Chapter 99

Compared to meeting Lu Heyang's family with no preparation at all, there was something else, at this very moment, that occupied Xu Ze more—the fact that he and Lu Heyang were holding hands, in broad daylight, under everyone's eyes.

Xu Ze tried to pull his hand free, without success. Lu Heyang turned his head, his expression questioning.

'Let's not hold hands for now,' Xu Ze reminded him in a low voice.

'What's wrong? It's not like we're having an affair.' The words were said, but to spare Xu Ze any burden, Lu Heyang smiled and let go of his hand anyway.

'Dr. Xu.' Once the two of them had walked out from the exit, Lin Yumian asked Xu Ze, 'Did you catch some sleep on the plane?'

'Uncle, um.' Xu Ze, quite unaware of it, was saying some muddled things. 'I did catch some sleep, on the plane. Just call me... just call me Xu Ze.'

Lu Heyang raised a hand and patted Xu Ze gently on the back, introducing Lu Qingmo to him: 'Lin Yunchuan, my sister.'

Xu Ze had only met Lu Qingmo twice before; in his memory she was a refined diplomat whose weariness could not quite be hidden, but the Omega before him now was entirely at ease and natural, her gaze gentle and bright.

'Tata.' Lu Qingmo said, 'Call him Uncle.'

'Uncle.' Tata obediently called out to Xu Ze, then she looked at Lu Heyang, seeming a little unfamiliar. 'This one, this one...'

'This one is also Uncle. Don't recognize him?' Lu Qingmo tucked her into Lu Heyang's arms. 'If you don't recognize him, then get to know him again.'

Tata tilted her head back, opened her eyes wide, and studied Lu Heyang carefully for a while before calling him: 'Uncle.'

Lu Heyang stroked Tata's head and asked Lu Qingmo: 'Where's my brother-in-law?'

'He has classes this morning.'

On the way to Lu Qingmo's house, Lin Yumian and Lu Qingmo were pointing out interesting little shops and buildings in the town to Xu Ze. As they passed a Cafe, Tata, who was sitting on Lu Heyang's lap, suddenly lit up: 'Donut, donut...!'

'She likes the Donuts from this shop, but she's still too small, so we have to scrape off the cream and only give her a little of the bread.' Lu Qingmo said, driving as she spoke.

Tata steadied herself against Lu Heyang's wrist and stood up, stretching out her hand to pat Xu Ze's shoulder: 'Uncle, uncle, donut, Tata, eat!'

So dizzy from all the calling that Xu Ze almost wanted to ask Lu Qingmo to stop the car right then so he could go buy the Donut, but Lu Qingmo said: 'Little Tata, asking Uncle won't help—you can only have a Donut after you've eaten your meal.'

Tata was very sad, and Xu Ze looked even sadder than she did. Lu Heyang only smiled and said nothing.

'I'll buy you one later,' Xu Ze said apologetically.

'...' Tata hugged Lu Heyang's arm, like a sorrowful koala.

The car pulled up by the roadside at the door. The engine had barely been cut when Han Inspector pushed open the front gate and came out, taking Tata—who kept calling out 'Daddy'—from Lu Heyang's arms, and extended his hand to Xu Ze: 'Hello, Dr. Xu, I am Qin Yan.'

'Hello.' Xu Ze shook his hand. 'Teacher Qin.'

'This early?' Lu Qingmo asked.

'I came back as soon as class was over.' Han Inspector said. 'I dealt with a few bags of seafood, but I haven't had time to wash the other vegetables yet.'

She invited Lu Heyang and Xu Ze into the yard. Lu Qingmo held the door and looked back, only to find Lin Yumian still standing by the car without moving, looking toward the end of the street, at something unknown.

'Dad?'

Lin Yumian turned his head back and only smiled at her.

The view from the guest bedroom window was lovely—one could see the sea and the distant cliffs. Xu Ze stood for a while beside his suitcase and asked Lu Heyang: 'Why didn't you tell me in advance?'

Lu Heyang paused in the act of pouring water and looked up at him: 'Are you angry?'

'No.' Xu Ze shook his head, looking a little glum. 'I didn't prepare any gifts. That's very impolite.'

'I didn't tell you precisely because I didn't want you to spend your energy on gifts. My father and sister feel the same way.' Lu Heyang handed him half a glass of water. 'But I still owe you an apology—for tricking you into coming here.'

Lu Heyang had already frankly admitted his fault, yet Xu Ze was even more eager than he was to clarify: 'No, you didn't trick me.'

'Thank you very much for your trust, Dr. Xu.' Lu Heyang gazed at Xu Ze for a few seconds and said it from the heart.

After lunch, Lu Qingmo and Han Inspector were cutting fruit, while Xu Ze and Lu Heyang watched the child in the small garden. As if on an ordinary stroll, Lin Yumian leisurely walked out of the house, all the way to the end of the street, then turned right and entered a Cafe on the roadside, going up to the second floor.

Someone opened the door to the small terrace for him. An Alpha wearing gold-rimmed glasses was leaning back in his chair, looking down at the pedestrians and traffic below.

Lin Yumian sat down across from him, glanced at the coffee in front of him, opened his Mobile Phone and brought up a timer, and said: 'Five minutes.'

The words finished, he tapped the screen, and the five-minute countdown began.

Lu Chengyu's gaze fell on Lin Yumian's face: 'How is your recovery?'

'It's fine. Just a minor surgery.'

'Heyang—'

'That doesn't seem to concern you.' Lin Yumian cut him off. 'Though I was wondering just now whether you might do something like that again—have doctors tamper with his memory.'

He looked at Lu Chengyu and continued: 'Now it's my turn to ask. I wonder if the Council Chairman's shoulder still hurts?'

That year, upon learning that Lu Chengyu had directed a team of doctors to interfere with Lu Heyang's memory, Lin Yumian had flown to City S with divorce papers in hand and entered the Lianmeng Government building.

Lu Chengyu was not at all surprised by his arrival, and waived the guards' pat-down of Lin Yumian, meeting him alone in his office.

Too weary to question, too weary to rage, Lin Yumian set the divorce papers on the desk and stepped back a few paces: 'Please read it carefully and sign.'

'Besides this, is there anything else?' Lu Chengyu did not even glance at the document.

'Of course.'

The silenced muzzle of a gun, several meters away, was aimed at Lu Chengyu's forehead. Lin Yumian held the weapon steady: 'This is the second matter, so I suggest you finish the first one first.'

Within reach there were at least five concealed alarm buttons—a three-second press would send countless guards pouring into the office to subdue Lin Yumian—but Lu Chengyu touched not a single one.

Bang—thirty seconds later, the bullet shot from the muzzle that had tilted just before the trigger was pulled, passed through the expensive suit, and lodged in Lu Chengyu's left shoulder.

The bullet's impact sent Lu Chengyu crashing back against his chair. He frowned, his expression unreadable. After a moment, Lu Chengyu raised his right hand and pressed the wound.

The gunshot could not be entirely erased by the silencer, so within seconds of Lin Yumian's firing, someone was knocking at the door outside, while the telephone on the desk rang at the same time.

'Nothing's wrong.' Lu Chengyu picked up the phone with bloodstained fingers, his tone as usual.

The knocking stopped. Lin Yumian removed the silencer, pressed the muzzle to his own temple, and said: 'The third matter.'

For a full ten seconds, Lu Chengyu stared at him without looking away. At last he took up the divorce papers and signed.

Lin Yumian laughed then, mocking and sorrowful: 'Lu Chengyu—so you have a weakness too.'

Lu Chengyu, however, spoke mildly: 'It's been a long time since you laughed.'

That deformed, twisted, utterly collapsed marriage had been over for many years now, and the speculation about the League Council Chairman's left hand had also persisted for many years—some attributed it to a political attack, others to illness.

Later Lin Yumian came to understand that, in the face of absolute power, equanimity itself is contempt. He himself had always been sharp, pawing uselessly at the bars of the cage, doing Lu Chengyu no real harm at all. It was Lu Heyang, on the other hand, who faced Lu Chengyu with perpetual calm, perpetual directness of gaze.

And so Lu Chengyu had used a life-or-death multiple choice to force Lu Heyang to bow his head, while Lu Heyang had simply abandoned the option of asking for help, shattering the thin ice beneath every member of this family's feet—and beneath that thin ice lay not bone-chilling water, but an exit.

In the sunlight and sea breeze of the small town, Lu Chengyu still resembled a sculpture devoid of human warmth. Lin Yumian had long known it: such a person exists as the embodiment of power—cold, selfish, never to repent.

Lu Chengyu did not answer the question about whether his shoulder still hurt. His left hand could no longer be raised beyond thirty degrees; its only remaining function was to make him appear to be a whole person.

'Three minutes left,' Lin Yumian reminded him.

'Mm.' Lu Chengyu took a sip of coffee.

Amid the noise of the street, they spoke no more, sitting face to face until the timer's end-bell rang.

Lin Yumian put away his Mobile Phone, stood, left the untouched coffee behind, and left the Cafe.

Tata, full and tired from play, was taken by Han Inspector to be soothed to sleep, and Xu Ze and Lu Heyang also returned to their room for a nap. Xu Ze woke after only half an hour; sunlight leaked in through the gap in the curtains, just enough light for him to make out Lu Heyang's face.

These past few nights Xu Ze had often woken suddenly, and after waking would gaze at the blurred profile of Lu Heyang's face in the dark, before at last drifting off again. Perhaps because there were too few chances to be together, his subconscious always wanted to look once more.

'Does it make you uncomfortable?' Lu Heyang's lashes stirred, and he opened his eyes.

Caught in the act, Xu Ze awkwardly turned back to lie flat, then answered: 'No, maybe I'm just not that sleepy.'

For Xu Ze, excessive warmth or ceremony would put him under pressure; the natural manner of Lu Heyang's family, on the contrary, put him more at ease, as though he had already been together with Lu Heyang for a long time and today was merely an ordinary visit.

'Shall we go out?' Lu Heyang said. 'I'll steal my sister's car and take you.'

Xu Ze rustled as he got up, and whispered: 'Okay.'

Everyone was resting, and the house was very quiet. Lu Heyang took the car keys, and together with Xu Ze, drove down the long street.

Lu Heyang was not actually familiar with this place, and Xu Ze happened to be the sort who never asked about destinations. The car drove very slowly, from the town center to the coastal road, Xu Ze silently taking in the scenery, until Chi Jiahán called.

'You've already gone back to the Research Institute, right?'

'...' Xu Ze, torn but honest: 'Not yet. I took two extra days off.'

'I can't take it...' Chi Jiahán was panting in exasperation on the other end of the line. 'Why don't you just spend the rest of your life locked up in the Base by Lu Heyang.'

'That's not it. We're out.'

'Where?'

Considering this was Lu Qingmo and Han Inspector's retreat, Xu Ze chose to keep the secret. He said: 'Somewhere a little far away.'

'...Whatever. It's not like you're the kind of fool who'd help Lu Heyang count the money after he sold you.'

It had sounded almost like a compliment, and before Xu Ze had time to be surprised, Chi Jiahán went on: 'You're the kind of idiot who'd worry, after Lu Heyang sold you, that you hadn't fetched a high enough price for him to make a profit!'

'How could that be,' Xu Ze said.

'See for yourself.' Chi Jiahán laughed in exasperation, then added, 'Have fun.'

After hanging up, before Lu Heyang had even asked anything, Xu Ze protested too much: 'It was Jiahán. He said he hopes we have a good time.'

'Is that so.' Lu Heyang, on the verge of smiling, glanced sideways at Xu Ze.

Xu Ze stared straight ahead and nodded: 'Mm.'

After leaving the coastal road, the car climbed steadily uphill and finally stopped in a parking lot. The afternoon sun was a little strong; Lu Heyang led Xu Ze down a tree-shaded path. It was a workday and there were almost no people around, so after walking for a few minutes, Xu Ze brushed Lu Heyang's hand and took it.

'Does Dr. Xu really think we're having an affair?' Lu Heyang asked him.

'How could that be.' Xu Ze once again produced that tired but all-purpose answer.

Along the way they passed several Observation Decks of varying sizes, but Lu Heyang showed no sign of stopping. Xu Ze followed him quietly, and even so was happy—happy as long as he was with Lu Heyang.

"There are twenty-two Observation Decks on the mountain in total." Lu Heyang finally brought Xu Ze to a small Observation Deck whose railings were overgrown with green vines. "This is Observation Deck 17. They say it has the best view."

The continuous sound of waves and the rustling of leaves reached their ears. Xu Ze faced the wind and looked out, seeing the Beach, the lighthouse, and distant islands. Sunlight turned the sea into a field of sparkling light; the sea breeze seemed to have color, dyeing everything it touched a pale blue.

"Does looking at it make you feel better?" Lu Heyang asked.

"It does." Xu Ze clumsily tried to express himself. "It's beautiful. I'm happy."

"Mm." Lu Heyang handed him a deep blue velvet gift box.

It was the Honor Badge. Xu Ze froze for a moment, then took it. He had examined the badge countless times before and long since memorized its appearance, but even now he still wanted to look at it again.

He opened the box. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled, fragmented light across the golden badge—and the sparkling Ring beside it.

Suddenly, Xu Ze recalled what Lu Heyang had said the night before: "that one is no longer valuable enough."

"I mentioned marriage to you once before, but it seems your brain automatically blocked those two words." Lu Heyang spoke slowly. "Sometimes I wish you would think a little more—about us."

"If I hadn't run into you when I returned to the country last year, I would probably have continued living the rest of my life carrying eighteen years of blank memory. Given enough time, maybe I wouldn't have minded anymore, wouldn't have felt the pain."

"Every time I saw you, I'd be curious and regretful at once. I knew you were someone special, but I couldn't remember. I kept realizing—if I really gave up those memories, what exactly would I be losing? So I finally decided to accept treatment."

Xu Ze felt like an old machine, requiring enormous effort to take in Lu Heyang's words one by one and understand them—that he was being explicitly told: you are the most important catalyst for my wanting to recover my memories.

"Last time, when I went to the Western Theater Command to find you, I suddenly thought on the way—all those worries and prayers, over these past years, you must have experienced them many times. What a pity I didn't know."

"I don't want that kind of pity anymore. We've already missed too much time."

Lu Heyang picked up the Ring beside the badge. The setting had been made by melting down the first medal he received after his first combat flight in a fighter jet during college; the diamond had been specially commissioned through Lin Yumian at an auction—a very rare deep grey-blue diamond, like a lake, like the sea, like Xu Ze's eyes.

Compared to the shower room at the Preparatory Academy Swimming Pool at eighteen, those youthful years constrained by forces on all sides—now was finally the best and most fitting time and place; not a second should be spent in hesitation.

The diamond's fire reflected splendidly in Xu Ze's eyes. Lu Heyang looked at him and asked: "Xu Ze, have you considered marrying me?"

Despite all the buildup, Xu Ze still could not bear the weight of the question. His expression looked as though he might flee the next second—Lu Heyang said: "You can't run. Give me your answer first. Yes or no."

It was too solemn a matter, so Xu Ze, even at such a moment, could still think of practical concerns. He half-returned to himself, his voice very light from the confusion of his thoughts: "Will the Military Headquarters... agree to two Alphas getting married?"

"I've already submitted the application. The Military Headquarters' review process is rather slow—it'll take some waiting." Lu Heyang took out his Mobile Phone, found a number in his contacts, then held the phone out to Xu Ze. "If you don't agree to the marriage, call this number now and intercept the application."

Xu Ze stared at the phone screen for several seconds, then reached out and pressed the lock screen button.

Then he organized his words as clearly as he could: "I... I had already planned, after finishing this project at the Research Institute, to apply to return to 195 Hospital. It'll take about half a year more."

"The graduate student apartment is too small. I need to rent a bigger place... somewhere closer to the Air Force Base. Then I'll buy a car, so I can come pick you up."

He had originally been able to scrape together a down payment on a house, but years of savings had already been used to repay the more than 2.4 million he owed Lu Heyang. Xu Ze's current savings were only enough for an ordinary car.

"I didn't even buy a ring." At this point, Xu Ze felt deep distress and regret. "I'll have to wait until next time we meet to give it to you."

Lu Heyang, smiling, reminded him: "You still haven't told me your answer."

This time there was no hesitation whatsoever. Xu Ze raised his head to meet Lu Heyang's eyes and said: "Yes."

He had once been grandly toyed with by fate, becoming the one left behind in place. Xu Ze's greatest wish in the past had been merely to see Lu Heyang once more; he had not dared imagine that the same gaze from eight years ago would fall upon him again.

Time was like the sea; Lu Heyang was the one who had dived into it to find him. What had been lost was possessed again; what he had never dared hope for, he now had.

"Our Dr. Xu has improved quite a lot compared to before." Lu Heyang smiled lightly, took Xu Ze's hand, and slipped the Ring onto his finger.

The Ring circled his slender fingers. Xu Ze, dazzled, began to space out again. In a daze, he heard Lu Heyang say: "You don't need to buy me a ring. I want the one you gave me in high school."

Xu Ze developed a ring addiction.

He looked at the ring while walking, looked at it sitting in the passenger seat, looked at it even when answering a colleague's call—his gaze could not leave it for a moment.

Looking and looking, Xu Ze grew anxious and could not help asking a terribly mood-killing question: "Is the ring... very expensive?"

Lu Heyang, without changing expression, knocked three zeros off the diamond's transaction price: "Not expensive. A few tens of thousands."

"That's still a bit expensive." Xu Ze, deceived by the false price, remained worried. "What if I lose it by accident?"

"Buy another."

Impossible. Xu Ze decided privately to lock the Ring and the Honor Badge together in the safe and not wear them unless absolutely necessary.

The car drove back toward the city. Xu Ze looked out the window: "Can we stop by that Cafe we passed this morning?"

Lu Heyang asked, feigning ignorance: "Buy what?"

"Donuts." Xu Ze said. "Tata... likes them."

The Donuts came in eight flavors. Xu Ze couldn't decide and asked Lu Heyang: "Should we just buy them all?"

Anyway, the cream would be scraped off—any flavor was pointless. Lu Heyang was about to suggest he just pick one or two, when he heard Xu Ze add: "Three of each."

"That's twenty-four." He hadn't expected Xu Ze to be so extravagant in this regard—just like Gu Yunchi. Lu Heyang asked calmly: "Which one-and-a-half-year-old can eat twenty-four Donuts?"

In the end, Xu Ze restrained himself and bought only four Donuts.

Back at Lu Qingmo's house, before going inside, Xu Ze touched the Ring and hesitated about whether to take it off first. He hesitated only briefly before deciding not to remove it—but Lu Heyang had already noticed his movement and asked: "Calling off the engagement already?"

Xu Ze could not bear such words and immediately denied them seriously: "No, it's not like that."

Lu Heyang also wore a serious expression: "Don't let me down, Dr. Xu."

That sentence immediately made Xu Ze begin considering the feasibility and practicality of welding the Ring to his hand.

Motivated by the four Donuts, Tata ate a lot at dinner. Afterward, she picked out the first Donut she wanted to eat, then reached out her arms to Xu Ze: "Uncle, uncle hug."

Lu Qingmo commented: "Little flatterer."

"Look at stars, look at stars." Tata pointed toward the door.

"Let's go sit on the upstairs terrace for a while," Lin Yumian said.

He had to look after Tata; Lin Yumian was still in post-surgery recovery; Lu Qingmo had to take Han Inspector to school for evening class—which meant only Lu Heyang was left alone to clear the table. Xu Ze, holding Tata, turned his head and found Lu Heyang looking at him, mouthing: "Go ahead."

Tata's carefree world of happiness was complete. She lay in Xu Ze's arms, watching the stars while eating a Donut with no cream left, only bread. Lin Yumian brought Xu Ze a glass of water: "Actually, it should have been us going to the Capital City to meet you for a meal. It takes too much time for you to come all this way, but Lin Yunchuan and the others aren't really able to go back."

"It's fine," Xu Ze said. "It's nice here."

Lin Yumian smiled: "I've always wanted to apologize to Heyang. Later I realized I should apologize to you too."

Xu Ze was startled.

"Heyang made some decisions in high school that I didn't really understand, but I never asked about them. I always felt he could handle it himself, could do well, so I never knew he'd put you into his life plan so early." Lin Yumian looked at Xu Ze. "If I could have known you back then, you and Heyang might not have wasted so many years."

It always seemed to be the innocent ones who got hurt, the faultless ones who apologized. Xu Ze didn't know what to say: "Uncle."

"Heyang will start worrying again when he finds out I told you this." Lin Yumian stood up, hugged Xu Ze very lightly, and gently touched his hair. "I'm very glad to become family with you."

Xu Ze blinked. It had been a long time since an elder had held him so gently.

"Uncle." Tata, imitating Lin Yumian's gesture, also gave Xu Ze a light hug—and accidentally smeared breadcrumbs on Xu Ze's shirt.

When Lu Qingmo returned, everyone sat on the terrace for another ten-odd minutes. When Tata's bedtime came, Lu Heyang and Xu Ze also returned to their room.

Lu Heyang closed the bedroom door and turned around. Xu Ze stood motionless in front of him.

In the quiet exchange of gazes, only breathing remained. Lu Heyang's gaze swept from Xu Ze's eyes to his lips: "Dr. Xu, excuse me for a moment."

Xu Ze leaned forward and kissed the corner of Lu Heyang's mouth. Lu Heyang's hand settled on his lower back; he turned his head, and their lips met in a kiss.

A thin sheen of sweat rose along his back. Xu Ze, gasping, sought Lu Heyang's opinion: "Can I insist on something today?"

"Insist on what?"

"Shower. Together."

Lu Heyang did not answer. He hooked his arms under Xu Ze's legs, lifted him, and walked toward the bathroom.

A month had passed since their last visit to Lu Qingmo's house. The next day, after lunch, Xu Ze and Lu Heyang went to the Airport—one flying to City S, the other returning to the Capital City.

This weekend had unexpectedly freed up some time. Xu Ze flew back to the Capital City, went to the Old Town to clean the house, aired out the bedding, ate a bowl of noodles near the neighborhood at noon, then waited at home for Lu Heyang to come over.

When he received Lu Heyang's message—"almost there"—Xu Ze immediately went to the window and looked down. Of course it wasn't that fast; the street below was still empty.

After waiting a few more minutes, a military vehicle rounded the corner and parked under the tree. Lu Heyang got out and looked up; Xu Ze, leaning on the windowsill, waved at him. When Lu Heyang entered the building's corridor, Xu Ze went to the living room, opened the door in advance, and stood beside it.

The footsteps gradually grew clearer. Xu Ze stared fixedly at the stairwell; when Lu Heyang appeared, he couldn't help smiling.

It was the same. In this waiting time after learning Lu Heyang was coming—restless, distracted, his chest filled with anticipation, excitement, and nervousness—no different from before.

A month without seeing each other, Xu Ze wanted to say something, but the moment Lu Heyang stepped inside, he cupped Xu Ze's left cheek and leaned down to kiss him, his other hand closing the door.

Lu Heyang could close his eyes and recall the sight of Xu Ze waiting by the door—just now, or in high school, every time. Only back then he had not understood what the strange emotion that always surfaced in his mind upon seeing Xu Ze like this truly was. It was not until this moment, kissing Xu Ze, that Lu Heyang finally, belatedly, realized what that emotion had meant.

The old fan had not yet broken; it turned leisurely, blowing toward the bed. Xu Ze, drenched in sweat, lay face-down on the bed, on the verge of falling asleep, when he suddenly opened his eyes and said in a hoarse voice: "I haven't given you the ring yet."

"You did." Lu Heyang raised his hand, revealing the crooked silver ring on his finger. "Forgot already?"

He had put it on Lu Heyang's finger in a flustered state before they undressed. Xu Ze explained: "Maybe it was too rushed, so I just couldn't think of it for a moment."

"It was a bit rushed," Lu Heyang said understandingly.

Xu Ze felt something was off but couldn't figure out what. Lu Heyang pinched his earlobe: "Sleep."

The afternoon Old Town was so quiet that only birdsong and the sound of wind in the leaves could be heard. Xu Ze looked at the old desk, looked at the drifting white curtains, looked at Lu Heyang's face by the pillow—after looking at everything once, he closed his eyes in peace.

Vaguely, as if not much time had passed, Xu Ze woke again.

Still in the small room, only no longer was anyone beside him. Xu Ze turned his head and saw Lu Heyang in his school uniform, facing him, sitting at the desk; behind him on the desk lay spread-open homework. The fan had been set to oscillate, turning slowly; the curtains were lifted by the wind; Xu Ze smelled the rich fragrance of Plum Blossom.

He slowly sat up and looked at Lu Heyang. The other sat only a few steps away, yet Xu Ze felt a strange sense of longing, as though they had not seen each other for a long time.

Indeed, it had been a long time.

The cicadas outside the window had stopped. Xu Ze smiled slightly, but at the same moment, tears welled up in his eyes—clearly, it was a very good scene.

Through the blur of tears, Xu Ze dimly saw Lu Heyang smile at him and ask in a gentle tone: "What's wrong?"

After a long while, Xu Ze said softly: "I had a very long dream."