Century - long Love in Prague

"Yes, yes, I’m leaving for Prague today. Mom! I’m sure! I just want to study Germanistics at Charles University for a year." "Fine, maybe two years… But I’ll come back as soon as I can and continue my flute studies at the Berlin Conservatory." "By then, I’ll definitely understand how those pieces should be played. Mom… I’m leaving today—what’s the point of trying to talk me out of it now?" Lin Xuenie, who was checking her luggage against a list to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything, drawled these words to her phone lying on the coffee table. Then, a woman’s furious roar erupted from the speaker, startling her so much that she flinched even though she had already held the phone at a distance. But once she heard what the person on the other end was angrily shouting, Lin Xuenie’s temper flared up too. She walked over, picked up the phone, and said: Mom! I’ve told you so many times! I love him! I love that man so, so much! That’s why I have to go to Prague! I have to study at Charles University!" "And it absolutely has to be the Carolinum campus! Because that used to be their German department—that’s where Kafka studied law!" As soon as Lin Xuenie finished speaking, the woman on the phone grew even angrier: "Love what love? The year Kafka died, your grandfather hadn’t even been born yet!" That killer line left Lin Xuenie clutching her head in frustration, her chest tight with indignation. All she could retort was: "I love my grandfather too!" Lin Xuenie was nineteen years old. Until this semester, she had been a sophomore at the Berlin Conservatory, majoring in flute. But starting next semester, she would be studying Germanistics at Charles University in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. After hanging up, she slowly circled her rented Berlin apartment one last time to confirm she hadn’t forgotten anything. Then she packed her silver-plated flute case into her backpack, closed her suitcase, and headed out the door. It was noon, and the taxi she had called was already waiting downstairs. If everything went smoothly, she would arrive at Berlin Central Station in time to catch the 1:03 PM train to Prague. By 5:28 PM, she would be there. Yes, 5:28 in the afternoon. In Prague during the summer, that was still bright daylight—the sun wouldn’t even begin to set until around 9:30 PM. And that was when the city would reveal its most enchanting colors. Lin Xuenie couldn’t describe how exhilarated and excited she felt as she dragged her suitcase onto the train. She had worked toward this day for an entire year. Or rather, ever since she had read the essays and prose of that long-deceased man one year and two months ago, this idea had taken root in her heart. It was a truly insane idea. She wanted to walk the paths he had once walked, study the German literature he had truly loved at the university he had attended, and live in the city of Prague—the place that had both imprisoned and inspired his soul. Even though Prague wasn’t far from Berlin—just a four-and-a-half-hour train ride away—she had never set foot there before today. She had promised herself she wouldn’t visit Prague until she had achieved her goal of studying Germanistics at Charles University. And now, she had done it! She was finally going to the Prague of her dreams! Just thinking about it made her want to burst into cheers! But before that, she needed to find a compartment and sit down—preferably without blocking the passengers boarding behind her. Yet the moment she settled in, a text from her best friend, Helena, came chasing after her like a relentless pursuer. At such a thrilling moment, her friend had the nerve to ask how far she’d gotten in reading Studies on Hysteria! As a psychology student at Charles University, Helena had spent a semester as an exchange student at Humboldt University of Berlin a year ago. The two had met at a convenience store near the university—Lin Xuenie eating fruit while Helena had a salad for lunch. Unexpectedly, the two girls sitting across from each other at the same table became fast friends. Four months ago, this occasionally eccentric psychology student had recommended Freud’s Studies on Hysteria to Lin Xuenie. Of course, in those four months, Lin Xuenie hadn’t turned a single page of it. Just imagine—if Helena found out the truth now, the fallout would be nothing short of brutal! Trembling at the thought, Lin Xuenie quickly pulled the book from her bag, flipping through it while sending her friend a voice message on w******p. "I think there’s something wrong with this Chinese edition of Studies on Hysteria. The introduction alone is 25 pages long!" "And after that, the editor’s biography of Freud takes up another 95 pages. This doesn’t even feel like Studies on Hysteria—it’s more like Studies on Freud…" As soon as she opened the book, Lin Xuenie bombarded her friend with voice messages, complaining about how some publishers these days were shamelessly scamming readers. But before she could finish her rant, Helena sent a text reply: So… you’re telling me today is the first time you’ve opened this book? "Tsk—" Lin Xuenie sucked in a sharp breath, caught red-handed. Just as she widened her eyes, scrambling for an explanation, the train came to another stop. It was another station in Berlin, just five minutes from the central station. Without realizing it, several passengers had boarded. Among them was a tall, golden-haired boy with striking shoulders who passed by Lin Xuenie’s compartment. He might have kept walking, but something about the girl inside made him pause. After hesitating for a moment, he glanced at her—the girl who looked so troubled with a book spread open on the table—then turned and knocked on the compartment door. Startled by the sound, Lin Xuenie looked up. And in that instant, the boy captured her full attention. He was… the kind of person who carried an air of distance, with an intense classical elegance. It was hard to say whether he was more beautiful or handsome—just that he was young and striking. "May I sit here?" "Y-yes! Of course." His voice was like a cello—rich and mesmerizing. It was the kind of voice that made you agree before you even fully processed the words. When Lin Xuenie nodded, the boy smiled—a smile so disarming it left her flustered. Only after he turned to stow his luggage did she hesitantly ask in German: **"Are you German?" Truthfully, she didn’t even need to ask. The boy had the quintessential Germanic look—sharp and striking. Though his slightly long golden hair softened that cool demeanor. He seemed surprised by her German but nodded. "Yes." Then he sat across from her, his gaze steady on her face. To him, the girl had eyes darker than most Asians, paired with delicate features. She wasn’t the kind of aggressively memorable beauty, but more like a handful of snow in winter—the kind you’d glance at, then find yourself looking back at again. Lin Xuenie fidgeted slightly under his gaze. In her two years abroad, she had been approached by local boys before. But never one this handsome, and never one who looked at her so directly. "Albrecht. Albrecht Groetz." The boy introduced himself, then, sensing her discomfort, apologized: "Sorry. It’s just… you feel familiar to me. But I can’t figure out why."