Never Ending

Shen Zhiwei's 70th birthday banquet was held in the banquet hall of a cloud hotel overlooking the entire city at night. The scene was naturally grand and luxurious, with crystal chandeliers reflecting countless lights, and the air filled with the aroma of fine champagne and white truffles. The city's celebrities and elites from all walks of life gathered together, dressed in elegant attire, surrounded by a multitude of distinguished friends.

However, what attracted the most attention that night was not the extreme luxury, but the birthday girl herself and the young male companion beside her.

Zhiwei wore a bright red floor-length dress that accentuated her snow-white skin. Most striking was her thick, glossy black hair, without a single gray strand, cascading naturally over her shoulders. Standing beside her was a young man who looked to be in his early twenties, tall and handsome, a rising lead dancer in a dance troupe, radiating youthful energy that seemed almost overflowing.

The two stood together, nearly fifty years apart in age, yet strangely, they didn't seem out of place. She didn't possess the typical air of old age; instead, her composure, honed by the years, formed a peculiar harmony with the vibrant life force of youth, as if she were simply continuing a facet of youth in another form.

"She really... hasn't aged at all," someone murmured from a corner.

"It's not that you haven't grown old," another voice said more clearly, "it's that you're still beautiful even when you're older."

Naturally, whispers circulated in the corners. Some envied her wealth and methods for keeping such a young and tender "young wolf" by her side; others scornfully said that everyone around her was after her money and resources, and there wasn't a shred of sincerity in them.

Somehow, these words reached Zhiwei's ears. She was chatting and laughing with someone when she heard them, and instead of being annoyed, she burst into a hearty laugh, her voice clear and undisguised. She even turned her head towards the source of the sound, raising her voice, her tone carrying a hint of mockery and insight:

"Not after my money?" Her eyes swept over the crowd before finally settling on the impeccable face of the young dancer beside her, her smile deepening. "Or is it after my aging body? I still have some self-awareness."

With a single sentence, she silenced all those with ulterior motives. She laid bare the real, less-than-honorable desires of human nature so openly, making those who gossiped behind her back seem particularly petty. She didn't need any vague "sincerity"; she clearly knew what she possessed, what she could exchange, and was happy to enjoy this fair game where everyone got what they wanted.

Amidst this extravagant and boisterous feast, a somewhat forlorn figure quietly appeared in a corner. It was Qin Yang.

He has faded from the entertainment industry for many years. The fame and wealth he accumulated in his youth were enough to ensure his comfortable life in his later years, but his career ultimately failed to last as long and brilliantly as expected. Over the years, he has experienced a secret marriage and divorce. The ups and downs of life have left some marks on his face. Although he is still handsome, he cannot hide the weariness that life has worn down.

He gazed at Zhiwei, who was chatting and laughing radiantly in the crowd, and for a moment, he seemed to see, in a daze, the stunning Miss Shen from the fashion party they first met more than thirty years ago. Time seemed to have been exceptionally kind to her, or rather, she had conquered time in her own way.

Zhiwei saw him too. Across the crowd, she raised her glass to him and smiled slightly. There was no surprise or pity in that smile, only a kind of understanding and gentleness that came from having seen it all.

Qin Yang walked over. The two found a relatively quiet corner on the terrace.

"Long time no see, Zhiwei." Qin Yang's voice was a little hoarse.

"Yes, it's been a long time." Zhiwei looked at him calmly. "How are you?"

Qin Yang gave a wry smile and didn't answer directly, only saying, "I'm relieved to see that you're doing well."

They chatted about random things, about mutual friends from the past, and about some trivial current events. Neither of them mentioned their distant relationship over the years, the choices he made for his career, or the many partners who had come and gone in her life.

As they parted, Qin Yang looked at the woman before him, who seemed to have been forgotten by time, and finally couldn't help but ask, with a hint of expectation that even he himself didn't realize: "Zhiwei, can we... still be like before?"

Upon hearing this, Zhiwei smiled gently. She reached out and, just as she had done years ago, gently straightened his collar, which didn't need straightening, her movements practiced and natural.

“Qin Yang,” her voice was soft but exceptionally clear, “I said back then that as long as you turn back, I will always be here. That statement still holds true today.”

A glimmer of light flashed in Qin Yang's eyes, but then he heard her continue, her tone calm yet firm, carrying a clear-headedness that would never succumb to despair:

"But I will not stay by your side alone."

In a single sentence, she encapsulated her philosophy of love and relationships throughout her life. She offered tolerance and embrace, yet never surrendered her entire being, never halting her journey forward. Like a kite flyer, she held the string in her hand; the kite could fly far or return, but she would never forget the path beneath her feet while gazing at the kite.

Qin Yang stared at her blankly, and finally let out a sigh of relief. He understood that what she had given him was freedom, including the freedom to leave and the freedom to return, but this freedom was based on her own absolute freedom.

He turned and disappeared into the night, while Zhiwei returned to the center of her lavish feast. Her life never stopped for anyone, and because of this, she had the confidence to embrace everything.