About a week had passed since our Qixi date.
After the Chinese Valentine's Day date, Lin Youxi has not been conscious for the past week.
Never.
Mei Fang, who finds it difficult to predict Lin Youxi's behavior, now needs to keep Lin Youxi by his side at all times, otherwise she will easily do something irreparable, so Mei Fang finds it difficult to sleep peacefully even at night.
Taking care of Lin Youxi has brought Mei Fang tremendous physical and mental torture. Now Mei Fang is as confused as Lin Youxi, not knowing whether it is day or night, and living his life entirely on the obsession of protecting Lin Youxi.
So much so that when Zhang Ming came to visit Mei Fang, he was shocked by his haggard face.
Zhang Ming performed acupuncture and physical therapy on Mei Fang and helped him to boil medicine for him to take.
"This is really the last time I will help you. I have said everything I should say... What you need to do now is to control your emotions. If you get angry, there will be no hope unless there is someone around you who can immediately provide first aid."
While drinking the medicine, Mei Fang responded to Zhang Ming's words in a low voice. Now it seemed difficult for him to even speak loudly.
But even so, he would look at Lin Youxi who was sleeping in the bedroom from time to time, fearing that he would not be by her side when she woke up.
Zhang Ming looked at Mei Fang's haggard face, then sighed and patted Mei Fang's shoulder gently, "Brother, take care."
"Thanks, brother."
Shortly after sending Zhang Ming away, Mei Fang received a courier containing a jade bracelet. Mei Fang and her mother sent a message saying that the bracelet had arrived and made a video call to Xiang Xiaoxia, but Mei Fang refused.
The video call was replaced by a voice call.
"Ah Fang... How are you doing recently? I haven't called home for such a long time. I'm worried about you..."
Mei Fang took a deep breath and tried to sound more energetic, "It's okay, I'm fine."
"You really don't want us to go over and help take care of her? You said last time that Youxi was very ill..."
"I can take care of her by myself. I'm not in a rush to find a job anyway. I'll just have to wait until her depression is over."
I can't let mom see Youxi and me like this.
She would let herself go from hers.
Mei Fang paused, then said softly:
"Mom, wait until Youxi and I finish the last bit of work here and she gets better, and we'll go back to hold the wedding before the New Year and get the marriage certificate tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Tomorrow is the Ghost Festival. Why did you choose such a bad day to get the marriage certificate?"
"I originally wanted to get the marriage certificate on Chinese Valentine's Day, but there were too many people lining up that day, and you need to make an appointment. It's a bit more troublesome in big cities... I can only choose a time when no one is there-"
"Then make an appointment for another day! If you go to get the certificate during the Ghost Festival, the people at the Civil Affairs Bureau will think you are crazy! Hurry up and change the appointment."
Mei Fang was severely scolded by Xiang Xiaoxia.
"Okay, okay, I'll just make an appointment for another day... For now, I'm going to get busy."
"Hey, you also let me and Youxi—"
Mei Fang hung up the phone in a hurry without waiting for her mother to finish speaking.
Then, Mei Fang started coughing violently.
He could only hold out so far.
call…
Mei Fang held the age-old green jade bracelet in her hand. After resting for a while, she took the bracelet to Lin Youxi's bed and carefully put it on her.
Lin Youxi's arms were very thin, but luckily the jade bracelet was not very big, so it barely managed to not fall off her arm.
The sound of Mei Fang putting the jade bracelet on Lin Youxi woke Lin Youxi up from her sleep.
She shuddered at first, then tightly grasped Mei Fang's hand.
His open eyes were still empty and lifeless, and it was unclear whether he could notice Mei Fang's presence in his out-of-focus vision.
However, the warmth from Mei Fang's palm made her feel at ease.
"Good morning... Good afternoon? Or maybe good night."
Mei Fang smiled at Lin Youxi and watched her slowly raise the arm with the bracelet.
"This is what Mom promised to give you. It was left to my mom by my grandmother, and now I'm leaving it to you too."
Lin Youxi did not respond to Mei Fang's words.
"Youxi... want to discuss something with you?"
Lin Youxi looked up at Mei Fang.
"We haven't been out for a week, how about we go out together tomorrow?"
Mei Fang's eyes were full of pleading and expectation.
So Lin Youxi nodded slightly.
"Go get the certificate?"
This was a sign that Lin Youxi was becoming more conscious.
This also made Mei Fang very happy, "That's right... Let's go out for a walk, go shopping or something-"
"good."
Mei Fang, who was so happy after just responding to a few words, hugged Lin Youxi tightly.
Lin Youxi no longer hugged Mei Fang tightly like they did when they were passionately in love, but instead let her arms hang down weakly.
There was no light in her eyes.
After taking the decoction prepared by Zhang Ming, Mei Fang fell into a deep sleep uncontrollably that night.
When I woke up early the next morning, Lin Youxi was no longer by my bed.
Mei Fang was shocked to find that the person next to him was not there. He sat up and staggered off the bed to look for his lover, and then he saw Lin Youxi putting on makeup in front of the dressing mirror.
"Awake."
Lin Youxi was putting on her earrings while facing the mirror, and smiled sweetly at Mei Fang in the mirror: "Go wash up when you wake up, I made breakfast for you... I haven't cooked for a long time, and I don't know how good my cooking skills are now..."
Mei Fang stood behind Lin Youxi, trembling as she put her arm around Lin Youxi's shoulders.
"So, you are..."
Lin Youxi took Mei Fang's hand and said softly:
"The depression should be over. Thank you for your hard work during this period, Fang—"
Mei Fang hugged Lin Youxi tightly from behind.
"Why are you holding so tightly..."
"Because I'm worried it's a dream... Will it hurt if I hold you like this?"
"No, no... Compared to Ah Fang's pain, it's nothing..."
"I don't believe it. Try pinching me."
"No, I can't bear to do that."
"Just pinch me, pinch me for a while—" Mei Fang coaxed Lin Youxi softly, asked her to face him, and stroked her smooth and round cheeks.
"Really... do I need to pinch you?"
"Yeah! I like being tortured by you!"
"Does it hurt?"
Mei Fang shook his head, "It doesn't hurt, try harder."
"And now?"
Mei Fang shook his head, "…it still doesn't hurt."
"But I've tried very hard..."
Lin Youxi tilted her head and said, "We are not really dreaming, are we?"
"It's so real, how can I be dreaming? Hey, hey—"
Mei Fang trembled as she stepped forward and wanted to hug Lin Youxi again.
She disappeared like smoke.
Mei Fang suddenly opened his eyes.
His lover was in his arms.
But it was not the bright and charming girl in the dream.
In reality, she was staring at the wall in a daze.
After noticing Mei Fang's tears, Lin Youxi slowly reached out his hand and gently wiped the tears from the corners of Mei Fang's eyes.
Mei Fang slowly got up, wiped her tears, and then said to Lin Youxi: "You sleep for a while, I will prepare breakfast for you."
"Um."
Lin Youxi nodded.
Mei Fang made breakfast for Lin Youxi, helped her wash up, ate breakfast with her, and helped her dress up.
But when it was time to leave, Lin Youxi suddenly became unwilling and insisted on staying on the sofa without moving, and no matter how he was pulled away, he would not move.
"Didn't we agree yesterday... to go get the marriage certificate together and go for a walk?"
"don't want."
Lin Youxi shook her head, "I don't want to marry you anymore."
Mei Fang and Lin Youxi said a lot of words of persuasion, but Lin Youxi was stubborn and ignored Mei Fang.
"Okay... If you don't want to go out, then let's not go..."
Mei Fang watched TV with Lin Youxi for a while, and Lin Youxi suddenly suggested playing games.
"What do you want to play? That again?"
Lin Youxi nodded, "Hmm... "White Plum Blossom Time" is fine."
"Want to play it again?"
The only way for Lin Youxi to pass the time at home is to play "White Plum Time" non-stop. This is also the only time when there is some light in her eyes.
But once she finished playing or Mei Fang started talking to her, she would become dull again.
Mei Fang held Lin Youxi in his arms, watching her start the game from a new level, watching her talk with Yuanyuan in the game over and over again.
Looking at Xia Yuan, who had an innocent smile on her face in the game, and Lin Youxi, who was showing rich emotions along with Xia Yuan in the game, Mei Fang suddenly couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat.
I was too conceited.
Maybe... From the beginning to the end, I was not the one who could save Youxi.
I can't save her.
If Yuanyuan was still here, Youxi would never have ended up like this—
I could only watch her fall into the abyss helplessly.
Even if he used all his strength, he could not stop her from being destroyed.
Mei Fang's body was trembling slightly.
Lin Youxi seemed to be completely unaware.
After completing the game again, Lin Youxi still chose the happy ending of being with Xia Yuan.
"Why do you always have to choose this route as the ending? You can try the feeling of falling in love with yourself once in a while."
“Because I don’t like it.”
"I hate myself more than anyone else."
Lin Youxi said softly, "Everyone hates me, and everyone hopes that I don't exist in this world."
"Hey... How is that possible? I like you."
"That's why you're like this now."
Lin Youxi put down the controller and stood up from Mei Fang. "I'd rather you hate me."
Faced with the extremely hurtful words just now, she seemed to be unaware of them, and just continued talking to Mei Fang on her own.
"Ah Fang, I was playing just now and suddenly saw this. I want to eat potato chips, the kind of fried potato chips from my hometown..."
"Then let's go out and buy it together?"
"I don't want to go out. You can buy it for me, or just order takeout."
"Do you think I'll leave you alone at home?"
Mei Fang smiled and said, "Besides, this takeaway is hard to find. It's only available at street stalls."
Lin Youxi said softly, "Let's not get married. It's better for you to find someone after I die. This way, you won't be getting married for the second time, and it will be better for you."
"Don't curse yourself like that! Didn't we agree to perish together..."
Mei Fang's smile was somewhat bitter. "Why, are you thinking of abandoning me again now?"
"Because I'm a capricious bad woman..." Lin Youxi laughed heartlessly, "You chose it."
"Forget it, let's not talk about this."
Mei Fang said gently to Lin Youxi, "Okay, let's go out and find some potato chips, shall we?"
"Um… "
It seemed that because it was the Ghost Festival, the streets seemed to have become much quieter even though it was a weekend afternoon.
Mei Fang and Lin Youxi walked along the river bank for a long time, and suddenly found an alley that they had never visited before.
"There's a snack street over there. When was it built?" Lin Youxi tilted his head curiously.
"I don't know... But we haven't been out for a long time, so it's normal to see changes outside."
Mei Fang held Lin Youxi's hand and said, "Why don't we go in and see if there's anything to eat?"
"I just want to eat potato chips."
"Okay... I'll find it for you."
Lin Youxi seemed to be more conscious now.
Although the words are still hurtful, at least it is no longer cold violence.
It’s already good...
There was a volunteer service stall offering free medical consultations at the entrance of the snack alley, but there was no doctor at the stall. There were also many empty snack boxes on the stall. It seemed that the doctor in charge of the free consultation was a super foodie.
Mei Fang and Lin Youxi walked into the alley. Gradually, more people passed by and the sounds of hawking along the street were endless.
"This place feels a bit like our hometown. Do you remember the main street in Baimei County?"
"Yeah, I remember..."
"When I was a kid, Yuanyuan often took me out to play. I had no money at that time, so Yuanyuan always treated me to food, especially the small potato chips."
"Do you only remember going shopping with Yuanyuan?"
Mei Fang frowned and pretended to be aggrieved, "We went there together last year."
"Yeah?"
Lin Youxi patted his head and said, "I only remember what happened with Yuanyuan at that time... Ah, that stall seemed to be making fried potato chips!"
Mei Fang and Lin Youxi went to buy some potato chips and started eating.
"Wow, just so-so."
Lin Youxi sighed in disdain, "It doesn't taste as good as the one back home."
"Then we'll go home and eat after a while."
"Forget it." Lin Youxi rejected Mei Fang's proposal. "Even if I go back to my hometown, it won't be as delicious as when I was a child."
"Then we can try cooking together. It's not a big deal anyway—"
At this moment, Lin Youxi suddenly interrupted Mei Fang's words.
"Mei Fang."
The two walked together to an empty part of the street, with the edge of the river bank in the distance.
Lin Youxi raised his head and looked at Mei Fang with a smile.
"Do you hate me?"
Mei Fang shook his head, "No."
"I hate you."
I don’t know if it was because I didn’t expect Lin Youxi to say that, or because I didn’t know how to respond. Mei Fang was stunned for a moment and could only respond with a smile and pursed her lips.
"Um… "
"I hate you so much."
"sorry."
"I really regret meeting you."
"… "
"It would have been better if I hadn't met you before."
"Hmm..."
"If I hadn't met you, I would definitely be living a better life than I am now."
Lin Youxi looked up at the setting sun.
The setting sun was as red as blood, infinitely lengthening the figures of the two people.
"If I hadn't met you, at least I wouldn't be in such a state of life and death like I am now. Instead, I would enjoy life while I can... Live happily every day, live one day at a time, and go to the hospital when I get sick—"
Lin Youxi said as he walked with his hands behind his back, "Then suddenly one day, I will be found dead in my own rental house, or in a hospital bed. Then there will be no need to build a tombstone for me, and no one will come to see me anyway. My ashes will be burned and scattered into the sea. Hmm - it's good like this, what do you think?"
Lin Youxi was already quite a distance away from Mei Fang at this time. When she turned around and looked at Mei Fang, she found that his eyes were red and tears were streaming down his cheeks.
He cried very sadly.
Looks very sad.
But even though he looked very sad, he tried hard not to make any sound of crying.
Holding back his tears was Mei Fang's last bit of stubbornness as a man.
At the same time, he also kept in mind what Zhang Ming said before he left, and tried to calm himself down.
"So, do you regret it now?"
"I am speaking these words soberly."
"Our relationship has come to this point. There is no need to hide my thoughts anymore..."
Lin Youxi seemed to be enjoying the pleasure of torturing Mei Fang. She did not step forward to comfort her, but quietly watched Mei Fang cry, and then watched Mei Fang wipe away her tears and continue to be stubborn:
"No... what are you regretting..."
Mei Fang sniffed and smiled, "I chose it..."
"I'm the type who won't turn back until I hit the wall, you know."
“I think our meeting is a wonderful thing.”
"At least, that's how it feels to me..."
"Before I met you, I lived alone in Pengcheng."
"I always feel that I will never meet someone I like in this life."
"Until I met you at that convenience store."
"Although it is painful now, I will remember the happiness we had."
"I'll remember it for my whole life... No, I'll remember it for several lifetimes... Really."
Mei Fang choked up as he spoke. His voice was not loud, and he didn't know if Lin Youxi heard it clearly.
But no matter whether she heard it clearly or not.
Lin Youxi is no longer the girl who would be moved by Mei Fang.
While Mei Fang was crying and telling her story, Lin Youxi had already walked up and stood in front of Mei Fang.
Her expression was relatively peaceful and calm, with a hint of a smile on her face.
She stretched out her hand to Mei Fang, hooked his hand, and placed his hand on her heart.
"Okay, don't be sad. It's rare for us to come out and play. Let's find a place to rest, shall we?"
Lin Youxi and Mei Fang intertwined their fingers, and he took Mei Fang's hand and left the alley, and sat down on a bench on the embankment along the coast.
In the evening when the sun sets, there are more and more people on the embankment. Many families who have just finished dinner come here to take a walk hand in hand.
When the children saw Mei Fang, who still had tears on her face, they would stop and watch curiously, and then be urged to leave by the adults.
Lin Youxi leaned on Mei Fang's shoulder, quietly watching the afterglow of the setting sun fall on them.
Neither of them spoke, and neither of them started a conversation.
Lin Youxi played with the jade bracelet on her hand, reflecting light back and forth.
Then when she got tired of playing, she put her hands down, sat on Mei Fang's body, and stared at Mei Fang.
"… "
There was loneliness, fatigue, sadness and pain in Mei Fang's eyes.
But there is no hatred or disgust towards Lin Youxi.
Lin Youxi held Mei Fang's cheek and kissed him gently on the lips.
"Afang."
Lin Youxi said softly.
"sorry."
"Um… "
Lin Youxi and Mei Fang put their foreheads together, their noses touching, and their eyes met.
At this moment, Mei Fang finally saw a glimmer of light in Lin Youxi's pupils.
He trembled and gently hugged Lin Youxi.
Lin Youxi also hugged Mei Fang and held him in her arms.
"I always feel like... I've told you I'm sorry countless times."
“It doesn’t matter how many times.”
"Yeah, but this is the last time, really."
Lin Youxi said softly, "I feel like my depression is over."
"This depression period is really too long."
Mei Fang felt something dripping on his head.
Those were Youxi's tears.
"So... am I dreaming again now?"
"What do you mean by 'again'?"
Lin Youxi choked up and said, "Did you dream about me last night?"
"Um... Y-yeah."
"Then your dream has come true."
Lin Youxi hugged Mei Fang tightly, "But it is also possible that your prayers have worked—"
Then she whispered softly in Mei Fang's ear:
"Let's go... I'll go get the certificate with you, right now."
"Forget it... It's so late, they're all off work."
"Then tomorrow... tomorrow when we wake up, we'll go get the certificate."
"It doesn't matter whether you get the certificate or not..."
"What do you mean it doesn't matter? You've always cared so much about it..."
Lin Youxi knocked Mei Fang on the head to teach him a lesson, and Mei Fang also showed a tired but relieved smile for the first time in a long time.
It felt like I hadn't laughed so happily in a long time.
Then Lin Youxi took out a tissue from Mei Fang's pocket and wiped away his snot and tears.
Mei Fang also took out a tissue and wiped Lin Youxi's tears.
After 0 o'clock, put down
(End of this chapter)