Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

He Damin turned to look at her: "What do you know?"

"I know...I know Bruce Lee will..." Chen Xueru stopped halfway through her sentence, a hint of fear and reluctance flashing in her eyes. She couldn't bring herself to say the word "death."

He Damin fell silent. He remained silent for a very long time, so long that Chen Xueru thought he wouldn't answer. He recalled fragments of memories from his past life, both blurry and clear. Bruce Lee, that name, as dazzling and fleeting as a shooting star. He died on July 20, 1973, at the young age of thirty-three. The cause of his death remains a subject of much debate: drug allergy? Cerebral edema? Or… murder? No one knows the exact answer. And now, it's 1969. Four more years. Only four short years.

"I...can see some things." He Damin's voice was very low, as if he were talking to himself, or perhaps to Chen Xueru, "but not everything. Seeing too much about life and death...is not good." There was a deep sense of powerlessness in his tone. He could change his own fate and the fate of some people around him, but he seemed unable to shake certain predetermined trajectories.

Chen Xueru reached out and gently grasped He Damin's hand, which was resting on the table. His hand was a little cold. "Did you see the rain?" Her voice trembled slightly. "Will she...will she be happy?"

He Damin looked into Chen Xueru's worried eyes for a long, long time. He remembered Yushui's strong demeanor, and what she had just said: "As long as I can see him, know that he's doing well, that's enough." He took a deep breath, and then slowly, but with absolute certainty, said, "She will. She will."

Chen Xueru didn't say anything more, but just gripped his hand tightly. It was as if this would give him some strength and bring him some comfort.

The night outside the window was still deep, but in the distance, the sky seemed to be faintly tinged with the first light of dawn.

***The next morning, sunlight streamed through the gossamer-thin curtains, casting dappled shadows on the carpet. Just as He Damin sat down in the dining room to have breakfast, the butler came in to announce that Miss He Yushui had arrived.

He Damin wasn't surprised and nodded: "Let her in."

Soon, He Yushui appeared at the restaurant entrance. Today, she wore a well-tailored beige suit skirt, which made her skin appear even whiter. Her hair was neatly styled into a sleek bun, revealing her smooth forehead and slender neck. She wore a pair of round pearl earrings, a gift from He Damin for her birthday last year. She carried a black leather folder in her hand, looking energetic and capable, just like the decisive and efficient president of Asia Satellite Television as always.

"Good morning, Uncle," she greeted with a smile, her voice clear and melodious.

"Good morning, Rain Water." He Damin pointed to the chair opposite him. "Have you had breakfast yet? Let's grab something to eat together."

"No, Uncle, I've already eaten out." He Yushui walked to the table and handed over the folder in her hand. "This is the program plan for next season. The main focus is on several new variety shows and an acquired American drama series. Would you like to take a look?"

He Damin took the folder and casually placed it on the sideboard next to him, without opening it. "Sit down, Yushui, I have something to tell you."

He Yushui's smile faltered slightly, as if she had sensed something. She sat down in the chair opposite He Damin as instructed, sitting upright with a questioning look and barely perceptible tension in her eyes.

He Damin looked at her, his gaze both gentle and complex. He suddenly realized how quickly time had passed. It seemed like only yesterday she was that little girl with pigtails, wearing a floral dress, peering through his car window, curiously asking, "Uncle, do they have delicious candied hawthorns in Hong Kong?" And now, she had grown into a capable woman, a force to be reckoned with in the business world. A trace of her childhood self could still be seen in her features, but her eyes were no longer those of the timid little girl. They were eyes that had seen the world, weathered storms, and matured with composure and determination.

"Rainwater," He Damin cleared his throat, breaking the silence, "your aunt... told me about it yesterday."

He Yushui's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, as if struck by an electric current. She quickly lowered her head, her long eyelashes drooping, casting a small shadow beneath her eyelids. She remained silent, her fingers unconsciously fidgeting with the hem of her suit dress. The restaurant was quiet, save for the ticking of the wall clock and the faint sounds coming from the kitchen.

He Damin didn't rush her, but just watched her quietly, giving her time to compose herself. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, shining directly on the top of her head, giving her hair a soft golden edge.

"Uncle," He Yushui slowly raised her head after a long while, her voice very soft, with a slight tremor, "Do you...do you think I'm stupid?" Her eyes were red, as if she had just cried, or as if she was holding back tears.

He Damin shook his head, his tone sincere: "Not stupid. Yushui, you are the smartest and most capable girl I have ever met."

Upon hearing this, He Yushui, who had been holding back her emotions, seemed to finally break down. Her eyes instantly reddened, and crystal tears rolled down her cheeks like broken pearls. "And what about him?" she asked, choking back sobs. "Uncle, you know him, what kind of person do you think he is?"

He Damin thought for a moment, organizing his thoughts. "Bruce Lee... he was a very special person," he said slowly. "He was talented, had dreams, and possessed an indomitable fighting spirit. He rose from a poor boy with no background to become a kung fu star known worldwide through his own hard work and genuine skills. He showed many foreigners that Chinese people are not the 'sick men of East Asia,' and that Chinese kung fu is very powerful. In that respect, he was remarkable."

He Yushui listened quietly, her tears flowing even more fiercely, as if she wanted to release all the grievances and love that she had suppressed in her heart for so many years through these tears. "Then... then do you think he will like me?" She raised her tear-blurred face, looking at He Damin with expectation and deep unease, like a child waiting for a verdict.

He Damin fell silent. How should he answer? To say "yes"? That would be lying to her. To say "no"? That would be too cruel. Looking into Yushui's expectant eyes, he felt a pang in his heart. "I don't know," he said honestly. "Feelings are the most unpredictable thing. But I know, Yushui, you are wonderful, and you deserve to be loved by anyone."

He Yushui wiped her tears haphazardly with the back of her hand, then surprisingly gave He Damin a smile that was even more painful than a grimace. "Uncle, you're always like this. No matter what I do, you always say it's good."

"Because you are good to begin with." He Damin's voice was very gentle.

He Yushui lowered her head and fell silent again. The restaurant fell silent once more. After a while, she took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind. When she raised her head again, her eyes were still red, but her gaze was much clearer, carrying a resolute determination like that of someone who had burned their bridges.

"Uncle, I'm fine." She tried to make her voice sound calm. "I'm really fine. I just... I just like him. Like liking a piece of art I really love, or a really good movie. I don't need his response, and I don't need him to know. I just need to be able to see him from afar, know that he's doing well, and make the movies he likes, that's enough for me."

Looking at her feigned strength, He Damin felt a mix of emotions. He suddenly remembered something Chen Xueru had said last night—women, sometimes, are just that stubborn.

"Rain," he looked at her, his voice growing heavy, "What if... what if one day, he's gone?"

He Yushui's expression froze instantly, as if she had heard something unbelievable. She stared blankly at He Damin, her eyes filled with fear and confusion: "Gone? What do you mean? Uncle, what... what do you mean by that?" Her voice began to tremble.

He Damin didn't answer her question directly. He simply turned his head and looked out the window. Outside, the sun was shining brightly, the sky was azure, and Victoria Harbour was clearly visible in the distance. On the sea, a huge cargo ship was slowly sailing out of the harbor, its stern leaving a long white trail that traced a clear line on the blue sea before slowly spreading and disappearing.

"Uncle!" He Yushui's voice was choked with sobs and filled with anxiety. "Do you know something? Tell me! Do you know something?!"

He Damin slowly turned around, his gaze fixed on her, his eyes filled with complex emotions—heartache, helplessness, and a hint of pity he couldn't quite define. "Rain," his voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable strength, "there are some things I can't say, and I can't explain them clearly. But you must remember, no matter what happens in the future, you have a home. You have your uncle, your aunt, your father, your brother Zhuzi, and all your younger siblings. You are never alone. We will all be by your side."

He Yushui could no longer hold back. Years of pent-up grievances, love, fear, and unease erupted completely at this moment. She threw herself into He Damin's arms, burying her face in his chest as if she had been wronged as a child, and burst into tears. Her sobs contained the secrets of a young girl's heart, the bitterness of unrequited love, and the fear of an unknown fate. He Damin gently patted her back, sighing inwardly.