Chapter 116: A Story of a Lifetime (Please Subscribe)

"Water and fire are always so merciless..." Yang Qing said in a low voice. "But while water and fire are heartless, people have feelings. Just when she was in utter despair and ready to give up, a glimmer of light appeared in her life."

"She was rescued. Amidst the torrential downpour, she curled up, tears blurring her eyes as she looked at him... just stared at him..."

Yang Qing’s tone was soft and lingering. "He saved her but left without saying a word. She was saved by him, yet couldn’t utter a single word."

"She was a sent-down youth, a young woman with glorious aspirations, while he was branded as a 'criminal' in the realm of 'ideological politics.' So... there were no words, and no courage to speak."

"Later, when the storm subsided, she seemed reborn. She became more positive about life, no longer complaining as she did when she first arrived. Every day she worked hard to earn credits. Then she would climb a tall hill alone, watching him working alone at the foot of the hill."

"He was lonely, rising with the sun and resting at sunset. Here, he had no friends or companions. Occasionally, a few barefoot, dusty children carrying baskets of donkey dung would sit on the ground to chat with him, listening to his stories."

"He always looked forward to those moments. He told them history, culture, and even taught them to write their names in the yellow earth with sticks."

"Children’s world is always pure and sunny, without the complicated shades of right and wrong. But adults were different, especially the parents of that era. Gradually, he even lost the friendship of those few children."

"As the sun set, she watched his lonely figure disappear. She couldn’t help but feel a deep ache—at that moment, her heart ached for him."

"She wanted to run after him, to say thank you. She wanted to embrace him and tell him she was willing to stay with him!"

"Yes, she liked him, this lonely soul who saved her. Love came so simply yet so fiercely."

"But… she dared not. Yes, she dared not. How laughable, yet how humble that was."

At this moment, tears shimmered in Yang Qing’s eyes. Looking at the two women, he smiled bitterly. "Just like the lyrics say: guarding love, fearing laughter, fearing being seen clearly... because of their identities!"

"Until one day, the sun had set, the sky darkened, yet he showed no sign of stopping work, still laboring desperately. She felt sorry for him, and finally broke free from the chains in her heart. She rushed down the hill and ran to him..."

"She wanted to tell him she liked him, that she could stay with him. But the moment she saw him, she froze—his face was covered with tears..."

"Her eyes reddened and moistened. She threw herself into his arms, burying her head in his chest as she sobbed. She asked him what had happened..."

He didn’t answer, but pushed her away in fright. After a moment, choking back his despair, he whispered softly, "Please don’t come near me. I don’t want to hurt you..."

"Ugh..."

Hearing this, Qin Xue could no longer hold back her tears and cried aloud. Wang Ying’s eyes were also red as she looked at Yang Qing, her voice trembling, "He… he liked her too, didn’t he?"

Yang Qing didn’t respond but continued his story. "He left, leaving her alone in despair, crying until the moon was high. Her roommate found her, brought her back to the cave dwelling, and told her about him."

"Her roommate casually mentioned that the commune had received a letter about him. The letter said his mother had passed away recently, and she was his only family in the world."

"As a son, his only relative had died, yet he couldn’t return to bid her farewell or call out 'Mother.' His heart was filled with despair and pain..."

"Only then did she realize how much suffering he had endured. She wanted to rush to his side to comfort him but was held back by her roommate."

"Her roommate said, for her own good and his, she must bury this affection deep in her heart, never letting anyone know, never letting it surface..."

"She cried hysterically, unable to imagine how hopeless it was to love someone so cautiously, even afraid to say the words 'I love you'..."

"Days passed one by one. She still went to the hill every day, silently accompanying him, watching him wait for sunset alone, watching his lonely and desolate back disappear..."

"One day, suddenly a notice came. It was time for her to leave, to leave the place that held the best years of her youth. She would return home, prepare for the college entrance exam, and begin her new life..."

"At that moment, she buried her love for him completely. But on that very day, news came that his ideological-political issues had been cleared. He was restored to freedom and finally had a future of his own."

"That day, he locked himself in the cave and cried loudly—tears of excitement, confusion, panic, and the cry of rebirth."

"The next day, he dressed neatly in the faded clothes, combed his hair, practiced his smile. He was going to find her. He wanted to tell her that he liked her, had always liked her..."

"But... fate seemed unwilling to let their story have a proper beginning and end. Suddenly, the sky darkened again, and the heavy rain started pouring. Then, a thunderous roar followed..."

"His heart inexplicably grew anxious. Ignoring the splashing mud, he ran. On the road, he stopped a farmer carrying a hoe and asked what had happened. The farmer said there was a landslide ahead, someone was buried beneath, and everyone was digging to rescue."

Yang Qing’s voice grew heavy, choked with emotion.

"He followed the farmer to the scene, where the mountain had buried a cave except for one corner. Tears welled up in his eyes because that was where she lived."

"Desperately, he searched through the crowd until he suddenly saw a small figure, screaming and crying, throwing dirt with trembling hands. He rushed over and embraced her tightly..."

"She was caught off guard by the sudden hug. Looking up through tear-filled eyes at him, all her grievances and sorrows burst forth. She cried on his chest just like before. He held her tightly, comforting her..."

"But at that moment, a shout rang in his ear. The crowd panicked and started running out. He didn’t hesitate, grabbed her hand, and ran..."

"Yet they were too late. Another landslide erupted, stones flying everywhere. He dodged with her again and again, but ultimately... fate could not be escaped."

Yang Qing’s eyes reddened as he choked up. "When he saw a large boulder hurtling toward her, he summoned all his strength, pulled her into his arms, shielding her. But he never woke again..."

"He was gone, gone from her forever. His life was filled with suffering. He would never again say the words, 'I like you,' to the girl he loved..."

"Every day, she would dress beautifully and sit by his grave holding flowers, whispering those words, 'I like you,' but he would never hear them..."

The story ended here. Yang Qing’s vision blurred with tears.

"So... what happened after that?" Qin Xue asked, choked with tears.

"Afterwards..." Yang Qing said softly, "Her family came for her, took her away from that place where her love was buried, back to her hometown. Day after day, year after year, she grew old—lonely, growing old alone..."

"Until one day, she found a little boy in the snow. She adopted him, and every Qingming Festival, she would take him up the western hill, watch the sunset, and tell him this story..."

"Over and over again... The boy grew impatient and asked, 'Grandma, don’t you ever get tired of telling this story?' She smiled and told him, 'This is a story for a lifetime.'"