One and Only

Chapter 32: Half-Faced Makeup Left Behind (1)

Zhou Sheng, with the single character name Chen.

Zhou Sheng, Chen.

Zhou Shengchen.

"Years have passed since our eternal parting, yet your spirit has never visited my dreams."

Outside the boat, a fine drizzle fell without wind.

Inside, the light and shadows cast by the bamboo curtain stretched endlessly, swaying faintly. The young people next door, not wanting to disturb them, spoke softly. So she could only hear him, and he could only hear her.

She exhaled gently and whispered, "Your name... I’ve heard it before."

His gaze was clear. "Where did you hear it?"

She seemed serious. "Your reputation is well-known, so naturally, I heard it from the people."

"Oh?" He smiled. "What did they say?"

Shi Yi softened her voice, looking into his eyes. "Drunk on the white-bone shore, singing wildly with abandon. A jug of wine, a single horse—how many in this world are like the Prince?"

Zhou Shengchen fell silent for a moment, carefully considering her words.

He thought he knew whom she was referring to. "You admire that Prince of Nan Chen?"

"You know of him?"

"I do," he told her. "He’s recorded in the Zhou family genealogy. My name is taken from his."

"Right..." She suddenly remembered. "Xiao Ren mentioned it to me. Does your family’s genealogy have more details than what’s known among the people?"

"Only a few sparse lines."

"What about the Crown Princess?"

"The Cui family’s daughter?"

Women’s names were rarely recorded. Even "the Cui family’s daughter" was only noted because of her noble status.

"Mhm, is there anything about her?" she pressed softly.

Zhou Shengchen thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No."

"Years have passed since our eternal parting." Apart from her, truly no one else would remember.

For a moment, she seemed lost in thought.

The boat swayed slightly. The boatman said the rain might last all night, so it was best to dock soon and let the passengers return in time. The boat emerged from the curtain of ancient trees and retraced its path. Without the shelter, rainwater splashed inside, soaking both sides. There was nowhere to hide from it. Zhou Shengchen casually took off his outer robe and draped it over her legs.

His own trousers were soon drenched.

Before tonight, there had still been remnants of summer warmth, but this rain truly carried the chill of autumn.

Even with just her pant legs and shoes wet, she found the cold unbearable.

He went to fetch an umbrella from the car to escort her back, but in the round trip, even his shirt was soaked through. Once they were in the car, he retrieved two pairs of sweatpants and shirts from a small box in the trunk. Returning, he reclined the seat and handed her one pair of pants. "They might be a bit big, but change into them for now." Fortunately, it was late, and the parking lot was empty.

"Okay." She took them and, in the cramped space, slowly removed her wet pants and shoes.

When she put on his, they weren’t just "a bit big"—they were also far too long...

Barefoot, she stepped on the excess fabric, not needing shoes at all.

She exhaled deeply. "Only today did I realize your legs are so much longer than mine."

Zhou Shengchen found it amusing and glanced at her a few more times.

He took out a clean shirt, folded it, and placed it beneath her feet. When his hand brushed against her skin, he was startled by how cold she was. "Are you freezing?"

"A little." Her voice already carried a faint nasal tone.

Without hesitation, he took both her feet into his lap and gently rubbed them to warm them.

Shi Yi was surprised but let him do as he pleased.

He was never one for grand declarations of affection, but in their quiet moments together, he would occasionally do things like this—letting her feel his love in tangible ways. Not scorching or overwhelming, but slowly, deeply ingrained.The warm air from the car's heater and his actions gradually warmed her feet.

Shi Yi wiggled her toes slightly.

He glanced up at her. "Warmer now?"

"Mmm," she urged him, "you should change your clothes quickly."

She withdrew her legs, stepping onto the clean shirt he'd laid out, and handed him the clothes from the back seat.

Zhou Shengchen swiftly changed his shirt and trousers. When he'd finished putting on the pants, she took the damp clothes from him and tossed them to the back. Suddenly, she felt him lean closer. His clear, warm breath clouded her senses as she turned her head slightly and their lips met.

They shared a silent kiss in the car.

From chilled bodies to growing restless heat, her fingers twisted in his shirt, brushing against his chest.

Then she suddenly remembered they were in a parking lot.

She pushed him gently and whispered, "Let's go home."

He kissed her cheek and agreed, fastening all his shirt buttons before starting the car.

As they drove out of the parking lot, he suddenly remembered something. "Once we confirm the wedding date, I'll arrange for my mother to have dinner with your parents. How does that sound?" Shi Yi froze momentarily, looking at him with surprise and delight in her eyes. "Really?"

He smiled. "Really."

Their wedding date hadn't been finalized yet—this was Shi Yi's preference.

She wanted to hold the ceremony after Wen Xing's surgery. Before then, half of Zhou Shengchen's attention would be on Wen Xing, and she felt the same. However, she had confidently told her parents they'd already begun wedding preparations. She trusted Zhou Shengchen completely—since he'd already asked the Wang family matriarch to custom-make their attire, it meant he had full control over family matters.

That day, she was recording in a studio located within the television station building.

She'd arranged to have lunch with Hong Xiaoyu, planning to chat briefly before starting work properly.

They didn't stand on ceremony, eating at a small restaurant nearby.

Shortly after their food arrived, Hong Xiaoyu brought up her boyfriend. "Shi Yi, I have to tell you—I'm completely serious this time. I'm thinking about marriage."

Shi Yi laughed. "Let me eat first."

"No no, you have to talk with me..."

"Alright, go ahead. I'm listening."

"Well... there's not much to say. I just feel he's genuinely good—the kind of goodness that comes from within, you can feel it," Hong Xiaoyu pondered before adding, "Not like your scientist. Your scholar seems a bit... detached from worldly affairs. Gives people a sense of distance."

"Does he?" Shi Yi found this assessment rather unexpected.

"Maybe 'detached from worldly affairs' sounds strange when describing a man, but it's like most things don't seem to matter to him. Are you two... compatible?"

The question made Shi Yi... She glanced at her friend without responding.

"Very compatible? Or not at all?"

"Enough already," Shi Yi pushed a cup of tea toward Hong Xiaoyu. "Change the subject."

Normally, her work hours ran from noon until eleven or twelve at night.

But since she'd recently recovered from illness, for the first half month back at work, she'd finish recording by nine. Today, because the sound engineer had other commitments, they wrapped up shortly after eight.

She called Zhou Shengchen. "I finished early today."

"Good. I should be there in about thirty minutes."

"No rush," she said, sitting on the sofa and pulling an industry magazine from the nearby shelf. "I have a place to rest here. Finish what you're doing before coming."

"Alright."

Zhou Shengchen hung up and turned his attention to Tong Jiaren sitting beside him.As he entered the parking lot earlier, he saw her standing beside his car. Despite being four or five months pregnant, there wasn’t a single person accompanying her. Unsure of her purpose for coming, he simply invited her into the car to talk.

Uncle Lin stepped out of the vehicle to give them privacy.

“Is it about Shi Yi?”

Zhou Shengchen smiled faintly but said nothing.

Tong Jiaren didn’t speak immediately, instead adjusting her gloves lightly while stealing glances at him from the corner of her eye.

The Zhou Shengchen seated beside her still preferred plain-colored trousers and light-checkered shirts—outfits that could transition seamlessly from receiving guests in a suit jacket to entering the laboratory in a white coat. This was the man she held in her heart, one who transcended borders, engaging in meaningful exchanges with people of all skin tones, dedicating himself to work that benefited humanity.

She recalled the first time she saw him outside the lab, so unlike the Zhou Shengchen she usually knew.

He had been arguing intently with a Black man about something she couldn’t understand.

By the time he entered university at fourteen, he had already stepped into a world apart from hers. No matter how hard she chased after him, the closest she ever got was being invited to the same ceremonial meetings where substance took a backseat to formality. That was all.

His intellectual world remained the lifelong aspiration she could never reach.

In that fleeting moment, Tong Jiaren found herself lost in memories of the past, even beginning to question why she had come to see him. Was it just for a few quiet minutes in his presence, or for something else…?

“I won’t let things escalate to the worst.”

In the end, it was Zhou Shengchen who broke the silence. Before she could speak, he gave her the answer she sought.

He stated plainly, “We are still family.”

His magnanimity left her with nothing more to say.

Ever since their uncle returned, every move Zhou Wenchuan made had filled her with disdain.

She had never seen the Zhou family in such turmoil. The elders turned a blind ear, while the younger generation eagerly jostled to pick sides—whether to align with the rightful eldest son or throw their lot in with their well-established uncle and Zhou Wenchuan. Just days ago, Zhou Shengchen’s mother, who had remained silent all this time, finally began acknowledging Shi Yi’s position, effectively declaring her support for her eldest son.

No matter what their uncle did, he would never be the legitimate heir. And Zhou Shengchen’s mother’s choice had pointed the way for everyone, including his late father’s closest friends, who were gradually making their stances known.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

He looked at her.

“I mean… about what happened to her in Wuzhen.”

“I know.” His tone was detached.

“I… acted out of jealousy.”

He smiled slightly but didn’t respond.

Tong Jiaren thought that with someone as perceptive as him, anything she said would only echo what he already knew. It was jealousy that had stopped her from intervening or even warning anyone when she learned Zhou Wenchuan had arranged for Shi Yi to be abducted. She remembered how Zhou Wenchuan would mock her whenever the subject came up: “My dear wife, I truly believed in you back then—because I knew you’d be jealous of her.”

“I’m sorry, Jiaren,” he checked his watch, “but I have to go.”

It would take fifteen minutes to drive to Shi Yi’s place from here, and their conversation had already eaten up ten of them.

She forced a smile. “I’m the one who should apologize.”

Knowing his punctuality, she didn’t dare delay him further and opened the car door to leave.

Uncle Lin was also checking his watch. When he saw Tong Jiaren step out, he nodded and asked, “Shall I arrange a car for you, Second Young Madam?”

“No need. My ride will be here shortly.”Uncle Lin nodded again, got into the car, and soon drove out of the garage.

She stood by the roadside, unable to see the person inside the car through the windows, yet she could easily conjure an image of him sitting in her mind—the curve of his spine, the position of his arms, and the expression on his face as he spoke to Uncle Lin.

She had ridden in the same car with him since she was a little girl, all the way through her teenage years, university graduation, and even before the wedding. She was the only girl who had ever shared a car with him. Even now, she still wasn’t quite accustomed to Zhou Wenchuan sitting beside her—too restless, no matter how he tried to hide it, his heart was always agitated by desire.

Unlike him. And impossible to be like him.

By the time they got home that evening, it was almost nine o’clock.

Neither of them had eaten yet. Shi Yi casually tied up her hair and took some small steaks from the fridge, planning to pan-fry them along with some potatoes. After washing her hands, she began cutting the potatoes into strips when the doorbell suddenly rang.

Someone was knocking lightly on the door—urgent, but not forceful.

It sounded like a child.

Sure enough, a little girl’s voice soon called out her name.

"Could you open the door for me? It’s our neighbor," she said.

Zhou Shengchen obliged and went to answer it.

A girl who looked about thirteen or fourteen stood outside, holding a guqin.

She froze when she saw Zhou Shengchen, and he was momentarily at a loss for words as well.

"Has Shi Yi… moved away?"

"No," he bent slightly and replied, "She’s cooking."

Shi Yi quickly finished cutting the potatoes, wiped her hands, and came out, stepping around Zhou Shengchen to pinch the girl’s cheek. "Changed the strings again? Come—" Before she could finish, a white blur suddenly darted out from behind the girl.

Shi Yi’s vision blurred—she didn’t have time to react before Zhou Shengchen abruptly scooped her up into his arms.

Just one step later, the dog would have pounced on her.

The dog barked furiously, lunging repeatedly, truly intent on biting her.

She was stunned.

The girl was stunned too, but quickly scolded, "Kaka, go home!"

After repeated reprimands, the dog finally retreated reluctantly, wagging its tail as it returned home. The girl, deeply embarrassed, ran back to close her own door before coming over again. "Kaka’s really dumb—he’s scared of strangers."

Zhou Shengchen, still shaken, carefully set her down.

This little incident didn’t bother her much. Since childhood, cats and dogs had always seemed to growl at her, and Shi Yi had long grown used to it.

She placed the guqin on the table and tested its sound.

The little girl adored Shi Yi. Every time she changed the strings on her guqin, she insisted on bringing it over for Shi Yi to try. Shi Yi was happy to indulge her, casually playing a familiar tune.

She didn’t play often and hadn’t kept her nails long, so the sound had some imperfections.

But the flaws didn’t overshadow the beauty.

The little girl couldn’t discern how well she played, but Zhou Shengchen understood.

"Twelve gates melted the cold light; twenty-three strings stirred the Purple Emperor."

He thought of this line of poetry.

Though the verse spoke of a konghou, while before her lay a guqin.

Shi Yi was enjoying herself, completely forgetting about him.

"The new strings this time are a bit too soft," she finally told the girl. "The last ones were better."

"I thought so too," the girl said. Though young, she took the instrument very seriously. "I’ll change them again tomorrow."

Shi Yi chuckled. "Little spendthrift. Once you find a brand you like, stick with it."

After this twenty-minute diversion, she was truly hungry.

Once she had seen off her little neighbor, she immediately ducked back into the kitchen.The aroma of the steak soon filled the room. From the corner of her eye, she could see him standing at the kitchen doorway. Casually, she asked, "How do you like your steak done? Quick, tell me now—it's already about medium."

"Medium is fine."

Shi Yi turned off the heat.

He handed her a plate, and she placed the beef on it, drizzling sauce over it.

"Your playing earlier reminded me of a line from a poem."

"Huh?" She looked at him.

"'Cold light melts before the twelve gates; twenty-three strings stir the Purple Emperor.'"

She burst into laughter. "My dear young master, that line is about the konghou."

He smiled softly. "It's the sentiment. I borrowed it to praise you. Li He... probably wouldn't mind."

"True. He's already been reincarnated countless times—how would he remember writing such a poem?"

He chuckled. "Who taught you to play the guqin?"

She paused briefly before smiling. "Self-taught."

Zhou Shengchen found it increasingly hard to believe. Though he couldn't recall, she had indeed studied the guqin systematically.

"Well..." She held the plate of potato wedges, resting her arms lightly on his shoulders. "Yeah, I learned from video tutorials."

"Very..."

"Beautiful?"

He let out a laugh. "Extraordinarily."

"Extraordinarily beautiful?"

"Yes."

She grinned. "In a couple of days, I'll buy a better guqin, practice more, and play for you again." Noticing the oil was hot, she urged him to leave. "Take the steak out. I'll fry the potatoes—it won't take long."

He carried the steak out.

But her mind lingered on his words.

"Cold light melts before the twelve gates; twenty-three strings stir the Purple Emperor."

A single piece on the konghou.

Melting the cold light before Chang'an's twelve gates, stirring emperors both celestial and mortal.

What extraordinary skill must it take to evoke such admiration? She recalled the melodies he had once taught her—resonating through the twelve gates. Only he... could achieve that.

"The potatoes really can't fry any longer." Zhou Shengchen tapped her forehead lightly with his knuckles and turned off the stove for her.

Shi Yi gasped in dismay—what a waste of the entire batch...

Overcooked, completely burnt.

Dinner had been a series of mishaps, but thankfully, the steak was intact. Feeling guilty, Shi Yi went to fetch some fruits, intending to make him a salad as compensation. Zhou Shengchen stopped her immediately. "No need to trouble yourself."

Before she could reply, the house phone rang.

At this hour?

Definitely not her parents.

Zhou Shengchen quickly answered, listening briefly and saying almost nothing. After hanging up, all traces of relaxation vanished from his expression. Shi Yi sensed something serious had happened. Sure enough, he told her Wen Xing was in emergency care.

Shi Yi was startled. Zhou Shengchen had mentioned that Wen Xing had already been resuscitated once the night he fell ill.

But she had seemed fine just days ago—why so sudden...

She didn't dare ask further. They changed quickly and headed straight to the hospital. For some reason, she could feel his mood had darkened considerably—even a rare, restrained anger simmering beneath.

As they stepped out of the elevator, the entire hallway was lined with over a dozen people.

Zhou Wenchuan and Wang Man stood outside the ward, watching Wen Xing through the glass. The rest were scattered along the corridor. The moment Zhou Shengchen emerged from the elevator, those dispersed figures straightened their postures, bowing slightly toward him.

"Elder Brother." Zhou Wenchuan approached, nodding at Shi Yi in acknowledgment.

(End of Chapter)