Early Summer in Flight

Yu Fei always remembered that first early summer when he saw Chu Xia. The sun was bright but not scorching, and the trees and grass were lush without looking frail or overgrown. Everything was just right...

Chu Xia asked Yu Fei, “You’re sick. Have you seen a doctor?” Yu Fei replied, “No. My sworn little sister just brought me some medicine.” Then came a rapid-fire burst of shouting from the other end of the phone. As Yu Fei listened to the tirade in his ear, he curled his lips into a wicked smile and said, “And you said you didn’t care about me?”

Chu Xia told Yu Fei, “I wear glasses. I’m not very pretty.” Yu Fei didn’t miss a beat. “I love how honest you are! Most girls make themselves sound prettier than they are, but you started by admitting your flaws. From now on, all I’ll see is how much better you are than I expected. I’m doomed. I’ll like you more with every passing second!”

Chu Xia told Yu Fei, “I like really big stuffed animals, the kind about as big as me that I can hug while I sleep.” Yu Fei said, “How childish!” What he was thinking was, I’m not buying you one. If you’re hugging it, what am I supposed to do?

Later, when they were arguing fiercely, Chu Xia said, “Let’s break up!” Yu Fei silently hung up. The next day, he messaged her: “You once said you liked stuffed animals as big as you. I didn’t buy you one then, so I’ll get you one now as a keepsake.” Chu Xia: “I don’t want it!” Yu Fei: “Then what do you want?” Chu Xia: “I want you! But you don’t want me!!!” Yu Fei’s heart ached. The anxiety and fear that had tormented him all night vanished completely, leaving only a heart so full it hurt.

On the day they went to register their marriage, Yu Fei arrived at the civil affairs office early...