After discovering that the train tickets Shu Tang held were to South Island City, Zhu Yan thought that all this might be an illusion produced by his brain on the way to the Prison, just as a person in the desert would see a mirage.
He no longer stayed in the darkness but became very calm again.
He came out and packed a few clothes, not many, because he believed he would soon die after arriving at South Island Prison and did not need to prepare much.
Shu Tang initially thought he had been coaxed, but seeing him silently packing his luggage with a calm demeanor as if heading to his death.
Perhaps it was because she had read that diary, or perhaps because she was too familiar with little rose, she had a telepathic understanding.
Miraculously, Shu Tang knew what her lover was thinking—
His memories jumbled, he stubbornly believed it was the day, ten years ago, when he was about to rush to his death, so he calmly packed his bags as if entering his grave.
He even brought with him a formal suit to wear in death, complete with sapphire cufflinks.
In fact, this was somewhat adorably amusing.
Because he was already cured of his illness, but he hadn’t realized it at all; he didn’t even plan to look at the calendar, nor did he notice any of the unusual changes.
But Shu Tang did not mock such a delicate rose, nor would she tease such a solemn, even somewhat stubborn little rose. Her gaze towards her lover softened once again, filled with tenderness.
This monster, prepared to walk towards death alone, calmly embarked on his journey.
Having no friends or family, no one was contacted.
He thought he would find a suffocating peace in his final moments. But apparently, this was contingent on him not having a cat.
Turning his head, a cat had sneaked into his suitcase;
He embarked on his journey, not only with the burden of his luggage but now also shouldering a cat.
He told himself: It was just an illusion.
But the kitten meowed, “Zhu Yan, Zhu Yan,” patting his head, directing him to buy milk tea.
Only when holding the second cup of half-priced milk tea did this monster feel a touch of reality.
He checked his ticket and entered the station alone, and upon looking up, a cat head peeking around appeared on his head.
During the security check, he even had to lift the cat from the suitcase to prevent her from going through the x-ray with the luggage;
Sitting by the window on the train, watching the sunset, the lonely monster thought quietly: Perhaps this is the last time he would see Yan City.
“Zhu Yan, Zhu Yan! Do you eat tomato beef brisket?”
“Zhu Yan, Zhu Yan, can you peel a shrimp for me?”
The monster: “…”
The monster thought: He was about to die, why did she still ask him to peel shrimp?
Seeing him look over, Shu Tang passed over a piece of meat dipped in sauce, asking him if it tasted good.
The monster:”…”
“Delicious.”
And so, they had a hearty lunch on the train.
So much so that he felt as though they were on their way to a fall outing.
In fact, about that almost-proposal from Shu Tang, Zhu Yan did not take it seriously.
But in reality, it was something Shu Tang had pondered over for a long time.
“Marking” is a more powerful form of contract.
But marriage can also bring some things: for example, it gives both parties more security; for example, they can live together more legitimately, and no one can separate them again.
Before coming to Yan City, Shu Tang was somewhat worried that, given Zhu Yan’s status, there might be some obstacles to getting married: such as needing to pass a review, or facing some pressure.
However, after experiencing the events in Yan City, she grew a lot and became less concerned about the attitudes of the outside world or the disparities in status.
—Marriage is a matter between the two of them, and Zhu Yan, having no family or relatives, does not need to seek the consent of others.
She secretly ordered a pair of rings with her just-earned three months’ salary. The diamonds weren’t large, but Shu Tang really liked them because the setting of the rings was in the shape of a blue rose.
Shu Tang decided to talk about this on the train with Littlegui (Little Rose).
—Although he still thinks he looks like he was going to attend his own funeral ten years ago.
Her opening line was also very straightforward:
“Let’s get married when we get back to South Island City.”
“We can register at the registry office in South Island City, but first, I need to go home and ask my parents for their permission. I have all your documents ready.”
She then asked Zhu Yan if the process would be troublesome, whether they needed to file any reports or the like.
She began to mull over whom to invite to the wedding, how to organize the wedding, and where to go for their honeymoon.
They were like a real couple about to get their marriage certificate, discussing these trivial matters on this sunny afternoon.
But Zhu Yan fell silent for a while, then softly said, “I’m about to die.”
She looked at her lover, who was serious and, because of his confused memory, truly believed he was going to die.
Shu Tang wriggled over from the table, emerging from his embrace, and hugged his neck to kiss him.
She didn’t try to persuade him: because she knew that during times of memory confusion, it was futile.
She said, “Then I also want to be with you during the last moments.”
She sweetly kissed the corners of his mouth and jawline, like a clingy cat;
But this time, the “monster” tightened his jawline, lifted her away, looking somewhat stern.
If the mermaid didn’t want to, her strength would hardly match his.
He said succinctly, “No.”
She refused to get off him, clinging to his hand and not letting go.
So, at this moment, the mermaid frowned at her for a while, then pressed her into the opposite seat, squatting in front of her and meeting her eyes.
The towering monster crouched down yet still stood a head taller than her while she was sitting.
He told her: Her life was just beginning, there were many possibilities, and she shouldn’t waste time on him.
It was the first time she had heard Little Rose speak so much. At that moment, he seemed like a wise elder.
Thinking his time was short, he patiently tried to persuade her.
Shu Tang had always known that Little Rose was a good person, but at this moment, she suddenly realized he was even better than she had imagined.
During the brief two months in Yan City, their feelings grew more intense, as if they had entered a blooming phase.
Initially, Shu Tang felt she was just in a somewhat unusual relationship; she liked him a lot and wanted to spend a long time with him. However, the closer she got to his life, the stronger her feelings of love and compassion grew.
Shu Tang knew her proposal would definitely succeed—at least until he woke up, he would surely carry her off to the registry office without hesitation.
But at this moment, the lover crouching in front of her looked at her as if she were an ignorant child.
As if her declarations of liking and loving him were not reasons enough for marriage in his eyes.
She said somewhat spitefully, “What if I wanted your inheritance?”
The chief opposite her smiled slightly.
Zhu Yan said, “Sure.”
Shu Tang stared at him blankly for a while, feeling very uncomfortable.
A bitter sensation fermented at the tip of her heart.
She thought: If only she could go back ten years.
Then, the monster noticed the compassionate look in the eyes of the girl opposite him.
This gaze made him feel unfamiliar and uncomfortable.
He wasn’t quite sure if she was pitying him.
But it was different; this pity wasn’t like when others say “What a pity for the chief,” it was more like a gentle compassion.
He awkwardly turned his head away.
But he felt she seemed somewhat downcast and sad.
Perhaps his words had hurt her.
Thus, the monster hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a piece of paper, sat back down, and started listing his assets.
Properties, bank assets, and some stocks.
Like a monster pulling out three coins trying to please a kitten ten years later, Zhu Yan from ten years ago also tried to scrape together his remaining possessions to appease his little kitten.
But Shu Tang merely glanced quickly at it before averting her gaze.
And then she ran off with a drumming sound.
Zhu Yan’s fingers paused as he looked down at the paper, thinking:
Don’t you even want these?
Then he would be left with nothing.
…
The train featured an open-air observation deck, where she ran against the wind and finally reached the window.
Shu Tang felt a strong emotion today, perhaps called heartache. She couldn’t travel back ten years to embrace the lonely leader walking into the prison, but she still possessed this moment with him, here and now.
In the quiet carriage, the mermaid maintained his posture, looking somewhat lonely.
His long hair quietly hung down, his pale lips tightly closed.
But soon, this solitude was shattered.
In the carriage, a “knock knock knock” sound echoed.
It seemed to break through the barriers of time.
The monster turned around slowly, opened the train window, and saw Shu Tang.
She stood in the afternoon sun, pulling out a large bunch of intensely blooming blue roses from behind, and amid the whooshing sound of the train, she shouted:
“Zhu Yan! I really like you, will you marry me?”
The sun was dazzling to the extreme.
The wind whooshed past.
Zhu Yan was stunned.
He froze, his pale lips moved as if he wanted to say something.
But she loudly repeated:
“Zhu Yan, I really like you, will you marry me?”
But perhaps her voice was too loud, half the train’s passengers stuck their heads out, they watched the commotion in the corner and seemed to be whispering something. However, in the end, all these voices turned into:
Marry her! Marry her!
These voices merged into a bustling sea.
The train passed through the last checkpoint and left Yan City.
At this moment, she didn’t care about the curious glances from others; she held the bright and brilliant bouquet, with her eyes only on him.
In the sunlight, the monster felt a kind of dizzying happiness.
The wind and sunlight struck him.
He distinctly heard the sound of something hard inside him melting.
He heard a blue rose sprouting from the barren soil.
The monster thought: Maybe what she said was true—she really was his beloved.
Otherwise, why would her gaze easily shatter his formidable will?
He found himself saying “okay,” as if possessed.
Amidst cheers, she began to smile.
Holding the flower, she tiptoed to kiss him.
Seduced by her seemingly ascetic and stiff lover, yet fearful he might dodge or refuse, she kissed him cautiously in front of the crowd.
However, he clearly felt her nervousness and heard a voice inside his heart.
Thus, for the first time, he followed that strong inner voice and indulged himself by lowering his head.
Their cold lips met her soft ones.
Lips locked in a kiss.
It was unclear who, but someone in the other end of the carriage burst open a burst of colorful ribbons.
Separated by the car wall, holding bouquets, they shared a long kiss in the sunlight.