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He was the only survivor of that battle, only to die on an ordinary day.

As the river swallowed his consciousness, what was he thinking in the last second of his life?

Relief.

Perhaps the last person left alive was not so lucky after all.

Xie Tingsi did not disturb the cheerful mood around him. He let the director know he was leaving, then returned to his trailer.

He took the ginger tea his assistant brought him and set it aside. "I'd like to be alone for a while."

The assistants left. Alone in the enclosed space, Xie Tingsi stared into space for a while. Once his emotions settled a little, he opened the insulated bag, peeled off the sticky note, and read it.

"Tingting, it's cold out. Don't catch a chill. I added extra brown sugar, so it's nice and sweet. —Mom"

Xie Tingsi set the note aside, downed the ginger tea in one gulp, then drank half a bottle of water.

"Way too sweet."

Sweet enough to taste bitter. Still, unlike when she had first started making it, Guo Rao's ginger tea no longer made him want to throw up.

Guo Rao and Song Xi had spent six months in China. A month after flying back to the United States, they settled in China together because of a change in Song Xi's work.

For over a year, whenever Guo Rao had time, she had someone deliver gifts she had made herself. Sometimes it was a little dessert, sometimes a handmade trinket... as though she were trying to make up for his childhood.

Xie Tingsi had resisted at first. Day after day, Guo Rao kept trying. He remained distant, but he no longer spoke to her harshly.

What a person could never have in youth might haunt him for