Night Rose

Su Jin chuckled softly, finally relieved of the heavy burden she had carried since leaving the apartment in front of Zhou Zheng.

She rolled over and lay on her back on the bed. "Why does Brother Zhou seem less confident? Is it because Grandpa's around?"

"Old people sleep lightly. Grandpa woke up before dawn to water the flowers and plants." Zhou Zheng deliberately lowered his voice, but he didn't expect that his grandfather would still hear him.

"You're awake? If you're awake, come help me move the flowers downstairs to a sunny spot." Grandpa's voice came from the living room, interrupting their conversation.

"Don't talk, I'll take you out to move the flowers." Zhou Zheng put his phone in his pocket, the heavy phone pressing down on his hoodie.

Su Jinzhen held her breath like a thief, remaining silent and listening intently to what Zhou Zheng was saying.

When his grandfather saw that his hoodie was a bit too long, he smiled without saying a word, but kept pruning the plants with the shears in his hand.

"What are you doing? Did I disturb you?"

"No, I'm playing on my phone." Zhou Zheng carried a pot of flowers in one hand and was about to walk downstairs.

"What are you playing? It sounds like you're chatting with someone. With Xiao Su?" Grandpa asked, looking at his back.

Zhou Zheng almost tripped over the threshold. He turned around, glanced at the gossipy old man, and raised his eyebrows. "You're calling him Xiao Su now?"

"She was on TV with you, I saw her. My grandson is still strong. But Xiao Su is prettier in person, the camera didn't capture her beauty." Grandpa took out his phone, squinted, and started flipping through the photo album.

"Look, I even saved the photos, take a look." Grandpa waved, and Zhou Zheng carried the two flowerpots back.

Su Jin: "?!?!"

She was still in Zhou Zheng's pocket, listening to her grandfather and Zhou Zheng discussing her from a distance—it was so strange! But she couldn't bear to hang up, so she listened quietly.

My grandfather's cell phone was a new model that Zhou Zheng bought for him. The old man loves using electronic devices, and he can master any cell phone he's given in just a few days.

He opened the photo and handed it to Zhou Zheng, "Look, see if she's not as pretty as Xiao Su in person."

Zhou Zheng leaned closer and saw that it was the photo of him carrying Su Jin on his shoulders. He hadn't thought there was anything wrong with the posture at the time, but seeing the photo made his neck feel hot.

Su Jin, dressed casually with a staff badge around her neck, sat on his shoulders, looking both nervous and happy, but her expression was not timid at all, and she smiled slightly at the camera.

Zhou Zheng's hair glistened with a layer of water, as if it were glowing, and the shadows further accentuated the three-dimensionality and perfection of his facial features.

"You took a really handsome picture of me. Grandpa, please send me the photo."

Grandpa scolded, "I told you to look after Xiao Su, but you only looked at yourself!"

"Sister Su is definitely beautiful! This photo doesn't even capture a tenth of her beauty!" Zhou Zheng chimed in.

Grandpa glared at him while sending him a photo, "How much older is Xiao Su than you? You call her Sister Su, but you look older than her."

Zhou Zheng's smile faded slightly, and he asked in a low voice, "How much older can you accept? I'm afraid you can't accept a relationship between an older woman and a younger man."

Upon hearing this, Grandpa knew he definitely had a chance. He tapped his head with his finger and said, "Is your grandpa that narrow-minded? As long as you have the ability to treat people well, what does it matter how much?"

How can one be considered capable of treating her well? Zhou Zheng still doesn't have an answer.

"Okay, you can go ahead with your work." Zhou Zheng nodded and carried the flowers downstairs to bask in the sun.

The sun has already risen, but it's not very strong and not too hot.

There weren't many people downstairs, and no elderly people were vying for the unused sports equipment with him. Zhou Zheng stood on the turntable and learned to turn around like the old men, stretching his spine and back muscles.

The phone was stuck in the middle of the equipment, and I continued talking to Su Jin.

"Su Jin," he said in a low voice.

Su Jin was startled and rubbed her ears in disbelief. How could she be so captivated by Zhou Zheng's magnetic voice even through the internet?

"Finally escaped to safety?"

"Yes, Grandpa said you're not photogenic, did you hear that?"

"How can you spread rumors like that? Grandpa clearly said I'm prettier in person, just not photogenic. If you keep saying I'm not photogenic, I'd think Grandpa thought I was ugly."

"Just kidding, I've never looked ugly," Zhou Zheng said honestly.

Su Xin was overjoyed. "Send me the photos."

Zhou Zheng sent the photo to the past and also saved a copy for himself.

His fingers traced the screen. He and Su Jin had never taken a photo together before. This photo was their first together and held great commemorative significance, making it extraordinary.

There was a favorites function in the photo album. Zhou Zheng tapped the hollowed-out heart, and the heart turned red.

Su Jin was quite satisfied with the photos that were sent to her. She wasn't that bad at taking pictures; wasn't she quite pretty?

Save the photos.

"I'm going to buy breakfast, are you coming with me?" Zhou Zheng asked her.

"Okay, let me take a shower first," Su Jin said.

The phone call abruptly ended, and before Su Jin could even react, a video call suddenly came through.

Su Jin paused for a few seconds, then realized the significance of the video call. Her ears turned red, she cursed him as a pervert, and hung up the phone.

The person on the other end of the phone stopped harassing her and only sent her a message.

Zhou: Waiting for you

Knowing that Su Jin was taking her time taking a bath, Zhou Zheng went upstairs to help his grandfather move the flowers a few more times. After settling them all in, Zhou Zheng squatted down at the entrance of the building to count the flower petals.

When Grandpa came downstairs, he saw him squatting there alone and asked curiously, "Xiao Zheng, what are you doing squatting here? Does Xiao Su not want you anymore?"

"They haven't even said they want me yet," Zhou Zheng said, looking up and smiling.

"Oh, you're not officially married yet? You'd better hurry up. A woman as outstanding as Xiao Su has many suitors," Grandpa said seriously. "Back in the day, I was pursuing your grandma..."

He had heard his grandparents' romantic tales countless times. Whenever his grandfather missed his grandmother, he would tell him about the past. But in the end, the stories of the past inevitably saddened those who remained in the present.

"Stop! Grandpa, I know. Where are you going? I'll buy you breakfast." Zhou Zheng stood up.

Grandpa shook his head. He had rested long enough during this period. If he didn't go out for a walk, he would feel uncomfortable both mentally and physically.

"I'll go buy it myself. I know the way, and I can walk. Don't follow me. Go and eat what you like."

"Okay, remember to come home, otherwise I won't be able to take care of these flowers and plants." Zhou Zheng kicked a nearby flowerpot, which spun around and almost flew away.

He finally behaved after being glared at by his grandfather, reached out to straighten the flowerpot, and watched his grandfather leave.

Zhou Zheng touched his phone, feeling uneasy.

My grandfather's route was usually quite fixed: he would go to the market to buy some fresh vegetables, then go to the park to watch the old men play chess, and sometimes he would play a few rounds himself, before slowly strolling back.

Since falling ill, Zhou Zheng has strictly forbidden him from going out at will, and even after being discharged from the hospital, he has always accompanied him when going out.

Although my grandfather has fully recovered and the follow-up examination at the hospital did not reveal any problems, he has not mentioned going out for a walk these days.

Why do you insist on going out at this hour?