I saw the girl’s face turning purple, and panic seized me. I turned to Chen Qiao Luo and whispered, “This isn’t working. She’s going to suffocate if we don’t act.”
I tried to reason with the man in English: “Could you please calm down?” Slowly, I took a few steps with Chen Qiao Luo, inching closer.
We weren’t far from the man—just a few steps away. But he was so tense that he didn’t notice our movement. His legs trembled visibly.
Judging from his demeanor, I guessed this might be his first time doing something like this. I glanced at Chen Qiao Luo and gave him a signal.
He understood immediately. Taking advantage of the man’s distraction, Chen Qiao Luo lunged forward, delivering a hard kick to the man’s thigh. The man cried out in pain and released the girl. Without hesitation, Chen Qiao Luo tackled him, and they began to wrestle.
I turned to the stunned girl and shouted urgently, “Speed up!”
My voice seemed to snap her out of her daze, and like waking from a dream, she quickly bolted out of the alley.
On the other side, Chen Qiao Luo was still locked in a struggle with the man. Perhaps because he had been in fights before, he held his ground and showed no signs of weakness.
I watched anxiously from the sidelines, but suddenly, a sharp pain flared in my stomach. My gastric pain had been striking at random these days, and this time was no different. I clenched my lips tightly, trying not to make a sound—I was afraid that if I cried out, it would distract Chen Qiao Luo.
While they fought relentlessly, I collapsed to the ground, curling up in agony. Cold sweat dripped from my forehead as I clutched my stomach, the pain rendering me unable to move.
Just as I thought I might lose consciousness, I heard Chen Qiao Luo’s voice. Moments later, I was swept into his warm embrace.
Struggling to lift my head, I saw his face filled with fear as he frantically rummaged through my bag for my medicine, muttering to himself, “Yun Hao, don’t be scared. It’s going to be okay—it’s going to be okay…”
In that instant, I could no longer hold back my tears.
But just then, the man reappeared behind Chen Qiao Luo, a gleaming fruit knife in his hand. He crept closer, step by step.
I wanted to warn Chen Qiao Luo, but before I could speak, the man struck. Acting on pure instinct, I pushed Chen Qiao Luo aside.
The knife plunged straight into my body. I saw a crimson bloom unfurl on my chest, vivid and striking. The next thing I heard was Chen Qiao Luo’s scream.
He shoved the man away and rushed to my side. The man, as if suddenly realizing what he had done, panicked and fled.
Tears fell uncontrollably from Chen Qiao Luo’s eyes, landing on my face as he called my name over and over again.
I wanted to smile at him one last time, but my body refused to move. I wanted to tell him not to cry, to stay strong, but the words wouldn’t come out.
His voice was filled with unbearable grief as he said, “Yun Hao, don’t scare me—don’t scare me. Didn’t we agree to go home? We still have so many gifts to deliver. How can you leave me like this?”
A single tear slid down my cheek. I struggled to lift my hand to hold him, but even the slightest movement drained all my strength. With a parched mouth, I forced out, “A… Luo, I’m… sorry.”
Sorry I couldn’t stay with you longer, to walk further together.
Sorry for all the times I hurt you in the past.
Sorry that from now on, you’ll have to live without me.
My eyelids grew heavier, and in the distance, I thought I saw Gu Yu smiling at me. Chen Qiao Luo’s voice, filled with anguish, faded further and further away.
In this fleeting youth of ours, I tried my best to light up your life. But after this moment, there will no longer be a Zhu Yun Hao in this world.
I suddenly recalled a line I had read long ago: “After death, may I become the wind, forever resting in your embrace.”
Chen Qiao Luo, I’m sorry I left you with nothing. But please remember this: every breeze that brushes your cheek will be me.
Chen Qiao Luo, I wish you peace and happiness for the rest of your life.
[The End]
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