It's hard to quit, but it's the perfect marriage!

Zhu Xi emerged from the operating room, her mind wandering.

Her memory is still of the evening she chatted with Grandpa Wen.

That night, the light shining from the spire of the Chongyin Pagoda still lingered in her mind's eye.

The gentle old man who advised her not to be so attached to the beauty of the world will never see the sun rise again.

Zhu Xi held her wrist, wanting to remember the feeling of the apple peel wrapped around her wrist forever.

Unfortunately, she didn't force herself to etch that memory into her heart that night.

She went up to the rooftop again.

The melancholy I felt during my initial internship, about the passing of life, resurfaced.

The hot night wind tossed her long hair, making her squint her eyes.

Strands of hair clung to He Sang's cheeks, making it impossible to tell whether they were tears or sweat.

The smoke curled upwards, but the nicotine could not numb the sorrow in her heart.

She stood in the huge halo, exposed to the heat, the scorching sun, and the warmth.

After one cigarette burned out, she took out another and bit it between her lips.

But no matter how hard he tried, his trembling hands couldn't produce a spark that could ignite.

Zhu Xi tried again and again, and soon her right hand was held by someone.

With a click, a burst of flames ignited the white paper and tobacco.

With sunken cheeks, she saw a pair of eyes that seemed unremarkable in the almost invisible blue smoke.

But in those gentle eyes, she saw a crimson hue.

Zhu Xi blinked frequently, and the cigarette between her fingers fell to the ground.

"I know everything." Zhou Yinghuai's tone was low, carrying a very gentle tone of comfort. "Sister Xi, that's not your responsibility."

As he spoke, he once again encircled Zhu Xi's wrist, leading her into the shadows where there was no light.

"Why are you here?" she asked in a hoarse voice.

Zhou Yinghuai stretched out his long arm, placed his palm on the back of her head, and pulled her into his arms.

"I sensed you needed me, so I came."

Zhou Yinghuai hunched over, his gaze meeting hers. "Do you need me?"

"I need you."

Zhu Xi pressed her forehead against his chest, her sorrow slowly soothed by his heartbeats.

The wind on the rooftop whispers in my ear.

After about the time it takes to smoke a cigarette, Zhou Yinghuai was pushed away.

Zhu Xi wasn't wearing a white coat; her dark green surgical gown made her appear even more aloof.

She thought of Yu Qinghua's words, of the elderly man on the operating table who could no longer speak, of the future, and of the distant future.

Thinking of this man who seemed to have connections everywhere.

"You know why?" she asked. "It's related to me, isn't it?"

Zhou Yinghuai cupped her face in his hands, his gaze gentle, "It has nothing to do with you."

This statement almost confirms everything indirectly.

Zhu Xi smiled wryly, "They're being completely unreasonable."

"Zhou Yinghuai, they're being completely unreasonable."

"They're being unreasonable."

Zhu Xi pushed Zhou Yinghuai away and quickly left the rooftop.

She wanted to rush downstairs, to stand in front of everyone in the Wen family, and make things clear.

Zhou Yinghuai caught up and pinned the man against the landing at the corner of the stairs.

"Zhu Xi, don't let yourselves fight amongst yourselves."

Zhu Xi smiled bitterly, unable to break free from his embrace.

She asked, slowly and deliberately, "Back then, was it Yu Qingge who didn't want to marry you?"

Zhou Yinghuai nodded, "Yes."

"It's because the Zhou family doesn't think highly of Yu Qinghuan."

"Yes."

"Can't the engagement between the two families be cancelled?"

Zhou Yinghuai hesitated for a moment, then said, "Yes."

Zhu Xi pressed further, "Why can't it be canceled?"

"Zhou Yinghuai, it's the 21st century. There's no such thing as forced buying or selling, or forced marriage."

She frowned, utterly perplexed, feeling that everyone's hostility towards her came from nowhere.

Zhou Yinghuai stared into her eyes. "I'm sorry, I lied to you. The engagement can be canceled."

"Then why wasn't the engagement annulled? Why did I marry you?"

"Because, three years ago, my mother took a liking to you as her daughter-in-law."