It was already late at night, and a thin mist had risen without anyone noticing, casting a hazy color over everything in the dark night. He looked through the slightly cool mist and could no longer see anything. The last bit of luck and fantasy was finally shattered. She hadn't come.
He waited in the pavilion from sunrise, outside the pavilion at noon, and on the ancient road in the evening, for a whole day. He told himself again and again that this was the last half hour, and gave himself more time again and again... but he still couldn't wait for her.
The slightly damp cold night gradually invaded his body, and he trembled involuntarily. That's it, there won't be a last time. He resolutely and reluctantly cut off the last hope and said slowly: "Zhouqiao, let's go."
"Yes!" The powerful answer seemed particularly relaxed. Zhou Qiao shook his stiff body, climbed onto the horse, and looked at him with the whip in hand.
Xiao Lun once again looked at the confusing night sky in which there was nothing, slowly turned around, walked weakly to the front of the horse, grabbed the saddle, and prepared to stride onto the horse's back in one step.
But suddenly, in the cold night, he heard the call that had echoed in his ears thousands of times in his dreams: "Sixth Brother! Sixth Brother!"
At that moment, he was so surprised and excited that his hands were shaking as he clung to the saddle. He was afraid that he was hallucinating: "Zhou, Zhouqiao, did you hear that?"
Zhou Qiao smiled bitterly and looked into the distance, then replied: "Not only did I hear it, I also saw it."
Xiao Lun looked back and saw the red shirt in his heart passing through the mist, shouting and riding towards him. The night wind blew her hair apart, like a streamer of colorful ribbons fluttering, and the bright moonlight was not as bright as her jade-like face. She raised her hand and shouted at him: "Sixth Brother! Wait! Sixth Brother!"
"I'm here!" The torrent of emotion that surged from his heart almost made him lose his balance. He stumbled a few steps to meet the red figure. She jumped off the horse and stood in front of him. It seemed that she had not stopped all the way. She was still panting and muttering: "Fortunately, it's okay..."
Xiao Lun smiled and supported her: "Pepe."
Zhao Pei looked up and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Sixth Brother. I was delayed by something when I was leaving. I kept you waiting for a long time, I was afraid you would leave." If she hadn't used the excuse of going to Taobao to look at calligraphy and paintings when she was caught by Xiao Yi, she wouldn't have been delayed until now. Who knew that Xiao Yi said he was going the same way, so she gritted her teeth and accompanied him for a long time, and finally found a chance to get out.
Xiao Lun said nonchalantly: "I said I would always wait for you. No matter when you come. As long as you come, I will always wait for you."
Zhao Pei was slightly stunned, and lowered her head to avoid his sparkling eyes: "Sixth brother, I don't know when we will meet again after we part today. You must be careful to be safe and don't cause trouble everywhere." These words were extremely earnest.
Xiao Lun was amused and tapped her head: "Silly girl, this is what I want to tell you. If you want to go out and act wild in the future, there will be no one to accompany you and no one to clean up the mess for you. You must be careful." Zhao Pei stuck out her tongue. Xiao Lun was silent for a while and then said seriously, "Peipei, does the seventh brother treat you well?"
"Hmm?" Zhao Pei tilted her head and recalled his hateful expression today. She said in a depressed but undeniable way, "Okay. Sixth brother, you asked me a long time ago."
Xiao Lun nodded, struggling: "Actually... my seventh brother is also a good man. He is a cold-faced person with a warm heart. After getting along with him for a long time, you will find that he is actually... worthy of entrusting your life to..." Every word was extremely difficult and arduous. After saying this, he was so heartbroken that he could hardly breathe. Xiao Lun, Xiao Lun, you have come to this day, willingly giving up your beloved woman to someone else.
But what can he do? He has done everything he can, but Zhao Pei doesn't belong to him after all. Now all he can do is hope that she can be happy.
Zhao Pei was a little surprised, but immediately replied: "Sixth brother, you understand me. I won't... I..."
Xiao Lun suddenly felt annoyed and sad. He grabbed her shoulders and raised his voice a lot: "Pepe, wake up. There is no possibility for you two. This dream should have ended long ago. Why do you torture yourself like this? I beg you, wake up." He begged in a strong tone. This was the first and only time she heard him speak in such a tone. "Please make yourself happy... The dream is over, but life must go on. You will have your own life, and you live for yourself."
There is a real meaning in this, there is a real meaning in this. His eyes were dark, and he looked at her steadily. Infinite sorrow and sadness were like a thin mist that enveloped her layer by layer, and she couldn't shake it off.
"Okay... I will make myself happy. I... won't torture myself anymore..." Zhao Pei said with her eyes closed.
"Really? You promise?"
Zhao Pei nodded, but still kept her eyes closed, as if she was making some painful decision, and said word by word: "I promise to wake up from the dream and live my life well." After that, her resolute brows gathered together, and two lines of coldness slid down.
Xiao Lun couldn't bear it anymore, so he held her in his arms. He held her tightly, wanting to embed her into his body. He did it vigorously as if he wanted to avenge her, to avenge all the harm she had done to him. Xiao Lun's arms ached, and Zhao Pei's whole body was also in pain, but she never said a word or refused. After a long time, she heard him say in her ear: "This is your promise to me, you must not break your promise."
"Yeah." Zhao Pei nodded, wiped her tears and looked up at him with a smile: "You too. We promised each other."
Xiao Lun smiled back and let go of her hand. The sudden emptiness in his arms brought him a sense of melancholy. He immediately sorted out his emotions and said with a smile: "Pepe, thank you for coming to see me off. It's getting late, I have to leave now."
Zhao Pei supported her aching body and slowly raised the corners of her lips: "Sixth brother, take care."
He stopped talking and turned to leave. After taking two steps, he suddenly stopped, turned around slowly and stared at her: "Pepe, if one day... you really can't stay in Jiankang anymore, come to me. I will always open the door for you. As long as you come, I will wait for you."
Zhao Pei's heart was trembling violently. She couldn't help herself under his sad eyes. She could only hug herself tightly, fearing that she would not be able to restrain herself from hugging his lonely figure. She forced herself to laugh and joked, "Sixth brother, I'm not so miserable that I can't stay here anymore."
Xiao Lun smiled slightly and lowered his eyes. He knew that she would not look for him, even if she really couldn't stay.
He said nothing more, or perhaps he no longer had the energy to say anything. He turned around slowly and took a step slowly. Every step he took was a great effort. Every step he took was like walking on the edge of a knife. He knew that he was leaving her world step by step. He had chosen this path, and he would continue on even if it was difficult.
Xiao Lun knew that Zhao Pei was looking at him at this moment. He would let him leave her with a graceful back view at last, and not let her see the sadness on his face. He would let him leave alone with the heavy past between them, and not add the slightest burden to her.
But the road ahead is uncertain, where will he end up
He knew so much, understood so much, but he didn't know that the moment he turned around, Zhao Pei's face was flooded with tears. (To be continued)