least you have a conscience. Tell me, how do you feel about me?" Li Haojun's left arm encircled Qin Wenjing's lower back, stroking her waist and hips through the soft silk.
"I'm not quite sure either, but I just can't live without you," he said, lifting the hem of her nightgown to feel the smooth, rounded skin of her thighs and buttocks.
"You love me..." "Is that right?"
"Love, but not the kind that's intense. It's more like an inseparable part of life, like family,"
As Li Haojun spoke, Qin Wenjing remained calm. Her hand had already unbuttoned his shirt, resting on his waist, groping around. She then asked softly,
"And what are your feelings for her?"
"At first, I just felt sorry for their background. I didn't have any ulterior motives. Seeing her all alone..."
Qin Wenjing listened quietly, only occasionally glancing at Li Haojun's eyes and face, playfully groping his body with her right hand.
After a while, she looked up into Li Haojun's eyes, gazing at him for a long time, and asked,
"Do you want to know how you answered me before?"
Li Haojun was somewhat curious about her mentioning... Before she could answer, he slipped his hand inside her pajamas and wrapped it around her waist.
"You used to say the same thing to me,"
"Oh," Li Haojun replied, seemingly a little embarrassed.
Qin Wenjing lifted her shirt, their skin touching, and leaned against his chest, burying her head in his shoulder and neck, whispering,
"Maybe one day you'll feel the same way about her as you would about family," she said, tightening her right arm around Li Haojun's back.
"I just don't know what place I'll hold in your heart then," she continued, turning her head to reveal half her face as she glanced at Li Haojun.
"Don't worry, you're the only one in my heart," Li Haojun reassured her, but a sense of unease lingered within him. He didn't know... How far would his feelings for Kathy go if things continued this way? The only thing he was still somewhat confident in was that he knew he wasn't the type to easily tire of someone.
"No," Qin Wenjing replied coquettishly.
"Why?" Li Haojun was somewhat surprised, unsure if she genuinely meant it or was deliberately testing him.
"I want you to have some freedom, otherwise..." Qin Wenjing trailed off.
"What will happen?" Li Haojun pressed, puzzled.
Qin Wenjing glanced at Li Haojun, her eyes flickering.
"What will happen? Tell me," Li Haojun asked, gently shaking her body.
"Like fine sand in your hand; if you hold it too tightly, it will slip through your fingers," she said, turning her head to the side. Sunlight, filtering through the gaps in the curtains, illuminated her cheeks, hair, and shoulders, like the marks of time.
...When Qin Wenjing turned back to look at Li Haojun, the warm sunlight bathed her face, making her smile radiant. All the love that Li Haojun had reserved for her was now treasured in her heart.
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