A Young Woman's Heart

I am indeed very busy.

Because of the SARS outbreak in Beijing, which is now raging and spreading throughout the city.

As an intern nurse, she volunteered to participate in disease prevention and control, and every day she wore thick protective clothing and rushed between the corridors and wards of Xiaotangshan Hospital.

She hadn't even spoken to Zhou Yong on the phone for three days.

Today, she was finally reassigned and given a half-day off in the afternoon.

Walking out of the hospital and along the road, in an empty courtyard, Zhou Yong, wearing a cotton mask, was sitting on a stone bench.

"Chan'er!" He waved his hand vigorously, his face full of excitement, as if it hadn't been ten days, but ten years, as if it hadn't been three days since they last spoke on the phone, but three years since he last heard her voice.

If he had a big, fluffy tail, it would be waving like a fan by now.

After taking off her protective suit, Tian Tingchan wore ordinary jeans and a shirt, looked up at the blooming peach blossoms in the courtyard, and let the gentle breeze caress her cheeks.

After such a long time, she even felt like the protective suit had practically grown onto her body. The temporary relief from the burden made her feel much lighter, so she smiled mischievously and said, "What? You haven't seen me for days, are you itching all over?"

"Cough... I was worried about you. Are you alright? Be careful not to get infected. Even if you recover, there can be serious long-term effects."

"Well... but because its lethality is high enough, its transmission efficiency is relatively low, which is why it can be controlled as quickly as possible."

Is the hospital very busy?

"It's quite busy; my clothes are soaked with water by the end of the day."

"You must be working too hard," Zhou Yong said, quickly opening several aluminum lunch boxes on the stone table, which contained delicate handmade pastries.

"Hmm? I ate before I came out."

"This is a snack..." Zhou Yong handed over an unopened bottle of juice. "Eat it slowly, just to relax."

"Hmm, how's your school?"

"The campus is temporarily closed. I wish I had already graduated so I could come and help you..."

"Perhaps there will be an opportunity in the future." She picked up a snow-white pastry, shook off the little bit of sugar stuck to it, and smiled with her lips pursed.

"I hope this serious infectious disease won't happen a second time..."

"Mmm! It's delicious."

"Hey, that's good. I've been researching at home for several days and finally managed to make something."

What is that yellow one?

"It's osmanthus cake, but I didn't have any fresh osmanthus flowers, so I used the ones my roommate used to make tea."

"Pfft... Is this even possible?"

"Uh... I guess... it probably doesn't have the fragrance of fresh osmanthus."

"Hmm, but it's not bad either."

Zhou Yong scratched his cheek, seemingly a little embarrassed by Tian Tingchan's praise.

……

(two)

In May, fluffy clouds are scattered across the azure sky. Occasionally, a bird spreads its wings and flies by. From the ground, you can't see its color clearly, only a dark silhouette with a rough outline.

A peach blossom swayed gently and fell to the ground. Several ants gathered around it, touched it lightly with their long antennae, and then neatly circled around it.

A clean checkered picnic blanket was laid on the ground, while Tian Tingchan fell asleep wearily in Zhou Yong's arms.

Another petal swayed and landed on her face, like an embellishment to her makeup.

A radio nearby emitted a soft hissing noise, broadcasting various news reports about SARS.

"Five prohibitions during SARS..."

"...It is forbidden to disrupt transportation under the pretext of preventing and controlling SARS, it is forbidden to implement traffic control at provincial borders on highways, and it is forbidden to turn back vehicles that are traveling normally..."

"Click." Zhou Yong turned off the radio, so that Tian Tingchan could have a good dream unrelated to work.

"Hmm..." She curled up and snuggled into Zhou Yong's arms, seemingly feeling a little cold.

He quickly took off his coat and gently covered her with it. The warmth of his scent seemed to reassure her.

Time seemed to flow exceptionally slowly at this moment, as if one could sit here forever, until the end of time, until the seas dried up and the rocks crumbled.

Zhou Yong was also getting sleepy. He lowered his head and nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice.

He felt that he had been staying awake the whole time, but when he was woken up by the cold wind, he suddenly looked up and realized that it was already dark.

The streetlights came on, and trucks carrying supplies were slowly driving by.

Pedestrians were walking around sporadically, but there weren't many of them.

Several stray cats gathered on the wall, watching the humans in the yard warily.

Zhou Yong felt that perhaps he had taken over their territory.

Tian Tingchan, who had buried her head in Zhou Yong's arms, slowly opened her eyes, stretched out her arms wearily, and gently pinched his face.

"What's wrong?" Zhou Yong looked down and asked with a smile, "Are you cold?"

"A little..." she murmured, wrapping her arms around his neck, her bright eyes crinkling with a smile, "Kiss..."

"Huh? Eh? Huh?"

"What's wrong? Why are you shy? There's no one here..." She winked playfully, pulled Zhou Yong down a little, and then leaned back.

Thick lips and thin lips complement each other.

The gentle May breeze feels especially warm at this time of year.

Tian Tingchan's cheeks were so hot that he finally couldn't help but support her back, his body involuntarily pressing down.

But she broke free and playfully flicked his forehead with a smile: "You naughty boy, let's talk about this after all this is over. I'm not in the mood for it right now."

"Then I'll have surgery to change my ID card."

"it is good."

"Okay, will you take me home?"

"Ah, oh... let's go."

Zhou Yong quickly stood up, bent down and picked up the picnic blanket and the unfinished snacks on the ground.

He packed all the snacks into a box and stuffed it into Tian Tingchan's arms: "Take this back and eat it slowly?"

"Hmm, if you haven't slept tonight, consider this a midnight snack." She yawned widely, draped an arm over his shoulder, and slowly stood up. "We'll have to continue tomorrow, so I need to get some rest today..."

"Okay, I'll take you home. I came by electric scooter, so I don't have to take a taxi."

"Okay, just drop me off at the door. The temporary accommodation I was assigned is under control; you can't get in."

"good.……"

"I hope SARS ends soon."

"It'll be soon, not long," Zhou Yong said with a smile, trying to reassure him.

……

(three)

2003 7 Month 25 Day.

The SARS epidemic, which swept the globe and struck fear into the hearts of many, was finally declared over a few days ago.

Tian Tingchan also finished the last part of her work and was granted an extended vacation of two months.

Although Zhou Yong's university lifted the lockdown, it did not start classes but instead began a summer vacation.

Everything will truly return to normal when we return in September.

The streets of Beijing were bustling with activity again, and Zhou Yong was sweating profusely under the blazing sun.

Behind the barbed wire fence is the gateball court.

Even under the blazing sun, the elderly folks were still leisurely playing ball, and next to a metal bucket filled with ice was a fluffy lion cat.

The starving stray cats were finally fed by humans again, and they ate voraciously, as if afraid that these free food providers would suddenly stop coming.

The children gathered in a corner; the boys played marbles, the girls played cat's cradle, and some boys and girls played hopscotch together.

This scene, which is commonplace in everyday life, made Zhou Yong's eyes sting with tears.

The vibrant energy of a city always gives people a sense of upward momentum.

Only at this moment did Zhou Yong feel alive.

"Phew...that feels good." He stretched and let out a long breath. Suddenly, he was patted on the shoulder, which startled him. He turned around in a hurry and saw Tian Tingchan's upturned phoenix eyes and her gentle oval face.

Just as he was about to say something, she puffed out her cheeks and kissed him.

It's icy cold and has a hint of sweetness.

"Huh?" After she stepped back, Zhou Yong couldn't help but click his tongue. "What...?"

"Pfft." Tian Tingchan shook the cone in her hand. "Ice cream, original flavor, can you taste it?"

"what……"

"How's it going? Is it delicious?"

"good to eat."

"Then I'll take you to buy it."

"Cough..."

"Could it be that you want what's in my mouth?" She winked playfully, which immediately caused Zhou Yong to cough.

……

(four)

The sea was a deep blue, but there were hardly any people around.

It's so empty here, it feels like the edge of the world.

The city seemed to be on the distant horizon.