If the past Wen Shiqing was like an unripe, sour fruit, now she was a plump, tender, and juicy peach—delicate and enticing.
Everything became tangible—her soft, fragrant body pressed against him, the curves of her figure graceful and alluring. The haziness of dreams suddenly took on a vivid reality, and Xie Yucheng’s heart pounded rapidly and powerfully.
Years ago, one day, that dream he could never speak of on the surface first left Xie Yucheng feeling unsettled. He had fled from home, moving to live with Wang Changlin.
Every time she approached, he felt as though he were holding his breath underwater, avoiding her gaze, afraid that even the slightest slip would reveal something.
He spoke harshly to her, as if deliberately confronting the part of himself that had erred.
He feared falling—he wouldn’t allow himself a second look, wouldn’t allow himself to get too close, actively keeping his distance, cutting off those impractical thoughts in his mind.
Yet the desire in his heart grew like wild weeds, choking him until he could barely breathe.
The girl’s soft, warm breath brushed against his chest. Her long lashes curled, her red lips slightly parted, her sleepy eyes calm and charming.
Xie Yucheng couldn’t help but smile faintly, and as if compelled, he bent down to place a gentle kiss on the top of her head. Using the dim light as cover, he stared at her deeply for a long moment before carefully pulling away.
Anyone else could, but not her.
The next day.
When Wen Shiqing woke, daylight was already bright. She was alone in the bed. Her clothes were neatly placed beside the bed in the next room—probably brought there by Xie Yucheng.
Dressed, she went downstairs and saw Xie Yucheng lazily leaning in the lobby, chatting with a young girl at the hotel front desk. A playful smile lingered on his face, and whatever he said made the girl reach out to playfully hit him.
“Oh, my sister’s awake. Time to go.” His eyes crinkled with amusement as he looked at Wen Shiqing, then he clicked his tongue at the front desk girl. “I’ll see you when I get back.”
Once outside, the truck hit the road again.
For the entire morning, Wen Shiqing sat quietly in the truck, unusually silent.
She had always known that Xie Yucheng was reckless.
During those days he didn’t come home, how many women had he kissed? How many had he slept with?
Just thinking about it made her heart feel as if it were being shredded and cut into pieces.
Those chaotic thoughts tormented her again and again.
Finally, after a long while, she had made up her mind.
If Xie Yucheng was willing to love her, she would forgive his past recklessness, convince her mother, and overcome all obstacles to be with him.
If he refused to love her, she would return, find a quiet place, and make it their tomb.
The truck passed through a sparse poplar forest, with scattered houses on both sides of the road.
An elderly couple waved for the truck to stop. Xie Yucheng slowed down and asked through the window, “Where to?”
The older woman’s silver hair peeked from under her headscarf, her complexion healthy, her face warm with a kind smile. “To the county hospital up ahead.”
The old man wore a small floral cap. Both of them were clearly from an ethnic minority, their speech carrying a slight accent.
“Get in.” Xie Yucheng said.
“How much?”
“No charge.”
The elderly couple thanked him repeatedly. “We’ve been waiting for a long time; the shuttle didn’t come. Thank you so much, young man.”
Xie Yucheng waved them off. “Just along the way.”
Wen Shiqing climbed to the back seat, leaving the front for the elderly couple.
The old man carefully guided his wife in, making sure she didn’t bump into anything.
“Where are you kids headed?” he asked.
“Delivering goods to Jiangcheng.”
The woman noticed they were clearly from inland. “Oh, you’re dressed too lightly. Up north, it only gets colder. In Jiangcheng, it can even snow in September. Do you have warmer clothes?”
Xie Yucheng smiled. “We brought two jackets.”
The old woman glanced at Wen Shiqing in the back seat and asked, smiling warmly, “Are you two married?”
“No, she’s my sister. She’s never been to the northwest and came along to travel.”
“Oh, really? She’s fair-skinned and delicate. How old are you, young lady?”
“I’m 18, Grandma.”
Then she asked about their hometown, their parents’ occupations—her words flowed like an open tap, unstoppable.
“My grandson is a doctor at the county hospital, four years older than the young lady, and he’s still unmarried.”
The old man tugged her clothes gently. “Why are you talking so much? Why say this to people?”
The old woman pouted. “Just chatting a bit.”
Perhaps they were lonely at home and eager to talk to fresh young faces.
Seeing the old woman’s hand held tightly by her husband, Wen Shiqing asked, “You must have a strong bond, right?”
The old woman looked blissful, counting on her fingers. “We’ve been together for over fifty years. We met when we were just teens.”
“Childhood sweethearts?”
“No, I’m his older sister—two years older.”
“Older sister?”
“Yes. Her mother was from Xiaozhou and married my father here. That’s how we met.”
Xie Yucheng’s hand on the steering wheel twitched for some reason.
“Why bring up old stories?” the old man grumbled.
“Hmph, if you won’t listen, cover your ears!” the old woman scolded.
Wen Shiqing couldn’t help but smile. Her sweet smile reflected in the rearview mirror, reaching the man in front, his dark eyes flickering with complexity.
“We used to fight every day when we were young, always competing for things. Later, we matured and naturally ended up together.”
“Did your parents approve?”
“At first, no, but it didn’t stop us. I couldn’t be without him, he couldn’t be without me. Parents couldn’t do anything.”
Wen Shiqing became more interested. “So who confessed first?”
The two elders laughed and pointed at each other, neither admitting it was them.
“He once helped someone build a house, fell from the second floor, and landed on a steel rod. The rod pierced from his stomach to his back. He lost a lot of blood. When taken to the hospital, the doctors said half his life was gone. They told us to prepare for the worst.”
The old woman’s voice choked slightly. “I asked what kind of preparation. They said to prepare for him not surviving. I couldn’t believe it. We had just been together a short while. I thought, if he dies, how could I live? I knelt, holding the doctor’s leg, crying, begging them to do everything to save him. I wept in the corridor, my parents couldn’t pull me up. I said, ‘If he can’t survive, I won’t either.’ After surgery, he was in the ICU, unconscious. I stayed by his side day and night, whispering, ‘Ma Xiliang, do you not want me? If you don’t wake up, I’ll marry someone else and have children.’ I repeated this in his ear every day. Thankfully, God blessed us—he woke up.”
The old man held his wife’s hand and smiled. “I didn’t expect to wake up to endure your temper for life.”
The old woman huffed. “Marry me and be grateful. I bore you three children, all good. What more do you want?”
The truck arrived near the county hospital. The elderly couple got out, hand in hand, their steps unsteady.
The northwest wind was chilly. Wen Shiqing rolled up the window, still immersed in the warmth of the story, and said softly, “Their love is really touching.”