If It Were You

"Have you ever stood in the shadow of someone you loved?"

--

"Did you like it there?"

I thought that was what I would say when we met again. But when the moment came, I hesitated. Did I really have the right to ask?

We had once been such strangers to each other.

--

The first time they met again was at a small company party. She had graduated from college and been working for two years; he was a graduate student doing an internship.

He handed her a cup of warm water as she sat in a corner, her head throbbing.

She thought she was seeing things.

It really was a dream. He was in love with someone else.

The second time they met again was at the airport. They had both grown into fairly decent adults.

He called out to her, and they exchanged WeChat contacts.

Late that night, he liked her Moments post celebrating her first anniversary with her boyfriend.

The third time they met again, they exchanged business cards.

"So we've known each other for that long," he said.

"Yes," she smiled.

--

I used to scoff at fairy tales about love, and had no hope of meeting again after going around in circles.

But if it's you, even after all these years of brief encounters and long separations, when you finally reach out your hand, I think I'll be willing to try.

Not because of the past, but because of who you are now.

A reunion after years apart * meeting again at the top * unrequited love fulfilled

*A bittersweet, heartwarming story

[Next book] Maybe I Should Love You

Jiang You thought that if she worked hard and kept advancing in her career, she would eventually meet someone she loved, and have the best of both worlds: a fulfilling life and a successful career.

Ideally, he would come from a similar background, so they could build a life and be happy together.

Then she met Zhou Huaishu.

Everyone called him Mr. Zhou.

He had impeccable academic credentials and an extraordinary family background. Everything about him exceeded expectations.

She should have loved him, but she didn't seem to feel a spark.

She thought he felt the same way.

Until she was sent away for work, left without a word, and then, on a snowy night, saw him standing outside her apartment building.

Snow fell thickly as he gazed at her,

just as he had on countless rainy nights before.

-

Zhou Huaishu had been single for years. At last, someone was by his side, only to leave him.

Their mutual friend excused it by saying he was incapable of love.

Only he knew that the one incapable of love was someone else.

Theme: One day, we will stand side by side at the top.