Episode 68 (Final Chapter)
It is my greatest honor to grow old with you.
The police were very efficient. Based on the license plate number provided by Song Qinggui, they retrieved all the surveillance footage. Song Qinggui reported the incident at 2 PM, and Xue Lu's whereabouts were located before 4 PM.
Xue Lu drove around the Lancheng Elevated Road and finally arrived at the sea that could be seen from the floor-to-ceiling windows of his home.
When Song Qinggui caught up with him to the beach, he had already walked into the sea, and the water was already up to his waist.
"Lawyer Xue!" Song Qinggui shouted his name loudly: "Lawyer Xue!!! Lawyer Xue, stop right there!!! Get back here!!!"
Song Qinggui ran into the sea as fast as she could, and when she caught up with Xue Lu, the seawater was already almost up to his chest.
Song Qinggui became furious and forcefully pulled him back two steps.
In late autumn, two people were soaking in the sea, gazing at each other.
Xue Lu's face was deathly pale, and his eyes were unfocused.
Seeing him like this, Song Qinggui raised his hand and slapped him hard across the face.
Xue Lu's cheek regained some color, but he remained expressionless.
Song Qinggui raised his hand and slapped her again.
When human emotions reach a certain intensity, they can actually unleash a strange murderous intent.
Song Qinggui went berserk, slapping Xue Lu one after another until a look of pain finally appeared on Xue Lu's face.
"What kind of skill is it to die?!" Song Qinggui roared at Lawyer Xue through tears, "I'm asking you, what kind of skill is it to die?! Have you ever thought about what will happen to Pu Pu? What will happen to your father? What will happen to Ms. Wen?! Have you ever thought about that?!"
Xue Lu's eyes were filled with tears, but his voice remained numb. In that numbness, he still stubbornly sought the answer he wanted: "You came to see me today because you don't want me to die, or because you think Pu Pu can't live without a father?"
Song Qinggui pounded his fist into Xue Lu's body: "You're crazy! Does it matter that much?! Does it matter that much whether I love you or not?! How could you bully me like this?! How could you bully me like this?!!!!"
Song Qinggui sobbed uncontrollably, her hands slowly losing strength: "I've lost so much in my life, how could you let me lose you too... Lawyer Xue, you're bullying me too much, how could you... bully me to this extent..."
Upon hearing this, Xue Lu finally burst into tears. He reached out and cupped Song Qinggui's face, kissing him with a look of venting his anger. The kiss was a mixture of caressing and biting, a love that was also a form of revenge.
The seawater was icy cold, and the two of them frantically tried to draw warmth from each other's bodies.
The kiss ended, and the sun rose from the coastline, filling the sky with rosy dawn.
...
Song Qinggui thanked the police and took Xue Lu home.
Su Yalin saw that the two of them were soaked, and she also noticed that Xue Lu's cheeks were red and swollen, and there was some blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
“It’s not that I don’t want you to…” Su Yalin advised Song Qinggui, “but you still need to be careful. This looks too much like domestic violence…”
Xue Lu didn't say anything and went to the bedroom to change his clothes.
Song Qinggui said to Pupu, who was eating breakfast, "Sweetie, Mommy has something to discuss with you. Daddy and I might need a little time..."
"Okay." Pu Pu took a sip of milk. "I'm going to stay at Grandma's house after school today. Didn't Grandma say she missed me the other day? Grandma has chocolate and snacks. She also plays Lego with me, teaches me to recite ancient poems and do math. I like Grandma's house. I'm going to go see Grandma."
Song Qinggui smiled with relief: "Okay, then Mom will pick you up in a few days."
Su Yalin remarked from the side, "You really gave birth to a little genius."
Pu Pu silently chewed a few bites of bread, but finally couldn't help it. She blinked her big eyes and asked, "Mom, do you hate Dad? Are you going to...go for a divorce? Egg Roll, the older girl in kindergarten, told me that her parents are divorced, and she can only see her dad every weekend."
“No. Mom and Dad aren’t getting a divorce.” Song Qinggui quickly bent down to comfort his daughter: “Last time you said you felt that Mom and Dad weren’t good friends. Actually, a long time ago, Mom and Dad were good friends. It’s just that there was a misunderstanding later. Mom wants to make up with Dad recently, but Dad is angry with Mom, so Mom needs to spend some time coaxing him.”
Pu Pu's eyes lit up instantly: "Really?"
Song Qinggui nodded: "Really."
...
That afternoon, after picking Pu Pu up from the kindergarten, Ms. Wen called Song Qinggui and told her that she would take good care of Pu Pu so that she and Lawyer Xue could focus on solving their own problems.
Song Qinggui carried the cooked noodles to Xue Lu and Pu Pu's small bedroom, where Xue Lu had locked himself in all day.
When Song Qinggui entered, Xue Lu was half-lying on the bed, lost in thought.
He remained silent when Song Qinggui entered.
“I’ve spoken to Chen An and Song Qinghe and told them to keep an eye on the group’s affairs for now. You can rest at home for a while.”
There was no response.
"There hasn't been much going on at the studio lately, so I asked Xiaofeng for leave."
There was no response.
“Pupu went to stay at her grandma’s house.”
When Xue Lu heard Pu Pu's name, his eyelids trembled.
Song Qinggui placed the noodles on the bedside table: "Tell me, what will it take for you to eat properly and take your medicine properly?"
Song Qinggui checked the medicine cabinet at home. Xue Lu was taking his antidepressants sporadically. He would get a prescription every time he went to the hospital, but he could never finish it. The last few times, he hadn't even touched the prescriptions.
Xue Lu finally spoke, his voice hoarse: "Don't worry about me. I just lost control of my emotions today. I'll be fine on my own. Let's pick Pu Pu up tomorrow. Mom is getting old, and I'm worried about leaving Pu Pu alone at Grandma's."
Song Qinggui stared at Xue Lu: "Look up and look at me."
Xue Lu looked up.
"Do you want a divorce?" Song Qinggui asked.
Pain resurfaced on Xue Lu's face: "It's you..."
"I don't want a divorce," Song Qinggui said.
"you……"
"You don't want to eat right now, right?" Song Qinggui asked again.
Xue Lu shook his head: "I'm not hungry."
"Heh... I'm not hungry." Song Qinggui scoffed, "Then do you still have the energy?"
Xue Lu looked at her, his face showing confusion.
“Lawyer Xue, I don’t know how to love.” Song Qinggui confessed, “I don’t know how to comfort a desperate man, let alone how to reconcile with my husband after four years of cold war. I only know that although he bullies me and makes me angry, I don’t want to lose him. So… let’s make love.”
Xue Lu's pupils trembled.
“This is the most basic and effective way for couples to communicate,” Song Qinggui said. “I’ll give you ten seconds. If you don’t object, I’ll take that as your agreement.”
Ten, nine, eight...
When Xue Lu's countdown reached "one," Song Qinggui kissed his lips.
In this kiss, Song Qinggui gave the utmost tenderness she could. Xue Lu's body and soul had been parched for four years. Upon encountering love again, his desire was quickly aroused, and his body began to tremble, a sign that his desire was accumulating.
Song Qinggui felt the same way. She admitted that if she was born indifferent, then Xue Lu was the only person in the world who could evoke a resonance between her soul and body.
"Carry me to the master bedroom."
Song Qinggui said breathlessly, and Xue Lu did not object.
The night was long, and Song Qinggui even let out several screams, unlike anything he had ever heard before. To onlookers, it might have sounded like the agonizing screams of someone in extreme pain.
But only she knew that this was the roar of her soul as it ascended to bliss.
Xue Lu did not let her go. He repeatedly threw her into the crest of the waves he created, letting her fall with fear and anticipation, and then gain experiences she had never had before in the sea of desire. Song Qinggui even felt that her life and death were in Xue Lu's hands.
This is Xue Lu's murderous intent, the murderous intent that erupts when love reaches its extreme.
“Lawyer Xue… Lawyer Xue…” Song Qinggui sobbed as she called his name over and over again. She wasn’t begging for mercy, nor was she trying to stop. She just felt that calling his name made her feel at ease.
Xue Lu then repeated two sentences over and over in her ear: "I hate you, I love you..."
Song Qinggui slept soundly that night. In the middle of the night, she felt someone kissing her.
She half-opened her eyes and saw Xue Lu gently kissing her face and lips, carefully and tenderly, a stark contrast to his fierce and madness just moments before.
“Law Xue…” Song Qinggui murmured, “Don’t die… Pu Pu will eventually grow up. We’re just supporting her and accompanying her for a while. Don’t die, don’t leave me alone in this world…”
Xue Lu still did not answer, but a warm tear fell onto Song Qinggui's cheek.
...
During the days that Pu Pu stayed at her grandmother's house, Song Qinggui and Xue Lu were inseparable, as if they didn't know what tomorrow would bring.
Later, Pu Pu returned home, and Xue Lu also became much more restrained.
Song Qinggui wasn't sure if he had managed to appease Xue Lu, but they were back to how they used to be, snuggling together on the sofa reading; Xue Lu was also exercising more frequently than before, back to how he was when they were newlyweds; and the medicine in the medicine cabinet was decreasing regularly, so he must be taking it properly.
However, he would occasionally lose his composure in front of her, or unconsciously move his wrists to relieve the numbness in his hands, which were manifestations of somatization of depression.
Song Qinggui understood that she was still fighting against the disease to save Xue Lu.
However, Pu Pu has become much more lively recently. Song Qinggui had always felt that there was an inexplicable layer of sadness in the little girl's eyes, and she even suspected that Pu Pu might have autistic tendencies. But the little girl's intelligence, motor skills, and social life were all fine, which dispelled her doubts.
It wasn't until now that Song Qinggui realized that Pu Pu was probably a precocious child. She may have sensed the estrangement between her parents, and thus, at a young age, she began to doubt the word "love" and fear "separation."
"Mother!"
Xue Lu left work early today and went to pick up Pu Pu from kindergarten. As soon as Pu Pu entered, she asked Song Qinggui for a favor: "Zhang Xiao Kui said she invited me to her birthday party this weekend. And Uncle Xu and Aunt Zhang also invited you and Dad to come along. Can I go?"
Who could resist the pretty young girl's expectant eyes? Song Qinggui smiled and nodded, "Okay."
...
The party was held at the Café on this shore, and there was a reason why Zhang Yanling and Xu Du invited Song Qinggui and Xue Lu.
Xu Du's younger sister, Cheng Zhi, is a well-known actress who is signed to Xu Xiaofeng's studio. A while ago, she was working with a famous foreign actor. The foreign actor acted like a diva, which angered Cheng Zhi so much that she swore at him in public. Not only did the collaboration fall apart, but she also offended the actor's fans. The actor then filed a lawsuit against Cheng Zhi and sent her a lawyer's letter.
In the end, Song Qinggui resolved the matter.
In addition, this foreigner was originally the spokesperson for one of Jingtian's pet product lines overseas. Jingtian expressed its support for Cheng Zhi by terminating the cooperation.
Therefore, Zhang Yanling and Xu Du had always wanted to find an opportunity to thank the couple.
Song Qinggui knew the Zhang and Xu couple, but Xue Lu had no dealings with them. As soon as they arrived at the coffee shop, Su Yalin introduced them.
Su Yalin first introduced Xu Du: "Former male god."
Turning to Xue Lu, she said, "Childhood sweethearts."
Finally, I added: "Not a single one fell into my hands."
Xu Du reached out his hand: "I've heard so much about you. Ya Lin told me that you're also the number one love-obsessed person in Lancheng."
Xue Lu smiled knowingly and shook hands with him, saying, "Thank you for your kind offer."
After chatting with Mr. and Mrs. Zhang for a while, Song Qinggui and Xue Lu went to the second-floor terrace to watch the sea and the children playing with a Samoyed named "Xue Meilang" in the garden in front of the coffee shop.
Spring is here.
In May, a gentle breeze blew and the weather was pleasant. Song Qinggui sighed with admiration.
Xue Lu smiled gently.
“Lawyer Xue,” Song Qinggui said, looking at the man beside her, “I love you far more than you can imagine.”
Xue Lu tightened his grip on the coffee cup.
“I’m just too scared,” Song Qinggui said. “I’m afraid of losing you, so I don’t dare to possess you completely. I’m afraid of cooling down, so I don’t dare to embrace your passion. I may never be able to shake off this fear, but I will spend the rest of my life learning to love you.”
Xue Lu's eyes welled up with tears: "That day when you chased me into the sea, you said I was bullying you. I was very angry and felt wronged. It was clearly you who was bullying me, but you said I was bullying you. Later I understood that you love me, so when I hurt myself, in your eyes, it was bullying you."
Touched by Xue Lu's words, Song Qinggui's eyes gradually welled up with tears.
“I believe you love me,” Xue Lu continued. “If you didn’t love me, given your temper, you wouldn’t have tolerated my cold war with you, or allowed me to play judo with you in bed every day.”
"You..." Song Qinggui said helplessly, "Can't you be serious for once?"
“Rules.” Xue Lu became serious: “We are both too strong-willed. Even though we love each other to death, we always need to confirm again and again that the other person loves us more, otherwise we will feel like we have lost. But what does winning or losing matter? I love you very much.”
"I know," Song Qinggui nodded, his voice choked with emotion.
“You don’t know.” Xue Lu gazed into Song Qinggui’s eyes: “Song Qinggui, you’ve never known, but you will know in the future. I love you, and I will always love you more than you love me. You’ve won, and you will keep winning.”
Song Qinggui lowered her head, letting her tears fall. Xue Lu reached out and gently stroked her tear-stained face.
After a while, Song Qinggui calmed down. She looked up at Xue Lu and commented seriously, "Xu Du was right just now, you really are a love-struck fool."
Xue Lu laughed: "It was diagnosed a long time ago. I hope that 'love-struck' will be included in medical insurance soon."
Many, many years later, Song Qinggui would still remember Lawyer Xue on that day.
She felt that perhaps the times were developing too fast, and we gradually placed love in a very low position, believing that "fleeting" was its only quality, and always guarding against the person who would suddenly become indifferent at some point.
Therefore, the complete devotion one feels when falling in love with someone has become something that should be criticized.
Song Qinggui believes that everyone should have a period in their life when they are dominated by love.
Love, hate; meet, miss; find contentment, feel regret...
To dedicate oneself, to plunder; to give, to beg; to indulge in tender affection, to experience heart-wrenching pain...
Life without these flavors would inevitably be bland...
"Xue Lu.
The luckiest thing in my life is that you are the one I met on a narrow path.
It is my greatest honor to grow old with you.
—End of main text
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