A Bedtime Love Story for My Girlfriend
Back at home, Xiao Rui dug out the bundles of letters tied with rubber bands. He read through them one by one, as if transported back to those years. As Yu Bin said, these were “love letters” that could be shared publicly at any time.
Failure in the College Entrance Exam, Determined Mind
On that summer morning, Xiao Rui went to school to check his scores, feeling a bit uneasy but still hopeful. Thinking he might see her, he carefully put on a freshly washed white shirt from the day before.
The college entrance exam results hit Xiao Rui like a thunderbolt. His homeroom teacher looked at him regretfully, shaking his head. As he walked out of the office, he saw her standing under a tree, looking at him with a faint sympathy in her eyes.
Back home, Xiao Rui’s mother greeted him. He rushed into his room, tears streaming down his face. He felt he had let his mother down. His father had passed away early, and for many years, Xiao Rui and his mother had depended on each other.
He was her hope and pride. For three years in high school, Xiao Rui had been the class monitor and always excelled academically. How could fate play such a cruel joke at this critical moment?
It was a week later when Xiao Rui finally stepped out of the house. For reasons he couldn’t explain, he went to his homeroom teacher’s house. The teacher patted his shoulder, comforting him, saying it was okay, he could retake the exam next year.
She walked lightly to pour Xiao Rui some water, smiling up at him like a fragrant white magnolia. She assured him that he would definitely get into a better university next year.
His gloomy heart suddenly felt much lighter.
Her name was Wen Jun, Xiao Rui’s classmate and the homeroom teacher’s daughter. That year, she was admitted to a university in Wuhan.
After lunch at the teacher’s house, Wen Jun said she would see Xiao Rui off. They walked side by side down a small path. Xiao Rui appeared calm, but his heart was pounding like a rabbit, and he could even smell the faint scent of her shampoo.
As they were about to part, Xiao Rui suddenly suggested they go to the beach. The beach wasn’t far away. Wen Jun hesitated for a moment but then nodded.
The sea wasn’t calm that day, with waves occasionally crashing onto the shore. Wen Jun walked carefully on the rocks, avoiding the splashes. Suddenly, she twisted her ankle and stumbled. Xiao Rui quickly reached out to help. She fell into his arms. A rush of blood surged to Xiao Rui’s head, and his heart felt like it would jump out of his chest.
Acting on impulse, he gently kissed Wen Jun’s face. She shuddered all over, and Xiao Rui was also surprised by his own courage. She struggled to push him away, but lost her balance and barely managed to stand up. Both stood there, blushing, with Xiao Rui waiting for her reaction. After catching her breath, she smoothed her hair and said, “Let’s go.”
That summer, this moment became the only highlight of Xiao Rui’s life, constantly flashing before his eyes. The pain brought by the college entrance exam seemed to fade. Xiao Rui repeatedly wondered: she didn’t dislike him, otherwise she would have slapped him.
From then on, Wuhan became the city Xiao Rui most longed to visit.
Three Years of Exams, Finally on the List
The next year, Xiao Rui failed the college entrance exam again. During that year of retaking classes, he consistently ranked first in every exam. The stark contrast left Xiao Rui feeling dizzy. Should he retake the exam again or take up farming, working from sunrise to sunset? Xiao Rui felt gripped tightly by the hands of fate, powerless to struggle anymore.
Wen Jun’s letter arrived at that time. She wrote that she hadn’t gone home during the holiday and was participating in activities at school. She had heard about his exam results and believed Xiao Rui was the most talented student in their class, knowing he wouldn’t give up…
A few simple words lit up Xiao Rui’s path. That summer, Xiao Rui worked in a cardboard factory in town, earning enough to pay for his retake classes.
Xiao Rui was admitted to a local university in a remote city on his third attempt.
The sense of loss was indescribable. Xiao Rui felt more self-conscious than ever. Upon starting university, the first thing he did was write a letter to Wen Jun. What should he write? About the simple dormitory, his disappointment? Or about his longing for her? He tore up page after page, finally sending only a few lines, telling her he had started a new life and everything was fine.
Wen Jun replied quickly. Holding her letter, Xiao Rui’s heart leaped with joy. He found a quiet place and read it word by word. In her letter, she congratulated him and shared her own situation…
Xiao Rui was immersed in her narrative, feeling as if she were right in front of him, talking softly. Suddenly, a classmate snatched the letter from him, playing a prank. Xiao Rui jumped up, eyes red, snatching it back. From that moment, his classmates knew that far away in Wuhan, Xiao Rui had a beloved pen pal.
During the four years of university, Xiao Rui and Wen Jun exchanged letters continuously. Usually, Xiao Rui would write one, and Wen Jun would reply. If two weeks passed without a reply, Xiao Rui would write again, and her letter would arrive soon after. They talked about their studies, reading, and growth. Xiao Rui dared not act rashly, fearing she might get upset and stop writing to him.
Those letters were carefully stored by date at the bottom of a box, never shown to anyone easily. Before graduating, a classmate suggested that everyone should publicly share their letters during the farewell. The suggestion, fueled by a mix of nostalgia and sadness, was unanimously agreed upon.
That day, a classmate entered the classroom holding a letter, which was from Wen Jun. Xiao Rui blushed and his heart pounded. The classmate, smirking, told Xiao Rui they were going to read it aloud. Xiao Rui nodded. The classmate dramatically read the letter aloud to the whole class.
By then, Wen Jun was already working. She wrote about her job and feelings. The classmate, filled with anticipation, looked disappointed when he reached the end. Xiao Rui looked around and saw the same disappointment on his classmates’ faces. He suddenly realized: among all their correspondence, they talked about studies, life… but never about feelings.
That night, Xiao Rui couldn’t sleep, pondering if she had feelings for him. If not, why would she react like that at the beach? Why would she bother to write so many letters? Xiao Rui concluded: she was subtly expressing her feelings through the letters…
Four Years of Longing Turned into Memories
After graduation, Xiao Rui visited Wen Jun. She walked towards him from her office building, in a white dress, her long hair flowing, smiling gently like a fragrant white magnolia. Xiao Rui felt a sense of unreality. After talking for a while, his palms kept sweating.
Wen Jun invited him to dinner, but he declined, saying he was just passing through and had to catch a bus, then left hurriedly. In her presence, Xiao Rui still felt inferior. At that time, he was struggling to find a job.
Work prospects remained bleak. After much deliberation, Xiao Rui decided to take the graduate school entrance exam. Their correspondence likely ended around that time. The following year, Xiao Rui was admitted to a university in Wuhan for graduate studies and, three years later, pursued a doctorate.
Xiao Rui’s path seemed smoother after entering graduate school. After earning his Ph.D., he was sent abroad for further studies. Upon returning a year later, he engaged in research work at a significant national institution.
Xiao Rui had vague knowledge of Wen Jun’s situation. She had changed jobs, got married, her husband was a businessman, and she had a daughter…
In the quiet of the night, Xiao Rui still wanted to write to Wen Jun, asking if she still kept those letters.
He dug out those bundles of letters again after meeting an old classmate.
On a plane, someone tapped Xiao Rui from behind. Turning around, he was pleasantly surprised to see an old high school classmate named Yu Bin. On the plane, they reminisced about the past, discussing their school days and teachers, and even Wen Jun. Yu Bin revealed he had dated her for four years in college but eventually broke up. Xiao Rui was stunned. How could this be? During those years, she had been writing to him. Was she two-timing? No! Xiao Rui quickly shook his head, refusing to tarnish her image.
Seeing Xiao Rui’s angry expression, Yu Bin hesitated, then smiled, saying, “Right, you two were always writing to each other in college, weren’t you? Honestly, I was jealous sometimes. When she wasn’t around, I secretly read many of your letters. That’s when I realized there was nothing between you two; those letters were just ‘love letters’ that could be shared publicly.”
It felt like a bomb exploded in Xiao Rui’s head. Remembering the disappointed faces of his classmates before graduation, Xiao Rui’s heart sank.
Back home, Xiao Rui untied the bundles of letters and read them one by one, as if transported back to those years. As Yu Bin said, they were “love letters” that could be shared publicly. But these very “love letters” had provided so much comfort and encouragement to a disappointed and self-conscious Xiao Rui.
Tears streamed down his face. Through the blur, Xiao Rui seemed to see Wen Jun again, smiling gently, walking towards him like a white magnolia…
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
