The night seemed to pass in a blur of soft light and warmth. When Meiying finally made it back to her hotel room, her head was spinning, and her heart felt like it was filled to the brim with a confusing mix of happiness and fear. She stood in the middle of the luxurious room, still wearing the emerald green dress, and looked at herself in the mirror. Her lips were slightly swollen, her cheeks were flushed, and there was a glow in her eyes that she had never seen before.
She touched her fingers to her lips, remembering the feel of Yuhan's lips on hers, the way his arms had felt wrapped around her, the way he had looked at her as if she was the only person in the world. For a few hours on that rooftop, she had been happy truly, completely happy. She had forgotten about everything else.
But now, alone in the quiet room, reality came crashing back.
She had kissed him. Not just once, but again and again. And she had wanted it. She had chosen it.
She walked slowly to the bed and sat down, burying her face in her hands. What had she done? She was engaged to Weiliang. Weiliang, who loved her, who trusted her, who was waiting for her back home. She had lied to him about why she was here. She had told him it was just business, just paperwork. And now, she had betrayed him in the worst way possible.
Tears pricked at her eyes. She felt ashamed. She felt like a bad person. How could she have done this? How could she have let herself get swept away like that?
She stood up and walked into the bathroom, turning on the faucet and splashing cold water on her face. She looked at her reflection again, trying to find the girl she had been before she came to Shanghai the girl who knew who she was and what she wanted. But that girl seemed farther away than ever.
She took off the dress and hung it up carefully, feeling a strange sense of detachment from it. It was a beautiful dress, but it belonged to a night that wasn't real. It belonged to a fantasy. She put on her pajamas and climbed into the big, soft bed, but she couldn't sleep. She lay there for hours, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing with thoughts of Yuhan and Weiliang, of the life she had and the life she was suddenly dreaming of.
When morning finally came, the sunlight streaming through the curtains felt harsh and unforgiving. Meiying got up, feeling tired and heavy. She packed her things slowly, her movements mechanical. She wanted to leave. She wanted to get out of Shanghai, away from Yuhan, away from the temptation, and go back to the safety of her home. She needed to fix this. She needed to make things right with Weiliang. Or at least, she needed to try.
There was a knock on the door just as she finished packing. Her heart jumped into her throat. Was it Yuhan?
She walked to the door and opened it slowly, bracing herself. But it was just Ms. Zhang, holding a small paper bag.
"Good morning, Ms. Lin," Ms. Zhang said, smiling politely. "Mr. Li asked me to bring you this. It's breakfast. And he wanted me to tell you that the car is ready to take you to the train station whenever you are."
Meiying felt a strange mix of relief and disappointment. Relief that she wouldn't have to face Yuhan again not yet, anyway. Disappointment that he wasn't here to say goodbye himself.
"Thank you," she said, taking the bag. "Please tell him… tell him thank you for everything. For the dress, for the invitation, for… everything."
"I will," Ms. Zhang said. She looked at Meiying for a moment, as if she wanted to say something else, but then she just nodded. "I'll wait downstairs with the driver. Take your time."
Ms. Zhang left, and Meiying closed the door. She ate a little bit of the breakfast, though she had no appetite, just to have something in her stomach for the journey. Then she picked up her suitcase and took one last look around the room. It had been just one night, but it had changed everything.
The ride to the train station was silent. Meiying stared out the window, watching the city pass by tall buildings, busy streets, crowds of people going about their lives. It felt like she was leaving a part of herself behind.
When she arrived at the station, Ms. Zhang helped her with her bag and walked her to the entrance. "Have a safe trip, Ms. Lin," she said. "And… I hope everything goes well for you back home."
"Thank you," Meiying said again. She turned and walked into the station, not looking back.
The train ride home felt endless. Meiying sat by the window, watching the scenery change from the tall buildings of the city to the rolling green hills of the countryside. With every mile that put distance between her and Shanghai, the guilt grew heavier. She thought about Weiliang, waiting for her. She thought about the way he had hugged her at the bus station, the worry in his eyes. How was she going to look him in the face? How was she going to pretend that nothing had happened?
When the train finally pulled into the station in her hometown, Meiying took a deep breath and stepped off. The air smelled different here fresher, cleaner, like earth and rain. It smelled like home.
She walked out of the station and saw Weiliang immediately. He was standing near the exit, looking out for her. As soon as he saw her, his face broke into a wide, happy smile, and he waved.
"Meiying!" he called out, rushing toward her.
He took her suitcase from her before she could even say hello, and then he pulled her into a tight hug, holding her close. "I missed you so much," he said, his voice warm and happy against her ear. "Did everything go okay? Did you get everything sorted out with Mr. Li?"
Meiying hugged him back, but she felt stiff, uncomfortable. She buried her face in his shoulder, trying to hide the tears that were threatening to fall. "I missed you too, Weiliang," she whispered. "Everything is fine. It's all sorted out."
"That's great," Weiliang said, pulling back but keeping his hands on her shoulders, looking at her with so much love and trust in his eyes that it made her heart ache. "I'm so glad. I told you everything would be okay. Come on, let's get you home. Mom made your favorite soup, and she's waiting for us for dinner."
Meiying forced a smile. "That sounds wonderful."
They walked to Weiliang's car, and he put her suitcase in the trunk. As they got in and drove away from the station, Meiying looked out the window at the familiar streets, the familiar houses, the familiar faces. This was her life. This was where she belonged.
But as she looked at Weiliang's profile, at the way he hummed softly to the radio, at the ease with which he moved through the world she had always known, she felt a deep, aching sadness. Because she knew, with a sinking feeling in her chest, that nothing was ever going to be the same again. She had crossed a line in Shanghai, and there was no going back. She was home, but she was carrying a secret that was slowly eating her up inside. And she didn't know how much longer she could keep it hidden.