The rain had been falling for four days straight.

The severe weather of heavy to torrential rain continued all the way to the 25th.

Thick cloud layers gathered darkly above Yan County. The distant mountains blurred in the dense fog, leaving only a mass of black silhouettes.

The sun had run off to who knows where. Even during the day at home, lights had to be turned on—no different from nighttime.

Today looked absolutely not like suitable weather for traveling.

Lin Shilan’s face bore huge dark circles under her eyes. She had suffered insomnia for a week, and yesterday, to pack her luggage, she hadn’t closed her eyes the entire night. Lu Xiaorong and she each carried a large suitcase. By the time they reached the meeting point, got on the bus holding the puppy, Lin Shilan was already exhausted to the point of collapse.

Feeling that even breathing was laborious, she leaned half-dead against the window glass, like a battery drained of all energy.

The Tan family of four weren’t taking the bus—they were driving their own private car. They arrived earlier than the two of them. Tan Ziheng helped Lu Xiaorong carry her suitcase, while Lin Shilan put away her own luggage.

Since last time when she was dragged away by Tan Jin, Lin Shilan and Tan Ziheng hadn’t spoken to each other, maintaining an awkward state.

And the annoying ghost who caused this situation was now guarding by the main entrance to board the bus.

He looked at Lin Shilan eagerly, wanting to talk with her.

Lin Shilan went around behind him and sat directly on the bus.

Her phone vibrated—a text message came in.

[Are you going to keep ignoring me, not talk to me until after I leave?]

She frowned, her fingers deleting and revising on the keyboard, then replied:

[Yes.]

The scheduled departure time had long passed. The bus gradually filled with another four or five people—one bus only barely filled the seats in the first three rows.

In this kind of thunderstorm weather, everyone was hiding at home all bundled up. Even though it was a free trip paid for by their superior, no one was willing to come.

After Uncle Tan made several phone calls, he told the driver there was no need to wait anymore—they could depart.

During the waiting time, the rain had grown considerably heavier.

The driving master showed a troubled expression, communicating with him: “Boss, in my experience, the road out of town won’t be easy to drive today. With such heavy rain, if luck is bad, halfway there the vehicle could get stuck in mud, break down, or the engine could get flooded—that would be big trouble! Should your company change the date?”

Uncle Tan turned to look at his son. Tan Jin shook his head.

“No, it has to be today,” he stuffed a red envelope to the driver, saying forcefully: “Let’s depart.”

The sedan drove in front, the bus followed behind. The windshield wipers turned at maximum speed, yet the view ahead still wasn’t clear enough. The whooshing sound of wind was right by their ears, the car windows trembling and shaking.

At several flooded road sections, the vehicle just plowed through the water. Lin Shilan, sitting in her seat, could hear the driver master’s sighs from time to time.

They didn’t seem like tourists—they were practically refugees fleeing disaster.

Passing by the river channel, Lin Shilan glanced at the water level through the window.

Earthy yellow muddy water rolled down, the water level directly threatening the riverbank. Su Ge was right: if it kept raining like this, the flood would come early.

“Ah!” The woman sitting in the front left suddenly cried out: “Is there a landslide on the mountain beside us!”

Everyone in the vehicle followed her gaze and looked ahead. Not far away, a large area of mud and sand had been washed by rainwater into the middle of the road—the scene was quite terrifying.

The driver master cursed and turned on the hazard lights, stopping the bus by the roadside.

The sedan in front also stopped.

Uncle Tan and Tan Jin got out of the vehicle.

The people in the bus had also been frightened by the severe weather they’d encountered along the way. Their desire to return was strong, and as soon as the vehicle stopped, they began chattering and discussing.

“What do we do, can we still drive?”

“How can we drive? There’s a landslide ahead—driving over would be suicide, wouldn’t it?”

“This trip is too dangerous, let’s go home.”

“That’s right, forget about playing,”

“Forget it, we’re not going. Take us back.”

Uncle Tan had the driver get out to talk to him privately.

Tan Jin observed the mountain and road conditions—the road ahead hadn’t shown any deformation yet.

Even so, Uncle Tan’s negotiations there still weren’t going smoothly. He helped the driver light a cigarette. The old master waved his hand, refusing to accept it: “Boss, we can’t drive. If something happens, I can’t bear the responsibility.”

At some point, Lin Shilan had also gotten off.

She stood by the roadside, looking toward the river channel.

The river had surged violently. The only bridge out of town—now the bridge piers could no longer be seen.

Having calculated Tan Ziheng’s departure date and leaving on this day—so what? Human calculations couldn’t match heaven’s calculations. What was happening in this timeline had already deviated from the track they were familiar with.

—Fortunately, it still wasn’t too late. Today was probably the last deadline for being able to leave.

Crossing that bridge, they could survive. Cross it.

For several years, Lin Shilan had spared no effort to find a way to escape from Yan County. Strangely, these past days, all she could think about was the days here.

The academically heavy senior year, the strongly artificial-flavored milk tea, the worthless breed of local dog, the egg drop soup in the thermos…

The strange rival in love, full of schemes, yet unprofessionally revealing her cards halfway and becoming friends with her. The strong and stubborn mother, who valued face more than her daughter, getting angry over trivial matters.

The neighbor brother’s idiot younger brother, who had secretly loved her for years without a sound. After playing the hero to save the beauty, he quietly kicked the bucket, and she couldn’t even remember who he was.

Everything here—you couldn’t say how good it was, couldn’t say how special…

But if she could stay.

If she could have just one more day, even one more day of such ordinary life, even if she couldn’t escape, it would be worth it.

Looking at the bridge, Lin Shilan asked Tan Jin: “Are we still going?”

She didn’t speak clearly, but he had enough tacit understanding to comprehend.

Tan Jin gazed at her profile and also came to terms with it: “Let’s not go.”

They reached a consensus. So they walked together toward the bus.

Tan Jin helped move her mother’s luggage to the sedan. Lin Shilan picked up Jing Jing while explaining to Lu Xiaorong.

“Mom, you and Jing Jing get in Uncle Tan’s car.”

Lu Xiaorong couldn’t figure out the situation: “Everyone in the bus wants to go home—are we still going on the trip?”

“We’re going.” Lin Shilan led her to switch to the other vehicle.

After greeting Uncle Tan, he came over too.

On the Tan family’s side, Tan Jin would communicate. Lin Shilan was responsible for her mother.

Counting on her fingers, Lu Xiaorong still felt something was wrong: “They have a five-seater car. Adding us mother and daughter and the puppy, their car can’t fit everyone.”

“It’s enough. I’ll go next time, you go first.”

As soon as Lin Shilan said this, her mother immediately wanted to say “then I’ll go back with you.” However, she promptly put her arm around her mother’s shoulder, pressing down her words: “Listen to me.”

“Look, we have so much luggage. Moving it up and down and dragging it back home would be too inconvenient. You take Jing Jing and the luggage to the destination first. When the rain stops, when the next batch of petrochemical plant employees departs, I’ll easily carry a bag and follow those people on the bus to find you.”

Having thoroughly learned from the deceiver Tan Jin, the current Lin Shilan lied without blushing or her heart racing. Lu Xiaorong thought it over carefully—it seemed to make some sense.

Hearing the content of their conversation, Tan Jin added to her mother: “Auntie, I’ll stay behind with Lin Shilan. I’ll look after her. When the time comes, we’ll travel together on the next bus—we won’t be much later than you all.”

Lu Xiaorong’s brow furrowed tightly: “But you’re both children—how can adults feel at ease…”

“It’s not just us—many employees will be going. Don’t worry.”

Lin Shilan took her hand, guiding her to sit in the car.

“Mom, I’m more decisive than you. You should listen to me, right?”

Her mother was noncommittal. Lin Shilan placed Jing Jing in her arms—Lu Xiaorong had no other choice now. The ride was settled.

The spiritually aware little local dog kept its eyes drooping, its gaze unwilling to leave Lin Shilan.

Before closing the car door, she noticed its unhappy little expression. Her hand gently stroked the puppy’s head twice, then she kissed its forehead.

The driver’s seat had been switched to Tan Ziheng. Dad Tan and Mom Tan were still reluctantly saying goodbye to Tan Jin. Lin Shilan stood outside the car and made eye contact with Tan Ziheng.

His face was gentle and modest. Looking at him, she didn’t feel distant or estranged either.

Lin Shilan smiled slightly at him.

He rolled down the car window and gave her a big smile back.

Tan Ziheng called his parents to get in the car, preparing to depart.

The bus was also waiting for Lin Shilan and Tan Jin, preparing to return.

Even after they got on the bus, Tan Jin still uneasily confirmed with her once more: “Really not going? If we chase the car and have them take you, there’s still time.”

Lin Shilan yawned: “You really talk too much nonsense.”

She unceremoniously pulled his arm over to use as her pillow.

Her whole body radiated exhaustion, the dark circles under her eyes severe.

Just when he thought she was about to start catching up on sleep, Lin Shilan spoke quietly.

“A world without you—escaping would be useless anyway.”

Tan Jin lowered his eyes and saw she had already closed her eyes. Her voice was soft, like talking in her sleep.

“You have to stay with me, stay with me all the way until the last moment before you disappear. Then I’ll disappear together with you. We’ll become dust in the universe together, drift away together… drift away…”

The ending sound grew lighter and lighter. Lin Shilan’s breathing became even, emitting a slight snoring sound.

She had fallen asleep.

What Lin Shilan said wasn’t sleep talk—he knew.

These were the words from her heart that she had held in for a week, words she hadn’t spoken to him.

These were the most moving words of love Tan Jin had ever heard.