Mother Xu was stunned for a moment, then finally sighed and ended the topic.

After Xu Sui helped her pack, she personally escorted her to the high-speed rail station, promising repeatedly that she would definitely return home before New Year.

After persuading Mother Xu to go back, Xu Sui finally breathed a sigh of relief, then received a call from Sheng Nanzhou on the way back.

Not knowing what the other party said, Xu Sui nodded, smiling until her eyes grew moist, and replied: “Okay.”

As New Year approached, everyone’s faces were filled with anticipation and excited smiles – except at the hospital.

Gray-white walls, cold white fluorescent lights, withered leaves gradually curling up on tables.

The hospital was filled daily with the sounds of family members crying over departed loved ones and patients screaming in pain.

“Under the sun, there is nothing new.”

Fortunately, the day before New Year’s Eve, the sun came out. Sunlight poured in, warming people’s bodies.

As if bringing hope.

Xu Sui stayed in the hospital room with Hu Qianxi, constantly caring for her and chatting with her.

She sat by the hospital bed browsing Weibo when she suddenly showed Hu Qianxi a trending set of best friend photos, saying: “Qianxi, we’ve never taken photos like this. I really want to take a set with you.”

Hu Qianxi’s eyes lit up, then dimmed again: “But I look so ugly now. Let’s take them after I get better!”

“Who says you’re ugly? You’re still very beautiful,” Xu Sui patted her head, saying, “A few days ago, a colleague from our department wanted me to give him your phone number.”

“I didn’t give it to him, mainly because he’s not as handsome as Sheng Nanzhou.” Xu Sui added.

The two looked at each other and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“The sunlight is good today. Let me do your makeup now, and we’ll go take photos in the hospital’s downstairs garden later – it’s beautiful there.” Xu Sui encouraged her, hooking her pinky with her finger, “Haven’t you worn pretty clothes in a long time?”

“Hehe, when you put it that way, I’m tempted.”

Xu Sui immediately sprang into action. She brought her makeup bag from the office and carefully did Hu Qianxi’s makeup.

After the makeup was done, a woman with bright, ethereal eyes and a radiant, beautiful face appeared in the mirror.

Xu Sui helped Hu Qianxi to the bathroom to change clothes. Princess Qianxi was stunned when she got her clothes, her glass-bead eyes widening:

“Songguang High School uniform?”

“Right, I’ll wear Tianzhong’s uniform to match you, because I’ve been feeling nostalgic for campus lately.” Xu Sui explained.

Hu Qianxi’s fingertips traced the embroidered “Songguang” characters on the uniform collar, unconsciously smiling, her voice becoming more lively:

“Let’s wear them! I don’t care if people say I’m trying to look young anymore.”

After changing into their school uniforms, Xu Sui and Hu Qianxi held hands and smiled at each other.

Hu Qianxi’s mood was obviously much better. As she was about to go out, Xu Sui pulled her back: “Wait, we’re missing something.”

“What?”

Xu Sui pulled out two candy-colored hair clips from her pocket and gently clipped them to the right side of Hu Qianxi’s hair.

With her short hair styled this way, she really looked like a genuine high school student.

Xu Sui pulled Hu Qianxi downstairs. When they reached the garden downstairs, she casually glanced around and said: “Qianxi, the background here is a bit messy. Let’s go to the green grass slope over there.”

“Okay.”

Hand in hand, they walked to the grass slope on the east side. The distant scene gradually enlarged before their eyes, becoming as clear as a mirror wiped clean of mist.

The snow had just melted, leaving the lawn wet. Along the path was a walkway lined with sunflowers, leading to a white stage covered with flowers at the far end.

“Wow, no way, did we accidentally crash someone’s marriage proposal?” Hu Qianxi pulled Xu Sui, her tone a bit nervous, “Let’s leave quickly.”

But no matter how Hu Qianxi tugged, she couldn’t move Xu Sui, until a familiar deep voice called her: “Qianxi.”

Hu Qianxi instinctively looked up to see Sheng Nanzhou wearing a sharp tailcoat, broad-shouldered and long-legged, with a red bow tie at his collar. Strikingly handsome, he held a bouquet and walked toward her step by step.

Like a knight descended from heaven.

The person who had promised to marry her when he was twelve.

What Sheng Nanzhou held wasn’t delicate roses, fresh daisies, or charming tulips – it was her favorite sunflowers.

“Miss Hu Qianxi, will you marry me? Regardless of whether I’m tall or short, fat or thin, and even though I don’t look like Takeshi Kaneshiro whom you like,” Sheng Nanzhou knelt on one knee holding the ring, looking up at her, slowly saying, “But there’s one thing – I will forever and only see you.”

At this moment, more and more people gathered on the lawn – her family, friends, even the attending physician and fellow patients were present, all witnessing this special proposal.

“Marry him! Marry him!”

“Qianxi, take pity on old Sheng and accept this bachelor!”

A man laughingly shouted: “If you don’t marry him, I will!”

The crowd burst into laughter, the atmosphere relaxed and harmonious.

Tears that had been building in Hu Qianxi’s eyes fell as she spoke through sobs: “You’re so annoying. I worked so hard on my makeup, and now my eyeliner… is all smudged, waaah.”

Without saying anything else, under his nervous and expectant gaze, Hu Qianxi extended her hand. Screams and cheers erupted around them as Sheng Nanzhou smiled and slipped the ring onto her finger.

The two kissed in the sunlight. Hu Qianxi wrapped her arms around him and whispered:

“Brother Nanzhou, I actually have a little secret I haven’t told you.”

“What?”

“Never mind, I’ll tell you when there’s a chance.”

Green lawn, sunlight, sunflowers, ring – the weather was just right, and so was her heart that liked him.

The sunlight was too dazzling, making the scene before Xu Sui’s eyes blurry and piercing.

She covered her eyes, forcing the tears back. Zhou Jingze embraced her, his fingers soothingly pressing her shoulder as he lowered his voice:

“You should be happy for her.”

After finishing with Hu Qianxi’s affairs, Xu Sui packed up and returned to Liying for New Year.

Zhou Jingze saw her off at the high-speed rail station, reminding her to message him after she arrived.

Xu Sui drowsily nodded and said goodbye, turning to leave, but the man suddenly grabbed her, and Xu Sui was forced to fall into his arms.

Zhou Jingze lifted his hand to pinch her chin, tilted his head and kissed her, prying open her lips and teeth, sucking on her tongue tip, so that his voice was somewhat muffled:

“Did you forget something?”

At the departure station, Zhou Jingze pulled her into a kiss that lasted about five minutes, finally sucking a mark on the back of her pale neck before letting her go.

Xu Sui’s face burned fiercely. After gaining freedom, she fled toward the security checkpoint like a bird.

After returning to Liying, before Xu Sui even reached the door, she saw Grandma standing at the front door from afar, hunched over waiting for her.

Xu Sui dragged her suitcase and quickened her pace, walking to the elderly woman and taking her hand: “Grandma! Why didn’t you wait inside? It’s cold outside.”

“I just came out not long ago.” Grandma patted her hand with a smile.

Upon entering the house, warmth enveloped them. Mother Xu was bringing dishes out from the kitchen, saying: “Go wash your hands quickly, we can eat now.”

Xu Sui immediately rushed into the kitchen. Just as she turned on the faucet, Mother Xu patted her back: “The water’s cold, go wash over there.”

“Hehe, a child with a mother is like a treasure.” Xu Sui walked to the other side, turning on the hot water and acting coquettishly.

Mother Xu smiled and continued bringing out the dishes.

On New Year’s Eve night, comedy skits played on TV as the family sat around eating New Year’s dinner.

Everyone chatted while eating. Mother Xu didn’t mention what happened that day at all, happily chatting with her. The atmosphere seemed quite harmonious.

After dinner, Xu Sui gave thick red envelopes and New Year gifts to both her mother and grandmother.

Unexpectedly, Mother Xu extended her hand toward her. Xu Sui was stunned for a moment and laughed: “Not enough money?”

“Give me your phone.” Mother Xu said.

Xu Sui handed over her phone in confusion. After Mother Xu took the phone, she stood up and announced: “Starting today, your phone is confiscated. You’re not allowed to contact him anymore.”

After speaking, without looking at Xu Sui’s reaction, she walked straight into the room with her phone.

Xu Sui really wanted to argue with her, but the fireworks sounds from the Spring Festival Gala on TV reminded her.

Today was New Year.

Xu Sui decided to endure it. She didn’t want to fight with family on New Year’s Day.

But as it approached midnight, Xu Sui couldn’t hold back anymore. She quietly snuck into Grandma’s room and sent Zhou Jingze a New Year’s blessing text.

At the end, she deliberately mentioned an old story: 【From a number you might still mistake for someone else’s.】

Soon, the phone screen lit up. Zhou Jingze replied:

【Unlikely to mistake it. I memorized this number after that freshman year incident. P.S.: This message is being sent while kneeling.】

【Happy New Year, my one and only.】

When Xu Sui received this text, the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up as she pretended to be nonchalant in her reply:

【Then I’ll reluctantly wish you a Happy New Year too.】

Unfortunately, Zhou Jingze only stayed in Jingbei for two and a half days during New Year before being urgently called back by the First Rescue Team.

Plus, with Xu Sui’s phone confiscated, she lived under Mother Xu’s constant supervision.

After that, it became very difficult to contact Zhou Jingze.

On the fourth day of the New Year, the family sat at the dining table eating when news was broadcasting on TV. The host read from the script: “On the evening of February 17th, Beijing Airlines Flight G7085 from Huaining to Duzhou, at 7:10 PM, was affected by weather and struck by lightning in an air disaster. Investigation results show two fatalities, five serious injuries, and Captain Zhang Zhaoming heroically…”

“Clatter” – the chopsticks in Xu Sui’s hand fell to the floor.

In Liying, the superstitious custom was that dropping chopsticks during New Year was a very unlucky omen.

Mother Xu looked at the news, then withdrew her gaze. Her voice remained gentle but was needle-sharp beneath:

“See? If something happens to him in the future, you’ll have no security at all.”

Before Mother Xu finished her second half of the sentence, Xu Sui’s heart trembled. She rushed into her mother’s room to find her phone, turned it on, and called Zhou Jingze.

The call went through, and the longer the infinite, mechanical beeping continued, the more Xu Sui’s heart hung in her throat.

Could he please answer the phone?

Mother Xu walked in, arms crossed, watching her: “What are you doing?”

“I want to confirm he’s—”

The words “okay” were still stuck in her throat when Mother Xu suddenly interrupted.

Mother Xu snatched away her phone. Just then, the call finally connected, and a clear male voice said “Hello.”

Without hesitation, Mother Xu hung up. Her voice was sharp:

“Yiyi, when did you become so disobedient? Do you want me dead to be satisfied?”

For the past few days, Mother Xu had restricted her from contacting Zhou Jingze, constantly making veiled sarcastic comments that this man couldn’t bring her happiness, forcibly instilling in her that stability was the correct choice.

Snatching her phone, deciding to hang up on Zhou Jingze.

All of this finally made Xu Sui explode.

“Why do you have to be so domineering? I just like someone – don’t I even have the right to be with him?” Xu Sui couldn’t control her emotions, tears falling.

Mother Xu didn’t expect her always-obedient daughter to get angry, but she still refused to back down:

“You two aren’t suitable. You should trust someone with experience. When I married your father, I lived in fear every day…”

“What do you mean by suitable?” Xu Sui suddenly interrupted her. She completely broke down, finally unable to restrain a string of harsh words from spilling out.

“Just because you’re unhappy doesn’t mean I’ll be unhappy too!”

“I don’t want to listen to you anymore. I really feel a bit suffocated.” Xu Sui’s voice choked as she turned away.

Mother Xu was stunned, pointing at her “You—” unable to finish a complete sentence, then began breathing heavily, unable to catch her breath. Losing control, she fell straight down to the side.

Xu Sui had just turned around when she heard the sound and immediately turned back to see her mother lying on the ground, shouting in panic: “Mom—”

In the end, Xu Sui frantically sent Mother Xu to the hospital.

Mother Xu’s collapse triggered a series of accumulated chronic conditions over the years.

She was sent into the operating room.

Xu Sui sat on the bench outside the operating room, belatedly feeling afraid.

If something happened to Mom… If… Xu Sui didn’t dare think further.

Why did she have to argue and get angry with Mom? Since childhood, Mother Xu had endured pressure from her maternal family, firmly refusing to remarry for her daughter’s good upbringing, while occasionally having to endure neighbors mocking her as a widow.

Even so, Mother Xu had gritted her teeth and raised her smoothly by herself, while also shouldering the responsibility of caring for an elderly person.

What was she even doing?

Xu Sui curled up in the chair, arms wrapped around her knees in a safe, self-protective position, yet her hands resting on her kneecaps kept trembling.

She was lost in thought when suddenly, a pair of large palms with cool touch gripped her trembling hands. His palms were heavy and weighty, yet inexplicably reassuring.

Xu Sui slowly looked up and met a pair of deep, dark eyes.

Zhou Jingze wore a black windbreaker, his features cold and sharp with clean lines. He crouched in front of Xu Sui, holding her hands. A transparent snowflake on his collar fell between their joined hands and instantly melted.

Impossible to tell if it was tears or snow.

“How did you get here?” When Xu Sui opened her mouth, she found her throat extremely dry.

“I had leave today and happened to plan on coming to see you. When you called me, I was on a plane. As soon as I got off and heard the argument on the phone, I rushed over.” Zhou Jingze rubbed her palms, warmth gradually spreading.

He smiled, pinched Xu Sui’s face, and asked: “Why are you so flustered in doing things? I rushed to your house and found Grandma still alone at home.”

“Ah? I should go now—” Xu Sui realized.

Zhou Jingze’s thumb clamped down on her finger joints as she tried to move: “I’ve already settled her in.”

“Whoosh” – the operating room door opened. A nurse wearing blood-stained gloves called out: “The patient needs plasma exchange. Who has Type B blood?”

Just as Xu Sui was about to move, Zhou Jingze held her down, turning to the nurse:

“I do.”

Fifteen minutes later, Zhou Jingze returned from giving blood. His dark shadow fell beside Xu Sui as he sat next to her, lifting his arm around her shoulder, closing his eyes and leaning his head back against the cold wall, waiting for the results with her.

Xu Sui leaned against Zhou Jingze’s strong, sinewy arm, noticing a small puncture mark on his wrist where blue veins protruded, surrounded by purple bruising with spots of blood still seeping out.

At midnight, the doctor came out of the operating room, gave them the all-clear, and instructed Xu Sui never to let the patient get emotionally agitated again, to pay attention to physical recovery, and to stay hospitalized for observation for half a month.

Xu Sui breathed a sigh of relief and finally urged Zhou Jingze to go get a hotel room to rest.

Zhou Jingze refused, still staying with her. The two sat on the bench covered by coats and slept the whole night.

When dawn was just breaking, a sharp phone ring woke them both.

Zhou Jingze had stayed up all night. His face was pale, expression weary, with dark circles under his eyes.

He looked at the caller ID on his phone. Xu Sui looked over too.

It was the First Rescue Team calling.

Zhou Jingze didn’t answer, letting it ring.

“We—” Xu Sui spoke slowly, her throat hoarse and dry from not speaking for so long.

Zhou Jingze looked at her, his voice somewhat deep, his Adam’s apple slowly rolling as he spoke word by word: “Won’t break up.”