‘SEE YOU MORNING’ 018 Warm Sun and Gentle Breeze

Last night’s thunderstorm had vanished without a trace by this midsummer afternoon. Walking along the paved path from the courtyard to the solar farm, Qin Wenjing had dressed herself today in a traditional Chinese-style cotton-linen top—light, breathable fabric in pale brown linen with faint green leaf patterns printed on it. A round neckline, lantern sleeves, rounded sheath placket edged in green, and her side-braided plait tied with a dark green ribbon. No lipstick, no earrings or necklace—she was quite plain today.
A pair of fitted light-blue jeans paired with the cinched-waist, rounded-placket top accentuated the gentle yet steady curves of her waist and hips. Her lotus-pink kitten heels clicked against the fired square bricks of the path with a rhythmic katakata. Last night’s rainwater evaporated under the sun; in this warm humidity, the wild grass along the ground grew wantonly. Li Haojun disliked mowing—he refused to waste time, and he couldn’t bear the smell of plants “bleeding.” So everything was left to nature.
The path wasn’t long, but here in the height of summer—surrounded by blazing golden sunlight and pale green grass, with the air thick and hot—time itself seemed to halt along this short walk. When she reached the basement door, Qin Wenjing pulled it open but did not step inside. A cool draft rushed out to meet her, but she disliked cold, dim spaces—even if he was there.
Inside the basement, Li Haojun was still at work when the door opened. He turned and saw Qin Wenjing standing in the doorway. She didn’t enter; instead, she leaned her left hand against the doorframe, right hand still on the handle, simply standing there watching him.
Sunlight poured through the thin fabric of Qin Wenjing’s top from behind, outlining her silhouette. The backlight made her features hard to discern, but her shape was familiar.
Li Haojun set down what he was doing and walked over, slipping an arm around her waist. “What is it? Something wrong?”
“No. Just thought you might take a break? Come sit outside for a bit.”
Without a word, Li Haojun took her hand and led her out to sit on the bench by the door. The afternoon warmth quickly reached his limbs, loosening his blood flow. He realized how intensely focused he had been in the basement, how completely he had ignored his own body.
“Do you like summer?” Qin Wenjing asked, though she wasn’t looking at him. Her eyes were closed as she faced the sun, basking in its gentle glow.
Li Haojun thought for a moment. He wasn’t sure why she was asking this, but he answered, “I do. Every season has its own character.”
“You used to love autumn best—deep, romantic. But after all these years, now you love summer—fierce, unrestrained. Like the way you’ve always fought to live life fully. Just as fiery.” With that, Qin Wenjing turned her head and grinned at him. “You told me that yourself.”
“Oh,” Li Haojun replied, wondering what had gotten into her today. He tried asking, “And which season do you like?”
“Summer.”
“Why?”
“Because of you.” As she spoke, Qin Wenjing turned and leaned into his arms.
Li Haojun wrapped one arm around her back, the other lifting her legs to rest across his own. In the soft breeze, carrying the scent of grass and rain, he could faintly smell the light sheen of her skin—that subtle, living warmth that drew him in.
“Why is that?” he murmured again, leaning close to her ear.
“Because that summer was our happiest time,” she said, resting her cheek against his shoulder. “I was just about to start high school. You were better at studying than I was, so you often explained problems to me. Your physics was great, and your math was decent too—so we spent more time together. After exams finished, we had even more free time. I was young then, didn’t overthink things. That’s why it felt like the happiest time—at least, I think so.”
“Was that when we started dating?” Li Haojun ventured.
“No.”
“Later, then?”
“Not then either.” Qin Wenjing lifted her head to glance at him. “You were much older back then. Once I started high school, I kept thinking I should find someone my age… Maybe I lacked a sense of security. Always afraid you wouldn’t stay with me till the end.”
“Oh. Well, after I lost my memory and slept through all those years, does that make us the same age now?” Li Haojun began gently rocking her in his arms.
“Mathematically speaking, yes.” Qin Wenjing burst into giggles.
She rarely spoke to Li Haojun about their past—perhaps because some memories were too painful to revisit. But since she had brought it up today, he seized the chance to learn more, pressing gently, “Did we still see each other often after you started high school?”
“More or less. We were neighbors.”
“Did I still help you with math and physics?”
“Yes.”
“Stay up late tutoring you?”
“Go on, stop showing off.” She pretended to be annoyed, turning her face away.
Seeing she was in good spirits, he kept teasing her. “I helped you study so much, and you never even thanked me properly. Heartless little thing. Tell me—did we have our first kiss then?”
“Ah, that doesn’t count!”
“Oh? Then what does count? What was it like with your boyfriend?”
“Go away!” She swatted his arm playfully, snuggling deeper into his embrace.
Looking at her lightly perspired forehead and flushed cheeks, Li Haojun asked softly, enunciating each word, “If time flowed backward, and this were that summer again… what would you do?”
Nestled against him, eyes closed, she was silent for a long while before whispering, “I hope I could hold on to now.”
The afternoon heat had slowly begun to fade. Their embrace had shifted from feverish warmth to quiet mutual comfort. Li Haojun gave her a gentle shake. “Let’s go back inside. Don’t want mosquitoes biting you.”
Back inside, Qin Wenjing’s screen was flooded with news alerts. Li Haojun glanced over—more follow-up reports on that day’s incident in Richland.
“Richland Unrest Aftermath, Marine Conservation Thruster Initiative Promoted, Forces Behind Richland Riots, Police Statement on Richland Disturbances, Richland Riots…”
“Alright, enough,” Qin Wenjing cut off his monotonous recitation of headlines. She knew he was teasing her, still amused by their impulsive trip days ago.
“Women,” Li Haojun smiled at her, “do you need to marinate in romance all the time?”
Qin Wenjing narrowed her eyes at him, saying nothing.
“So, what happened in Richland afterward?” he changed the subject when she stayed silent.
“Oh, apparently some organizers came from Portland and California, but others were locals without citizenship—just residents living on social benefits. For disrupting public order and violent destruction, their credits were wiped out. They might get deported to farms near the boundary between residential zones and the natural zone—to adapt to self-sufficient living.”
“Mm. If they can’t build and only destroy, they don’t really fit into a civilized society. But from a humanitarian perspective…”
Before Li Haojun could finish, Qin Wenjing covered her mouth, giggling as she looked at him.
“What are you laughing at?” he asked, puzzled.
“You really forgot. Back then, you told me about your school days—how some classmates wouldn’t study themselves, and wouldn’t let others study either.” She smiled. “If you still remembered them, you wouldn’t be saying ‘but’ and ‘humanitarian’ right now.”
“Oh, is that how it was?” Li Haojun found himself speechless—after all, he truly didn’t remember. He had no foundation left to argue from.
“Actually, the current system does give them opportunities. They just didn’t cherish them, or lacked the self-control. Someone who can’t build—or never has built anything—can you expect them to treasure others’ hard work?”
“Well, not necessarily,” Li Haojun mused. “Some people are just naturally kind. They won’t hurt others, won’t damage others’ property.”
“Don’t worry. They live well enough. Even if they aren’t smart or creative, they live among us as residents. So, from a certain angle, the personal evaluation system actually protects vulnerable groups.”
“Mm, that makes sense. Preventing evildoers from blending in unnoticed?”
Before they realized it, night had fallen. A summer breeze stirred the plants in the courtyard, and dim yellow lamplight spilled through the window onto the floor. Inside, shadows moved within the glow; beyond that, there was only night.
Today, the warm sun had shone—and only those who cherished it received its light.