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墨書 Inktalez
March 4th, 5:40 PM T City First People's Hospital
"Doctor, I would like to ask how my child is doing," a father approached the counter in the inpatient area.
"Please provide the room number, and I will check for you," the nurse at the front desk said while operating on the computer. She glanced up at the man and exclaimed, "Oh, are you Mr. Mingren?"
Seeing that the nurse recognized him, Mingren took off his sunglasses and replied, "Yes, could you please check on my daughter Ming Juan's condition? The room number is 327."
"Please hold on," the nurse responded.
Behind Ming Juan's father, Mingren, stood a girl who had accompanied him. Although she said nothing, her sky-blue fitted dress and youthful high ponytail made her the most captivating presence in the hospital, even while standing silently with her head down.
"According to the attending physician's description, Miss Ming's back injury has stabilized and she can get out of bed now," the nurse said while looking at the computer screen. "However, she should avoid strenuous activities. There are also some topical ointments prescribed by the doctor that you can pick up now; please use them as directed."
The nurse printed out the medication list and handed it to Mingren.
"I'll go get it, Uncle," Ma Yihan said as she flicked her favorite high ponytail and stepped forward.
"Wait a moment, there's no rush," Mingren said as he quickly walked into the inpatient area.
Room 327 was a private room where Ming Juan was receiving treatment alone. She originally didn't want her father to spend money unnecessarily on her care, but her injuries were too severe. Additionally, since Ming Juan had been brought in for treatment, her emotions had been unstable. Her father, Mingren, insisted that she not be treated in a regular ward.
Ming Juan understood her father's love for her. Although he had just been released from prison and was still adjusting to society, as a father, Mingren would never forget to protect his daughter.
At least from this perspective, his image was completely unrelated to corruption. The Ming Family's business had been seized by the state for eighty percent of its value, but it was still more than enough for Ming Juan to live a decent life.
By the bedside, Ming Juan no longer wanted to lie down. It was now 5:20 PM; she looked at the time on her phone screen and couldn't help but caress the numbers displayed there. The tall buildings outside were shrouded in mist, seemingly echoing Ming Juan's inner confusion. The orange skyline paired with blood-red rays of sunset sent feelings of longing that she didn't know how to express into her heart.
As evening approached, loneliness enveloped those who were sensitive like a gentle breeze that entered the room and delivered its unique fragrance to the budding roses, swaying it gently at Ming Juan's nose. The world often seemed so enchanting and desirable—sweet paired with salty, sour with spicy—there would always be destined counterparts meeting each other to create the most delightful essence of life. Love is an exploration among countless elements in this world; some combinations are destined not to be beautiful while others can bloom into splendid fireworks.
As her thoughts drifted far away, Ming Juan's gaze gradually became distant. She reminisced about everything that had happened during her university life; days spent with Miao Chengmin always unfolded with her feelings of melancholy. She believed Miao Chengmin was her destined other half; it was just that fate hadn't granted them the best ending.
"He’s back, but..."
Ming Juan put down her phone and opened her diary. She had started writing it after confirming her relationship with Miao Chengmin during university. It recorded their little moments together. As she turned to the last page with her fingertips slowly gliding over it, she found a simple sketch of Miao Chengmin’s eyes staring back at her.
"Is he still the person I knew?"
The sunlight on the floor was fragmented into countless pieces by the mesh of the window screen, gently swaying with the wind. Ming Juan sighed softly and turned to look at the television. Suddenly, something outside blocked out the light—something humanoid—causing the TV to dim automatically.
Ming Juan felt a shiver run through her heart but suddenly recalled a memory that made her turn around sharply—
A figure was floating outside.
"You’re here?" Ming Juan exclaimed in surprise almost shouting as she stood up and pulled open the window screen. "Didn’t we say we’d meet on March 6th? Do you know? I was just thinking about you when you arrived."
Outside the window, Miao Chengmin was barely covered in tattered cloth, and to meet his former lover with some dignity, he wore a hood specially woven for him by the Spirit Sisters. However, this appearance was even more pitiful than that of a beggar. It was fortunate enough to find anything human in the wild.
"I know our agreement is for March 6th, but on that day, I will be engaged in a remote conversation with another civilization in the universe," Miao Chengmin gestured. "It's normal not to understand; I just wanted to say that I won't have time then, so I can only celebrate your birthday early."
"It's fine." Under the sunlight, Ming Juan's smile was as stunning as her brown curls. Her hands rested on the railing by the window, and in her eyes filled with anticipation was the last hope of Ming Juan's heart. "As long as you're here, nothing else matters."
Miao Chengmin felt as if he were still trapped in the illusion of university life; Ming Juan back then was just as beautiful and elegant as she was now, so noble. Unfortunately, he felt so inferior now that even encountering her felt like a sin.
"Come in," Ming Juan said, patting the railing like a little girl who had just seen her good friend. "No one is coming in now."
Miao Chengmin surveyed the hospital room, mustered his courage, and deliberately pulled his hood down further until he felt it covered the upper half of his vision before flying inside.
"My birthday... you didn't prepare anything for me?" After leading Miao Chengmin inside, Ming Juan turned around with a pout, her eyes slightly widened as she looked at this "zombie" before her.
"Uh..." Miao Chengmin suddenly felt scared. He indeed hadn't prepared anything decent for Ming Juan. He wasn't living in human society where he could buy gifts with money. The thought of Ming Juan being disappointed in him made Miao Chengmin quickly explain, "I... can I go buy something now? I'm sorry... I really can't come up with anything proper."
Upon hearing this, Ming Juan chuckled softly, covering her mouth with her right hand. "Did I say I blame you? Why are you still so clueless about girls' little tricks?"
"What should I say then?" Miao Chengmin and Ming Juan locked eyes; three years ago, they had admired each other like this.
"You should say..." Ming Juan stepped forward boldly and threw herself into Miao Chengmin's arms. "You are the best gift."
In an instant, Miao Chengmin's heart was filled with mixed emotions. Ming Juan wished for Miao Chengmin to become human and return to her side, but reality only allowed them to embrace in this form. She had never given up on him and kept him cherished in her heart, even though he had already died.
Thinking this, Miao Chengmin sighed deeply and tried to touch the ends of Ming Juan's hair with his dry hand. Ming Juan held him tighter; she buried her face into Miao Chengmin's chest. Although she couldn't hear her lover's heartbeat, this silence felt more romantic than listening to a heartbeat.
The two embraced each other, unwilling to part first. Their time together was far too short; they cherished every moment, even knowing that in the next instant, one might disappear.
"Juanzi, I might not come often from now on," Miao Chengmin rested his chin on Ming Juan's shoulder and looked at the photo she had placed on the table— it was from three years ago during Spring Festival when he had his arm around Ming Juan next to the giant snowman they built together.
"..." Ming Juan remained silent but her slightly rising back revealed that she was crying at that moment.
"There are only five thousand hours left until the final battle," Miao Chengmin explained. "There might be new plans over at the four-dimensional divine domain; we will have to continue our 'journey.'"
Ming Juan didn't understand what they were going to do, but she never opposed Miao Chengmin's decisions. She had come to accept this kind of love calmly.
"As long as you still care about me," Ming Juan lifted her face and gently brushed her fingertips across Miao Chengmin's grayish lower eyelid.
Miao Chengmin had so much he wanted to say to Ming Juan, but as his gaze shifted away from her petite back, he noticed the door handle on the hospital room door moving with a force from outside.
"Someone is coming," Miao Chengmin released Ming Juan.
Ming Juan turned around and was about to open the door when she suddenly remembered there was a "zombie" in the room. She hesitated for a moment.
"Chengmin, why don't you hide under the bed for a while?"
There was no response.
"Chengmin?" Ming Juan was startled and turned around. The hospital room was empty; only the pendulum clock by the television continued to tick rhythmically. Next to the clock, there was a small flower crown that had been placed there at some point. Ming Juan looked closely; the colorful flowers were likely picked from somewhere and clumsily tied together by Miao Chengmin.
Perhaps Miao Chengmin didn't realize that, in Ming Juan's eyes, this was not something to be ashamed of at all. If he was still willing to accept her, why not just...
Ming Juan felt a wave of sadness wash over her, causing her brows to furrow slightly with a sense of loss.
"Daughter? Are you in there? Open the door; we’re here to see you." Mingren stood outside the door, gently knocking as he spoke.
"Why does she still have the door locked?" Ma Yihan thought, puzzled.
"Wait a moment!" Ming Juan called out from behind the door. She quickly approached the bed, bent down to look under it, and confirmed that Miao Chengmin had indeed left before she opened the door with a hint of disappointment.
"Miss Ming~" Ma Yihan smiled at Ming Juan while carrying a bag of snacks, following Mingren. She even playfully tilted her head.
"Oh my..." Ming Juan glanced at the fruit on the bedside table and then looked at her father Mingren, clearly not believing that Ma Yihan had bought it for her. "Why do you always bring me food every few days? Am I not supposed to manage my figure?"
"Hehe, it’s me who bought it for you, young lady," Ma Yihan admitted cheerfully. "I haven't given you anything decent yet."
"Not true!" Ming Juan accepted Ma Yihan's gift with her own hands. "Your concern for me is the best gift of all."
Ming Juan's father Mingren remained silent; he simply approached Ming Juan's bed and quietly began tidying up.
"Hey..." Ma Yihan wanted to ask Uncle if she could chat with Ming Juan for a bit, but Ming Juan held her back.
Ming Juan understood well that her father felt guilty towards her; he had always been like this since his release from prison. She was also willing to give him a chance to make amends.
"Let's talk about our date; I'm really looking forward to it," Ming Juan shifted the topic.
"Ah! Right!" Ma Yihan remembered with Ming Juan's prompt. "We don’t need to go to City M’s Military Base anymore; according to my boyfriend, they are now at... the Song Family."
"Ah? How did they end up there..." Ming Juan's first thought was of the elderly Song Mengxian, who often bought her fruits when she was little.
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