Chapter 213 For the Future - The Finale
Lu Baize: "..."
He stared at the pile of food on the table—all boiled vegetables, tofu, and a few slices of lean meat, not a drop of oil in sight, the broth so thin and watery it looked like food prepared for a patient.
He frowned, a sudden wave of acid reflux hit his stomach, and he suddenly lost all appetite.
As he was pondering how to find an excuse to slip away, such as an urgent matter at the company or a friend inviting him to discuss a project, Cheng Lanlan stood up, pressed her hand down, and firmly placed it on his shoulder, clearly not letting him move.
"Eat everything clean, don't waste any."
Her tone was firm and unquestionable: "I made this on purpose, so you have to swallow it even if it tastes bad."
His eyes widened suddenly, as if he had heard the funniest joke, and he blurted out, "Am I a pig?! So much? You really want me to eat it all in one sitting?"
"Didn't you brag before?"
Cheng Lanlan glanced at him sideways, a mocking smile playing on her lips, her eyes filled with a hint of amusement, her smile almost irritating. "You said you could eat ten bowls of rice in one meal? What, now you can't even swallow this little bit of vegetables?"
Lu Baize was instantly speechless, as if something was blocking his throat.
He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word; his face was filled with embarrassment and helplessness.
At that time, they weren't together yet; they were just colleagues who occasionally bumped into each other on set.
She's on a diet, strictly controlling her food intake to audition for a role in a new drama. She's so hungry that her stomach is practically touching her back, and she feels unsteady on her feet.
At a banquet, someone jokingly asked her about her criteria for choosing a partner, and she casually replied, "I like men with big appetites; it makes me feel safe."
Upon hearing this, he acted impulsively and rushed to her, patting his chest and confidently declaring, "I can eat ten bowls of rice in one meal! Don't believe me? You can watch me eat right now."
And what was the result?
She actually believed him, and the next day she started to take the initiative to get closer to him, asking him out to dinner from time to time, her eyes filled with probing and admiration.
She watched him wolf down his food with a smile, as if she genuinely admired his "appetite".
She had him completely captivated, leaving him dizzy and restless, unable to sleep at night, his mind filled with images of her.
He thought that his chances of turning around were finally about to change.
But not long after, she suddenly kicked him away without even a word of explanation, blocked his phone number, and unfollowed him on social media, as if she had never known him at all.
On the surface, it seems that she was the one who pursued him; she was enthusiastic and proactive, but her advances were short-lived.
Actually, what is it?
He knew it perfectly well.
He was never the passive one from the beginning.
On his very first day in the entertainment industry, his eyes were set on her.
It was not accidental; it was premeditated.
He knew who she was, her preferences, and her work rhythm.
He silently watched over her for three years, working his way up from a new supporting actor to a leading man, just so he could stand by her side, even if it was just to say a word.
Unfortunately, she didn't care about any of that.
All she cared about was work, scripts, and schedules.
Everything else, including his feelings, is fleeting, easily blown away by the wind.
He simply couldn't finish all the food on the table.
Finally, he quietly packed the remaining food into the lunchbox and wrapped it up.
I got home close to 1 a.m.
Mr. and Mrs. Lu were still awake. When they saw him come in carrying a plastic bag, their eyes widened immediately: "Where did you bring back this midnight snack in the middle of the night? Who treated you to it?"
Lu Baize went straight to the kitchen, put the lunchbox in the refrigerator, and then slumped onto the sofa, his tone lazy, with a hint of self-deprecation and stubbornness: "My future daughter-in-law insisted that I bring it, saying she was afraid I would go hungry. That's called filial piety, understand?"
Upon hearing this, Lu's mother rolled her eyes and mercilessly exposed him: "Come on! Future daughter-in-law? You've been licking her boots for three years, and she's never even given you a second glance? Why don't you go online and find some 'high EQ flirting tips' to learn? Stop daydreaming all day."
These words were like a fine needle, unexpectedly piercing his heart and making his chest feel tight.
He didn't refute, but simply closed his eyes, gently pinched his brow with his fingers, and remained silent for a long time.
...
Blue Bay.
A cool sea breeze blew, and moonlight spilled onto the French windows, casting ambiguous shadows inside.
Sheng Tingzhou carried Song Zhiwei into the bathroom, his steps steady, his arms firmly supporting her body.
She still carried a slight, warm glow from the intoxication, her head resting softly on his broad shoulder, her eyes hazy, her lips slightly red.
She opened her eyes groggily, her voice hoarse and innocent from drunkenness: "You said... is it a boy or a girl? Our future child... who do you think will look like?"
He slowly and gently placed her into the bathtub, his movements as tender as if he were afraid of breaking a rare treasure.
Her waist was so slender it was heartbreaking, as if a gust of wind could break it, while her abdomen remained flat as ever, her skin smooth and firm, without any signs of pregnancy, as if everything had remained exactly as it was at the beginning.
He reached out, his fingertips trembling slightly, and carefully placed his hand on her lower abdomen. His palm was warm, but he dared not apply any pressure.
His voice was as low as a feather falling on water, as soft as if afraid to wake a sleeping dream: "Boy or girl, it's fine. But..."
I'd rather be like me.
"Why?"
She suddenly opened her eyes, a hint of displeasure flashing in them, her voice carrying a touch of grievance and questioning, "Sheng Tingzhou, do you think I'm not as handsome as you?"
"nonsense."
He chuckled softly, his eyes gentle, and he raised his hand to lightly squeeze her back, his fingertips filled with familiar affection. "Who says you're not handsome enough? You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. I know you want to be a journalist, to cover the news, to do investigations, and to write true stories. And I want to be a doctor, to heal the sick and save lives, to support our family. Our child, in the future..."
He didn't finish his sentence; his voice gradually lowered, but his eyes were as deep as the sea at night.
But the meaning was clear enough: he had long planned to have his children inherit their aspirations, and even—become the continuation of their ideals.
The expectations of both families, the responsibilities of the family, and the burdens of the future all weighed heavily on his shoulders.
Song Zhiwei understood, and her heart ached slightly, but she still gently shook her head, her voice soft but firm: "Let's not decide for the child. Whatever he wants to do in the future, whatever he likes, whether it's painting, singing, or teaching in the mountains, you have to support him. He is him, not our shadow."
"Let's not talk about that now."
Sheng Tingzhou didn't argue further, but just glanced down at her before stepping into the bathtub, the water gently rippling outwards.
He reached out and pulled her into his arms, letting her lean against his chest, his arms encircling her tightly, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.
His lips brushed against her ear, his voice low and husky, as if squeezed from the depths of his chest, carrying a hint of suppressed longing: "Yanyan... how long has it been since you helped me?"
She was so sleepy her eyelids were drooping, her head was spinning, and she mumbled incoherently, "...Why do I suddenly feel so sleepy? I'm so tired..."
"Don't pretend." He whispered soothingly, his breath warm against her earlobe, his voice low and gentle, tinged with amusement but also an undeniable stubbornness. "Don't pull away. I know you're tired, but I need you too."
A man's energy seems inexhaustible, like an ever-burning volcano, fiery and surging, always quietly igniting when she is most exhausted.
She yawned several times in a row, tears welling up in her eyes. Finally, she simply gave up resisting, softly lying on his strong thighs, her head tilted to the side, her breathing gradually becoming steady, and she fell into a deep sleep.
Sheng Tingzhou looked down at her, gently brushing away a strand of wet hair clinging to her cheek with his fingertips, the movement as light as brushing a sheet of rice paper.
It still looks the same—clean and pure, like a clear morning after a snowfall, the world is white, without a speck of dust.
In his heart, she was never a mature and worldly woman.
She is neither a decisive and efficient reporter in the workplace, nor the independent and strong Song Zhiwei in the eyes of others.
She was just a timid little girl in his arms, blushing the first time she held his hand, trembling the first time he hugged her, and her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible when she first said she loved him.
Even if she has children in the future, her figure will no longer be slender, and time will quietly etch fine lines at the corners of her eyes and gray hair will quietly creep up her temples.
He would still hold her tightly in his arms, just as he had done at this moment, just as he had done on countless nights before.
His lips gently touched the top of her head, he closed his eyes, and said, word by word, as earnestly as if swearing an oath before God: "I love you."
Outside the window, the night was as dark as ink, so thick it seemed impossible to see through, and countless stars shone like woven silk, sprinkling one by one over the silent city.
All was quiet except for the occasional gentle sloshing of the water in the bathtub.
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