STT – Chapter 44

Can I hug you?

The driver who was taking Jiang Huaixi and Lu Zizheng to Ji’an parked the car and dutifully transferred the luggage that Lu Zizheng brought into the car’s trunk, ready to depart. Jiang Huaixi turned back and nodded farewell to the Jiang family. Grandma Jiang reluctantly looked at Jiang Huaixi and couldn’t help but ask, “Huaixi, can’t you stay?”

Mother Jiang stood beside Grandma Jiang, looked at Jiang Huaixi’s indifferent face, and snorted displeasedly, saying, “Mom, isn’t this a pointless question?” She clearly still harbored some resentment towards Jiang Huaixi’s stubbornness.

Jiang Huaixi didn’t mind her mother’s words, just smiled, held Grandma Jiang’s hand, and softly instructed, “Grandma, take care of yourself.” Then, showing concern to her mother, who was displeased but couldn’t stop nagging with instructions, she said, “Mom, you too.”

Father Jiang, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, calmly saying, “Grandma, you don’t need to worry, with us here. You take care of yourself, don’t let us worry, understood?”

Jiang Huaixi smiled slightly and nodded.

Grandma Jiang, holding Jiang Huaixi’s hand, sighed deeply and looked towards Lu Zizheng, who was standing not far away, embarrassedly watching them. She gently waved at Lu Zizheng, signaling her to come forward.

Lu Zizheng was slightly stunned, hesitated for a moment, then quickly walked over to stand beside Jiang Huaixi, looking at the elder with puzzlement.

Grandma Jiang reached out with her other hand to pull Lu Zizheng closer, her wide, calloused palm gently holding Lu Zizheng’s tender little hand. She gently patted the back of Lu Zizheng’s hand, turned it over, and placed the hand holding Jiang Huaixi’s hand into Lu Zizheng’s palm, kindly and seriously entrusting Lu Zizheng, “Zizheng, Grandma is entrusting Huaixi to you…”

Jiang Huaixi’s hand trembled imperceptibly, and she frowned, feeling vaguely that Grandma’s words seemed a bit off.

The softness and warmth in her palm warmed Lu Zizheng’s heart. She glanced at Jiang Huaixi, her gaze gentle as water, and solemnly promised Grandma Jiang, “Grandma, rest assured, I will take good care of Huaixi.”

She gently and slowly closed her palm, wrapping Jiang Huaixi’s hand in her own, feeling that Jiang Huaixi did not struggle. Her lips carried a faint smile, and her heart suddenly seemed filled with infinite joy and satisfaction. Life seemed to suddenly have a new mission and meaning, no longer full of emptiness and confusion.

Standing beside Mother Jiang, Jiang Wang found the scene amusing. What was this unbearable atmosphere of marrying off a daughter and sense of déjà vu about? She looked up at the sky, blue as if washed, her eyes carrying a faint smile. This year, which made people busy and hearts restless during winter, was finally really about to be over. Passing by others’ happiness seemed to involuntarily bring some joy as well.

After getting in the car for a short while, Jiang Huaixi appeared somewhat tired and closed her eyes to rest. Seeing this, Lu Zizheng immediately took out a small blanket from her backpack and carefully covered Jiang Huaixi with it, ensuring it was snug.

Jiang Huaixi noticed the movement on her body, opened her slightly drowsy eyes, and said softly with a slight smile, “Thank you.”

Lu Zizheng shook her head and warmly comforted her, saying, “You sleep, I’ll call you when we arrive.”

And then, Jiang Huaixi lightly responded with a sound, and there was no more noise.

Lu Zizheng leaned her head on the car seat back, gazing sideways at Jiang Huaixi’s serene and peaceful sleeping face, feeling a long-unfelt calm and peace in her heart, without the restless violent rage, without heart-wrenching despair and frustration. She silently counted Jiang Huaixi’s peaceful breaths in her heart, imagining her heart beating powerfully in her chest, feeling Jiang Huaixi’s life’s pulse, suddenly feeling like crying, yet wanting to laugh.

Jiang Huaixi must not know just how fortunate she feels, that she ultimately did not lose her. She must also not know just how grateful she is to still be able to hear her reassuring breathing. In this world, what she is reluctant to part with is only Jiang Huaixi. For her, Jiang Huaixi is willing to give up her life, and she, for Jiang Huaixi, for this world’s only attachment, no matter how hard, she is also willing to sustain.

Even if it’s only to be able to see her one more time.

As time slowly passed, and the car moved on, the bustling noisy city gradually retreated from Lu Zizheng’s view, replaced by endless winding mountain roads, one circle after another…

Here, the sky is no longer the kind of grayish blue often seen in the city; it’s a pure azure that Lu Zizheng has never seen before. Here, the wilderness is vast and boundless, filled with vigorous tender green vitality that Lu Zizheng has never witnessed before. Lu Zizheng’s heart seemed to come alive with all of this, vividly beating, and her mind became increasingly clear. Lu Zizheng involuntarily watched, reluctant to withdraw her gaze, unblinkingly looking at the scenery rapidly receding outside the car window.

Jiang Huaixi, at some point, opened her eyes and said faintly to Lu Zizheng, “Ji’an is a very remote small fishing village, and you’ll probably have to become primitive with me. If you regret it now…”

Lu Zizheng faintly smiled, turned back, looked at Jiang Huaixi, and calmly interrupted, “You’re surely going to say, if you regret it now, well, it’s too late.”

Jiang Huaixi raised her eyebrows and lightly curved her lips into a smile, “Oh, when did you come to understand me so well?”

Lu Zizheng remained silent and did not answer.

Jiang Huaixi looked at the increasingly familiar scenery outside the window and narrated, “Many years ago, Dad wanted to develop a leisure resort here. I came with him once, but in the end, this project came to nothing. But I liked it here, liked the simplicity and cleanliness. So later, when there was an opportunity, I stayed here for many years.” The car began to enter the county border, and Jiang Huaixi lowered the car window glass, feeling the salty sea breeze rushing in. She pointed to the sea under the bridge and explained, “Many years ago, this place was originally full of big and small fishing boats, but now most of the men in the villagers’ homes have gone out to work. No one fishes anymore, only the elderly, weak, women, and children remain here, day after day, year after year, living isolated past days.”

Lu Zizheng followed Jiang Huaixi’s gaze outward, seeing only a few old fishing boats moored on the beach, with a few fishermen rolling up their pant legs, bending over to pick something on the beach with green nets on their backs. The seabirds on the beach, in the evening breeze, flew away and came back. Lu Zizheng was dazzled by the harmonious beautiful scenery in front of her eyes, and only the phrase “the setting sun and the solitary duck fly together, the autumn water is the same color as the long sky” surfaced in her mind.

Ji’an Village was getting closer, and the car, after passing a stone tablet carved with the traditional characters “Ji’an,” finally entered the village.

On the way into the village, Lu Zizheng could see from afar, on the pier of the beach, three or two simple fishing boats, with a few old water houses standing there. The sunset’s afterglow cast a charming warm red color on the shimmering sea surface. As the car moved, a winding country path appeared in front of them, connecting simple houses made of stone and brick on both sides. On the muddy ground beside the houses, a few plainly dressed children squatted playing. Seeing Jiang Huaixi and Lu Zizheng pass by, they stood up, eyes wide open, curiously watching them leave.

When passing a small house made of stone, unintentionally, Lu Zizheng saw a little girl with braids, sitting on a small stool, playing a string game with her grandma, while a big yellow dog wagged its tail excitedly, circling around them.

Lu Zizheng looked and looked, finding it hard to look away, her expression filled with longing and anticipation.

Jiang Huaixi looked at Lu Zizheng’s side profile, which was especially gentle under the glow of the sunset. Her slender fingers lightly tapped a few times on her thigh, and with a bit of doubt, she said, “Zizheng, having you come to accompany me, am I forcing you?”

Lu Zizheng, surprised, turned her head to look at Jiang Huaixi, seeing her ask seriously, and couldn’t help but sit up straight to seriously answer her, “How could it be? Don’t think too much.” She looked at the children flying kites on the distant beach, faintly recalling the scene when she sat on her dad’s shoulders flying a paper airplane, and murmured, “I feel that life here, perhaps, will be particularly wonderful.”

Jiang Huaixi slightly smiled, clapped her hands together, raised her eyebrows, and softly suggested, “Then how about this, to put me at ease, from now on, you tell me every day the wonderful aspects of life here. If one day you can’t say it, if you get tired of life here, we’ll go back early.”

Lu Zizheng widened her eyes in surprise, staring at Jiang Huaixi, uncertainly asking, “Are you serious?”

Jiang Huaixi blinked her eyes, lightly curved the corners of her lips, and slyly countered, “Do you think I’m joking with you?”

Lu Zizheng was silent for a moment, turned her head back to look outside the window, and sulkily muttered, “I now suddenly feel that life will not be wonderful at all.”

Jiang Huaixi bent her brows and eyes, very considerately saying, “Then shall we turn around and go back now?”

Lu Zizheng turned her head back, angrily glared at her, lightly huffed, and no longer paid attention to Jiang Huaixi.

Jiang Huaixi knowingly squinted her eyes, with a bit of gentle smile in her expression.

The car finally stopped outside a two-story villa by the sea. The house faced the sea, backed by the mountains, nestled between the mountains and water, and was beautiful, just like a colorful and fresh oil painting by a famous artist.

Hearing the car, an aunt wearing an old-style front-buttoned blue cloth outfit immediately came out from the house, enthusiastically speaking to Jiang Huaixi in the Ji’an dialect: “Child, aunt has finally awaited your arrival. Haven’t seen you for many years, and aunt has missed you…”

Jiang Huaixi smiled and chatted with the aunt for a couple of sentences, then introduced her to Lu Zizheng: “This is Aunt Lin who has been helping me here.” More precisely, she was the helper her parents found for her here, who used to live there when she was young, taking care of her daily meals and everything in her life.

Lu Zizheng politely greeted, “Hello, Aunt Lin.”

Then, Jiang Huaixi blinked her eyes and slyly said to Aunt Lin, “Aunt Lin, this is my sister, Lu Zizheng.”

Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but glare at Jiang Huaixi in surprise, thinking, what sister? Is she taking advantage of her? Speaking of which, she is even older than Jiang Huaixi! But at this moment, she could only silently swallow this dumb loss.

Aunt Lin, hearing this, smiled and replied, “Hello, sister…”

Lu Zizheng truly thought: “…”

After Aunt Lin and Jiang Huaixi carefully explained the storage places of the house’s belongings and some other specific matters, Jiang Huaixi told her not to worry about her and to go back early to have dinner with the children.

Lu Zizheng put the luggage in the living room and couldn’t help but walk towards the spacious wooden decked balcony. She listened to the sound of the rolling waves, watched the tide rise and fall, wave after wave, and looked up at the vast blue sky, feeling like she could reach out and touch the white clouds.

Jiang Huaixi stood by her side, silently accompanying her in the breeze for a while, then urged, “Take your luggage into the room on the left and tidy up a bit; I’ll go prepare dinner.”

Lu Zizheng, feeling uneasy, said, “Let me help you prepare dinner together, okay?”

Jiang Huaixi rubbed her temples, somewhat troubled and seriously said, “Zizheng, I’m hungry, don’t make it difficult for me.”

Lu Zizheng, puzzled, asked, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Huaixi sighed, “I want to eat sooner.” The implication was self-evident.

Lu Zizheng bit her lip, with a dejected face, silently picked up her luggage and entered the room. Hmph, is being able to cook really that amazing?!

The bedroom’s decor was very simple, the most eye-catching aspects were the huge floor-to-ceiling window facing the sea, the huge bed, and the faint smile of Jiang Huaixi in the photo frame on the bedside table.

Lu Zizheng sat at the edge of the bed, picked up the photo frame on the bedside table, and extended her thumb, gently caressing the beautiful face of Jiang Huaixi in the photo. Looking at the blue sea and sky outside the window, she involuntarily became a bit lost in thought.

She was about to start a new life here, wondering if everything could really have some new beginnings. She felt a bit apprehensive, yet also a bit expectant.

In the kitchen, Jiang Huaixi, who was taking out vegetables from the refrigerator and preparing them, suddenly received a phone call. The caller ID showed it was Xu Baihan.

Jiang Huaixi thought Xu Baihan was worried and called to ask if they had safely arrived in Ji’an.

Unexpectedly, Xu Baihan did ask this, but then strangely asked her a series of questions about Jiang Wang.

Jiang Huaixi couldn’t help but ask Xu Baihan, “Senior, why suddenly ask about these?”

In the hospital, after Xu Baihan had nine stitches on her forehead, she drowsily slept and had just woken up. Taking advantage of her mom going back to bring her food, she couldn’t help but call Jiang Huaixi to inquire. Hearing Jiang Huaixi’s question, she lowered her eyes, and after a long time, she honestly said, “Jiang Wang is very much like someone I loved very, very much…”

Jiang Huaixi’s action of washing vegetables with water slightly paused. After a moment of silence, she replied, “Regarding Jiang Wang, actually, I don’t know much either. I only know, about twelve years ago she came to our home when my dad went yacht cruising and accidentally rescued her from the sea. At that time, she woke up and said she remembered nothing. My dad obviously didn’t believe her, and after two days when her health improved a bit, he asked her to go back to find her family, but she refused to leave. She didn’t beg my dad to keep her, just silently squatted outside the hospital, refusing to leave. My mom saw she was born beautiful, with a gentle and cute personality, liked her very much, and felt she must have her reasons for not speaking. Seeing her pitifully staying at the hospital entrance, eating and sleeping in the open, she couldn’t bear it, so she pleaded with my dad to keep her, saying it would be a good deed. Later, she stayed at our home for many years. She eventually needed to go to school, needed to work. My dad later saw she really didn’t want to go home, softened, and let her register a household, so she registered herself a household, with the last name Jiang, first name Wang. Over these years, we haven’t pursued her background any further. Other than that, I don’t know.”

Xu Baihan listened to Jiang Huaixi’s words and instantly felt ecstatic; it’s her, it must be her, it’s Yun Bo. But in the next moment, she felt sorrowful. Yun Bo truly hates her, hates her so much that she’d rather forget everything and not remember again…

She instructed Jiang Huaixi, “Don’t tell Zizheng about this matter yet, don’t let her worry. Wait until everything is confirmed, and then I’ll tell her.”

Jiang Huaixi calmly agreed.

Lu Zizheng finished tidying up the things in the bedroom and then prepared to help Jiang Huaixi in the kitchen, but Jiang Huaixi had already finished and was bringing out the soup. Thus, Lu Zizheng didn’t get a chance to show off and instead ate the first simple dinner in Ji’an.

After eating, Lu Zizheng consciously tidied up the dishes and took them to the kitchen, volunteering, “I’ll wash the dishes.”

Jiang Huaixi looked at Lu Zizheng with a half-smile and teasingly said, “It’s not very convenient here; there are only a few bowls in the cupboard. If they break, in the next few days, we’ll probably have to eat from a big pot.”

Lu Zizheng turned her head to glance at Jiang Huaixi and said dissatisfied, “Are you underestimating me?”

Jiang Huaixi laughed lightly, her dark eyes carrying a bright laughter, and moved a chair to sit at the kitchen door, leisurely saying, “Then I’ll wait and see.”

However, not long after, the sound of chopsticks clattering to the ground came from the kitchen, and Jiang Huaixi’s laughing voice sounded behind Lu Zizheng, “Looks like tomorrow we’ll be eating with our hands.”

Lu Zizheng, annoyed and embarrassed, said, “It’s because you kept watching me and made me nervous. Go take a bath already.”

Jiang Huaixi stood up, stood beside Lu Zizheng, raised her eyebrows, and smoothed Lu Zizheng’s feathers: “Well, actually, there are commendable aspects. Well, this bowl is washed really clean, shiny shiny…” As soon as the words fell, Lu Zizheng’s hand slipped, and the bowl she was washing took a dive, making a particularly loud splash…

Jiang Huaixi couldn’t help but laugh softly.

Lu Zizheng, embarrassed and annoyed, turned back to glare at the gloating Jiang Huaixi, urging her, “Go take a bath!”

Jiang Huaixi just smiled faintly, slightly lowered her eyes, rolled up her sleeves, pushed Lu Zizheng aside, and said, “Alright, let’s wash together. I’ll wash the first pass, and you rinse.” Saying this, she reached into the water, took out the first bowl, and quickly rinsed it, then handed it to Lu Zizheng beside her.

Lu Zizheng watched Jiang Huaixi’s actions, was slightly stunned, then reacted. She reached out, slowly took the bowl, submerged it in water, gently rotated and scrubbed it, retrieved it, rinsed it with water, then turned it upside down to one side… the movements were smooth and efficient.

After washing the eating bowls, it was time to wash the greasy plates. Jiang Huaixi reached out her hand in front of Lu Zizheng, naturally demanding, “Press some dishwashing liquid onto my hand.”

Lu Zizheng immediately cooperated smoothly, reaching for the dishwashing liquid and carefully pressing out a small amount onto Jiang Huaixi’s white and tender palm.

Jiang Huaixi then smiled with satisfaction, turned back, and efficiently started scrubbing.

Lu Zizheng had seen Jiang Huaixi busy in the kitchen before, but at this moment, in such a quiet night, listening to the crashing waves outside the window mingling with the simple sounds of dishes clattering indoors, watching Jiang Huaixi’s figure with rolled-up sleeves under the light, Lu Zizheng suddenly felt her heartbeat skip a beat, unable to look away.

Such days, such scenes made Lu Zizheng feel as if she were in a dream. If she didn’t move her eyes, insisting on not blinking, could she pretend that time would freeze here, and such a scene would always be reflected in her eyes, imprinted in her mind, never passing?

She couldn’t help but feel somewhat sad; in this life, she never wanted much, just for her parents to be alive, her loved one to always be by her side, her to be playful, herself to be laughing, such warmth to live through life would be enough. But it turns out everything most ordinary is actually the hardest to come by…

In the hospital, Xu Baihan’s mother brought food to Xu Baihan, stood by her bed, helped set up a small table, placed the food on it, and carefully opened them one by one for her, gently saying, “You said you wanted to eat something lighter, so I only picked some side dishes you usually love. If you don’t like them, I can go back and change them.”

Xu Baihan gently smiled and shook her head, replying, “Mom, these are all very good. Have you eaten?”

Mother Xu nodded, “I have eaten, you eat quickly, don’t let it get cold.” Then, she saw Xu Baihan taking a few small bites, then putting down her chopsticks, and couldn’t help but urge, “Just eating this little? Eat some more.”

Xu Baihan looked at Mother Xu’s expectant face and reluctantly ate two more bites.

Mother Xu looked at Xu Baihan’s haggard and exhausted appearance, hesitated repeatedly, but still carefully asked, “Baihan, in a few days, would you go with Mom to see Doctor Zhou?” She looked at Xu Baihan, with some pleading in her eyes.

After stitching, Xu Baihan fell asleep from exhaustion, and Mother Xu stayed by her bedside, lovingly watching her, waiting for her to wake up. In just a short hour of sleep, she heard Xu Baihan call out “Yun Bo, Yun Bo” hundreds of times, and couldn’t help but have slightly moist eyes.

She knew Xu Baihan was deeply thoughtful, and the events of that year had a great impact on her; these years, she had not had a good day. She and her father respected her wishes, not forcing Xu Baihan to go abroad to treat her leg; if this could really make her feel a little less guilty, a little better, she also felt that all the sacrifices were worth it.

But the situation seemed not to be like this. In the past two years, Xu Baihan seemed to become more and more depressed. To outsiders, it seemed like everything was as usual, but she could see that her genuine smiles were becoming less and less, and even the magazine she started against everyone’s opposition, working tirelessly, she was unwilling to manage. Coupled with this incident, Mother Xu couldn’t help but feel some fear. So many years had passed, she couldn’t untie Xu Baihan’s heart knot, couldn’t help her in any way, so she could only love her with the utmost care and indulgence, hoping to make her feel a little better. But now she found that the situation had not only not improved, but seemed to have become increasingly severe. It couldn’t continue like this. She had a feeling of panic that she was about to lose her, weighing down on her so she could hardly breathe.

Doctor Zhou was the psychologist at the Xu family’s hospital. Xu Baihan knew her mother’s intention, that her mother finally couldn’t hold back, couldn’t wait any longer. But she knew that the knot in her heart could only be untied by Yun Bo. In this life, if Yun Bo never returned, never helped her untie this knot, then let her leave with this knot intact. Perhaps, this was the only way she could remember Yun Bo, engraved in her heart, integrated into her life, never to be erased.

Fortunately, Yun Bo. is still there, she has returned.

Xu Baihan shook her head, firmly refusing her mother, said, “Mom, I will not go. In a few days, I am going to Linzhou, can you help me contact the housekeeper and driver there?”

Yun Bo, wait for me, believe me, this time, I definitely will not let you be disappointed.

I don’t want the whole world anymore; what I want is only you.

I love you.

Lu Zizheng finished bathing and sat on the bed in pajamas, hesitating about what to do next, whether to wait in the room for Jiang Huaixi to finish bathing and come out to say goodnight, or to go directly to the living room to wait for her to come out.

While hesitating, she heard the door being gently knocked. She quickly ran to the door wearing cotton slippers, opened the door, and saw Jiang Huaixi only wearing a nightgown, with a large robe over it, with some faint visible moisture under her neck, her graceful figure faintly visible.

Lu Zizheng inadvertently glanced quickly, her face slightly warmed up, and she immediately turned her eyes away, not daring to look again.

Jiang Huaixi walked into the room, sat on the bed, looked at Lu Zizheng who was stunned by the door, raised her eyebrows with a half-smile, and said, “Your face is so red, did you accidentally see something you shouldn’t have?”

Lu Zizheng’s face immediately turned even redder. She cleared her throat, did not answer Jiang Huaixi, and changed the topic by asking, “It’s so late, is there something you need?”

Jiang Huaixi took off the robe, climbed onto the bed, got into the quilt, leaned on the bed, slightly curled her lips, and answered casually, “Nothing much, just going to sleep.”

Lu Zizheng was stunned, looking at Jiang Huaixi lying on the bed, momentarily unable to react, exclaimed in surprise, “You’re sleeping with me?”

Jiang Huaixi brushed the fine bangs blocking her eyes, raised an eyebrow, and asked in return, “There’s only one bed here; otherwise, do you want me to sleep on the floor?” Actually, there was originally another bed in this guest room, and she specifically instructed Aunt Lin to have it moved away. She was afraid that in such a strange night, Lu Zizheng might not be able to resist crying in loneliness, and how could she helplessly watch such a possibility happen? She could only prevent all potential situations.

Lu Zizheng grabbed her own hair, still in shock, responded dazedly, “No, of course not, it’s just…”

Jiang Huaixi smiled with satisfaction, waved her hand, and said pleasantly, “Well, nothing ‘just,’ then come over, let’s sleep, I’m sleepy.”

Lu Zizheng moved step by step to the bedside, hesitated for a while, then lifted a corner of the quilt, quickly got in, and then stayed motionless on the edge of the bed, not daring to move an inch. It wasn’t that she had never slept in the same bed with Jiang Huaixi, but sleeping under the same quilt was the first time.

Jiang Huaixi saw Lu Zizheng’s awkwardness, but said nothing, just knowingly smiled silently, then reached out her hand, with a click, turned off the room’s light, leaving a silent darkness.

Lu Zizheng already found it difficult to fall asleep, and changing to a new environment, coupled with an uncomfortable sleeping position, she naturally couldn’t fall asleep, only unable to resist gently tossing and turning to make herself more comfortable.

She heard, outside the window, the sea breeze blowing, the waves, one after another, lapping against the shore, making a rustling sound, one sound, and another sound… her heart, from the initial restless anxiety, to now, slowly calmed down…

She once again gently turned over, listening to Jiang Huaixi’s gentle breathing beside her, unable to resist wanting to use the moonlight to take a look at Jiang Huaixi, who was so close.

Not wanting to, she had just turned over to look at Jiang Huaixi and met Jiang Huaixi’s gaze directly. Jiang Huaixi’s bright black eyes, at this moment in the dim night, were more dazzling and charming than the stars in the night sky.

Jiang Huaixi lightly asked her, “Can’t sleep?”

Lu Zizheng only bit her lip, embarrassedly replied softly, “Yes, a little.”

Jiang Huaixi lightly laughed, not believing, “Only a little? I counted, you turned over thirty-six times.”

Lu Zizheng immediately blushed, “You were counting the whole time? Did I disturb you?”

Jiang Huaixi did not answer her, but suddenly sat up and bent down.

Lu Zizheng heard the drawer being pulled open and then the sound of it being closed. Then, Jiang Huaixi lay down again and handed her something cold and somewhat rough.

Lu Zizheng took it, raised her hand, placed it in front of her eyes, and carefully examined it in the moonlight, only to find that it was a conch. She withdrew her hand, somewhat puzzled, and looked at Jiang Huaixi.

Jiang Huaixi turned her face, looked at the conch in Lu Zizheng’s hand, and said lightly, “This is the conch my mom gave me when I first left home to come here. She told me that when I can’t sleep at night, I should put it by my ear, and it will sing for me.”

In the haze, Lu Zizheng carefully examined and explored the conch, confirming that it was just an ordinary conch.

Jiang Huaixi looked at her actions and softly laughed, saying, “It’s just an ordinary conch, but it really can sing.” At that time, every night she had insomnia, she would hold the conch to her ear, and then she would hear her younger brother gently humming that song beside her ear, just like when he came back excitedly from kindergarten and sang it to her: “Sister, sister, today I learned a new song, I’ll sing it for you, okay… listen…” She was always able to fall asleep peacefully while quietly listening with the conch in her arms…

Lu Zizheng, however, frowned and resolutely said, “You’re lying.”

Jiang Huaixi smiled faintly, “If you don’t believe it, close your eyes, cover your left ear, put the conch on your right ear, and listen carefully.”

Lu Zizheng was skeptical, suspiciously staring at Jiang Huaixi. But Jiang Huaixi suddenly reached out her hand, and the next second, her slightly cold hand fell on Lu Zizheng’s eyes. In the darkness, Lu Zizheng heard her voice, with a bit of warm gentleness, “Trust me, be good.”

Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but bend her eyebrows slightly, revealing a faint smile. She stretched out her left hand from the quilt, gently covered her left ear, then placed the conch on her right ear, the side closer to Jiang Huaixi, and really closed her eyes, seriously listening.

Jiang Huaixi looked at Lu Zizheng’s actions, withdrew the hand covering Lu Zizheng’s eyes, and the corner of her lips curved into a charming arc.

In the darkness, Lu Zizheng still only heard the whistling sea breeze and the roaring crashing waves. Somewhat puzzled, she complained to Jiang Huaixi, “I didn’t hear anything, you’re lying…”

Jiang Huaixi did not answer her.

Lu Zizheng, puzzled, waited a little longer, and just when she was about to open her eyes and give up, her right ear, covered by the conch, finally heard the warm, gentle singing, melodious and lingering, softly singing: “The dark sky droops low, the bright stars accompany. Fireflies fly, fireflies fly, who are you missing. The stars in the sky cry, the roses on the ground wither, the cold wind blows, the cold wind blows. As long as you’re with me…”

In an instant, Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but open her eyes and turned to look at Jiang Huaixi. She only saw Jiang Huaixi with her eyes closed, her beautiful thin lips gently opening and closing, with the wonderful singing coming out with each movement of her lips. The gentle moonlight cast a layer of holy, gentle gauze over Jiang Huaixi’s beautiful face, making her even more enchanting and mesmerizing…

Lu Zizheng opened her eyes, unblinkingly looking at Jiang Huaixi, feeling as if something in her heart was about to overflow.

“The cold wind blows, the cold wind blows. As long as you’re with me…” As the song ended, Jiang Huaixi opened her eyes, intensely looking at Lu Zizheng and said, “Zizheng, I will never deceive you.” After speaking, she turned her body, with her back facing Lu Zizheng, and said softly, “Sleep, Zizheng, good night.”

Lu Zizheng, however, fumbled and moved under the blanket, getting closer to Jiang Huaixi. After hesitating for a long time, she gently asked Jiang Huaixi, “Huaixi, can I hold you?”

She felt Jiang Huaixi’s body slightly stiffen, and then, for a long while, there was no sound, as if she had fallen asleep.

Lu Zizheng slightly smiled, suddenly gaining infinite courage, and without an answer, she took it as Jiang Huaixi tacitly agreeing. She turned to press against Jiang Huaixi’s back, gently wrapping her hand around Jiang Huaixi’s waist, sharing the same pillow with Jiang Huaixi, and buried her face in Jiang Huaixi’s fragrant black hair.

Feeling the gentle body temperature of Jiang Huaixi in her embrace, Lu Zizheng clearly felt that the missing part of her life seemed to be perfectly filled, and she heard a satisfied sigh from within her heart.

With all her heart’s softness and longing, she gently rubbed her face against Jiang Huaixi’s hair and softly spoke beside her ear, “Huaixi, I’ve thought of how to answer today’s task you set. I was very happy here today because you were always by my side, always, always… Huaixi, good night.”

She didn’t know how long it had been until she heard the steady and rhythmic breathing from behind, confirming that Lu Zizheng had fallen asleep. Only then did Jiang Huaixi move her half-numb body with difficulty, gently turning to face Lu Zizheng. Her eyes, softer than the moonlight, carefully traced Lu Zizheng’s serene face, full of love and affection.

Jiang Huaixi bitterly smiled in her heart: Now, the one who will have insomnia is herself.

But seeing Lu Zizheng no longer frowning, with the corners of her lips curved in a smile even in her dreams, she only felt her heart full of sweetness and joy. She leaned closer to Lu Zizheng, gently planted a kiss on her forehead, and silently said to her, “Zizheng, I love you, good night, sweet dreams.”

Outside the window, the sound of the waves remained, and the moonlight was gently just right.

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LP: Re-translated on September 04, 2024

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