Life is Like a Journey – Chapter 107
by Little PandaVolume 3: Transition
The Newlyweds
Designated Guardian
As soon as Xu Qiankun’s funeral ended, it felt like completing a major task, and her heart felt much lighter. Yu Gui sat on the swaying bus returning to the city center. There were few people on the bus, and she sat in the last row, resting her chin while watching the scenery outside.
The cement road stretched straight ahead, with evergreen pine and cypress trees, and mountain villagers from nearby walked past in twos and threes, carrying hoes.
She remembered what Lu Qingshi had said before leaving: “In life, everything except life and death is a small matter.”
The young person closed her eyes slightly, as December sunlight slanted in through the glass window.
She sat up straight and got off at the next stop.
“Haven’t seen you in a long time! Here, 10 yuan, and I’ll give you two apples too.” The fruit vendor at the bottom of the building was still kind and enthusiastic. Yu Gui felt somewhat embarrassed, and only accepted after declining several times, then carried the fruit upstairs.
She just wanted to check on home, but didn’t expect she would be home too.
Fang Zhiyou was wearing an apron cooking by the stove, putting some noodles into the pot. When she turned around and saw her standing at the door, immense joy welled up in her eyes.
“Xiaogui, you’re back?! Wait a moment, I’ll make something else for you to eat.”
She said while wiping her hands on her apron, preparing to open the refrigerator door, which was added at some unknown time, perhaps during the period when she hadn’t been home.
The familiar and warm tone instantly pulled her back to countless days of living together, when she would return late every night, and Fang Zhiyou would always keep a light on waiting for her to come home, preventing her from losing her way home in this noisy city.
In an instant, the pain was drawn away, warmth rolled up in her heart. Yu Gui blinked her eyes, forcing back tears.
“No need to go to such trouble, I’ll eat noodles with you.”
As she spoke, she put down her keys and fruit, held onto the doorframe to change shoes. White cat-pattern slippers were quietly placed there, with another pair of the same style but different color on Fang Zhiyou’s feet.
They were bought together on their first day of living together – this kind of small detail made Yu Gui feel both emotional and warm.
Teacher Lu was right, everything except life and death is a small matter. After seeing so much separation and death, shouldn’t we cherish the present?
She was still alive, healthy and safe. Fang Zhiyou was also still alive. Although life had some disappointments, compared to the deceased He Miaomiao, Xu Qiankun… and Teacher Lu who might never wake up again after closing her eyes, she and Zhiyou were already much more fortunate.
Yu Gui felt somewhat guilty about her recent coldness, and voluntarily rolled up her sleeves to wash her hands: “I’ll prepare the seasonings.”
Tender green scallions, snow-white minced garlic, plus bright red chilies, mixed with soy sauce, sprinkled on the steaming hot noodles, the aroma was enticing.
Neither mentioned An Ran, and they ate a peaceful and quiet dinner.
After dinner, Yu Gui went to take a bath. Fang Zhiyou thought she was leaving and quickly stood up from the sofa: “Xiaogui, I…”
The reluctance in her eyes was too obvious. Yu Gui smiled: “Where are my pajamas? I want to take a bath.”
Fang Zhiyou dug them out from the wardrobe for her. During the time she wasn’t home, she had also thought about many things – it takes two hands to clap [both sides share responsibility], and she wasn’t completely innocent either.
But she could be certain of her feelings – she liked Yu Gui, had liked her since she was fourteen, even when they argued, gave each other the cold shoulder, or were stubborn with each other, she still liked her.
In any case, physical reactions don’t lie. When she carefully leaned closer, their noses touching, gazes intertwined, her eyes overflowed with tiny fragments of light – tenderness, attachment, and unwillingness to part.
“I’m sorry”
“I’m sorry”
The two unexpectedly spoke at the same time, then burst into laughter. Fang Zhiyou pulled her into her arms, nuzzling her forehead with her chin, smelling the familiar fragrance, and tightened her embracing arms a bit more.
“Xiaogui, from now on I’ll wash the dishes right after meals, if you don’t like me smoking I’ll quit, I’ll clean regularly, and won’t let the house get messy anymore. Will you… not leave me?”
She buried her head in the crook of her neck, her voice trembling slightly, her warm breath tickling against her ear.
“In the whole world… you’re my only family now.”
Yu Gui’s heart was melting, a surge of warmth rushed to her eyes. She sniffed and held her face, carefully studying her eyebrows and eyes.
At fourteen, she had been stern yet kind, like winter sunlight, bringing hope to her when she was in despair.
It was she who told her: “Love is not a sin.”
That was Yu Gui’s first awakening about love in her life.
She still remembered it now – that dusk, that sunset, that camphor tree grove, those words, that rebellious teenager who would throw her backpack over her shoulder and never zip up her school uniform.
This was the person she had loved since her youth, and they had already become an inseparable whole.
This love was profound, intense, burning hot…
Yu Gui tremblingly kissed her lips.
Fang Zhiyou responded passionately, giving and taking, their breaths intertwining, their gradually rising body temperature brewing desire/passion [censored content indicated by / in original].
Yu Gui tilted her head back breathing heavily.
“Mmm…” she bit her lower lip tightly.
Outside the window, the moon rose, tree shadows swayed, heavy breathing and intimate sounds intertwined, forming a perfectly harmonious sonata.
Until the melody was interrupted by urgent ringing. Yu Gui fell from the clouds [brought back to reality], reached out her snow-white arm to feel for the phone on the bedside table. Fang Zhiyou was the first to answer.
She had already sat up: “Hello?”
Her flushed face turned deathly pale, covering the receiver: “Xiaogui, Ranran… isn’t going to make it.”
The warmth drained away. In the room without heating, it was damp and cold. Yu Gui pulled the blanket to cover herself. Fang Zhiyou left in such a hurry she didn’t even take her phone.
Her gaze fell from the moonlight outside to her fair calves. She supported her forehead in thought for a while, pressed her lips together, with an expression between crying and not crying.
In just ten minutes, her body had become completely cold. Yu Gui shivering put on clothes and got out of bed, picked up her keys, and quietly closed the door.
It wasn’t easy to get a taxi late at night, so Yu Gui rode a bicycle to the hospital. By the time she parked the bike and ran to the neurosurgery floor, she was covered in light sweat, the alternating hot and cold making her feel uncomfortable.
She leaned on the triage counter and asked: “How is An Ran from your department doing?”
The nurse, seeing a familiar face, said a bit more: “She’s on ECMO [life support machine], it’s just a matter of time now.”
Yu Gui nodded, hung up her badge and walked in. The nurse, seeing her hurried steps, gossiped a bit: “Doctor Yu must be related to her somehow, I see you running here often.”
Yu Gui gave a bitter smile, didn’t say anything, just waved her hand and ran into the ICU.
An Ran’s mother had just fainted once, and was helped out by An Ran’s father and several medical staff. At this moment, only she and Fang Zhiyou remained in the hospital room.
The illness progressed quickly – she could no longer move or eat, relying on nutrient solution each day to maintain her body’s needs.
The bright-eyed, white-toothed [vibrant and healthy] girl from their first meeting was still deeply imprinted in her mind, but now she had become so thin she was barely recognizable. Fang Zhiyou lowered her head and held her hand.
“I’m sorry… for making you watch such a pitiful sight…” Her breath was feeble, only her eyes remained clear and bright, carrying a faint smile.
Fang Zhiyou knew she didn’t have much time left. She didn’t have many friends – from online to real life, An Ran’s appearance had been another warm companionship besides Yu Gui.
The young person choked up for a moment, tears falling on the back of her hand, unable to speak.
Separated by a pane of glass, Yu Gui watched quietly. Moonlight spilled over them, over their clasped hands, the young person’s soft sobbing, the young girl’s quiet comfort.
This scene was so beautiful, so beautiful that she couldn’t bear to disturb it, and didn’t have the courage to interrupt. She could only silently let her eyes redden and her lips tremble.
“Is there… anything else you want to do? Whatever I can do… anything… I can do it with you…”
“I want to play the game one more time…” An Ran tilted her head to look at her, her gaze gentle and peaceful. She looked at the girl in the white sweatshirt before her, and gradually, she merged with the white-robed swordsman from the game.
“Go… go to the Bashu [ancient name for Sichuan region] observatory to look… the stars there are so beautiful…”
That was also where they first met. There, she had seen the most beautiful stars, set off the most beautiful fireworks, and danced a beautiful dance.
Memories came flooding back.
Fang Zhiyou covered her lips with her hand. After forcing herself to maintain control for a moment, she finally managed to complete her next words: “When I get home, I’ll send you screenshots.”
“Okay…” An Ran smiled gently, her eyes bright like stars.
“Also… also want to… to see… see you all… win… win the national championship…” Her fingers gripped tightly, and Fang Zhiyou gripped back.
“Actually… I don’t want to go to Tsinghua University… I want to be… be an esports player… a professional one… but… but… Mom and Dad… never agreed… though now it… doesn’t matter anymore…”
After saying these words, she closed her eyes for a moment, seeming somewhat at peace, but Fang Zhiyou knew that if she were truly at peace, she wouldn’t be crying.
“It’s okay,” she sniffed, patted her chest, and declared solemnly: “My dream used to be becoming a pilot, but now I’ve changed my mind. It seems I can’t do anything except play games. The dream you didn’t get to fulfill, I’ll inherit it for you. Believe in us, we’ll definitely win the national championship!”
The young girl seemed moved by her blind confidence, smiled through tears, but quickly began coughing, with breathing sounds like a bellows.
Fang Zhiyou helped her regulate her breathing, and tucked in her blanket corners. Her gaze fell from the brilliant lights outside the window back to her face, and she softly said something.
“What?” She hadn’t heard clearly, so leaned down to listen.
Warm breath tickled against her ear.
She said: “I’ve never… been in love before.”
Yu Gui turned to leave, wiped her eye corner with her clean sleeve, walked to the triage counter and said goodbye to the nurse: “I’m going!”
The young nurse stood up: “Hey, Doctor Yu, the elevator is that way.”
“No need, I’m in a hurry!” Yu Gui’s silhouette had already disappeared into the fire escape.
When no one was around, halfway up the sixteen floors, the delayed-action light went out. In the pitch-black stairwell, only the green light from the emergency exit sign glowed. She sat down with heavy breathing, burying her face in her palms.
“Ms. Lu Qingshi,” the doctor with the cold expression nodded.
“Ms. Gu Yanzhi?” The formally dressed staff member asked with a slightly questioning tone. Gu Yanzhi instinctively straightened her back and nodded.
“Good, please sign here, and after signing, press your fingerprint.”
The black and white agreement was in duplicate. After Lu Qingshi signed her part, she passed it over. She lightly pressed her fingerprint and handed it to the staff member to stamp with the official seal.
The agreement took effect from this moment. Even after walking arm in arm out of the notary office’s doors, Gu Yanzhi still hadn’t quite processed it. From today, no, from just now, they were each other’s legal guardians?
Lu Qingshi glanced at her: “Having regrets?”
The plain-spoken fire safety instructor quickly shook her head, gripping her hand tighter: “No, no, no, it’s my honor.”
Early in the morning, both of them coincidentally took out formal wear from their closets. She put on a tie and used hair gel to style her hair, while Lu Qingshi applied light makeup and put up her long hair, revealing her fair neck. After getting ready, they were both startled looking at each other, then broke into smiles.
Lu Qingshi was ultimately shy – even when getting her marriage certificate back then, she hadn’t been this formal. Her ears grew hot, two patches of red appearing on her fair face, making the other want to go over and kiss her. They took their time getting ready before finally heading out.
Now walking hand in hand together, it felt like being newlyweds. Although there were no guests or banquet, from now on they would be the most important person in each other’s lives.
The two discussed where to eat. Lu Qingshi said anywhere was fine, but she said no, let’s buy ingredients and cook at home, it would be more reliable. The sunlight was just right, so they decided to walk down the long street.
Near the New Year, the streets were decorated festively everywhere. Children were playing football in the park, elderly groups were playing chess in pavilions, and young men and women exercising would occasionally run past them.
Gu Yanzhi led her up onto the river embankment. Jinzhou City was built among mountains and waters. Small pieces of ice floated on the river’s surface, and under the cloudless sky, the sunlight made everything gleam white.
After walking for a while, Lu Qingshi got a bit tired. They found some steps to sit on. Gu Yanzhi didn’t let go of her hand, her long legs stretched out over the lower steps.
She turned to look at her – her chestnut hair appeared darker in the sunlight, her face had fine down, and her slightly curved lips hadn’t dropped since being together. When she noticed her gaze, she turned and gave her a brilliant smile.
Her whole heart warmed up, and Lu Qingshi also gave a very slight smile.
She touched her nose, feeling a bit embarrassed: “I thought when you rejected my proposal, it meant you didn’t want to be with me.”
Lu Qingshi gently shook her head. When facing her, her expression was always soft and peaceful, completely different from when she was at the operating table.
“I just felt that a foreign marriage certificate has no legal meaning in China.”
Like last time when she was seriously injured and her grandfather almost removed her tubes – in these special situations, no one had the authority to make decisions. But after signing the agreement, designating each other as appointed guardians, they would have rights equal to family members. This was the answer Lu Qingshi received after consulting several lawyers.
Of course, if anything unfortunate happened to her, Gu Yanzhi would receive all her inheritance – this was written in another will, but she couldn’t let her know about that yet.
Gu Yanzhi gently put her arm around her shoulders, letting her lean against herself: “In my heart, you’re greater than all meanings.”
Lu Qingshi smiled, still blushing at her direct expression: “Where did you learn these flirtatious words?”
“Do I need to learn? They just come naturally when I’m with you.”
Gu Yanzhi said casually, while making faces at her. The doctor seemed to recall some embarrassing memory, blushed slightly, and pinched her arm.
The fire safety instructor retaliated by tickling her armpit. The two played around together, Lu Qingshi swaying back and forth, being held in her arms, small stones rolling down from under her feet.
“Careful.”
Their noses touched.
Lu Qingshi moved her gaze away: “Put me down, I have something to give you.”
“Won’t let go. Whatever it is, give it to me like this.” Gu Yanzhi persisted, while people walking in the park looked their way.
Lu Qingshi lowered her gaze, and it wasn’t clear if her face was red from the sunlight or if she was truly shy.
“There are people…”
“Let them look, there’s nothing new under the sun,” the fire safety instructor said with complete openness, rubbing her forehead against her head again.
“Besides, Jinzhou City has over a million people, they won’t remember even if they see.”
Lu Qingshi shook her head slightly, but a smile played at her lips: “You really are…”
When she looked up again, the few people who had been watching them showed no discrimination in their eyes, mostly just curiosity.
Some people walked past them without a sideways glance, and one young girl gave them a thumbs up, meaning, ‘How brave!’
Lu Qingshi broke into a smile, but still got down from her embrace, opened her bag, and handed her a set of keys.
The keys weren’t anything special – she saw the house key every day. What was special was the keychain hanging on the key ring.
Unlike common acrylic keychains, this one was made of soft leather, with images hand-drawn by Lu Qingshi and then custom-made by a manufacturer – a cat and a dog, looking adorably silly.
They each had one – Gu Yanzhi’s was French Fries, hers was a Hamburger, and when put together they formed a complete picture.
Gu Yanzhi held her heartfelt gift, both surprised and delighted, speechless for a long while.
“I…”
If there weren’t people around, she really would have wanted to give her a big kiss.
Lu Qingshi lowered her eyes and smiled softly. Although spring hadn’t arrived yet, she felt as if flowers were blooming all over her world, waves of warmth flowing through her chest.
“Do you like it?”
Gu Yanzhi held it tightly in her palm, nodding solemnly: “Yes! I’ll always keep it with me, never taking it off for my whole life, no… even in the next life I’ll wear it. This is our mark, I’ll use this to find you, and when that time comes, you can’t deny me.”
Lu Qingshi smiled, though her nose felt a bit tingly: “You silly person.”
There wasn’t much to see in the winter park, but they sat side by side for a long time, talking about everything. Though Lu Qingshi wasn’t usually talkative, she seemed to have endless topics with her.
The conversation drifted to the topic of housing, and she suddenly said: “Oh right, I added your name to the property deed.”
Gu Yanzhi almost choked on her own saliva: “What a coincidence?! I did too!”
The two laughed together.
This apartment in Jinzhou City was rented, but she had two elevator apartments and shops in her hometown. When she went back for a mission last time, she took care of this matter. Though not worth much, it was her gesture of sincerity.
But since Lu Qingshi had also added her name to her property, the fire safety instructor scratched her head, somewhat troubled: “How about… we sell the hometown houses and buy a bigger one here in Jinzhou?”
“Why need such a big place? As long as it’s enough to live in.”
She thought their current three-bedroom, two-living room apartment was just right for two people, one cat, and one dog – too big would feel empty.
“Hmm…” Gu Yanzhi’s eyes rolled thoughtfully, her amber pupils gleaming. She became momentarily mesmerized, then was pulled close as the other whispered in her ear.
“I want to have a child with you.”
Lu Qingshi’s face turned red instantly, and she pushed her away and started walking.
Gu Yanzhi immediately chased after her, chattering non-stop: “Medical technology is so advanced now, test-tube babies aren’t a problem at all. If you don’t want to carry it, I can! How about it? We can even choose from North American sperm banks! A mixed-race baby with blue eyes would be so cute!”
“Hey?”
“Hey hey hey… Qingshi, wait for me!”
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