Side Story: Unspoken Words

Zhou Ziqiu's health has been deteriorating lately, and they both know what that means.

How long have we been together?

On the bed, Zhou Ziqiu asked weakly, his eyes filled with longing.

"It's been twelve years."

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Wen Su held Zhou Ziqiu's hand and gently stroked Zhou Ziqiu's long hair with his other hand.

Twelve years have not left any marks on them. Except at Wen Su’s request, Zhou Ziqiu grew his hair long, which now reaches his waist, with soft strands hanging on the bed sheet.

“It’s been twelve years already…” Zhou Ziqiu smiled. “That’s wonderful.”

“Yes, that’s great,” Wen Su replied.

Last year, Cui Yongle was suddenly diagnosed with cancer and passed away before him. Before he died, he wanted Wen Su to take over, but Wen Su gave it to Glasses. Now, twelve years have passed, Glasses and Fatty have both started families, and Wen Su and Zhou Ziqiu are still running Liaoyuan Pavilion. Now Liaoyuan Pavilion is famous and many people seek its help.

But now, Zhou Ziqiu is also leaving.

Zhou Ziqiu coughed, and black blood came out of his throat. Wen Su was no longer shocked. He skillfully took a tissue and wiped the blood from the corner of Zhou Ziqiu's mouth.

It was a very ordinary action, but Zhou Ziqiu felt a pang of sadness: "Wen Su, I..."

He didn't know if Wen Su knew that he was about to die.

"What's wrong? Do you want some water?"

Wen Su's voice remained gentle, but it immediately choked Zhou Ziqiu's hesitant words, leaving him no choice but to nod and say, "Okay."

Wen Su lowered his head and kissed Zhou Ziqiu's forehead: "Okay, wait for me."

But as Wen Su stood up, Zhou Ziqiu suddenly felt a lightness in his body. He quickly grabbed Wen Su's sleeve and said, "Wen Su, I—"

I might be dying soon.

"What's wrong?" Wen Su asked with a smile, taking Zhou Ziqiu's hand and kissing it. "Why are you being so clingy? Hmm?"

Suddenly, Zhou Ziqiu felt like crying.

He couldn't bear to part with it.

I used to think that exchanging twelve years for a longer life was good enough, but human greed is like a bottomless pit. Once you have the first twelve years, you want a second twelve years.

He couldn't bear to part with it.

Wen Su sighed, then returned to the bedside and gently kissed Zhou Ziqiu's nose: "You..."

Zhou Ziqiu tilted his head slightly, wanting Wen Su to kiss his lips, but Wen Su avoided him. Wen Su looked at him with a smile and said, "Drink some water first."

For some reason, the feeling of lightness in his body became more and more obvious. He swallowed the blood that was about to spill from his throat again, nodded, and smiled as he watched Wen Su leave the bedroom.

My vision is a little blurry, and I'm still a bit sleepy. I'll drink it after I wake up.

Zhou Ziqiu closed his eyes, a smile playing on his lips.

Outside, Wen Su looked at the sky. The daylight was long, but in Wen Su's eyes, the moonlight had become eternal.

In a daze, he was awakened by the wet touch on his hands. He stared blankly at the warm water that had overflowed from the cup but did not turn off the tap until a puddle of water formed at his feet. Only then did he seem to come back to his senses and turn off the tap.

When they returned to the house, Zhou Ziqiu had already closed his eyes and fallen asleep, his face serene.

"Asleep?" Wen Su sat on the edge of the bed, placed the water glass on the bedside table, and then leaned down to kiss Zhou Ziqiu's lips. "Little beauty, you haven't had any water yet."

No one responded to him.

"Alright, you go to sleep first. I'm going to look at the documents. There are still some things to resolve at Liaoyuan Pavilion."

He gently reached out and pressed down on Zhou Ziqiu's hair, then placed a kiss on Zhou Ziqiu's forehead.

"Sleep well, my little beauty."

——

"Where's the boss? Where's the boss?"

The middle-aged fat man asked the man with glasses anxiously, but the man with glasses sat on the sofa without saying a word, his eyes were a little red.

"Tell me! Where's the boss?! How could he disappear on a mission?!"

"Say it!!"

The fat man roared at the top of his lungs, his roar echoing throughout the entire corridor, but seeing that Glasses still didn't speak, he nodded angrily: "Fine, fine, you won't tell me, huh? I'll go find him myself!"

"Just let the eldest go!"

Glasses finally snapped, standing up and grabbing the fat man's collar, but the outburst was followed by a heart-wrenching scream, as if venting his grief.

"Fatty, let's not get involved in this, okay?"

"That's settled then."

——

"We meet again."

Cui Yu smiled as he looked at the person in front of him. His expression remained unchanged, and he was still holding the Book of Life and Death in his arms. One person's name had already been crossed out from it.

"We meet again."

Wen Su replied with a smile.

"How many years has it been? Twelve years, I think," Cui Yu said with a smile.

"Yes, twelve years."

Wen Su replied.

“Alright, since you’re here, I’ll lead the way.” Cui Yu walked toward the Bridge of Helplessness, but after a few steps he realized that Wen Su hadn’t followed. He couldn’t help but laugh and say, “Little General, why aren’t you following? You can cross the Bridge of Helplessness now.”

“But my path isn’t over there.” Wen Su smiled and shook his head, pointing in the opposite direction from the Bridge of Helplessness. “My path is this way.”

Without Cui Yu's interference, he could clearly see that the other side was shrouded in mist. He couldn't see what was inside, only a stillness—a stillness in this underworld, even more still than the silence of death.

"Are you sure that's your path?" Cui Yu's smile remained unchanged. He looked down at the Book of Life and Death. "If you follow me, you'll be reborn into a better family in your next life."

"Thank you." Wen Su said this to Cui Yu for the first time, but he still shook his head under Cui Yu's surprised gaze. "Someone is waiting for me in the fog."

"Is that so?" Cui Yu looked regretful. "Alright, then please go on your way."

Thank you.

Without hesitation, Wen Su turned around, the mist engulfing his figure, and a thick golden light burst forth, the incense filling Cui Yu's nostrils.

Only Cui Yu remained where he was. He looked towards the source of the mist, let out a long sigh, and could no longer maintain his smile, revealing endless exhaustion. Clearly... he was only one step away from returning to the Heavenly Court.

"My dear minister, what's wrong?"

A man appeared beside Cui Yu.

What is love?

Cui Yu asked, stunned.

"Love is a poison, an addictive poison."

——

Deep in the mountains, a dilapidated mansion quietly watches the passage of time and the changing world, yet it remains unchanged. Someone once came to demolish it, but the plan was temporarily shelved due to an unexpected event. So now it can still protect the young man lying in the mansion like a guardian.

There was a lot of blood around the young man's bed, but he was smiling.

He saw it, the person waiting for him in the flower bushes.

I am coming.

Beside the bed, someone's singing began, perhaps to bid farewell to someone, or to praise someone.

The road is long, and so is the sorrow.

Brother, I've been waiting for her all this time.

We fluttered about like bees and butterflies.

"To be inseparable for all eternity"