Chapter 91: Confession, In the Eternal Sun

There was silence on the other end, as if time had frozen.

Xu Sui, always reserved and rarely expressing affection, felt a bit awkward not receiving a response. Just as she was about to change the topic, Zhou Jingze suddenly spoke in a low voice:

“I feel the same way. I miss you more than you think.”

A soft “click” came from the phone, followed by the sound of a lighter sparking. He took a drag and chuckled lightly, “At night when I get aroused, I can only rely on your photo to cool down, you know?”

Zhou Jingze’s tone was casual, tinged with mischief, his deep voice cutting through the unstable phone connection and into her ears.

Itchy and hot, Xu Sui felt her ears burning.

“You rascal,” Xu Sui blurted out, her face turning red.

Zhou Jingze chuckled lightly, put out his cigarette, and teased her, “Come to my place and help water those plants. Be good, I’ll be back once you’re done.”

“Okay.”

It happened to be the weekend, so Xu Sui brought 1017 and Master Kui to Zhou Jingze’s house on Amber Lane. She opened the yard gate and looked around.

Most of the plants in the yard were dead, their leaves yellowing and limp.

Zhou Jingze had clearly tricked her into coming. Even an agricultural expert couldn’t revive these plants.

After drinking some water inside, Xu Sui took Master Kui to the flower market and bought several pots of plants: cacti, eucalyptus, ficus, and aloe vera.

She arranged these plants in the yard, watered them with cool water, instantly brightening the tone of the whole house.

After tidying up, Xu Sui noticed beer cans scattered on the table, men’s clothes strewn on the sofa, and aviation magazines lying around.

Unable to sit still, Xu Sui put down her milk, grabbed a white plastic bag, tossed the beer cans into it, cleaned the coffee table, tidied up other messy areas, and took out the trash.

The whole house looked refreshed.

Once everything was in order, Xu Sui threw his clothes into the washing machine, added a blue laundry pod, pressed the button, and left to do other things.

Today was the hottest day since spring began, and after cleaning all afternoon, Xu Sui was drenched in sweat. She entered Zhou Jingze’s room, found one of his T-shirts and sweatpants, and immediately headed to the bathroom to shower.

While getting dressed after her shower, Xu Sui found that Zhou Jingze’s black sweatpants were too big, with strings that wouldn’t tie properly—they just fell down. She gave up and wore his T-shirt instead, slipping on a pair of slippers.

She casually dried her damp hair with a white towel, letting it fall over her shoulders. Water dripped from her hair, leaving a stain on her chest.

After shaking off some water from her ears and slipping on her slippers, Xu Sui went to the washing machine, transferred the cleaned clothes to a basket, and carried it upstairs to hang them.

It was dusk now, the sky presenting a thick honey-like color, hot winds blowing as if summer was approaching.

Just as Xu Sui was about to hang the clothes, she noticed several pieces of Zhou Jingze’s clothing caught on the railing, fluttering in the wind. Standing on tiptoe and reaching for them was futile.

She fetched a small stool from the room, climbed barefoot onto it, stretching to reach the clothes. Each time she almost grasped them, the wind blew, teasing her fingertips away.

Xu Sui had to stand on tiptoe and reach as hard as she could for the clothes.

Meanwhile, Zhou Jingze, with a cigarette in his mouth, leaned against the wall watching her for who knows how long.

Completely unaware, Xu Sui continued her struggle with the clothes. Wearing Zhou Jingze’s white T-shirt that barely covered her thighs, revealing her slender, wet legs, her round calves still adorned with a few water droplets.

Her pert buttocks hinted beneath the oversized T-shirt, her movements subtly enticing.

Zhou Jingze squinted as he watched her, exhaling wisps of gray-white smoke from his cigarette. His throat moved slowly, a warm sensation rising in his lower abdomen.

Xu Sui didn’t have to do anything; just standing there, she could elicit a reaction from him.

Zhou Jingze stubbed out his cigarette, tossed it into a flowerpot at his feet, put his hands in his pockets, and, in military boots, took deliberate steps toward Xu Sui.

Xu Sui, after several failed attempts to reach the clothes, felt defeated by the wind. Suddenly, a shadow loomed over her, and a pair of solid, vein-lined hands wrapped around her legs, lifting her off the ground.

Startled, Xu Sui let out a gasp. The other person emitted a low, ambiguous chuckle. When she looked down, she realized the man who should have been miles away was now right in front of her.

“You’re back?” Xu Sui’s voice was filled with pleasant surprise.

Zhou Jingze was still dressed in the blue uniform of the airborne rescue team, with four stripes on his left shoulder and a small golden airplane on his right shoulder, surrounded by a bright red five-star flag. He wore work pants and military boots, broad-shouldered and tall, exuding a casual and handsome aura.

“When have I ever lied to you? I won’t come back after watering the plants,” Zhou Jingze chuckled.

“Which outfit should I take?” Zhou Jingze asked her.

Xu Sui hugged his neck, sitting on one side of the man’s shoulder. Zhou Jingze lifted her willingly, letting the young girl direct him left and right until she received the clothes.

With one hand, Zhou Jingze held her buttocks, his rough fingers lightly touching her fair legs, his throat tightening. “Wearing my clothes to seduce me?”

Xu Sui trembled under his touch, sitting higher, feeling anxious about falling, her heart racing. “No… I didn’t know when you’d come back.”

The man chuckled softly, a dangerous undertone in his voice. “But you did seduce me.”

When Zhou Jingze returned, Xu Sui was very happy and unusually clingy. Wherever he went, she followed like a little tail.

At night, Xu Sui said she didn’t want dinner, she wanted cake. Zhou Jingze didn’t even change his clothes, took ingredients from the fridge, and went into the kitchen, resignedly baking a small cake for his girl.

No choice, she’s his wife, who else would he spoil?

In the kitchen, Zhou Jingze cracked eggs and kneaded flour. When the batter was ready, Xu Sui appeared from behind, hugging him, rubbing her cheek against his waist.

“Heh,” Zhou Jingze laughed nonchalantly, his tone teasing yet suggestive, lowering his voice, “Keep teasing me and I might just do something right here.”

“Do you want to check if I’m reacting, hmm?” Zhou Jingze playfully reached for her hand, but Xu Sui clung tightly to his waist, refusing to let go.

“Why suddenly so clingy?” Zhou Jingze teased, smearing cream on her cheek and nose.

Xu Sui wasn’t angry, her voice muffled. “I want to apologize to you.”

“I know everything you’ve done for me—maps, teddy bear hats, noodle shops…” Xu Sui hugged him, sniffing, “I wasn’t firm in this relationship recently because of my mom’s situation, I’m sorry.”

Zhou Jingze’s movements halted, turning to look at her. Xu Sui looked up at him. Zhou Jingze had shorter hair now, sharp features, his eyes fixed on her like sharp blades.

Their eyes met, falling into the vortex he controlled.

Xu Sui spoke first. “I’ll follow you, support you, and won’t waver in this relationship anymore, I’ve decided on you for life.”

Like a piece causing ripples in a tranquil lake.

Zhou Jingze lowered his head, pressing his forehead against hers, serious. “Xu Sui, if you follow me, I won’t let you regret it.”

“I’ll bring the best to you and stop you from being sad.”

“Okay,” Xu Sui nodded.

Afraid she might cry again, Zhou Jingze changed the subject, tucking her loose hair behind her ear, smiling. “Were you apologizing just now? Then make it up to me.”

Confused, Xu Sui looked at him. “How do I make it up to you?”

Before she could react, Zhou Jingze pulled her close, lowering his head to lick the cream off her nose and cheeks.

Zhou Jingze watched her, slowly licking, then feeding her bit by bit. Xu Sui tasted a bit of cream passively—it was sweet—then suddenly, he kissed her.

Forced to swallow the cream he fed her, Xu Sui’s throat went dry. She wore a loose white t-shirt, perfect for him.

Xu Sui felt a sudden chill and rough fingers on her, his ring cold and warm. She lowered her head, burying it in his neck, unable to speak.

The cream melted quickly, turning into a puddle.

Zhou Jingze pressed harder, touching her ribs, eyes showing a hint of red, sweat dripping from his forehead onto the kitchen floor.

“Ugh.”

“Hmm?”

Zhou Jingze looked at her, voice hoarse. “I want to marry you.”

…

Zhou Jingze had been on vacation recently, spending all day with Xu Sui. She thought everything was going well.

Then came the bolt from the blue. Life was like that—good and bad, sunshine and rain; you never knew which wave would hit you.

Early Sunday morning at 3 AM, Zhou Jingze received a call from the hospital. Hu Qianxi had a sudden heart attack. Despite two emergency treatments, during the second attempt, Shen Nanzhou saw her in extreme pain. Hu Qianxi was as thin as paper, her heart and lungs bulging like a balloon, her breathing nearing failure.

The clearer her consciousness, the more excruciating the pain.

She silently shed tears.

Like a fragile doll.

The doctor came out, informing Shen Nanzhou of Hu Qianxi’s condition. Shen Nanzhou looked down, unconsciously clenching his fists, then nodded.

He chose to stop the resuscitation.

Shen Nanzhou calmly notified every relative and friend to come and say goodbye to Hu Qianxi.

Shen Nanzhou was the last to go in, holding her hand, a smile on his face. He didn’t want his wife to worry in her final moments.

Finally, Hu Qianxi passed away at 4:45 AM.

When the doctor announced Hu Qianxi’s time of death, Xu Sui fainted. Shen Nanzhou sat motionless by the white hospital bed, holding her hand, silent like a statue, blending into the hospital’s dim, pale background.

Like a dissected body.

In a corner unseen by anyone, a hot tear fell onto the sheet, quickly disappearing.

Shen Nanzhou took care of everything after Hu Qianxi’s passing. On the day of the wake, Xu Sui and Zhou Jingze stood in the front, welcoming and hosting guests as Hu Qianxi’s family.

Lu Wenbai also came, holding a bunch of winter jasmine flowers, shadows under his eyelashes, his face still pale and sickly. He walked up to Shen Nanzhou, patting his shoulder, whispering, “My condolences.”

During the graveside visit, Xu Sui stood in black among a hundred people, holding a note she had written, struggling through her words, choked up multiple times.

“Hu Qianxi, born on July 13, 1993, aged 28. Also my good friend, Hu Qianxi was beautiful, with large eyes and fair skin. The first time I saw her, I thought she had stepped out of a comic as a lively girl. Like most ordinary girls, she liked chasing stars and fretted over her weight and acne. She loved sushi, disliked anything too stimulating, and her favorite color was pink.”

“She was our friend, the little princess in her parents’ eyes, an ordinary wife, and also a wildlife veterinarian who has rescued thirteen hundred small animals around the world. She has watched three thousand sunsets alone and yet… lived well. Occasionally tearful, sometimes petulant, but throughout her life, she was kind and lively, smart and strong, brave and passionate, like a sunflower.

“Please don’t forget her.”

After saying this, the whole room fell unnaturally silent, with only faint sobbing, followed by louder cries as everyone seemed engulfed by immense darkness.

After seeing off the guests, Xu and his group stood by the grave, and she stood there for a long time. Xu stared at the photo on the tombstone, depicting Hu Xixi’s smiling face, stunned.

Since the last warming, the entire city had been in the rainy season, shrouded in a layer of white moisture all day long. But today, Xu looked up at the sky.

Surprisingly clear.

It was good weather.

Xixi, are you watching us? I will never forget you. In the next life, we will still be good friends, and I will knit you a quilt cover.

After everyone left, Sheng Nanzhou sat alone by the tombstone. As the sun gradually set, the fiery clouds spread a romantic blood-red hue across the sky, magnificent and beautiful.

Sheng Nanzhou sat there, contemplating. On the night of their farewell, he held Hu Xixi’s hand, and she lay there, squeezing out a strained smile and speaking:

“Nanzhou, I have a secret I never told you. I’ve secretly liked you for a long time. But in high school, I overheard you telling your friend that you only saw me as a little sister. So I kept this feeling hidden. The incident with Lu Wenbai in college was really silly. It wasn’t about liking him; it was purely being tempted by his looks, and inexplicably persistent. At the time, I thought, since life is short, why not boldly experience what it’s like to passionately like someone.”

Lu Wenbai was like a character experience in her life’s game and completion.

Later, she explained everything to Lu Wenbai, and they became friends.

As she spoke, tears fell from Hu Xixi’s eyes. She weakly reached up to touch Sheng Nanzhou’s temple, her voice feeble and powerless, each word squeezed from her throat:

“Nanzhou, I’m leaving. Don’t be sad for me. You must live well and see the beautiful things in the world for me—rainbows, sunny days, sunsets. I haven’t seen enough yet; there’s so much delicious food I haven’t eaten. So… you must do these things for me. No foolish actions allowed.”

“If in the next life, I have the chance, I will meet you first and pursue you.”

Sheng Nanzhou sat by the tombstone, maintaining a strong and calm expression for several days until it finally shattered. His expression twisted with grief as he slumped against it, his hand reaching up to stroke the words on the tombstone:

Grave of beloved wife Hu Xixi.

On this day, love was forever lost.

At the same time, he placed a sunflower in front of the grave and uttered a sincere statement from his throat:

“Xixi, may you dwell in the sun forever.”

On this day, the sky was clear for miles, the horizon endless, the dusk beautiful, the scent of flowers wafting, birds chirping, and the wind gentle.