Overdo

As dusk fell, the setting sun shattered upon the sea into shimmering golden waves. The clouds in the sky shifted from rose-purple to pale arch-blue, gradually blending into rouge-red hues... Against the sapphire-blue backdrop of the heavens, streaks and wisps of flowing brilliance condensed like splattered watercolors slowly drying. The evening breeze carried a salty marine scent, warm and humid like a child's breath, clinging indiscriminately to one's skin.

The weather was sweltering. Although the ceiling fan whirred overhead, its breeze offered no relief. Instead, the low, buzzing noise felt like a mosquito's persistent drone by the ear, stirring nothing but restlessness and irritation. Strands of hair clung damply to her forehead, while her sweat-soaked clothes stuck unpleasantly to her body. The small communication light before her blinked on again, and she repeated the line she had uttered countless times: "Hello, this is the switchboard. Where would you like to be connected?"

The voice on the other end replied casually, "Fenggang."

She countered, "Where in Fenggang, please?" Damn it—she couldn't just patch the call directly to Fenggang's main exchange. The flippant tone already hinted at ill intentions. Sure enough, as expected, the caller retorted, "Miss, are you new here?"

She had encountered such pick-up lines over a dozen times in the past three days. A sarcastic smile tugged unconsciously at the corner of her lips. The same old opening, followed inevitably by questions about her name, age, or invitations for a stroll on the beach... In this oppressive heat, she had no patience for these bored philanderers. She repeated her question firmly, "Where in Fenggang, please?"

"Fenggang Official Residence."

Shameless. Over the past three days, they had tried every trick in the book—the most absurd being someone who once demanded to be connected to headquarters. This one topped them all; she had to give them credit for creativity. Fenggang Official Residence? She replied in a monotone, "Sir, you do not have the clearance to request a connection to Fenggang Official Residence."

He chuckled mockingly. She knew it—they were just idling away their time, amusing themselves by harassing the new girl. As Jiayi would say, these guys swarmed around newcomers like flies to rotten eggs. Ugh! She was no rotten egg. Maintaining composure and leaving no openings, she'd see how they could possibly get to her.

Then, with feigned seriousness, he asked, "What if I'm 5579?"

His tone implied that 5579 carried some special privilege. She had memorized the regulations backward and forward. Without hesitation, she retorted, "Lines beginning with '5' are not authorized for connections to security levels above secondary. Mr. 5579, please hang up." She cut the line without another word. Too bad their skin was thicker than city walls—rejection never seemed to faze them.

The next day was her day off. By the time she returned from shopping, lunchtime had long passed. The vast cafeteria was empty except for her—a rare moment of peace. Unfortunately, luck wasn't on her side. A fly, even later than her, drifted past with his tray, then circled back. Though she kept her head down, focused on her meal, even a fool could guess what was coming. Sure enough, he opened with, "So you're the new girl, Ye Qinwei?" She recognized his voice—it was that 5579 from yesterday. Unbelievable—he still hadn't given up. Couldn't he at least come up with a fresh approach? Even after finding out her name, he resorted to the same tired, unoriginal lines.She sighed. She’d bet anything that over the past few days, the name Ye Qinwei had been the hottest topic of conversation throughout the entire base. Such special treatment made her feel so “overwhelmed” she was ready to explode at the slightest provocation. Casually setting down her chopsticks, she sized up the fly buzzing in front of her. He wasn’t bad-looking—a real waste of a playboy. She asked, “Are you about to ask if you can sit here? Let me tell you right now: no.”

He laughed and brazenly sat down anyway. “Just because you say no, I can’t sit? This is the cafeteria, not your living room.”

She couldn’t even be bothered to roll her eyes. Shameless. No point stooping to his level. She’d just ignore him and see what he’d do. To her slight surprise, he didn’t say another word throughout the entire meal. When she went to the sink to wash her bowl, he followed. She watched as he filled his bowl with water, swished it left and right, dumped the water out with a splash, and then put the bowl back on the rack. She couldn’t resist a quick jab: “You’re done washing it?”

“Of course,” he said. “What else is there to do?”

Truly, all that glitters is not gold. Washing a bowl like that—she’d bet even the grease stains hadn’t been rinsed off. She’d never seen anything like it. “If you see mold growing on it tonight, don’t be too surprised.”

His face flushed slightly. “Sorry, I’ve never washed a bowl before.”

She hadn’t expected him to blush. “Are you a pilot? Why are you eating here?” Pilots had their own cafeteria. He hesitated, then said, “No, I’m ground crew too.”

“Why are you eating so late?”

He answered honestly, “Actually, I already ate, but I saw you come in, so I rushed in too and had to order another portion. I’m absolutely stuffed.”

She giggled, surprised he’d admitted it. He looked so pitifully innocent. Thinking of that heaping bowl of food—goodness, she hoped he wouldn’t give himself a stomachache.

Then he asked, “I heard you’re off today. Would you like to go to the beach with me?”

She thought for a moment and said, “Sure. Wait for me on the beach at three this afternoon.”

Ha! She’d definitely go—not!

The three o’clock sun would roast him alive!

Evening had fallen again. Through the small window, the sea was an ink-black canvas, the last sliver of sunset fading in the western sky. The earth exhaled the day’s accumulated heat. Outside, palm fronds swayed gently in the night breeze like fans.

To her surprise, the first call she answered after starting her shift was a furious, frantic voice: “Ye Qinwei, you stood me up!”

Oh! That voice sounded familiar. Amazing he hadn’t been baked alive by the sun. Struggling to hold back laughter, she calmly retorted, “I only told you to wait for me on the beach. I never said I’d actually come.”

“Ye Qinwei!"His gritted teeth rage seemed ready to travel through the phone line and ignite her." “You tricked me! You made me wait like an idiot under the blazing sun for a full three hours?!”

Three hours? Goodness, he hadn’t collapsed from heatstroke? A faint flicker of guilt surfaced amid her amusement, but it was interrupted by her colleague’s gaze—she was already breaking the rules. Quickly, she said, “Where exactly are you trying to reach?”

“I’m not trying to reach anywhere.” He sounded so furious he’d lost his composure, his tone completely altered.She made a face, knowing he couldn't see it anyway. "Sorry, then I'll have to hang up." Conscientiously, she unplugged his phone line, hoping he wouldn't be fuming with rage. Oh well.

After pulling an all-nighter, she was left with nothing but exhaustion. Stumbling through the depths of drowsiness, she trudged toward the dormitory. Just as she reached the fork in the road, someone suddenly emerged from the side. "Ye Qinwei!"

This was bad. Judging by his appearance, it seemed he had stayed up all night, mustering all his energy to settle scores with her. Was he carrying a knife? Or maybe a gun? Even empty-handed, she stood no chance against him. Yet, to her surprise, he didn't approach but merely watched her from a distance. In his eyes, there was actually a trace of loneliness. "Am I really that detestable to you?"

She didn't answer. He let out a long sigh and slowly turned away.

Perhaps it was her bleary eyes, or maybe because he was genuinely handsome, or perhaps some part of her had gone awry—whatever the reason, she blurted out, "Wait." When he turned back to face her, she found herself tongue-tied.

After a long pause, she finally said, "I'm off the day after tomorrow."

The radiant morning sun cast its brilliance on his face. As if illuminated by flowing light, his eyes shimmered with dazzling brilliance. He said, "I'll call you the day after tomorrow." The radiant joy on his face made the sky bluer, the clouds whiter, and the sea breeze cooler.

When that day came, he did call her. She changed her clothes and slipped out of the dormitory, feeling like a child up to no good. Guiltily, she followed him outside. Thankfully, fate was on her side—she didn't run into a single acquaintance. Otherwise, anyone seeing the two of them would surely assume she had started dating someone just a week after arriving. Damn it! How would she ever face people after that?

The streets were even hotter. Halfway down the short lane, she was already drenched in sweat. He bought her a soda, which she gulped down in one go without pausing for breath. Putting down the bottle, she eyed the one in his hand with longing. Amused, he handed it to her. Without hesitation, she took it and drank so eagerly that she choked, coughing until her face turned red. He gently patted her back, which only made her feel embarrassed. A thought crossed her mind, and she found it even funnier. "How funny—I haven't even asked you yet. What's your name?"

He paused for a moment before replying, "I'm Qingyu."

She repeated it, "Qingyu—like 'water too clear has no fish'? Or the 'qing' as in 'lighter than a goose feather'?"

He smiled. "No, it's the 'qing' for clear water, and the 'yu' with three water radicals."

She exclaimed, "Ah! So much water—it's a flood!"

They had already walked up and down the street twice, and she herself felt a bit silly. He bought her papaya to eat, then a coconut, and finally mangoes. She couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "Why do you keep buying me things to eat?" He said, "Because you look the prettiest when you're eating.""What kind of nonsense is that?" She recalled what happened last time in the cafeteria and couldn't help but laugh. He remembered too and simply smiled: "I was really stuffed that day—I didn't even eat dinner." She said, "Serves you right," but her tone involuntarily lost its harshness, instead carrying a hint of sweetness. The mangoes were large and fragrant, bursting with honey-like flavor when bitten into. She repeatedly exclaimed how delicious they were, so he went and bought several more pounds, saying, "Take these back with you." Carrying the mangoes as he followed behind her, she laughed and said, "Look, don't we seem like street vendors?" He replied, "If someone comes to buy them, I'll sell them all for five dollars." She scoffed and said, "You bought them for one dollar and want to make four dollars profit? Do you think others are fools?"

He gazed at her and said softly, "Others aren't fools—I'm the fool."

His stare made her heart pound wildly, though she didn't know why. She only felt his eyes were like the ocean, deep enough to drown in. She actually didn't dare look anymore and turned her face away.

Suddenly, she heard him whisper, "I'm sorry, I lied to you."

Startled, she looked at him and asked, "What did you lie to me about?"

He hesitated for a moment but still said, "Last time I lied and told you I was also ground crew. Actually, I was afraid you'd ignore me if you knew I was a pilot."

Her heart sank abruptly. She had known there was distance between them—his aura was like that of heaven's favored one, standing casually among others yet carrying a subtle, exceptional quality. So he was a pilot. He looked at her, his gaze revealing a trace of sorrow: "See, you're already planning to ignore me."

She truly didn't want people saying she was reaching above her station, but the way he looked at her threw her into confusion. In the end, her pride couldn't withstand her stirring emotions. She snorted and said, "Forget it, since you confessed, I'll forgive you."

By the time they returned to the base, it was already late, and she was afraid of being seen by others. She had to stop at the fork in the road. He said, "I'll call you tomorrow." She quickly shook her head: "Not good." He said stubbornly, "Then I'll come find you tomorrow." She had no choice but to concede: "Fine, you call me." Only then did he smile. After he had walked quite far, she looked back—he was still standing there watching her, as if intending to keep watching forever. The mangoes in her hand felt heavy, yet their sweet fragrance was intoxicating.

As she walked back toward the dormitory, night-blooming jasmine planted along the path released their intense fragrance. Under the moonlight, clusters of flower shadows danced, and the grass along the steps grew soft as carpet. Light insect chirps could be heard from the grass. For some reason, her steps felt light, and her heart felt so buoyant it wanted to sing. She remembered a childhood tune whose final line was "the moonlight shines like flowing water"—and indeed, the moonlight was as lovely as water, warming people's hearts.

Pushing open the dormitory door, she smiled and said, "Look what I brought back." Holding the mangoes up high, everyone in the dormitory looked up at her, yet no one spoke. Sensing something unusual, she asked in surprise, "What's wrong? Usually when you see food, you all pounce on it."

Still, no one spoke. Only Jiayi hurried forward and asked her, "Did you go on a date with 5579?"Her face flushed crimson—she hadn't expected to be seen after all. Damn it, how could she face anyone after this? She said, "It wasn't a date—we just went... to buy some fruit." The stares from everyone finally made her uneasy. She looked at Jiayi, who sighed and said, "Didn't 5579 tell you his name?"

She was baffled by Jiayi's question and hesitated before replying, "He only said his name was Qingyu." Jiayi turned away and said to their roommate, "See? I told you Qinwei didn't know."

She was utterly confused now and pressed, "What's wrong with him? Who exactly is 5579? Why are you all looking at me like that?" Zheng Shuyuan finally chimed in, "Qinwei just arrived, so she really doesn't know—" Yu Anli cast a leisurely glance at her, her tone tinged with sarcasm, "But she should have at least heard of the top-ranking figure at the base."

Top-ranking? She recalled the joke Jiayi had made on her very first day: "Well, we have a top-tier celebrity here." She hadn't paid it any mind at the time, thinking he was at least a hundred thousand light-years away from her. Even though they were at the same base, he ought to be an eagle soaring in the sky, while she was just an ordinary ant on the ground—never in her wildest dreams would they have any intersection. Her face instantly turned pale. Jiayi said softly, "You're new, so you wouldn't know. 5579 is Murong Qingyu. We just call him 5579 behind his back."

It felt as if she had suddenly plunged into an icy sea, surrounded by roaring, towering waves. He had only told her his given name, deliberately concealing his surname. Murong Qingyu—he was actually Murong Qingyu.

She remembered the first time they met—he had asked her to connect the call to the Fenggang residence. So it wasn't just him teasing her; he really was making a call—calling home. She bit her lower lip tightly. Everyone at the base knew who he was; she was the only one who didn't. So he had deceived her, treating her ignorance as a source of amusement. The favored son of heaven, on a whim, had toyed with her, leading her around by the nose. He must have been struggling to hold back his laughter, nearly hurting himself from the effort.

She clenched her hands tightly. Never in her life had she felt like this—so full of hatred for someone, wishing she could drag him in front of her and demand answers immediately. She had been made a fool of, and by him of all people. She hated him!

In the middle of the night, the room was quiet, everyone asleep. Except for her. Moonlight poured through the window like a sheet of silver satin, and the wind carried the cool, briny scent of the sea. The mat beneath her had warmed with her body heat, leaving fine lines pressed into her arm, shallow imprints. How easily, so easily, marks were left. But they came quickly and faded just as fast—by the time she woke tomorrow, those imprints would be gone.

Around noon, the hottest part of the day, the room felt like a steamer, making everyone sweaty and sticky. The world seemed to boil like a furnace. The signal light blinked urgently. She forced her voice to remain calm: "Hello, operator." His tone was light and cheerful: "I just got back and called you as soon as I reached the dorm. You're on the morning shift, right? Let's go out for fish balls this afternoon."

The weather was so hot, even her heart felt parched and cracked. She replied calmly, "Mr. Murong, where would you like me to connect you?"

He fell silent on the other end. All she could hear through the receiver was his breathing, growing gradually quicker. Finally, he said, "I didn't mean to deceive you."Her voice was as calm as stagnant water: "If you don't want to connect the call, please hang up."

He said, "I really didn't mean to deceive you."

She reached out and resolutely unplugged the phone line.

There was no wind in the afternoon, the air so stifling it felt suffocating. She was alone in the laundry room, washing clothes, scrubbing them fiercely. Sweat dripped continuously from her forehead. She decided to wash the bedsheets too, working until she was drenched in sweat. Then she fetched water to wipe the bamboo mat. The weather was so hot that even the water felt warm to the touch. She wrung the towel loosely and wiped carefully, stroke by stroke, as if trying to erase something. When everything was done, she tossed the towel aside and sat there in a daze.

At dusk, she went to fetch water. As she turned the corner, she slowed her pace. He stood under a flame tree in the distance, watching her. Suddenly, as if snapping back to reality, she quickened her steps and walked straight ahead without glancing sideways. Sure enough, he caught up with her: "Ye Qinwei, listen to me."

She kept her lips tightly sealed, walking faster and faster. But with his long legs and swift strides, he caught up in just a few steps: "Ye Qinwei, I've been waiting here all afternoon just to talk to you face to face. You can't be so unfair."

She finally spoke, her tone sharp and sarcastic: "Fair? How am I being unfair? Who's the one being unfair? What did you take me for? Deceiving me and making me run in circles—was that fun for you?"

He said urgently, "I apologize, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hide it. I was just afraid—afraid that as soon as you found out who I was, you'd turn and walk away." She remained silent and indifferent. He gritted his teeth: "You can't do this. I can't choose my family. You can't be so unfair, immediately cutting me off because of my background."

Family? She stopped walking. Ah... he came from such a prominent lineage. He was right—the moment she learned who he was, she immediately cut him off. His face was filled with anxiety, softening her heart just a little. She sighed softly: "You're right—because we're simply from two different worlds, I have no choice but to keep my distance."

A flicker of light seemed to flash in his eyes: "You can't be so cruel. My family is my family, but I am me."

She said quietly, "Mr. Murong, you can say that, but I'm just an ordinary person. I don't want to step into your world, and I ask you not to step into mine."

He said, "Apart from my family, I'm just an ordinary person too." His gaze burned into her eyes as he told her clearly: "I like you. That's why I was afraid you'd leave me once you learned my identity."

His bold and direct confession made her ears ring faintly. The entire world seemed to shift dramatically. The slanting sun remained scorching, but his eyes were even more intense than its rays. It was as if a tiny flame flickered and burned within her heart—a sensation that felt sour, painful, sorrowful, startling, yet more than anything, like a faint but undeniable joy. She felt somewhat flustered. He stood there, his expression resolute, like a reef unmoved even by crashing tidal waves. He grasped her arms: "Ye Qinwei, I like you. I've liked you from the moment I first saw you. You don't dislike me either, do you?"A small voice inside her whispered, Don’t trust him, don’t trust him. But his gaze was so intense—so intense that she couldn’t bear to meet his eyes any longer. Her voice was soft, yet clear, as she said, “It’s true that I don’t dislike you, but I can’t bear the weight of your ‘affection.’ The distance between us is too great. You come from an extraordinary background, while I am just the most ordinary of ordinary people.”

He grabbed her arm. “You can’t be so unreasonable. You can’t sentence me to death with baseless accusations.”

She shook her head. “It’s not baseless. You know very well that it’s impossible for us.”

He said, “Why is it impossible? You still don’t believe me. I swear—if I don’t truly love you, may I fall from the heavens and be shattered to pieces.”

Her face instantly turned deathly pale. "I don't want you to swear, don't say such things." He gazed at her urgently. "Then you're willing to believe me, aren't you? You'll give me a chance, right?"

She bit her lower lip and said, "There's no chance—we have no chance at all." He said, "What do you want me to do? Just tell me what you want me to do. As long as you say it, I'll definitely try my best to accomplish it."

She looked at him and said, "I just want you to leave and never come find me again."

He took a soft breath and said, "I never thought you could really be this cruel." He released her hand and took a step back. The sorrow in his eyes made her unable to meet his gaze. His voice was bitter and strained: "Since you won't give me even the slightest chance, then I'll respect your wishes. I won't come looking for you anymore. You can go."

Carrying her water bottle, she hurried forward as if afraid that if she slowed down, she wouldn't be able to resist looking back. The western sky was filled with golden clouds that gradually shifted to purplish-red. The sun was nearing the horizon, yet the weather remained unbearably hot—so hot it made one want to cry.

By evening, the weather grew even more stifling. After taking a shower, she was drenched in sweat again. After lights out, she tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. Jiayi in the opposite bed was also awake and whispered, "This damn weather." She murmured in agreement, then noticed a distant white glow outside the window and asked, "Is there a night flight tonight?" Jiayi said, "Looks like it. The runway lights are all on." As they spoke, a cool breeze blew in. Jiayi sat up in bed and said, "This wind feels wonderful." Within minutes, the wind grew stronger, making the windows rattle. Zheng Shuyuan, also awake, got up to secure the window hooks. Standing by the window, she said, "It's finally cooling down." Then came the faint rumble of thunder in the distance, followed by a flash of lightning—a thunderclap so close it seemed right by their ears, shaking heaven and earth. Jiayi said, "It's going to rain—probably a storm." No sooner had she spoken than the door slammed shut with a bang from the wind. Light rain began to fall, and within moments, a violent storm swept in with raging winds. Ye Qinwei hurried to close the window when she heard urgent alarm sirens. She turned to look at Jiayi. Zheng Shuyuan's face was pale as she said, "Oh no, the planes have encountered the storm. They must be unable to land."

Her heart tightened inexplicably. "I wonder which squadron is flying tonight." Jiayi said, "Just look at Shuyuan's expression—it must be the Fourth Squadron." Zheng Shuyuan's boyfriend was in the Fourth Squadron. Yu Anli, awakened by the commotion, said drowsily, "Don't worry. The Fourth Squadron has 5579, so the control tower will do everything possible to ensure the squadron lands safely." Ye Qinwei's heart skipped a beat, the wrenching feeling suddenly becoming all too real. Zheng Shuyuan said anxiously, "In this weather, even the control tower must be helpless."Ye Qinwei lay back on the bed, but could no longer close her eyes. She recalled his vow, and in her ears, she faintly heard him say clearly, "Let me fall from the sky, shattered to pieces." Even then, she had felt a vague unease, and now that unease kept her tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Oh, she didn’t want him to say such things, didn’t want him to swear such an oath, and certainly didn’t want him to fulfill it. Even if he didn’t truly love her, she didn’t want him to suffer such a fate. She wished for his safety, for him to be well… Suddenly, a painful realization struck her… She, too, was fond of him. She liked the way he smiled, his clear and bright voice saying, "Ye Qinwei, I like you." She raised her hand to cover her eyes. Oh, but it couldn’t be. No matter what, it couldn’t be. His world was one she could never enter, nor did she have any means to.

Zheng Shuyuan still sat up from time to time, listening for any movement, until she faintly heard the sound of airplane engines, then settled down to listen quietly. Ye Qinwei also strained her ears to catch the elusive sound amid the wind and rain, trying hard to discern the roaring noise that grew from afar. One… two… three… four… she counted silently in her heart… Only when she heard Zheng Shuyuan let out a long sigh of relief did she silently release her own breath. The entire squadron had landed. He was back, safe and sound.

After finishing her shift, she went to the mess hall for a meal, and once again, she was alone. Her thoughts drifted back to that day, lost in a daze, when suddenly a tall figure loomed before her. She looked up and, to her surprise, it was really him. She let out a weak sigh, as if wanting to flee. He looked at her, his eyes filled with sorrow. "I’m sorry, I didn’t keep my promise, but I truly couldn’t control my feet. They brought me to you without me even realizing it."

She didn’t know what to say. He continued, "I really made up my mind to forget you, but I couldn’t do it, Qinwei. Why is it like this? You must have cast a spell on me. I truly can’t do it."

She didn’t want to hear any more. She jumped up and said, "I have to go."

He looked at her quietly, his voice low and pained. "Last night, we encountered a storm. At that moment, I thought, if heaven doesn’t allow us to be together, then I shouldn’t come back. Only then would I be able to leave you." His eyes burned intensely as he stared straight at her. "I take back my words. I can’t leave you because it’s something I’m incapable of doing. Unless you truly despise me, I will never let you go. Nothing can separate us—not my family, not the gossip of others. Ye Qinwei, I love you. Give me a chance, and I will make you believe me."

Her tongue felt tied, and she couldn’t speak. The mess hall was so quiet that the rustling of the palm trees outside could be heard. His gaze was like a flame, sweeping everything before it, unstoppable, burning its way into her heart. He pressed her, "Give me an answer. Tell me, do you really dislike me? If you say so, I’ll turn and leave immediately—oh, no. Even if you say that, I won’t leave. I’ll keep trying until you like me."

She couldn’t withstand it any longer. She felt as though his eyes were an ocean, a sea that could drown her, yet she couldn’t help but sink into it. She heard her own small voice say, "I like you too, but…"He grabbed her shoulders in wild delight, looking like an overjoyed child: "No buts, I love you. No buts—nothing in this world can stop me from loving you. Nothing and no one can stop me."

He spoke with such finality that she closed her eyes. His heart was like a steadfast rock, hers like resilient willow grass—the rock unyielding, the grass pliant yet strong. Since he was throwing caution to the wind, she could do the same. Even if his world was a bottomless abyss, she would leap without hesitation.

Happiness had come so suddenly it felt unreal. They often went out to small eateries together, met at dawn to dig for clams on the beach, and in the evening walked hand in hand like children along the shore. The setting sun was perfectly round, the sky ablaze with sunset clouds like brocade, the slanting rays like embroidered flowers upon it. She had never seen such a beautiful sunset. With his arm around her waist, she leaned against his shoulder as night gradually fell. Between sea and sky, humans seemed minuscule—the two of them as insignificant as two grains of sand. He said, "I’d gladly be two grains of sand with you, staying together on this beach forever." She smiled faintly. "Silly talk. One wave could separate us." He tightened his grip. "No, even if a wave swept me away, the next would bring me back to you."

Stars began to glimmer clearly in the eastern sky. He said, "I’m going home this week. I want to confess our relationship to Mother. She’ll surely find a way to speak for us in front of Father. Qinwei, my mother is the most understanding person in the world—she’ll definitely like you."

Gazing at the scattered stars, she murmured absently, "Really?"

"Of course," he said. "Anyone I like, Mother will like too. Once we get past her, Father will be easier to handle."

The night sky was deep indigo, studded with glittering stars. Gentle waves lapped the shore as he took her hand. The sand was so soft it felt like walking on clouds.

After he left, the days stretched into an endless wait, each minute and second dragging painfully. When he finally called, his voice brimmed with joy: "Qinwei, Mother was a bit reluctant, but she said she’ll respect my choice."

Happiness had come so easily. Her heart settled, and she only urged him, "Don’t cause trouble with your family because of me." He laughed heartily. "How could I? Though Mother expressed opposition, she yielded when she saw how determined I was." That’s how all mothers are, she thought, smiling sweetly. "Enjoy your break. I’ll wait for you."

He hummed in agreement. "Mother asked me to stay a few more days. I think I should spend more time with her." Then he added, "If it’s too hot to eat, go out for meals." She replied, "I know. Don’t worry." He lowered his voice. "But I can’t shake this unease. You wouldn’t fall for someone else while I’m away, would you?"

Heavens! She gasped. "What nonsense! Loving you is trouble enough—I’ve no energy to shift my affections elsewhere."

He chuckled softly. Suddenly remembering the operator could overhear them, her face flushed hot. "I’m not talking to you anymore. Goodbye."He said, "See you in five days." After a pause, he added, "Starting the countdown now—still 120 hours to go. So long."

Yes, 120 hours felt incredibly long. Yet, in just 120 hours, she would see him again, wouldn't she? The corner of her lips curved up. Only 120 more hours.

120 hours sounded easy, but they were agonizing to endure. Watching the sun, its shadow barely shifting over hours, turned mornings to dusk into the most drawn-out process. Fortunately, he called every day, though during their conversations, time flew by so swiftly—it felt like they'd only exchanged a few words before half an hour had passed.

It was the final day. He called her early in the morning: "I'll set off at noon and can have dinner with you tonight." She replied, "Jiayi is sick, so I swapped shifts with her. I'm on duty this afternoon." He said, "No problem, I'll wait for you."

Jiayi had a severe cold and was running a high fever. Unable to eat, she mumbled, "If only I could have some pineapple." She chuckled and said, "No need to beat around the bush—I'll go buy some for you." Jiayi stuck out her tongue and said, "Thanks a lot." She teased, "Even with a fever, you've got the energy to crave food. Truly a foodie at heart." Jiayi retorted, "It's because I'm sick that I can make demands without restraint."

She prepared saltwater to cool, saying, "I'll leave this here to chill. When I get back with the pineapple, we can soak it before eating."

It was boiled water, poured into a rice bowl, slowly steaming upwards. Jiayi, feverish and drowsy, fell into a deep sleep. When she woke, her fever had subsided slightly, and she noticed the water had cooled, but Qinwei still hadn't returned. Puzzled, she washed her face and stepped out, only to see Fang Yawen from the next room running back breathlessly from afar: "Jiayi, quick, quick! Qinwei from your dorm had an accident in town—she was hit by a car."

She froze on the spot, the sun glaring white and piercing like needles.

Murong Qingyu rushed to the hospital, where a group of girls were weeping in the hallway. Jiayi took a step back upon seeing him, her lips trembling but no words coming out. He looked at her blankly and asked, "Qinwei is okay, she's fine, right?" He repeated, "She's fine, isn't she?"

Jiayi didn't dare speak, just hung her head. He staggered back several steps, his back pressing against the wall. The wall was cold, a chill that seeped straight into his heart, numbing him with a harsh, unyielding sensation. He felt dulled, as if even pain had deserted him. Drawing a breath, it only triggered a spasm in his heart. He refused to believe it, he would never believe it.

He requested annual leave from the base, which was naturally approved. Returning home to stay, Madam Murong, seeing his state, was heartbroken and tried to console him: "Qinwei, you're still young. There are plenty of good girls out there. I'm sad for you about what happened, but it's over now. Don't grieve too much."

He seemed not to hear, murmuring softly, "Mother, it was you."

Madam Murong asked in confusion, "It was me?"

He lifted his eyes, his gaze cold as ice and snow: "Mother, I know it was you." Madam Murong said, "What nonsense are you talking, child? What did I do?"He said, "I should have realized long ago—it wouldn't be that easy. You wouldn't agree to it so readily unless you already had a better way to separate us."

Madam Murong said, "You must be out of your mind, child. How can you say such a thing? Do you think I caused Miss Ye's death? That was a traffic accident."

His eyes held nothing but desolation: "A traffic accident—with just the slightest hint from you, Mother, any traffic accident could be arranged."

Madam Murong replied, "How can you speak to your mother like this, child? How can you suspect your own mother without any reason?" His voice was filled with sorrow: "Mom, do you think this is love?"

He called her "Mom" with a tone of profound grief. Madam Murong said, "Don't let your imagination run wild. I am deeply saddened by Miss Ye's accident too. What kind of person do you take your mother for? I only want your happiness."

Happiness? His happiness had been brutally buried, forever lost.

He didn’t return to the base until after his extended leave. Madam Murong, uneasy, personally called the base: "Keep a close watch on Second Young Master for me." The person on the other end naturally agreed repeatedly, adding, "Rest assured, Madam. If his psychological evaluation is unstable, we won’t allow him to continue flying. The latest test results are in, and they’re quite satisfactory."

Madam Murong said, "That’s good. Letting him fly might keep his mind from wandering."

He Xu'an was an avid angler, and his residence was built by the shores of Bishui Lake. That day, as he held his fishing rod by the lake, the emerald waters reflected the surrounding mountains, dark and mirror-like, with not a ripple disturbing the surface. He was intently watching the float when he heard hurried footsteps behind him. Turning, he saw his secretary rushing down the stone steps, breathless. He spoke first: "Speak slowly. Don’t scare away my fish." The secretary struggled to steady his breath and said, "Commander An called and asked for you. He said an aircraft has been lost." "Lost" meant crashed—a serious matter. But the way it was reported made him grasp the gravity of the situation instantly. His heart sank, and he threw down his fishing rod, asking, "You mean Commander An called personally? Which base did he say?" The secretary replied, "Yuhai."

Though he had already guessed most of it, he still clung to a sliver of hope. Upon hearing it was the Yuhai base, even that last bit of hope vanished. He hurried up the steps and, after finishing the call, sat motionless for a long time. The secretary grew concerned and called out, "Director He." He lifted his head, his voice hoarse: "Prepare the car. I’m going to Shuangqiao."

In the afternoon at the Shuangqiao Official Residence, the shade was thick as water, and the courtyard was deep and serene. He walked to the small eastern parlor and glanced at the grandfather clock. The aide-de-camp came out to greet him, smiling as he asked, "Why have you come in person, sir?"

He inquired, "Is the gentleman taking his afternoon nap?"

The aide-de-camp replied, "Yes, as you know, he always rests at this time." Then he asked, "Is it something urgent? Shall I wake him?" Given He Xu'an’s high rank and his unsummoned arrival, it was clear something critical must have happened. So the aide-de-camp prepared to rouse Murong Feng, but after a moment’s thought, He Xu'an said, "No, let the gentleman sleep. I’ll wait here for a while."The aide-de-camp acknowledged with a "Yes" and poured him another cup of tea. Silence enveloped the surroundings, where even the ticking of the wall clock's second hand was distinctly audible. Being an old house, the hall was both deep and spacious; despite it being afternoon, the light remained dim and obscure. A vase of Western-style flower arrangement stood on the nearby tall side table, likely arranged by Madam Murong herself, its rich fragrance faintly lingering by one's side. He Xu'an sat there, watching the patterned shadows cast by the window grille's iron bars gradually shift deeper across the carpet.