Dead silence filled the air, with cold winds blowing through the corridor, sending chills all around.

Huo Ting first checked the wound on Lu Huai Zheng’s arm. After confirming it wasn’t serious, he squatted beside Hu Jian Ming and smiled with concern: “Brother Hu, are you alright?”

Huo Ting was a very protective person. Seeing his demeanor, Hu Jian Ming’s heart sank. He gritted his teeth and cried out in pain.

Huo Ting moved his foot half an inch to the side, tilted his body slightly, and nodded toward Lu Huai Zheng with a smiling yet seemingly troubled expression: “This is a bit difficult to resolve, isn’t it?”

Hu Jian Ming looked over, straining, with sharp pain in his shoulder. The wound was exposed to the air, and the cool breeze against it felt like a sharp knife, causing him to almost lose his breath from the pain.

Huo Ting pursed his lips, pressed on his shoulder, and lowered his voice to speak in his ear: “My nephew does have a bit of a temper. He joined the army in his early twenties and has been in the military for years. You know soldiers—straightforward, not fond of beating around the bush. If you bully his girlfriend, he certainly won’t tolerate it. The fact that he didn’t dislocate one of your legs is already considerate.”

Huo Ting was making up lies with a straight face.

Hu Jian Ming listened with widening eyes.

Huo Ting leaned down further and continued: “His father was the commander of the Central Guard Regiment, now buried in the Martyrs’ Cemetery. This young man grew up under the watch of several leaders, and he’s done well for himself too. He’s a lieutenant colonel, a pretty high rank…” He paused, giving him a meaningful look, allowing him to understand the implications. Hu Jian Ming’s eyes showed complete defeat as he looked fearfully at Lu Huai Zheng, who was holding Yu Hao. Huo Ting patted his shoulder again: “So, this time you’ve hit a brick wall.”

Hu Jian Ming almost got pulled in, but sneered: “So now you’re oppressing ordinary citizens like us? I’ll still make him take off that uniform!”

Huo Ting smiled gently: “That’s not what I meant. I just wanted to tell you, we’ve known each other for so long, and we all know what you’re up to. If you hadn’t caused trouble, I would have let you take advantage, and I wouldn’t have minded. But if you’ve done something that outrages both gods and men.”

At this point, his smile disappeared, suddenly turning cold as he leaned close to his ear, enunciating each word: “Even if I have to dig to the bottom of the earth, I’ll expose you!”

That’s why one shouldn’t do bad things.

Hu Jian Ming tensed up, his scalp tingling.

His wife had warned him not to provoke Huo Ting. Huo Ting was a ruthless person who would devour you without spitting out the bones.

“Let’s consider this a misunderstanding today. I’ll have someone take you to the hospital. As for the rest, we’ll discuss it another day.” After saying this, Huo Ting looked at Yu Hao, “Whatever misunderstanding you have with her, in my eyes, she’s the one who has the right to speak, not you. But given the situation, I promise to compensate you. Also, if I hear even a word about this afternoon from anywhere else, there’s nothing more to discuss between us. Agreed?”

Huo Ting completely turned the passive situation into an active one.

Hu Jian Ming was being manipulated completely, and besides, he had no choice!

Finally, he gritted his teeth and nodded.

Now, he just wanted the money!

After reaching an agreement, Huo Ting asked his driver to come up and carry Hu Jian Ming down.

Lu Huai Zheng’s wound wasn’t deep, just a thin line with barely any blood. It almost disappeared after rinsing with clean water. Jia Mian was more worried than he was, holding his arm and examining it repeatedly, “Damn, I wonder if it will affect your flying? I remember you can’t have scars.” Huo Ting was smoking nearby, and upon hearing this, he looked back at him, noticing Lu Huai Zheng frowning as he pulled his hand away, ignoring him.

Huo Ting smiled, turning his gaze back to the window, and said to Lu Huai Zheng without looking back: “You take Yu Hao home first. Jia Mian and I will go to the hospital.”

Lu Huai Zheng walked up to him, rolled down his sleeve, and gave a low “Mm” in response.

Huo Ting put out his cigarette, patted his shoulder, and looking at the prosperous street scene outside, suddenly felt nostalgic: “You’re almost thirty now, right?”

Lu Huai Zheng looked back at Yu Hao, then responded with another “Mm.”

Huo Ting gestured to indicate a height: “I remember when I first met you, you were only this tall, about eight years old, with a buzz cut. Your eyes were full of light when you looked at people. You were clever and mischievous. I didn’t have a good first impression of you; there was too much eagerness to please in your eyes. Such children are too slick, not very likable.”

He knew what Huo Ting was going to say and didn’t respond, just listened quietly.

Huo Ting sighed: “Later, after hearing what your aunt said, I understood why you were like that. Your aunt had bad luck with men and didn’t meet me early enough. You both suffered for years as a result. Seeing you like this now, I think it’s not bad. A man should have some temper. How do you young people say it? Too laid-back, too carefree.”

His former uncle was a drunk who would beat people when intoxicated. Lu Huai Zheng had been beaten frequently as a child, living under someone else’s roof.

In the blended family, his former uncle had a son of his own, two years younger than him.

He wouldn’t beat his son, but when things went wrong, he would take it out on Lu Huai Zheng.

At that time, Lu Huai Zheng was insecure and timid, just an eighteen-year-old youngster, bearing all bitterness and depression alone. He didn’t dare tell his aunt, fearing she would be beaten too. With him around, his aunt was already at a disadvantage. Lu Huai Zheng didn’t want to add to her troubles, so he endured those bitter years.

During those years, he often felt like he was walking on the edge of a dark abyss.

Then he met Huo Ting, the turning point in his life, who taught him step by step how to be a person, how to be a man with backbone, to be smooth but not sycophantic in dealing with people, to be humble yet confident, and to have hardness and pride. To understand the principles of heaven and earth, and to recognize the difficulties of life. To know what to give up and what to cherish.

These were Huo Ting’s life precepts from half a lifetime, and fortunately, Lu Huai Zheng had come to know them when he was only about twenty.

Two years ago, he had encountered his former uncle’s son on North Street, caught stealing and tied up, being beaten black and blue.

He thought at the time, if he hadn’t met Huo Ting, would this have been his future?

That day, people didn’t call the police but chose vigilante justice.

After beating him, they took everything from him and then stripped him and threw him on the street.

Lu Huai Zheng bought him a bottle of water and a few packs of cigarettes, squatted down by pulling up his trouser legs, and chatted with him for a while. He learned that the man had died long ago, leaving him an orphan who survived by stealing and cheating. After smoking half a pack of cigarettes with him, Lu Huai Zheng was very quiet, not knowing what to say. This guy wasn’t very likable as a child; he would blame Lu Huai Zheng for his wrongdoings, causing him to be beaten for no reason several times. Back then, Lu Huai Zheng had hated this father and son to the core.

At that moment, they were at a loss for words.

Before leaving, he gave him all the cash he had: “Don’t steal anymore. Go find a job.”

Then he put his wallet back in his pocket and left.

With each step he took, his footsteps became heavier, firmly landing on the ground, solid and steady, as if determinedly moving in a certain direction.

How good.

He wasn’t as lucky as Lu Huai Zheng.

He hadn’t met Huo Ting; there was no hand to pull him from the edge of the abyss. Thus, he fell into that vortex, turned into a mess by fate.

Lu Huai Zheng didn’t look back and didn’t know that the young man in his underwear, holding the warm money, inexplicably began to cry.

…

Huo Ting and Jia Mian went to the hospital, while Lu Huai Zheng took Yu Hao back to his bachelor apartment.

His apartment was very clean, with the living room windows wide open, and curtains billowing in the breeze.

He didn’t live there often, so the facilities were quite simple. As soon as Yu Hao entered, she saw basic military documents and Russian original texts spread out on the coffee table.

She could imagine him sitting quietly on the sofa, flipping through books, a cigarette between his lips, or lazily resting his feet on the coffee table.

Beyond his stern and rigid appearance on the training ground, in private, everything he did was full of tenderness.

For Yu Hao, he was ineffable.

Only she understood his gentleness.

After entering, Yu Hao pointed at the bed, “Can I go lie down?”

Lu Huai Zheng, who was locking the door, turned his head to follow her gesture, “Want me to carry you over?”

Yu Hao reached out to him, hanging on his neck, her black eyes staring at him, but not saying a word, like a child.

He smiled, locked the door, pushed the suitcase and other items to the entrance, and lifted her horizontally. Yu Hao was too light; he carried her effortlessly. He wanted to tease her a bit, tell her to eat more and gain some weight, but Yu Hao’s gaze was blank, absent-minded, and his heart sank.

He placed her on the bed.

He bent down to kiss her forehead, brushed the hair on her forehead, looked into her eyes, talked to her, comforted her, but the soft girl on the bed seemed not to hear, her eyes lifeless and dejected as she looked at him.

His chest ached, slightly gripping the bed sheet, creating two wrinkled spirals in the black fabric. Lu Huai Zheng, containing himself, kissed her lips gently, one kiss after another, finally comforting her in a muffled voice.

“Look at me, hmm? Yu Hao, look at me.”

Yu Hao obediently looked at him, but her gaze remained hollow and aimless.

He suddenly lowered his head to kiss her fiercely, forcefully seeking in her mouth, his tongue forcefully prying open her lips—the most intense and fierce kiss they had shared in a long time. But still, she did not react. He became anxious and closed his eyes to bite her lip, yet not daring to use too much force for fear of breaking it. Yu Hao remained unresponsive, leaving Lu Huai Zheng desperate, until—

Yu Hao let out a low cry, “It hurts.”

He finally released her.

Holding her head, he pulled her into his arms, his hand firmly pressing against her. He closed his eyes, feeling desperate and powerless.

“What will it take for you to get better?”

But Yu Hao didn’t answer, like a porcelain doll.

Finally, Han Zhi Chen arrived.

Kneeling by the bedside, he softly called her name, “Yu Hao?” over and over.

Lu Huai Zheng was on the balcony, smoking one cigarette after another. After filling an ashtray with cigarette butts, Professor Han came out. He quickly put out his cigarette, moved the ashtray aside, and respectfully nodded to him.

Han Zhi Chen’s gaze lingered on the ashtray, feeling sorry for both children.

“When she’s having an episode, no matter what you say to her, she’s bewildered, even unable to perceive her existence. She needs someone beside her to wake her up bit by bit. How long this process lasts depends entirely on her willpower. If her willpower is weak, she might harm herself. But you don’t need to worry too much; she can adjust on her own. And this time, her condition seems much better than before, better than when she returned from Yunnan. Give her some time; she might need a process.”

Lu Huai Zheng nodded.

“Thank you for your trouble.”

Han Zhi Chen smiled and waved his hand, “But you don’t look too good. Haven’t you been resting well lately?”

For the past month, he had been sleeping in cars, on sofas, and on floors, never getting a proper rest. His fatigue was evident, though his spirit remained strong, and his physique hadn’t deteriorated.

“Old Li said you’re going for a check-up tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“Are you mentally prepared?” Han Zhi Chen said: “This disease isn’t that frightening. Even if you get it, it’s just how it is. With medical advancements and medication, some people can maintain for decades without the disease progressing. And I’ve heard that medical science is working hard to overcome this challenge. In a few years, they might develop a cure. So it’s not that scary. You’re still young, have faith in Chinese science!”

HIV is a very tricky challenge, but Han Zhi Chen was an optimist. He didn’t take anything too seriously, living one day at a time.

Live each day to the fullest.

Leave glory in the past, and keep expectations for the future—this was his attitude toward life.

Lu Huai Zheng felt that he and Yu Hao were both very fortunate. Everyone around them seemed to be full of enthusiasm for life.

After Professor Han left, he sat on the sofa for a while. As his nervous system suddenly relaxed, exhaustion overwhelmed him. Unable to resist, he covered his head with a piece of clothing and fell asleep.

When he woke up.

There was a “clatter” sound from the kitchen.

It sounded like a porcelain bowl breaking. He awoke with a start, pulled off the garment, and rushed in to see Yu Hao crouching on the ground, carefully picking up pieces of broken fragments.

Lu Huai Zheng went over and pulled her up.

“Let me do it.”

But Yu Hao hooked her arms around his neck, still crouching on the ground. Lu Huai Zheng bent over, held by her, and heard her take a deep breath as she buried her face in his neck.

The woman’s gentle breath sprayed on his neck.

Like Willow catkins, it tickled his heart, teasing, extremely seductive.

“Lu Huai Zheng, do you still want me?”

Lu Huai Zheng picked up the fragments piece by piece. “Yes.”

“Then let’s do it. I want to try. I just Googled it—even with HIV, we can have children. We just need to use protection.”

“?????????????”

Immediately following, the fragments once again scattered on the ground, like fireworks, exploding in the darkness!

A Side Story

Before Yu Hao and Lu Huai Zheng got married, another couple quickly obtained their marriage certificate.

Before receiving Zhao Dai Lin’s wedding invitation, Yu Hao was completely stunned.

“You said who?”

Zhao Dai Lin coughed and said: “Sun Kai. Also, you’ll be the bridesmaid, and Lu Huai Zheng will be the best man.”

That day, a group of people crowded into Lu Huai Zheng’s apartment.

The men were playing Texas Hold’em outside, while the women were trying on wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses inside. Halfway through the fitting.

Zhao Dai Lin suddenly became interested and said to Yu Hao: “Do you want to try on a wedding dress to see how it feels?”

Yu Hao’s heart pounded, “That doesn’t seem right.”

Xiang Yuan and several other bridesmaids, sprawled on the bed, raised both hands and feet in approval, saying they wanted to see Yu Hao try on a wedding dress.

Yu Hao looked at the pure white wedding dress laid out on the bed, with layers of light tulle and shoulder adorned with crystal gems.

Her heart fluttered. She turned and went in to change.

As soon as Yu Hao went in, Zhao Dai Lin gave Xiang Yuan a look. The quick-witted young girl immediately climbed off the bed and went out.

The men were engrossed in their game when Xiang Yuan rushed over and pulled the man in the middle away.

“Brother, come here.”

Lu Huai Zheng stumbled, almost dropping his cards, and looked at the impetuous girl, “Hey, what’s the rush?”

Xiang Yuan snatched the cards from his hand and gave them to Jia Mian, “Brother, help him play a hand.”

Jia Mian had been eagerly waiting and took the seat like a monkey grabbing a stool, giving him no chance at all.

When Yu Hao came out after changing into the wedding dress.

Lu Huai Zheng was leaning against the door, chatting idly with Zhao Dai Lin. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a white, puffy figure emerge, and his gaze instinctively shifted.

His chest seemed to be filled with something.

The wedding dress had an off-shoulder neckline, revealing her delicate collarbone and rounded shoulders. Her arms were like small pieces of jade, white and smooth, her waist defining a graceful figure, with perfectly proportioned bones and flesh.

Yu Hao hadn’t expected him to be there. She smiled, lifted the hem of her dress, and slowly turned in a circle, “Does it look good?”

Lu Huai Zheng was stunned.

In his world, only two words remained: “It’s beautiful.”

Ten minutes later.

After trying on the wedding dress, everyone was playing cards.

Lu Huai Zheng was drinking cold water in the kitchen. Sun Kai came over to get a drink, opened the refrigerator and looked around, then turned back to the figure leaning against the glass countertop with suspicion: “Are you very thirsty?”

As he spoke, Lu Huai Zheng gulped down another glass, casually put the cup aside, irritably fanned himself with the collar of his shirt, and grunted in annoyance.

“Your wife is too much.”

Sun Kai heard him say.