Chapter 7

Aunt Wang’s grilled cold noodles stall was right outside my middle school. Whenever Jiang Huaiyang came to pick me up after school, I would drag him there to buy some. He wasn’t really interested in street food, but he couldn’t resist my exaggerated praises and enthusiastic gestures about how delicious it was! He asked skeptically, “Is it really that good?” “This is the best, the absolute best grilled cold noodles I’ve ever had!” I held the noodles in both hands and presented them to him with my most sincere smile. He said arrogantly, “Fine, I’ll lower myself to give it a try.” After taking one bite, he decisively finished the rest. From that moment on, he fell in love with Aunt Wang’s grilled cold noodles, always using the excuse of picking me up from school to make me buy it for him. After I graduated from middle school, we didn’t eat it as often anymore. I ordered a large portion with chicken tenders and sausage, specifically reminding them not to add cilantro. With the setting sun at my heels, I headed to the hospital. Pushing open the door, I saw Jiang Huaiyang craning his neck toward the entrance. The moment he saw me, he beamed with joy. “Come here, come here!” I frowned and walked in, standing before him. “Why do you look so pale?” He paused for a moment, touched his face, and said, “Do I? I think I look fine—healthy and glowing.” I felt uneasy. “Are you feeling unwell?” His face was ashen, and his lips had lost all color. How did he end up like this in just a few days? He shook his head. “I’m really fine. Wow, you bought such a big portion?” His attempt to change the subject was obvious. I put my worries aside. “Yeah, with chicken tenders and sausage.” I touched the food—it was still warm. He diligently set up a small table on the bed, and I sat across from him, opening the bag and handing him a skewer. He sighed regretfully. “Dr. Lin just came by and told me I need to fast for a test tomorrow.” I asked seriously, “Are you sure nothing’s wrong?” “Really, it’s just a routine checkup. Besides, haven’t I always been like this? Why aren’t you used to it by now?” “I just can’t get used to it. Every time you go to the hospital, I get scared.” Especially in the past year or two, he had been hospitalized so frequently. This time, he had vomited so much blood that my mom said he was rushed into surgery upon arrival—he was already unconscious. The next day at noon, I visited him again. He lay motionless on the hospital bed, completely drained of energy. “Don’t be scared, just eat before it gets cold.” He urged me. We chatted idly, and he suddenly asked, “Are you wearing the necklace I gave you?” I pulled it out from under my collar to show him. “Yeah.” I even thoughtfully clasped the pendants together. “Well? Isn’t my little idea pretty clever?” Like a proud little pup seeking praise. I gave him a big thumbs-up and then asked, “But why did you design it this way?” “Because when the moon is full, it means we should be together.” Then he invited me, “Xu Jingyue, let’s watch the full moon on the sixteenth of the first lunar month together.” The full moon of the fifteenth is fullest on the sixteenth, but to me, my moon will always be full. “Alright.” So we’d watch it together, basking in the romance of a perfect full moon. “The grilled cold noodles I brought for you… ended up in my stomach instead.” I tidied up the trash, threw it in the bin, and put the table away. Jiang Huaiyang, looking exhausted, said, “It’s fine, it doesn’t matter. Whether you eat or I eat, it’s the same.” “Are you sleepy?” I glanced at the time—it was only seven o’clock. Jiang Huaiyang nodded, barely keeping his eyes open. “Mmm…” He leaned back and closed his eyes. I tucked the blanket around him and brushed the hair from his forehead, still worried. “Are you really okay?” As he slept, he looked just like a baby—so quiet, so well-behaved. I watched him for a while until Xu Jingchen called me. Startled, I quickly hung up. I looked up, relieved that I hadn’t disturbed him. I tiptoed out, carefully closing the door behind me. As I walked toward the elevator, I called Xu Jingchen back. The call connected after a few seconds. “Sis.” “What’s up?” “Mom’s out playing cards, Dad’s at a gathering, and I’m at the snack street. Do you want anything?” Even though that large portion of grilled cold noodles had filled me up, I still craved something more. “Flower clam noodles. From Li Ji’s stall. And no cilantro.” I suddenly turned back, remembering the grilled cold noodles. “…No cilantro, okay?” His voice still echoed in my ears. He had always eaten cilantro. The one who didn’t eat cilantro was me. He had even teased me about it before. “Cilantro is so delicious! How can you not like it? It’s unbelievable that someone in this world doesn’t eat such a tasty herb…” I took a deep breath, forcing back the tears welling up in my eyes. Exiting the hospital, I looked up at the sky. The moon hung silently in the night. The ancients often entrusted their sorrows to the moon—it was like a silent deity, watching over the joys and sorrows of the world. It neither spoke, nor ached, nor grieved.