Chapter 9: The Distance Grew, But Our Hearts Didn’t

Graduation day was sunny.

Gu Nian stood at the school gate, clutching her portfolio, sunlight warming her face.

She had been accepted by an illustration studio.
In another city.

“When are you leaving?” Lu Chen asked.

“Next Monday.”

He nodded, calm.

Too calm.

Gu Nian couldn’t help but look at him. “You’re not sad?”

Lu Chen lowered his head, tucking her hair behind her ear.

“I’m sad,” he said.
“But I’m prouder.”

Her nose stung.

On the day he took her to the station, he didn’t say much.

Gu Nian dragged her suitcase, standing in front of the ticket gate.

“I’m leaving,” she said.

Lu Chen reached out, pulling her into his arms.

This time, he held her for a long while.

“Gu Nian,” he said,
“You don’t have to think about me every day.”

She murmured, “I will.”

He smiled softly.

“Then I will too.”

She looked up. “Eat properly.”

“You too.”

“Don’t stay up late.”

“Do that first, then worry about me.”

The announcement sounded.

Gu Nian let go and dragged her suitcase forward.

A few steps later, she looked back.

Lu Chen was still there.

Watching her.

Not waving.

Just watching.

In that moment, she suddenly felt certain—
No matter how far she went, she always had somewhere to return.

Life apart began quickly.

Gu Nian was busy adjusting to a new city and a new job.

But every night, video calls were unwavering.

When she painted, Lu Chen revised proposals on the other end.

Neither spoke much, yet it felt comforting.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Watching you.”

“What’s so watchable?”

“You look best when you’re focused.”

Gu Nian laughed and scolded him.

One night, she worked late.

Rain fell over the city.

Standing on the street, she suddenly felt exhausted.

The moment the call connected, she hadn’t even spoken before tears fell.

“Lu Chen.”

“I’m here.”

“I miss you so much.”

A brief silence on the other end.

“Look up.”

“What?”

She looked up.

Car lights illuminated him.

Lu Chen stood in the rain, holding an umbrella.

“How did you—”

He came over and pulled her into his arms.

“When you cry, I can’t sit still.”

Gu Nian buried her face in him, crying like a child.

“Weren’t you supposed to have a project?”

“Postponed it.”

“Are you crazy?”

Lu Chen lowered his head, forehead resting against hers.

“Gu Nian,” he said,
“You are more important than anything else.”

That night, she fell asleep in his arms.

The rain outside was soft.

Half asleep, half awake, Gu Nian thought—
So the so-called distance in a long-distance relationship isn’t about miles.
It’s about whether you’re willing to walk toward the other.

And he had never hesitated.