The two ‘Wife-watching Stones’ eventually obediently returned to the room.
Duan Ye was worried that he might miss Jiang Yumo’s call while playing games, so he didn’t wear headphones. He placed his phone beside him. Whether it vibrated or rang, he could immediately notice it.
The four of them hadn’t played games together for a long time.
Zhao Zheng nostalgically touched a keyboard and said, “It’s this feeling, exactly!”
Zhou Ji sat next to him and logged into his game account.
Zhao Zheng glanced over, thinking he had read it wrong. He leaned in and read Zhou Ji’s game ID word by word, “Already_Have_A_Girlfriend_Please_Don’t_Approach??”
Guo Shichao hadn’t put on his headphones yet, and when he heard Zhao Zheng read it out, he burst into laughter, “So cheesy?”
Zhou Ji was very satisfied with his game ID, “Don’t you think it’s pretty good?”
Guo ShiChao asked sincerely, “Has anyone really approached you?”
“The world would end then!” Zhao Zheng couldn’t take it anymore, and rubbed his arm, “Don’t you think you’re a bit too confident?”
“I’m just preparing for the future.” Zhou Ji leaned back lazily and said, “Should I change my ID after someone approached me, then? Mistakes should be nipped in the bud. I have to think of every crisis before she does. That’s being proactive.”
Zhao Zheng : “…”
Guo Shichao sighed, “Although I’ve known for a long time that you’re not normal, I’m still shocked and disgusted by your way of handling things. Does Ning Zhiyu know about this?”
Duan Ye laughed, “Could he hold back from saying it?”
“So, what was Ning Zhiyu’s reaction?” Guo Shichao pressed on.
Zhou Ji played it cool, “She’s quite satisfied, even sent me a thumbs-up emoji as a review.”
“Anyway, this is what I want to do.” Zhou Ji said, “Besides, my game ID does fit reality well. Do I have a girlfriend? Yes. Will I accept advances? Of course, I won’t.”
“Alright, I won’t ask anymore.” Zhao Zheng raised his hands in surrender, “I’m no longer interested in your affairs. Let’s ask Brother Duan instead. Brother Duan, now that you’ve bought a house, are you planning to get married?”
“How is that possible?” Guo Shichao explained to him, “While Sister Mo is indeed of legal marriage age, Brother Duan isn’t yet. A man needs to be at least twenty-two.”
Duan Ye nodded.
“However, it’s still early,” Duan Ye lit up his phone, afraid that he might miss her message. The phone screen seemed to bear witness to the changes in their relationship. From her solo selfies at the beginning, and turned into photos of the two of them together now.
This was taken during Chinese New Year this year.
The two of them sat on her sofa, their heads leaning against each other. She was smiling happily.
“We’ll consider it after she graduates.” Perhaps truly happy, Duan Ye unexpectedly brought up matters related to Jiang Yumo.
He rarely acted like this. Zhao Zheng and Guo Shichao also abandoned their game, removed their headphones, slid their computer chairs over to Duan Ye’s side, and with great enthusiasm, Zhao Zheng said, “Well, her graduation is just less than two years away. What do you think? I’m even more excited than Brother Duan. How about this? When the time comes for the proposal, we’ll help you with ideas?”
Duan Ye raised his hand and said, “Thanks, but it’s okay.”
As for proposing, he preferred to think and plan for it himself.
Although it wasn’t part of any concrete plan yet, and he hadn’t formed specific thoughts about it, he had already decided not to tell anyone. Only the two of them needed to be present.
“You don’t need to worry about the romance master.” Zhou Ji said with a touch of exasperation, “This guy is so cunning. He must be hiding his ideas from us.”
“Talking about this makes me speechless.” Zhou Ji didn’t even bother with teaming up for games. He shared firsthand gossip with Zhao Zheng and Guo Shichao, “After he found out someone was pursuing her, he started coming over here more often. Sometimes he would spend half a day here. He would take a late-night bus and arrive the next morning. He’d have a meal with that someone or watch a movie and then hurry back to the bus station. I’m getting tired just watching him.”
Zhao Zheng asked in confusion, “Don’t you have someone too?”
Zhou Ji slapped his thigh, “Exactly! If he’s doing it, I can’t not do it. Otherwise, when that someone compares notes with my Yuyu, I’ll end up back being single. Speaking of which, I’m also willing. I’ve been saving those bus tickets, quite a collection. Should I show them to you?”
Guo Shichao quickly responded, “No thanks, not interested.”
Zhou Ji missed a perfect opportunity to show off his affection, and he regretted it.
“Alright, let’s talk about Lao Duan now. Every winter and summer break, when Sister has time off and goes home, he always makes time to visit. He personally escorts her back to Ningcheng. Once or twice would be fine, but he does it every time. Sister’s parents are more than satisfied with him, you know?” Zhou Ji glanced at Duan Ye, “There are his slippers at Jiang Yumo’s place, his cups and utensils. The most outrageous thing is, last year, when Jiang Yumo’s grandmother had her birthday, he went there too. Her Uncles and Aunts truly see him as a prospective son-in-law. With this level of scheming, this level of perseverance, does he really need you two single dogs to come up with proposal ideas for him? Come on, go to the restroom and take a look at yourselves in the mirror.”
Who could stand to listen to such words? Who could endure it?
Zhao Zheng and Guo Shichao exchanged a glance, then stood up, lifted Zhou Ji, and looked like they were about to toss him out.
“Just speak when you’re speaking, do you have to emphasize us being single dogs?”
“Do you think you’re that amazing for having a girlfriend?”
Zhao Zheng held Zhou Ji’s arm, Guo Shichao held his legs. They were all in good spirits, and Zhou Ji shouted, “Yes, having a girlfriend is really amazing!”
Meanwhile, the four girls wandered around nearby, feeling that it was hot outside, so they entered a convenience store.
The air conditioning inside the convenience store was on full blast.
The four of them stood in front of the refrigerated section, choosing snacks and drinks. Jiang Yumo casually asked, “Yan Qing, what’s going on between you and Zhao Zheng? What are your plans?”
Sun Mengting and Ning Zhiyu also found this question interesting and put down their jelly snacks to join in.
The four girls stood together, as if exchanging some important information in secret.
Yan Qing shrugged, “That’s just how it is. I won’t wait for him, and he won’t wait for me. If I meet someone suitable and likable, I’ll date him, and he can too.”
Jiang Yumo said, “But…”
“Sweetie, there are no ‘buts’,” Yan Qing smiled earnestly. “Not everyone is like you and Brother Duan, or like Zhou Ji and Yuyu, able to endure a long-distance relationship without a clear future. So, I really admire you all. Two years have passed, and your sweetness hasn’t faded, but there are very few like you.”
Ning Zhiyu whispered, “That’s a good way to think about it. Just make sure you’re clear in your heart.”
“Alright, let’s not talk about this,” Yan Qing said, frustrated. “Logic tells me I should buy a cup of yogurt and leave, but my body tells me it wants some oden.”
Jiang Yumo : “…”
At the moment, eating seemed to be more important in Yan Qing’s life than things like romantic relationships.
This year was 2012, a very special year.
In this year, Jiang Yumo was twenty years old, seemingly in the prime of her life, full of expectations for everything. It was also the year when the phrase ‘end of the world’ frequently appeared on various online platforms due to the Mayan prophecy.
They said that December 21st would be the end of the world.
Some people scoffed at such rumors.
Some people were looking forward to the end of the world, expecting it to be as spectacular as in movies like ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ and ‘2012’, and they would be fortunate enough to witness that scene.
Some people were also afraid, afraid that the entire Earth would truly be destroyed.
Jiang Yumo walked down the street, still scrolling through related Weibo posts. Some netizens were very witty, making people burst into laughter with their clever remarks. Suddenly, she really wanted to discuss this topic with Duan Ye. She stopped in her tracks, sent him a message : [Do you know that tomorrow is supposed to be the end of the world?]
Duan Ye should be at work, but a few minutes later, he replied : [End of the world?]
Seeing that there was still time and she didn’t have classes today, Jiang Yumo leisurely sat down on a nearby bench and messaged him : [Yes, according to the Mayan prophecy, tomorrow is the end of the world. My classmates are all discussing this, and one of them is quite funny, saying that since it’s the end of the world, might as well spend all their money. What about you? If tomorrow really is the end of the world, what would you want to do?]
She swore she was just having a casual chat with him.
She simply didn’t believe that tomorrow would be the end of the world, and her classmates might not believe it either. They were just trying to entertain themselves in this boring winter.
So, when she received a call from Duan Ye and walked out of the dormitory building to see him, she finally reaffirmed something once again—Duan Ye was a person who never joked.
Duan Ye replied on WeChat : [Be with you.]
If tomorrow were the end of the world, of course, the thing he most wanted to do was to be with her.
… Perhaps the Mayans couldn’t have predicted that ‘the end of the world’ would become a reckless excuse for modern people in their busy lives.
Maybe by the time this day ended, the sun would rise as usual the next day, and they would return to their normal lives. They would get up before dawn to go to school if they had to, and those who needed to work would grab their pancakes or soy milk with a numb expression and rush to catch the subway or bus.
People trying to lose weight thought that tomorrow was the end of the world, so they might as well have a big feast and eat the things they hesitated to eat before.
Couples who were arguing thought that the end might be near, so they temporarily made up and embraced each other.
Office workers facing rent and job pressure thought that if the world was ending, they should just forget about work, forget about the capitalists. No one should expect them to work overtime for free!!
Jiang Yumo threw herself into Duan Ye’s arms and asked in surprise, “Why did you come?”
Duan Ye held her waist, their foreheads touched, and he chuckled, “Isn’t tomorrow the end of the world?”
The end of the world was about doing things they wouldn’t dare to do in ordinary times.
Everything happened as if following a logical sequence.
Jiang Yumo stood by the French window, gazing at the tall buildings not far away. Duan Ye embraced her from behind. Twilight fell, and the window was like a mirror, reflecting their current appearance.
“That place, right?” Jiang Yumo pointed to the building that was still under construction.
Duan Ye nodded.
That would be their little home in Yanjing.
“Sounds great.” Jiang Yumo counted on her fingers, “The house won’t be ready until the end of next year, but that’s okay. We’ll have more time to earn money for decoration. What style do you like?”
“Anything is okay.” Duan Ye fondly brushed her hair and said, “As long as you like it.”
When a true understanding reaches a certain level, it’s as if one can predict each other’s thoughts and feelings.
Over the past two years, their intimacy had grown immensely. Duan Ye’s mother knitted a sweater for her, and his Uncle even gave her red envelopes.
His presence in her life grew stronger with time. During the Lunar New Year, he even bought her Mom a brand-new mahjong machine. Her Mom’s friends all knew that the Jiang family had a filial future son-in-law.
When her Grandmother celebrated her birthday, her parents also invited him over.
At times, Jiang Yumo would also wonder, what was he waiting for?
Before the previous year, due to academic stress, her menstrual cycle became irregular for a while. Her Mom took her to the hospital for a checkup upon discovering this. Following the usual routine, the doctor asked her if she had that kind of experience. She was dumbfounded at the time, and her Mom’s expression turned somewhat uncomfortable. She answered in a hushed voice, “No.”
She still remembered her Mom’s shocked and astonished look.
What was he waiting for?
Perhaps he was waiting for… the arrival of some kind of end of the world.
The cold wind outside was biting, and this year’s first snow arrived on schedule. Yet, Jiang Yumo felt like a stranded fish on the shore, waiting for a kind-hearted person to give her a sip of water. Everything turned so still, with his breaths, the rustling sound of fabric rubbing against fabric, and occasionally his sudden muffled sigh.
She felt utterly lost.
“I didn’t mean to.” He uttered this sentence in a halting manner.
She had just done manicure on her nails, not particularly short, she reached out in a haze, wanting to grasp onto something, and ended up grabbing his back.
His voice and breath were both a bit unsteady, but he still gently kissed her forehead, which was nearly damp with sweat.
This sensation of being cherished suddenly made Jiang Yumo’s nose tingle.
Perhaps those words in those articles were right; in moments like these, she felt especially sensitive.
His warm palm stroked her hair, and even now, he was already deeply entangled in his emotions. What was engraved in his heart made him instinctively want to protect her and prevent her from hitting the edge of the bed.
On the bedside table was a glass of lemon water.
It caused ripples to form again and again.
In a daze, Jiang Yumo suddenly remembered that year on the embankment. In her youth and naivety, she sipped the chocolate milk tea he had bought for her while gazing at the young man with a notorious reputation. His gaze wandered, and he couldn’t even look at her directly, yet he mustered the courage to speak his confessions aloud.
“I like you.”
“Yeah, I know. Just wanted to tell you.”
“It’s not just a passing feeling. I’ll like you for a very, very long time.”
That young him gradually merged with the present him.
She didn’t even know how tears welled up in her eyes. After everything had calmed down, he lowered his head and gently kissed her eyes.
The voice of the young him and the mature him resonated almost simultaneously in the depths of her heart.
“I’ll like you for a very, very long time.”
“I’ll love you for a very, very long time.”
rokumi’s note : the main story is over!! Next, there will be extras~
My heart is so full. Thank youuuuuuu for this. This must be one of the most stable and healthy relationship I’ve read i a while.
Thank you for the update. It was a very sweet ending for both of them. Can’t wait for the extra chapters.
Wow, what a sweet ride <3 Thank you very much for translating and looking forward to the side stories 🙂