Chapter Sixty-One: Li Yimei

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Story Timeline: June 2005 – November 2005
Recommended Song: Gong Shijia – "At First, Just Friends"
Disclaimer: This story is purely fictional. Any resemblance to real persons is entirely coincidental.

When Yin Yun’er mentioned that Li Yimei was in the hospital, Jiang Yihan’s mind went blank. His body’s first reaction was to sit back down. Li Ran said nothing, and once Yin Yun’er was settled, he quickly pressed down on the accelerator.

Jiang Yihan couldn’t comprehend his own thoughts—he felt as if he was about to lose her. Countless memories flooded his mind, and he suddenly recalled every moment since he met Li Yimei: their acquaintance, her persistent confessions, his decision to give them a chance, and how Li Yimei had gradually become a habit in his life.

Li Yimei was far from the dazzling image she projected. The harm caused by her appearance was much greater than anyone imagined. She was a girl lacking security and love, boldly pursuing her happiness, hoping to find someone who could protect and cherish her.

Once Jiang Yihan began to understand Li Yimei, her presence became an addiction, a habit he could not break.

Perhaps to Li Yimei, Jiang Yihan was dull, busy, and bewildered—but he was also her only one. Their time together was scarce; most of their interactions were through text messages or phone calls. Aside from never explicitly breaking through the barrier between them, they were already like a couple—except for that unexpected night with Lee Hyori.

Jiang Yihan’s heartbeat quickened, his breathing grew uneven.

Arriving at the hospital, Jiang Yihan wandered like a headless fly, wanting to find the ward but not knowing how. In the end, Yin Yun’er came over and led him to a room.

Inside, Li Yimei reclined on the bed, an IV in her hand. Her skin was almost translucent, lips dry and devoid of their usual color. Her hair, tousled, spilled across her shoulders as she turned gently toward the window, gazing at the green trees, floating clouds, and the occasional bird passing by.

Jiang Yihan felt a pang in his heart. Maybe he truly liked this girl called Li Yimei—maybe.

Seeing Li Yimei, Jiang Yihan calmed down, slowly walked over, and sat by her bedside. Li Yimei turned at the sound, saw Jiang Yihan sitting next to her, and smiled—a smile faintly revealing her weakness.

Li Yimei was about to speak, but Jiang Yihan gently shook his head to stop her. He took her hand, softly rubbing it, as if trying to feel the warmth in her palm.

They sat quietly like that, the air filled with a warm current called happiness.

Yin Yun’er and Li Ran retreated to the doorway. Li Ran, watching Jiang Yihan’s worried and tender expression, chuckled quietly—it was rare to see the lazy cat so proactive, even for Li Ran it was unexpected.

Yin Yun’er, seeing the faint smile on Li Ran’s lips, felt a surge of indescribable bitterness within her. Li Ran turned and saw Yin Yun’er beside him, and her smile made Li Ran feel a pang of guilt.

Li Ran held out his hand to Yin Yun’er, palm open.

Yin Yun’er was startled, delighted, and gazed innocently at Li Ran like a startled fawn.

Li Ran smiled, "Let’s not disturb them anymore. Why don’t we take a walk outside?" Seeing Yin Yun’er’s nervous, rigid posture, Li Ran’s smile widened, "What’s wrong? Don’t want to? Then never mind." He lowered his hand and winked mischievously.

Only then did Yin Yun’er react and quickly grabbed Li Ran’s hand. It was large and rough, with calluses, rubbing lightly against her own palm, the warmth making Yin Yun’er feel at a loss.

“So this is what Li Ran’s hand feels like,” Yin Yun’er thought quietly.

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After proactively grabbing Li Ran’s hand, Yin Yun’er realized she was being too forward. Maybe it was shyness, maybe it was the warmth spreading from his palm—her face felt hot, and she kept her head down, afraid that if she looked up, it would all turn out to be a dream, and Li Ran beside her would no longer be real. But the warmth in her hand and the firm grip made it all feel real.

“Yun’er, I’m sorry.” Li Ran’s low voice carried a mesmerizing charm.

“Ah?” Yin Yun’er jumped out of her imaginary world and looked at Li Ran, who was a head taller than her. In the glow of the evening sun, his features appeared even more striking. Yin Yun’er could even see his slightly pursed lips, gleaming with an enticing light.

Li Ran knew Yin Yun’er was watching him, knew about her persistent efforts, but he also knew he couldn’t reciprocate her feelings.

“I can’t respond to your feelings. I’m sorry.” Li Ran finally said it.

This was their first real, face-to-face conversation.

Upon hearing this, Yin Yun’er’s excited expression slowly faded. She lowered her head again, biting her lip, and walked in silence for a while. Then she raised her head to look at Li Ran, whose face was cast in deeper shadow, the sunset shining down making it hard for her to keep her eyes open. Staring too long made her eyes ache.

Yin Yun’er forced herself to smile, even though it felt as if her lips were weighed down by a thousand stones. The smile was stiff, “Li Ran, you don’t need to apologize. I gave up a long time ago, didn’t I?”

Li Ran turned to look at her, saw that her smile was no better than crying. He seemed to want to say something, but ultimately gave up and responded softly, “Mm.” They continued walking.

Gradually, Yin Yun’er’s grip loosened until her hand slipped from Li Ran’s, hanging limply at her side. A single tear silently fell to the ground.

All dreams must eventually end.

Inside the ward—

Jiang Yihan’s mind went around in circles, still unable to decide what to say. He hesitated, then relaxed, letting things happen naturally.

“Yimei, do you know why I kept rejecting you at first?” Jiang Yihan asked quietly.

“Mm,” Li Yimei replied, “You said someone else was in your heart.”

“Yes, there’s always been someone in my heart.” Jiang Yihan’s thoughts seemed to drift far away. “Since childhood, I grew up with Li Ran and her. We were always good friends, but at some point, I developed feelings for her—a subtle feeling. I wanted to see her, missed her if I hadn’t seen her in a while, felt happy when she smiled, and always thought of her first when I found something nice. I don’t even know what happened to me.” Jiang Yihan chuckled foolishly.

“You know I’m slow, so I always thought I was just protecting her like a little sister. It took me a long time to realize I’d fallen for her.” His eyes were unfocused, memories distant. “When I realized it, I was afraid I’d cross the line from friends, afraid our tacit understanding would disappear, afraid we’d fall into the awkwardness between friends and lovers. I was even scared of losing her entirely, becoming nothing but acquaintances who greeted each other. So I chose to hide these feelings, to love her quietly. That was enough for me—I hoped I could always keep liking her, that way I’d feel happy.”

“I was so foolish, wasn’t I?” Jiang Yihan smiled and shook his head. “Everyone always says I’m too passive, too timid. I couldn’t take the initiative to cross that line. So I watched as she dated others, witnessed her happiness and her sadness—I was always the first to be involved. When she wanted to cry, she’d call me first, and hearing her cry freely over the phone made me feel that guarding her like this was my best choice.”

“I know I’m foolish, slow, and conflicted. I understand it all, but I’m afraid of change. Afraid that once I take that step, everything will fall apart.” Jiang Yihan spoke calmly, without excitement or passion. “Until she finally couldn’t wait anymore. When she told me what’s lost is lost, I realized she’d been waiting for me to say those words, waiting for me to break through that barrier. But as she said, missing the chance means it’s gone. The Buddha says that only after five hundred glances in a past life can you pass by each other once in this one. Maybe it’ll take another lifetime before I meet her again.” Jiang Yihan gave a bitter smile.

“So I chose to keep those feelings in my heart, as a beautiful memory. I decided to give myself a chance, a chance to meet someone new—and then you appeared before me.” Jiang Yihan looked at Li Yimei, his eyes filled with gentle warmth. “You’re different. Your initiative frightened me, made me uneasy because I didn’t know what to do, so I chose to run away.”

Li Yimei blushed, faint pink appearing on her pale skin.

Jiang Yihan smiled sweetly, “As we spent time together, I gradually got used to having you around. Answering your calls and replying to your messages became a natural part of my life. But you know I’m slow—I didn’t even realize I’d gotten used to you, or maybe even…” Jiang Yihan suddenly stopped.

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Li Yimei raised her head, hope shining in her eyes, wishing he’d finish the sentence. She had waited so long—maybe, just maybe, today her wish would come true.

Yet Jiang Yihan couldn’t bring himself to say it. Shyly, he scratched his head. That kiss from that night flashed through his mind like lightning and vanished. After a long pause, he continued, “Recently, some things have happened that left me confused. But today, when I learned you were in the hospital, a strange, inexplicable feeling filled my chest, so I came—couldn’t wait to come.”

“You know I’m busy these days, barely any time to sleep, so maybe I can’t be with you every day, maybe I can’t see you often. My memory isn’t good, so I might forget anniversaries, and because I’m slow, I might do things wrong and make you sad. And I still have her shadow in my heart—I don’t know when I’ll get over it, but…”

At this, Jiang Yihan took a deep breath, gazing at Li Yimei with more emotion than words could convey.

“Would you try being with me?”

A clumsy, direct confession—who else would admit to still having someone else in their heart when confessing, except Jiang Yihan? But Li Yimei still cried, unable to stop her tears or say a word, only nodding again and again.

When the clouds part, the moon shines through. On August 13th, 2005, Li Yimei finally reached her moon.

Jiang Yihan gently pulled Li Yimei into his arms. She could smell the faint scent of his shower gel, intoxicating, making her doubt if this was real. Unexpectedly, just for a brief second, Jiang Yihan remembered that kiss, that night, that gentle, sisterly figure—only for a second. He didn’t know what he was thinking.

“Yihan, I don’t care that you don’t have time. I know you’re busy, just starting your career. I won’t ask you to be with me all the time, I won’t ask to see you often. I just want you to remember I’m always by your side. But you must reply to my texts, or I’ll be angry.” Li Yimei feigned fierceness. Jiang Yihan laughed, pinched her nose, and nodded. “I know how important she is to you. I won’t ask you to forget her right away. I just hope that, in the future, you’ll think of her less and think of me more. Is that alright?”

Li Yimei’s compromise moved Jiang Yihan deeply—what more could he say, when a girl treated him so well?

Jiang Yihan looked down at Li Yimei in his arms, her once pale face now flushed, her dry lips looking much better. He gazed at her lips and, unable to resist, kissed her.

Li Yimei’s body trembled, then slowly she closed her eyes, her arms winding around his waist.

A long time passed before they separated.

Li Yimei’s face was red as she shyly lowered her head, stripped of her usual pretense and glamorous façade, appearing adorably vulnerable.

“Yimei, what illness do you have anyway? Is it serious enough to be hospitalized?” Only now did Jiang Yihan remember Li Yimei’s illness—the very reason he’d found the courage to confess—so he asked cautiously.

“Me?” Li Yimei hadn’t expected Jiang Yihan to be unaware of her situation. “I just had a fever, and while making lunch for you, I burned my hand. Came to the hospital for bandages, and the doctor said I needed an IV to reduce the fever.”

Jiang Yihan stiffened. The “serious” illness that inspired his confession was just a fever. He couldn’t understand his own impulsiveness—he hadn’t even asked about the situation before rushing over. But if not for this misunderstanding, he wouldn’t have realized his true feelings. Maybe this accident led to a happy ending after all.

Li Yimei sensed Jiang Yihan’s stiffness, thought about it, and understood. Because she was sick and emotionally fragile, she’d called him, hoping he’d come. In the end, she gave up. Unexpectedly, Yin Yun’er brought Jiang Yihan to the hospital, and connecting the dots, he found the courage to face his feelings. Li Yimei secretly laughed—without this accident, who knows how long they’d have dragged things out, how long before the next chance would come.

Jiang Yihan smiled helplessly, Li Yimei smiled sweetly.

As the evening deepened, outside the window Li Ran and Yin Yun’er walked one behind the other in silence; inside, Jiang Yihan and Li Yimei embraced each other on the bed, smiling in silence.