Luo Tian and Bai Cheng boarded the plane to Lijiang, arriving the evening before the wedding. That night, Luo Tian’s old friend, and the bride-to-be, Zheng Xing, hosted a bonfire party. A group of people sat on the grass, holding skewers from the nearby grill, chatting and eating. In the middle of the circle, a fire burned brightly, with flames crackling and leaping into the air. Some people were singing and dancing with microphones.
White tents were scattered across the grass, some draped with long strings of colorful lights that twinkled warmly under the starry sky. Inside the tents, people lounged in chairs, playing cards or other games, eating skewers, or engaging in conversation.
It was lively and boisterous, like a city festival. Yet, despite the noise, Bai Cheng felt at ease. The colorful lights illuminated the dark night, and the heat from the fire created a cozy, festive warmth, even in the cool evening air. Bai Cheng, holding a beer and wrapped in a shawl, sat on the grass watching an outdoor movie. The film on the screen was Titanic.
Later, Zheng Xing sat down beside her.
Zheng Xing and her fiancé, Zhou Yue, had opened a bar in Lijiang, where Zheng Xing was also the lead singer of the house band, and Zhou Yue was a photographer.
“I’m Zheng Xing, Luo Tian’s friend,” Zheng Xing said, offering Bai Cheng a skewer of meat.
Bai Cheng accepted it and replied, “I’m Bai Cheng, Luo Tian’s friend.”
“Just a friend?”
Zheng Xing asked bluntly, without any preamble, catching Bai Cheng slightly off guard.
“Just a friend,” Bai Cheng said.
“Oh. I didn’t expect that after all this time, he’s learned how to make friends.”
Bai Cheng detected a hint of playful teasing in Zheng Xing’s tone about Luo Tian, so she responded, “Well, not exactly. I’m the family of a victim from one of his cases, so that’s how we met.”
“Ah, that makes sense. When I first knew him, all he cared about was his cases and that dog of his. I never saw him make any friends, especially not someone as pretty as you.”
Bai Cheng, intrigued, asked, “And how did you and Luo Tian meet? Like you said, he doesn’t seem like the type to know someone like you.”
“Someone like me? What kind of person is that?” Zheng Xing asked with a smile, holding her beer.
“You know, someone free-spirited, without chains… or shadows. Luo Tian isn’t like that.”
“I met Luo Tian because he saved me. Twice, actually.”
“About two years ago, I was traveling across China, live-streaming my singing on the streets. Back then, I hadn’t met Zhou Yue yet, nor had I settled in Lijiang. I arrived in Anyang and performed in a busy shopping district. After I finished singing, I was heading back to my hostel when I was stopped by three men. They looked to be in their 30s, with shady expressions, making comments like, ‘How much can you even earn from singing?’ and getting handsy. As I struggled with them, two young men saw what was happening from a distance and rushed over. They yelled at the men to back off. The three men released me for a moment but then turned on the two guys, cursing them out.”
“Soon, a fight broke out. I stood aside and called the police. Before long, Luo Tian passed by with Pharaoh. Unlike the chaotic punches thrown by the young men, Luo Tian quickly subdued the attackers. When the police arrived, Luo Tian and the other officers arrested the men, and the rest of us went to the police station. The harassers were detained for a few days for causing trouble. Luo Tian could have left once he handed the men over to the police, but he stayed at the station until everything was sorted out and left with us.”
“The two young men were local university students. I wanted to send them some money to cover their injuries or whatever they needed, but they refused and went back to their school. Luo Tian asked where I was staying, then offered to drive me back. At the corner near my hostel, he said it might not look good to be dropped off by a police car, and people might think I had done something wrong, so he let me off at the corner. Before he left, he handed me his card and said to call him if I was ever in trouble again.”
“I took his card but didn’t think much of it. I wasn’t planning on staying in Anyang for long, especially after what had happened that night. I planned to leave for my next destination in a couple of days.”
“But the night before I was supposed to leave, someone died in my hostel—right in the bunk above me. The next morning, everyone in the hostel was taken to the police station for questioning. Luo Tian saw me there. He came over and said, ‘Why is your luck so bad?’”
“By the time the questioning ended, it was already evening. As I walked out of the station, I heard Luo Tian calling me from behind, ‘Hey, wait a minute.’”
“I turned around and saw him stride over to me, asking where I was headed. I said I was going back to the hostel to get my things and leave Anyang.”
“He told me the hostel was temporarily sealed off and no one was allowed in. I said I could stay at another hostel since I had my phone with me. He offered to take me there. On the way, I had a sudden bout of acute gastroenteritis, and Luo Tian took me to the hospital. I lay on the hospital bed, clutching my stomach in pain, watching him rush around, handling everything. I stayed in the hospital for two days, and Luo Tian took care of me the whole time. When I tried to transfer him the money for my medical expenses, he refused, saying he just happened to be there and was helping out—it wasn’t a big deal. Later, when I was discharged, he said he had already gone to the hostel, collected my belongings, and put them in his car’s trunk.”
“He asked what I planned to do next. I said I was supposed to leave Anyang, but while I was in the hospital, I got an offer to perform at a local bar. The owner had seen my live-stream and thought I was good, so they invited me to sing at their newly opened bar. I’d already agreed.”
“Luo Tian, worried it might be a scam, went with me to the bar and even spoke to the owner about the details. After we left, he told me not to stay in the hostel anymore and said I could stay at his place until I found a suitable apartment. He said he’d stay with his parents. Instinctively, I refused. Seeing my hesitation, he immediately explained that he was a police officer and wouldn’t do anything illegal.”
“I ended up staying at his place, and four days later, I found a place and moved out.”
“After that, we gradually became friends. He often came to the bar to listen to me sing. He’d always order just one drink, with a plate of cold beef and a plate of peanuts. I also learned that he volunteered at the church every Sunday, and I joined him, helping out each week.”
“I’ve always been someone who gets bored easily. I used to move from city to city constantly, always fascinated by the unknown and the journey. But I stayed in Anyang for six months—that’s the longest I’ve ever stayed in one place. I spent a lot of time with Luo Tian, but it was always me pestering him. I’d drag him along to celebrate silly holidays, take him shopping, even make him sing with me on stage, walk the dog, watch the sunset, and do all sorts of mundane things, always under the pretense of friendship. At first, he’d refuse, but after a while, he stopped resisting my persistence. We spent a lot of time together, but I always felt he wasn’t truly happy. I didn’t know what weighed so heavily on his soul.”
“Then, one Sunday, he didn’t show up at the church. His phone was off too. I asked the priest where he was, and eventually, I found him at the cemetery. He was standing with other police officers in front of a young officer’s grave, head bowed in mourning. I had seen that young officer in a photo on Luo Tian’s bookshelf.”
“I didn’t call out to him. I quietly followed him the entire day, watching as he wandered around aimlessly, completely lost. Eventually, I saw him buy a case of beer and head home. I called and messaged him nonstop, but there was no response. The more I thought about it, the more worried I became, so I went to his house. When I got there, I found him drunk beyond recognition. From his slurred and broken words, I pieced together the whole story.”
“That day, I understood everything. I understood why he kept helping me without expecting anything in return. I understood why he volunteered at the church. I understood why his presence always seemed shrouded in sadness. He was atoning for what he believed were his sins, even though he wasn’t at fault.”
“I felt sad for him, maybe even sadder than he did. And I realized I had fallen for him.”
“I’ve traveled alone to many cities. I’ve been terrified by the sound of men’s footsteps and coughing in cheap hostel hallways, and I’ve been scammed and even robbed a few times. But most of the time, curiosity outweighed the fear, and there were far more moments of joy than of fear. I’ll never forget the awe I felt seeing lions run across the plains or the overwhelming beauty of the starry sky on the Himalayas.”
“I’ve met all kinds of people. There have been so many bystanders in my life, and I never had the desire to stay by anyone’s side. To me, all these people seemed the same. The wind blew through their souls, and they all had the same flavor. I wanted to see a pair of eyes that were different, to hear a different answer.”
“I never found it—until Luo Tian came along. At first, I was just grateful to him. But later, I realized that even though he appeared rough and unapproachable, he was kind and brave, like Pharaoh. Before meeting him, I loved myself more than anyone else. But after meeting him, I loved him more than I loved myself.”
“He saved me, so when I learned about his demons and nightmares, I wanted to save him too. He’s a good person. People without a conscience don’t suffer, but only good people can’t forgive themselves.”
“I told him to come with me, to leave this place.”
“He refused.”
“I couldn’t take him away, and I couldn’t bear to stay and watch him suffer, so I left and continued my journey.”
“After leaving Luo Tian, I went on with my travels and eventually met my fiancé. At first, he just liked listening to me sing. But later, I found that no matter which city I traveled to, I’d see him at the bar where I performed. He followed me for half a year through my social media, and then he confessed. He’s a photographer, and together we’ve traveled many roads, seen many cities, and witnessed many different worlds. He’s always been by my side. Eventually, we settled in Lijiang, opened a bar, and later formed our own band. Once the bar was running smoothly, we decided to get married.”
“I sent the wedding invitation to Luo Tian because I’ve always been grateful for the care he showed me during those six months, even if it wasn’t love. Maybe it was just pity, or maybe it was part of his atonement. Either way, I’m grateful.”
“I also feel guilty that I couldn’t take him with me.”
“Miss Bai, how has he been lately?”
Bai Cheng thought of Luo Tian crying alone in his house like a “sad frog” just a few days ago. She shook her head and said, “He’s not doing well. The criminal who killed his close friend escaped from him recently. He’s heartbroken.”
“So, he’s still the same. Always so responsible. Miss Bai, you know, sometimes that sense of responsibility in him makes me angry. I wish he didn’t have to be so responsible. People with too much responsibility are always prepared to sacrifice themselves.”
“And if heroes are destined to sacrifice themselves, then what’s the point of the struggle?”
Bai Cheng said nothing. She thought of Lu Heng. Like Luo Tian, Lu Heng was also someone with an overwhelming sense of responsibility, as if it was ingrained in their very being, part of their nature.
“Miss Bai? Are you alright?” Zheng Xing asked, noticing Bai Cheng’s silence.
Bai Cheng looked up and said, “My fiancé, Lu Heng, was just like Luo Tian—someone with too much responsibility. He was killed while trying to save a hostage. A criminal stabbed him in the neck, and he bled to death.”
“He traded his life to save the life of a little girl with congenital asthma.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say his sacrifice was meaningless. I just…” Zheng Xing hurried to apologize.
“You don’t need to apologize or explain. I understand what you mean. You just don’t want the person you love to get hurt.”
Zheng Xing nodded.
Bai Cheng smiled at her, trying to ease the tension. “Let me tell you the story of Lu Heng and me.”
