Chapter 13: Good Night, Little Jasmine

The oil painting Zhou Mo was submitting for the competition was finally finished. Once it had dried, she went to the gallery to deliver it to Duan Yongzhou.

Duan Yongzhou was in the middle of setting up an exhibition. He hung a painting, climbed down the ladder, and took the canvas from Zhou Mo. As he pulled off the dust sheet to take a look, his eyes lit up.

He propped the painting against the table, stepped back a few paces to examine it carefully, and said with a smile, “I’m not saying this to flatter you, but I think this piece surprises me even more than the one I saw at Professor Jiang Ye’s place. You’ve improved so much. This painting has immense emotion, and it’s full of power.”

Zhou Mo offered a subtle smile. “Can it win an award?”

“Whether it wins an award isn’t up to me. But the fact that you can produce a work like this gives me absolute confidence in my own eye. So, winning an award doesn’t even matter anymore.”

Duan Yongzhou brought Zhou Mo into his office, steeped a cup of hot tea, and updated her on the progress between his company and He Chong’s garment factory. “We’re still hashing out the fine details of the contract, but it should be finalized very soon.”

Zhou Mo thanked him sincerely.

“You don’t need to thank me. You should thank yourself.”

Duan Yongzhou’s health had never been great. Perhaps because he had been busy with the exhibition over the past few days, his condition had worsened again. As he spoke, he kept pressing hard against his stomach.

Zhou Mo noticed and quickly asked, “Are you all right?”

Duan Yongzhou shook his head and picked up his glass to sip some hot water. “There’s one more thing…” He paused, hesitating slightly.

Zhou Mo asked hurriedly, “What is it?”

“Do you have any plans for your own career?”

Zhou Mo thought it over. “For now, I just want to become a professional painter.”

Duan Yongzhou looked at her. “Have you thought about going abroad to see the world?”

Zhou Mo paused. “Go abroad?”

Duan Yongzhou nodded. “You have remarkably intuitive artistic instincts, but because you’ve been in a state of half-resistance and half-reliance toward painting all these years, you haven’t been able to transform that intuition into precise experience through extensive, systematic training.”

Duan Yongzhou’s summary was spot-on, leaving Zhou Mo lost in thought for a moment.

Duan Yongzhou continued, “Speaking purely of artistic atmosphere and education, the domestic scene lags far behind. After all, oil painting originated in the West.”

“I…”

“I know things haven’t been easy for you and He Chong, and I don’t mean to tear you two apart. But this timing is crucial. Give it some serious thought, and ask He Chong what he thinks.”

Zhou Mo pondered for a moment, then nodded.

Duan Yongzhou gave a quiet cough. “I’m sorry. I might be pushing you too hard. But you’re talented, and I hate to see that talent go to waste.” He paused, turning his head away. With an unfocused gaze, he murmured as if in a daze, “I had a friend who was also brilliantly talented, but passed away at a young age.”

Zhou Mo’s heart stirred, and the words slipped out: “Is it ZX?”

Duan Yongzhou was taken aback.

Zhou Mo said, “I study painting, too.” The wall of paintings on the second floor of Duan Yongzhou’s gallery, signed “ZX”, radiated emotions so intense and vibrant they practically leaped off the canvas. Having studied art for years, she had recognized it at a glance.

Duan Yongzhou fell silent for a long moment, then said bitterly, “Yes.”

He remained quiet for a long time, seemingly unprepared to share the story behind this “friend” with Zhou Mo.

Everyone carries an isolated island and an abyss within their heart. They hadn’t known each other long, so speaking of such matters might be stepping out of bounds. Zhou Mo understood Duan Yongzhou’s silence, and she believed the creator of those paintings must hold extraordinary significance to him.

Zhou Mo said, “I’ll consider your suggestion carefully. But can you promise me, no, promise yourself one thing?”

“Name it.”

“Perhaps your family is putting pressure on you too, but I don’t think you should keep going against your heart to go on blind dates or pursue marriage alliances. You’re not that kind of person. You’re different from me,” Zhou Mo said, looking at Duan Yongzhou. “You have both the ability and the courage to make other choices.”

Duan Yongzhou offered a faint smile. “Thank you. That, I promise.”

Over the next few days, Zhou Mo received an advance on her signing fee from Duan Yongzhou. With the help of Ye Yinyin and Han Yu, she rented an apartment near the university. It was a small one-bedroom, but spacious enough for her daily life.

He Chong came over to check it out. Compared to the villa Zhou Mo had lived in before, it was naturally quite modest, but Zhou Mo was overjoyed. She finally had a quiet space of her own. Even though it was a rented place, she put a lot of effort into decorating it, scrubbing every corner spotless and hanging her own paintings on the walls to give it an artistic touch.

Before long, the garment factory and Duan Yongzhou’s company officially signed the contract. To express his gratitude to Zhou Mo for making the connection, He Zhengkui offered to take her out for a meal.

The battered jeep He Chong had nearly wrecked back in Zhichuan City had also been repaired. He picked up Zhou Mo and drove leisurely back toward Luocheng.

Zhou Mo received a warm welcome from He Zhengkui’s entire family. The golden retriever in particular pounced up with a wildly wagging tail, nearly knocking her off her feet.

He Zhengkui had cooked seven or eight dishes, crowding the entire table. Once everyone took their seats, He Zhengkui raised a glass to toast Zhou Mo first. “Miss Zhou, thank you.”

Zhou Mo replied hurriedly, “You can just call me Zhou Mo.”

He Zhengkui said, “I truly must thank you. You’re He Chong’s benefactor.” Zhou Mo shook her head hurriedly. “He Chong is my benefactor.”

He Yifei burst out laughing. “You’re both benefactors! The two of you! Now let me eat, I’m starving.”

He Zhengkui swatted He Yifei with his chopsticks. “Eat, eat, eat! Food is all you ever think about!”

Zhou Mo couldn’t help smiling.

The atmosphere during the meal was delightful. After finishing, Zhou Mo and He Chong took a walk down the road outside the factory.

The weather was bright and clear. Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves, scattering dappled light across the ground. Holding Zhou Mo’s hand, He Chong walked slowly, feeling an unprecedented sense of peace in his heart.

He thought to himself that He Zhengkui was right: Zhou Mo truly was his benefactor in life.

Ever since meeting her, he felt as though he had regained that youthful, earnest vigor, full of passion and anticipation for the world.

The two walked together, chatting about all sorts of things along the way. Straying far beyond the factory grounds, they stumbled upon a small convenience store, packed to the brim with goods despite its tiny footprint.

“Are you thirsty? Want something to drink?” Zhou Mo nodded.

He Chong pulled open the cooler door and was surprised to find orange soda inside, in glass bottles no less, the exact brand he had loved as a child.

He pulled out two bottles of soda and waved them at Zhou Mo. “Is this okay?”

Holding a bottle each, the two of them sat down on the long wooden bench outside the corner shop.

The area was quiet and deserted, with a car passing by only once in a long while. It felt as though the rest of the world had vanished, leaving only this shop and the two of them.

Nibbling on her straw, Zhou Mo said slowly, “He Chong, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”

He Chong turned to look at her, and seeing the hesitation on her face, asked, “What is it? Go ahead.”

“I…” Zhou Mo turned her head to look at him. “Duan Yongzhou asked me if I wanted to go to France for an exchange program.”

He Chong paused. He set his soda bottle down by the leg of the bench, looked down in thought for a moment, and asked, “What do you think?”

“I want to give it a try. After meeting you, I realized how narrow my world used to be. All that glamour laid out for me wasn’t the whole world. The old me would never have experienced the view I’m seeing right this second. I want to try studying abroad on my own, dealing with unexpected troubles by myself, worrying about how to stretch my scholarship alone…”

He Chong chuckled. “If you keep spending like you did last time, that scholarship will be gone the moment you get it.”

Seeing Zhou Mo on the verge of bristling, He Chong reached out and gently pressed her hand down onto the bench. “Go see the world,” he said in a low voice.

“If I go, will you miss me?”

“I’m going to be pretty busy myself. I really can’t guarantee I’ll have time to miss you.”

Zhou Mo gave a soft hmph.

He Chong smiled. “If I didn’t want you to go, would you stay?”

Zhou Mo lowered her eyes, a faint trace of guilt in her expression. “No.”

Yet He Chong felt deeply gratified. “The person you are now can already go anywhere you want.”

“But where I want to stay most is by your side.”

He Chong gave a faint smile. He pulled her close and kissed her forehead. “Just remember to come back.”

Zhou Mo was like a young bird that had just come of age. He always worried that the web of strict rules woven by the Zhou family would hurt her, but keeping her sheltered under his own wings forever, wouldn’t such overprotection just be another web?

He loved her, but even more than that, he wanted her to be free.

While she was still young, she should experience the pains that could only be felt in youth, the kind of pain that brought tears to one’s eyes yet left one unbroken. When her wings were battered by the storm, he would always be her quiet forest.

In May, when He Mi’s death anniversary arrived, He Chong made an appointment to meet with Zhou Sipei.

The location was the same café as before. Zhou Sipei looked exhausted, yet his back remained straight. Years of strict self-discipline had ingrained in him the habit of never losing face in front of outsiders, even after his involvement in framing He Chong had been exposed. Despite a faint sense of guilt, he still maintained a righteous facade.

He Chong didn’t waste time on pleasantries. After exchanging a few brief words, he got straight to the point. “Mr. Zhou, I asked you out today because I want to make a deal with you.”

Zhou Sipei looked at him without saying a word.

“Windfall money is always too hot to hold. I will give those two villas to you, on the condition that…”

Zhou Sipei knitted his brows tightly. “That you get to be with Zhou Mo?”

He Chong glanced at him, his tone extraordinarily stern. “On the condition that you no longer interfere in Zhou Mo’s life, and let her freely choose the path she wants to take.”

Zhou Sipei was deeply surprised. In his eyes, this deal was severely disadvantageous to He Chong.

He hesitated for a moment before saying, “Regarding the matter of burying He Mi together with Old Mr. Gu, I am willing to help mediate with the Gu family for you.”

He Chong gave a small laugh, returning to his usual nonchalant demeanor. “Back then, my condition was sixty million in exchange for a burial plot. Now that the sixty million is gone, of course the joint burial is off the table as well.”

To a businessman like Zhou Sipei, who refused to suffer even the slightest loss, both proposals offered by He Chong, whether insisting on the joint burial or trading for Zhou Mo’s freedom, were losing deals for He Chong. But the money was real, and Zhou Sipei genuinely needed those two houses to apply for a bank loan. Thus, without much difficulty, the two reached a verbal agreement.

After leaving the café, He Chong bought a bouquet of roses at a flower shop and visited the funeral parlor, retrieving the urn from the small compartment that cost eight thousand Yuan a year in rent.

Coincidentally, it was raining today as well, a fine drizzle just like the day of his mother’s memorial service.

He suddenly remembered a year ago, when he had seen Zhou Mo standing in the crowd of mourners through the rainy mist. They hadn’t spoken that day, exchanging only a brief glance.

Holding the urn, He Chong walked to the nearby river and sat down on a wet wooden bench. The roses were placed next to the urn, their red color striking against the muted surroundings.

He Chong lit a cigarette and stared ahead. “I need to talk to you about something. I gave away those villas worth sixty million, so I can’t push to have you buried with that Gu fellow anymore. They say when a person dies, it’s like a lamp going out^[1]. In your world, everything resets to zero. You spent your whole life scheming and striving. Now that you’re dead, do you really want to go back to living like that?”

He took a drag from his cigarette and exhaled heavily, his handsome features wet with the fine rain, looking all the sharper and more defined.

“I picked out a good spot for you at Lushan. You can see the mountain you came from. Even though you never liked me much, I still have good news to share with you. I found you a daughter-in-law. You’ve met her, that girl from the Zhou family. She’s really pretty. Don’t go thinking I messed up the family hierarchy. Being rebellious is something I learned from you anyway.”

He paused, resting his hand on the urn. “I’ll come visit you often from now on.”

Summer was coming to an end, and the day of Zhou Mo’s departure was drawing near.

Throughout the entire summer, she spent almost every day attached to He Chong’s side. Sometimes they stayed in Yannan Town, where she watched him fix cars; sometimes he went to Luocheng to inspect the garment factory, and she tagged along to eat and drink; more often than not, He Chong would drive his battered Jeep, taking her on road trips all across the country. The desert trip they had agreed on before finally happened, and later they traveled to the plateau and the borderlands.

Zhou Mo’s flight was scheduled for midnight. On the afternoon of her final day before leaving, He Chong drove over to her rented apartment to help her pack.

Her belongings were strewn everywhere. The bedroom looked like a typhoon had swept through it, leaving hardly anywhere to step.

He Chong cautiously sat down on the bed and asked, “Do you need a hand?”

“No need, I can do it myself.”

He Chong crossed his legs and watched her for a moment, feeling a bit helpless. “Why are you packing tea canisters?”

Zhou Mo held up the celadon tea canister for him to see. “Because it looks nice.”

He Chong snatched it away from her. “Don’t bring it. Checked luggage will definitely break it.”

Zhou Mo pouted. “Oh.”

After a moment, He Chong spoke up again. “Why are you packing all these stuffed animals? They take up so much space.”

“Because you gave them to me.”

“I’ve given you so many things, and you insist on bringing cheap novelty items like these?” He Chong couldn’t stand watching any longer and rolled up his sleeves to help. “Just pack some clothes and medicine that you can’t get over there. Society is so advanced now; what can’t you buy abroad? Who used to pack your bags for you when you traveled before?”

Zhou Mo answered honestly, “Usually our housekeeper.”

He Chong glanced at her. “I’ll be your housekeeper today, then. Put it on my tab, and you can pay me back all at once later.”

Zhou Mo burst out laughing.

He Chong’s packing method was delightfully blunt: he would pick up an item and ask Zhou Mo if she wanted it. If she gave a firm, decisive “yes,” and he agreed it was necessary, in it went. If she hesitated and said, “Maybe I should take it,” it stayed behind.

This proved extraordinarily efficient, and he soon had one suitcase nearly packed.

Out of habit, He Chong picked up the next item and held it out to Zhou Mo. “Do you want this?”

A second later, he realized the texture of what he was holding felt a bit off. He turned to look, only to find he was clutching a pair of black lace underwear.

Zhou Mo’s face turned crimson instantly. She snatched the underwear back with lightning speed and shoved it under her pillow.

He Chong looked at her with a half-smile. “When did you buy this? How come I’ve never seen you wear it?”

“It wasn’t me! Yinyin insisted on buying it for me!”

“Since it was a thoughtful gift from her, why don’t you put it on and let me see?”

Zhou Mo was too embarrassed to look at him. “If you keep talking like that, I’m going to get mad!”

He Chong chuckled softly. “What did I say?”

Zhou Mo turned her head away.

He Chong stood up, leaned down, and braced his hands on the edge of the bed, trapping Zhou Mo between his arms. He smiled and asked softly, “How are you still so easily embarrassed?” He reached out, stroking upward along her smooth calf. When she tried to dodge, he caught her arm and pressed her down onto the bed.

Zhou Mo placed her hands against his chest, pushing him back slightly, and whispered, “I haven’t finished packing yet.”

He Chong smiled, rubbing his nose against hers. “Don’t worry, it won’t take long.”

By the time the two of them were done fooling around, evening had arrived.

He Chong lay there for a short while before putting on his clothes and pulling open the curtains, letting the evening glow pour inside like liquid light. He turned his head to see Zhou Mo sitting up as well, her body wrapped in a thin quilt, exposing her fair shoulders and arms. Bathed in the setting sun, she looked like a movie still.

He Chong lit a cigarette and leaned back against the window frame, looking at her with a smile. “I really don’t want to let you go.”

After dinner, He Chong resumed helping her pack. Under his strict vetting, they still ended up filling two large suitcases.

Zhou Mo sat atop one of the upright suitcases, looking around the apartment that suddenly felt so empty, as a wave of parting sorrow began to settle over her.

He Chong smiled. “Reluctant to leave?”

Zhou Mo rolled the suitcase over until she was right in front of him, then looked up into his eyes. “Are you really ready to let me go?”

“I’m warning you, locking you in this room and refusing to let you leave is something I’m actually capable of doing.”

Zhou Mo didn’t answer. She reached out, wrapped her arms tightly around He Chong’s waist, and rested her head against his chest. He Chong stroked her hair. “You’re pretty clingy, you know.”

“I’m only clingy with you. So what?”

He Chong teased her deliberately. “Looks like we still have enough time. How about we…”

Zhou Mo immediately covered her ears. “I can’t hear a word you’re saying!”

He Chong burst out laughing.

Zhou Mo’s flight was scheduled to depart around midnight. When they arrived at the airport, there were still two hours left before takeoff.

After checking in and dropping off her luggage, they found a place to sit down. He Chong asked, “Do your parents know you’re leaving today?”

“I think so.”

Though she didn’t show it on her face, He Chong knew she must feel a little lonely inside. He pulled her hand over and wrapped it in his own. “Take it from someone who’s been there. I’ve never seen parents stay in a cold war with their kid forever. Once you grow up and mature, and they grow older and weaker, they’ll naturally be the ones to reach out and bow their heads.”

“Bowing their heads to me is useless unless my dad apologizes to you and accepts you.”

He Chong gave a light chuckle. “Now you’re asking for the impossible. In all my life, I’ve never cared whether others accept me or not.”

“Well, I care.”

“It’s enough that you accept me.” He Chong pulled her closer by the shoulder and leaned his face toward her. “Come on, stamp your seal of approval right here.”

Zhou Mo was amused by his antics. “I’m being serious.”

“I’m being serious too.”

Zhou Mo paused for a second, then gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. “Is that enough?”

He Chong smiled.

Their banter these days was like a comic duo performing crosstalk^[2], trading quips back and forth with endless enjoyment.

Soon it was time to go through security and board. He Chong held Zhou Mo’s hand and walked her to the checkpoint, handing over the backpack she was carrying.

Zhou Mo slipped the backpack onto her shoulders and looked at him with a smile. “Are you going to cry?”

“Have you ever seen me cry?”

“Never, which is why I want to see it.” “Then you’ll probably be disappointed. As for you, going somewhere where you don’t know a single soul, don’t cry when you get homesick.”

“I’m not that fragile!”

“I wouldn’t be so sure.”

“Definitely not. Want to bet?”

He Chong smiled. “If you’re that eager to lose, I’d be more than happy to take that bet.”

Zhou Mo looked up at the time displayed on the big screen. It really was time to go. She stepped forward and gave He Chong a tight hug. “I’m leaving.”

“Mm.”

“Come visit me when you’re free.”

“And you’re not allowed to ignore my video calls.”

“Mm.”

He Chong felt a surge of warm moisture around his neck. His heart tightened, and he couldn’t help wrapping his arms tighter around her, saying with a smile, “You just made a bet with me, remember?”

Zhou Mo didn’t answer.

He Chong didn’t say anything more either, only holding her even tighter.

After a long while, Zhou Mo gently pushed him away. “I really have to go now.”

He Chong nodded.

She raised her hand to wipe her eyes, pulled her boarding pass and passport out of her bag to hold in her hand, stepped back, and waved to He Chong. “I’m going to get in line. Head back early.”

He Chong nodded, but he didn’t say goodbye.

Zhou Mo turned around. She had taken only a few steps when He Chong suddenly strode forward, caught her arm, pulled her straight into his chest, and held her tightly once more. His movement was swift as the wind, forceful and unyielding.

The composure Zhou Mo had just managed to gather threatened to break down all over again.

This time, He Chong didn’t hold her long before releasing her, giving her a gentle push toward the line. “Go on.”

Zhou Mo stood still for a moment, then truly turned and walked into the queue. She moved forward slowly with the crowd, knowing He Chong had to still be watching her from where he stood. She forced herself not to look back.

She remembered a line she had read in a book by Huang Yongyu: If, upon meeting an environment or a person for the first time, you feel the subtle ache of eventual parting, you have undoubtedly fallen in love.

That night, as the storm raged, he had arrived through the darkness. The moment she saw him, an indescribable emotion had stirred in her heart; perhaps that was the sound of love sprouting, breaking through the frozen ground.

He Chong watched Zhou Mo walk into the security line, remaining there until she was completely out of sight before turning to leave.

It was late at night in early autumn, and the wind carried a gentle chill. He Chong looked up at the sky, where a blinking light swept across as a plane flew by.

On this day, the princess whom the knight had crossed rivers to protect and fought dragons for set out alone on a new journey. She no longer feared the wind and frost, nor did she fear the thorns ahead.

When she awoke, what awaited her would be a new life, turbulent with crashing waves, yet filled with wondrous surprises.

And before then…

He Chong pulled out his phone and sent Zhou Mo one last message before her flight:

Good night, my little Jasmine^[3].

(The End)