Chapter 4: "I miss you "

The city was loud again—cars honking, people rushing, tall buildings blocking the sky.

But for the first time in his life, Yu Han didn’t feel excited about it.

He sat by the window of their apartment, staring at the small pot of apple seeds he had planted the day they returned. He had hoped one would grow, even just a little, to remind him of the tree back in the village.

But the soil stayed still.

“Yu Han,” his mother called, “don’t forget your homework.”

“I know,” he answered, though his pencil had been still for the past ten minutes.

His mind kept wandering back to the riverbank… the warm sun… and Xin Xin’s laughter echoing like bells.

He sighed and rested his forehead on his notebook.

“I miss it…” he whispered.

“I miss everything.”

At school, his friends gathered around him during break time.

“Hey, Yu Han! Tell us about the village again!”

“Did you really roll around in the grass?”

“Did you see real fish?”

Yu Han smiled weakly. “Yeah. We couldn’t catch any, though.”

His closest friend, Lu Han, leaned forward, elbows on the desk. He wasn’t loud like the others—he just listened quietly.

“You talk about that place a lot,” Lu Han said. “Must be nice.”

“It is,” Yu Han replied softly. “It’s… really peaceful.”

“And the girl you mentioned… Xin Xin?” Lu Han asked. “What’s she like?”

Yu Han felt heat creep up his neck. He scratched his cheek, avoiding eye contact.

“She’s… she’s Xin Xin,” he muttered.

Then, after a moment, he added, “She’s funny. And brave. And… she’s just different from people here.”

Lu Han smiled. “I want to visit someday. Maybe next summer. I want to meet her.”

Yu Han froze.

He didn’t know why, but something twisted inside his chest.

Meet Xin Xin?

Why did that make him uncomfortable?

He forced a smile anyway. “Y-Yeah. Sure. You can come.”

Lu Han nodded happily. “Then it’s a promise.”

Yu Han exhaled slowly, trying to calm the weird fluttering in his stomach.

When he got home that afternoon, Yu Mei was already inside, practicing piano.

Her fingers moved fast, jumping across the keys with a grace he always envied.

But she looked tired.

Ever since they returned to the city, Yu Mei barely had time to breathe—with schoolwork, piano lessons, and preparing for middle school.

“You okay?” Yu Han asked.

Yu Mei didn’t stop playing. “I’m fine. Just busy.”

“You wrote Xin Xin yet?”

She paused. “I haven’t… I don’t have time.”

Yu Han sat beside the piano and sighed.

“Well, I’m writing her today.”

“Then write for me, too,” Yu Mei said softly. “Tell her I miss her.”

“You should tell her yourself.”

“I will. But later. When school stops attacking me.”

Yu Han laughed softly and went to his room. He pulled out the letter set he bought with his own allowance—flowery paper he thought Xin Xin might like.

He took a deep breath and started writing.

"Dear Xin Xin,

It’s been two weeks since we left. The city feels loud again, and everything reminds me of the village… the river… and you. I hope you’re helping Grandma and studying hard. I’m studying too. I want to finish fast so I can go back there. I promise I will come next summer. Don’t forget me, okay?"

He stared at the last sentence for a long time before adding:

Your friend, Yu Han.

He sealed the envelope tightly, pressing his thumb against it like a promise.

That night, as he lay in bed, Yu Mei passed by his door.

“You wrote to her?”

“Yeah.”

“Good.” She leaned against the doorframe. “She’s probably waiting.”

Yu Han hugged his pillow.

“I know.”

Then he whispered into the dark—

“I’m waiting too.”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***