In their seventh year of living together, Xu Tinglan heard someone ask at a project meeting, “Are Engineer Shen and Mr. Xu close?”
Shen Zhiheng paused for a moment.
“We’ve worked on a lot of projects together. I’d say we know each other.”
Seven years of sharing a bed and every meal, through every season, were wiped away by his casual words: “I’d say we know each other.”
Shen Zhiheng was an urban planning consultant: calm, restrained, and used to calculating every risk in advance.
Xu Tinglan ran a neighborhood bookstore. Warm and bright, he was good at taking care of other people’s feelings, and even better at preserving Shen Zhiheng’s dignity.
Then a medical report was tucked away in a drawer. Shen Zhiheng began monitoring what Xu Tinglan ate at night, booking his follow-up appointments, and reminding him again and again:
“We may have to move somewhere else in the future. We should get used to the idea ahead of time.”
Xu Tinglan had thought it was simply concern. Then red paint marks appeared on the old street, along with surveyors and business registration forms. Then he found a project proposal labeled “Old Street Renewal” in Shen Zhiheng’s briefcase. It turned out that in the future Shen Zhiheng had planned for him, no one had even asked whether the bookstore should stay.
When their relationship was denied in public, Xu Tinglan finally stopped covering for him.
He closed the file and looked across the table full of project documents at Shen Zhiheng.
“Then what am I to you? Am I your partner or not?”
The rain poured that night.
The soup in the kitchen went from warm to cold, but Xu Tinglan never came back.
Sitting alone at the dining table, Shen Zhiheng realized for the first time that he had calculated every possibility for the two of them, yet had overlooked one thing:
One day, Xu Tinglan might stop waiting for him.
Content note: Both men have had relationships in the past, but once they commit to each other, they have eyes only for one another.
It's really good. This book uses Shen always making decisions for Xu and disappointing Xu as the conflict point. It takes the demolition and rectification of the old neighborhood as the main line. During this period, it describes a lot of Xu's disappointment based on Shen making decisions without informing him. (For example: Shen's parents have not met Xu in the seven years they have been partners. Shen's parents have asked to meet and have dinner several times, but Shen directly refused without telling Xu (even though the reasons for rejection were real concerns), which also caused cracks in their relationship.) The description is plain and real. The two really love each other and can't live without each other. Then Shen gradually corrects his habit of making decisions for Xu and tells Xu all his thoughts. Will the two finally get back together? Although I haven't written it to this point yet, but judging from the development, it should be 🍉
This is my first time to write a book review. The writing of this book is really good, very delicate, and the characters are very flesh-and-blood. It can be seen that the author loves this book very much. The small theater plot of the narration is very delicious. It is updated on time every day and has a lot of words. It will definitely become popular. Come on!
The writing is very good and delicate, and the character of the protagonist is very distinct. I really like the concept of love in it. Except for a few details that are not well connected, overall it is very good.
Mature but sour writing style and plot, I like it very much
It's the right sweet and sour taste!
It's quite nice and has a slightly sour feeling!!!
It's beautiful, this sour feeling is really sour 🥺 🥺
The writing is delicate and gives the feeling of a stable, comfortable and slightly sad life. Come on, author 😘