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There really wasn’t much reason to stay in Wuda Mountain Town. The next day, after wandering around the town again, Qi Wang left with Yu Nian.

As the car drove out of Wuda Mountain Town, Yu Nian looked back.

The small town was still as dull and pale as ever, like a symbol frozen in place, unable to stir up any waves.

After returning to City A not long after, Song Yunchun flew back from abroad, and the others from “Morning Ten” also gradually arrived. They all returned to City C for a long-awaited reunion.

Pushing open the door of “Morning Ten,” most of the decorations inside remained the same. Song Yunchun was chatting with Xiao Gu, Chu Hejun was preparing drinks, and Shao Wanli was studying desserts for the evening. Yu Nian had a moment of trance, feeling like he had stepped into the river of eighteen years old again.

That night, at the party, everyone talked about their experiences over the years.

Song Yunchun settled in France and opened a Chinese restaurant.

Chu Hejun and Xiao Gu took over “Morning Ten,” got married, bought a house, and lived a decent life.

The former chef Shao Wanli also opened his own shop alone, the shop was also in City C, in Wusheng District, called “Wanwan Kitchen,” mainly selling fast food and lunch boxes.

The always silent waiter Xiao Xu went to college through self-study a few years ago, then passed the postgraduate entrance examination, and now worked in a foreign company.

…

It seemed like everyone had found their own place and had not disappointed in these years.

As for Yu Nian and Qi Wang, they didn’t need to explain much. Everyone present vaguely knew about their entanglement and separation over the years.

Song Yunchun drank too much, her cheeks flushed, she sighed and looked at Qi Wang and Yu Nian, “I was really blind back then, you two were plotting under my nose, and I didn’t even notice. If I had known, I would have thought about how to cover for you.”

She slapped her thigh in distress.

Xiao Gu also burped, patting Song Yunchun’s shoulder, “Who wasn’t? I never even thought about it. I just thought those two were good brothers. I even complained to Chu Hejun. I clearly got to know Yu Nian first, but this ungrateful guy kept sticking to Qi Wang…”

She said this, then angrily pointed at Yu Nian. The years of Yu Nian’s absence made her harbor both old and new grudges, and she cursed Yu Nian, “You’re still heartless.”

But Yu Nian just smiled.

His cheeks were flushed, wearing a soft sweater that accentuated his fair and translucent skin. His usual calm decisiveness seemed to have evaporated like mist, showing no trace of his usual efficiency at work. Instead, he appeared soft and gentle.

Qi Wang, on the other hand, remained the same. He was somewhat unfamiliar with the others from “Morning Ten” at first, and after all these years, he was still not very talkative. But tonight, whoever came to toast him, he didn’t refuse, emptying his cup neatly.

Chu Hejun, who abstained from alcohol, couldn’t help but give him a thumbs up.

It wasn’t until late at night that the banquet finally ended, and the door of “Morning Ten” was firmly locked. A group of people stood outside the shop, reluctant to leave.

Song Yunchun held onto Yu Nian, refusing to let go. She was so drunk that she couldn’t even distinguish between Yu Nian and Qi Wang anymore, but she still remembered to remind them, “When you have time, come to Paris. I’ll personally cook for you and show you my culinary skills.”

Yu Nian nodded absentmindedly and patted Song Yunchun’s shoulder. “When you have time, come to our house. I’ll have Qi Wang cook for you.”

Qi Wang looked amusedly at the drunken pair.

Although everyone was reluctant to part, all good things must come to an end. In the end, they waved goodbye and went their separate ways.

Yu Nian got into the car, still staring at the sign of “Morning Ten” for a while.

This street used to be a very popular scenic road in City C, loved by young people who often came to take photos and stroll. There were about a dozen restaurants of all sizes on the street, and three of them were currently hiring.

He still remembered his hesitation when he was eighteen, wandering for a long time before eventually deciding to enter “Morning Ten” because the owner looked friendly. This led to his first encounter with Qi Wang.

One step earlier or later wouldn’t have worked.

…

After April passed, summer vacation arrived quickly. During this quarter, “THE ONE” unexpectedly released a piece of jewelry, a ring made from a rare gemstone called fire opal.

This ring was specially designed by the renowned artist Mr. Qi Wang and there were only 99 pieces released. As soon as it was released, it was sold out, and the most special one was named 1130, kept in Qi Wang’s private collection.

Much later, Qi Wang was invited to be interviewed by a foreign magazine, and he was asked about the inspiration behind the ring and why it was named 1130.

Qi Wang smiled unusually during the interview and said softly, “Because my lover confessed to me on November 30th, and fire opal is my lucky stone.”

One stone causing a thousand ripples.

This was the first time Qi Wang had publicly revealed his relationship status. This low-profile artist, despite being favored by the media for his handsome appearance and aloof personality, had never been involved in any romantic rumors. This was the only time he admitted to being in a relationship.

But besides this simple statement, it was difficult to extract any further clues from him. Regarding his lover, he remained tight-lipped, but whenever this person was mentioned, there was a smile in his eyes and eyebrows.

However, many years later, it became common knowledge who Qi Wang’s partner was because he and Yu Nian often went on vacations together.

The two of them walked together on the streets of London, visited the intersection where they missed each other, went whale watching in Sri Lanka, and sunbathed with wine at a winery in France, as if trying to make up for the lost years. Since starting his relationship, Yu Nian had handed most of the company’s affairs over to the professional managers hired by his siblings, fully embodying the essence of a spoiled rich second generation.

Meanwhile, the person in charge of Qi Wang’s studio was quite distressed.

Since Qi Wang reunited with his lover, it seemed as if he had been kissed by the Muse once again, with inspiration flowing continuously. He produced one masterpiece after another, each one exciting and commendable, confident enough to elevate Qi Wang’s reputation in the art world to a new level.

But he never expected that Qi Wang would keep most of his works private, with no intention of selling them to the public, and even stingy about exhibiting them.

When asked why, Qi Wang simply said, “Because my lover’s shadow is in the paintings, and I don’t intend to share them with anyone.”

Ha.

Love-brained.

The person in charge cursed silently. Artists were either playboys or eccentrics, none of them were normal.

However, no matter how temperamental his manager was, Qi Wang was quite satisfied with his current life.

After a long winter, his life had finally entered a peaceful spring.

In the second year of rekindling his relationship with Yu Nian, on New Year’s Eve, he followed Yu Nian home.

He once again met Yu Xinli and Pei Zhao.

After many years of separation, Yu Xinli and Pei Zhao hadn’t changed much. Time had passed, and Yu Xinli was wearing a long skirt and sweater at home, her long hair slightly curled, looking much gentler and more peaceful.

She looked at Qi Wang sincerely and said, “Actually, I’ve been wanting to see you again for a long time, but Yu Nian wasn’t very willing, so we didn’t insist.”

She paused, speaking earnestly, “For so many years, Pei Zhao and I have always owed you an apology. Our arrogance and conceit have caused you and Yu Nian so much hardship. I’m really sorry. I don’t expect your forgiveness, I just…”

She seemed a bit melancholic as she spoke, stealing a glance at Yu Nian, who was nearby, peeking at them. She smiled silently, but quickly suppressed it, unable to hide the regret between her brows.

She said softly, “I just hope that you’ll both be happy and healthy in the future.”

Qi Wang looked at the two people in front of him. Eight years ago, when they first met, their identities and positions were completely different from what they were now.

That conversation was like a bomb, shattering his once hopeful life into pieces, like a wound that would never heal.

But now, as the closest people to Yu Nian, they were finally able to gather together calmly.

Qi Wang shook his head. “I can’t say I’ve never resented you, but between Yu Nian and me, apart from your involvement, there was also fate at play. If I hadn’t gone abroad, if I had come back earlier, maybe we could have had a better reunion.”

He looked at Yu Xinli and Pei Zhao. “I came here today only as Yu Nian’s boyfriend, wanting to meet his family. I will love and protect him for the rest of my life, so please rest assured.”

Outside the window, snowflakes had started falling again.

The Lunar New Year’s bell rang.

Yu Nian had been peering from a distance the whole time, but now he couldn’t resist any longer. He hurried over, poking his head in to see his siblings and then looking at Qi Wang suspiciously. “Have you finished talking? What did you say? Why can’t I listen? And are we still not having supper?”

The words poured out like when he was a talkative and lively teenager.

Yu Xinli couldn’t help but smile, feeling a bit emotional for reasons she couldn’t explain. It had been years since she had seen Yu Nian so lively.

Back then, she and Pei Zhao had decided to confess to Yu Nian because they noticed him becoming increasingly depressed and thin, realizing that he had never given up searching for Qi Wang.

Now, after so many years, Qi Wang had returned, and her brother finally seemed like a rose absorbing rain and dew, full and dazzling once again.

Pei Zhao reached out and tousled Yu Nian’s hair. “We didn’t say much, just wished you and Qi Wang a hundred years of happiness. Well, do you want to go eat tangyuan? I made some with taro flavor for you.”

That night, Yu Nian ate a whole bowl of taro-flavored tangyuan and played with Qi Wang in the courtyard with sparklers.

When he was young, he had also played with sparklers by the sea with Qi Wang.

Bright sparks, seemingly small clusters, yet capable of illuminating the whole world.

He leaped over the sparks and looked at Qi Wang, his eyes full of smiles. As he continued to gaze at him, he leaned in and kissed Qi Wang.

Pei Zhao, who was watching them from inside the glass window, unexpectedly experienced a moment of dog food. He shook his head with a smile, closed the curtains, and went to rest on his own.

…

After the New Year, Qi Wang showed a little more ambition. On the verge of exploding, he held an art exhibition in France at his studio.

In this exhibition, there was a hidden room with only one painting hanging inside.

The painting depicted an eighteen-year-old youth holding a bouquet of lilies, sitting on a windowsill, wearing a black coat that only revealed a glimpse of his profile. Most of his face was obscured by the lilies in his arms, but his eyes were as agile as a young deer, containing the entire spring forest within them—moist, bright, and unforgettable.

The name of this painting was “Soul.”

Many people didn’t understand the meaning of this name, but when they asked the staff nearby, they shook their heads, indicating that Mr. Qi had not explained it.

But if you were to flip the painting over,

You would see a poem by Pablo Neruda written on the back.

“You are like my soul, a butterfly of dreams.”

^[1]Author’s Note: Finally, it’s over. Feeling sentimental, I actually really like this story. I had prepared a lot of concluding remarks. But now I’m sitting in a hotel in … Continue reading

^[2]So, we’ve reached the end!! If you enjoyed this story, consider supporting me on Ko-fi through this link https://ko-fi.com/cee4409 Any amount will be appreciated. You can also find the … Continue reading