like how Shen Liangsheng just stands outside his door after they broke up.

The scenery outside the yard was nothing out of the ordinary: a rather narrow mile-long hut’ong with residential units on either side. Strangely, he did not see a single neighbour, only the dazzling sunlight raining down on the street silently yet so intensely that he had to look away.

It was then that Ch’in Ching knew he was dreaming, but even though it was a dream, he had to find the man. Just as he came to this realization, he glimpsed a familiar figure in front of him – it was none other than Shen Liangsheng. The scenery outside the yard was nothing out of the ordinary: a rather narrow mile-long hut’ong with residential units on either side. Strangely, he did not see a single neighbour, only the dazzling sunlight raining down on the street silently yet so intensely that he had to look away

It was then that Ch’in Ching knew he was dreaming, but even though it was a dream, he had to find the man. Just as he came to this realization, he glimpsed a familiar figure in front of him – it was none other than Shen Liangsheng. Ch’in Ching hurried after the man and called his name, but Shen Liangsheng did not answer and only kept pushing forward

The mile-long hut’ong seemed to stretch on forever in the dream. He watched as the figure that appeared pale white under the blaring light slipped farther and farther away, but even when it became smaller than a needle point, he could still see it

Ch’in Ching was, however, on pins and needles, afraid that the silhouette would vanish in the blink of an eye. Therefore, he dashed after it. He ran until his shoes flew off, until he was panting so hard he could no longer call his name

At last, Shen Liangsheng seemed to have noticed someone had been following him and stopped to look. He frowned when he saw Ch’in Ching and began shooing him away like a mean old man would a stray cat or dog. “Go back! Don’t follow me! Quick, go back!

Ch’in Ching was in such a hurry he could not cry, but now that Shen Liangsheng was chasing him away, he broke out in tears and began sobbing like a pitiful child trying to win back the adult’s love

Unable to bear this, Shen Liangsheng turned and took a few steps towards the man, but he did not close the distance. He looked at the crying man, at a loss of what to do

“Shen Liangsheng...” Not getting any response from the man, Ch’in Ching realized the tears were of no use and began calling the man’s name between sobs. He wanted to say something else but didn’t know exactly what. In the end, after choking on his sobs for a while, he blurted out, “I love you, Shen Liangsheng.

It was a strange yet fantastical drea

When he spoke the words “I love you, ” the dream seemed to come to a complete standstill. The two men stood frozen in place. Then, they both burst out in laughter“Come here.

He reached out a hand while he began walking towards him

With every step, they seemed to become one year younger so that, when they stood face to face, what each man saw was a youthful version of the other

Strangely yet fantastically, they had not only become younger, but their attire had changed, too. They looked like characters out of a wu-hsia story. Ch’in Ching was wearing the long blue robe of a Confucian student. Shen Liangsheng, on the other hand, was in elaborate dress, an ink-coloured robe embroidered with silver clouds along the hem, but he appeared more like a vicious deity than an elegant noble because of a cold complexion that carried not wrath but death

However, Ch’in Ching was not afraid, nor did he find their attire bizarre. Rather, he leaned in mischievously as he always had and reached for the man’s hand

Shen Liangsheng did not seem surprised, either, and took Ch’in Ching’s hand before leading him forward along the path

Under the blinding summer sun, they walked side by side until the end of this mile, and they would keep going

Whence they had come by

Till the end of time..

--

For those who already finished, let me make you cry again.

I liked the ending of this novel as well. Although the title seems unfitting for the ending for it felt like even death could not part them- which is my complete idea of what love really is. Call me a romantic or unrealistic or whatever, but if one truly falls in love with their soulmate; death and rebirth won’t keep you from one another. I believe in that wholeheartedly.