One Night, One Day, One Year, One Lifetime

One

13 October. Sunny.

At dusk, rain fell from the skies, cold water stretching across the roads. When it was six o'clock, I wrapped a shawl around my shoulders and left my house to welcome my Gao Fei home.

Were it not for his displeasure, I might have already been at the airport awaiting his arrival at this moment in time. Gao Fei's one week of the business trip was already a great torment for me to endure, so how could I tolerate the fact that I would not be the first person he would see upon touchdown?

But in his call, he coldly forbade me to do so.

For three days, he had not answered any of my calls. Without a choice, I could only compromise with his wishes.

At seven o'clock sharp, Gao Fei finally appeared within my sight, wearing the cream-colored overcoat which I had prepared for him. I was as excited as a little bird as I ran towards him, shouting his name, 'Gao Fei, Gao Fei', dying to be enveloped within the warmth of his embrace.

As he heard my voice, he raised his head. He had not expected me to be waiting for him at the doorstep, and his eyes immediately cooled, watching as I ran towards him. He shifted, easily evading my hug, his disdain palpable.

Perhaps, in my entire life, I would never be able to obtain a fraction of warmth from him, just like a lost bird, never to return to the warmth of its nest.

Though I could clearly discern Gao Fei's unhappiness, I was unwilling to draw attention to it. Moreover, I felt that his reaction was not considered overboard, so I continued to smile, remaining unbashful as I clung onto him, spilling my heart out.

'Gao Fei, I missed you.'

It was impossible to not miss him, for he was the only man I have ever loved in my entire life.

The body which I hugged remained rigid in my arms. Even though Gao Fei was tall and wrapped securely in layers of clothes, not a sliver of his warmth was given to me. Instead, he moved, raising his hands as he pushed me away.

His face remained expressionless as he said, 'Let's go home!'

I continued to beam as I nodded, because of his word 'home'. I knew that this was just a careless, unintentional word on his part, but I was long accustomed to deliberately misinterpreting the meaning behind his words, spinning them in a favorable, comforting light, so my heart still warmed.

Go home.

Gao Fei, let's go home.

From the bathroom was the sound of splashing water. I buried my head as I continued to unpack Gao Fei's luggage. I knew that whenever he returned from his trips, I would receive no souvenir. Gao Fei often said that I was wealthy and powerful, and there was nothing in this world which I could not buy, just as there was nothing I could not snatch into my possession, so there was never a reason for him to give me anything. When he had said these words, his voice carried a trace of derision, matching the iciness in his eyes.

I wanted to protest: everything I could buy, no matter how expensive or precious they were, could never measure up to a single item from him.

But as I stared at the expression on his face, I could only shrink back, swallowing my words.

He was still unable to forget the way I had snatched him into my hands those years ago.

My wealth and power were two things that Gao Fei would never be able to accept.

That year, I had been accompanying my father as we attended a bidding conference, and it was there when I first met Gao Fei. Back then, he had been dressed smartly in a suit, his words clearly articulated as he presented his speech and addressed each client.