July 19th, River Dam.
Jiang Ning was alone in the bedroom.
His uncle, Jiang Qitian's booming voice came through the phone speaker. "When are you coming over for a meal? Your cousin and the others are planning to travel in a couple of days. They're going to some Qin Island to see the sea. Come with them. You won't have to spend a cent."
As soon as he finished, Aunt's warm voice came from the receiver:
"That's right, Ningning. One more person is no trouble. Come along, it'll be livelier with more people."
Jiang Ning paused. In his previous life, despite all those trips, Aunt had never once invited him, while Shen Qing'e had always gone along.
Whenever they returned from traveling, Cousin's Wife and Shen Qing'e would sit in the living room, talking about everything they had seen—the scenery, the food, the local culture, how interesting it all had been.
Jiang Ning could never join in. He could only sit beside them with an awkward smile.
Sometimes, Shen Qing'e would even show him photos she had taken and tell him how regrettable it was that he had not gone.
Those memories surfaced unbidden. Jiang Ning's expression did not change as he declined, "No, I just got back from out of town. I'm planning to rest at home for a while."
After brushing them off with a few more words, Jiang Ning hung up.
Perhaps now that he had another chance, his past experiences were no longer worth relying on. Yet some things could never be erased in a lifetime.
In the Large Flat downtown, Shen Qing'e had been listening to their phone call. When she heard Jiang Ning refuse, her heart sank.
Ever since her sister had decided to travel to Qin Island a few days ago, she had