3:43 p.m.
"Did you leave for the train station yet?" Susu texted.
"Just got to the subway. I'm exhausted. Just got on—honestly I just want to crash," Yike replied instantly.
"Then sleep," she said, adding a little 'pat on the head' emoji.
—
By the time Susu finally checked her phone again, it was already 11:30 p.m.
No messages from him.
"Going to bed. Get some rest when you arrive. Good night."
She put her phone down, turned off the lights, and drifted off.
—
The next day—still nothing.
"He must be busy with the trip," she thought.
She didn't dwell on it.
But a small part of her still cared.
—
On the third day, at 6:14 p.m., a message finally came through:
"Heading back to Suzhou!"
"Next weekend should be quiet. I'll finally be staying in Suzhou."
"Safe trip," she replied.
"This week's been rough," he added, sending a tired little shark sticker.
"What did you do this weekend?" he asked.
"Getting ready for an exhibition. Just going through materials."
"Aren't you sleeping on the train?"
"It's too long. I'll sleep later. And I slept wrong again—my neck's killing me."
"What's going on—missing something?" she asked, a hint of teasing underneath.
"Not sure. Just been really tired lately."
"…Probably missing you. If I could hold you while I sleep, my neck wouldn't hurt."
Susu paused.
He got it.
She sent a hug sticker.
"Is it more mental or physical exhaustion? Or both?"
"Both. Honestly just drained. I'll probably get a full checkup after this week."
"That's a good idea."
"Mm."
"Rest a bit. I'm going to shower and dry my hair—talk later."
"Go on"
—
By the time she came back, it was past nine.
"I'm back," she texted.
"OK," he replied instantly.
"What time will you get home?"
"Past midnight. Delayed."
"That late? Maybe get some sleep on the way."
—
"I just saw something weird," he suddenly texted.
"The guy in front of me held his phone up, and I accidentally saw his chat."
"It said: 'Does your wife support you studying?'"
"He mentioned part-time grad school earlier. Felt… off. Like flirting."
Susu sent a "?"
"You saw all that??"
"Totally accidental…"
"Hmmm. People are… interesting," she said.
"What was the contact name?"
"Something cringe. Like 'Mo &…' I forgot the rest."
She sent a wide-eyed emoji.
"Definitely a girl's ID."
"That's kind of weird," she said.
"Very… old-school internet vibe," he added.
"Like some wannabe poetic game username?" she joked.
"Exactly."
"And the profile pic was a girl too."
"Wait—wasn't it a guy?"
"I meant the person he was chatting with."
"Ohhh—got it. So you saw his screen, and that was her ID."
"Yep. I knew you misunderstood."
"hhhh, You're so serious, babe."
—
He went on:
"I had a buffet yesterday. The crab splashed all over me—smelled like seafood all night."
"Was it undercooked?"
"No, I just… went at it too aggressively."
She laughed.
"Just throw everything in the wash when you're back."
"Yeah. Next time I'll take you."
"Either Suzhou or Guangzhou."
"I never get my money's worth at buffets," she joked.
"What seafood do you like?"
"Then don't eat the night before."
"River crabs are better, but right now it's mostly sea crabs."
"Hairy crabs count as river crabs, right?", she asked.
"Yeah."
"Then it's hairy crabs season."
"Mm."
—
"Are you tired?" she asked.
"I'm okay."
"I'm going to bed soon. Have to wake up at 6. Three-day exhibition."
He sent a "good night" sticker.
"Make sure you eat."
"You too. Eat well, sleep well, take care."
"Go to sleep!" he nudged.
"Good night."
"Good night. Love you."
"Love you too," she replied.