The Story of Tiffany and Xiang (Part II, English version)
In the weeks of my disappointment, I didn't really go to the café. I knew Tiffany was waiting for me there, wondering why I hadn't come, maybe even feeling upset about it. But I just wasn't in the mood to see her. I no longer hated her, but I felt ashamed of my past obsession. I needed to get back on track with my life, and seeing her would remind me of my foolish past. I gradually realized that maybe I wasn't in love with Tiffany but rather with my own shadow—just like my previous relationships, which all ended abruptly when they were going well because I was cutting ties with my past, and they were abandoned along with it.
I started to feel empty. For a year, I had been thinking about Tiffany. She was my spiritual companion, and I had fantasized far too much. Now that the fantasy was shattered, I found myself with nothing to do. I tried running, working, but nothing could occupy my mind.
One day, while I was sitting by the lake, I ran into Shushu, a colleague from work. She was from the same hometown as me, but I hadn't seen much of her before because she was a new intern. She greeted me warmly, and we started chatting by the lake. I found it easy to talk with Shushu. We spoke in our dialect, comparing our hometown to Z Town. We both agreed that Z had a beautiful climate but that the cost of living was too high. "Do you want to stay here?" I asked her. "I like the high salaries here," she laughed. Before we knew it, it was getting dark, so I suggested we walk along the lake to the station. Maybe out of fatigue, I started talking less, and Tiffany's face began to appear in my mind like the ripples on the lake.
Shushu seemed to notice the change in me and asked, "You seem troubled?"
"Yeah, I just went through a breakup," I replied. I was surprised at how easily I confided in her about my private life during our first conversation.
Shushu then invited me to dinner at her place. She said she would cook dishes from our hometown, and that after eating, I would forget my troubles. I was hungry, so I agreed.
Oh my, the table was filled with dishes I had been craving. I was so excited and started eating ravenously. She laughed and teased me for being such a foodie. She said that I could come over every week. I was very happy. As I was leaving, I asked her if she liked coffee. "Coffee? I hate it! The smell from the café downstairs makes me nauseous in the morning." I smiled, said goodbye, and left.
Shushu and I started to interact more. Since we were colleagues, we could eat and rest together every day. I could feel Shushu's enthusiasm, just like the spicy peppers she cooked, full of passion and sincerity. Sometimes I would think of Tiffany, missing her quiet smile, her coffee scent, and her stories about her dog. But more often than not, I wanted to look forward.
That Friday, I walked into the café again. I didn't see Tiffany; instead, a young man was making coffee. I casually asked where Tiffany had gone, and his answer shocked me. He said Tiffany had resigned two months ago and left Z Town. I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my heart and sat down on the sofa, tears streaming down my face. For the past three or four months, while I was trying to forget you, I still believed you were here waiting for me. Why did you leave without saying goodbye, Tiffany? Have you really forgotten me?
That night, I invited Shushu over to my place. I cooked for her too. I still remembered the days when I practiced cooking for Tiffany, but now someone else was savoring the meal. No, I can't treat Shushu like this. She's innocent; she likes me, and I want to wholeheartedly like her back. Shushu and I officially started dating. I found we had a lot in common, and our tastes were similar. She was a very strong girl, coming to work at our company at such a young age. But as an intern, she only had a six-month contract, and when it ended, she would have to work elsewhere, and we would have to part ways. But she optimistically said she wanted to enjoy the days we had together and not worry about the future.
While chatting after dinner, Shushu noticed the painting on my wall. She carefully asked if it was of "that person." I said yes, but that it was in the past, although I wanted to keep the painting on the wall because it was beautiful. She nodded. Looking at the lovely Shushu in front of me, I couldn't help but hug her...
Without noticing, we had been together for three months, and it had been half a year since I last saw Tiffany. I rarely thought of her anymore and had gotten used to buying coffee from another café. Back in my crazy period, I had written in a diary every day, recording my intense emotions and sorrows, but now the diary was gathering dust. Once, while tidying up, I took it out and read it, surprised by my past self. I had documented every move and expression of Tiffany. I was ecstatic over her smiles and deeply pained by her hurriedness. I closed the diary and smiled helplessly. But after a while, I opened it again and wrote on a new page: "Do I want a partner in life, someone to eat and talk with, or a Platonic, noble connection of souls?... "
One day, while I was on a business trip, Shushu called me. She said our boss was considering making her a full-time employee. Wow! Getting a full-time position at our company was very difficult; Shushu must be outstanding. I was happy for her. It also meant she wouldn't have to move, and we could possibly go from a short-term to a long-term relationship. I felt a bit of panic. “Is this destiny bringing Shushu to me? Will I love her forever? Do I love her? …” These worries faded over the week. I stopped thinking too much about the future and, as Shushu suggested, I started to focus on enjoying every day together. I loved watching her sleep peacefully, loved her joking around, and loved her seriously cooking.
On Shushu's birthday, I asked her what her wish was. She shyly asked if I could take down the painting of Tiffany from the wall. For a moment, I didn't know what to say. She added that if Tiffany was important, I didn't have to take it down; she didn't want to make me sad. I immediately hugged Shushu and told her she shouldn't feel wronged. I said that Shushu was the most important person in my heart, and I didn't want to make her sad either. We decided to let the painting rest in my drawer. Shushu cried, saying she just loved me too much and wanted me to love her as much as I loved Tiffany.
"Silly girl," I said, "how can you cry on your birthday? We still have decades of birthdays to celebrate together."