The girl sat leisurely on the swing, her hair and skirt fluttering in the air as it swayed. Bathed in the warm sunlight, her entire figure seemed to emanate a hazy, sacred glow.
Amidst the desolate and dilapidated surroundings, she alone was a beacon of light.
Hearing the sound, she turned her head, a radiant smile blooming on her exquisite and beautiful face.
Xie Yubai’s heart raced wildly, yet he couldn’t help but feel suffocated.
That sense of ethereal fragility made it seem as though she might vanish in the blink of an eye.
He pulled her tightly into his embrace, holding her so close it was as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones and blood. Even his slightly trembling body betrayed his unease.
He had been on his way back when he received Cen Xi’s message.
Before registering their marriage, he had specifically submitted a report to his superiors and taken half a month off. By his calculations, there were still ten days left.
Today’s outing had been to buy Shen Suian’s favorite snacks.
“Suisui,” he murmured, his chin resting in the crook of her neck. His long lashes trembled like wings about to take flight, and his lips quivered as he whispered her name over and over again.
Shen Suian tilted her head, wrapped her arms around his lean waist, and patted his back, responding patiently, “I’m right here.”
It took Xie Yubai a long time to calm his emotions. Gazing at the smile on the girl’s lips, he smiled too, his eyes shimmering like stars.
He didn’t ask any questions. Instead, he slid one arm beneath her knees and wrapped the other around her slender waist, effortlessly lifting her into his arms.
“I bought your favorite desserts and candied hawthorns. It’s gotten colder lately, and it’s a bit chilly outside. Let’s go inside to eat.”
Shen Suian hummed in agreement, looping her arms around his neck and resting her head against his chest. Listening to the steady, powerful rhythm of his heartbeat, the corners of her eyes crinkled with a smile.
“By the way, Xi Xi is coming back tomorrow.”
Xie Yubai nodded indifferently.
Although the three of them had grown up together in the orphanage, and he and Cen Xi were practically childhood friends, he was a model of male virtue—how could he possibly maintain contact with any woman other than his wife?
Friends needed to maintain boundaries, especially those of the opposite sex.
Shen Suian took a bite of the hawthorn berry, the sweet and sour flavor spreading across her tongue. “It’s from the shop I like. It’s just as delicious as always.”
She didn’t continue the previous topic, as if she had only mentioned it in passing.
Xie Yubai’s gaze lingered almost greedily on her face, unwilling to look away for even a moment.
After a brief silence, Shen Suian propped her chin on one hand and broke the quiet first. “Xiao Bai, do you think if none of this had happened, we might be sunbathing on a beach right now? Or sitting on a boat watching the sea…”
Xie Yubai reached out and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his smile tender. “We’ll have the chance someday.”
His eyes darkened, but his tone remained light and relaxed. “Once this period is over, I’ll apply for leave again. We’ll travel to see the mountains and rivers, go to Hoh Xil to see the sea, and eat all the delicacies under the sun.”
“And our wedding—we’ll have a traditional Chinese ceremony. A procession of red for miles, a grand sedan chair carried high, so everyone can see…”
Shen Suian listened quietly, her lips curving upward. Her tea-colored pupils resembled water-soaked glass beads, beautiful and dazzling.
“Okay.”
…If there’s a chance.
I hope there’s a chance…
**
The next day, November 1st.
Since last night, Xie Yubai’s nerves had become unusually sensitive. His eyes were fixed intently on Shen Suian, and his hand gripped hers tightly. Any slight movement from Shen Suian would startle him reflexively.
Having not rested all night, Xie Yubai had obvious dark circles under his eyes, and his brows and eyes were tinged with weariness.
Shen Suian felt both helpless and heartbroken. She reached out and tapped his forehead with her finger. “I’m at home, I’m not going anywhere. Why are you treating me like a prisoner?”
Xie Yubai held her hand, rubbing his chin against it, and replied with a smile, “After today, I’ll listen to everything you say.”
Starting from today, his eyelids had been twitching incessantly. Not only that, but his chest felt tight, and at times, he even found it difficult to breathe.
That sense of unease hadn’t faded with time; instead, it grew stronger.
But Shen Suian was right in front of him, and he had also made arrangements in advance for Yangguang Road.
Yet he still felt uneasy, fearful, and terrified.
“Little Bai.”
He looked at Shen Suian, his breath catching, and a dull ache throbbed in his heart.
Why?
Why did he still feel that she was far away from him, even though she was right in front of him? So far that he couldn’t even see her clearly…
Shen Suian smiled gently and spoke softly, “Don’t exhaust yourself. Think more about your own well-being. Don’t sacrifice yourself for someone else. Learn to be flexible.”
She recalled the scenes from her dream. “Be happy every day. Don’t let down the wishes I make for you every year: May Little Bai be safe, smooth-sailing, healthy, and joyful.”
“And also, don’t forget the original reason you entered the police academy.”
Xie Yubai shook his head repeatedly, overwhelmed by despair. His eyes reddened, his brows filled with fragility, and his voice choked with emotion. “You said… you said you would stay with me. You can’t break your promise.”
Stay with him day and night, year after year.
Shen Suian’s nose tingled with emotion. She reached out and hugged him. “Little Bai, you promised when you were little—a real man sheds blood, not tears. No crying allowed.”
Shen Suian felt she was going mad.
She was actually feeling grateful.
Grateful that in the days to come, someone would heal him, accompany him, and keep him from being alone.
How laughable.
Suddenly, she remembered the conversation before leaving the dream. Her eyes dimmed slightly, hoping only that the girl truly loved Xie Yubai…
“I’m not crying, I’m not crying…” Before he could finish speaking, the sensation in his hand suddenly vanished. In the empty living room, he was alone.
He froze for a second, then, realizing something, he dashed out like a madman.
There was still a chance…
There was still a chance!
**
Yangguang Road.
Shen Suian stood on the street, looking at everything around her—familiar yet strange.
She wanted to move but couldn’t.
A commotion broke out among the crowd, and Shen Suian sighed.
They really went all out…
Just as it had played out in her dream, except—
It really fucking hurt!
Every bone in her body ached, as if they were broken.
“Suisui!”
The heart-wrenching cry made her want to cry.
[