She is soft
Time flies. When cherry blossoms fell in the small garden downstairs of the inpatient department, Luffy had been transferred from the HDU to an ordinary single room.
Zuo Xiao brought a branch of cherry blossoms into the ward, placed it in a small white porcelain vase, and placed it on the small table by the window. The window was ajar, and the delicate blossoms unfolded in the mid-spring sunshine, a few pink and white petals fluttering down. Her long hair also blew in the wind, a few strands falling, revealing half her face. She raised her hand to push the hair behind her ear, revealing her pale pink ears and her jade-like face.
"So beautiful." The person lying on the hospital bed exclaimed.
"Isn't that right?" Zuo Xiao walked over and sat next to him. "The garden downstairs is even more beautiful. Get better soon and try to be able to sit in a wheelchair as soon as possible. Maybe you can even go and see it in person before the end of spring."
Luffy looked at her, smiled and said okay.
Zuo Xiao fed him half a glass of water. Just as she put the glass down, she heard him say, "You should go back." She didn't react and said with a smile, "You're kicking me out after I just arrived?"
Luffy looked at her steadily: "Not going back to the hotel."
Zuo Xiao's heart tightened: "Where to go back to?"
"Go back to Beijing, go back to the band, go back to your life, go back and continue doing what you love."
Zuo Xiao's nose suddenly felt sore, and he swallowed hard, then asked, "Really?"
"Really." Luffy said with a smile, "I want you to go back."
Tears welled up in his eyes, blurring Luffy's gentle smile. Zuo Xiao blinked hard a few times until his face came into focus again.
"Unless you promise to be fine." She said hoarsely.
Something flickered in Luffy's eyes, and after a moment, he said seriously, "I promise I'll be fine."
Zuo Xiao hesitated for a moment, then held his hand and asked cautiously, "Can you tell me why you drove your car into the mountain wall that night?"
Luffy's expression grew serious. After a long moment, he chuckled and said, "It's strange. It wasn't that long ago, but now I think about it, it feels like a lifetime ago."
"Yeah..." Zuo Xiao sighed, "It feels like a long time has passed..."
After a long silence, Luffy finally told what happened that night.
"I drank a lot that day. The house was empty, and my heart was empty too... I felt ridiculous. There were so many people in the world, but no one truly loved me... My family didn't want me, and even my best friend betrayed me..."
The sadness in his eyes made Zuo Xiao feel a dull pain in her heart. She subconsciously pursed her lips and squeezed his hand.
Luffy lowered his head and continued, "At the time, I felt like a failure, but more than that, I was tired. Day after day, year after year, how long should I endure it?"
"So I drove up the mountain, accelerating. It was strange. The mountain road was so narrow and winding, and I usually only drive at 80 or 90 kilometers per hour, but that night I almost drove 120 kilometers per hour, and it was so smooth, just like the legendary car god... I thought it was ridiculous: when you want to live, God doesn't help you. When you want to die, God doesn't take you away either. So what can I do? I just let go and watched the car rush towards the cliff."
As he spoke, Zuo Xiao felt as if her heart was being squeezed tighter and tighter, and her face lost its color. Luffy noticed her change, pulled his thoughts away from the memories, and chuckled twice.
"In the end, I didn't want to die after all." His tone suddenly became cheerful. "The moment I was about to rush off the cliff, I regretted it. I swerved the steering wheel with all my might, and then I crashed into the mountain with a bang... Now that I think about it, I was really stupid. I clearly didn't want to die, but I still tried to do it. Now I'm half-dead, unable to move, and my whole body aches..."
Zuo Xiao looked at him, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, not knowing what to say. He sighed deliberately and said, "So you can completely trust me. I won't do such a stupid thing again. Because I'm afraid of death and pain."
Zuo Xiao felt that his performance was too relaxed, almost like an act. He stared at him for a long moment, then said seriously, "Then I'll believe you for now. You must keep your word and don't let me down."
Luffy smiled and nodded. Zuo Xiao carefully observed his expression and said, "Then I really have to go back to Beijing. I'll come to see you twice a month from now on, and more often when I'm not busy. Is that okay with you?"
Luffy curled his lips and looked at her playfully: "Have you ever thought that I could return to Beijing for follow-up rehabilitation treatment?"
"Oh, yes!" Zuo Xiao realized. "You were too critically ill to be transferred to another hospital before, but subsequent recovery should be possible... That's great!"
She smiled brightly, and Luffy stared at her intently. Suddenly, he said, "How about we become sworn brothers?"
The inexplicable words made Zuo Xiao's brain freeze, and he said "Huh?" stupidly.
"Isn't it good?" Luffy said with a smile, "I'll be your brother and you'll be my sister, a win-win situation."
"It's not that it's bad..." she said hesitantly, "but why?"
Luffy's eyes flickered, and he lowered his eyelashes and said, "No one has ever cared about me like you do... Since we can't be lovers, then let's be family."
Zuo Xiao was both moved and ashamed, and said with a self-deprecating laugh, "How could I be that good?"
"No, you're really fine." Luffy raised his eyes and said solemnly, "When I first entered the hospital, although I didn't wake up, I could hear it the whole time. You came to accompany me every day. You are not a talkative person, but you became a chatterbox... You made me feel that there are people in this world who really want me to live well."
Zuo Xiao pursed his lips and smiled: "Is it just a few words that move your lips? Is it worth it to move you so much?"
"worth."
"Tsk tsk..." Zuo Xiao shook his head. "When you're old, you'll definitely be swayed by the young people selling health supplements, stockpiling box after box of them... There'll also be quantum insoles, massage beds, high-tech foot baths, just to prey on old leeks like you!"
Luffy smiled and got back to the point: "Then let's become sworn brothers and sisters, okay?"
Zuo Xiao bit her lip and thought for a moment before saying, "I have to confirm: they are legitimate siblings, not some kind of ambiguous foster brother or foster sister."
"Hahaha..." Luffy laughed so hard that he choked and started coughing. Zuo Xiao hurriedly helped him breathe. After he finally calmed down, she said helplessly, "It's obviously a serious question. Is it really that funny?"
"Yes, very serious." Luffy said with a smile, "Then I can solemnly guarantee right now: we are an extremely pure brother and sister. If you don't believe me, I can swear."
"Okay then..." Zuo Xiao said with relief, "Does sworn brotherhood require any ceremony? Like burning three incense sticks or something?"
"We'll make up for it after the ceremony." Luffy winked. "If you call me brother now, it will be considered as your acceptance."
Zuo Xiao looked at his face with a complicated expression, and suddenly thought of the time when they were so close. He felt extremely ashamed and could not bring himself to call him "brother". He could not help but regret having let go in a moment of impulse.
Luffy had a smile on his face and didn't push her, just looking at her quietly. Zuo Xiao's face flushed red again and again, and he struggled to utter the words:
"elder brother……"
"Hey, my dear sister." Luffy's mouth curled up, but his eyes were misty.
Zuo Xiao stared at this half-brother in a daze. She had always wished for a brother or sister, and more than once had envied Zhuang Jinghao for having such a good brother. Unexpectedly, today, her childhood wish came true in a way she had never imagined...
She couldn't adapt for a moment, so she turned her eyes away, tucked the corner of the quilt for him, and asked, "What are your plans after you recover?"
Luffy shook his head: "I don't have any plans for now. Do you have any good suggestions?"
Zuo Xiao thought about it and suggested excitedly: "Why not try everything you've never done before?"
"for example?"
"For example... climbing Mount Everest, exploring the rainforest, teaching in rural areas, herding sheep in the Alps, being an extra in Hengdian..." She racked her brains to come up with ideas, but was frustrated that her imagination and understanding of the world were too limited, and she couldn't think of anything new.
"That sounds good." Luffy said with a smile.
Zuo Xiao thought for a moment and said, "Actually, it's okay to do nothing. Just walk around aimlessly. When you get tired, sit by the roadside and stare at the clouds..."
"It seems not bad." Luffy said with a smile.
"Sometimes I think life is quite baffling," Zuo Xiao said with a smile. "When we came, no one asked if we wanted to come. When we leave, God won't ask if we want to leave either. Life is just a chance encounter on earth. Some people want to pick up a mission card, live with goals and plans, and ideally accomplish something remarkable. Others just want to waste time, like a pebble in a stream, lying there, letting time pass by like water... Who says we have to live this life like a mission, or that we have to wrestle a few points of meaning from this life that couldn't be more accidental?"
"That's right." Luffy laughed, "Go ahead and tell Zhuang Yu'an not to keep forcing his outlook on life on others. He's such a fool!"
Zuo Xiao was stunned for a moment, then after figuring it out, he burst into laughter.
As they parted, Zuo Xiao looked at the man who had escaped death—her former lover, her current and future brother. His face remained pale and gaunt, but his eyes held a vibrant light. She was clearly delighted, yet for some reason, her eyes burned, tears streaming down her face, blurring her vision.
She leaned over, put her arms around his thin shoulders, and hugged him gently.
Through tears, she heard her brother say, "The day I woke up, I saw you crying and laughing in front of me, saying welcome back. At that moment, I had only one thought, which was that I was lucky to be alive..."
After a moment, he repeated: "Fortunately, I'm still alive."
"Thank goodness you're here." After Zuo Xiao relayed Luffy's words to Zhuang Yu'an, he said admiringly, "You gave him a reason to live."
"Really?" Zuo Xiao looked at him blankly, not feeling that he could shoulder such a heavy burden.
"Yes." Zhuang Yu'an kissed her between the eyebrows, "As long as someone loves you, you have a reason to live."
Zuo Xiao's throat suddenly choked, and she buried her face in his arms, muttering, "I seem to have become fragile... It's so strange. Others become strong after going through major trials, but why am I becoming fragile?"
Zhuang Yu'an gently stroked the black hair behind her ear and asked softly, "Where have you become fragile?"
Zuo Xiao thought for a moment and said, "I like hugs, I want to cry easily, I miss others, and I feel reluctant to let go..."
Zhuang Yu'an chuckled: "You are not becoming fragile, but becoming soft."
"soft?"
"Yes, soft. When a person is immersed in love, he will become soft."
The two of them hugged each other quietly. After a long while, Zuo Xiao looked up and asked, "Luffy and I are sworn brothers and sisters. Would you mind?"
Zhuang Yu'an raised his lips with a wry smile: "Isn't it a little late to ask me now?"
"Yes..." Zuo Xiao lowered his head in shame. "I was wrong. Put yourself in my shoes. If you and your ex-girlfriend became siblings, I would definitely be furious and think you two are entangled."
"I wouldn't get mad, but I'd be worried that one day you might suddenly have feelings for him again..."
He was silent for a moment, then smiled with relief: "But I am willing to believe you. You are so good to Luffy, and you will be even better to me. You won't be willing to make me sad. Right?"
Zuo Xiao fell into deep thought after hearing this. After a moment, he looked up and asked, "I want to go back to Nanjing to see Lao Zuo. Do you want to come with me?"
Zhuang Yu'an took a deep breath: "Is it okay?"
Zuo Xiao raised her hand and hooked it around his neck: "Of course." Her bright red lips curved up, "Actually, Lao Zuo already knows that we're together."
"How did he know that?"
"The hospital nurses, my neighbor Aunt Wang, the caregiver at home... and your loving nutritious meals..." She grabbed his ear and interrogated him, "I now have a reasonable suspicion that you did this on purpose. Confess and I'll give you the full benefit of the doubt. Tell me the truth now!"
"What do you mean by intentional?" Zhuang Yu'an pretended to be dumb, "I didn't write my name on the dish."
After saying that, without giving her a chance to question further, he lowered his head and kissed her until she couldn't breathe.
In April, Nanjing is a sea of flowers in full bloom. The azaleas are pretty, the late cherry blossoms are sad, the wisteria is romantic, the magnolias are dignified... The roses in the community are in full bloom covering the entire wall.
The second time Zhuang Yu'an met Lao Zuo, his daughter's "colleague" had changed to "boyfriend." He prepared meticulously, getting a styling and haircut, donning new clothes, and even packing a lot of bags.
Apart from a few white hairs on his temples, Lao Zuo looked no different from when they first met half a year ago. The eyes behind the glasses were still sharp, and he stared at him with a probing look.
"When and how did you and Xiaoxiao meet?" He sat on his daughter's new sofa chair with a thin blanket on his legs and asked in a serious tone.
Zhuang Yu'an sat upright on the sofa and glanced at the person next to her. Her heart skipped a beat: Oh no, I forgot to argue with him. Could this guy say something he shouldn't say?
"It was last May," Zhuang Yu'an said calmly, "Xiaoxiao became my sister Jinghao's guitar teacher, and that's how we met."
Old Zuo gave him a complicated look, and Zuo Xiao imagined his lines: With your mediocre skills, you still want to be a teacher?
Lao Zuo turned his gaze away calmly and continued, "When did you get together?"
"The end of December."
Lao Zuo nodded slightly and asked, "Have your family seen Xiaoxiao?"
"Oh, that's enough!" Zuo Xiao finally couldn't help but retort, "You're checking the household registration, and you're asking questions one after another..."
"What do you know?" Lao Zuo glared at her. Zhuang Yu'an leaned over and said quickly, "I haven't met him yet. I plan to visit you and then formally introduce Xiaoxiao to my family."
"Who's in the family?"
"Dad!" Zuo Xiao glared at him. He had clearly told him about Zhuang Yu'an's family situation beforehand and told him not to ask. Did he have amnesia or something?
"There are only my grandparents and a younger sister at home," Zhuang Yu'an replied. "My parents passed away a long time ago."
Lao Zuo said "Oh" in an ambiguous tone, then asked, "What's your occupation?"
Zhuang Yu'an confessed honestly: "I opened a company with my college classmates. It was Xiaoxiao's previous company. We mainly sell pet toys, supplies and food."
Lao Zuo frowned, and after a while he continued to ask, "How many girlfriends have you had before?"
Zuo Xiao rolled his eyes, unable to bear it any longer, and stood up, saying, "You guys chat, I'll go downstairs for a walk."
She walked around the neighborhood for a while, then went to the old street near the school gate to buy some stinky tofu and plum blossom cake, which she ate right there. Seeing that it was almost five o'clock and time to go to the restaurant, she headed home.
As soon as I entered the room, I saw a stack of documents on Lao Zuo's lap. When I got closer, I saw a few large words printed on the cover:
"Prenuptial Agreement".
What's going on?
Why are we almost at the prenuptial agreement?
Is this the first time meeting the parents, or is this the scene of selling the daughter? ?
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