Her Russian Boy

[Reunion after a long separation / mutual devotion / cross-cultural romance / sweet romance / happy ending]

Xu Zhi first met Regsi one winter in Harbin.

Snow fell thick and fast. The young man's cheeks and earlobes were rosy from the cold. They stood together in front of Saint Sophia Cathedral Square, blanketed in snow, as the lilting melody of a violin drifted into their ears. Everything seemed just right.

One was a Russian student studying in China; the other, a gentle, quiet art student from the south.

They thought they would have little to do with each other, but fate had other plans. Their story began at A University.

One day, Xu Zhi spotted a familiar figure on campus. They greeted each other naturally, having met once before. As time passed, they grew fond of each other, but neither said a word. The harsh realities of life and the barriers of their different nationalities seemed to make a lasting relationship impossible.

They parted as friends, agreeing not to disturb each other's lives.

Four years later, they met again at A University. Just like the first time, snow was falling over Harbin. Regsi had outgrown his boyish innocence, and Xu Zhi was no longer the young woman who had just discovered love. Both gentle souls were now busy making their way through life.

This time, Xu Zhi didn't want to let him slip away again.

&

Much later, Xu Zhi said:

“Regsi, ya tebya lyublyu.”

He paused. “You said... what?”

“I said, Regsi, ya tebya lyublyu.”

Regsi took out the long-overdue reply and began to read: “Dear Miss Xu Zhi, I miss you very much...”

A story about love and acceptance, courage and tenderness.