Thousands of loves on the subway

A Thousand Kinds of Love on the Subway

On the subway, a young man and woman get on. The woman is in her mid-twenties, the man in his mid-twenties, just a little over twenty-six, looking like he hasn’t been working long. They stand behind me. Because the woman’s long hair is flowing and fragrant, I took a moment to look at her face clearly, but she was also turned away from me, so I couldn’t see. The man’s right hand rests on her waist. She’s wearing a plain sweatshirt, jeans, and casual sneakers that aren’t branded or fashionable—definitely not leather shoes or trendy sneakers. So I imagine her face is probably unadorned with makeup, yet uniquely beautiful and fresh.

They happily chat, the woman occasionally laughs and leans back, and a passenger touched by her hair on her cheek glances displeasedly, but they seem completely unaware…

This kind of happiness is very contagious. Thinking back to my own college days, the love around me was all like this—so relaxed, without worries, engaging in “love or not love” kind of playful conversations.

Man: “I want to get double eyelid surgery.”

Woman: “Don’t do it, then you won’t be yourself anymore.”

Man: “But I’d look really handsome after, and you could look at me for two more seconds every day.”

Woman: “I only look at the lower half of your face. Besides, if you become handsome, other girls will notice you.”

Man laughs: “So you’re worried about that? Then I won’t do it.”

Woman: “Then go ahead and get it. If you do, I can see your whole face.” She probably finds this very funny herself.

Man: “What if the surgery fails?”

Woman giggles: “Then I won’t like you anymore.”

Man: “Then I’ll still like you just the same.”

The woman laughs.

The man pulls her closer affectionately. Though I didn’t see it, it seems like the love in their eyes has already been written clearly—undeniable.

Woman: “I’m so hungry.”

Man: “I left early this morning to avoid being late, so I ran here. I didn’t buy you breakfast.”

Woman: “I thought you would buy it, so I didn’t eat at home. We’re going to Jing’an Temple later—I know a place that’s really delicious.”

Man: “Okay, wherever you want to go.”

Woman: “I can eat a lot.”

Man: “I know. Last time I ate at your place, I thought you finished, but you kept eating. Even after your mom cleaned up, you were still eating.”

Woman laughs… “You pay so much attention to me.”

Man: “Haha, of course… My colleague said you look really good.”

Woman: “Really? Has your colleague met me?”

Man: “Yes, last time you came to the company, they saw you. Later, they told me your female friend is very beautiful.”

The girl believes it wholeheartedly and happily says, “They saw me just like that in just a little while.”

…

After passing Tiananmen Square, many people get off. They happen to sit in the two empty seats in front. I turn around, and the man’s hand is still around the woman’s waist. I can’t get enough of watching her. This pinkish love atmosphere seems to make the surrounding air even sweeter, and these two fresh, adorable people are like morning dew—pleasing to the eye.

Suddenly, two more people appear beside them. Oh no, they’ve actually been there all along, but because they are too silent and dull, I didn’t notice. There’s no conversation or eye contact between them. The man is wearing a slightly old leather jacket, and his pointed leather shoes are already covered with grayish-white dust. The woman is probably in her forties—maybe in her thirties—her life’s exhaustion has caused her to have early gray hair, and she has no money or energy to dress herself up, making her look too haggard. She has the appearance and aura of a typical worker, but her behavior is restrained and meticulous.

They lean their heads together, hands clasped, exhausted and leaning on each other.

Just closing their eyes.

It’s as if everything around them doesn’t exist. Unlike the young couple, who are immersed in their happiness and forget everything else, they are already too exhausted to care about anything else because of their energy depletion.

Maybe they worked all night and desperately need a bed to sleep on, or maybe they don’t even have a solid place to rest. In short, their fatigue reveals the loneliness and hardship of leaving home—talking about love is simply too luxurious. Companionship is the greatest comfort.

…

There are countless types of people in the world, and thus countless kinds of love.

Your state of life—happy, unhappy, high, low, like a fish in water, like walking on thin ice, confident to the point of arrogance, depressed to the point of unable to free oneself… satisfied or dissatisfied with the current situation, eager to change, hoping for another kind of life—rarely can any love give you all that.

It’s not that the kind of person you are determines the kind of love you start. The hand of fate often pushes you forward. Sometimes dreams come true; sometimes they are not what you expected. We move in and out of different relationships, retreat or indulge, enjoy tenderness or sweetness, and also suffer waiting and torment. Most people are not strong enough to be autonomous; most just silently accept the arrangements of fate, encountering love as a gift.

Love can only promise companionship, sharing beautiful scenery, bearing hardships together. When you feel that having someone by your side is so good, that’s already the greatest worth.

**$POL **$BEAM **$POLYX **