Finale
Lu Xiye came out of the house, crossed the courtyard, and looked at Jiang Zhizhi in front of him in disbelief, "Why are you here?"
"Are you getting in the car?" Jiang Zhizhi patted the seat, motioning him to sit down.
This was the first time Jiang Zhizhi took the initiative to take him out. Lu Xiye didn't hesitate for a second. He opened the courtyard door and happily sat on it.
He took advantage of the situation and put his arm around Jiang Zhizhi's waist, sticking to her like a piece of taffy. "Where are we going?"
"How about going to the ancient city?"
This tone...
"Jiang Zhizhi, are you dating me?"
Jiang Zhizhi started the car, nodded along with the sound of the wind, and said, "Well, is it not possible?"
"Okay, of course!" Lu Xiye was so happy. Jiang Zhizhi took the initiative to ask him out. Does it mean that he has another chance?
It was about forty minutes from Nanshi to the ancient city. Jiang Zhizhi told him about Chen Yuping and Gao Bin's wedding. Because Jiang Guozhong had messed up their wedding, they didn't plan to hold it again. They just wanted to choose another good day and have a meal with close friends.
As for Jiang Guozhong, he has now been arrested and is awaiting trial.
But Jiang Zhizhi no longer cared, and he would never have the chance to appear in front of them again in the future.
The most important thing for her now is to take care of her own affairs.
It was a little after eight in the morning, and the weather wasn't hot yet. The breeze was cool and comfortable. The ancient city was separated from the urban area, and the roadsides had changed from high-rise buildings to low farmland. The air was fresh and clean.
It was the summer vacation, and the ancient city was bustling with people, with many parents bringing their children for a short trip.
Jiang Zhizhi has been in Nanshi for so long, and this is her first time to visit the ancient city. The steel and concrete have been replaced by bluestone and ancient trees, and the quiet environment makes people feel relaxed.
They parked their electric scooters in the small square and bought two tickets to enter the ancient city.
"Zhizhi, summer vacation is almost over. Do you have anything else to do?"
Jiang Zhizhi thought for a moment and said, "Not yet."
Lu Xiye happily held her hand and said, "Then...can you accompany me for the next period of time?"
"Sure, I'll stay with you for the last three days." Jiang Zhizhi met his eyes, then quickly looked away, "So that you won't regret it later."
When Lu Xiye heard Jiang Zhizhi's agreement, he was very excited, but in the blink of an eye, she poured a basin of cold water on him.
"Can you please not say such spoiling things at this time?" Lu Xiye frowned and said depressedly.
"Sorry, I won't mention it anymore..."
Until the moment it ends.
Looking at Jiang Zhizhi's melancholy expression, Lu Xiye sighed helplessly. Jiang Zhizhi had always been so lifeless during this period of time.
"Forget it, I forgive you!" He grabbed Jiang Zhizhi's hand and pulled her into the ancient city. "But from now on, when you are by my side, at least act happy."
The ancient city has been renovated. The first four streets after entering are commercial streets, with all kinds of snacks, flowers and plants, handicrafts, ancient costumes... countless commodities.
Lu Xiye likes sweets, so he bought two large boxes of candied haws as soon as he entered. "Eating more sweets will make you feel better."
He picked up a round candied haws covered with icing sugar and fed it into Jiang Zhizhi's mouth.
Seeing her mouth become bulging after eating, Lu Xiye narrowed his eyes with joy, "How is it? Are you feeling better?"
Jiang Zhizhi took great effort to finish the candied haws in her mouth. She rolled her eyes at Lu Xiye and said, "I was in a good mood to begin with."
If she was in a bad mood, why would she take the initiative to ask Lu Xiye out to play?
Although she just said that she hoped Lu Xiye would have no regrets, in fact, she didn't want to be the one to have regrets.
The last three days were a time when she decided to indulge her selfish desires.
Like other young couples who came to visit the ancient city, they held hands, ate and played, and when they came to their senses, they bought a bunch of things.
Across the commercial street is a central lake. Beside the lake stands a large stone over three meters high with three big red characters written on it - Sansheng Stone.
This is usually done by tourist attractions specifically to cheat young couples out of their money. Everyone knows it, but people still flock to it. Many young couples buy San Sheng plaques from the small shops nearby and hang them on the railings next to the San Sheng Stone.
The railings are almost full of them. When the wind blows, the red ribbons rustle, as if they are telling something through the wind.
Lu Xiye immediately became interested and excitedly pulled Jiang Zhizhi to buy two tags, on which he solemnly wrote the names of both people.
Jiang Zhizhi followed him and hung the two signs on the top railing.
Although she would slash her sword to end it all in three days, life is like a mayfly, and three days is like three lives and three worlds...
*
It was already evening when we returned from the ancient city.
After dinner, Jiang Zhizhi sent him back to Jinhai Lanting. When they were about to go home, Lu Xiye insisted on taking her to the movies.
The movie was actually quite boring. When Lu Xiye went to get a bottle of drink, she couldn't help but fall asleep on the sofa.
Confused, she had an absurd dream.
In her dream, she and Lu Xiye were married, and at first they were blissfully happy. But the good times soon wore off. She was constantly busy with various research projects, overseas exchanges, lectures, and conferences, and she saw Lu Xiye only a few times a month.
"Can you please not go this time?"
He sat on the sofa and watched her pack her luggage, his eyes heavy and cold.
"No, everyone is waiting for me." Jiang Zhizhi said.
"How long will it take for you to come back?"
Jiang Zhizhi paused, remained silent for a moment, and said, "I don't know. If it's fast, it will take a few months, or maybe half a year... I will be back as soon as possible."
"As soon as possible?" He could no longer bear the anger in his heart, grabbed the glass on the table and smashed it to the ground.
The glass shattered with a bang, and Jiang Zhizhi was startled.
The next second, Lu Xiye was in front of her, pushing her onto the sofa, and said unwillingly, "Why? Why do you always leave me? You have all my love, but why are you so stingy with me? This is so unfair! To you, those experiments and research are more important than me. What am I to you?"
"Be rational. You know how important this project is..."
"I don't care how important it is! To you, everything is important except me!" He held her tightly in his arms, pressing her down on the sofa, his tone gradually turning to pleading, "Zhizhi, I want a child. If we have a child, you will stay with me. Let's have a child, okay?"
"no……"
There are too many things waiting for her to do, and now is not the time.
Before she could say anything to refuse, Lu Xiye shamelessly blocked her way...
He forcibly tore off her clothes, kissed her, and possessed her...
But in the blink of an eye, he was in her arms apologizing non-stop.
"Zhizhi, I'm sorry..."
"Zhizhi, I love you..."
Jiang Zhizhi knew that his condition had worsened.
After they got married, she and Xu Qingbo entered the same research institute, and his mental problems relapsed.
Even if it is a small matter, he may lose control of his emotions and fly into a rage.
"Let's get a divorce."
From the beginning, their being together was a mistake.
Lu Xiye is a person with high emotional needs, and she can never give him what he wants.
Hearing her words, Lu Xiye suddenly calmed down.
His figure gradually became vague, and everything around him began to distort. In the end, everything around Jiang Zhizhi turned into darkness.
A chill came over her and she shivered subconsciously.
Wake up from a dream.
In front of her was Lu Xiye, who was holding up his face and looking into her eyes. His eyelashes were long and thick, and his eyes were black and bright, and he was extremely handsome.
Jiang Zhizhi has liked this pair of eyes since she was a child. They are as bright as gems and so beautiful that people can't take their eyes off them.
"Why did you fall asleep? Did you have a nightmare? I saw you were shaking."
He held Jiang Zhizhi's cold hand with his warm palm, and his tone was concerned and gentle.
"I'm fine." Jiang Zhizhi moved and sat back on the sofa. She looked at the screen opposite her, which had been turned off. "Is the movie over?"
"Yeah, it's over a long time ago." Lu Xiye handed her a can of Coke, "Want a drink?"
"No, I have to go home."
*
Three days passed quickly. Chen Yuping and Gao Bin held a simple wedding with the witness of several close friends and soon obtained their marriage certificate.
At the same time, news came out that the community was going to be demolished and turned into a commercial street. People in the community estimated that each family would have to pay at least one million in compensation.
Chen Yuping swept away the previous gloom and became happy.
Before the end of the summer vacation, the shop that Jiang Zhizhi bought for Chen Yuping was transferred to the owner. It was a medium-sized two-story shop. Although it was not big, the location and surrounding environment were very good.
This shop is the promise Jiang Zhizhi once made to Chen Yuping, carrying her dream of opening a bookstore.
With this shop and the demolition compensation, Chen Yuping will no longer have to worry about financial problems for the rest of her life.
*
【Have you gotten up yet? 】
When will you return to school?
Where are you now?
【Why don’t you reply my message? 】
【We haven't officially said it's over yet, right?】
…
Lu Xiye looked at the messages he had sent on his phone, but there was not a single reply.
【Why……】
He wanted to ask more questions in the input box, but finally deleted the words he typed.
Suddenly, a call came in from an unfamiliar number. His eyes lit up and he quickly picked up the call.
"Zhizhi?"
"It's me. Please, you haven't even saved my phone number yet, right?" Li Rongrong said speechlessly.
"Is there something wrong?" His attitude suddenly became cold, even a little impatient.
Li Rongrong was so angry she wanted to roll her eyes, but she still said kindly, "Did you know that Zhizhi's experiment won some award abroad? I also heard that she applied for an exchange student position at MN University, the same school Pu Yu attends. She might go straight to Country D after receiving the award."
“…”
He doesn't know.
She told him nothing.
"I don't know what's going on between you and Zhizhi, but her flight is at nine this morning..."
*
"Mom, I'm leaving."
Jiang Zhizhi smiled and waved to Chen Yuping, but Chen Yuping couldn't help but tears welled up in her eyes.
"Zhizhi, you must call mom more often and make more friends outside. Don't be alone all the time."
"I see. Pu Yu is over there too. I won't be alone. She's very familiar with the place. Don't worry, she'll take care of me." Jiang Zhizhi comforted her, then looked up at Gao Bin again. "Uncle Gao, I'm leaving my mother in your care. She's in poor health and doesn't like going to the hospital. You must take her for checkups regularly. Call me immediately if anything happens."
She asked earnestly, as if she was the parent, and Gao Bin agreed repeatedly, reassuring her.
After separating from Chen Yuping and Gao Bin, Jiang Zhizhi entered the airport.
The text message on the phone rang.
She opened it and took a look. It was from Pu Yu.
[I'm so happy, Zhizhi. What time do you arrive? I'll pick you up at the airport!]
She clicked the input box and sent Pu Yu the arrival time.
Just as I sent the message, a voice came from behind me.
"Jiang Zhizhi!"
Sure enough, he came.
Jiang Zhizhi turned around and saw Lu Xiye running towards her breathlessly. His eyes were red, and he looked aggrieved and unwilling.
"You haven't officially told me it's over yet!"
"Okay, let me tell you now..."
"Don't say that! I won't let you say that!" He stopped her excitedly and hugged her tightly in his arms, unwillingly saying, "Why? What's wrong with me? Why can't you accept me? You're so smart, why don't you understand my feelings for you? I have no family, no friends, you are the only meaning of my life! Don't leave me, I will die if I leave you, I really will die."
By the end of his words, his tone had become pleading.
"No." Jiang Zhizhi said gently: "Lu Xiye, I know you better than you know yourself, and you are tougher and braver than you think. It is because you long for a power to support you to live that you fall in love with me. It is your will to survive that makes you like me. We end here, but your story will not end. Believe me, you will live a strong and happy life."
"Don't say these high-sounding words. The only way for me to live a happy life is to be with you!" Lu Xiye refused to face it. He let her go, his beautiful eyes filled with pain and reluctance. "Why can't you be with me? I have tried very hard. I study hard and work hard in my career, just hoping to be worthy of you. Jiang Zhizhi, why can't you just look at me..."
"Because I don't like you."
"Because we're not suitable."
She could sense that the dream was a premonition.
In her dream, she seemed to have really experienced all of that.
Because I like you.
Because I don't want to hurt you.
*
The flight took off quickly, flying through the turbulent clouds.
Jiang Zhizhi looked at the vast sea of clouds outside with a melancholy look.
From the first day of rebirth to this moment, seven years have passed.
She no longer harbors resentment from her past life, nor does she harbor hatred from her past life.
She has no regrets about friendship, and she doesn't need to worry about family.
The past is like smoke.
She was no longer confused or hesitant, and her heart was filled with incomparable determination.
During the long voyage, in her drowsy sleep, she seemed to hear again the long-forgotten gentle voice.
"Zhizhi, I'm waiting for you in front."
*
[End of full text]
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