Mr. Chen and Ms. Lin

Long-distance relationship | Breakup by silent treatment | The beauty of a tragic ending

In January 2020, she met him on an online forum.

The second time they met, he said, “I like you.” She said, “Quit smoking, and we'll be together.” He said, “Okay,” then bent down and kissed her. That was when she learned for the first time that you could forget to breathe during your first kiss.

Later, she thought they would always be like that: he would take a cross-city ride-share to see her, ride the Ferris wheel with her despite his fear of heights, and carry her down an entire street when she got angry.

She thought meeting each other's parents and having a child meant they would be together for life.

Until New Year's Eve 2022, when she sent him a message: “Chen Yu, let's break up.”

She thought he wouldn't take her seriously. Only then did she understand that all the kindness he'd shown her before had been to make up for something.

Later, she heard he'd gotten married and had a child.

In 2026, she lay on the operating table to have her IUD removed and closed her eyes.

The last image in her mind was of him running out to meet her in January 2020.

That winter was gone forever.

No second chances, no comeback, only the real pain and tenderness of love.