Chapter 55

The day after Lu Zhen returned to Beicheng, Lu Jian had been running around and finally received some results. The hospital agreed to let the family meet with the patient.

However, the hospital had some conditions: only the older brother could meet with Lu Yan while wearing a protective suit. Lu Jian and Meng Zhining, due to their age and weaker immunity, were not suitable to go into the isolation building.

On the morning of their departure, Lu Zhen sent Shen Kuo a message: “I’m heading over now, the location is in the isolation area on the fourth building of the People’s Hospital.”

Shen Kuo replied, “I’m already here.”

Lu Zhen, getting into the car, saw Shen Kuo’s message and thought to himself, ‘You’re quite eager. If I hadn’t messaged you, would you have been just standing there, waiting in vain?‘

Lu Zhen got into Meng Zhining’s car, and along the way, Meng Zhining kept talking nonstop, reminding Lu Zhen not to cry and act like it was a life-or-death situation when meeting his sister. It would only make her more nervous. He needed to encourage her, understood?

Lu Zhen, full of worry, gazed out the window, barely hearing Meng Zhining’s words.

At that moment, every street and alley in Beicheng was being disinfected by water trucks, and pharmacies had set up free boxes of Ban Lan Gen tea outside. Everyone was wearing masks and eyeing each other warily, creating an atmosphere of tension.

The news on TV was constantly reporting on patients’ deaths, which made Lu Zhen’s heart flutter nervously.

When they arrived at People’s Hospital, Lu Zhen called Shen Kuo and asked, “Where are you?”

“Turn around.”

Lu Zhen turned around and saw Shen Kuo standing on a flowerbed across from the building. His face was expressionless as he looked at him.

He was wearing a gray down jacket with the zipper open, revealing a thin cashmere sweater inside.

His long neck, with visible veins, looked even paler against the cold winter wind.

Few people could make an oversized down jacket look so stylish, and sometimes Lu Zhen had to admit that Shen Kuo was quite handsome—maybe just a little bit more than him.

“When did you get here?”

Shen Kuo looked up, staring at the isolation building in front of him. His eyes were dark.

“Last night.”

“Damn! You didn’t come straight here after getting off the plane, and ended up standing here the whole night, did you…”

Shen Kuo didn’t answer and kept staring at the isolation building. “What floor is she on?”

“According to the doctor, she’s on the seventh floor, but you won’t be able to see her. The isolation rooms don’t have windows.”

Shen Kuo knew he wouldn’t be able to see her, but as soon as he got off the plane last night, he came straight here.

Even though he couldn’t see her, just being closer to her made his heart feel a little more at ease.

“Once you’re inside, tell her…”

“I won’t relay any of your words,” Lu Zhen interrupted firmly.

“The breakup was your decision. My daughter was upset for a long time. She’s finally moving on, doing well, and happy. I won’t let you disturb her again.”

Shen Kuo’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and finally, he said, “Tell her not to be afraid. There were many stars in the sky last night…”

‘There were many stars, and I was there too, I’m here with you.’

Before he could finish, Lu Zhen hung up the phone, giving him a glare and flipping him off.

‘Damn it, so smooth with the words. No wonder, after all this time, my daughter is still obsessed and can’t forget him.’

Such a disaster.

Lu Zhen followed the doctor and nurses to the disinfection room in the isolation area, changing into a full-body protective suit that looked like something out of a bioweapon movie. Then, he entered the layers of isolated patient rooms.

Outside the ward, Lu Zhen finally saw Lu Yan.

Lu Yan was wearing an oversized striped patient sweater, sitting pitifully on her bed with her knees hugged close to her chest.

Her nose was red, and her eyes were wet, as though she had just been crying, looking like a frightened little animal.

Lu Zhen’s heart twisted with emotion. He anxiously shouted to the doctors around him, “She’s sick! Why is she dressed so lightly? How can she wear so little?!”

The doctor explained, “There’s heating, so she won’t be cold.”

Lu Zhen pounded on the glass window, shouting to Lu Yan, “Baby, Daddy’s here! Don’t be scared!”

When Lu Yan saw him, her eyes lit up. She jumped off the bed and ran to the window, her hand pressed against the glass, yelling, “Are you crazy? Why are you here?!”

“I came to see you! Don’t be scared, the doctor says there are a few more tests, and if everything’s fine, you can leave! Don’t worry, it’ll be okay.”

“Is everyone at home alright?”

“Mom and Dad are fine, just worried about you. Mom hasn’t gone to work these past few days.”

“I heard there were several cases found in Nancheng too.”

“Yes, we’ve closed the school.”

Lu Yan hesitated for a few seconds before finally asking, “How about him? Is he alright? Did he catch it, does he have a cough or anything?”

“Who?”

Lu Yan fidgeted with her clothes, finally murmuring his name softly, “Shen Kuo.”

“Why are you asking about him?”

“Just wondering.”

Lu Zhen curled his lips and said gruffly, “Don’t worry about him. Even if the apocalypse comes, that guy would definitely be the last one to die. He’s too clever for his own good.”

Lu Yan guessed Shen Kuo was probably fine, and she slowly exhaled in relief. But then, as though recalling something, she quickly said, “Don’t let him know I’m in the hospital.”

“Why?”

“No reason.”

Lu Yan sat on the cold little bench, hugging her thin arms, her mood seemingly low. “Just don’t let him know.”

Lu Zhen swallowed and forced himself to hold back the urge to tell her that the guy was downstairs. He replied, “Maybe he doesn’t even want to know.”

Lu Yan’s expression darkened further, and she rubbed her eyes, the skin around them turning red.

“Hey, I was just saying that casually, why are you crying?”

“I’m not crying.”

Lu Yan stubbornly turned her back on him, sniffing and muttering, “Who’s crying? I’m not crying. You’re right. Maybe he doesn’t care to know, but… but what if, what if my test results come back bad, you… you tell him for me. You tell him…”

“I’m not going to tell him anything,” Lu Zhen firmly rejected her, cursing under his breath, “Idiot.”

Finally, Lu Yan began crying out loud. “Tell him for me.”

She sobbed in broken bursts, trying to control herself, but the tears just kept flowing, soaking her shirt.

“Tell him that Lu Yan isn’t afraid of death, but is afraid that she’ll never meet anyone like him again, afraid that she’ll never have the chance to see him one last time, to tell him that she still can’t forget him.”

The girl was now beyond consoling.

“I won’t tell him that. If you want to say it, you say it yourself.”

Lu Zhen placed his phone next to the intercom on the glass window. “The call’s already connected. You talk to him.”

Lu Yan suddenly looked up, rushed over to block the intercom’s speaker hole, and shouted, “No! I won’t talk to him! Hang up! Hang up now!”

Lu Zhen shrugged. “It’s too late.”

The call had already gone through.

“Lu Yan.”

On the phone, a young man’s slightly hoarse voice came through, mixed with the faint hum of electricity, making it sound even more subdued.

Lu Yan covered her mouth, standing there dumbfounded.

It had been nearly half a year since they last spoke, and hearing his voice again caught her off guard.

His voice sounded different, not quite like the clear, bright voice of the boy she remembered.

“Lu Yan, I’m here.”

His breathing was heavy, as if he was putting effort into speaking. “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

Lu Yan’s hand pressed against the glass, her fingers brushing the phone on the other side.

“Where are you?”

“Downstairs.”

He said, “A bare little garden, with all the branches and leaves fallen off the trees.”

Lu Yan wiped away the tears that had rolled down her cheek and asked, “Are the trees in Nancheng lush and green?”

“Yes, the winter trees in the south stay green. Do you want to see them?”

“Can I see them?”

“When you’re better, I’ll take you to see them.”

“What if I don’t get better? What if…”

Shen Kuo interrupted her sobbing and said, “Lu Yan, if you don’t get better, then I won’t be alright either.”

Lu Yan’s breathing suddenly stopped.

“If you don’t get better, Shen Kuo will never be fine again.”

She choked, desperately nodding her head, but couldn’t say another word.

“Lu Yan, don’t leave me… all alone, okay?”

“Okay.” She wiped away her tears and said, “I won’t leave you. I’ll stay with you.”

“I’ll stay with you, forever.”

Finally, the doctor came over and urged, “It’s time, the patient needs to rest now.”

Lu Zhen nodded, hung up the phone, and said to Lu Yan, “Alright, stop crying.”

“I’m not crying anymore.” Lu Yan wiped her face with her sleeve, forcing a rather ugly smile. “He’s back.”

Lu Zhen helplessly said, “Yes, he’s back. How could he not come back? The guy who spends all his time eating buns with free soup at the cafeteria wouldn’t even hesitate to pay for a 900-yuan flight ticket.”

Lu Yan paused, murmuring, “Idiot.”

“He’s downstairs now. He probably came straight here as soon as he got off the plane and stood downstairs all night.”

Seeing the concern on the little girl’s face, Lu Zhen paused for a moment and then fell silent.

The doctor urged them again, and Lu Zhen reluctantly leaned against the glass window of the full isolation room, telling her, “Don’t be afraid. Dad and Mom are working on it. Everything will be fine!”

“You… you don’t risk coming to see me anymore.” Lu Yan urgently said, “I’m not scared anymore. Don’t worry about me. I’ll cooperate with the doctors and do the tests properly.”

Walking out of the isolation building, Lu Zhen glanced at the flower bed. Shen Kuo was still standing there, lost in thought, not leaving.

In the end, he couldn’t bear to ignore him and called out from a distance, “Hey, how long are you planning to stand there?”

Shen Kuo didn’t respond and lowered his head to light a cigarette.

Lu Zhen shouted again, “Go back already, standing there isn’t helping. Go home and wait for news.”

Shen Kuo casually picked up a small stone and threw it at him, muttering, “Shut up.”

“Ha! You really don’t know how to appreciate kindness!” Lu Zhen quickly dodged.

If it weren’t for how much Lu Yan cared about him, Lu Zhen wouldn’t have bothered about his life or death.

“Have you eaten? I’ll buy you a boxed meal.”

Shen Kuo put out his cigarette, looked up, and gave him a brief glance. The corner of his mouth, with stubble growing, slightly curved up. “You care about me?”

“What? I care about you?” Lu Zhen retorted excitedly. “Get over yourself!”

Shen Kuo gave a faint smile but didn’t bother to reply.

Lu Zhen went to the cafeteria, bought a boxed meal, and asked the staff to add extra meat, specifically requesting for twice-cooked pork.

After packing it, he walked over to Shen Kuo and handed him the meal, saying irritably, “Don’t starve to death. If you die, and Lu Yan asks me for someone, where am I supposed to find them?”

Shen Kuo took the meal and calmly murmured, “Thanks.”

Shen Kuo speaking so gently made Lu Zhen feel somewhat uncomfortable. He grumbled, “Don’t think too much of it. I still really hate you. If it weren’t for Little Yan, I wouldn’t… I wouldn’t bother with you!”

Shen Kuo patiently waited for him to finish his rant and then handed him the half-smoked cigarette. “Please, smoke.”

Lu Zhen…

One week later, Lu Yan’s health check-up results returned to normal, and her cold had recovered. She didn’t have the dreaded SARS, so she was finally allowed to go home.

Lu Zhen and Shen Kuo’s counselor gave them a final warning for leaving school without a valid reason, giving them one day to return to school or they would be expelled permanently.

After leaving the hospital, Lu Yan didn’t contact Shen Kuo, and of course, Shen Kuo didn’t contact her either.

Neither of them mentioned what happened that day, as if it had never occurred.

Once Shen Kuo returned to school, he began his intense review for the final exams. He needed to earn a scholarship for the next year to offset his tuition fees.

Lu Yan, meanwhile, started preparing for her final sprint in senior high school.

Both of them felt a bit like strangers in their own hometowns, hiding their true feelings and unable to face each other.

Lu Yan was simply too busy to think about romantic matters. Meng Zhining had once told her that a smart girl wouldn’t make a mistake at this time.

For example, Shi Ya didn’t belong to the “smart girl” category, she only had the small tricks that Shi Xuexian had taught her.

Shi Ya put all her thoughts into her romance. After Shi Xuexian learned about her boyfriend Wu Tianhan’s family background, she changed her previously firm opposition into full support for her daughter’s relationship.

Wu Tianhan came from a wealthy family. While not as rich as the Lu family, his family was still quite reputable in Beicheng.

Although Shi Xuexian had heard that Wu Tianhan’s character wasn’t great, she believed that he was still young and would become more mature as he grew older.

Shi Xuexian began teaching Shi Ya her own “husband management experience,” telling her that she must secure Wu Tianhan as her boyfriend. Given her current situation, if she missed this opportunity, it would be difficult to find a good husband with such a wealthy background in the future.

Thus, Shi Ya spent her days thinking about how to dress, how to flatter him, and as a result… her grades dropped dramatically.

Her class teacher would call Shi Xuexian frequently, and while Shi Xuexian casually responded while playing mahjong, eventually, she got fed up and scolded the teacher, telling him not to ruin her daughter’s future.

The teacher helplessly sighed, hung up the phone, and then saw Lu Yan sitting in the cold classroom, writing furiously.

So sometimes, a person’s fate isn’t predetermined. When you’re wallowing in self-pity and blaming the heavens, you can no longer see the figures of those who are better than you, those you once envied.

–

During the winter break, Lu Yan received a text message from Shen Kuo:

“Lu Yan, I will be attending an information technology seminar in the US with my teacher during the winter break. I don’t know when I’ll return. Everything’s fine, don’t worry.”

Under the desk lamp, Lu Yan read the message over and over, smiling faintly at the content.

Who’s worried about him?

During the break, Lu Zhen returned home with bags full of local specialties—cigarettes for his dad, cosmetics for his mom, but most of all, beautiful skirts and shoes for Lu Yan.

At that time, the reforms had only been going on for ten years, and Nancheng had always been more open to the times. Yet, due to the lack of a developed internet, everything, from new gadgets to trends, was still far more modern and open than in the North.

Lu Zhen had recently developed a keen interest in online shopping. More precisely, he had become obsessed with shopping.

Lu Yan knew that her father had been one of the early pioneers in e-commerce. He had started his business by selling cosmetics and skincare products online before branching into website development and online operations.

Lu Yan supported her father’s “business,” though only in spirit. She firmly opposed him using her face for “experiments.”

After carefully studying how southern girls dressed and did their makeup, Lu Zhen decided to help freshen up his mother, Meng Zhining.

That noon, he casually sneaked into Meng Zhining’s office. She was lying on the sofa, taking a nap, with one high heel kicked onto the desk and the other one underneath the sofa.

Lu Zhen quietly entered the office, put his mom’s high heels back in place, and secretly took a puff powder from his bag. Taking advantage of his mother’s deep sleep, he stealthily applied a patch of highland red to her cheeks.

Meng Zhining was the type of person who slept deeply, completely unbothered by anything.

Later, Meng Zhining went to a board meeting wearing those two patches of highland red and greasy, sausage-like lips. In the afternoon, she even had to meet an important foreign client.

When Meng Zhining noticed the client’s strange expression, she picked up a mirror to check her makeup. Her face immediately turned pale.

That evening, Lu Zhen almost got his hands dismembered and hung up to be beaten by the furious female CEO, Meng Zhining.

Having not learned his lesson, Lu Zhen, still itching for trouble, wanted to experiment with Lu Yan’s face again. But Lu Yan slammed the door shut, leaving the pitiful man standing outside.

“Baby, try it, I promise you won’t be disappointed!”

“Southern girls all do their makeup like this!”

“They call it ‘Hong Kong style,’ it’s the latest trend.”

–

“Who cares what style it is? Don’t even think about it. I’m not your experiment! Besides, I can do my own makeup!”

“Just try it, baby.”

“If you want to try, go ask my mom! I’m not doing it!”

Lu Zhen, his mind focused entirely on his career, ended up finding Jian Yao.

When he hesitated to explain his intentions and then placed several types of powder palettes in front of Jian Yao, she was sitting by the swing outside the bar, wiping down her guitar in preparation for an upcoming performance.

“Seriously, Lu Zhen, didn’t know you had this ambition,” Jian Yao said while tuning her guitar. “How many women have you done makeup for?”

“None, just my mom,” Lu Zhen said awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. “Even Lu Yan won’t let me do hers.”

“Alright, then help me, I’m about to perform.”

When doing Jian Yao’s makeup, Lu Zhen was extremely careful and focused. He applied foundation first, then did her eyebrows, eyeshadow, and lipstick.

He could even feel her gentle breathing brushing against his face like a soft breeze.

He dared not breathe too heavily, so he kept controlling himself.

After finishing her makeup, Lu Zhen carefully handed her a mirror, nervously asking, “How… how is it?”

Jian Yao stared at her reflection for a while, then casually said, “It’s okay.”

“Really?”

“Mm.”

“Seriously? Don’t lie, is it really okay?”

“Are you annoyed? How many times do I have to say it?”

Lu Zhen’s eyes lit up with newfound confidence. He sat down and began excitedly explaining his grand plan to Jian Yao:

“I think most girls today don’t wear makeup when they go out, and more importantly, they don’t even know how to do it. They think makeup is only for the stage, so the cosmetics market hasn’t really taken off. But I believe it shouldn’t be like this. Women should wear makeup every day!”

Jian Yao listened patiently, smiling as she did.

With something he was passionate about, a dream to follow, Lu Zhen seemed to glow from within. This made him incredibly attractive.

A man’s appeal usually comes from three things: his looks and charm, his character, and his career.

Men who have all three are rare in this world.

Lu Zhen just about had it all, at least in Jian Yao’s eyes, he did.

“You’ll succeed,” she encouraged him. “Your makeup skills are pretty good.”

Lu Zhen nodded vigorously, grabbing her hand excitedly, “Thank you!”

Jian Yao’s heart fluttered, and she immediately withdrew her hand, turning her head away, saying awkwardly, “Let’s just talk, no need for all the pulling.”

Lu Zhen, embarrassed, said, “Then I won’t bother you anymore.”

Jian Yao continued tuning her guitar coldly, ignoring him. Lu Zhen stood up, hesitated for a moment, then sluggishly left.

Twenty minutes later, the performance began, and Jian Yao walked onto the stage with her guitar.

The audience and the band members below the stage saw her and almost burst out laughing.

“Hahaha, Master Jian, how desperate are you to wear this kindergarten-level stage makeup?”

“You even put on a beauty mark? What are you doing, haha!”

“My God, why come out to scare people at night with that look?”

–

Jian Yao, of course, wasn’t about to let them get to her. She retorted, “Are you looking at me or listening to the music? If you want to listen, then be quiet and enjoy it. If you don’t want to listen, just leave. I’m not here to entertain you!”

The boys’ mocking laughter quieted down a little.

Jian Yao began singing, her melodious voice flowing through the air, and faintly, the sound of the boys’ low chuckles could still be heard from the crowd.

But the girl on stage seemed completely unaffected. She was naturally carefree, and as long as she liked something, she never cared about the opinions of others.

What she didn’t know was that Lu Zhen hadn’t left.

He was hiding in the shadowed corner of the bar, watching her step onto the stage wearing the makeup he had done for her, hearing the ridicule and mockery from those around him.

Lu Zhen’s hand tightened into a fist, and he gripped it so hard that his whole body trembled slightly.

Jian Yao had no idea that, at that moment, she had become the only moonlight in his eyes.

From that moment on, Lu Zhen dedicated his entire life’s courage and loyalty to her.