Chapter 135: I Want to Elope with You
"You're leaving? No. Absolutely not. I won't allow it!" Zhou Fan shook his head vigorously, his expression grave. He held Chu Qianqian in a death grip, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Just a moment ago, Chu Qianqian had announced she was planning to leave his side. She wanted to go out on her own for a while to see what she could accomplish by herself.
How could Zhou Fan possibly agree to that?
'We just got together and you already want to leave? Are you trying to torment me?'
"Xiaofan, this is a decision I've made after careful consideration. While you were unconscious these past few days, I was taking care of you and thinking about our relationship. I've never regretted it, and I don't care what other people think. After all, Chu Tianxiang and I aren't related by blood. But I can't ignore Xiaoyan's feelings!"
"And when the day comes that you, Xiaoyan, and I have to meet, when we finally have to face the truth... what will you say? How will you choose? I know you'll say you want us both, but have you thought it through? Even if I were to agree, would Xiaoyan? I know her very well. She would never agree. She would either fight me for you or leave by herself. Could you really bear to lose Xiaoyan?"
"So please, can you agree to this? One year. Just one year. Let me go out and explore. If I still love you when the time is up, I'll come back to you, no matter what. I'll come back to your side, tell Xiaoyan the truth, and do everything in my power to convince her!"
Chu Qianqian spoke in a soft, gentle voice. This was the best solution she could devise for the three of them. She didn't want to leave, but she knew this man didn't belong to her alone.
"So you're saying that if you don't love me anymore after a year, you won't come back? Is that it?" Zhou Fan's expression was solemn, his eyes, fixed on the woman in his arms, glinted with resolve.
Seeing Chu Qianqian nod, Zhou Fan asked in a low voice, "Then when are you planning to leave?"
"In a couple of days. I want to enjoy a little more time with you!" Chu Qianqian smiled faintly, then, without another word, she leaned in and kissed him.
As evening fell and the city lights began to glow, a couple strolled hand-in-hand through Bin City's most famous tourist attraction: a historic, nearly two-kilometer-long old street.
"Xiaofan, look, is this pretty? How does it look on me?"
"Hehe, you're so silly. Let's buy a pair, okay? One for you and one for me!"
"I want this! And this! Wow, I want to eat everything, what should I do?"
Like a pixie, Chu Qianqian pulled Zhou Fan by the hand, flitting between the various shops and stalls. She wanted to try everything she saw and bought all sorts of tasty treats, but she only ever took a single bite of each, leaving the rest for Zhou Fan to finish.
When they reached the end of the street, they sat on some steps, enjoying the sea breeze and listening to a distant singer. Chu Qianqian gently rested her head on Zhou Fan's shoulder and held onto his arm, letting the wind toss her hair.
"I want to run away with you, and be the happiest people alive!"
Suddenly, the distant singer began to strum his guitar, and a line of lyrics drifted to Zhou Fan and Chu Qianqian's ears, seeming both far away and close by.
"Xiaofan... let's go back," Chu Qianqian said softly, tightening her grip on his arm. Her beautiful face wore a complex smile—part stubbornness, part happiness, and part sorrow.
The next morning, Feng Shen knocked on their hotel room door.
"Let's go."
Zhou Fan opened the door. Seeing who it was, he said nothing more, simply taking Chu Qianqian's hand and leaving the hotel. They got into Feng Shen's car—a very ordinary vehicle, one that seemed completely at odds with his financial status.
The East Suburb of Bin City, in a cemetery of modest size.
Chu Qianqian glanced around, a little confused, but seeing that neither Zhou Fan nor Feng Shen said a word, she didn't ask. Her gaze fell on the bouquets they were holding. Zhou Fan had lilies, while Feng Shen held flowering crabapples—a rather uncommon choice.
But Chu Qianqian recognized the flower. She looked up at Zhou Fan, who gave her a slight nod.
'Unrequited love... is the person buried here the girl Feng Shen had a secret crush on?'
Soon, the three of them stood before a gravestone. The area in front of it was swept clean. The girl in the photograph was beautiful, her smile radiant and full of confidence.
"Lao San, don't you go saying your big bro is a bad guy. See? I came to visit, and I even brought your favorite lilies. I'm a good friend, right? At least I'm better than your Second Sister. God knows where she's off gallivanting these days."
Zhou Fan crouched down and placed the lilies before the headstone. He lit a cigarette, took a drag, and then set it on the stone slab. "Oh, right. I'm doing pretty well for myself now. Got married. I've got... several wives. It's a real headache every day. Never know whose room to go to at night!"
"This is one of my wives. Go on, call her 'sister-in-law,' let's hear you say it. When we have the banquet, I'll personally bring you some wedding candy!"