Chapter 29: Crossing
The elevator arrived.
Wen Bairan stepped inside without a backward glance.
Jiang Shijin rushed over to call out to her, but then a loud noise came from another room nearby. He cursed under his breath, "Damn it!" and turned back.
In the living room, Zhou Lin was dragging Su Yi out by her arm.
"A Lin, let me go! You're hurting me!"
Her cries for help were met with a furious shove.
Zhou Lin’s movement was as effortless as throwing out a bag of trash.
Jiang Shijin, who had just reached the doorway, caught her squarely, "Shit!"
With him breaking her fall, Su Yi only stumbled two steps before steadying herself. She quickly lifted her face, tear-streaked, and gazed back into the room, "A Lin..."
The entryway behind the main door connected to the living room. With the lights off, the monochrome interior felt overwhelmingly oppressive in the evening gloom.
Zhou Lin stood shirtless, his face grim. The space behind him seemed to stretch endlessly into the dimness, like a vast black hole.
He had noticeably thinned over these days, his lean upper body more skeletal, shoulders tense and raised, veins bulging on his neck. His gray sweatpants were loose and oversized, the legs pooling over his feet and dragging listlessly on the floor—a stark contrast to the coiled tension in his upper body.
"Get out," he spat, eyes blazing.
It was the first time he had spoken to Su Yi in a week.
His voice was rough and grating, unbearably harsh.
Jiang Shijin didn’t know what had just happened in the room, but it was clear both he and Wen Bairan had misunderstood. Frowning, he said, "Lin, Wen Bairan was here."
The name landed like an earthquake.
Su Yi swayed on her feet, turning to him in disbelief. *How could she have come? She said she wouldn’t.*
"Su Yi went to find her."
Jiang Shijin had initially thought she’d finally done something useful, but now it seemed more unnecessary than ever.
He stepped forward, his expression complicated, hoping Zhou Lin would brace himself. "She thought you two were... If you’re going after her, go now. She just left."
The shadows on Zhou Lin’s face seemed to crumble away like peeling wall plaster, revealing a deathly pallor beneath. He stirred excitedly, as if to step forward, but his feet seemed shackled by thousand-pound chains. The light in his eyes flickered and then shrank into a tight, anxious knot.
Even the arrogant lion has moments of fear.
And Wen Bairan was that moment.
He suddenly turned his head, his gaze falling on the vase in the dining room.
When had it appeared?
In his memory, it had long been shattered.
Wen Bairan kneeling on the floor, picking up the pieces one by one.
But no matter how you reassemble something broken, it remains broken.
He had promised to buy her a new one.
Was this it?
For a moment, a storm of complex emotions swept across Zhou Lin’s face. His throat moved as if to speak, but no sound came out, dry and choked. His rooted heels fell heavily back into place, and the shadows in the room once again pressed down on his shoulders like a mountain.
Night fell silently.
//
Wen Bairan left Jinhu Apartments and took a taxi to Crossing.
The manager here hadn’t seen her in ages but still recognized her immediately.
"Miss Wen, it’s been a while."
The manager had been working here for years—perceptive, skilled at reading people, and very familiar with Zhou Lin and his circle.
Lately, both Zhou Lin and Jiang Shijin had been coming less frequently, and Wen Bairan was no longer with them. Instead, that girl surnamed Su had shown up a couple of times. Based on his understanding of them, the manager knew what had happened between Zhou Lin and Wen Bairan the moment she appeared here alone.
"What would you like to drink today? I’ll arrange it." Even if they had broken up, Wen Bairan still held considerable weight, and the manager treated her with respect.
Wen Bairan smiled faintly and thanked him. "Let’s wait a bit longer. There’s one more person."
It was the weekend, and the place was bustling.
She glanced around and said, "Find me a quieter spot."
"How about the second floor? We just renovated upstairs. The window-side booths are quite nice."
"Sure."
The manager waved over a server. "Xiao Lin, take Miss Wen to the second floor."
Crossing had been on this street for several years. It started as a quiet bar but nearly closed down after struggling to compete with other venues. It was only saved when Zhou Lin and Jiang Shijin threw in some money to keep it afloat.
The owner used the funds to renovate, and now it had become an internet-famous check-in spot on this street.
The investment had seemed like a whim on Zhou Lin’s part at the time—the amount wasn’t large, and even the Zhou family didn’t know about it.
Wen Bairan had once asked him why he’d suddenly taken an interest, and he’d simply said he was used to the drinks here.
But now, looking back, maybe it wasn’t just that.
The night deepened, and the downstairs grew livelier.
Wen Bairan checked the time—almost 10 p.m.
She signaled a server to bring a coffee. Just as she placed her order, before the server could leave, someone pulled out the chair opposite hers.
Slender hands, devoid of any adornment. Despite the summer heat, the cuffs of his light blue long-sleeved shirt were fastened meticulously. Under the hazy lights, the hand that calmly adjusted the chair's angle seemed to possess a magic that could calm one’s heart.
Wen Bairan looked up abruptly, recognizing him with delight. "Brother Li Yuan!"
Behind gold-rimmed glasses, the man’s eyes held a restrained smile. "Long time no see, Xiao Bai."
There was a time when Li Yuan had been Wen Bairan’s idol.
Like Zhou Lin, he came from a prominent family, but he was also exceptionally gifted in his own right. He skipped grades and entered a special youth program at fifteen, earned his doctorate by twenty-four, and later joined the family business to study management. In just a few years, he propelled Lianjie Daily Chemicals, which had been lingering on the edge of the Fortune 500, into the core of China’s daily chemicals industry.
Everyone assumed he would lead the company onto the international stage, but two years ago, he resolutely chose to relinquish his inheritance and went abroad to study psychology. After quite a journey, the Li Yuan now sitting across from Wen Bairan was only thirty-six.
It had been two years since they last met, yet he looked exactly the same, yet somehow completely different.
His face was still refined and gentle, his demeanor as easygoing and generous as ever.
But there was a deeper calm in his eyes, a deeper sense of strength.
How to describe it? Well, Wen Bairan felt it was a kind of boundless vitality, as if the entire universe was reflected in his gaze.
His depth was like his name—Yuan, meaning "abyss."
It was a profundity and breadth ordinary people could only dream of.
Wen Bairan rarely felt true admiration for anyone; Ms. Xie was one, and Li Yuan was another.
"Brother Li Yuan, you've become even more impressive than before," she said sincerely.
Li Yuan had just sat down and was met with such high praise, making him laugh. "What makes you say that? This is our first meeting since I returned to the country; aren’t you jumping the gun with the flattery?"
His voice was gentle, with a smooth, jade-like tone that felt polished and soothing.
The saying "a stranger as elegant as jade" probably referred to his one-of-a-kind vibe.
Li Yuan was eight years older than her, and perhaps because of the age gap, Wen Bairan always felt like a little girl around him, speaking her mind freely, her tone even a bit exaggerated and excited. "It's just a feeling, a strong feeling. I could sense it even over the phone."
Not long after she left Zhou Lin, she received a call from Li Yuan.
He suggested they meet, leaving the location up to her. After thinking it over, the only place they had both frequented was Du Bar.
Wen Bairan had always believed Li Yuan was someone who truly possessed both gentleness and wisdom, and now he seemed even more impressive. With just a few words, he made her feel as though his thoughts were her own.
Over the phone, she could tell he wanted to meet here but had let her be the one to suggest it. Though she noticed, she didn’t feel the slightest displeasure; it all felt natural.
In the end, it was because he gave her the space to see through it.
Around him, Wen Bairan felt respected.
He always respected everyone.
After such a long time apart, the man across from her still looked at her with that gentle, understanding smile, as if everything she did was right in his eyes. "This shows it’s not just me who has improved; you’ve grown up too, haven’t you?"
Wen Bairan felt warmth spread through her chest at his words. Just then, the server brought the coffee, and she raised her cup to toast him.
"Brother Li Yuan, welcome back."
Li Yuan smiled and clinked glasses with her. "Thank you."
Du Bar was a bar.
But tonight, two people were perfectly happy without alcohol.
Li Yuan had been away for two years, and during that time, Wen Bairan’s life and work had undergone many changes.
Seeing her long-absent brother return, she vividly recounted the stories that had happened while he was away.
He listened quietly, occasionally sharing something about himself before letting her continue. It was as if he needed these stories to fill his curiosity; the more Wen Bairan spoke, the more genuine his smile became.
"Xiao Bai, I’m glad to see you’ve become cheerful again," he said.
Xiao Bai.
Only he called her that.
Every time she heard it, Wen Bairan felt a pleasant tingle, as if someone had gently scratched her chin.
Once, Zhou Lin got jealous and said that the dog Li Yuan’s family used to have was named Xiao Bai. "You’re not wrong; whenever he came home, he’d hug the dog, rub its chin, and call it Xiao Bai."
Wen Bairan, after hearing this, she punched him twice in anger, saying he had a heart as small as a pinhole, always ruining her mood when she was happy.
Later, she remembered this and couldn’t resist asking, "Brother Li Yuan, why do you call me Xiao Bai? Is it because your dog was also named Xiao Bai?"
Li Yuan said, "Yes, she was also called Xiao Bai, a Coton de Tulear. She came to my home when she was three months old and stayed with me for ten years. She was adorable, a white fluffball as soft as a cloud, and she’d gently nuzzle against my chest when I held her. If you had met her, you would’ve loved her too."
His expression at that time was one of natural tenderness; the nostalgia and affection were so vivid it was as if Xiao Bai were right there with them, curled up obediently. Wen Bairan couldn’t help but feel a wish to have met her and asked if he could bring her out to play sometime.
Li Yuan shook his head regretfully and said, "No, she passed away last year, very peacefully. I buried her in the yard where she loved to play with her ball. Oh, and I have photos of her; I can give you one."
He said it so calmly, even the regret was gentle—so gentle that Wen Bairan didn’t feel it was a death but rather looked forward to seeing Xiao Bai’s photo.
It wasn’t until Li Yuan remembered her initial dismay when she asked the first question and asked with concern, "Don’t you like the name Xiao Bai?" that she recalled her original purpose, leaving her momentarily speechless.
The next time they met, Li Yuan hadn’t forgotten their agreement. He brought one of his treasured photos and introduced them to each other: "Xiao Bai, this is Sister Xiao Bai. Xiao Bai, this is my late friend, Xiao Bai."
In the photo, Xiao Bai was indeed as soft as a cloud, with innocent, round, bright black eyes, and her raised front paw seemed to be waving hello.
Wen Bairan felt a unique bond to another life.
Li Yuan told her, "A Lin was just joking; he never saw Xiao Bai as just a pet. She was his friend, and you are too. It’s just that your name happens to have 'Bai' in it, and you’re as lovely as Xiao Bai, so I call you that. If you don’t like it, I can call you Ran Ran like Zhou Lin does."
He also said with a laugh, "If we’re talking about resemblance, don’t you think A Lin’s eyes are more like Xiao Bai’s? They both have fiery, straightforward temperaments and would joyfully romp around when happy."
Wen Bairan, after hearing him, she thought he was right, and for a while after, she found Zhou Lin incredibly cute.
That was Li Yuan’s magic.
He made everyone and everything feel as though they could stay by his side, bathed in his gentle gaze. Even if his attention lingered for just a moment, it felt like a privilege.
Even Zhou Lin was no exception.
She remembered when she was about to graduate, facing the challenge of juggling work and romance.
Zhou Lin said she didn’t need to work; he had already bought a house, and she could move in anytime, spending her days eating, drinking, and having fun at home, traveling when the mood struck. He had always lived like that and wanted her to live the same way.
It was indeed the kind of happy life most people dreamed of, the kind many spent their whole lives working to achieve.
But Wen Bairan didn’t want that.
At least, not by leaning on Zhou Lin.
She honestly shared her thoughts, but Zhou Lin couldn’t understand; he never could.
They had a big blowout, one so intense that even Li Yuan came to mediate.
He told Wen Bairan, "Zhou Lin isn’t mature yet, but he absolutely doesn’t have any intention of controlling anyone. A Lin’s value lies in the fact that his assertiveness doesn’t stem from some hang-up but from his still-growing heart. He just wants to share his carefree life with you. In this regard, you’re more mature than him and can see further, so I’ll support any decision you make in this matter."
He truly meant it.
Who knows what he said to Zhou Lin, but to show his sincerity in apologizing, Zhou Lin accompanied Wen Bairan to three afternoons of interviews until she landed her job at the advertising company back then.
For both her and Zhou Lin, Li Yuan was like a middleman.
He never actively interfered in their relationship, but no matter what emotions they brought to him, once they entered his station, they would be wrapped in kindness and sweetened before being returned to their hands.
He always made them see the precious parts of each other.
And then they continued to love.
Two years ago, on the eve of Li Yuan's departure abroad, he specifically asked Wen Bairan to meet alone, also here.
At that time, Wen Bairan had already fallen into an emotional rough patch.
She became clearly down.
When she learned that Li Yuan was leaving and might not come back, she cried.
Before parting, Li Yuan held her close, gently stroking her long hair, "Xiao Bai, I have to tell you, your future may not be with A Lin."
That was the first and only time since they met that he suggested they should break up.
He knew Wen Bairan admired him and listened to him.
In his heart, Zhou Lin was a younger brother, family, and Wen Bairan was also someone important to him. He wanted her to be well, even better.
He still feels that way.
After talking all night, Wen Bairan was getting thirsty. She looked down and noticed the coffee in her cup was already finished. At some point, Li Yuan had ordered her another cup of hot cocoa, which was still warm by now. "I remember you don't like things too sweet? Try it, I didn't ask them to add sugar."
Only then did she realize she had been dominating the conversation and bit her lip in slight embarrassment. "Sorry, I've been talking too much. It's been so long since I last saw you, I got a little excited."
"Not at all, I enjoy listening to you. When I was abroad, I often missed the times when you and A Lin were bickering around me. Hearing it again now feels very familiar," Li Yuan smiled. "It feels like home."
Li Yuan wasn't traditionally handsome or strikingly beautiful, but his temperament was enough to change how you see him. When he smiled at her so fondly, it gave Wen Bairan a fleeting illusion of a flutter.
Feeling somewhat shy, she picked up the cup and took small sips. "What about you? How have you been abroad?"
Li Yuan thought seriously for a moment. "Well, eating, sleeping, attending classes, doing homework. Aside from the difficulty of writing papers, nothing much besides that. It's not as exciting as your lives here."
Wen Bairan was surprised that there was something in this world he found difficult. He was a genius—if even a genius struggled, it must be a huge challenge for ordinary people.
"Why can't I find things difficult?" Li Yuan shrugged innocently. "Back in the day, I also stayed up all night rushing to finish winter vacation homework and things like that."
His serious demeanor was weirdly mismatched with the phrase "rushing homework."
Wen Bairan was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
Seeing her laugh, Li Yuan laughed too.
His smile was deep, hidden behind his glasses and wrapped in the dim, complex lighting of the bar, carrying a subtle, hard-to-read quality.
"Xiao Bai, are you dating anyone now?" he suddenly asked.
Wen Bairan paused, her smile freezing at the corners of her mouth before slowly fading into a calm, everyday smile.
The cheerful young woman from a minute ago had, in that instant, returned to the demeanor of a mature woman.
She knew he would ask this question.
"No," she said softly. "Li Yuan, I haven't told you yet—A Lin and I have separated."
Li Yuan's voice remained soft and smooth. "Mm, I already knew before I returned."
"But Xiao Bai, I mean now."
"Right now, are you seeing someone?"
His way of asking made it impossible to refuse.
He didn't ask why she and Zhou Lin separated, nor whether Zhou Lin still didn't want it to end—he already had answers to those questions.
From Wen Bairan's brief, hesitant silence, he had also figured out the answer to this question.
But he asked anyway.
In his eyes, Wen Bairan was a wonderful woman, possessing all the wonderful qualities a woman could have, and even more. Her stubbornness, independence, fragility, and sensitivity sometimes made Li Yuan feel that Zhou Lin wasn't good enough for her.
It was just a pity that people could sometimes be hung up on worth, and lose sight of sound judgments.
She didn't speak, as if thinking it over.
Perhaps she was contemplating how to define her relationship with another person.
Li Yuan tactfully changed the subject.
"Xiao Bai, if I said I hope you would think about me too, what would you think?"