Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
At that time, he was still in middle school, completely unaware of emotions, love, and even less so about the dynamics of marriage. He learned her name and made a note of it. Later, when he entered high school, he saw her at a welcome event during his second year.
He stood below the stage while Tong Le stood above it, representing the students and delivering a speech. He remembered that day vividly; the sun was bright, and like other students, he stood on the lush green lawn, listening to Tong Le's words. He recalled her in her school uniform, with a high ponytail. Her voice was pleasant, just as he had imagined it would be.
He remembered how she shone that day, exuding confidence and pride. It was in that moment that something deep within him stirred. He began to pay attention to her and followed her around. Although they were in different classes, every time class ended, he would linger by the corridor windows, waiting for their paths to cross.
He started looking forward to every break between classes. Being tall, he stood in the last row during exercises and could always spot her among the crowd. He sought out every opportunity to give speeches on stage, imagining himself shining brightly like her, hoping to catch everyone's attention—especially hers.
In his third year of high school, he found out about her university aspirations. Ignoring his family's objections, he chose to apply to the same university she did. His wish came true when they both got accepted into the same school. He thought he could finally confess his feelings openly and boldly claim her as his own.
But a devastating fire in the school library shattered all his dreams. The unexpected blaze trapped Tong Le on the fifth floor; thick smoke filled the air, causing her to lose consciousness. Zong Zeyu risked his life and rushed into the flames to rescue her. However, after inhaling too much smoke while carrying her out, he collapsed on his knees halfway down from the fifth floor.
When he regained consciousness, there was only a thin blue curtain separating him from Tong Le's hospital bed. Yet he could hear cheers coming from the adjacent bed. For some reason, it was Ke Wenjie who had saved Tong Le that day, and beside her hospital bed, Ke Wenjie confessed his feelings.
Zong Zeyu wanted to explain everything clearly but as he reached out to pull back the curtain, he heard Tong Le's response: "I’m willing." His arm hung in mid-air; ultimately, he couldn't bring himself to part that thin blue curtain.
He always seemed to be one step too late—one step too late to express his feelings and one step too late to truly know Tong Le. On the day they left the hospital, Zong Zeyu's brother Zong Jin personally came to pick him up.
Zong Jin led Zong Zeyu out of the hospital; the two men walked side by side along the roadside as light rain began to fall from the sky. A private car followed behind them as Zong Jin chose to accompany Zong Zeyu for a leisurely stroll to clear their minds.
Zong Jin turned to look at Zong Zeyu, who appeared lost and despondent. As an older brother, it was the first time he had seen his younger sibling in such a state of despair.
"Zeyu," Zong Jin began, recalling what he had just heard from his subordinates. "That Ke Wenjie, it seems that after you carried Tong Le out, he took her out of the library building again. So, Tong Le might have mistakenly thought that it was Ke Wenjie who saved her."
He continued, "You can't blame anyone but yourself. You didn't express your feelings or make an effort to pursue her. I hope you don't follow in my footsteps and make the same mistakes I did. Many opportunities are fleeting; once missed, they may never come back."
It was probably after that conversation that Zong Zeyu began to change. He transformed from a timid and unnoticed person into someone who started to fight for what he wanted. Yet, when it came to matters of the heart, he never managed to take that crucial step.
He wanted to wait until Tong Le broke up with her partner, but instead, he received the news of Tong Le marrying Ke Wenjie. For those years, he had been like a shadow, hiding behind and around Tong Le, who always seemed unaware of his presence.
As memories surged within him, he found himself unwittingly caught in the whirlpool of the past. It wasn't until Tong Le's gentle reminder that he was pulled back to reality.
Comment 0 Comment Count