“That’s it?” Zeng Yuan Xue was visibly stunned and found it amusing. “Those two people didn’t save you, yet you still hope this world is good?”
“…”
“Nothing else to say?”
Shu Nian’s eyelids twitched, and her dry lips parted slightly: “If I had anything else to say, why would I tell you?”
Zeng Yuan Xue raised an eyebrow: “Perhaps in the future, I could help deliver a message to your… mother?”
Shu Nian curled up on the ground, burying her face in the crook of her arm, ignoring him.
“We need to hurry now.” Zeng Yuan Xue didn’t mind her attitude and left the room, returning quickly with a knife in his hand. “Otherwise when the police arrive, I won’t be able to help you anymore.”
Shu Nian slowly raised her head and suddenly asked a question: “Don’t you have a family?”
“…” Zeng Yuan Xue’s expression changed, but he still maintained his smile as he pushed the knife into her hand. “Hold it yourself, then I’ll help you escape this filthy world.”
Shu Nian allowed him to manipulate her and calmly said: “Wouldn’t they feel ashamed of you?”
Zeng Yuan Xue’s eyes widened suddenly, and he shouted: “Shut up!” The muscles on his face twitched, making him look particularly terrifying. “Why should they be ashamed? What did I do wrong? It’s you people who are wrong, utterly disgusting.”
“…”
“Do you know what I’ve been through? Do you know how much I’ve suffered?” Zeng Yuan Xue’s voice grew louder, his breathing increasingly rapid. “Who came to help me?! Who?!”
“You could die.” With death before her eyes, Shu Nian no longer feared him. “If you’re suffering, you could die.”
Zeng Yuan Xue laughed coldly: “Why should I die?”
“Then why should anyone else? Everyone’s life has its disappointments.” Tears unconsciously fell from Shu Nian’s eyes, mixing with the blood on her face as they slid down. “Only you chose to hurt others to save yourself.”
Zeng Yuan Xue calmed his breathing but stubbornly insisted: “I’m saving you.”
He stopped delaying and made Shu Nian grip the knife handle with the blade pointing inward. Zeng Yuan Xue held her hands with both of his, his eyes cold as he smiled and said: “It’s you who wants to die, I’m just helping you.”
Shu Nian didn’t resist, nor did she respond to his words.
She only felt exhausted to the extreme.
Before the knife tip could pierce her heart, she already felt like she was dying.
Shu Nian’s consciousness became foggy.
Many scenes were no longer clear, but she remembered that the two men had called the police. After regaining consciousness, she heard that those two men thought something was wrong with Zeng Yuan Xue but didn’t dare to confront him directly.
So they chose to leave the place and then call the police.
Fortunately, the police arrived quickly.
Zeng Yuan Xue’s knife hadn’t yet drawn blood, and hadn’t yet hurt her when the police broke through the door and pinned him to the ground. Shu Nian was helped up by a female officer and led out of that house.
Then, Shu Nian heard Deng Qing Yu’s voice.
Shu Nian’s vision was somewhat blurry, and at that moment, she even felt as if she had gone to heaven. She slowly raised her eyes, looking at Deng Qing Yu as if she couldn’t believe it, her voice hoarse and choked: “Mom…”
Deng Qing Yu’s sobs immediately erupted, her eyes swollen and dry, tears no longer able to flow, repeatedly calling “my Nian Nian,” yet completely afraid to touch her, fearing it would cause her pain.
In such a short time, Deng Qing Yu also seemed to have been tormented, becoming haggard and thin.
Shu Nian looked at her, tears falling uncontrollably, unable to say a word.
Her gaze shifted, coincidentally meeting Zeng Yuan Xue’s eyes.
He was held by two police officers, his hands cuffed behind his back, offering no resistance. But he seemed extremely unwilling, his eyes cold as his pitch-black pupils stared fixedly at her.
Shu Nian’s spine turned cold, and then darkness fell before her eyes as she completely lost consciousness.
…
…
Xie Ru He didn’t know how many times he had sung “Flying Insect.” But when he finished the last verse, he instinctively called out “Shu Nian,” receiving no response from her.
He turned his head to look and found that Shu Nian’s breathing had become steady; she had fallen asleep without realizing it.
Xie Ru He’s lips curved into a smile as he leaned over to tuck in her blanket.
The room was quiet and bright.
Xie Ru He thought for a moment and deliberately lay down. He stared at Shu Nian, and after a while, his ears inexplicably grew hot. He turned over, lying on his back.
Xie Ru He wasn’t accustomed to sleeping with the lights on and now had not the slightest bit of drowsiness.
Plus, Shu Nian was lying right next to him.
At a distance where he could embrace her with just a stretch of his hand.
Xie Ru He knew his request wasn’t appropriate, and after hearing the excuse he made up, she probably wouldn’t refuse. But he really would be worried, afraid that in her current state, she might do something to harm herself.
And he wouldn’t see it, wouldn’t know.
He would always have such worries, even wanting to carry her with him.
Take her everywhere.
Recalling what Shu Nian had said, Xie Ru He’s eyelids fluttered, and he suddenly looked at her. After a few seconds, uncertainty crossed his eyes, and he hesitantly asked: “Do you want to get married?”
The response was still silence.
Xie Ru He licked his lips, knowing she was asleep and couldn’t hear him, but still feeling embarrassed. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he cleared his throat and, as if practicing, asked again: “Shu Nian, do you want to get married?”
“…”
After a long while.
Xie Ru He’s voice broke the silence of the room.
Propping his chin, he focused intently on Shu Nian, suddenly noticing a tear sliding down from the corner of her eye. Xie Ru He’s expression froze as he wiped the corner of her eye with his fingertip, murmuring: “Why are you crying…”
Shu Nian showed no signs of waking, as if trapped in a nightmare, with small kitten-like crying sounds coming from her throat.
Xie Ru He frowned: “Having a bad dream?”
He thought for a moment, then reached out to hold her hand, stroking it with his fingertips, his tone like comforting a child.
“Don’t be afraid.”
As if sensing his presence, Shu Nian’s breathing gradually steadied.
Xie Ru He stared at her, bending down to kiss the back of her hand, and asked again: “Do you want to get married?”
After a while.
As if answering his question, Xie Ru He softly said: “I want to get married.”
“To you.”
Perhaps because she had gone to sleep early, or maybe because her sleep quality was poor, the next day, Shu Nian still woke up as soon as dawn broke. She sat up, blankly spacing out for a while.
Shu Nian turned her head, noticing that Xie Ru He was still asleep beside her. She sniffled, not wanting to wake him.
Shu Nian’s position was against the wall, making it impossible for her to get off the bed from the other side. She could only go from the foot of the bed or climb over Xie Ru He. After thinking for a moment, she carefully moved toward the foot of the bed.
She had just moved when Xie Ru He suddenly stirred. As if disturbed, he turned over.
Shu Nian was startled and instinctively looked back.
But she found that Xie Ru He still had his eyes closed, showing no signs of waking.
Shu Nian thought again and felt that crossing over Xie Ru He would be a shorter distance than going to the foot of the bed. This way she could get off the bed more quickly and wouldn’t wake him up.
Having decided, Shu Nian lifted the blanket covering her.
She moved her body, observing his hands and feet hidden under the blanket, fearful of pressing on him. She hesitantly extended one leg, stepping near the edge of the bed, just about to move her hand over as well.
Suddenly, her hand was grasped and pulled forward.
Shu Nian’s breath caught as she leaned forward, falling onto Xie Ru He. Before she could react, she looked up and met Xie Ru He’s bright black eyes.
His gaze was clear, not like someone who had just woken up.
They stared at each other for several seconds.
Xie Ru He reached out to touch her face, his voice hoarse: “Why didn’t you wake me when you got up?”
Shu Nian was still at a loss due to the proximity and position, staring at him blankly.
Xie Ru He moved his hand, loosely supporting her back as he sat up. Without another word, his feet touched the ground as he picked up Shu Nian and carried her out of the room.
Shu Nian instinctively clutched his clothes, her body stiff as she stammered: “Why do you always carry me?”
“…” Xie Ru He’s expression froze, and he answered honestly, “Want to carry you.”
Shu Nian had just woken up, her mind still foggy: “Why?”
Was there a why?
He just wanted to.
Xie Ru He had told the truth, but Shu Nian still asked for a reason. He couldn’t think of one, so he could only respond with silence.
Leaving the room, Shu Nian tilted her head and volunteered an answer: “Is it like when you see a small cat or dog outside and just want to pick it up?”
Xie Ru He carried her back to the original room.
Hearing her description, he thought about it and reluctantly hummed in agreement.
Shu Nian frowned, emphasizing: “But I’m not that short.”
“I know.” Xie Ru He put her down on the bed, found a pair of slippers for her to wear, and said very seriously, “You need to wear shoes properly. With shoes on, you’re 160 centimeters.”
Shu Nian was choked by his words and retorted without much confidence: “Without them, I’m also…”
Xie Ru He crouched in front of her, looking up at her. Their height difference was suddenly reversed. His expression was calm and gentle, like a golden retriever.
Because of his gaze, Shu Nian felt inexplicably guilty.
After quite a while, she finally admitted in resignation: “Fine, without them I’m not.”
Xie Ru He laughed softly, patting her head.
“Go wash up.”
By the time Shu Nian came out of the bathroom, Xie Ru He had also finished washing up.
He was now in the kitchen heating milk.
Shu Nian walked over and stood near him. Recalling the dream she had last night, her mood again became irritable and anxious, worried that someday in the future, such scenes might become reality.
Xie Ru He asked her: “Do you want toasted bread?”
Shu Nian nodded absentmindedly.
Looking at the milk in the pot, Shu Nian blinked, suddenly remembering something. She pressed her lips together and casually asked: “Do you remember how I used to always bring you milk to drink?”
Xie Ru He responded: “I remember.”
In this region, Shu Nian’s height was average among girls, not particularly short. But she always wanted to grow taller, drinking a glass of milk morning, noon, and night without fail.
Afraid she wouldn’t grow, she never touched carbonated drinks.
At that time, Xie Ru He was already over 170 centimeters tall.
Not exceptionally tall among boys his age, but still stands out.
Shu Nian always worried that with her drinking habits, one day she might grow taller than Xie Ru He. This might make Xie Ru He feel inferior and too afraid to remain friends with her.
After worrying about this for some time, Shu Nian began bringing milk for Xie Ru He every day.
Hoping Xie Ru He would grow taller like her.
Shu Nian brought two cartons of milk each day, thinking that since she had already drunk a glass at home, she would give both cartons to Xie Ru He. He didn’t seem to particularly enjoy drinking it, but he couldn’t refuse her forceful attitude.
Later on.
Shu Nian’s height remained unchanged, while Xie Ru He suddenly shot up to 180 centimeters.
After that, Shu Nian never brought him milk again.
“My mom used to complain about me then,” Shu Nian continued talking to herself. “Bringing enough milk for two people every day, like I was keeping a boy toy outside…”
“…”
At this point, Shu Nian suddenly stopped speaking.
Both fell silent.
Realizing what she had said was inappropriate, Shu Nian’s face turned crimson in an instant, and she quickly corrected herself: “I mean, I was pretty nice to you back then… that’s what I wanted to say…”
“Oh?” Xie Ru He turned to look at her, his eyes hiding undisguised amusement. “Why were you nice to me?”
Shu Nian’s lips moved, but she couldn’t find a reason to explain.
The next moment, Xie Ru He curved his lips, his almond eyes slightly narrowed as he leaned toward her face. Noticing Shu Nian instinctively pulling her head back, he reached out to hold it in place and playfully asked: “Because I was your boy toy outside?”