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墨書 Inktalez
Severe Cold vented his frustration on a plastic bottle by the roadside, cursing at it before kicking it away. Unfortunately, the bottle flew straight into the path of an oncoming person, startling him as it struck.
"Damn it! Who lacks common decency?" he exclaimed, rubbing his head where the bottle had hit. He glared at a man not far ahead, certain that he was the one responsible for the flying bottle.
Seeing that the other man recognized him as the one who kicked the bottle, Severe Cold felt a wave of anxiety wash over him. Nowadays, people were not to be trifled with; even a small incident could escalate into something unimaginable. He thought about running away—after all, he had been known as a fast runner in the army, faster than anyone else. If he weren’t so self-deprecating, he would have medals from races displayed in a box at home. But then again, running would make him seem like a coward on the battlefield. Besides, he had made a mistake first; he should at least see how things unfolded.
"Hey! Sorry about that... um..." Stammering under the intense gaze and furious expression of the other man, Severe Cold awkwardly forced a smile.
A crowd quickly gathered in the alley, eager to witness the commotion. As the saying goes, there’s no shortage of onlookers—especially those with nothing better to do. Men and women of all ages surrounded them, chattering and pointing, leaving both parties unsure of who was right or wrong.
Severe Cold studied the other man closely; he appeared to be around the same age and was undeniably handsome. Dressed sharply in a suit, his demeanor was composed. Upon hearing Severe Cold's apology, his expression softened.
Rubbing his forehead, the man smiled lightly and said, "It's fine; just be more careful next time. You don’t seem like someone who causes trouble. If you had kicked that bottle at an auntie’s head, you’d really be in for it."
"Thank you for your understanding; I’ll remember your advice," Severe Cold replied. No matter how much he wanted to maintain his pride as a man, it was impossible now. Apologizing was indeed warranted; it was a blessing that the other man wasn’t pursuing any further grievances.
"Don’t mention it; just watch where you’re going," the man said before brushing past Severe Cold without paying any mind to the raucous crowd.
As they brushed past each other, Severe Cold grabbed the man's arm and smiled sincerely. "Buddy, we may have started off on the wrong foot, but I’m feeling good today. How about we grab a drink?"
The man looked apologetic. "I... I’m sorry. I’m new here and not familiar with this place. Drinking... well..."
"It’s fine! A drink can make any day sweeter. Let’s become friends!" Severe Cold’s earlier frustration faded away as he thought about how grateful he was to this Buddy for being so understanding. He was determined to invite him out for a drink.
Seeing Severe Cold being so generous, he couldn't help but agree to the invitation without further hesitation. The two of them walked together, searching for a place to drink nearby, exchanging pleasantries and introducing themselves along the way. When the other party revealed his name, it took Severe Cold by surprise.
Ziya returned to the hospital feeling frustrated. Liang Chao was still there, while Sun Meng lay peacefully asleep, sedated by medication. The ward was permeated with a daunting smell of drugs.
"Back already?" Liang Chao asked as soon as the door to the ward opened, his neck craning to look behind Ziya. There was no one there; perhaps they had gone elsewhere.
As the saying goes, one does not necessarily resent grapes they cannot reach; rather, it is the imbalance felt when others obtain what one cannot. At that moment, Liang Chao was in a state of imbalance himself. He assessed that Severe Cold wasn't much better off than he was, yet it seemed that Ziya was quite serious about him.
Ziya closed the ward door and walked straight to the balcony, gazing out at the entrance of the hospital. Though it appeared casual, she was actually hoping to catch a glimpse of that familiar figure appearing at the door.
"You closed the door; when Severe Cold comes in later, you'll have to open it again," Liang Chao remarked as he followed her to the balcony.
"Uh... yeah! How's Sun Meng doing?" Ziya deliberately changed the subject, not wanting to mention what had just happened. She still held onto the decorative item she had bought earlier and glanced at the sleeping Sun Meng as she asked.
"Very well. The doctor just checked on him and said he could be discharged in a day or two. By the way, are you going back to City A after you leave?" Liang Chao, aware of Ziya's attempt to divert the conversation, chose not to pry into her personal matters and responded casually.
"Yeah, I really miss home. What about you..." Ziya replied while trying to inquire about Liang Chao and Sun Meng, but found it difficult to voice her curiosity.
"Are you wondering about my relationship with Sun Meng?" To her surprise, he had picked up on her thoughts with remarkable insight.
"Ahem... well then, how are things between you two?" Ziya casually picked a small inconspicuous flower from a potted plant on the balcony as she asked.
"Sigh! It's time to get married! We've come this far; we should have an answer now. Let's pick a date when we get back and tie the knot. You must be our bridesmaid, and Severe Cold will be my best man."
Ziya did not directly answer Liang Chao's question, momentarily lost in thought.
"Is there a problem? How are things between you and Severe Cold? I feel like he really cares about you." As Liang Chao spoke these words, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy; to him, Ziya was like a goddess, completely untouchable.
"Great! No problem... This is such good news, really wonderful news. Huh... um..." Ziya closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This piece of good news undoubtedly swept away the gloom from earlier. Speaking of which, while Sun Meng had found hope, what would her own future hold? Amidst her joy, Ziya fell into contemplation once more. The door to the hospital room quietly opened, and two people entered—one was the long-awaited Severe Cold, and the other was...
Ziya and Liang Chao quickly stepped into the room, four pairs of eyes meeting in silent speculation as they sized each other up. Ziya looked at the newcomer, a familiar face that sparked recognition—the smile, the gestures, and that serious demeanor...
"What's wrong? Don't you recognize me?" the other person spoke first.
"Zhiqing, it's you..." Ziya finally exclaimed in surprise, almost rushing forward to embrace them.
Sun Meng was jolted awake by Ziya's excited shout. She shifted slightly, her pale face showing signs of illness. Her sleepy eyes sparkled with a hint of a bitter smile as she parted her lips to softly call out to Zhiqing, "Old class monitor..."
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