Volume One, Chapter 19: A Reunion with Fang Shenzhai

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City Government, Temporary Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a room imbued with simplicity, a man dressed in a white shirt with a knitted vest and slim black trousers sat, his long legs accentuated by the tailored fit.

Fang Shenzhai stood with his back to the door, retrieving an awkwardly made crocheted doll from a suitcase on the nearby bookshelf, stroking it gently with his index finger.

It had been given to him by Li Shuhe back in junior high, grade nine.

She had learned to crochet it from the village’s female workers specially to give him a parting gift, as her aunt was marrying a wealthy businessman from Harbor City and was taking Li Shuhe there to continue her studies.

Fang Shenzhai still remembered when the young girl told him this with eyes full of hopeful anticipation for the future.

It was an ordinary night before the Spring Festival—

“Fang Shenzhai!”

Li Shuhe’s sweet, lively voice came from the wall. Fang Shenzhai looked up to see the spirited girl lying on the wall, gazing at him with eyes sparkling like stars.

He shook his head helplessly. “Be careful, don’t fall.”

“Why are you acting like an old man? I’m telling you, I’m going to Harbor City with my aunt to study. When I return, I’ll clear my mother’s name and put Duan Tiezhu behind bars!”

The childish face of Li Shuhe had faded, replaced by firm determination.

“All right, I believe you can do it.” Young Fang Shenzhai swallowed his selfish feelings and reluctance, smiling gently. “Whatever decision you make, I’ll support you.”

“This is for you, no complaining. It’s the first doll I crocheted, so it’s a bargain.”

A small hand suddenly stretched out beside the little head on the wall, tossing a slender, yarn-crafted doll in a graceful arc through the air.

Fang Shenzhai caught it clumsily, looking at it in his hand. His expression flickered momentarily before his eyes filled with warmth and humor. “Is this... you?”

“Heh, you guessed right! I have another one here. This is you; I kept myself.”

Following Li Shuhe’s hand, Fang Shenzhai saw an even uglier doll with short black hair in her palm.

“Very unique. I’ll keep it, thank you.”

Behind his glasses, the corners of Fang Shenzhai’s eyes were slightly red.

“I’ll wait for your return.”

“That’s settled then. Though I don’t know when I’ll be back. Maybe when we grow up, we’ll change so much we won’t recognize each other. Then we can use these to confirm who we are.”

As her footsteps faded, the girl’s voice grew distant.

“All right.”

Young Fang Shenzhai’s voice echoed.

—

“Deputy Director Fang, the Director just called. They want us to return to Beijing immediately.”

Wang Yuanshan burst in awkwardly, interrupting Fang Shenzhai’s thoughts.

Fang Shenzhai frowned, slipping the doll into his pocket, and slowly turned around. His dark eyes behind the glasses revealed no emotion.

Wang Yuanshan froze, instinctively shrinking back, then slowly took a step back and knocked on the door.

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Fang Shenzhai strode long-legged to his seat, his voice calm: “Come in.”

“Deputy Director Fang, the Director said there’s urgent business requiring your immediate return to Beijing.”

Wang Yuanshan repeated himself.

“Understood. Book the ticket for tomorrow.”

“All right, all right.”

Wang Yuanshan wiped an imaginary sweat from his brow. Fang was always polite and never lost his temper, but when he did get angry, his presence was overwhelming.

Fang Shenzhai placed his hand back on the desk, playing with the ugly doll again.

After the doll was given, Li Shuhe never went to Harbor City. Her uncle had disappeared, and after that, she never mentioned it again—until senior year, when she asked if he wanted to apply for a government-sponsored study abroad spot together.

Fang Shenzhai removed his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose, and hung the doll on the keychain at his waist.

—

Li Shuhe rarely had a good night’s sleep.

The next day, she woke naturally, refreshed.

She planned to go downtown to buy some consumables.

Pushing open the door, she saw Fang Shenzhai through the iron fence of the courtyard.

She had lived here so long but never crossed paths with him again.

Of course, part of the reason was her early mornings at work and late nights.

Returning to her bedroom, she took out the washed bowl and stepped outside, suddenly remembering something. She went back, rummaged through her wardrobe drawer, and took out a doll, hanging it on her keychain.

Li Shuhe nodded in satisfaction before the mirror.

Wearing a plain long dress, her fair face free of makeup, her post-adolescence skin clear and neat, her long hair tied meticulously in a ponytail, with the keychain hanging prominently at her waist.

She smiled, revealing a small tiger tooth—vivacious and bold.

Holding the bowl, she stopped before the neighboring courtyard.

After gathering her courage, Li Shuhe knocked on the gate.

Wang Yuanshan opened.

Tonight, he and Deputy Director Fang were leaving for Beijing and had come to bid farewell to Fang’s mother.

“Who are you?”

Wang Yuanshan’s eyes widened, wearing an expression of surprise as if witnessing a juicy drama.

Could this be the “Xiao He” Fang’s aunt mentioned?

“Hello!”

Li Shuhe felt a pang of regret but greeted politely.

“I’m Li Shuhe from next door. Could you please return this bowl?”

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Just as expected, Wang Yuanshan’s smile broadened. “Hello, Miss Li. Wait here; I’ll get Deputy Director Fang.”

With that, he hurried inside.

“Deputy Director Fang, Miss Li Shuhe from next door is here to see you!”

Fang Shenzhai placed the plate on the table, wiped his hands with a towel, and walked out past Wang Yuanshan.

Fang’s mother thought for a moment and followed.

Wang Yuanshan, curious, trailed behind Fang’s mother.

Outside the gate, Fang Shenzhai stood about a meter from the entrance.

Before him was the familiar Li Shuhe, full of youthful vigor, a stark contrast to when she was with Duan Xiadong.

Fang Shenzhai’s brow furrowed slightly, deep in thought.

Li Shuhe immediately noticed the keychain hanging from Fang Shenzhai’s waist and smiled knowingly. Her voice was sweet: “Fang Shenzhai, I’ve come to return the bowl. Thank you for treating me to dinner last time—I didn’t eat all day that day. I’m truly grateful. If there’s a chance, I’d like to invite you to a meal to express my thanks.”

“No need. I’m leaving Deep City today.”

Fang Shenzhai took the bowl but declined Li Shuhe’s offer.

Hearing this, a sharp sense of loss tightened Li Shuhe’s heart.

“All right, then I’ll invite Teacher Fang as well.”

Her tone shifted as she looked toward Fang’s mother behind her.

Fang’s mother had once been a university professor but had returned to teach at the local high school due to certain circumstances, serving as Li Shuhe’s homeroom teacher for three years.

“Teacher Fang, I’m very sorry about what happened before.”

Li Shuhe bowed deeply, sincere in her apology—not expecting forgiveness but wishing to express remorse.

“What happened?”

Fang Shenzhai asked, puzzled.

“It’s nothing. No need to bring up the past.”

Fang’s mother did not answer, simply taking the bowl from Fang Shenzhai’s hands.

“You won’t be staying for dinner then.”

Li Shuhe heard Fang’s mother say this.

She looked up to meet Fang’s mother’s piercing gaze, as if seeing through her entirely, leaving no place to hide.

“I’ve always believed people don’t change suddenly. Make your decisions firmly, don’t look back, and leave no cracks.”

Li Shuhe paused—both a warning and a reprimand.

She had not expected that Teacher Fang had chosen not to tell Fang Shenzhai about what she had done.