What Misfortune

[Tender and healing + The regrets of youth + The one who got away]

The one who had seen every side of her

Could never see her again.

“Is there an animal you’d like to be?”

“I’d like to be a bird and fly over mountains and rivers.”

“Then I’d like to be a fish, preferably a koi, so I could bring good luck. And I’d only have seven seconds of memory, so I could live a carefree life.”

Song Zhishi noticed a shadow fall in front of her. She paused for two or three seconds, hurriedly wiped the tears from her face, and looked up.

Wen Buhan stood quietly before her. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he tilted the umbrella a little farther toward her.

“Song, if you’re often in a bad mood, you’ll never become a koi.”

Winters in Country Y were bitterly cold, and snow fell without warning.

Song Zhishi stood by the window, playing “Only,” the song Wen Buhan had performed, on her phone. The boy’s gentle voice mingled with the soft piano music, filling the room.

She watched the snowfall, which Wen Buhan might have seen too.

“Wen Buhan, happy birthday.”