The End of the Unknown Rainbow
On the day Lu Min had his stitches removed, Sang Qi drove him there.
Sang Qi borrowed a motorcycle from Zha Xi and took Lu Min to the hospital.
"This is my first time carrying someone, I won't be responsible if anything happens," Sang Qi warned him.
Lu Min didn't care: "If something happens, we'll be a pair of star-crossed lovers."
Sang Qi rolled her eyes: "Even in death, you still want to be associated with this. What bad luck."
"..."
Seeing that Lu Min was speechless, Sang Qi couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips in a smug smile.
Sang Qi has a motorcycle license. She was obsessed with motorcycles for a period of time when she was in college, but it was only for a short while. However, her riding skills are not bad.
At least in her own opinion, it wasn't too bad.
As soon as Lu Min got into the car, he reached out and hugged Sang Qi's waist. Sang Qi was startled by the sudden touch.
"What are you doing?" Lu Min sensed Sang Qi's resistance. "Are you disgusted?"
“…A little.” Sang Qi told the truth.
"I can't sit still without you in my arms," Lu Min said confidently.
Sang Qi sighed helplessly and said nothing more.
"I'm holding on tight," Lu Min said with a grin, unconsciously tightening his grip on Sang Qi's arm.
…………
On the highway, a black motorcycle sped away like a gust of wind.
The wind was already strong, and with the high speed of the car, the wind howled past.
"I didn't expect you to be such a good driver," Lu Min was pleasantly surprised by Sang Qi.
Upon hearing this, Sang Qi chuckled, "That goes without saying."
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw a car driving slowly ahead. Sang Qi focused her gaze on the rearview mirror. There was enough distance between her and the car behind her. She seized the opportunity, turned on her turn signal, and accelerated to overtake the car in front.
After overtaking the car in front, there were only five seconds left on the green light at the intersection ahead. Sang Qi accelerated again, and the car sped forward.
The car was going very fast and just managed to pass through before the red light came on.
After passing the intersection, Sang Qi slowed down.
At that moment, Lu Min suddenly thought this girl was very cool and even looked at her with new respect.
"Look, a rainbow."
After turning at the street corner, the car entered the auxiliary road, and an arched band of color appeared in the sky.
That was a rainbow.
It rained a little when I woke up this morning, but now the rain has stopped and the sky is clear and blue. A brightly colored rainbow spans a corner of the sky, like a bridge connecting the four directions of the sky.
"When you see a rainbow, remember to make a wish,"
Lu Min, standing behind him, suddenly said something like this.
Sang Qi couldn't help but look up at the rainbow in the sky once again.
She remembered that her mother often told her when she was a child that if she saw a rainbow, she should make a wish. So, whenever she saw a rainbow, she would make a sincere wish.
Upon arriving at the hospital entrance, the car stopped, and Sang Qi got out, took off her helmet, and let her hair, which had been tied up, fall loose and flutter in the wind.
Sang Qi simply brushed her messy hair aside a few times, then stared blankly at the rainbow in the sky, lost in thought.
From childhood to adulthood, she made countless wishes to the rainbow, but it seems that none of them came true.
If her wish upon the rainbow comes true, she hopes for everything to go smoothly and for joy to follow her every year.
"What do you think is at the end of the rainbow?" Lu Min suddenly asked Sang Qi.
Sang Qi turned her head and saw Lu Min looking up at the rainbow.
"There's a treasure at the end of the rainbow."
I remember reading a children's picture book when I was a child, and there was a story called "The End of the Rainbow".
The story is about a fox and a badger who heard that there was treasure at the end of the rainbow, so they went to find it together.
"Would you like to see what treasures lie at the end of the rainbow?" Lu Min asked with a smile.
Sang Qi smiled slightly but did not speak.
What other "treasure" in this world could she possibly want?
She had no father; her mother had long since passed away. She lived in this world entirely alone, without any relatives or friends.
So she had nothing she wanted, and nothing she could lose, so what was there to call a "treasure"?
“What’s at the end of the rainbow shouldn’t concern me,” Sang Qi said almost inaudibly. “I have no family, no friends, no lover, I have nothing. Even if I find the treasure at the end of the rainbow, it’s not the treasure I want.”
Lu Min caught a glimpse of Sang Qi's cold and melancholy eyes and couldn't help but purse his lips.
This was the first time he had ever seen Sang Qi like this.
……………
When I came out of the hospital, the rainbow had disappeared, leaving only a clear blue sky and white clouds.
Sang Qi glanced at the fine weather and said, "I want to go for a walk."
Without hesitation, Lu Min said, "I'll go with you."
Sang Qi did not refuse.
Actually, she herself found it somewhat unbelievable.
She likes to be alone when she's troubled, but this time she wants someone to be with her.
Sang Qi drove Lu Min away from the hospital and drove aimlessly around the town.
They gradually drifted away from the town, and no one knew where they were going.
All I know is that it was a silent wilderness, with lush autumn grass, and in the distance, a solitary white snow-capped mountain stood tall, with eagles circling where the mountain peaks met the sky.
Standing in the open field, Sang Qi felt that the wind was cold today, but the sunlight was exceptionally gentle.
"You don't seem to be in a good mood today," Lu Min said.
“Actually, it’s alright.” Sang Qi lowered her eyelashes. “It’s been so long, I’ve long since let it go. It’s just that I occasionally think of it…” Sang Qi paused here.
After a long pause, she said again, "I just sometimes think that I will face the rest of my life alone. I am a little scared. I don't know what I will face in the future, or whether I can face it alone."
Lu Min frowned and asked, puzzled, "Where are your family members?"
Sang Qi chuckled softly, facing the snow-capped mountain: "I have no family. I have never met my father, and my mother left a few years ago. So, now and in the future, I am all alone."
After listening to Sang Qi's words, Lu Min finally understood what she meant by what she said in the hospital earlier.
He gazed deeply at Sang Qi, his eyes inexplicably becoming tender and affectionate.
At that moment, the wind lifted Sang Qi's long, loose hair, the soft, black strands fluttering freely in the wind.
Have you ever thought that maybe you won't be alone?
Sang Qi smiled, lowered her head and brushed the hair that had blown into her eyes: "I never dare to ask for a partner, I feel that this is not something I can have."
"Don't be so pessimistic."
That's the truth.
"You have to believe that this is not a static thing. The wind is cold, but there is sunshine. You are lonely, but you have me." Lu Min looked at Sang Qi quietly, his tone gentle, like the seemingly scorching but actually warm sunshine in the sky.
"If I'm willing to walk with you through this eternal silence, will you still choose to go on alone?"
The man's voice was loud and powerful, still clearly audible in the wind. Sang Qi looked at Lu Min, his gaze as firm as an ancient snow-capped mountain.
Sang Qi initially looked surprised, then her gaze became unfocused and her expression blank. She helplessly avoided Lu Min's gaze.
She never believed in these things, nor had she ever imagined them.
It all happened so suddenly.
Lu Min couldn't stay with her for long.
When this journey ends, everything will return to its starting point, and everyone will return to their normal lives.
She didn't want Lu Min to change his life trajectory because of her, and she didn't want to change her own life trajectory for a man.
Moreover, Lu Min never seemed to fit her fantasies about love.
She felt that she and the cynical Lu Min were from different worlds, so how could two people like them ever get together?
Besides, Sang Qi didn't think Lu Min's feelings for her were genuine; she believed it was more of a flirtation and a game.
Therefore, whether it's Lu Min's feelings towards himself or his feelings towards Lu Min, both should calm down and make a decision.
“I…” She looked up, hesitating to speak.
At that moment, under the sunlight shining on the snow-capped mountains, Lu Min's resolute face became incredibly warm and gentle.
At that moment, Sang Qi's heart seemed to beat a few more times, like a pool of spring water rippling in the wind, creating waves and shimmering light.
Even if you refuse, you still have to say it.
She seemed to have lost her mind.
Damn it.
…………
Sang Qicai and Lu Min returned to the inn in the afternoon.
The two hadn't spoken since they returned. Zaxi thought they had quarreled, but he didn't dare to ask.
That evening, Sang Qi didn't come down for dinner, so Lu Min took the packed food upstairs and knocked on her door.
It took a while for Sang Qi to open the door.
"I saw you hadn't eaten, so I packed some food for you." Lu Min put the lunchbox on the coffee table and sat down nearby.
"I'm not hungry,"
"Eat a little bit." Lu Min showed no impatience.
Sang Qi lowered her gaze to the lunchbox on the coffee table, her mind becoming agitated once again.
"Don't be so good to me, it's not worth it," Sang Qi said coldly.
Lu Min just smiled and said, "It's none of your business who I'm nice to."
"...You can't give me what I want, we can't be together."
After a long while, Sang Qi calmly spoke these words.
She regained her senses.
"To be honest, our relationship will only last until the end of this trip. I don't want any casual encounters, let alone fleeting romances, do you understand?"
Lu Min scoffed: "You underestimate me that much?"
Sang Qi avoided Lu Min's eyes: "I'm sorry."
“You know that the last thing I want to hear is ‘I’m sorry.’” Lu Min’s tone became serious.
Sang Qi froze, choosing to remain silent.
Seeing Sang Qi remain silent, Lu Min sighed, shrugged, and said helplessly, "Then I guess I was just being presumptuous."
These words made Sang Qi feel even more guilty and embarrassed for no reason.
The truth has been revealed, and she can no longer continue her journey as if nothing happened.
Continuing down this path would only lead to awkwardness, and she didn't know how to face Lu Min.
After a long silence, Sang Qi suddenly said thoughtfully, "Lu Min, our trip is over."
"What?" Upon hearing this, Lu Min's expression changed slightly, and he stared at Sang Qi in surprise.
Sang Qi solemnly repeated, "I said, our trip is over."
"What do you mean?" he asked calmly.
“I don’t want to continue the journey. I will still pay for it, but I don’t want to continue the trip. So, you are no longer my tour leader. That’s it. I’m going back tomorrow,” Sang Qi sighed.
This was the best ending she could imagine.
Lu Min's face darkened, his expression became fierce, and his hawk-like eyes were fixed on Sang Qi's face.
“You don’t need to look at me like that.” Sang Qi said gently, “I am very grateful for your care along the way. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Let’s part ways amicably.”
After speaking, Sang Qi silently walked to the door, opened it, and looked at Lu Min: "I'm going back tomorrow and need to rest. You can go back to your room."
Lu Min suddenly stood up, walked to Sang Qi, slammed the door shut, then pinned Sang Qi against the wall, one hand on the wall, staring at Sang Qi with his eyes lowered.
Sang Qi was cornered with nowhere to retreat, like a lamb forced into a dead end by a hungry wolf. Helplessly, Sang Qi met Lu Min's burning gaze, her eyes stubborn and resolute.
His voice was a little hoarse when he spoke: "Since you're leaving tomorrow, you should at least leave some lasting memories of this trip that was cut short."
As he spoke, Lu Min leaned closer to Sang Qi and pretended to kiss her forcefully. Sang Qi immediately pushed him away by placing her hands on his chest and turned her head away from him.
Sang Qi's heart raced, her face flushed and her ears burned: "Don't do anything reckless, I'm telling you."
"I've been craving food the whole way here. We're leaving anyway, and you still won't let me eat my fill? That's too much!" Lu Min said shamelessly. As he spoke, he reached out and grabbed Sang Qi's slender waist to prevent her from moving around.
"Don't do this. If you keep doing this, I'll hate you for the rest of my life." Sang Qi gritted her teeth, desperately prying Lu Min's hands away from her waist.
Lu Min frowned, his gaze softening, and he released his grip on Sang Qi's waist. Looking at the timid woman shrinking back, his eyes filled with pity, he found himself unable to bring himself to force himself on her.
"Don't make me hate you." Sang Qi's eyes were red, looking just like a little girl who had suffered a lot of grievances.
Lu Min chuckled and pinched Sang Qi's fair and delicate face: "Are you going to cry?"
Sang Qi turned her face away, sniffed, and denied it, saying, "No, I didn't."
"No? If not, then I'll keep bullying you." Lu Min said cheekily.
Sang Qi suddenly pushed Lu Min away, staggered to the window, and looked away from Lu Min in a panic.
Lu Min chuckled as he looked at Sang Qi, shook his head, and sighed, "A paper tiger."
"..."
"Let's go." He waved.
The door opened and then slammed shut, plunging the room into silence.
Sang Qi stared blankly at the door, lost in thought.
...
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