Time Gave Me Seven Years

A cup of tea, a person, a rainy day, a few scattered memories.

Summer in Nanjiang is even more stiflingly hot than last year. The heat suddenly flooding every cell in Gu Yiyi's body dragged her out of a sweet nap. Still groggy and cranky, she shouted,

"Mom, I'm just turning on the AC for a bit. Are you really that worried about the electricity bill...?"

Then she realized the huge house was empty except for her and the echo of her own voice. She checked her phone: 3:26 p.m. She grabbed the remote and pressed buttons for ages before finally realizing the power was out. She was about to turn on the fan and make do when she tapped herself on the head.

"I'm such an idiot. The fan needs electricity too. Ugh... I'm crying because I'm so stupid."

She was just about to head out and mooch some Wi-Fi and air conditioning at a cold drink shop when, as soon as she stepped out of the neighborhood gate, raindrops the size of peas came pelting down hard on the trees, the ground, and her. Thunder boomed deafeningly. Gu Yiyi immediately abandoned the idea of going out. But it was already too late to turn back. The rain came pouring down like water from a bucket, so she had no choice but to sprint to the stationery shop at the school, a hundred meters away. It was the only place nearby with its doors open, as if it had opened just for her.