“Yes, we won’t break up.” Xu Sui looked at him with a smile, her voice choked with emotion.

Zhou Jingze gently pinched her nose and said: “In any case, leave this matter to me.”

After Zhou Jingze hung up the phone, it didn’t ring again.

Dawn was just breaking, the morning market hadn’t started yet, only a few breakfast shops at the intersection were open.

Zhou Jingze took Xu Sui’s hand and led her out for breakfast. He ordered two bowls of wonton soup and casually grabbed a bag of milk to place in front of Xu Sui.

After the food arrived, Zhou Jingze didn’t have time to eat, looking down at his phone, his thumb sliding across the screen doing something, and he even went out to make a phone call.

Xu Sui held her spoon and casually stirred the wontons in her bowl. She only ate two before she couldn’t eat anymore.

After Zhou Jingze finished his call and returned, he took Xu Sui back to the hospital and packed breakfast for Mother Xu.

At the hospital entrance, Zhou Jingze handed her the congee. Always thorough in his arrangements, he said:

“I just hired a caregiver for Auntie. Take care of yourself, and call me if anything happens.”

The phone in Zhou Jingze’s hand rang. He glanced at it and said:

“I have to go, baby.”

Xu Sui looked up at him without speaking. Zhou Jingze seemed to see right through what she was thinking, speaking slowly in a voice as clear and clean as when he was young:

“This job is indeed tough and somewhat dangerous, but the world is like this – someone has to do it.”

“Do you know what I think about when I’m on the plane preparing for dangerous rescues?”

“What?” Xu Sui wondered.

Zhou Jingze looked down at her, his thumb gently brushing her cheek:

“Because you’re there, the sky has meaning.”

Because he knew someone was waiting for him, every rescue mission he threw himself into was backed by the determination to live well and return safely to see her.

Xu Sui’s heart constricted. Looking at Zhou Jingze, she couldn’t bring herself to say the three words “don’t go” no matter what.

“Alright, come back safely.” Xu Sui finally said.

Xu Sui took out her phone to check her schedule. She was supposed to return tomorrow, but because of Mother Xu’s illness, she had requested two days off from work and changed her high-speed rail ticket.

Finally, she carried breakfast into the hospital room.

Mother Xu woke up not long after, lying pale-faced on the bed.

Xu Sui lowered her eyelashes: “Mom, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said such harsh words to you.”

“Silly child, how can this be blamed on you? It’s an old problem.” Mother Xu managed a smile.

Mother and daughter were like this – because of the blood bond between them, their emotions could never be completely severed.

For the next few days, Xu Sui stayed at the hospital caring for Mother Xu, keeping so busy she was dizzy. Fortunately, the caregiver Zhou Jingze had hired helped her a lot.

Mother Xu worried about delaying Xu Sui’s work and kept urging her to go back.

Xu Sui sat by the hospital bed peeling an apple for Mother Xu, smiling as she replied: “I’ve already taken leave. I haven’t even been home for two days – you should at least let me finish using my vacation days.”

The nurse was changing Mother Xu’s medication and heard the mother-daughter conversation, smiling as she said:

“You’re really blessed – first your son-in-law gave blood for you and hired a caregiver to look after you, then your own daughter is bustling around taking care of you.”

“He came before?” Mother Xu asked with a bland tone.

Xu Sui nodded, wanting to speak well of Zhou Jingze in front of Mother Xu: “Yes, when you were unconscious, he was the one taking care of you.”

“Thank him for me,” Mother Xu said, then turned to the nurse who was adjusting her IV drip speed: “He’s not my son-in-law, he’s my daughter’s friend.”

Xu Sui was peeling the apple when her movements paused. A long strip of green apple peel suddenly broke and fell to the floor with a “thud.” She lowered her eyelashes, bent down to pick it up and throw it in the trash, saying nothing in the end.

On this matter, Mother Xu still wouldn’t relent.

The night before returning to Jingbei, Xu Sui was at the hospital caring for Mother Xu. Reassuringly, her physical condition was gradually improving, and her spirits had mostly recovered.

At nine in the evening, Xu Sui was pouring hot water for Mother Xu. Steam quickly rose above the paper cup when her phone buzzed in her pocket. She put down the thermos, pulled out her phone, and her gaze paused.

It was Zhou Jingze calling.

Xu Sui held her phone and walked out of the room door, about to answer when Mother Xu’s voice suddenly came from behind, filled with disappointment:

“Yiyi, are you trying to anger your mother to death?”

In the end, Xu Sui didn’t answer the call.

After returning to Jingbei, Xu Sui went to work as usual, maintained daily contact with Zhou Jingze, and occasionally went out with friends for dinner and shopping after work. She seemed like nothing had happened, but there was always a stone weighing on her heart.

Mother Xu’s obstruction had more or less shaken Xu Sui’s confidence in this relationship.

Ever since Zhou Jingze joined the rescue team, every time she saw news about them, Xu Sui’s heart would start racing with worry.

People do become selfish after having a partner – she only hoped he would be safe.

After work on Friday, with nothing to do, Xu Sui walked aimlessly down the street alone. She randomly boarded a bus and sat in the back row by the window, staring at the retreating scenery outside in a daze.

After riding for an hour, Xu Sui randomly chose to get off at a stop and walked forward for more than ten minutes. Looking around casually, she realized she had wandered to her alma mater, Jingbei Medical University.

Across the street was the university’s famous food street, which happened to separate Jingbei University of Aeronautics and Astronautics from Jingbei Medical University. Xu Sui was just getting hungry, so she put her hands in her pockets and walked across.

Stepping into the bustling street, young female students walked arm in arm, their faces full of collagen, picking fruit at stands. Every smile and frown radiated youthful energy.

Boys who had just finished playing basketball, sweaty in their jerseys, had girlfriends beside them offering them water.

Familiar yet strange.

Xu Sui saw Yun’s Noodle House in the distance and walked in.

This noodle shop’s business was still booming, the owner’s face beaming with joy as he bustled around.

Xu Sui found a corner seat and pulled out a tissue to wipe the table when the owner walked over, asking what she wanted to order.

“One bowl of fresh shrimp noodles,” Xu Sui pressed her elbow on the menu, casually glancing at it before looking up: “Oh, boss, don’t add—”

“Hey, it’s you,” the owner held a ballpoint pen between his fingers, palm supporting a small notebook for taking orders. “Medical university student, right? You used to come eat at my place often when you were studying for graduate school.”

“Yes, it’s me.” Xu Sui smiled in response.

The owner took the menu she handed him, his voice cheerful: “Same as always – extra scallions and cilantro, no vinegar, right?”

“Right, you still remember.” Xu Sui smiled.

After the noodles arrived, Xu Sui picked up her chopsticks, took a bite and put it in her mouth. The noodles were chewy, and the soup was as flavorful and delicious as ever.

Xu Sui ate slowly, breaking into a light sweat all over by the end, feeling very comfortable.

After graduation, she had never had noodles this delicious again.

After finishing, Xu Sui got up and went to the cashier to pay.

The owner was counting inventory bills.

Xu Sui held her phone and gently tapped the table: “Boss, the bill please.”

Hearing this, the owner looked up, stopped what he was doing, and made small talk:

“You came alone today? Where’s your boyfriend? That very handsome, tall guy with a buzz cut.”

Xu Sui was stunned. She and Zhou Jingze had only eaten at this noodle shop a few times, but the owner still remembered.

She lifted her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear: “He’s… ah, working, doesn’t have time to come over right now.”

“Boss, how much is it?” Xu Sui took out her phone and aimed it at the QR code on the counter, ready to pay.

The owner waved his hand, wiping a glass with a white cloth, smiling:

“No need, your boyfriend gave me money back then and there’s still quite a bit left.”

Xu Sui was looking down at her phone when her gaze paused, her tone incredulous: “What money?”

“Oh my, you don’t know? Back when you were studying for graduate school? You often studied very late, and he was worried you’d come out with nowhere to eat, so he gave me money to keep the shop open longer and asked me to take care of you.”

“Boom” – a city wall in Xu Sui’s heart came crashing down.

When Xu Sui was preparing for graduate school, she remembered they had been broken up for a long time.

Xu Sui was like this – once she threw herself into something, she became very absorbed, whether it was liking someone or studying.

She still remembered that during graduate school prep, she stayed in the study room every day until everyone else had left, yet Xu Sui continued studying.

By the time she came out, the cafeteria had long closed. Running off campus, the shops by the entrance had also closed one by one – either they were packing up or they had sold out of food for the day.

Only this Yun’s Noodle House always had its lights on, no matter how late.

Sometimes when Xu Sui sat there eating noodles and encountered heavy rain, the owner would kindly offer her an umbrella.

Jingbei winters were very cold. Each time Xu Sui ran out, hugging her books with fingers red from cold, the owner’s wife would give her a hand warmer or pour her hot water when she saw this.

During those difficult graduate school preparation days, Xu Sui was determined yet lonely. During the hardest times, seeing the noodle shop’s lights still on made her feel like it was keeping her company.

But what Xu Sui hadn’t expected was that the person who had been steadfastly accompanying her through wind and rain was Zhou Jingze.

Xu Sui thought of something and was about to leave, not forgetting to thank the owner.

The owner joked: “You’re welcome. Remember to invite me when you get married – I’m practically a witness to your relationship journey.”

Xu Sui was stunned for a moment, then nodded firmly with a smile: “We will.”

We will get married.

Xu Sui rushed out of the shop and hurriedly hailed a cab home, frantically pressing the elevator button to get to the eighth floor.

She entered her home and began searching for something in the study. In a box of old belongings, Xu Sui found a blue teddy bear baseball cap.

Xu Sui sat on the thick carpet and patted off the dust. She reached inside and pulled out the label – there was a “Z” inside.

For some reason, Xu Sui suddenly wanted to cry.

Xu Sui still remembered that night of the graduation dinner.

With her studies completed, while Xu Sui felt relieved, she was also immersed in the melancholy atmosphere of everyone about to disperse after graduation.

On the day of the dinner, Xu Sui had specially put on makeup and wore a beautiful dress to attend the evening event.

Dozens of classmates sat around a warm brown rectangular table, eating barbecue and drinking while discussing life.

A female student sitting next to Xu Sui suddenly produced two red booklets while everyone was chatting and laughing.

The girl leaned on her boyfriend’s shoulder and waved her marriage certificate at everyone:

“Dear classmates, we’ve ended our ten-year love marathon – we got our marriage certificate today!”

The atmosphere suddenly heated up with applause and cheers.

“Holy shit, doing big things quietly!”

“Come on, drink up! You two have to get drunk tonight, no exceptions.”

The girl and boy looked at each other and smiled, eyes filled with love that could melt each other, graciously accepting the drinks handed to them.

Xu Sui propped her head up, silently thinking how wonderful it was, using tongs to flip the pork belly on the grill, which sizzled.

The girl leaned over: “Suisui, what are you daydreaming about? Come on, let’s toast you.”

Xu Sui snapped back to reality, picked up the wine glass from the table, and drained it: “Congratulations, may you be together for a hundred years.”

“Hahaha, thank you. When are you planning to get married?” the classmate asked.

Xu Sui forced a smile and put down her glass: “I’m still far from that – I don’t even have a boyfriend.”

“I’ll introduce someone to you in a couple of days!”

“Okay.” Xu Sui smiled and casually agreed.

With close friends about to part ways and scatter to the ends of the earth, surrounded by couples and breakups.

After this gathering, the atmosphere was always tinged with melancholy.

No matter what, Xu Sui realized that throughout this journey, she seemed to always be alone.

Midway through, Xu Sui went to the bathroom and accidentally bumped into a girl at a corridor corner.

A strong perfume scent wafted over. Xu Sui kept her head down and quickly apologized: “Sorry.”

“Oh, it’s you, Xu Sui.”

A familiar voice came. Xu Sui looked up – it was actually Bai Yuyue.

After the initial surprise, she didn’t find it strange anymore. After all, they were in the same department and major, just different classes. It wasn’t unusual for them to have their graduation dinner here too.

“Mm, long time no see.” Xu Sui greeted her.

Bai Yuyue wore a red dress, revealing a section of pale white ankle. She looked down at Xu Sui condescendingly, raising an eyebrow with an overbearing manner:

“I wasn’t wrong back then – you couldn’t handle him.”

Both understood who this “him” referred to. Xu Sui’s expression didn’t change much; she even self-mockingly tugged at the corner of her mouth:

“Indeed.”

Bai Yuyue looked down and played with the glitter on her nails, seeming casual but deliberately striking where it hurt:

“Are you still in touch with him recently? I heard he’s dating someone new.”

Xu Sui put her hands in her pockets, nails digging into her palms, tightening masochistically until it hurt. She forced a smile:

“It’s normal to date again after breaking up – people have to look forward.”

Xu Sui didn’t know who she was saying the second half of that sentence for.

“I have something to do, I’ll go first.”

Xu Sui withdrew her gaze from Bai Yuyue, lowered her head, and left.

Watching Xu Sui’s hurried retreating figure, Bai Yuyue thought this lie was quite worth telling.

After returning to the private room, Xu Sui grilled meat while listening to classmates chat.

The tongs pressed against the thin meat slices as oil seeped out. Xu Sui sprinkled cumin and seasoning powder, flipping the meat a few times on the grill surface. Soon, the aroma wafted out.

Xu Sui took a piece of lettuce, wrapped the meat, and mechanically put it in her mouth to chew.

Perhaps because the oil smoke was too choking, her tear ducts were stimulated and her eyes became watery.

Later, Xu Sui drank a lot of alcohol, getting dizzy and heavy-headed, her consciousness becoming unclear.

Worse yet, after drinking, her tooth started hurting.

Actually, Xu Sui’s toothache had been recurring for some time. But graduation had been too busy, and she never had time to see a dentist.

A toothache isn’t a disease, but when it hurts, it’s excruciating.

Half-drunk, Xu Sui felt terrible, and with the toothache affecting her nerves, she didn’t dare move half her face.

She put down her wine glass and ran to the balcony for fresh air.

The summer was stuffy, the sky bright but without a single star.

Drunk and unconscious, Xu Sui particularly wanted to confide in someone. In her daze, she took out her phone and called Hu Qianxi.

The call was quickly answered. Strangely, there was silence on the other end, only the sound of strong wind, as if from an open plain.

Xu Sui didn’t notice anything unusual. Covering half her face that hurt terribly, sobbing sounds transmitted through the receiver.

She just cried.

The other end didn’t ask anything either.

As Xu Sui continued crying, her sobs grew louder, tears clinging to her eyelashes:

“Qianxi, I miss him so much.”

“You… probably want to laugh at how useless I am, but I just miss him.”

Soon after, the other end seemed to pause, apparently asking where she was.

“At a gathering, waaah, I’m so miserable, drunk and with a toothache. I kind of want to go home now.” Xu Sui wiped away her tears.

The person on the other end seemed to tell her to wait there and not wander around. Xu Sui obediently replied “okay.”

While waiting, Xu Sui pressed her cheek against the railing, feeling coolness that relieved the pain. She comfortably squinted her eyes.

Xu Sui couldn’t remember what happened after that clearly, only vaguely recalling someone carrying her home.

The next day when she woke up, there was hangover tea and painkillers on Xu Sui’s desk, along with a blue teddy bear baseball cap left behind.

Xu Sui had always thought that night Hu Qianxi had called another male friend to help take her home.

It seemed that person that night was Zhou Jingze.

Only now did she realize that whether Xu Sui needed him or not, he had always been there.

Xu Sui held the teddy bear hat and crouched in front of the box. She really wanted to call Zhou Jingze now.

Xu Sui took out her phone and dialed. After a few rings, he quickly answered.

Zhou Jingze seemed to have just gotten off a plane, his voice as pleasant as always with that grainy quality:

“Yiyi, what’s up?”

“Nothing—”

Xu Sui’s heart trembled. Holding the blue teddy bear baseball cap, her voice was tender and soft:

“I just missed you.”

I miss you so, so much.