Bai Yun Sheng moved his neck, hearing the crackling sound of his vertebrae.
His roommate, a young professional, had been sent on a business trip to another province, leaving Bai with the two-bedroom apartment, including the living room, to himself. This summer, the Beijing Olympics were in full swing, and the streets were filled with volunteers in blue T-shirts and foreigners exploring the mystique of the East. Zheng Su Nian, who had no plans to go home during the break, had been crashing in his living room for over a week, lazing around with their cat, Bai Er Hei, killing time.
Night fell.
The Olympic opening ceremony had only just begun. Bai Yun Sheng’s neck ached from drawing design drafts, so he went to the fridge, grabbed two bottles of cold soda, and tossed one into Zheng Su Nian’s lap.
"Massive crowd scenes, huh?" Bai plopped down on the soft sofa, intrigued by the old TV the landlord had left behind. "Zhang Yimou’s signature style."
Zheng Su Nian half-heartedly responded, downing half the bottle of carbonated water in one gulp.
The special effects on the stage projected a giant scroll, gradually revealing a vast landscape. Bai turned down the volume slightly, asking nonchalantly, "So why’d you come over this time?"
"Nothing," Zheng Su Nian mumbled lazily, finishing the rest of his soda. "How’s the qipao design going?"
"First draft's in, waiting for feedback."
Zheng Su Nian didn’t react, so Bai kicked him in the leg.
"If you’ve got something to say, just say it. This half-dead act is gross."
A long, heavy silence followed.
On the screen, the scroll rolled up, and thousands of performers took the stage again, their heads packed tightly together. The booming sound of drums filled the room as Zheng Su Nian finally spoke, his face contorted with complex emotions. "Shao Xue… you know what I mean, right?"
Bai Yun Sheng thought the conversation had ended. He was in the middle of drinking, and before he could swallow, he spat out a mouthful of soda. Scrambling to clean the couch and floor, he slapped his thigh in disbelief. "Did I misunderstand you, or are you just bad at explaining?"
"It’s exactly what you think it is—well, not exactly. She did the deed and then said she’s leaving in September to study abroad and doesn’t know when she’ll be back." Zheng Su Nian sniffed. "Where’d she learn to be so bold?"
Bai was speechless.
"She said we have different goals in life," Zheng Su Nian continued. "I’m working towards becoming a restorer, a nine-to-five job, while she’s off on her own journey with no idea when she’ll return. She told me she’s not like my mom, willing to give up a limitless future for love. She thinks it’s best to end things now before we get too deep."
Bai Yun Sheng stared at him, speechless, then gave him a slow clap.
"Incredible."
The fireworks at the Olympic Village were still going off as the ceremony ended. Amid the booming explosions, a woman wrapped in a bathrobe nudged Shao Xue in the waist.
Qin Simu had just finished showering. She smelled fresh, her skin smooth and pale after removing her makeup, looking every bit the beauty.
"Can you go sleep in your own room?" she said, patting moisturizer on her face while shooing Shao Xue away. "We’re both working as interpreters. The treatment’s the same, so why do you insist on staying in my room?"
With the Olympics in full swing, most of the language students were recruited for volunteer work. As a student council member, Qin Simu was naturally pulled into the role, and she dragged Shao Xue along with her. Shao had been impulsive when she chose to minor in Amharic, an African language. She thought European languages were too easy, so she picked a challenge. As a result, apart from her professor, hardly anyone else in the country spoke it.
One of the athletes from that country, a 6’3" marathon runner, was assigned Shao Xue as his interpreter, making her look like a tiny chick beside him.
"I’m not leaving. I want to sleep in your room."
Qin Simu finished moisturizing her face, then started on her arms. "Fine, fine. Sleep wherever you want. I’ve been dying from the sun these past few days. If I have to stand out there any longer, my skin’s going to crack."
With permission granted, Shao Xue happily snuggled into Qin Simu’s bed.
"So, what’s happening with your school stuff? You’ll be leaving right after the Olympics, right?"
"Yes, the paperwork is almost done."
"You're really lucky. If I'd had this chance in my freshman year, I’d have jumped at it too."
"Mm..."
"What's wrong?" Noticing her hesitation, Qin Simu glanced over at her. "What's going on?"
Shao Xue sat up straight. "Simu jie... when I went to Sichuan in May... I... well, that day, Su Nian ge and I..."
Qin Simu, sharp as always, instantly picked up on Shao Xue's awkward expression.
"What happened?" If it weren’t for the face mask she was wearing, Qin Simu's face would’ve been full of exaggerated expressions. "That Zheng Su Nian... looks so proper, but turns out he's that kind of person…"
"No, no!" Shao Xue hurried to explain, "I was the one who initiated it..."
Qin Simu: "..."
"I didn’t expect it either." Seeing Qin Simu’s disdainful look, Shao Xue tried to distance herself from the situation. "These things happen, you know, when the timing and feelings are just right... I just went with the flow."
"Feelings? I’d say propriety matters more! Where’s your sense of propriety?" Qin Simu was so frustrated she jabbed Shao Xue’s forehead. "You’re about to leave, and you pull something like this? If you were a guy, this would be the perfect setup for a classic 'use and abandon' drama!"
Shao Xue collapsed back onto the pillow in despair.
"Poor Zheng Su Nian," Qin Simu sighed dramatically. "Shao Xue, you’re really something."
Shao Xue's companion, the tall African athlete, though towering over everyone, was anything but intimidating. He had a huge smile that showed all his white teeth and looked as happy as a child when he tried Beijing roast duck. Whenever she wasn’t needed as a translator, Shao Xue would wander around the venue to chat with her classmates from other teams.
Not far along, she spotted Zhang Yi Yi standing like a post at an intersection. She gave him a playful shove, and he turned toward her with a look of pure misery.
"I’m about to get heatstroke," he complained, pulling Shao Xue into a shaded spot since there were no events at the moment. "You guys with the athletes have it easy. I’ve been standing at that intersection all day, switching between Chinese and English. My face is practically peeling from the sun!"
"Well, you’re just too good at what you do," she said, handing him the popsicle the tall athlete had given her. "Keep standing around; maybe you’ll catch the eye of some cute girls here for the Olympics."
No girls in sight, but Zheng Su Nian and Bai Yun Sheng showed up instead.
Their school had been given tickets to a handball game, an event neither of them had heard of. Zheng Su Nian didn’t want to go at all, but Bai Yun Sheng managed to drag him out of the house with a mix of persuasion and nagging.
"Come on, it's the Olympics! Miss it now, and you’ll regret it forever." Bai Yun Sheng was practically begging. "Don’t waste the tickets."
Under the blazing sun at the Olympic Park, Zheng Su Nian froze when he reached the three-way intersection. Shao Xue had just handed Zhang Yi Yi the popsicle, and when she turned around, her eyes met Zheng Su Nian’s. Sparks seemed to fly.
Bai Yun Sheng patted his pockets and finally pulled out a packet of tissues.
"I’ll be right back, just going to the restroom. Meet me at the venue."
In the broad daylight, the flame on the Bird’s Nest torch seemed dim under the intense sun. Shao Xue and Zheng Su Nian sat together in a shadowed spot, neither saying a word.
It really was like that metaphor of chopsticks on the rim of a bowl. Once the balance was lost, there was no going back to the beginning.
After a long silence, Zheng Su Nian broke the stillness with an odd comment, "I really didn’t expect to run into you, but it’s a good thing... I’ve been carrying this with me lately."
"I’ve been meaning to give it to you but never had the chance," he said softly. "She said it should go to you. I didn’t think much of it at the time. If I don’t give it to you now, I might never get the chance."
What he handed her was that light blue qipao.
Time slipped back to an afternoon when she was fourteen. Aunt Jin had whispered to her, "What’s so special about those clothes? I’ve got some really nice ones. When you grow up, you’ll be able to wear them."
That kind of woman.
She had taught Shao Xue about beauty, about the world beyond, and about love.
But through the outcome of her own life, she had also made Shao Xue fearful of a love that demanded the sacrifice of one’s future.
Zheng Su Nian smiled and asked, "Will we not see each other again?"
Shao Xue didn’t answer, and Zheng Su Nian continued, "Then... how about a hug?"
"Su Nian ge," she finally spoke, "I’m sorry."
He smiled, a gentle, forgiving smile.
He had never been able to do anything about her—hadn’t been able to for twenty years.
Under the glaring August sun of the Olympic Village, Zheng Su Nian slowly embraced her, as if holding onto the twenty-odd years of his life.
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