Xu Chunliang certainly rembered that those fireflies were summoned by himself, a spontaneous act of kindness that left Zhao Xiaohui with a stunningly romantic image in her life.
"Are beautiful things fleeting, or because they are fleeting, do you find them beautiful?" Zhao Xiaohui's eyes were filled with a misty light, as if tears were about to fall.
Xu Chunliang realized that she might be in trouble and whispered, "Sister Xiaohui, do you rember the promise I made to you back then?"
Zhao Xiaohui nodded. She rembered that Xu Chunliang said if one day she encountered trouble, he would sincerely help her solve it. At that ti, she didn't believe him, but now she was gradually beginning to trust him.
"Xiaoxu, I... I might be pregnant..."
Xu Chunliang felt a jolt inside. Zhao Xiaohui had previously undergone surgery for an ectopic pregnancy and had one ovary removed. It was understandable that she wouldn't easily conceive. Could it be that she and Chen Jianxin had reconciled?
Xu Chunliang didn't know much about Zhao Xiaohui's private life, nor was he interested.
However, her willingness to share such a private matter with him proved that she truly saw him as a good friend with whom she could confide her heart.
Xu Chunliang couldn't conveniently probe into who the other party in her pregnancy was. He could only tactfully ask, "What do you plan to do?"
He believed Zhao Xiaohui probably didn't want the child, and she didn't want to attract attention, which was why she told him about it. She likely wanted his help in resolving it.
Zhao Xiaohui bit her lip, looked around, and after a long while, seemingly having made up her mind, said, "I want to keep this child."
If she didn't intend to keep it, Xu Chunliang could have helped. But since she wanted to keep it, Xu Chunliang could only offer his blessings, though with lingering doubts, yet there were so things that were inconvenient to ask out loud.
Zhao Xiaohui said, "I'm very hesitant, and I don't know how people will view ."
Xu Chunliang basically understood. It was likely that the person who caused her pregnancy this ti and the last ti was the sa person. Although he didn't know who this person was, he also understood that this person couldn't be exposed to the light.
As a friend, Xu Chunliang still reminded her, "You might lose your career because of this."
If Dongzhou's popular female host were to have a child out of wedlock, it would inevitably beco a topic of hot discussion. At least in Dongzhou, Zhao Xiaohui's career was as good as over.
Zhao Xiaohui nodded, "That's exactly what I'm conflicted about, Xiaoxu. I'm not young anymore, and you know my situation very well. The doctor said it's difficult for to get pregnant. If I don't have this child, I might never have the chance to be a mother again."
Xu Chunliang said, "Sister Xiaohui, as long as you've decided, I will support you."
Zhao Xiaohui nodded with emotion. Saying it aloud brought her comfort. Ever since she found out she might be pregnant, her inner feelings were a mix of surprise and fear, and she didn't know who she could tell. Fortunately, she had Xu Chunliang by her side as a friend.
"What will the child's surna be in the future?"
Zhao Xiaohui said, "Sheng..." She stopped after saying a word, smiled, and said, "Of course, it'll have my surna, Zhao."
Xu Chunliang pondered silently. Could it be that the child's father's surna was Sheng? He looked at Zhao Xiaohui, wanting to speak but hesitated.
Zhao Xiaohui guessed what he wanted to ask and softly said, "He won't agree to let have this child. I will raise the child alone, and I never planned to get married."
Xu Chunliang said, "I don't care who he is. If he dares bully you, you must tell , and I'll stand up for you."
Zhao Xiaohui's eyes turned red, her nose tingled, and suddenly she felt the urge to cry. As an only child, she didn't know what sibling love felt like, but at this mont, she felt that Xu Chunliang was just like her brother, soone she could trust and rely on.
Zhao Xiaohui silently nodded, "I will rember that."
Xu Chunliang said, "Actually, there are many single mothers like this abroad. Perhaps there's a win-win solution for your problem."
Zhao Xiaohui shook her head and said, "There's no such thing as a perfect solution. I don't want to lie. I've decided to leave Dongzhou and find a place where no one knows to have this child."
Xu Chunliang said, "Then it seems I won't even have a chance to give a gift."
Zhao Xiaohui smiled, "There will definitely be one. As an uncle, don't think you can get away from it."
Both of them laughed. Their laughter startled a few herons perched on the railing. Under the orange sun, the silver herons drew a few graceful arcs in the air, their silver outlines reflecting the orange light, like ribbons dancing between heaven and earth.
Zhao Xiaohui gazed at the beautiful scene before her in a daze and murmured like a dream, "I wish I could die here!"
As Xu Chunliang was leaving, he ran into Zhang Yiben coming out of the restroom. He took the initiative to greet Zhang Yiben, who gave him an awkward smile.
Xu Chunliang thought this guy still rembered the ti he got him drunk and laughed, "Section Chief Zhang, have you recovered?"
Zhang Yiben shook his head, "No... no problem!"
Xu Chunliang saw a bruise on his head, evidently a result of the abuse he took that day. He patted Zhang Yiben on the shoulder cheerfully and said, "Chief Zhang, you can't give up on eating for fear of choking. How can a man not drink?"
Zhang Yiben smiled wryly, "That day you sent to have my stomach pumped, if I drink more, this little life of mine would be donated."
Xu Chunliang said, "You don't look so good, your forehead is a bit bluish, why don't I take a look?"
Zhang Yiben shook his head in fright, "It's not that my forehead is bruised, I just bumped my head after drinking."
That afternoon, Wang Jinwu arranged for a yacht to take the TV station staff back. Xu Chunliang and Zhang Yiben rode back together, and Zhang Haitao had already been waiting at the farm. Zhang Yiben hitched a ride back with them.
On the way, Xu Chunliang sent a ssage to i Ru Xue, sending her two movie tickets. A new cinema had just opened in town, and Xu Chunliang booked two tickets, inviting i Ru Xue to watch. Considering i Ru Xue's status, it wasn't appropriate for her to be seen publicly with him, so he sent her the tickets, implying to et at the cinema.
i Ru Xue didn't reply to his ssage. Her silence didn't necessarily an she didn't want to go. Xu Chunliang, oh Xu Chunliang, you finally rembered to invite ? Glancing at the schedule, she realized today was the day the TV station interview team was leaving, sparking a thought in her mind.
Xu Chunliang sent her another ssage, "Let's watch a movie together!"
After much deliberation, i Ru Xue finally replied with one word — "Okay."
Upon returning, Zhang Yiben went straight to the mayor's office to report the successful completion of the reception task to i Ru Xue.
i Ru Xue briefly inquired about the farewell situation at noon, and Zhang Yiben explained in detail. Hearing that Xu Chunliang also went, a slight pang of jealousy stirred within her.
i Ru Xue didn't want to listen any further and softly said, "You've worked hard, go rest for a while."
Zhang Yiben didn't leave imdiately.
i Ru Xue noticed he had more to say, "Anything else?"
Zhang Yiben said, "There's sothing I don't know whether I should say or not, it's about Xu Chunliang."
i Ru Xue's first instinct was not to listen, but she couldn't suppress her concern for Xu Chunliang and nodded, indicating he should speak.
Zhang Yiben whispered, "Today, when I went to the restroom, I accidentally overheard Xu Chunliang talking with Zhao Xiaohui at the bow."
i Ru Xue frowned. Zhang Yiben was definitely not accidental; he must have maliciously eavesdropped. A voice inside her warned that this person was stirring up trouble. She took a deep breath, believing she should have the ability to discern truth from falsehood.
Zhang Yiben said, "Zhao Xiaohui said she's pregnant, and she said she..."
"Leave!"
i Ru Xue's tone remained calm but carried a steadfast coldness.
Zhang Yiben was stunned, but he quickly understood the reason and nodded, "Then I'll leave now!"
i Ru Xue didn't glance at him.
Zhang Yiben slinked away and carefully closed the door behind him.
The pen i Ru Xue was gripping broke under the pressure. She bit her lip tightly and slowly stood up; her hands and feet were icy cold. Actually, during yesterday's lunch with Zhao Xiaohui, she already had a foreboding feeling.
i Ru Xue reminded herself to remain calm. Why was she angry? There was nothing between her and Xu Chunliang. Zhang Yiben, that petty man, was originally maliciously causing trouble.
Maybe he was lying?
i Ru Xue's thoughts were more chaotic than ever before. She opened her phone and saw Xu Chunliang's avatar, feeling an impulse to block him imdiately.
Yet in the end, i Ru Xue did nothing, her gaze falling on the wall with bold calligraphy — "Disorder ensued as plum blossoms fell like snow," her heart felt like snow, in turmoil...
The newly opened cinema wasn't crowded, Xu Chunliang specially wore the hat i Ru Xue bought for him, donned the shirt she got for him, and snuck into the cinema, feeling like a kept man sneaking around.
The cinema only had three theaters, and Xu Chunliang chose a relatively obscure film "The Mortician," which had pretty good ratings. He thought i Ru Xue, being inherently artistic, would like it.
There were just five minutes left until the show started, and i Ru Xue hadn't arrived yet. Xu Chunliang figured she was worried about running into acquaintances and waited patiently a bit longer. Still, i Ru Xue's shadow was nowhere in sight. He believed that since i Ru Xue agreed, she would definitely co, but he still sent her a ssage, "It's about to start."
The ssage was like a stone thrown into the sea, without a trace, and Xu Chunliang began to realize that i Ru Xue might not be coming. Only two tickets were sold for this show, so Xu Chunliang decided to go to the theater and wait. What he said must, of course, count.
The most unforgettable mory should be the movie's score "mory," a soothing and flowing lody echoing in the empty theater.
Sitting alone in the theater, Xu Chunliang found that amidst this romantic and healing music, he felt a touch of lancholy, like "Moonlight over the Spring" played alone.
Almost simultaneously, i Ru Xue opened her computer. She had known about this film for a long ti but hadn't had the ti to watch it. When the cello's lody sounded in the room, she turned off the lights and seed to see him alone in the cinema.
The sa space, the sa lody, watching the sa movie, although they couldn't see each other, their hearts were filled with the image of the other...
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