52

That night, Yu Mingjiao clung to Cen Lingqiu for a long time. Even though Cen Lingqiu appeared weak and frail, she seemed to have boundless energy in bed. By the end of the night, Cen Lingqiu no longer wanted to continue, but Yu Mingjiao, seemingly tireless, held on for almost half the night.

The next morning, Cen Lingqiu felt completely drained.

It seemed Yu Mingjiao had grown addicted. For the next few days, whenever they had free time, she would pull Cen Lingqiu to bed again. Cen Lingqiu, though exhausted, still indulged her. But soon, she could no longer keep up.

Her body, now nearing the end of the two months she had left, was deteriorating rapidly, like a river eroding away. First, she lost her sense of taste, then her sense of smell. One day, she realized she could no longer see clearly.

She couldn't even see Yu Mingjiao's face anymore. Cen Lingqiu had to use her hands to trace Yu Mingjiao's features. When Yu Mingjiao asked why she kept touching her face, Cen Lingqiu answered honestly.

"Because I can't see you anymore."

Yu Mingjiao's face turned pale instantly, her lips trembling as she hesitantly asked, "Lingqiu Jie, have you gone blind?"

Her voice shook violently.

But Cen Lingqiu seemed unbothered, her vacant, dark eyes curving slightly into a smile.

"Perhaps."

It seemed their happiness was never meant to last. Their time together had finally reached its end.

Before she lost her sight completely, Cen Lingqiu took Yu Mingjiao to the aquarium they had missed visiting before.

It was a weekday, so there weren't many people. Cen Lingqiu, unable to see clearly, walked slowly and stumbled several times. Yu Mingjiao could only remind her constantly, but as someone who needed care herself, she couldn't fully assist Cen Lingqiu. Despite her best efforts, Cen Lingqiu still bumped into various objects.

Looking at the wound on Cen Lingqiu's hand, caused by tripping over a step she hadn't seen, Yu Mingjiao began to despise her own disability.

She hated herself.

She couldn't do anything to help Cen Lingqiu.

But Cen Lingqiu brushed it off, happy that they had made it safely to the aquarium. They were surrounded by deep blue, the quiet of the sea, and the movement of fish, making everything seem like a dream.

Though Cen Lingqiu couldn't see, she could still sense the enchanting beauty around her. Yu Mingjiao knew Cen Lingqiu couldn't see, so she guided her patiently, describing the scenes and the fish they encountered.

Cen Lingqiu held her hand, listening attentively.

A group of people passed by, disrupting their path and forcing them to let go of each other's hands. Cen Lingqiu, her vision blurred, reached out to grab Yu Mingjiao's hand again but mistook another black-haired figure for her. As she moved toward the wrong person, she heard footsteps beside her, and a familiar hand reached for hers.

"Lingqiu Jie, I'm right here."

"Oh, you're here." Cen Lingqiu smiled sheepishly. "I almost grabbed the wrong person."

Yu Mingjiao's heart ached. The person Cen Lingqiu had mistaken for her looked nothing like her; anyone with clear sight wouldn't have made that mistake.

The fact that Cen Lingqiu could no longer tell them apart was a painful reminder of her rapidly fading vision.

This wasn't what Yu Mingjiao wanted.

She only wanted a healthy Cen Lingqiu, nothing more.

Why was such a simple wish so unattainable?

They found a quiet corridor bathed in deep blue, with fish swimming around them, reflected in the glass walls. It felt like they were the only two people in the vast ocean.

The lighting was dim, and Cen Lingqiu, squinting, couldn't see a thing. She couldn't even walk straight.

"Lingqiu Jie, let's take a break," Yu Mingjiao suggested, realizing Cen Lingqiu couldn't continue walking like this.

"Alright," Cen Lingqiu agreed, finding a spot to sit.

She sighed softly. "Jiao Jiao, I must be ruining the day for you."

Yu Mingjiao pursed her lips, her expression somber. She shook her head. "No, not at all."

Cen Lingqiu chuckled quietly, playing with Yu Mingjiao's fingers.

"Honestly, I can't see any of the things you're describing—the ocean creatures, the scenery. I can't see them at all."

"That's alright," Yu Mingjiao replied, blinking rapidly to hold back her tears. "Those creatures are ugly anyway, not worth seeing."

Cen Lingqiu laughed, knowing Yu Mingjiao was trying to comfort her.

She took out her camera. "Jiao Jiao, let's take a picture together."

It was funny; they had known each other for so long but had never taken a photo together.

"Alright."

"You take it," Cen Lingqiu said, handing her the camera. "I can't see."

That casual remark nearly made Yu Mingjiao cry again. She took a deep breath, biting her lip, something Cen Lingqiu could no longer stop her from doing.

Yu Mingjiao adjusted the camera to selfie mode, capturing their faces in one shot.

Cen Lingqiu, unable to see, asked, "How did it turn out? Does it look good?"

Yu Mingjiao nodded. "It looks great."

"Did you smile? You have to smile for a photo."

Yu Mingjiao's eyes glistened as she forced a small smile.

"I smiled, Lingqiu Jie."

Cen Lingqiu nodded, her voice gentle. "That's good. You have a beautiful smile. It's a shame that I..."

She trailed off, unable to finish her thought.

In truth, the picture wasn't very good.

Cen Lingqiu's eyes were vacant, not looking at the camera, and Yu Mingjiao's expression was filled with sadness, on the verge of tears. It didn't look like a happy photo at all.

They didn't stay at the aquarium long. Cen Lingqiu's body simply couldn't handle it.

Like an avalanche, misfortune continued to descend upon them, layer after crushing layer.

After losing her vision, Cen Lingqiu's physical condition worsened rapidly.

She couldn't eat properly. Often, halfway through a meal, she would run to the bathroom to vomit it all up. No matter how hard she tried to keep the food down, she would end up throwing it up.

Eventually, she began vomiting blood in large amounts. Not wanting Yu Mingjiao to see, she would hide in the bathroom to do it.

But Yu Mingjiao wasn't oblivious.

Every time Cen Lingqiu retched in the bathroom, Yu Mingjiao would stand silently outside, keeping her company.

In just a few days, Cen Lingqiu had grown painfully thin. Her face became pale, her cheeks gaunt.

Still, she smiled gently every day, trying not to worry Yu Mingjiao.

Soon, Cen Lingqiu became too weak to leave the house.

Yu Mingjiao knew how much Cen Lingqiu was suffering. She was clinging to her broken body, enduring immense physical pain, all just to stay with her.

She could easily abandon this useless body and return to her own world to live freely.

But she stayed purely out of love.

Was that what Yu Mingjiao truly wanted?

She loved Cen Lingqiu so deeply. But could she really ignore her suffering?

She couldn't.

As much as she longed for Cen Lingqiu to stay with her forever, she couldn't bear to see her in pain.

Yu Mingjiao, who had endured the agony of disability, couldn't stand to let Cen Lingqiu suffer the same fate.

For once, Yu Mingjiao decided to be selfless.

When Cen Lingqiu fainted after drinking water and was admitted to the hospital, Yu Mingjiao finally said what she had been dreading.

"Lingqiu Jie, you should go."

By that time, Cen Lingqiu was completely blind, lying in a hospital bed, too weak to walk. The only sense still working was her hearing.

Hearing those words from Yu Mingjiao, she was taken aback.

"What…?"

Yu Mingjiao sat beside her, holding Cen Lingqiu's bony hand, her voice steady and calm.

"Lingqiu Jie, I know you're in pain. So, it's okay for you to leave."

Cen Lingqiu understood. She fell silent for a long time.

"Our Jiao Jiao… is finally learning to be selfless?" Cen Lingqiu smiled faintly. She raised her hand, blindly reaching for Yu Mingjiao's face. Yu Mingjiao guided her hand, pressing it gently to her cheek.

Yu Mingjiao also smiled, but it was a bitter one.

"If I behave, will you love me more?"

"I love you no matter what," Cen Lingqiu replied, her smile softening. She cupped Yu Mingjiao's chin, tracing her lips with her fingers, then leaned forward and kissed her pale, dry lips. Yu Mingjiao tasted sweetness and, like a cat demanding more, clung to Cen Lingqiu's wrist, kissing her passionately, pressing their lips together with desperation, as if afraid of losing her.

They kissed with the intensity of two people facing imminent death.

When they finally pulled apart, Cen Lingqiu cupped Yu Mingjiao's face, her sightless eyes staring into the void.

"Jiao Jiao, when I leave this time, will you forget me?"

Yu Mingjiao shook her head.

"Will you wait for me?"

She didn't reply.

"Do you believe me, Jiao Jiao? I'll find a way to return to you, no matter what it takes. I'll try everything."

Cen Lingqiu paused, her voice gentle and reassuring. "So, Jiao Jiao, don't do anything rash."

"I will always come back to you."

Yu Mingjiao's expression remained calm. She didn't respond with her usual frantic accusations. Instead, she sat still, her long lashes fluttering slowly like a motionless doll.

She was so quiet that it unsettled Cen Lingqiu. Just as she was about to ask what was wrong, she saw Yu Mingjiao close her eyes, tears silently sliding down her pale cheeks.

Cen Lingqiu whispered, "Jiao Jiao…"

Yu Mingjiao's tears fell like melted snow in the winter sun, cold and unceasing.

She cried without a sound, gazing silently at Cen Lingqiu for a long time.

Cen Lingqiu reached out to wipe her tears, her hand damp from Yu Mingjiao's sorrow. Yu Mingjiao leaned into her palm, but her tears kept falling, her thick, dark lashes closed, and her pale, fragile face etched with deep sorrow.

Yu Mingjiao thought Cen Lingqiu was a terribly selfish person.

How could she say something so cruel?

Without Cen Lingqiu, how was she supposed to keep going?

What a terrible woman.

Even with the best medical care, Cen Lingqiu's body collapsed like a snowman melting in the sun.

She could no longer eat, see, or stay awake for more than brief moments, and she vomited blood daily.

In the end, she could barely stay conscious.

Zhang Li wept every day, knowing she was about to lose her last child.

Yu Mingjiao took over for Cen Lingqiu, comforting Zhang Li and staying by her side.

No one knew that Yu Mingjiao herself was on the brink of collapse, holding herself together by sheer will.

But she refused to show it.

She knew it would upset Cen Lingqiu.

Her heart felt like it was slowly breaking, cold winds seeping through every crack.

Cold.

Endless cold.

Cen Lingqiu fell into a coma for four days. One day, she suddenly regained consciousness and felt a brief surge of energy. The first thing she did was ask for her bag.

She shared one last meal with Zhang Li, took a stroll through the hospital, and had a long conversation with her.

"Mom, please take care of yourself," Cen Lingqiu said as they sat on a bench by the lake.

Zhang Li, sensing what was coming, hugged Cen Lingqiu tightly.

"Child, I'll take care of myself," she said, her voice warm and loving as she patted Cen Lingqiu's frail back.

"If you're tired, rest. Don't worry about me."

Cen Lingqiu smiled, hugging Zhang Li in return.

"Thank you."

In Zhang Li's presence, Cen Lingqiu had experienced a mother's love, however briefly.

After their parting, the last person Cen Lingqiu saw was Yu Mingjiao.

Instead of staying in the hospital, they went to the seaside.

They watched the sunset together one last time.

Even though Cen Lingqiu couldn't see it.

As the sun set, Cen Lingqiu took out a small box from her bag.

"Jiao Jiao, this was supposed to be your birthday present."

She opened the box, revealing a pair of rings.

She didn't know why she had chosen rings at the time, but it had felt right.

Yu Mingjiao blinked and took out a box of her own, guiding Cen Lingqiu's hand to feel its contents.

Cen Lingqiu touched the object. "What's this?"

"A ring," Yu Mingjiao replied softly. "I designed it myself. It was supposed to be your birthday present five years ago."

Cen Lingqiu paused, then laughed.

She hadn't expected that they had both chosen the same gift, nor that neither had ever been able to give it.

Cen Lingqiu laughed until tears streamed down her face.

"Then let's put them on each other."

"Alright."

Cen Lingqiu placed her ring on Yu Mingjiao's finger, and Yu Mingjiao did the same for her.

Cen Lingqiu couldn't see the ring, so she traced it with her fingers, smiling faintly.

Yu Mingjiao smiled too, tears rolling down her cheeks.

It was now evening, the orange sun setting into the blue sea, waiting for its next reunion with the ocean.

That night, Cen Lingqiu was rushed into emergency care. Her body had reached its limit.

Zhang Li gave them their final moments together.

Yu Mingjiao sat beside her, watching her for a long time.

Cen Lingqiu, her mind clouded, mumbled disjointed words to her.

"Lingqiu Jie, my lips are chapped."

"I bought you some balm. Remember to use it."

"The weather's getting colder."

"Wear more layers."

"Yu Sui'an keeps messaging me. It's annoying."

"She loves you. Just scold her a little."

"Lingqiu Jie, do you want to go to Iceland? Let's go to Iceland together next time."

"Alright."

"When we meet again, bring me a bouquet of lisianthus."

"Okay."

"The prettiest ones."

"Okay."

"Will you think of me in that other world?"

"…"

"Lingqiu Jie, what happens to people without bones?"

"…"

Cen Lingqiu was one of her bones.

Cen Lingqiu's eyes were closed, and she could no longer speak.

Yu Mingjiao's face turned ashen.

"Lingqiu Jie, are you leaving?"

Cen Lingqiu's breathing was faint, almost nonexistent. She struggled to lift her hand, clasping Yu Mingjiao's fingers. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.

But Yu Mingjiao understood.

She was saying, "Jiao Jiao, say goodbye to me."

They hadn't said goodbye during their previous partings.

Yu Mingjiao smiled softly, her eyes curving into crescent moons, a smile filled with sorrow, like a flower about to wither in spring.

"Lingqiu Jie, goodbye."

"And… I love you."

It was the first time Yu Mingjiao had ever said those words, her first confession.

She had always been stubborn, never good at expressing her love, always beating around the bush.

This time, she had finally said it directly. But she didn't know if Cen Lingqiu had heard her.

Maybe Cen Lingqiu had heard. She smiled faintly, then closed her eyes.

The heart monitor flatlined, emitting a sharp, continuous beep.

Yu Mingjiao held her hand, resting her forehead on the back of Cen Lingqiu's hand, seeking comfort in the touch.

"Lingqiu Jie, I wish you peace on your journey."

This was Yu Mingjiao's first experience with love, but love was not a beautiful thing. Along with its excitement and joy, it brought twice the pain, like death itself.

But she still cherished this love.

No matter how it ended, she was grateful to Cen Lingqiu.

She hated Cen Lingqiu.

But she loved her too.

Of all the people in the world, she loved Cen Lingqiu the most.

How could loving someone cause her so much pain?

Still, she was happy.

Because Cen Lingqiu's suffering was finally over.

I love you, Cen Lingqiu.

I love you so very much.

I'm sorry you never heard my confession when you were alive. I finally gathered the courage to tell you.

Lingqiu Jie.

I'll be waiting for you to come back to me.

You won't lie to me.

Right?