Modern romance narrative: A Harmonious Life in Our Beautiful Years
After a long sleep, Xue Yi woke up to find it was already two in the afternoon. She still felt groggy and weak. From the kitchen, she heard the clinking of pots and pans, and a delicious aroma filled the house. She immediately recognized the smell of pork rib soup and the fragrant rice cooking in the rice cooker. She couldn’t help but smile knowingly— it must be him, without a doubt.
Sure enough, she called out, and Wu Qiang emerged from the kitchen. “You’re awake,” he said. Xue Yi lazily stretched, feeling like she had slept for ages. “What are you cooking?” she asked. “Just a couple more dishes and it’ll be ready. There’s pork rib soup simmering with bamboo shoots and yam, all to help you regain your strength. It’ll be done soon,” Wu Qiang replied, turning back to the kitchen to continue cooking.
Xue Yi and Wu Qiang worked at the same company. Two years ago, they were introduced by friends and had been together ever since. Today, feeling unwell and heavy-headed, Xue Yi had taken leave and slept for four hours straight.
During her sleep, she vaguely heard the sound of keys turning in the door, but she wasn’t alarmed. Even in her dreams, she knew it was him. After all, only the two of them had keys to the apartment— not even the landlord had a spare. It was a deep sense of security she felt because of Wu Qiang. She could sense it was him.
Upon hearing that Xue Yi wasn’t feeling well, Wu Qiang had also taken leave and hurried back home. He knew she couldn’t take care of herself when she was alone. He bought groceries and came back to cook for her. The kitchen was still messy with dirty dishes from their last meal, so Wu Qiang quietly washed them before starting to cook. During dinner, he served her, ensuring she had enough food and soup. After dinner, he washed the dishes without a word.
Xue Yi felt a bit better and finally smiled. Wu Qiang teased her, “If I hadn’t come back to keep you company today, what would you think of me?” She replied, “Nothing much.” “Yeah right,” Wu Qiang continued, “you wouldn’t think I’m a negligent boyfriend?” “Really, nothing,” Xue Yi insisted. They both laughed. He understood her well.
(2)
Two years is enough to understand a person—not completely, but to know their strengths and weaknesses well. After two years of adjusting to each other, staying together meant that they could tolerate each other’s flaws or that one of them was always exceedingly tolerant of the other. Love is like that—one willing to give, and the other willing to take. Even if it means enduring, it’s how they go through life together.
Wu Qiang and Xue Yi belonged to the latter. He always tolerated everything about her, even when she said things that hurt him. Over time, she got used to this life. Was it dependence, comfort, or love? She didn’t want to analyze it too deeply. She just knew that once you get used to someone or something, it’s hard to let go.
Forcefully removing him from her life would not only reset her past but also leave indelible scars on their hearts, because too many things and memories had accumulated over those two years. Who could heartlessly treat a relationship filled with flesh and blood like a game?
Two years ago, when Xue Yi first joined the company, she was introduced to her colleague Wu Qiang by a friend. Their first impressions of each other were not great—neither was what the other envisioned as a romantic partner. But they thought, since they were colleagues, they should at least try to be friends if not lovers, so they didn’t immediately reject the idea.
On their first day of acquaintance, Wu Qiang, being the man, took the initiative. He invited her to a Western restaurant for dinner and then to a movie. It was a typical date activity for most couples but unusual for Xue Yi. It was her first time eating Western food and watching a movie.
Although it wasn’t particularly thrilling, to her, these firsts were significant and commemorative. Even though their impressions of each other weren’t outstanding, she felt like she had given her first date to the man next to her. What was that supposed to mean?
After returning, they chatted briefly. Xue Yi didn’t feel much and wanted to say they should stop seeing each other to avoid wasting time. However, her friend convinced her otherwise, saying, “He might not look impressive, but he’s a good person, kind, and helpful to colleagues. Give it a try. You’ve never dated before; if not now, then when?” So, under the pretext of being friends, she gave them a chance.
From then on, Wu Qiang visited Xue Yi regularly, bringing small gifts, mostly snacks, assuming she liked them, which was true. Xue Yi loved snacks and often bought piles of them during supermarket trips. She was also a homebody who spent weekends indoors, indulging in her phone and snacks. To her, leisure time was meant to be spent idly, how delightful! But since meeting Wu Qiang, her life was no longer about lazy solitude—she wasn’t alone anymore.
He often took her out for walks, nearby or far, anything to prevent her from staying home and rotting away. Because of this, Xue Yi gradually learned to dress up. She rarely wore makeup before and didn’t care much about clothes, let alone matching outfits with various bags like other girls.
The saying “Women dress up for those who appreciate them” proved true. Since then, Xue Yi started shopping online for clothes and bags, filling her wardrobe. She felt more confident and believed she looked better than the plain version of herself before.
They often went out, with Wu Qiang taking countless photos of Xue Yi. His phone was filled with pictures of her and the scenery, almost none of himself. He only took pictures of her, seldom appearing in them. She loved the scenery, taking pictures, traveling, and the freedom it brought.
Despite the inevitable conflicts in their time together, Wu Qiang always conceded and admitted fault first. In daily life, full of countless trivial matters, who could tell right from wrong? There’s no need to be that precise.
The one who admits fault first must cherish the other more and be unwilling to lose the relationship. So, they had come this far by tolerating and accepting each other. In love, there’s tolerance and habit.
(3)
They say time proves everything. Xue Yi believed this to be true. Joy can’t prove much, but what about hardship?
Xue Yi had been in poor health since childhood, having an accident and suffering from chronic malnutrition, which weakened her constitution. She was skinny and often looked pale, though not like Lin Daiyu. She had small ailments that could unexpectedly cause trouble.
One night, she suddenly felt a severe pain in her waist, tossing and turning in bed, writhing in agony. It was around three or four in the morning—where could she go for help? The hospital might not even be open, and she was in no state to walk there. Should she call Wu Qiang? But it was late, and he had work the next day. She decided to endure the pain and wait for dawn. That night was the hardest she’d ever experienced.
When her alarm rang at seven in the morning, she immediately called her mother. She hadn’t wanted to disturb her parents’ rest the previous night, not wanting to worry them. Then she called Wu Qiang, who quickly took leave and rushed over to take her to the hospital.
Along the way, she clung to him, barely able to walk from the pain. He helped her through every step—from registration to treatment—until her pain subsided in the afternoon. He stayed by her side, buying water, paying fees, and getting medication, all while worried sick.
Xue Yi’s fragile body often required hospital visits, usually accompanied by her mother. Her mother handled everything, and she just had to follow the doctor’s instructions. Big hospitals were cumbersome; every procedure had to be followed, each step in a different place, often requiring a lot of running around.
Moving to a new city alone, away from her parents, she aimed to carve out her own path. But after all, she was still a woman. Which woman wouldn’t want someone by her side, a shoulder to lean on? This was her first time having a boyfriend accompany her to the hospital, doing all these things for her, and it felt different.
Since then, whenever she felt unwell, Wu Qiang would take her to the hospital. Each time, she would say, “I realize I rely on you the most in the hospital.” Sometimes she asked, “Why do you still want to be with someone as full of ailments as me? Don’t you think I’m a burden?” He always replied, “Since you’re like this, how can I let you go trouble someone else?”
Perhaps love is about not minding anything.
(4)
In fact, Xue Yi’s parents didn’t approve of their relationship. They weren’t particularly materialistic, not insisting on the man having a house or car, but Xue Yi’s hometown was traditional, and they didn’t want their daughter marrying far away. They wanted her close for mutual support, especially as they aged. The main issue was the distance.
Before coming to this city, Xue Yi hadn’t considered this problem. Fresh out of college, she dreamt of making it big in a big city, driven by her career aspirations. Her family, however, thought she should find a good person to marry, considering her poor health. They often
urged her to return to their small hometown and find a suitable match. This difference in perspectives led Xue Yi to live apart from her parents, believing that this was an era of free love. She should marry someone who genuinely cared for her and loved her for life.
Before meeting Wu Qiang, Xue Yi had high standards, which is why she had never dated. She fantasized about a perfect prince charming somewhere in the world—handsome, sunny, tall, and glorious, riding a white horse and fulfilling all her dreams while loving her deeply forever. It was a perfect fantasy, common among girls, but just a fantasy, wasn’t it? Based on her first impression of Wu Qiang, he wasn’t tall or handsome, nor did he have many accolades. But he truly loved her, cared for her, and being with him was the longest confession of love.
As for material things, Wu Qiang often talked about their future together. They would have those things. She often thought: couples are everywhere, holding hands and seemingly happy. Love is just two people choosing to live together, supporting each other. It’s such a common thing—why did it seem so difficult for her? Marriage is a significant event, so why can’t it be perfect?
She often asked herself, “What exactly is love?” She read online, “As you grow older, you realize love isn’t about grand gestures or romantic words. It’s about being with someone who makes you feel comfortable.” Yes, as long as it feels right. Marriage is just daily life—though it may be mundane like water, when it flows into the heart, it’s nourishing.
(5)
“Once, a sincere love appeared in my life. I didn’t cherish it. If heaven gives me another chance, I still wouldn’t seize it because one grand passion is enough in life. Someone will amaze your youth, and someone will gently accompany your later years. Amazement is but a fleeting moment, while gentleness is the long flow of time.”
Xue Yi wrote this in her diary. That amazement was a spark in her youthful years, while Wu Qiang was the gentle warmth in her heart. Saying goodbye to the past was a hope for the future.
Xue Yi had a habit of keeping a diary, recording the bits and pieces of life. As she flipped through her entries since their meeting, memories of their experiences together vividly resurfaced: her long hair was always dried by him; he always cooked while she never learned; washing clothes required just a word from her, and he handled most of the housework; every move, she only took care of the wardrobe while he cleaned everything else. He always said she was lazy, but she thought it was because he was there.
He occasionally said, “You love writing, but you’ve never written anything for me.” In fact, she had, just hadn’t continued. She turned to a page with a fragment she once casually wrote:
“Speechless, Yet the City Falls”
- He said: Every day, I leave early and return late, have to socialize on weekends, and have events. It’s always so busy, sigh…
She heard him complain and felt a wave of sadness. She knew he must be tired. But as a man, he was destined to take on family responsibilities, and she couldn’t help him. Thinking this, she stayed silent.
He continued: Sigh, I don’t even have time to properly accompany you, and it troubles me the most…
She looked at him, feeling warmth in her heart.
- He said: You still need to learn to cook.
She pouted: Why, are you tired of cooking for me? You don’t love me anymore, huh?
He helplessly said: No, I’m just worried that if I’m not home, you won’t even have a proper meal.
She stubbornly replied: I won’t learn, I’ll starve if I have to.
But she couldn’t help but smile.
- She asked him: Why do you love me?
He said: I don’t know.
She said: Then tell me what’s good about me.
He said: No strengths, only flaws.
She retorted: Then why do you still like me?
He held her and said: I just do.
- She teased him: You don’t love me anymore.
He smiled: I never loved you.
She turned her head away in a huff, ignoring him.
He smiled and held her tighter.
- Coming home late, the first thing he did was hug her.
She was feeling down: Being alone makes me think a lot, about the past, the present, everything, and it makes me sad.
He said: You always overthink when you’re alone. We must look forward. The past is gone. In the future, I’ll always be with you.
She said nothing, but her heart was moved.
She added an ending to this small fragment: The most romantic thing I can think of is that you are my beautiful years, I am your harmonious life, we are suitable and peaceful, growing old together.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
