Three Parts Attachment

Why Her, Not Anyone Else

An Shu didn’t turn around. The voice belonged to his colleague, Jiang He. "Nothing much," An Shu replied evenly.

But Jiang He wasn’t about to let it go. "Don’t play dumb—we all saw you carrying her back."

An Shu remained unruffled. She was asleep. I had no choice."

"Bullshit. "You didn’t carry Yang Qing the other day when she passed out in the heat."

"... It’s different."

"How? Oh, wait—because it’s her?"

A faintly exasperated smile tugged at An Shu’s lips. "We knew each other before. University classmates."

Jiang He opened his mouth to press further, but An Shu brushed past him. "We’ve got filming today. Let’s go."

"Aren’t you bringing her?"

"She just fell asleep." Don’t disturb her. The implication was clear.

Shen Zhi slept until dusk. When she finally emerged, the crew had just returned. Still in her sunflower-yellow dress—her luggage long gone—she stood outside, the wind teasing the hem around her calves.

Ten meters away, An Shu froze mid-step.

For the first time in six years, they truly looked at each other.

He was broader now, his jawline sharper, skin bronzed by the desert sun. The boy who’d once been the aloof campus heartthrob had hardened into a man.

Before she could speak, An Shu closed the distance between them.

"Awake?"

"Mm."

"Hungry?"

"Mm."

"We’re about to eat. Join us."

"…Okay."

She trailed after him, disoriented. The team snickered until An Shu silenced them with a glare.

"Don’t mind them," he muttered during dinner.

Shen Zhi blinked over her rice. "Huh?"

"The teasing earlier. Ignore it."

"Oh." She poked at her food. "I have already forgotten."

An Shu’s chopsticks hesitated midair before resuming.

———

"Where’s the nearest mall?" Shen Zhi asked when he stood to leave. "My luggage got lost." Her voice wobbled.

An Shu studied her. "I’ll take you tomorrow."

"Not tonight?"

"Stores close early here. And it’s far."

Her shoulders slumped.

"If you’re free after eating," he added, "I can brief you about the show."

"Okay. "But I need to charge my phone first." She held up her dead device.

"I’ll help after you finish."

She nodded, pushing rice around her box. Though hungry, she ate little.

"Don’t waste food," An Shu chided.

"I don’t eat much anymore."

"You used to."

"Now I’m a celebrity." Image matters.

An Shu’s gaze flickered—as if remembering she wasn’t just the girl he’d known. "You’ll need energy here."

Shen Zhi ignored him, forcing another bite.

———

Later, in her room, Shen Zhi’s phone sprang to life. Lu Chen’s frantic voice blasted through:

"Shen Zhi! Are you okay? I told them to meet you—did they not—"

"I’m fine," she soothed. "Someone picked me up."

Relief flooded his tone. "Keep your phone on."

"I will." She hung up, not noticing An Shu’s stiff posture by the door.

"I’ll come back tomorrow," he said abruptly, leaving before she could mention the promised briefing.

Outside, An Shu lit a cigarette, staring at the people. The desert wind carried embers into the dark.

Shen Zhi found him there when she stepped out on the air. "You’re still here?"

He stubbed out the cigarette. "Couldn’t sleep?"

"Just… looking around."

Silence.

"How long have you been here?" she finally asked.

"Six years."

"Ah." Since we broke up. The unspoken words choked her.

An Shu changed the subject. "Why take this show?"

"For work."

"It’s harsh here."

"I’ve never experienced hardship." Her laugh was brittle. "Might be fun."

She turned, catching his gaze. Both looked away instantly.

"The show’s simple," he said. "You’ll plant trees with us in the desert."

"That’s your job? Just… planting?"

"Desert afforestation. I’m a forestry engineer."

"What’s that?"

An Shu paused. Old memories surfaced—her eyes glazing over whenever he’d mentioned his studies.

"Never mind," he said. "Point is—can you handle the desert?"

The question hung between them, heavy as the coming storm.