Chapter Four: The Testimony of Silence

Five days before the wedding, Zhou Xubai was making noodles. He always curled the fingers of his left hand while chopping scallions. Watching from the doorway, Lin Wan realized she could not know whether the habit came from three years together or from the book's idea of a dependable fiancé. “What would you do,” she asked, “if you learned the reason we fell in love wasn't real?” The knife stopped. “A reason can be false. What happened afterward can't be.” He did not turn. “At least my standing here today is real.” She listened. Inside him, snow continued to fall in perfect silence. “Do you know what happened with Iceland?” “No.” His answer came too quickly.