Going to see the flowers again?
Liang Yicheng blinked her big eyes, somewhat curious. “Won’t you ever get tired of looking at those same two types of flowers?”
Also, what kind of normal person spends all their free time looking at flowers?
“And the boss never joins us whenever we go,” Sheng Tianming leaned back in his chair, feeling a sense of defeat at this realization.
Song Yuanxing stroked his chin, speculating, “Maybe he thinks you’re too weak and would just hold everyone back.”
Sheng Tianming slowly widened his eyes, indignant. “What do you mean, I’d hold everyone back? He’s clearly annoyed with you!”
Song Yuanxing: “Impossible! Absolutely impossible!”
“It’s because you’re too weak.”
“It’s clearly you!”
“It’s you!”
“It’s you!”
“…”
The two glared at each other, teeth clenched, the air thick with tension.
Feng Jingchen glanced at the others who were minding their own business, helplessly massaging his throbbing temples as he tried to ease the atmosphere. “Alright, the boss must have his reasons for doing this. If there’s really a problem, I’ll help you ask him about it next time.”
As soon as he spoke, Sheng Tianming and Song Yuanxing quickly returned to their usual demeanor, smiling in unison and speaking with perfect synchronization: “No need.”
What a joke—if this matter reached the boss, the ones who’d suffer would probably just be the two of them.
Hearing this, Feng Jingchen put on a friendly smile. “In that case, everyone should go and rest.”
Song Yuanxing and Sheng Tianming nodded obediently and prepared to head upstairs to rest.
Seeing this, Feng Jingchen’s smile deepened.
Hmm, good. This household would definitely fall apart without him.
Liang Yicheng stretched lazily and tilted her head. “Sister Yuan, Sister Xi, let’s head back too.”
She wanted to hear the rest of the story they hadn’t finished telling yesterday.
Cen Xi pulled her thoughts back from the man’s lonely figure, already having an answer in her heart. “You go back first. I’m going to see the flowers too.”
Song Yuanxing perked up with interest. “Suddenly, I’m not sleepy anymore. I’ll go admire the flowers too.”
Sheng Tianming: “Count me in.”
Fu Nanchuan silently followed along.
Liang Yicheng chuckled mischievously, a sly glint in her eyes. “Brother Feng, Sister Yuanyuan, let’s go see the flowers too.”
If there’s punishment later, we’ll face it together.
Cheng Yuan ignored the frantic voice in her mind and nodded in agreement. “Alright.”
Feng Jingchen smiled faintly. “I have no objections.”
**
Backyard.
The man lay reclined in a rocking chair, his soft hair slightly tousled, his eyes closed tightly, his long, dense eyelashes like wings ready to take flight. His skin was pale and flawless, and as he lay there quietly, he seemed almost docile.
Surrounding the rocking chair were flowers blooming in a dazzling array as far as the eye could see. A gentle breeze swept through, making the entire garden sway.
It was like an oil painting, beautiful yet unreal.
Cen Xi paused in her steps, suddenly unsure whether to break this tranquility.
In her memory, Xie Yubai rarely relaxed as he did now.
Ever since that car accident three years ago, everything had changed.
Cen Xi tightened her fingers, took a deep breath in her heart, and turned to leave.
The group eavesdropping not far away: Wait, why are you leaving?
“Cen Xi.”
A low, hoarse voice rang out. Cen Xi stopped in her tracks and turned back with a smile. “Why are you awake? Do you want to sleep a little longer?”
The man sat up, his sightless eyes unusually filled with confusion and a hint of sorrow. His slender fingers ran through his hair, pushing it back to reveal a smooth, full forehead. As he let go, a few strands fell back down.
He lifted his eyelids, his slightly pale lips trembling inexplicably, as if he hadn’t yet emerged from the dream he just had.
He asked, “What kind of emotion is happiness?”
Cen Xi froze in place, a chill spreading from the soles of her feet as she stared at him blankly.
The man lowered his gaze, his beautiful fingertips rubbing the black bracelet on his wrist. His voice was low, as if it would scatter with the slightest breeze:
“I just had a dream. In the dream, someone told me: You have to be happy.”
—”Little Bai, you have to be happy.”
“My response was: I am happy every day.”
—”I am happy every day.”
“Then, in the dream, a pair of very beautiful eyes looked at me. She didn’t speak, only shook her head, but I could sense the sadness hidden within them.”
Why?
Why would there be sadness?
He didn’t understand.
Over the past few years, memories of that person had grown fewer and fewer. Even though he tried desperately to hold onto them, he kept forgetting.
It was like a command he had to obey.
He didn’t want to obey, but the truth was, he had already forgotten her voice and some of the memories of their time together.
He didn’t know how long the remaining memories would last.
Nor did he know how much longer he could hold on.
All because of the words, “You have to be happy every day. You can’t let down the wish I make for you every year: May Little Bai be safe, smooth-sailing, healthy, and joyful.”
The prerequisite for being happy is to be alive, right?
Then he would stay alive.
He couldn’t die.
But what she wanted to tell him was to live happily.
Was he happy?
It seemed he wasn’t.
He could smile, but he just wasn’t happy.
So, was he still keeping his promise now?
“Xie Yubai,” Cen Xi called him.
Xie Yubai’s expression remained indifferent. “Hmm?”
“If you can’t hold on anymore, go find her.”
Xie Yubai was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head.
“She told me to live.”
“She said to live happily.”
“I can’t break my word.”
“But you’re not happy!” Cen Xi’s eyes reddened, her voice trembling slightly. “Xie Yubai, enough. It’s enough. There’s no need to torment yourself anymore.”
After Shen Suian left, Xie Yubai had sealed himself off with their memories, keeping everyone at a distance and rejecting any kindness or affection.
Like a walking corpse, like an emotionless machine, the only command he gave himself was to survive.
Everything else was beyond consideration.
She could feel his grief and despair.
Xie Yubai still shook his head. “Just wait a little longer.”
He said, “Cen Xi, I’m trying.”
He said, “Just wait a little longer. I’ll bring her back.”
At the very least, at the end of his life, he wanted to hear her voice again, to hear her call him by the nickname only she used—Little Bai.
Cen Xi stared at him in disbelief, her hands trembling uncontrollably at her sides. “What?”
How could someone who had died come back?
[