In An City, local families are very traditional, so throughout the Spring Festival, almost every household was busy visiting relatives, exchanging New Year’s greetings, and socializing. This bustling activity didn’t quiet down until the eighth day of the new year. On that day, Bai Cheng didn’t go anywhere. She opened her computer and saw that her PhD application had already received a response. The school had accepted her, and although she was supposed to start in early January, her supervisor had made a special arrangement, allowing her to report in mid-January, after celebrating the Lantern Festival in China.
After replying to her university supervisor’s email, Bai Cheng leaned back in her chair, zoning out for a while.
Luo Tian had returned to work on the seventh day of the new year. According to Lin Fei, Luo Tian had already submitted his resignation to the police station, stating that he now valued his life too much and feared death. He said he wanted to stay far away from the King of Hell and cut ties with him, which is why he didn’t want to be a police officer anymore. Although the station leadership repeatedly urged him to reconsider, according to Lin Fei, Luo Tian’s attitude was firm yet gentle, and everyone understood that Luo Tian had made up his mind this time.
Lin Fei also told Bai Cheng, “Xiao Cheng, honestly, I fully support Luo Tian’s resignation. He’s already given so much for Jiang Shuo and the police force. He’s nearly died twice. I just hope that he can live freely from now on and not go through any more dangerous or terrifying situations. By the way, what’s going on between you and Luo Tian now? Have you confirmed your relationship? The words Luo Tian said to you before he passed out were so touching! That ‘I want to stay by your side and grow old with you’ moved every female officer at the station. Who would have thought Luo Tian, the tough guy, could say such romantic words? It was really unbelievable, but so moving.”
Bai Cheng remembered that moment when Luo Tian, on the brink of death, spoke those words. What surprised her more than the phrase “I want to stay by your side and grow old with you” was that Luo Tian remembered the words she had once said in Lijiang: “Lu Heng was my epic.” He seemed to care deeply about that. During the month Luo Tian spent recovering in the hospital, Bai Cheng had asked herself many times, if Lu Heng was her epic, then what was Luo Tian to her?
After thinking it over, Bai Cheng finally figured it out. Lu Heng would always be her epic, while Luo Tian was her air.
He was the air she breathed when she was suffocating from the pain of her memories, the life-giving oxygen she inhaled when she surfaced from the depths of sorrow and her heart began to beat again.
Yes, this was Luo Tian’s significance to her. Like air, she couldn’t live without him.
“We? We’re just still… us,” Bai Cheng said nonchalantly.
“Pfft, you two are dating but still trying to keep it hidden. We all already know what’s going on.”
“We’re not hiding anything. We just think it’s fine this way. And since you all know, there’s no need to make a big public announcement.”
“Alright, as long as you two are happy, we’ll just be here to give our blessings.”
The night before the Lantern Festival, Lin Fei asked in the group chat if anyone wanted to go to the Lantern Festival. As soon as Lin Fei suggested it, Ling Xiang, along with Liu and Li, enthusiastically responded. So, they all agreed to meet and attend the Lantern Festival together on the night of the festival.
On the day of the Lantern Festival, the streets were packed with people, making Bai Cheng wonder if the entire population of An City had come out. Every year, the Lantern Festival in An City was more or less the same, with little new or exciting. But seeing everyone in such high spirits, Bai Cheng decided to join in and soak up the festive atmosphere.
As Bai Cheng and her friends walked through the sea of lanterns, Lin Fei and Ling Xiang excitedly ate street food and took pictures everywhere. Bai Cheng, feeling a bit tired from the walk, turned to Luo Tian, who was beside her, and said, “I’m a little tired. I’d like to sit for a bit. How about you?”
Luo Tian looked around and pointed to a nearby pavilion. “Let’s sit there for a while. You go ahead, and I’ll grab us something to drink.”
Bai Cheng rested in the pavilion, and soon, Luo Tian returned with two cups of hot drinks. He handed one to her, saying, “Here’s your hot latte.” Bai Cheng took a sip, immediately feeling her energy return.
“I heard from Lin Fei that you quit your job?”
“Yeah. I wasn’t trying to hide it from you. It’s just that the Spring Festival had just ended, and I was busy with piled-up cases. Plus, I knew you’d find out eventually, even if I didn’t say anything.”
“Why did you quit?”
“What do you think? Don’t you remember what I said in the drainage pipe that day?”
Bai Cheng didn’t respond, instead taking another sip of her latte.
“I’m the one who came back from the brink of death, yet you seem to have forgotten. If you really don’t remember, I can say it again.”
“I remember. Of course I remember.” Bai Cheng cut him off, recalling his words from that day: “I just want to stay by your side and grow old with you.”
“I’m going abroad,” Bai Cheng said. “My graduate advisor recommended a PhD program, and they’ve accepted my application. After the Lantern Festival, I’ll report to the school.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Luo Tian’s face, but he quickly returned to his usual calm expression.
“How long will you be gone?”
“Two years.”
“Will you come back?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. Be safe over there. You’ve learned shooting and self-defense, so don’t hesitate to protect yourself if the need arises.”
“Don’t worry, Luo Tian. Remember, I’ve already killed someone.”
“That wasn’t killing. That was just…”
“But in the end, it was me who pulled the trigger.” Bai Cheng interrupted him.
“Is that why you’re going abroad?”
“That’s just part of the reason. A lot has happened this past year, and I want to get away for a while, to see the world.”
Luo Tian nodded. “Okay. As long as you come back.”
Bai Cheng looked at Luo Tian, who remained calm and composed as usual. He often said that a police officer should never show their emotions, that fear and doubt could be exploited by criminals and lead to terrible consequences. Over time, he had trained himself to wear this cold, expressionless poker face. But today, the frown on his face gave him away. Bai Cheng gently pressed her finger to his furrowed brow, smoothing it out, before quickly pulling her hand back.
Luo Tian’s frown relaxed, and he looked at her in confusion.
“There was a bug on your brow just now. I helped you get rid of it,” Bai Cheng explained.
“Oh,” Luo Tian replied, half-believing her, as he touched his eyebrow.
Watching him skeptically touch his brow, Bai Cheng chuckled into her coffee.
After finishing their drinks, Luo Tian and Bai Cheng got up to rejoin Lin Fei and the others. After wandering around for a while longer, Fang Chong and the others dropped Lin Fei off at home, and Luo Tian said his goodbyes as he took Bai Cheng home.
When they arrived at Bai Cheng’s house, the car stopped at her doorstep. Bai Cheng got out and stood by the car door.
“When are you leaving? Have you set a date yet?” Luo Tian asked from inside the car, turning to face her.
“The day after tomorrow.”
“Do you need me to take you to the airport?”
“My parents will take me.”
Luo Tian nodded. “Alright. If you ever feel upset while you’re there, call me anytime. I’m used to keeping my phone on 24/7 as a police officer, so just reach out whenever.”
“Mm.” Bai Cheng nodded seriously.
“Okay then, go inside. It’s cold out, don’t just stand there.”
“Mm.” Bai Cheng nodded again, then turned and headed inside. As she unlocked the door, she heard the sound of the car engine starting. When she turned around again, all she saw was the taillights of Luo Tian’s car driving away.
Bai Cheng turned back, stepped into the house, and closed the door behind her.
