Before Su Jingming and Wen Yan left the cemetery, he turned back to take one last look in the direction where Su Qicheng lay in eternal rest.
Wen Yan tightened his grip on Su Jingming’s hand. "We’ll come back during the Lunar New Year. We’ll come every year."
Su Jingming gave a soft hum of agreement. He would come to see him every year, together with the person he loved most.
Wen Yan drove back toward the hotel, steering the wheel with one hand. "What are your plans for later?"
"I’ll probably have to go back first. I still have some things at school, and my project is in its final stages." Su Jingming paused. "As for my mother..."
He trailed off, hesitant.
Wen Yan had pieced together most of what had happened back then.
Ultimately, the scheme Cheng Hui had played was certainly not a graceful one. Her methods had been extreme. Yet, he could understand why—it was the fastest way to achieve her goal.
Wen Yan didn't want to judge anyone too harshly. If there was anyone to blame, it was their younger selves, who had been unable to shoulder the weight of everything or sustain a future for one another.
Just as they got out of the car, Su Jingming’s phone rang. It was Cheng Hui.
Su Jingming frowned, hesitating to answer.
Wen Yan looked over and lightly brushed the back of his hand against Su Jingming’s cheek. "Not picking up?"
"I'll take it." Su Jingming pressed the answer button. It was something he had to face sooner or later.
"Jingming, when are you coming back?" Cheng Hui asked the same question as before.
Su Jingming gazed down the endless street. Before he could answer, Cheng Hui continued, "Yueyue has been clamoring to see you these past few days. If you don't come back soon, she’s going to book a flight to A University to find you."
Su Jingming had heard this kind of excuse countless times.
He pursed his lips and decided to be direct, ignoring her previous question. "Mom, I’m with Wen Yan."
Cheng Hui nearly forgot to breathe. By the time she snapped out of it, she realized she had forgotten the soup simmering on the stove. It wasn't until Chen Yue smelled something burning and came out to check that Cheng Hui remembered.
She hurriedly turned off the burner and tossed the scorched pot into the sink. She turned on the faucet, and plumes of steam rose, blurring her vision.
"I’m with Wen Yan."
"I still love him, just as I did back then."
"Whether you agree or not, he’s the one I’ve chosen for the rest of my life."
Su Jingming had said only three sentences to her, but each one was spoken with absolute gravity and conviction.
After hearing these three sentences, Cheng Hui only asked him one thing: "Is this how you intend to treat your dead father?"
She used the exact same words as years ago, trying to force Su Jingming into submission.
But Cheng Hui had forgotten that the current Su Jingming was no longer an eighteen-year-old boy. He was no longer the Su Jingming who would let himself fall into an abyss because of a single sentence from her.
Su Jingming hung up the phone. He stared blankly at the screen, his eyes half-cast down.
Cheng Hui knew him all too well. Despite the years they had spent apart, every word she spoke was a needle aimed straight for his heart.
To say it didn't hurt would be a lie.
Seeing the shifting emotions in his eyes, Wen Yan reached out and ruffled his hair. "What did your mother say to make you so unhappy?"
Su Jingming opened his mouth, then closed it. "She asked me if I’d thought about my father."
Wen Yan froze slightly. "And what do you think?"
Su Jingming took a deep breath. "What else can I think? I’ll just have to wait until I go down there myself one day to properly beg his forgiveness." He looked at Wen Yan. "Wen Yan, your hand is shaking."
Wen Yan gave a quiet "Mhm." "You caught me."
"Didn't I say it? I’ve decided on you for life," Su Jingming said. "I rarely say such sappy things. I won't easily say it a second time."
Su Jingming knew, of course, that Cheng Hui wouldn't be able to wrap her head around why he had gotten back together with Wen Yan after five years so quickly.
When he received another call from Cheng Hui, Su Jingming was slightly surprised. He only heard her say, with extreme coldness, "If you insist on being with Wen Yan, then don't bother coming back to this home ever again."
Before Su Jingming could respond, she hung up.
His hands, which were busy packing his luggage, paused for a moment. It was as if the call had been an illusion.
Su Jingming didn't tell Wen Yan about this. Before he left, Wen Yan was still fussing over him. "It’s getting cold, make sure to wear more layers. And don't pick fights with your mother when you get home. We have plenty of time."
Su Jingming understood Wen Yan’s underlying meaning—he was willing to wait for the day Cheng Hui finally relented.
But Su Jingming couldn't bear it. Wen Yan had already waited five years; how could he let him wait any longer?
Su Jingming stepped forward, grabbed the front of Wen Yan’s clothes, and gave him a kiss that was anything but gentle.
"Wait for me. It won't be long."
***
Back at A University, Su Jingming worked day and night to finish his projects one by one. Even his mentor, who held him in high regard, couldn't help but advise him, "Xiao Su, you're still young. If you push yourself this hard, it’ll be bad for your health when you're older."
Su Jingming scribbled a few words at the bottom of an experimental report without looking up. "Professor, I want to get this finished as soon as possible."
"Xiao Su, do you really not plan on staying? If you continue your studies in this field, you’ll surely achieve great things in the future." After learning that Su Jingming was rushing to finish his projects specifically so he could leave, the mentor spent every day either worrying about Su Jingming’s health or trying to persuade him to stay.
Su Jingming’s grip on his pen loosened. He looked up at his mentor. "Thank you for taking care of me these past few years. But I have to go back. Someone is waiting for me."
A six-hour flight away from Liangcheng, heavy snow began to fall here. Su Jingming rubbed his aching neck and glanced at the clock on the wall, only then realizing it was already one in the morning.
He hurriedly pulled out his phone to find countless missed calls and WeChat messages.
Su Jingming swallowed hard and called back. A voice on the other end spoke irritably, "Su Jingming, you’ve certainly got some nerve."
Wen Yan’s tone was cool, like the fresh snow, carrying a faint chill.
In the half-month since Su Jingming had returned to A University, he had lost count of how many times Wen Yan had gotten angry because he stayed up late working.
The last time, in an effort to coax Wen Yan, Su Jingming had agreed to a "three-point pact": eat on time, go to bed early, and keep his phone on vibrate.
Su Jingming hadn't followed a single one. He had no idea how long Wen Yan had been waiting on the other side.
Su Jingming asked tentatively, "It’s very late. Why don't you get some sleep?"
"Sleep? I’m too angry to sleep," Wen Yan countered. "Did you just leave the research institute, or are you still there?"
Su Jingming blinked. "I just left."
"Is that so..."
Wen Yan suddenly hung up. Su Jingming thought the man was truly furious this time and began wondering how to make it up to him. Then, a video call invitation popped up on his phone.
"Shit," Su Jingming cursed under his breath—a rarity for him. He quickly shed his white lab coat, threw on his jacket, and started walking out before accepting the call.
In the video, Wen Yan was leaning back in his chair with a languid air, holding a coffee cup. His gaze swept over Su Jingming with a mix of coldness and warmth.
Before Su Jingming could speak, Wen Yan said softly, "My little hero, you forgot to take off the work ID around your neck."
Su Jingming’s footsteps faltered. The biting wind hitting him as he stepped out the main doors jolted him awake. His hand tightened around the handle of his umbrella.
"Well... drinking coffee this late isn't good for you." Su Jingming offered Wen Yan a smile.
Wen Yan arched an eyebrow and finished the coffee. "It certainly isn't."
Su Jingming added, "By the way, it’s snowing really hard here. Do you want to see?"
Wen Yan didn't say anything.
Su Jingming tried again. "Let me tell you, the cafeteria lunch today didn't have any meat. I don't know when the food got so bad."
Wen Yan remained silent.
Su Jingming swallowed and opened his mouth, wanting to keep talking.
"When you ate that 'lunch,' it was three in the afternoon. It’s a miracle there was anything left at all." Wen Yan’s eyes were half-lidded, making it hard for Su Jingming to read his expression. He knew Su Jingming’s schedule all too well.
"Is that so..." Su Jingming laughed awkwardly. "I didn't even notice."
Wen Yan suddenly felt a pang of regret for not taking time off to accompany Su Jingming through these final stages.
He knew Su Jingming would be busy during this period, but he hadn't expected him to be *this* busy—working almost literally day and night.
The snow fell heavier and heavier. Su Jingming tilted his umbrella. He remembered how Wen Yan had once braved this kind of wind and snow to find him.
Suddenly, Su Jingming spoke. "Wen Yan, my mom packed up my things yesterday and asked for your address. I’m homeless now."
***
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