We’ll Never Let You Go
They say that the longer a couple be together, the more they look like each other.
Rio and Yuji already appeared in our view long before we knocked on the door, both of them in the yukata, a traditional Japanese cloth worn in summer, and waving at us through the kitchen windows.
We were not surprised to see various tea utensils, as we knew that they are Japanese Tea Ceremony practitioners, but we were stunned to see how much vintage furniture they’ve got.
Old-market lovers. So are we.
It was not until this moment that we realized how much their yukatas matched each other – seaweed green and ocean blue.
We’d rather say - seaweed embraced by the ocean.
A book on the sideboard immediately caught our eyes – a book about the connection of tea with Zen, which Zixi has read as well.
They enjoy reading a book together and taking notes. They openly exchange ideas even though it can be opposing opinions sometimes. We simply loved to see these little things in their life.
Set up a couple of days ago, their Christmas tree now has been perfected with a number of gingerbread they made at home.
Decorating Christmas tree is probably one of the most lovely ways for an adult to temporarily forget the fact that s/he is an adult.
Isn’t it romantic to do this with the one who has left everything behind and followed you everywhere you go?
Matcha, the dog who stays with them at the moment, was an unexpected and extra joy of the day. In his eyes, we saw not only extreme adorability, but also intense trust towards the two human beings who are not his owners but unconditionally love him.
This just deepened our love for dogs, hopelessly.
There’s a word in Japanese, called en (縁), which we don’t think has an equivalent word in English. It can’t be defined, because what it connotes is deep and beautiful.
It describes a kind of bond that is beyond all external factors, like bloodline, nationality, race, age, and gender. It can’t be explained or even aware of.
Between Rio and Yuji, there is en. Between them and Matcha, there is en. Between the three of them and us, there is en.
Thank you for immersing us in the love among you. This is the best Christmas gift we’ve ever had.
Mengci & Zixi
23 December 2025