EHTM - 77

The Cheng Wanyue in Zhao Nanbing’s memory was a vibrant sunflower. Meeting her this time, various emotions intertwined within her.

Life is resilient, yet also fragile.

She was dressed simply, as if she had just grabbed a comfortable dress from her closet after waking up. Perhaps she had woken up too early; she was still yawning when she got out of the car, so sleepy she could fall asleep by leaning against Qing Hang.

Zhao Nanbing had shot wedding photos before, but never like this.

Only the veil had a slight connection to wedding photos.

Zhao Nanbing came alone, without an assistant or a makeup artist, only bringing a camera.

The sycamore trees lining the road were extremely lush, shading the sky. Qing Hang and Cheng Wanyue strolled along the roadside. When the wind picked up, the veil was casually held in hand. When the wind died down, Qing Hang would quietly place the veil over her head. She chased him, and Zhao Nanbing took candid shots all the way, capturing over two hundred photos in half an hour.

After dinner, Zhao Nanbing checked her camera and, for the first time, felt that not a single shot she took was a wasted one.

Zhao Nanbing picked out her favorite photos to show Cheng Wanyue. “When you two have your wedding, I’ll be there to follow and shoot.”

Since Qing Hang wasn’t around, Cheng Wanyue didn’t have to be so reserved. “Although I’m very happy, there might not be a wedding.”

Zhao Nanbing thought they had already registered their marriage.

Cheng Wanyue lowered her head. “There’s a high probability it won’t be cured. When I die, I won’t feel pain, sadness, anger, jealousy, or sorrow. I won’t feel anything. But what about him? He has no family left, but he still has to live on and has a long life ahead. A second marriage... how bad would that sound? I’m so young; people might misunderstand and think he’s cursed his wives. How will he find a partner later? Even if he finds someone who doesn’t mind his second marriage and he likes her, if they argue someday and I’m brought up, will he defend me or appease her? Neither is good. I don’t want to get married.”

Zhao Nanbing looked at Qing Hang standing not far away. He had clearly heard these words; the sadness in his eyes vanished instantly. He naturally walked over and sat beside Cheng Wanyue, looking at the photos with her.

That afternoon, Zhao Nanbing was organizing photos at the hotel when Zhou Chiyi called her.

After only a few words, Zhou Chiyi could tell she was in a bad mood. “What’s wrong? Did the shoot not go well?”

Zhao Nanbing was dejected. “No, it’s just a bit hard.”

He kept asking but couldn’t get to the bottom of it, so Zhou Chiyi decided to go find her.

Zhou Chiyi owned a racing team, and someone on the team had a birthday today. “You guys eat, I’m going to charm your future boss lady.”

He had just arrived and was about to leave. His friends teased him for valuing romance over friendship. “Is there anyone you can’t charm?”

Zhou Chiyi was already booking a flight. “Yes, she’s quite proud. That’s why I need to seize every moment of her vulnerability, not miss a single one, and especially not give any other man a chance to take advantage.”

The call wasn’t hung up; Zhao Nanbing could hear everything they said. The WeChat chat interface between her and Cheng Wanyue was displayed on her computer screen, and she suddenly felt at peace with everything in the past.

________________________________________

Zhou Yu’s due date was mid-August, and she was admitted to the hospital a few days early.

Cheng Wanyue really wanted to see Zhou Yu, but she had a fever. She was drowsy during the day, utterly lacking strength, and her consciousness was blurred at night. The doctors called her, but she didn’t react at all. This was the closest she had been to death since her hospitalization.

The next day, Qing Hang stayed by her bedside, waiting for her to wake up, to tell her that Little Crescent Moon had been born.

She was disoriented, vaguely asking who Little Crescent Moon was.

Qing Hang knew this was a drug reaction and slowly told her, “She’s your little niece.”

After a long while, Cheng Wanyue’s dazed state slightly improved. She could clearly see Qing Hang’s face and also saw her parents’ tears. “I’m an aunt! Have you two been to see her?”

The IV was inserted into her foot. Qing Hang was worried she might move around, so he sat at the foot of the bed. “Mom and Dad have been there. I haven’t yet. I’m waiting for you.”

It took Cheng Wanyue a while even to react to drinking water, let alone notice that Qing Hang called Cheng Guoan ‘Dad’ and Yang Huimin ‘Mom.’

Cheng Yuzhou came to see Cheng Wanyue after Zhou Yu fell asleep. He showed her photos of Little Crescent Moon. Cheng Wanyue’s expression grew more and more melancholy. “Why is she so wrinkled...”

Qing Hang chuckled. “All newborns are like that.”

“How long have you been without sleep?”

“I just woke up.”

“Liar.”

“Really, I slept as long as you did. Rapunzel, I have to go to work. Wait for me to come back.”

Cheng Wanyue said okay. Qing Hang walked to the door, but she called him back. “Has your patient been discharged?”

Qing Hang knew who she was asking about. She had been bothered about the family causing a scene last time. “Discharged. The family even sent me a silk banner.”

Cheng Wanyue’s face showed visible happiness. “That’s great.”

Cheng Yuzhou followed Qing Hang out, putting a hand on his shoulder and feeling that his clothes were damp. Cheng Wanyue’s sudden critical condition had scared him, leaving him sweating profusely, and he hadn’t calmed down since.

A few days later, Zhou Yu went to the confinement center. Cheng Wanyue video called her. She gently rocked the cradle and talked to her daughter: “Crescent Moon, Crescent Moon, this is Auntie, and next to her is Uncle.”

Cheng Wanyue thought “Uncle” wasn’t as easy to say as “Auntie.” Crescent Moon would definitely learn to say “Auntie” first.

“How old are babies when they start talking?”

“Usually 1 to 2 years old, but they’ll make some babbling sounds when they’re a few months old.”

Cheng Wanyue thought, I still have to wait so long. She then found two more white hairs on Qing Hang’s head. That day, she fainted, scaring the whole family, while Qing Hang was still in the operating room.

There was no one else in the ward. Cheng Wanyue ached all over, but talking helped distract her. “Qing Hang, if... if I’m gone, how will you live?”

The weather was good today, and the sunlight made the area near the window extremely bright.

“Normally. I’ll take time off work to travel, see sights I haven’t seen before. I’ll meet many people, and after a long time, I should forget about you.”

“And then?”

“And then... and then... and then...” He thought for a long time. “Then marry a suitable person, deal with everyday life, worry about children, and live a normal life like most people.”

Cheng Wanyue felt that wasn’t ordinary at all. “You’re so smart, so good at studying. Don’t be a fool. Even if you think of me for the rest of your life, I won’t know anything. Just thinking of me when the moon is full is enough.”

“No,” Qing Hang turned away, not letting Cheng Wanyue see his expression. “I’m very realistic, not as devoted as you think.”

“Qing Hang, you have to do what you say.”

“Mm.”

“Qing Hang, do you think it will snow in Nanjing this winter?”

“You guess first.”

“Probably not. It rarely snows in Nanjing. It’s more likely to snow in Baicheng. It’s such a shame that Ayi’s apricot tree isn’t bearing fruit anymore. We used to have so much we couldn’t finish it all every year; the branches would break from the weight of the apricots. Qing Hang, I miss home so much...”

She had just been speaking, and Qing Hang had only been silent for a moment before she fell asleep.

Cheng Yanqing stayed in the hospital overnight. In the middle of the night, he suddenly woke up, feeling uneasy. He rushed to check on Cheng Wanyue. The ward was dark, with only the faint glow of the instruments.

He thought Qing Hang wasn’t there and walked a few steps further inside. After seeing Qing Hang sitting by the bed, silently crying into his hand, he backed out of the ward and gently closed the door.

Before dawn, he smoked half a pack of cigarettes.

In the morning, he went home to wash up and change clothes, making sure he didn’t smell like smoke before returning to the hospital. Qing Hang was working as usual. He talked more than Qing Hang did, and Cheng Wanyue occasionally chimed in.

He had saved many videos of Meiqiu (his cat/dog) on his phone, which Cheng Wanyue would watch repeatedly. “Brother, you smoked again.”

Cheng Yanqing instinctively sniffed his clothes. “No way, I quit a long time ago.”

“You’ve shed so many tears for me. I’m the happiest child in the Cheng family. Don’t always worry about me.”

He averted his gaze. “What are you writing?”

“A letter. Every year before Qing Hang’s birthday, help me mail it to him.”

Cheng Wanyue had already written several lines, and Cheng Yanqing remained silent.

“Angry again? I have something else I want to ask you. Be angry after I’m done. If I don’t make it, find an excuse to send Qing Hang away beforehand. If he sees me leave with his own eyes, he’ll never forget it. I’m Ayi’s only family member. She’ll definitely be very sad. I heard from a friend that it’s easy to get postpartum depression right after giving birth, so you all must pay close attention. Mom and Dad aren’t in good health, you and Zhizhi should go back and see them more often. Also, I’ve consulted about organ donation...”

“Cheng Wanyue, are you asking for a scolding?!” He couldn’t bear to listen to another word.

She spoke of this in a consistently light tone. “I don’t want to become a box.”

Cheng Yanqing stood by the window, and after a long while, he said, “Okay.”

A drop of blood fell onto the letter paper. Cheng Wanyue touched her nose; she had a nosebleed. Cheng Yanqing quickly pressed the bell to call the doctor. Soon, the bedside was surrounded by people.

Cheng Wanyue had a very long dream. She dreamt of her grandma. Grandma braided her hair and praised how black and beautiful it was.

After waking up, she had a severe headache. Qing Hang spoke to her, but she heard him vaguely. In her dream, he avoided everyone and secretly slipped a note into her hand, quietly saying, “Wait for you after school.”

She had no strength. Qing Hang leaned down, his ear close to her, and only then heard her say, “Don’t wait for me.”

Qing Hang nodded in agreement. “Okay, I’ll go back and see Crescent Moon in a bit. Zhou Yu said she’s especially well-behaved. If you put her in the cradle, she can play by herself, and she sleeps when she’s full and doesn’t fuss when she wakes up.”

Everyone was in the hallway. Cheng Yanqing returned from the doctor’s office, as if suddenly remembering something. “Yueyue kept talking about wanting plum blossom cake, but I forgot to buy it. Qing Hang, could you pick one up for her on your way?”

Cheng Guoan had left his phone at home and also asked Qing Hang to bring it.

Cheng’s family housekeeper was a local Nanjing resident. Crescent Moon was awake, and the housekeeper wasn’t sleeping, so Qing Hang went to Cheng’s house first.

Cheng Wanyue was rushed to the emergency room, suffering from infection and intracranial hemorrhage.

It was already past midnight. There was nowhere to buy plum blossom cake. Qing Hang searched store after store. As time wore on, he couldn’t find plum blossom cake, so he bought a bouquet of roses instead.

Like the plum blossom cake, she couldn’t eat them; she could only smell them. Fresh flowers weren’t allowed in the ward, but she could see them from outside the door.

At 3:25 AM, Qing Hang’s heart was racing, and a sharp pain shot through his abdomen. He bent over slowly. At a certain moment, he suddenly sensed something.

The 47 seconds at the traffic light felt incredibly long to him. He was alone, yet intensely anxious.

Cheng Wanyue, wait for me.

See, the flower shop stayed open until 3 AM for you. Snowflakes fell for you. Sycamore leaves covered the ground for you. Even the traffic light sped up by 0.001 seconds for you.

Cheng Wanyue, just wait for me a little longer.

Qing Hang rushed to the hospital and bumped into a busy nurse at the elevator entrance. The nurse told him, “Patient Cheng Wanyue’s time of death was 3:25 AM.”

Autumn hadn’t even ended, and the coldness on the back of his hand was his tears.

The sycamore trees along the street weren’t yet in their leaf-shedding season. The rose petals beneath his feet were those that had fallen from the bouquet.

Humans cannot perceive a difference of 0.001 seconds; 0.001 seconds was the brief pause in his heartbeat.