The coffee on the table had long gone cold. It wasn’t until the icy rim of the cup brushed against his fingers that Lin Yi Shen snapped out of his thoughts. Without lifting his head, he called out, “Lucy, a cup of coffee, please. Thanks!”
No one responded. Confused, he glanced around the office, which was empty. A quick look at the clock revealed it was already two hours past the end of the workday. He’d been so absorbed in reports and numbers that he hadn’t noticed the time.
With a bitter smile, he stood up to pack his things. On his desk lay a wedding invitation, its bright red color almost mocking him, stirring an inexplicable jealousy in his chest.
He glanced out the window. The city glittered with lights, alive with the vibrancy of early spring. The streets were filled with reflections of greenery, stars, and bustling crowds, a harmonious blend of heaven and earth.
Yet amidst all this, he felt perpetually awake and perpetually alone.
There was a time when Wen Wei often stayed late at the office. She would sneak up to the rooftop terrace, her coffee in hand, and gaze at the commercial district’s sea of lights below. The shimmering cityscape gave her a sense of peace and comfort.
One evening, much like any other, she sat on the terrace with her coffee. Just as she was about to leave, she heard footsteps behind her. Turning, she saw Lin Yi Shen standing in the shadows of the lights. His upright posture exuded strength, tinged with an unusual loneliness and a fleeting warmth. It struck her as surreal. Lin Yi Shen felt both farther away and closer than ever before.
He walked over and sat beside her. “A lonely, quiet city—beautiful, but isolating.”
Wen Wei smiled. “Searching for hope in the midst of despair.”
Lin Yi Shen laughed heartily, and Wen Wei joined in. She spread her fingers, letting the fragmented light filter through them, her eyes squinting with amusement. He watched her, and they both felt a subtle shift in the atmosphere.
Eventually, they decided to have dinner together: crab roe-stuffed chicken kidneys, chrysanthemum yellow croaker soup, Songjiang bass, and lettuce with dried scallops—a menu filled with classic Shanghai dishes.
As Wen Wei took a bite of fish, she asked with a smile, “Manager Lin, are you from Shanghai?”
He shook his head. “Are you?”
She hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Yes, I’ve lived in Shanghai my whole life until the headquarters transferred me here.”
Lin Yi Shen smiled reassuringly. “Do these dishes taste like home? I wouldn’t know—I’m not from Shanghai.”
0 Comments