Chapter 74 Only with you, Bai…

Seeing that Ning Jiu was saying these things to comfort him, Qiao Bolin's expression became somewhat helpless.

“Ning Jiu, you’re serious.” He squeezed her hand. “Or, I’ll go with you.”

“But this is just a regular event, there’s really nothing for me to deal with.” He frowned slightly, and Ning Jiu added, “I’m just going out for a bit, I’ll be back soon. We can’t be together all the time.”

Qiao Bailin will have to get used to it. They can't be together all the time. No matter how close they are, they need some space of their own.

Seeing his worried look, Ning Jiu changed her words, unable to suppress a smile in her eyes.

"Or... I'll call you first when I'm almost better, okay?"

As she spoke, she leaned closer, her lips almost brushing against his chin, her breath falling on his neck. He almost reflexively wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Don't worry, I won't run around."

Qiao Bolin's Adam's apple bobbed, and his breath almost touched hers, but he ultimately did not refute her.

Is this the default setting?

If Pei Yueli were there, she would surely laugh at her for being spineless, like a kitten that has been stamped with a seal.

Ning Jiu hugged him even tighter, looked up and pecked his chin a few times, laughing softly: "If you keep a straight face, I won't kiss you."

Qiao Bolin was so amused by her actions that he gasped for breath. He couldn't help but loosen his lips, let out a soft sigh of compromise, bent down and gave her a deep, lingering kiss before reluctantly letting her go.

After finally calming Qiao Bolin down, Ning Jiu felt much better. When she found the car based on the license plate number sent by Gu Ji, she found that the snowboard, helmet, and goggles were all there in the back seat, and even the spare gloves were neatly folded on the seat. She thought to herself that Gu Ji had been busy taking care of everything all the way, and he must have worked really hard.

The ski resort is located halfway up the mountain. The SUV winds its way up the road specially built for skiers, making a soft crunching sound as the wheels roll over the thick snow. The cliffs on both sides are towering, covered with a thin layer of frost and snow. Occasionally, a few mountain birds are startled from the branches, flapping their wings and skimming across the sky, with snowflakes flying in the sunlight.

People are always excited when they see something different from their daily lives.

Although she had been in Santiago for several days, this was the first time she had been so close to the snow-capped mountain, and Ning Jiu felt a surge of inexplicable joy.

As they climbed up the snow ridge, the wind picked up, howling through the valley. When Ning Jiu looked up, she suddenly saw a half-timbered railing leaning precariously on the edge of the snow cliff ahead, with a red safety belt hanging from the sheet metal, fluttering in the wind.

"That looks like a dismantled fence." She squinted, somewhat surprised.

Gu Ji followed her gaze and looked over: "The crew probably didn't have time to dismantle it when they left. It must have been used for reinforcement during filming."

Upon arriving at the venue, several members had already changed into their gear and rushed onto the slope. As soon as the skis entered the slope, the wind rushed past their ears. Ning Jiu almost couldn't stop when she first skied down and was about to crash into the snowdrift when a member of her group grabbed her. The two of them fell together, laughing so hard they couldn't catch their breath.

I took out my phone to take a picture, and when the screen lit up, I saw a message from Pei Yueli saying that she would be there soon.

Ning Jiu's fingertips paused, and just as the corners of her lips were about to turn up, she suddenly heard a soft gasp.

It is Gu Ji.

She had just made a sharp turn at the bottom of the slope, and the edge of her skis seemed to have been grazed by the metal buckles hidden under the snow. She was now bent over, with one hand on her knee and the other hand unconsciously pressed against her calf, a hint of red showing through her fingers.

Ning Jiu slid in the direction she was going.

"What’s wrong with you?"

Gu Ji looked up, her face still bearing that half-embarrassment, half-smile, expression from before, and her voice was a little softer.

"It's nothing, it was probably just a cut from a ski clip, it's not deep."

Gu Ji was injured above her ankle. The cut was not deep, but it was very clean. She treated the wound simply and confirmed that it was not serious. However, she could no longer make sudden stops or jumps.

"Don't look at me like that, it's not like I lost a leg." She smiled at the concerned looks around her, "Alright, I won't hold you back. If I don't want to spoil the fun, I'll go down the mountain and rest for a while."

"Are you alone?" Ning Jiu looked up, her tone carrying a hint of natural concern. "Let me go with you."

The snowflakes reflected on her long eyelashes, and the shimmering light danced in her amber eyes, shining as brightly as newly melted ice.

Gu Ji glanced at her but did not refuse.

The two got back into the car, and because of his leg injury, Ning Jiu took over driving this time.

As the car started and descended the mountain, she was adjusting the air conditioning temperature when Gu Ji, who was beside her, suddenly spoke.

"You noticed?"

Ning Jiu turned to look at her, seemingly not understanding what she was saying.

“I saw that you sent a message to Pei Yueli.”

The low engine sound echoed in the car, and Gu Ji's smile gradually faded, his voice becoming steady and almost indifferent.

“You don’t trust me, you think there will be problems at the ski resort after I leave, right?”

Ningjiu did not deny it.

Throughout the entire process, although Gu Ji acted very friendly to everyone, there was always a sense of a carefully maintained distance between them, and this feeling intensified after this trip up the mountain.

Gu Ji said the injury was caused by ski equipment, but the wound was too clean, unlike scratches from skis. It looked more like it was deliberately cut by some sharp object.

Ning Jiu had already sent a message to Pei Yueli in advance, asking her to wait for her at the foot of the mountain. On the one hand, she was being cautious and wanted to end things as soon as possible; on the other hand, she also wanted to take this opportunity to talk to Gu Ji alone.

The air inside the car was so quiet that you could almost hear the wind brushing against the glass. She tapped the steering wheel twice, her eyes still fixed on the snow track ahead.

"Whose side are you on?"

Gu Ji did not answer immediately.

The car slowly moved along the ridge road. Suddenly, the snow became denser, and large snowflakes flew wildly in the headlights, like countless tiny specks of light rushing towards us.

Ning Jiu frowned and unconsciously slowed down the accelerator.

"No matter how you brought me to the ski resort, you should understand that if anything happens, it will be irreversible, for both you and me."

Do you think I wanted this?

Ning Jiu was slightly taken aback and turned to look at her. Gu Ji's fingers were tightly clenched on his knees, his face was pale, and his tone carried a hint of uncontrollable emotional fluctuation.

"She said that if I didn't do as she said, she would withdraw all the money I had invested. If my project, which I had worked so hard for, were to be ruined, I would be truly finished."

ta

Which one?

Ning Jiu quickly went through the names of people she might have offended in her mind, their faces flashing through her thoughts. Just as she was about to ask them a question, she heard Gu Ji sneer.

“Ning Jiu,” her voice suddenly became calm, like an empty shell stripped of emotion, “did you think that coming down the mountain with me would guarantee everything would go smoothly?”

Before the words were finished—

A dull thud was heard; it was the sound of the fence loosening.

The sky in the distance seemed to split open all at once, and a thunderous roar rolled in from the other side of the mountain ridge. Waves of snow poured down from the heights, crashing onto the mountain path with an irresistible weight.

Because the snow cliff is on the right, the entire snow flow rolls diagonally along the mountainside. The snow all over the sky is like a heavy curtain that has been pushed over, crashing heavily onto the car body. The driver's door on the right side is instantly crushed and completely sealed off.

The car body shook violently from the impact, the dashboard lights flashed twice and then went out, and the engine roar abruptly stopped.

After the violent collapse, an eerie stillness remained in the air.

Cold air rushed in through the gaps at an astonishing speed, causing the heating system to completely shut down, and the temperature inside the car dropped almost visibly.

The door on Gu Ji's side hadn't been sealed off by snow yet. She didn't say anything, just reached out to fasten her hat, pushed open the door, and got out of the car.

Ning Jiu turned to look at her departing figure, reached for the seatbelt, and tried to get out of the passenger seat, but the door was suddenly grabbed by Gu Ji and pushed hard.

With a click, the door was locked.

Before leaving, Ning Jiu clearly saw her mouth out three words.

sorry.

What powerless and laughable words.

The temperature was dropping little by little, and the breath I exhaled condensed into white mist in front of me, which was quickly swallowed up by the cold.

The world outside the car window was swallowed up by thick snow, and the snow waves rippled against the glass like a silent white wall.

Ning Jiu tried to push the door open, but her fingertips were so cold that they hurt as soon as they touched the metal, and she pulled her fingers back.

Eight years ago, Wen Yi's father was trapped on the mountain due to rain.

And now, she is the one who is trapped.

Having understood Ke Shini's intention, Ning Jiu chuckled incredulously, her strength gradually drained away, leaving only an empty stiffness.

I took out my phone; the screen's light was blindingly bright in the dimly lit carriage, and the signal bar was empty.

I suppressed my increasingly rapid breathing, forced myself to calm down in a short time, took off my outer waterproof coat, and stuffed it into the gaps in the door and window sills to prevent the cold wind from blowing in again.

Scarves, woolen hats, and spare gloves were all wrapped around her body.

Ning Jiu felt her body heat draining away, and she could feel every inch of her skin cooling down.

She moved her hands and feet slightly to keep the blood circulating. Her fingertips were so stiff that she could barely feel them, so she pinched her palms hard to keep herself awake with the pain.

The air became heavy and thin, and her breath was mixed with mist. Ning Jiu gently counted the beats on her chest, trying to turn on the location function and raising the phone as high as possible. Even without network, as long as the battery was still there, the satellite chip would sometimes record signal points.

She knew that none of this might be of any use.

But there has to be some trace that the outside world can find of her.

Just as the avalanche occurred, Pei Yueli's car arrived at the foot of the mountain.

As soon as she opened the door and got out of the car, she saw thick waves of snow rolling down with a roar, submerging half of the mountainside.

The Ning wine is still on top!

Pei Yueli took out her phone and, with trembling fingers, dialed Ning Jiu's number twice, but both times it went unanswered.

The wind howled and rushed into her collar. She leaned against the car door, took a deep breath, forced herself not to think about the worst possible outcome, and dialed the rescue team without any hesitation.

The wind lashed against the car window, mingling with her own rapid breathing. Only after the emergency call ended did Pei Yueli realize that her fingers were frozen. Feeling the warmth of Yu Kelin's palm, she suddenly remembered another person's name.

“By the way,” her voice trembled, her gaze falling on Yu Kelin, who stood beside her with a serious expression, “do you have Qiao Bolin’s phone number?”

When Pei Yueli finally managed to organize her thoughts and tell Qiao Bolin the message Ning Jiu had sent her before the avalanche, there was complete silence on the other end of the phone.

Beep, beep.

The call was disconnected the next second.

Yu Kelin bent down slightly, reached out to tidy her wind-blown hair, and hugged Pei Yueli's trembling body tightly.

"The rescue team is on its way, she'll be fine."

Before the rescue team arrived, the scenic area's security personnel had already conducted a temporary lockdown and safety checks, and set up a cordon to maintain order.

Halfway through the process, a vehicle suddenly rushed up from the other side of the mountain, its wheels crushing through the snow and crashing straight into the still-uncleared snow track.

"Hey! Over there—stop that car!"

The security captain shouted, but the car was going too fast, and the snow fog almost instantly swallowed it up.

Several security personnel rushed forward, their warning lights waving wildly in the wind and snow.

"Sir! You can't drive in!" someone shouted hoarsely. "It's dangerous inside—the mountainside is unstable!"

But the car showed no signs of slowing down. It suddenly swerved, crossed the warning line, and the snow waves were whipped up by the wheels, like white waves, instantly disappearing from everyone's sight.

The snow pelted the car roof, the sound as dense as a low, labored breath.

The sky seemed to collapse, the entire mountain path was swallowed by white mist, and the world was compressed into a vast expanse of gray and white.

The snow was falling heavier and heavier, threatening to engulf the entire mountain, and to swallow him as well.

The wind seeped in through the crack in the car door, like a cold file, cutting his hand until it went numb.

Qiao Bolin didn't feel anything at all; he just gripped the steering wheel even tighter, his palms burning from the friction.

The leather steering wheel was scratched so hard that it was creased, and the veins on the back of his hands were bulging. If you looked closely, you could see that his palms were trembling slightly and rapidly.

That feeling of being out of control came back.

Qiao Bolin could almost clearly feel his rationality crumbling bit by bit, but his face seemed to have its emotional nerves cut off, presenting an almost morbid calm.

The veins on the back of my hand bulged and contracted in waves, and the metacarpal bones trembled under the skin as if they were about to crack.

The wind whipped the snow into sharp pieces, which slammed against the glass. The car was only able to move in one direction, rushing forward into the snowstorm.

At that moment, he had only one thought in his mind.

If Ning Jiu gets into trouble, he won't live.

The idea was so natural to Joel Bolton, as natural as breathing, sunrise, and sunset.

It is a matter of course and beyond question.

Throughout all memories related to Ningjiu, the rainy night at the street corner six years ago overlaps with the blizzard at this moment, everything blends into a long white noise, only her name still burns in my heart.

He originally thought that Ning Jiu's departure was the limit he could bear.

But now, if given the chance again, even knowing it would risk her leaving, Joel Bolton would still make the same choice—

He cannot lose Ningjiu.

Unimaginable.

It's simply impossible to do what you imagine.

Just as that vague thought flashed through his mind, Qiao Bolin felt as if he had been hit in the chest with a blunt object, and his breathing became difficult.

The problem that had plagued them for so many years should be solved by her and him together; she couldn't walk away alone again.

The blizzard blocked the road, snow walls piled up ahead, and the road was blocked by snow, so the car could not go any further.

As Qiao Bolin got out of the car, the cold air immediately entered his neck. The air temperature was so low that it almost disappeared, and his breath turned into white mist as soon as he exhaled.

Snowflakes landed on his eyelashes, clinging to them and blurring his vision.

He had only been standing outside the car for a few minutes when he was already frozen stiff. Ning Jiu had been trapped inside the car for almost half an hour.

It only paused for a moment.

Without any hesitation, Qiao Bolin got in the car, put it in reverse, and floored the accelerator.

The front of the car slammed into the snow wall, the car shook violently, and the seat belt dug tightly into the shoulder.

The roar of the engine swirled up snow mist, making one's eardrums tingle.

The snowdrift ahead was smashed open, sending up shards of ice that clattered against the car window. The wind rushed in through the crack, whistling sharply.

Ning Jiu is trying hard to stay sober.

The temperature inside the car had dropped to its lowest point. She leaned back in her seat, mechanically moving her fingers, her consciousness dwindling. She pinched her thigh hard, letting the pain pull her back to reality.

At that very moment—

Boom!

A deep rumble came from afar.

At first it was just a muffled thud, then it got closer and closer until a hole was forced open in the thick snow wall.

Ning Jiu stood frozen in place, her ears ringing, watching Qiao Bolin's figure slowly emerge from behind the gap.

There seemed to be blood flowing down his forehead and across his face, which froze into dark marks in the wind, but his eyes remained fixed on her.

It's hard to describe exactly what I felt at that moment.

Ning Jiu seemed to have all her senses drained away, and it took her a long time to find her voice again.

"Joe... Berlin?"

It had only been half a day since we last met, but it felt like an entire century had passed.

She cried out in disbelief, her voice trembling from the cold.

"Are you out of your mind?!"

Qiao Bolin raised his hand and slammed his elbow into the car window.

It didn't break the first time, so he smashed it a second time.

The cold glass finally shattered on the third strike, shards flying everywhere, cutting a new line of blood from the long-faded scar.

He reached for the door, his shoulders trembling from the effort, and finally managed to pull it open.

When Ning Jiu was carried out, she was almost frozen stiff, her clothes were covered in ice, and before she could react, he held her tightly in his arms.

Qiao Bolin didn't say a word, he just held her tightly, with a strength that made it seem like he wanted to knead her into his bones.

Ning Jiu was held tightly in his arms, feeling his chaotic heartbeat against her chest. A warm drop slid down the snow and landed on her neck, seeping into her skin.

"Ning Jiu, I can't take this a second time." In the swirling snow, Qiao Bolin pressed his forehead against hers, his voice hoarse and strained, "You're not allowed to leave me again, okay?"

He spoke coldly and harshly.

But why did the warm liquid dripping onto her neck get hotter and hotter?

In this sudden blizzard, the chill that had been lingering on Ning Jiu's body for so long was gradually melted away by his embrace.

By the time the person was rescued and brought down the mountain, the snowstorm had stopped.

The lights of the rescue vehicle were flashing at the foot of the mountain. Qiao Bolin had been unconscious since coming down the mountain because of his forehead injury. Ning Jiu held his hand tightly and warmed his cold fingertips little by little.

The IV line hung limply, the ticking of the monitor slowly fading into the air. Shortly after the doctor left, he slightly moved his finger, and their eyes met, but neither of them spoke.

Recalling the last time such a scene occurred, they understood what they had said, even though they remained silent now.

Qiao Bolin lowered his eyes, the scene from the hospital flashing through his mind.

When Ning Jiu tried to pull away, his hand unconsciously clenched tighter and refused to loosen.

She did not pull her hand away again.

Her fingertips gently traced his palm, and she looked at the bloodstains through the gauze on the back of his hand, feeling the sting in his eyes.

Whether it was six years ago or now.

Joel Bolton was an absolute, incomparably stupid idiot.

"Don't move around anymore, or the wound will reopen."

The sourness in her eyes grew stronger and stronger. Ning Jiu lowered her head, her soft hair gently brushing against the back of his hand.

"I told you I can read palms, didn't I?" Qiao Bolin didn't say anything, but his Adam's apple bobbed slightly. Ning Jiu noticed his reaction and lowered her eyes slightly. "I told you before that your life line is very long and your career line is very straight, which means you will live to be a hundred years old and have a successful career."

"However, it seems like I misread one line."

She gently pressed her fingertips along the lines of his palm, lightly kissed the side of the wound, and then placed that hand on her cheek.

"Looking at your marriage line now, it seems to be deeper."

"Your destiny line is now telling you... the girl you will be with in the future, and can only be with—"

Ning Jiu deliberately emphasized the word "only," and felt Qiao Bolin's warm fingertips brush against her face. She smiled softly and rubbed against his palm like a kitten.

“She’s from Lingcheng, with long hair, amber eyes, and a sweet tooth who hates bitter things,” she said, a slight smile playing on her lips. “She’s also Xiaobai’s mother.”

Qiao Bolin stared at her for a few seconds, a glint of light seemingly reflecting in his eyes under the light.

He added in a hoarse voice, "She's also stubborn but soft-hearted; she seems incredibly knowledgeable, but she easily blushes after saying just a few words."

"Joe Bolin!"

Ning Jiu's face flushed, and she raised her hand to slap him.

Qiao Bolin leaned back and let out a soft hiss.

Just as she was about to lean closer with concern, he suddenly pulled her into his arms, and a faint sandalwood scent instantly enveloped her.

"You were faking it?"

She gritted her teeth and reached for his waist, trying to pinch him, but he held her even tighter.

Qiao Bolin reached out and placed his hand on the back of her neck. The moment their lips touched, only their heartbeats and breaths mingled in the air.

The sound of wind and snow faded away outside the window, but the faint sound of water was exceptionally clear in her ears. Ning Jiu was breathless from the kiss and pushed against his chest with her face flushed.

"Alright, still sick..."

“So you have to take good care of the patient, right, Dr. Ning?” Qiao Bolin’s gaze darkened as he looked at the girl’s slightly swollen lips. “One more kiss, hmm?”

Before she could react, his lips covered hers again. As their lips and teeth intertwined, their rapid breathing and the soft sound of water rose and fell in layers in the quiet ward, spreading endlessly.

-

The results of the post-incident investigation came out faster than expected.

Ke Shini and Gu Ji had already collaborated several months prior, with Gu Ji's startup project initially relying entirely on Ke Shini's investment. Ke Shini controlled the funds and also had leverage over Gu Ji. She threatened to withdraw her investment, forcing Gu Ji to cooperate in bringing Ningjiu to the snowy mountains.

The film crew happened to be from a company under Ke Shini's company, and the construction workers were all her people. The so-called reinforced fence was actually a directional guide device that could be moved slightly to change the force on the snow surface.

So the snowstorm that day was just a trigger; what truly caused the snow cliff to collapse was that someone secretly tampered with that one bolt.

However, despite their meticulous planning, they hadn't anticipated that Qiao Bolin would actually rush up the mountain.

Ning Jiu remained silent for a long time after hearing the results. Qiao Bolin had already assigned people to handle the follow-up matters. A simultaneous investigation was underway domestically, and Ke Shini's company and related projects had been completely frozen.

They stayed in Santiago for more than a month to recuperate. Pei Yueli stayed with Ning Jiu in the early stages, and only flew back to China after Ning Jiu's physical and mental health gradually stabilized.

September arrived quickly, the snow line at the foot of the mountain receded, and the air carried the scent of early spring in the Southern Hemisphere.

Once George had recovered sufficiently, they traveled together to many places in the surrounding area. They would visit coastal towns, watch groups of sea lions lying on the rocks, and see the waves crashing against the shore in the distance.

Ning Jiu stood by the boardwalk, the wind ruffling her hair, the sea air carrying the scent of salt and sunshine.

Qiao Bolin reached out from behind and pressed down on her wind-blown hair.

The tree-lined avenues of Balboa Park are bathed in golden light, the sound of fountains gently ripples in the wind, and students are painting on the lawn in the distance, the air filled with the scent of flowers and paint.

Ning Jiu walked ahead, her skirt swaying slightly in the wind, while Qiao Bolin followed behind her, shielding her from the oncoming backlight.

Suddenly remembering something, the girl stopped abruptly, turned around with a smile, and pinched Qiao Bolin's cheek.

October is almost here.

"Um."

The man bent down slightly, letting Ning Jiu pinch his face until it turned red, his gaze lingering on her with focused tenderness.

Ning Jiu looked at him with bright eyes: "Let's celebrate your birthday together in San Diego!"

The idea of ​​celebrating Joe Berlin's birthday in San Diego was originally just a whim of Ning Jiu's, but unexpectedly, there happened to be a meteor shower around that day.

When Ning Jiu saw this news on the news website, it was early morning. San Diego Bay was the best observation point for this meteor shower and attracted much attention from astronomy enthusiasts. At first, she couldn't hide her joy, but later she worried about not being able to get a good spot.

Qiao Bolin had just changed into his casual clothes and was adjusting the collar of her coat for her. He gently smoothed the thin fabric, and his fingertips inadvertently brushed against the side of her neck, causing a pleasant, ticklish sensation.

His gaze fell on the conspicuous bite marks on the girl's fair skin, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes, which he then naturally looked away from when she looked at him.

“Don’t worry about these things,” he leaned down and kissed her forehead. “You choose the location, and I’ll take care of the rest.”

George Bolin always keeps his word.

As soon as Ning Jiu mentioned wanting to go to Santiago Bay, he immediately began making arrangements.

The car, blankets, hot cocoa, and even a windproof lantern were all prepared.

As night fell, they arrived at the viewpoint.

The sea breeze, carrying a slightly sweet, damp scent, swept by, and the city lights in the distance were obscured by a thin mist, leaving only a faint halo.

Whether by coincidence or not, there were surprisingly few people around that best observation spot. Ning Jiu quickly found the most comfortable place and took Qiao Bolin's hand to go there together.

The weather was fine; the clouds were dispersed by the wind, and the starry sky was like polished glass, with countless points of light hanging in the sky, so clear they seemed almost within reach.

Ning Jiu sat on the carpet with her knees drawn up to her chest, looking up at the sky with an unusually focused and almost tense expression. She didn't even dare to move her eyelashes, for fear of missing a star that might suddenly fall from the sky.

Looking at her like this, Qiao Bolin couldn't help but smile and gently pinched her cheek.

The first meteor was seen by George Blaine.

Ning Jiu looked in the direction he pointed, and her eyes were instantly illuminated—

The second one, the third one...

As midnight approached, more and more meteors appeared, their beams of light streaking across the night sky, making Ning Jiu's smile even brighter.

Close your eyes, make a wish, and when you open them again, a shooting star is falling from the other side of the sea.

Turning her head, she saw that this person wasn't making a wish properly, but instead was looking at her.

Ning Jiu reached out and wrapped her arms around Qiao Bolin's waist, her voice unconsciously carrying a hint of coquetry: "Today is your birthday, you should make a wish too."

Qiao Bolin stared at her, his gaze unwavering.

"I've already made my promise."

When was this decision made? So quickly?

Ning Jiu tilted her head back, her thoughts suddenly drifting away.

“I remember the first time I celebrated your birthday,” her tone brightened, “the weather was terrible on both sides of the road.”

“But my birthday idea was great, right?” Ning Jiu felt the warmth brushing against her cheek and fell into a distant memory. “Although we couldn’t meet, my artificial ‘shooting star’ made you shine very brightly. I still remember it to this day. Your whole body turned golden.”

It's strange, really. Logically speaking, something that happened so many years ago should have been mostly forgotten by now.

But when I think back to that night, the scene is still as clear as if it just happened.

She added softly, "Although you're usually all gold and sparkle..."

No.

Ning Jiu was startled and looked up at him.

Qiao Bolin looked into her eyes and repeated himself earnestly.

"No, it's Ningjiu."

The wind swept across the sea, ruffling the hair at his temples. A shooting star illuminated his cool and sculpted features, as well as the barely perceptible moisture at the corner of his eyes.

"The shooting stars tonight must be so beautiful," Ning Jiu thought.

Otherwise, why would Qiao Bolin shed tears? She even felt an urge to cry herself.

His voice was soft, like a night breeze brushing past my ear, yet his tone was as resolute as a vow.

"My best birthday wish this year is for you to be here with me right now."

He still remembers that when he was eighteen, his only wish was to be her lucky charm.

Now, she has made her own lucky draw, and he no longer needs to make a wish, because his deepest wish has already been fulfilled.

The shore lights in the distance intertwined with the golden light of the shooting stars, illuminating the contours of his face. The vast and deep affection in Qiao Bolin's eyes seemed to swallow the entire night.

"Ning Jiu, do you know? You are much more like light than I am, and you are much more dazzling."

Just as the light of a meteor is originally faint, it can only burst forth with an extremely dazzling moment when it truly pierces the night sky.

The one who shines is never him, but Ning Jiu, who lives his life as a light, illuminating himself even in the wind, snow, and darkness.

As a cluster of shooting stars streaked across the sky, igniting the night, Qiao Bolin lowered his head slightly and, with the utmost reverence, placed a precious kiss on her lips.

"Only when I'm with you is Berlin golden."

-----------------------

Author's Note: The main story is finished!!! Yay! Can those who love Jinbai use nutrient solution to water Tangtang? I'd be incredibly grateful!!! [Fireworks]

Let Tangtang rest for a few days, and also revise the previous chapters. An extra chapter will be released next week~ Feel free to suggest any extra chapter ideas you'd like to see! [Kiss]