The summer sun rose unusually early, emerging just past seven in the morning. Though it was still early, the air felt ignited, with heat waves rippling through the surroundings. Liu Yan stood at the bus stop, having agreed to her best friend's request to be a bridesmaid. She planned to take the bus to the county town. She wore a fitted white silk dress and pink high heels, her curvaceous figure accentuated by the tight fabric, which outlined her alluring silhouette.
"Beep, beep!" The bus finally arrived. After stopping, no passengers got off; instead, over a dozen elderly men and women, fresh from morning exercises, crowded onto the platform, making the already cramped space even more congested. Those who managed to board lingered near the door, prompting the driver to shout, "Move inside, passengers! Don't block the doorway—there are plenty of seats further back!"
The bus was packed like a sardine can, with no room to spare due to the crowd of elderly exercisers. Liu Yan thought to herself, I'd better wait for the next one. This bus would probably crush me if I got on. Deciding to take a taxi instead, she watched as one pulled up, only for other waiting passengers to claim it before her. Too reserved to compete, she stepped back.
Just then, a black sedan stopped beside her. As the window rolled down, a familiar, smiling face looked out. "Liu Yan, waiting for a ride?" It was her ex-boyfriend, Wang Zheng.
"Yeah, I'm heading to my friend's wedding in the county town to be her bridesmaid," Liu Yan replied. Seeing her former lover stirred her emotions, but she quickly composed herself.
"I'm also going to a wedding in the county town. Hop in, I'll give you a ride," Wang Zheng offered. He had spotted her striking figure in the crowd while driving by, instantly reminded of the woman he still thought about. Though they had broken up four years ago, his feelings for her lingered. After passing the stop, he had turned around at the next traffic light, just in time to see her miss the taxi. His heart raced at the sight of her, but he kept his tone casual as he invited her into the car.
"No, thanks. I'll wait for the next bus," Liu Yan declined, aware that their breakup warranted keeping her distance.
Wang Zheng, gazing at her beautiful face, suppressed his emotions and said, "The next bus will be just as packed. It's the weekend—everyone's heading to the county town to shop or sightsee."
Liu Yan glanced at the blazing sun and recalled the crowded bus. Reluctantly, she agreed, "Fine, but I'll sit in the back."
Settling into the car, she was greeted by cool air conditioning, her sweat evaporating as if she'd been saved. Air conditioning is humanity's greatest invention, she thought. As the car smoothly headed toward the county town, Wang Zheng glanced at her in the rearview mirror and asked, "Who's the friend getting married? What's her name?"
"Her name's Zhang Jie, my high school classmate," Liu Yan replied.
Wang Zheng's eyes widened. He turned briefly to look at her. "The groom—his name's Geng Jia, right?"
"Let me check." Liu Yan pulled the invitation from her purse and opened it. "You're right, it's Geng Jia. Wait, are you going to the same wedding?"
Wang Zheng pulled an identical invitation from his pocket, handing it to her with a grin. "Look at that. What a coincidence—we're fated, aren't we?"
Liu Yan's expression turned icy. "Don't talk like that," she snapped. "The moment you betrayed me, my heart died. Say that again, and I'll get out right now."
Startled, Wang Zheng fell silent. Even after all these years, Liu Yan's fiery temperament hadn't softened, nor had her resentment toward him faded.
Back in college, Wang Zheng had won Liu Yan's heart against fierce competition. At first, their relationship was sweet, the envy of their peers. But over time, he found her conservative views on intimacy frustrating. Whenever he suggested taking their relationship to a physical level, she rebuffed him, insisting her first time was reserved for her future husband. Despite being with such a beautiful girlfriend, Wang Zheng remained frustrated.
One night, after attending a lecture on "Sexual Liberation for College Students" and drinking heavily with a classmate who had long admired him, Wang Zheng ended up in a hotel room with her. Thinking it was just a one-night stand, he was blindsided when the classmate secretly took compromising photos and showed them to Liu Yan. Furious, Liu Yan ended the relationship without hesitation, unmoved by Wang Zheng's desperate attempts to reconcile.
Lost in memories, Wang Zheng sighed. He turned on the car's CD player, and soon Jay Chou's Orbit filled the air with its melancholic melody—the song he listened to most after their breakup:
How do I hide my sadness, in the place where I lost you?Your fragrance scatters quickly, and I can't keep up.Closing my eyes, I still see the traces of your departure.Under the moonlight, I keep searching for that longed-for figure.