Chapter 1: Three People

Rippling lake water reflected the azure sky. White clouds looked as clean as if freshly washed.

Sang Shen crouched down with some effort. He gestured for Yin Xing to climb onto his back.

But she remained still.

He turned his head, puzzled.

Looking at the somewhat dazed girl, he asked, “Huh… what’s wrong? Not coming up?”

“…Forget it.”

She shifted her gaze from Sang Shen’s back, scratched by small stones. She sighed softly.

She recalled that time climbing a mountain.  She had slipped down a slope, scraping her knee. Though only a minor injury, that woman insisted on being carried up the mountain.

The reason was she had no strength left.

But if someone truly loved him, how could they make such a demand?

Thinking carefully, that woman’s selfishness had long shown in life’s little moments. Yet Yin Xing had never noticed.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Are you angry?”

“No.”

“Uh… didn’t you just insist I carry you?”

Yin Xing didn’t answer. She walked ahead on her own.

“Hurry up, let’s go back.”

“Uh… ah! Wait! Hiss…!”

Sang Shen pressed his knee, quickening his pace. He nearly fell again.

Yin Xing didn’t stop. But she slowed her steps slightly, intentionally or not. She waited for him to catch up.

“It feels worse than before… ugh…”

Sang Shen straightened up beside Yin Xing. He forced a smile.

“This is from falling off the bike earlier. It’s no big deal. It’ll probably be fine by tomorrow. By the way, a girl brought me here. She’s about our age… our current age, I mean.”

Yin Xing paused. Her brows furrowed slightly as she looked at Sang Shen.

“Thanks to her, I made it in time… I mean, even if most women in the world aren’t great, there must be a few exceptions, right? Like our aunt, she’s pretty good. Or our own mother…”

Sang Shen, fearing Yin Xing’s anger, hurriedly explained.

“She’s like one of those good girls, like our mother. Yesterday, when I came back, my bag broke. She helped me pick things up, gave me a new bag, and drove me home.

Today, when I rushed out, she saw I was in a hurry. She didn’t ask much, just rode her bike to bring me to find you… Then we fell because she rode too fast…”

Sang Shen said all this in one breath.

Yin Xing showed no reaction.

She merely shifted her gaze forward and started walking again.

“But anyway, she’s a young girl. If seeing her makes you feel sick or uncomfortable, just close your eyes. I’ll ask her to leave first so you won’t feel bad.”

“…Whatever.”

Faced with Yin Xing’s cold reply, Sang Shen scratched his head awkwardly. He quickened his pace to walk ahead of her.

After turning a corner, they saw a long slope below. A girl in a floral skirt sat on a flat stone, gently swinging her legs.

The bike that had fallen earlier was now propped up. It leaned quietly against a nearby railing.

“You’re back—!”

Her face barely visible, the girl waved excitedly and shouted.

“Are you okay—!”

“Ah…! I’m fine! How about you?”

“No problem~ Want a bandage?”

“Huh…?”

Sang Shen noticed Lin Qing’s ankle and elbow had bandages. They seemed to have been cleaned already. By now, he had reached Lin Qing.

“You carry these things with you?”

“Because I get hurt a lot.”

“Huh? Do you often do dangerous stuff?”

“Not necessarily dangerous. Just running around in the countryside, accidents happen!”

Lin Qing laughed lightly, lifting the bike’s cover.

“Lots of stuff is in the bike. But before you put on a bandage, you should wash your wound by that stream.”

“Oh, or I’ll just deal with it back home…”

Sang Shen glanced back worriedly.

Seeing Yin Xing calmly watching Lin Qing with no unusual reaction, he sighed in relief.

“How about you? Are you okay? Should I take you home?”

“Hm? No need~ I’m fine. I’m used to these small injuries!”

“They don’t look small…”

“They’ll be fine by tomorrow!”

“If you’re not in a hurry, I’ll take… my sister home first. Then I’ll come back to take you home?”

“Really, no need.”

Lin Qing jumped off the stone, walking lightly.

“I’ll ride back myself.”

“Oh, right… the bike.

Is it fixed?”

“The chain broke, but it’s easy to fix. So don’t worry.”

“Mm…”

“Can I meet her? Your sister?”

“Oh, my sister…!”

Sang Shen stepped aside.

“She’s called Yin Xing.”

Yin Xing stayed silent.

“Uh, she’s just… not much of a talker. That’s her personality. It doesn’t mean she dislikes you…”

“What a cute girl!”

Lin Qing bounced forward, grabbing Yin Xing’s right hand.

“Hi, I’m Lin Qing. If you ever need help, come find me!”

Yin Xing shook off her hand, mildly repulsed. She stepped behind Sang Shen.

“Sorry, she’s still in a bad mood…”

“No worries, no worries~”

Lin Qing didn’t seem to mind.

“She’s got a few mosquito bites.”

“No way around it. Our house doesn’t have screens. If we open windows for air, mosquitoes get in. The room’s not sealed well either. There’s always a gap for bugs to fly through.”

“Oh~ I see. I have a mosquito net at home!”

Lin Qing mimed pulling something down.

“You cover the bed with it, and mosquitoes can’t get in. You sleep great!”

“Can that work if you sleep on the floor?”

“Sure, it’s even easier!”

“Then I’ll check if they sell them in town…”

“I’ll look at home. I think we have one in the storeroom. It’s a bit messy, so I might not find it. If I can’t, I’ll let you know. If I do, I’ll bring it over.”

“Oh… well… I feel a bit bad, but please look for it. Just… if your injuries aren’t healed, rest first.”

“Got it. Sang Shen’s really caring, huh?”

Yin Xing suddenly stepped between Lin Qing and Sang Shen.

“Let’s go home.”

“Oh, uh, anyway, I’ll head back. Where’s your place? We might walk partway together?”

“It’s back there.”

“Huh… opposite direction?”

“You pass that lake, then keep going. It’s near the end of Youhu Village.”

“That far in…?”

“Yup, so no need to take me. Bye~!”

“Oh… okay… bye… Take it slow!”

Sang Shen watched Lin Qing push her bike up the slope. She slowly vanished from sight. Then he snapped back to reality.

“See, there are kind, friendly girls in the world. Good or bad isn’t about gender, right?”

“It’s just a mask when they’re weak.”

“You can’t say that… Her kindness felt real, didn’t it?”

“Let’s go back.”

Yin Xing left Sang Shen behind. She walked toward home.

“Slow down! By the way… don’t you feel less uncomfortable seeing women now?”

“…I don’t think so.”

“Then why didn’t you react much to her?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Maybe because she has a truly pure, kind heart. So you don’t instinctively reject her? Is this your sixth sense? Only truly good girls don’t make you feel sick?”

“I don’t know.”

Yin Xing paused, a bit annoyed.

“You talk too much.”

“…But if I don’t talk, it’s too quiet.  You won’t talk, so I have to.”

Sang Shen coughed dryly.

“Talking is how we communicate. Without it, how do we figure things out? Some things click when you talk. Some problems show up when you talk. Talking helps spot mistakes early. Or lets out bad feelings before they explode.

It can also share good feelings. Spread happiness to others…”

Yin Xing stayed silent.

“See, you’re not talking again. So I have to. At least say something back?”

“…Shut up.”

“Ugh…”

Sang Shen scratched his cheek. He finally quieted down for a bit.

The two walked, one tall, one short, one behind the other. Under the newly risen sun, they followed the winding village path.

The village had few people. A few lingered by doors or fields. They didn’t greet them, just watched, wondering whose kids these were.

The village mostly had elderly folk and children left behind. Few young adults stayed. Mornings, most went to the early market. So the village was quietest now.

This stillness calmed the heart.

Rice fields swayed lightly in the morning breeze. Crops meant harvests. The lusher they grew, the more reassuring they felt.

Summer in the countryside was a monotonous green. Dotted with a few small white flowers.

No city skyscrapers. No urban bustle.

But Sang Shen always felt only here could he avoid losing himself. Only here did his body and heart find a true home…

“Hey, what do you want for breakfast? I bought instant noodles yesterday. How about noodles for breakfast? Shrimp and fish cake flavor?

It’s light… Or should we buy some rice? But yesterday was so tiring, and this morning was hectic. I’m kinda… not up for moving much.”

“…Whatever.”

“So, noodles?”

“…Shut up.”

“Hey, I didn’t even say anything yet!”