Together Forever - Chapter 27
Volume 2, Chapter 27: I Can Hear You (3)
He didn’t press her further, simply making small talk.
I have some things to take care of these next two days. Can I pick you up the day after tomorrow? TK
Okay.
Looking at the glittering city lights outside, Tong Yan’s mood lifted considerably, perhaps because of his voice.
The next day, she slept in, waking up with a parched throat. She hadn’t slept in a heated room for a while and was no longer used to it. The most ridiculous thing was that while eating breakfast, her throat was so dry she had a nosebleed… When she recounted this dramatic tale of acclimatization woes to Gu Pingsheng via text, he surprisingly didn't reply.
Remembering he had said he was busy, she didn't bother him again.
That afternoon, a woman in her mid-thirties came to visit. She was a surgeon at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) and a former student of Tong Yan's grandmother. Although her grandmother had mainly taught music and had only been a class advisor for a few years, many of her former students still visited her during the holidays, even years later.
“This is a health checkup card,” the woman placed the card on the coffee table, smiling. “You’re getting on in years; you should have regular checkups.”
Her grandmother continued peeling an apple. “No need, no need. I exercise regularly; I’m in good health.”
“I know many elderly people are wary of checkups, afraid of what might be discovered. But as we age, there are bound to be some aches and pains. It’s always better to be safe and have a thorough checkup every year.”
Her grandmother smiled and offered the apple to the woman. “Alright, alright, I’ll go.”
When her grandmother went to the kitchen to check on the simmering ribs, Tong Yan suddenly asked, “Auntie, was there ever a surgical intern surnamed Gu in your hospital’s cardiac surgery department?”
She was simply curious about his past, his past as a cardiac surgeon, but she didn't hold out much hope. He had only been an intern, and PUMCH was a large hospital; how could anyone keep track of every intern in every department?
“You mean Little Gu?” the woman seemed to recall. “The boy whose mother was also a doctor?”
“You really know him? He was only there for a few months.”
“If you’re talking about him, then I definitely know him.” The woman thought for a moment. “His mother was a renowned cardiac surgeon. I watched her perform surgery on a little girl once. The girl's heart was the size of an egg, and she stitched it with over a hundred sutures. A natural-born surgeon.”
The woman smiled sadly, shaking her head, then changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on his mother.
“So, how do you know Little Gu?”
Tong Yan hesitated for a moment. “He’s my university lecturer. He teaches Commercial Arbitration Law.”
The woman looked at her in surprise. “He switched to law? But isn’t he… deaf?”
Tong Yan nodded eagerly. “Yes. Do you know how he lost his hearing?”
“It’s not a secret; almost everyone knew back then.” The woman took a sip of tea and continued, “Do you remember the SARS outbreak when you were in junior high?”
“Yes.”
She remembered the daily news reports detailing the number of cases in each district, the stories of medical workers. It felt like overnight, the city had become a danger zone, the very air a threat. Who wouldn't be afraid?
“I was pregnant at home at the time. After Little Gu's mother passed away, he was about to finish his internship. Then the SARS outbreak happened, and PUMCH admitted over 200 patients. He volunteered to work in the SARS ward. All the medical staff in that ward were at high risk, and many contracted SARS. He lost his hearing due to ototoxic medication after being infected.”
The woman paused, then added, “The medications used to treat SARS were very strong. Even those who recovered suffered long-term side effects from the high doses of steroids. It was a terrible disease. Those who were treated made a huge sacrifice to prevent further spread. Most people couldn't handle such heavy medication.”
Tong Yan was stunned, the last sentence sending a chill down her spine. “You mean… he has other side effects?”
“It’s hard to say,” the woman replied cautiously. “He had already been discharged when I returned to work. I only heard from a junior doctor in my department that he might have other lasting effects.”
The woman soon left. Tong Yan sat there, staring at her phone, wanting to ask him directly. But she was afraid of upsetting him. The television was playing a summer rerun of the 1998 version of My Fair Princess, a lighthearted drama that had been airing for years.
She sat there for the entire afternoon.
At dinnertime, she suddenly stood up, put on her down jacket, and glanced at her phone. It was dead. She grabbed the charger, rushed to the kitchen, and told her grandmother, “I just remembered, I have a class reunion tonight.” Her grandmother, dishing out ribs, smiled indulgently. “Alright, go ahead. I’ll save the ribs for you tomorrow.”
Tong Yan bowed apologetically. “I might be back late. Don't wait up.”
With that, she dashed out the door.
The day he had driven her home, he mentioned living near Beijing Normal University.
As she emerged from the subway station, the wind howled. She had a rough idea of the direction and started walking, pulling out her phone to message him: I really want to see you tonight.
After a while, he replied: Okay. I’ll come find you around ten. TK
Okay. Let me know when you’re leaving. I need to make some preparations to sneak out.
Okay. TK
She didn’t tell him she was nearby, but she had a feeling he was home.
It was only a little past six; ten o'clock was still a long way off. She searched for a place to charge her phone, checking several fast-food restaurants, but none had accessible power outlets. Finally, not far from Beijing Normal University, she found a bakery with outlets in the seating area. She bought the cheapest hot drink and sat by the window, staring into space while her phone charged.
She stayed there until the bakery closed at ten.
With nowhere else to go, she found a sheltered spot near the entrance of Beijing Normal University and waited for his message. Around 10:20, it arrived: I’m leaving now. TK
Tong Yan quickly replied: I’m at the east gate of Beijing Normal University.
Okay, I’ll be there soon. TK
Clutching her phone, she finally smiled, relieved. He had indeed been at home.
Soon, she saw a familiar figure hurrying towards her. It was Gu Pingsheng. She was the only one standing there at that hour. He quickly reached her side. “Been waiting long?”
His voice was slightly breathless.
She slipped her hand into his coat pocket to warm it. “A very, very long time. I’m starving; I haven’t had dinner yet.”
He put his hand in his pocket too, covering her freezing hand. “What was so urgent that you skipped dinner to see me?” His hand was warm, his palm slightly damp.
Tong Yan leaned against him, burying her face in his coat, and didn't reply.
What could she say? She didn't actually want to ask him anything; she simply had an overwhelming need to see him. She had been worried about him, but now that she was with him, she felt that he was someone you naturally wanted to rely on.
His smile, his voice, everything about him radiated warmth.
“Not hungry anymore?” Gu Pingsheng chuckled, holding her close. “I’m always here. You can hug me anytime. Let’s find somewhere to eat first.”
Tong Yan looked up at him. “Okay, but it's almost eleven. There’s nowhere open around here.”
“My place is nearby,” he squeezed her hand. “Come over and eat.”
“Your place?” She had assumed he was staying…
At a hotel? She hadn’t actually considered it.
“My grandfather’s place,” he clarified, holding her hand tighter as they walked.
His grandfather's place?
Tong Yan stopped abruptly. Gu Pingsheng looked at her questioningly, and she hesitated. “Maybe we should walk around and see if there’s anything else open.”
His grandfather's place? That meant meeting his family!
Gu Pingsheng sensed her discomfort and smiled, squeezing her hand. “Don’t worry, Pingfan is there too.”
“It's not that I’m worried…” Tong Yan stammered, her face burning. “It’s just that…”
In the end, she couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence.
Tong Yan followed him into the living room, where she saw Gu Pingfan emerging from her room. She started to say something to Gu Pingsheng but stopped upon seeing Tong Yan, then suddenly smiled. “Can’t you two bear to be apart for even two days? It’s almost midnight!”
Tong Yan, already nervous, felt even more awkward.
Coming over at this hour was indeed inappropriate.
“Don’t worry,” Pingfan quickly reassured her. “Grandpa’s already asleep upstairs, and he’s hard of hearing anyway, so he won't hear us.” As she spoke, the housekeeper came downstairs and, seeing Gu Pingsheng, asked, “Mr. Gu, you haven’t eaten dinner, have you? Should I prepare something for you?”
Tong Yan was taken aback, realizing he hadn’t eaten either. He simply smiled, saying he’d make something himself, and led Tong Yan into the kitchen. As he checked the refrigerator, Tong Yan peered inside and, spotting a package of handmade dumplings, grabbed it along with two eggs and a tomato, intending to make some soup.
Gu Pingsheng took the ingredients from her, and she pulled the frosted glass kitchen door closed, lowering her voice as she looked at him. “Why haven’t you eaten dinner?” He turned on the faucet and began washing the tomato. “I was busy and didn’t have time.”
A wave of tenderness washed over her. She walked over and hugged him from behind, nuzzling his back. “How busy could you have been to skip dinner?” His hands were still wet, holding the bright red tomato, as he turned around and looked down at her. “Why did you suddenly want to see me? Skipping dinner to come all the way here?”
Tong Yan looked up, emboldened. “I missed you.”
He chuckled, his smile dazzling. “And?”
“That’s it,” Tong Yan looked into his eyes, her voice firm. “I missed you, so I felt like I absolutely, positively had to see you right now.”
He didn't reply, simply wrapping his arms around her, still holding the dripping tomato, and gently kissed her, a silent, intense kiss.
Water dripped from the tomato onto the marble floor, forming a small puddle.
After a while, he released her and asked, “Were you crying last night?”
“No,” Tong Yan denied instinctively.
He placed the tomato on the counter, grabbed a clean white towel from a nearby rack, and dried his hands. “Many creatures have their own unique sound recognition systems, like dolphins. If you splash the water to mimic the sound of a fish falling in, they won’t react. But if you throw in a real fish, they'll catch it accurately. That’s because they rely on their own echolocation to ‘hear’ changes in their environment. Dolphins also use these sound waves to communicate with each other.”
Tong Yan leaned against him, intrigued, but wondering why he was suddenly talking about dolphins.
“Even in the pitch-black depths of the ocean, they can find each other because their language is not limited by distance; it can travel for hundreds of kilometers.” He paused, his voice softening. “Communication doesn’t require actual hearing. So… I could hear you crying.”
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