Chapter 37

The light overhead cast a glaring beam, and Ruan Zhen lowered his eyes. “When did you arrive?”

Song Shuling’s voice was low. “A week ago.”

He carried a crisp, wintry scent, the kind that comes with snowflakes and pine branches brushing against his shoulders, and the small flowers and mud by the roadside couldn’t stop his determined steps. The sky was vast and the earth distant, and he had traveled a thousand miles to be here.

Ruan Zhen let out a soft “Ah.”

Then he asked, “Why didn’t you come to find me?”

His face buried in Song Shuling’s chest, he could hear the steady, powerful heartbeat, pulling him back from the numbness that had enveloped his senses.

“I’m sorry,”

A slightly hoarse voice came from above, and Song Shuling spoke slowly, “At first, I didn’t want to disturb you, so I decided to do something else first.”

He didn’t want to take advantage of Ruan Zhen’s vulnerability.

At the bottom of the dam, the damp air carried Zhang Laotou’s laughter. In the midst of the green mountains and clear waters, the yellow dog dozed by the stream. On such a beautiful day, he hoped Ruan Zhen could be happy and carefree.

He would clear away all the obstacles that Ruan Zhen couldn’t see.

Song Shuling wasn’t idle.

He returned to the Song family and dealt with all the lingering issues. The past was complicated, and one problem after another arose. Song Shuling was grateful that Ruan Zhen wasn’t by his side to witness the ugliness of human nature, but he was also conflicted, missing Ruan Zhen terribly and wishing he could be there.

At such times, Qiu Qiu would stand on his shoulder, rubbing his cheek affectionately.

He thought of Ruan Zhen, that little ball of warmth, seemingly lazy but with a strong will, so adorable.

After clearing away all the obstacles, Song Shuling breathed a sigh of relief.

He drove again to the remote mountain village.

But this time, he didn’t go directly to see Ruan Zhen. Instead, he stayed at a nearby farmer’s house, ate the local food, walked the rugged mountain paths, rode a tricycle to town, and then hiked through the rolling green mountains, looking in the direction of Ruan Zhen’s home.

He knew he was a patient man.

“I wanted to see the situation here and do my part, maybe help build a road and establish a channel for agricultural products.”

Song Shuling continued, “The fruits and fish here are delicious. Once the logistics are in place, it will be much more convenient… I’m sorry, I planned to come see you and Grandpa tomorrow…”

In the faint smell of disinfectant, Ruan Zhen finally looked up.

Song Shuling sighed.

He wiped the corners of Ruan Zhen’s eyes with his thumb. “Don’t worry, Grandpa will be fine.”

The hospital in town was relatively basic, but the doctors, experienced with such injuries, had not suggested transferring the patient, indicating that the situation wasn’t as serious as feared.

But Zhang Laotou was old.

“I never thought Grandpa would leave me.”

Ruan Zhen spoke softly, “I don’t dare to think about it, and I instinctively push it away. I… am too weak.”

Once, he and Grandpa had encountered a puppy, its owner looking for someone to adopt it. It had yellow fur and black eyes, a round, plump belly, and a lovable demeanor.

Very much like the yellow dog.

The owner asked if they wanted it, saying it could be a companion.

In unison, Ruan Zhen and Zhang Laotou refused.

No matter how similar it looked, it wasn’t the yellow dog.

It was as if no one could replace another in life.

All his past emotions were tied to that small alley, the old house, the courtyard where Grandpa sat shelling peanuts, and the yellow dog napping at his feet.

“It’s okay,” Song Shuling’s hand rested on his back, “It’s normal to push it away. It’s not your fault, and it’s okay to be weak. Not everyone has to be brave.”

And in his heart, Ruan Zhen was already brave enough.

“Being weak is okay…”

Ruan Zhen smiled bitterly. “But what if I fall apart next?”

“I’ll be with you.”

The surroundings were quiet.

Ruan Zhen blurted out, “I avoid, I’m weak, I fall apart, I give up—”

“Have I ever told you?”

Song Shuling remained in his half-kneeling position, his eyes calm. “I am very patient.”

Because love itself is worth waiting for.

Whether it’s family or the millions of butterflies fluttering in his heart.

He was willing to wait quietly, never to leave.

The door to the operating room opened.

Ruan Zhen’s heart trembled as he looked at the doctor in the white coat. At the same time, Huang Yang and the village doctor rushed over.

“The surgery was successful.”

The doctor wiped the sweat from his forehead. “It was a spinal fracture, a very dangerous spot… So now we need to observe. Who is the family? Come sign the papers.”

Ruan Zhen still blinked in a daze.

He couldn’t process the last part.

The word “successful” echoed in his mind.

The surgery was successful.

Grandpa would be fine.

Only now did he realize how lucky “false alarm” was.

He felt a gentle push.

Song Shuling’s voice came from behind.

“Go on, I’ll handle this.”

Zhang Laotou had a short temper.

Lying in bed and staring at the ceiling was incredibly boring. Ruan Zhen watched over him, making sure he ate and slept, and he couldn’t even get out of bed to walk around.

“Follow the doctor’s advice.”

Ruan Zhen pushed a wheelchair over. “If you want to clear your mind, we can go for a walk downstairs together.”

Zhang Laotou had no choice but to turn to Song Shuling. “I want to go fishing!”

Song Shuling was peeling an apple. “We’ll go after you’re discharged. I know there’s a lake south of the dam, full of fish.”

As he spoke, he carefully turned the fruit knife, making Ruan Zhen nervous, afraid he might accidentally cut his finger.

With a glare, Song Shuling quietly put down the apple and started peeling an orange.

Zhang Laotou was in a foul mood and didn’t notice the exchange between the two. He grumbled about wanting spicy chicken and白酒 (baijiu), and how it was almost the New Year, and he shouldn’t be in the hospital.

Ruan Zhen treated him like a child, promising to dip his chopsticks in baijiu for him after discharge.

Zhang Laotou cursed him as a little brat.

Song Shuling had done a lot for the hospital, meticulously arranging all the details and hiring two nurses to help. Ruan Zhen initially refused, but soon saw Zhang Laotou playing cards with the nurses, laughing so hard he started to cough.

“Don’t worry,” Song Shuling told him, “Mood is the most important thing, and you need to rest, too. Don’t overwork yourself.”

There was still the yellow dog at home.

With Song Shuling’s help, Ruan Zhen didn’t have to run around, and he even had time to follow Zhang Laotou’s instructions to decorate the small house with New Year paintings and door gods.

“I have to go home for the New Year, make it festive!”

Even the school’s iron gates were adorned with images of the legendary generals Wei Chi Gong and Qin Shubao.

Ruan Zhen stood on a stool, and Song Shuling held it steady below, looking up as Ruan Zhen reached out to smooth the edges of the New Year paintings.

It was done.

But Ruan Zhen didn’t come down.

He looked down at Song Shuling. “Okay, let go.”

Song Shuling released the stool but opened his arms.

“I won’t let go. Jump.”

He smiled, still that suave rogue in a suit, refined and dignified, but in the mountain village, he was a bit of a troublemaker, waiting for Ruan Zhen to jump into his arms while everyone else was away.

Ruan Zhen raised an eyebrow. “I knew you had ulterior motives.”

These days, Song Shuling had done everything for him, taking care of every detail, being attentive and considerate, but he hadn’t mentioned the door gods until now, waiting for Ruan Zhen to fall into his trap.

A half-meter drop, who was he trying to scare?

Song Shuling smiled, his eyes twinkling. “Yes, I have ulterior motives.”

“Taking advantage of the situation?”

“No, I only help those I like, adding flowers to brocade, adding warmth to the cold.”

Ruan Zhen fell silent, quickly averting his gaze. “Yellow dog, bite him!”

The yellow dog wagged its tail and nudged Song Shuling’s pant leg.

What an ungrateful little thing!

“Come on,” Song Shuling was still smiling. “I’ll catch you no matter how high you jump.”

Ruan Zhen lowered his lashes, biting his lip.

Song Shuling wasn’t lying. He wouldn’t take advantage of the situation. If he had, he would have come to see Ruan Zhen on the first day, instead of sitting under the vast blue sky, drinking the tea Ruan Zhen had once enjoyed.

He had given Ruan Zhen the choice.

Even though he was a strong man at heart, his actions were gentle, smiling at Ruan Zhen, arms open, saying nothing.

The sun set behind the mountains, casting a hazy glow over everything. The yellow dog wagged its tail, then was distracted by a bird pecking at seeds, tilting its head curiously.

Ruan Zhen finally looked up, meeting Song Shuling’s gaze.

He sighed softly.

The stool wobbled slightly with his movement but quickly stabilized, unnoticed by the yellow dog, because the embrace was so steady.

Song Shuling caught him.

In the heartbeat, Ruan Zhen’s face buried in Song Shuling’s shoulder, his ears burning, wanting to speak but feeling shy.

But Song Shuling was determined.

He held Ruan Zhen with one hand, pulled his wrist with the other, placing it around his neck, and leaned in to kiss him—

Ruan Zhen dodged.

“No,”

He called out in panic, feeling guilty, pushing Song Shuling with his free hand. “This is outside, what are you doing!”

Since jumping down, Ruan Zhen hadn’t dared to look at Song Shuling’s face.

His heart was a mess.

But he knew that Song Shuling was there to catch him, and the moment their eyes met, Ruan Zhen understood he couldn’t resist.

Falling in love is irrational and exhausting.

A half-meter drop was enough to make Ruan Zhen act like a child, but the 800 kilometers Song Shuling had traveled to the mountains was enough to show his dedication.

“Then, shall we go inside?”

Song Shuling held him steadily, still smiling. “Is that okay?”

Ruan Zhen covered his face. “No.”

“What about tonight?”

“…No way!”

He was too nervous. His heart pounded, and he couldn’t even look at the yellow dog, let alone Song Shuling. Fortunately, it was cold and the village was sparsely populated, so no one saw him in Song Shuling’s arms.

The wind blew, making his face tingle.

Because Song Shuling had gently rubbed his cheek against Ruan Zhen’s.

“It’s okay,”

He carried Ruan Zhen, walking steadily toward the small house behind the playground, polite and refined.

“You know, I have all the patience in the world.”