Today I still had to go see the old man.
Before leaving, I gave Long Ge’s room a thorough cleaning. Those three cans stuffed with cigarette butts? Washed clean and tossed straight into the trash. When I stepped out, the room was spotless—windows gleaming, table tidy, even her clothes neatly folded and hung on the rack.
Still, a faint hunch lingered: in a few days, new cans would probably reappear on Long Ge’s desk.
Past ten a.m., the streets were quiet. Sunlight filtered through cloud gaps, warm and gentle. I pulled out a cigarette, lit it, took a drag, and sighed while waiting for a taxi.
Smoke curling, Long Ge’s words echoed—
“Bai Hailong, do you like me?”
Long Ge paused. “Yeah, I do.”
I froze.
Her tone was utterly matter-of-fact—like saying she liked rice or ham sausages.
She lay disheveled on the bed, head tilted on the pillow, then added:
“It’s just liking you. If I didn’t like you, I wouldn’t stick by you like this.”
I stayed silent. Just sighed.
The moment she said it plainly, my suspicion quietly confirmed itself.
Long Ge liked me.
Not just friend-like liking… It had crossed into something deeper.
I’d noticed the shift lately—her attitude felt less like close buddies, more like… a couple.
I’d sensed the change from the start.
But Long Ge hadn’t.
Her hysterical outburst during our fight. Obediently changing into clothes she disliked. That sarcastic, snarky tone when I mentioned dating someone…
No platonic friendship acts like that.
Yet she remained completely composed—acting like nothing was off, totally unaware.
Because she saw me as a sworn brother. She never questioned it.
She blamed her strange feelings on “side effects of becoming a woman,” brushed everything else off as “just how close friends are.” Clean sweep.
Long Ge never had a girlfriend.
Hugs? Weird for friends, sure—but maybe not unthinkable.
But I’m not some clueless anime MC.
Like that guy in the show I dropped—girl practically pins him to the wall, and he’s still oblivious? Brain malfunction.
Between us, unspoken but clear: I’d already accepted we were beyond friendship.
I never disliked Long Ge. Childish sometimes, yes—but genuinely kind. Her blunt, sharp words weren’t malicious. Rough language, pure heart.
But that mental hurdle… I just can’t cross it.
A month ago, we were arm-in-arm buddies. Slept in the same bed. Fought in the same alley. Showered together. Even had those silly contests while peeing… Even if she’s a woman now—no matter how lonely I am—how could I possibly go there?
My head ached just thinking about it.
So I decided: let it be.
She stays blissfully unaware. I play dumb. No rush.
The street stayed empty. After ages, a taxi finally came. I rode straight to the big hospital. By noon, the area felt eerily quiet.
The tea egg stall by the gate was gone—probably packed up early. Last time I came too soon; shops weren’t open. Now I saw it: wreath shops lined the street. One sign read, “Professional memorial portraits. Wreath discounts!” I glanced away, uneasy, sighed, and stepped inside.
Same nurse as last time leaned by the ward door, scrolling her phone. Glanced up at me, said nothing, looked back down. I walked in.
Grandpa still slept by the window, face peaceful in profile.
I quietly pulled a stool close and sat.
His face was withered, unkempt from bedrest. Dry white hair like straw. Only the slight rise and fall of his chest proved he was still here.
Other patients stirred awake. I pulled out a pack of Longjing tea—cost nearly 400 yuan. The man beside Grandpa stared blankly at his phone’s screensaver. Glanced at me, then back down.
I’d take Grandpa outside once he woke. For now, I settled in, opened my phone.
Not much on news—another UC Browser clickbait headline about some wedding prank. Closed it.
WeChat pinged. “North of Zhuhe Bridge” had replied. Probably that girl Xiao Ling. Sent at 3:28 a.m. yesterday.
Another night owl pro…
I sighed. Opened the chat.
She was the first woman who ever chased *me* to add WeChat. I’d checked the mirror—nope, still not suddenly handsome.
Her yesterday post: three PUBG screenshots, ~9 kills per match. Caption: “Game optimization sucks. Too many cheaters at night… Cheating’s pointless—and you still can’t beat me.”
System: “You are now friends! Start chatting!”
Past Winds: “Added.”
Past Winds: “First time someone begged to add me.”
3:28 a.m.
North of Zhuhe Bridge: “Lu Ren, are you there?!”
North of Zhuhe Bridge: “I went home to game after lunch yesterday—missed your message…”
Her poetic username irked me. I changed her contact name to “A Mysterious Woman.”
Grandpa still slept. I typed back: “Not here.”
Took a sip of water. Mid-swallow—*ding ding ding!*
She was online.
I wiped my mouth and checked.
A Mysterious Woman: “Lu Ren!”
A Mysterious Woman: “You finally replied!”
A Mysterious Woman: “Yesterday Xiao Hua said someone gave her a 50-yuan tip and asked for her WeChat. She was scared. I was gaming at a nearby cafe, so I went…”
A Mysterious Woman: “Turns out it was you.”
A Mysterious Woman: “She met you through gaming. Lives nearby. She’s sweet, kind.”
A Mysterious Woman: “I didn’t mean to mess with you—I just worried you’d freak her out… Lu Ren, please believe this, no matter how unbelievable it sounds.”
A Mysterious Woman: “I-I-I’m Shen Yiling!”
I’d been marveling at her typing speed—
Then choked. Water nearly shot out.
Holy shit—wait. *Old Shen?!*
