Author's Note: This was written for another friend who remained curious as to the fate of Xiao Xi's misdelivered love letter (from Episode 1)...

 

Letter Love

Jiang Chen was sitting on the living room couch reading through one of his “hobby” books on Oriental medicine when he was interrupted by a loud sigh emanating from the small room off to the side. The load sigh was followed by a groan of frustration, which was then accompanied by some heavy erasing sounds. Jiang Chen flipped his book shut and, setting it down on the coffee table first, got up to walk over to the doorway of the small room that they’d converted into an in-home office/studio for Chen Xiao Xi. She was so engrossed in her work, she didn’t even notice Jiang Chen standing in the doorway.

He looked around the room, noting the new sketches she’d hung along its walls in between the pictures she’d taken for inspiration. He knew she was working on a new book. He also knew that the deadline for the next chapter was due the day after tomorrow. It was the reason why, even though it was Saturday night and he had a rare weekend off from work, Xiao Xi was huddled over her drafting table and he was home keeping her company.

He’d brought her something to eat earlier, and he frowned when he noticed that it looked mostly untouched. He hated how every time his wife reached a deadline crunch, she became too busy to take care of herself. He’d once suggested that maybe she should plan in advance. After all, it wasn’t like she didn’t know when her deadlines were. But Xiao Xi had stared at him like he was an alien and started talking at him about artistic temperaments and things that couldn’t be forced. Jiang Chen gave up trying to understand, and ultimately concluded that this was how Xiao Xi had always operated – stemming as far back as their school days – and would continue to operate – even in adulthood.

After Xiao Xi finished erasing whatever it was she had found so offensive, she picked up her pencil and began to sketch again. As she appeared to be once more in her groove, Jiang Chen left her to her work and retreated to their bedroom where he the television to watch a ballgame.

Several hours later, sometime in the middle of the night, Xiao Xi found him there. The remote control had long ago slipped out of his hands, and the ballgame had also finished a while back with a late night infomercial now playing on the television screen. Jiang Chen was slumped over to the side having obviously fallen asleep while still watching television. He looked awkward and uncomfortable, but even in her exhausted state, Xiao Xi still had enough energy to think to herself that she didn’t think she’d ever tire of looking at him.