Chapter 36 Your Life is Worth It
The snow instantly filled my collar, chilling me to the bone.
She didn't even have the strength to get up.
Everything in front of me was blurry.
Snowflakes falling into my eyes don't feel cold.
My brain is so frozen it's about to shut down, and my consciousness is becoming increasingly blurred.
All that could be heard was the sound of the wind, so distant it seemed to come from another world.
Just when she was about to give up, a blinding beam of headlights suddenly shone from afar.
The light pierced through the wind and snow, like a sharp sword of hope cutting through the darkness.
A sudden jolt ran through her, and her remaining consciousness was instantly ignited.
She didn't know whose car it was.
But she knew this was her last chance.
She struggled to raise her arm, letting out a hoarse cry.
"Help...help me."
The sound was so faint that it was almost swallowed up by the wind and snow.
The car door opened, and the light shone in from behind.
She could only make out a long, drawn-out shadow on the ground.
As soon as I was lifted up, a warm feeling enveloped me.
She instinctively flinched, but was too weak to struggle due to exhaustion.
The rustling sound of clothes rubbing together reached my ears.
And that person's steady breathing.
She blinked hard.
The frost on my eyelashes melted slightly, and my vision finally became clearer.
I could vaguely make out a face.
Deep-set brow bones, a straight nose, and a sharp, defined jawline.
"Sheng...Tingzhou."
She uttered those three words with difficulty, her voice so soft it was almost carried away by the wind.
She wasn't sure if she was dreaming.
Or perhaps it was a delusion during a near-death experience.
After all, why would Sheng Tingzhou be here?
...
When Song Zhiwei woke up again, she was greeted by a bright, sparkling chandelier that made her squint.
She slightly turned her eyes, her gaze slowly sweeping across the ceiling.
The white plaster patterns are delicate yet austere.
There was a faint scent of cedar in the air, carrying a certain masculine aroma.
She tried to sit up in a daze, but was stopped by a low voice beside her.
"woke up?"
The voice wasn't loud, but it was extremely penetrating.
Like a thin thread, it gently tugged at her chaotic consciousness.
She turned her head and saw Sheng Tingzhou sitting on the edge of the bed.
Where is this?
Her voice was hoarse.
My throat felt a burning pain when I spoke.
He casually handed over a cup of hot water, making up a comment as he did so.
"My home is either the underworld or the netherworld."
His tone was languid, with a hint of mockery.
Song Zhiwei opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything.
She tried to raise her hand, but her fingers were too weak to move.
My fingertips felt like frozen, withered branches; even the slightest touch brought a tingling, numb sensation.
Seeing her like this, Sheng Tingzhou walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.
He helped her up with one hand and brought the cup to her lips with the other.
He supported the back of her neck with a steady and gentle touch, preventing her from choking.
She instinctively wanted to hide, but she just didn't have the energy.
I had no choice but to let him feed me a few bites.
Once the hot water enters the stomach, the body slowly warms up.
She leaned against the headboard, her chest rising and falling gradually becoming calmer.
My breathing is also much easier than before.
"You're freezing, why didn't you call sooner?"
He frowned and stared at her, his tone somewhat cold.
"I hit it..."
She spoke softly, her voice still weak.
"The phone died as soon as the call connected."
She remembered the busy tone from the other end.
And then there's that short "hello" the moment the call connects.
Sheng Tingzhou raised an eyebrow.
"Who did you call?"
"Zhou Yuce".
She spoke frankly and without reservation.
When she was a child, during a big cleaning, Zhou Xiaolu locked her in an empty classroom.
That Friday, the entire building was without power.
She huddled alone in a corner, the chill creeping up from the floor and soaking through her school uniform.
As darkness fell outside the window, she was too afraid to make a sound.
She could only hug her knees and shrink into a corner, repeatedly chanting, "Someone will come, someone will come."
At 2 a.m., Zhou Yuce came looking for them, one door after another, with a flashlight in hand.
They rescued her.
That night, he carried her for three kilometers home.
They didn't stop for a moment despite the wind and snow.
The next day, he went to the mall early in the morning and bought her a cell phone.
He handed her the phone and gently ruffled the top of her hair.
His voice was deep and gentle.
"Save my number. If anything happens in the future, the first thing you should do is call me."
From then on, her phone's emergency contact list was updated.
The three characters "Zhou Yuce" were clearly written all along.
No matter how many phones I've changed, this setting has never changed.
Sheng Tingzhou sneered, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.
"Then why didn't he show up? Where was he when you needed him most?"
Song Zhiwei's throat tightened suddenly.
She lowered her eyes, her fingers unconsciously curling up.
My fingernails are digging into my palm, but I can't feel any pain.
Sheng Tingzhou didn't ask any further questions. Instead, he turned around and grabbed her phone.
I shoved the screen right in front of her.
"Face recognition".
Before she could even process what had happened, her face lit up.
Then the phone beeped softly and unlocked automatically.
He scrolled through her contacts and found his own number.
Without hesitation, I set it as an emergency contact.
He then handed the phone back to her, his voice steady.
"If you need anything in the future, call me first."
"ah?"
Song Zhiwei opened her eyes wide, looking completely bewildered.
He looked down at her, a slight smile playing on his lips.
“I’m your boss. If something really happens to you, the company will have to pay a lot of money. The project will be stalled, the public opinion will escalate, and there will be a lot of trouble. So, more than anyone else, I hope you’re safe and sound.”
She paused for a moment, then lowered her head and pondered the words carefully.
After a moment, I realized that although these words sounded cold, they were actually quite logically sound.
She pursed her slightly dry lips, her voice so soft it was almost a whisper.
"Thank you for today."
Sheng Tingzhou glanced at her indifferently, raising an eyebrow slightly.
"Just saying thank you verbally?"
Her heart skipped a beat, and after hesitating for two seconds, she cautiously probed.
"Then... shall I treat you to a meal?"
He scoffed softly, his voice low, yet it made her ears burn.
"Is your life only worth a meal?"
Song Zhiwei bit her lower lip, her face slightly flushed.
After a long silence, he finally mustered up the courage to ask in a low voice.
"So how do you want me to thank you?"
Sheng Tingzhou did not answer immediately.
His gaze remained fixed on her face, unwavering.
Her face was very pale, clearly from being out in the cold night for too long.
But those eyes were exceptionally bright.
Her eyelashes fluttered gently, like butterfly wings.
His eyes were clear and without any impurities.
When she looks at people, she has a soft, innocent look in her eyes.
Like a small animal timidly gazing at the world, it evokes both pity and...
I'm itching to get back in.
He bent down slightly, getting closer to her, and the warmth of his breath gradually enveloped the tip of her nose.
His lips almost touched hers, but stopped precisely at the last centimeter.
Song Zhiwei's heart suddenly raced, and her eardrums buzzed.
She instinctively clenched her fingers and shrank back slightly.
"you……"
Before he could finish speaking, Sheng Tingzhou slowly opened his mouth.
"You're in charge of all three meals this weekend."
"ah?"
Song Zhiwei suddenly raised her head, her eyes wide open.
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