Chapter 90

As the years roll on, the body weakens, that undeniable truth we all must face. What used to be an easy breath now feels like a battle, and even the smallest cold has the power to knock you flat, slowly draining you until you’re nothing more than a fragile shell of who you once were.

Song Dingxiang lay in bed, utterly exhausted, each breath a struggle. Her eyelids fluttered open, but her vision was blurred, the world around her spinning. There, standing before her, was another figure, one whose hair had turned as white as snow, and whose back had bent with the weight of time.

"Zhou...Ge," she tried to speak, but the words barely escaped her lips, her voice more of a labored gasp than anything recognizable.

The figure stepped closer, his frail hands reaching for her forehead, the touch soft but filled with decades of care. With a gentle motion, he smoothed back the mess of her white hair, his voice, though weak with age, filled with tenderness. "My dear, are you awake?"

"Zhou Ge..." she murmured, the effort to sit up almost too much to bear.

Zhou Yinuo moved quickly to her side, bringing a cushion to support her back, easing her into a more comfortable position. His hands were shaky, a tremble that only years could bring, but he was careful, determined. He brought a teacup to her lips. "Drink some water," he urged, his voice a soft whisper of reassurance.

She took a few sips, the cool liquid easing the dryness in her throat. Her gaze drifted to the window, where spring had fully arrived. The world outside was alive with color, birds chirping in the trees, flowers in full bloom, and the sun shining brightly, its warmth pouring through the glass. The sound of children playing in the distance reached her ears, a bittersweet melody that tugged at her heart.

"Zhou Ge, I... I think I might be... leaving soon," she whispered, her grip tightening around his hand, her voice filled with a mix of peace and sadness.

Over fifty years they had spent together, now both in their sixties, inching toward their seventies. It was a long life by the standards of their time, enviable even. She thought of her grandmother, Li shi, who had lived to eighty, a life so full it had even earned the emperor’s eulogy.

Zhou Yinuo's touch was soft, his hand patting hers with a gentle understanding. "Yes, you go ahead first, but wait for me by the Naihe Bridge. I'll take care of things here, and then I’ll come find you. Don’t go without me... I’m afraid I won’t be able to find you in that dark place. What if you get scared? What if you wander lost without me?"

Song Dingxiang smiled, a faint but knowing expression. She wanted to remember him, every detail of him, as if somehow, it wasn’t enough to just see him with her eyes. She wanted him etched deep in her soul.

"Then... you must hurry," she whispered, her voice still strong but tinged with a playful edge. "After all, I am so precious. If someone else comes for me... you won’t even have time to cry."

Zhou Yinuo smiled through his own tears, a promise in his eyes. "Don’t worry, I’ll come for you, as soon as I’m able. Trust me."

As she lay there, her hand growing colder, the warmth slowly fading, she knew the moment was near.

Zhou Yinuo rose from her side, his heart heavy, his body trembling with age. He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, the kiss of a man who had loved her for a lifetime. "Dingxiang," he whispered, "take your time... but don’t forget to wait for me."

Song Dingxiang felt as if her body was weightless, floating aimlessly, with no control over her movements. When she forced her eyes open, she was surrounded by dazzling crystal spheres, each one shimmering with a glow that captured her entire existence, reflecting every moment of her life, every experience from both her past lifetimes. But then, just as quickly, they shattered, breaking into countless fragments of starlight that scattered across the vast space.

She tried to make sense of her situation, but the sensation of floating aimlessly overwhelmed her. "What... what is this place?" she wondered aloud. She tried to move, but there was no solid form to her body, no sense of grounded reality—just a formless essence, drifting through a surreal, unfamiliar space. Suddenly, a powerful force yanked her forward, pulling her in a direction she couldn’t resist, and she was swallowed whole by a golden light.

Then, as if on cue, a voice echoed, carrying an odd mix of warmth and affection. "Outside, the lilacs are blooming perfectly. What do you think about naming her Dingxiang after them?"

Another voice, playful and teasing, responded. "Lilacs? Isn't that a bit too old-fashioned?"

"Old-fashioned? Are you serious? Have you lost your taste? Lilacs stand for innocence, youth, and pure joy. Don't you want your daughter to be a radiant, joyful princess, untouched by the world’s cruelty?"

"Of course I do. Fine, let's name her Dingxiang. Oh look, she's opening her eyes. She must like it, don’t you think?"

"I picked the name, so naturally, she’ll love it."

"Of course, darling. You always know best. My little princess—she's absolutely perfect."

*

"Song Dingxiang, you're daydreaming again!" A tall, strikingly beautiful girl knocked sharply on the window, her eyes peeking in from the outside. "Come on, hurry up and get your act together. Today’s the new student orientation, and as the head of the Student Union's publicity department, how can you be sitting here slacking off like this?"

Song Dingxiang snapped out of her trance, a laugh slipping from her lips. "Oops, my bad, Jingning! Give me a second, I’ll be right there." She quickly tossed her things together and rushed out the door.

Ever since she was a child, Song Dingxiang had been plagued by the same recurring dream. Sometimes it was set in the modern world, other times it was in an ancient past. But every time she woke up, the dream would fade, the details slipping through her fingers, leaving behind only the faint memory of a gentle man’s voice, constantly repeating the same words.

"I told you to wait for me. Why did you go off on your own? Now, where the hell do I find you?"

Just moments ago, she'd drifted off into another nap under the warm sun, and with it, came that same voice calling her name again in a dream.

"Song Dingxiang, where are you?"

"I... I am..."

"Dingxiang, why are you zoning out so much lately? Is work really draining you that much?" Su Jingning tilted her head, studying her friend with a concerned look. "If you’re tired, just go back to your dorm and get some rest. I can handle everything here."

Song Dingxiang chuckled. "No way, don’t let me get in the way of your busy schedule. If your boyfriend pampers you too much, I’ll probably be the one getting the blame. Nah, I can’t afford to mess with the Student Union president, especially when I still need to be part of it."

Su Jingning laughed and waved her off. "Oh, please. Yulin’s not like that. Plus, your brother’s already warned him not to overwork the ‘Song family princess.’" Her voice softened, teasing. "I’ve already set up all the promo materials for you, just stand there and hand out brochures as people sign up. Oh, by the way, I heard that Yulin’s cousin enrolled here too. I saw some pictures of him—wow, he's ridiculously handsome."

Song Dingxiang couldn’t help but burst out laughing. "Oh my God, Yulin’s gonna flip if he hears that! You’re out here complimenting another man’s looks? Be careful, you might just ruin his appetite."

Su Jingning shrugged it off. "It's just his cousin. Plus, they look pretty similar. If I’m calling his cousin hot, it’s basically giving him a compliment too, right?" She grinned and nudged her friend. "Come on, stop stalling, let’s get going!"

During the grand new student orientation, Song Dingxiang, the head of the publicity department, was required to be there.

She stood in the cool shade, observing the sea of fresh, wide-eyed faces pouring into the campus. She couldn’t help but think, "Enjoy these carefree college days while they last. In a few short years, you'll all become corporate drones, grinding away at the harsh realities of the working world. These might just be the best years of your life."

She smirked at the thought. After all, she was only a sophomore, just a year or two older than these newcomers.

Suddenly, Su Jingning yanked her arm, forcing her to look up. "Hey, check it out, a seriously hot guy is coming."

Song Dingxiang followed her gaze and saw two tall guys approaching. The slightly shorter one was Zhou Yulin, the president of the Student Union at A University. The taller one was an unfamiliar face, but it was impossible to deny, the guy was absolutely gorgeous.

Zhou Yulin stood at a solid 1.83 meters, and his cousin, Zhou Yinuo, seemed to tower even more at around 1.88 meters. Together, they stood out in the crowd like they were cut from a different mold.

"Let me tell you, that’s Zhou Yulin’s cousin, Zhou Yinuo. How about it? Handsome enough for you? Should I introduce you? If things go well, maybe we’ll be sisters-in-law someday, hehe."

"Stop it," Song Dingxiang shot her a playful glare before turning her attention to handing out brochures to the incoming freshmen and sophomores.

Zhou Yulin made his way over to them. "Hey, Jingning, Dingxiang," he greeted. "Let me introduce you to my cousin, Zhou Yinuo. Yinuo, this is Su Jingning, your future sister-in-law, and this is Song Dingxiang, my good friend, and the head of the publicity department for the Student Union."

Zhou Yinuo’s gaze landed on Song Dingxiang, a hint of confusion in his eyes before he smiled, extending his hand. "Song Dingxiang, right? I’ve heard that lilacs symbolize innocence and waiting for love. It’s a beautiful name."

Song Dingxiang rose, flashing a knowing smile. "Not bad for a young guy. You’ve got charm," she said, reaching for his hand. They exchanged a firm shake.

"I've found you," a voice in the back of her mind whispered, and for a second, Song Dingxiang was frozen in place, unsure of what had just stirred inside her.

"Hey, don’t get any ideas about my friend!" Su Jingning laughed, winking playfully at Zhou Yinuo. "What’s with holding hands and not letting go? Trying to flirt with senior sister?"

Zhou Yinuo quickly released her hand, a faint flush creeping up his neck. "No, no, I just feel like I’ve met you somewhere before."

Su Jingning burst into laughter. "Oh, please, that line is so ancient. Even Jia Baoyu used it on Lin Daiyu back in the day. But sorry, Dingxiang isn’t Lin Daiyu. Now, go on, stop distracting us while we’re working."

Zhou Yulin grinned mischievously and said, "Alright, once we’re done here, let’s all grab dinner tonight. Dingxiang, you’ve got no excuse this time, you’re coming, got it? Every time we try to get you to join, you find some excuse to bail. Not tonight. You're stuck with us."

Song Dingxiang let out a sigh and gave him a wry smile, her voice carrying a bit of playful annoyance. "If you didn’t keep playing matchmaker every time we talk, I wouldn’t need to come up with excuses. But fine, for you, I’ll make an exception tonight. I’ll show up."

Zhou Yulin chuckled, glancing over at Zhou Yinuo, who stood silently watching the interaction. "See this? Look at me, I’m the president, but I’m powerless against her!" he joked, shaking his head in mock despair.

Zhou Yinuo let out a quiet laugh but his eyes never left Song Dingxiang. They lingered on her, intense and focused, until he was reluctantly pulled away by Zhou Yulin, his gaze dropping slowly as he walked away.

Su Jingning, always the one to stir the pot, leaned in and whispered to her friend, voice dripping with mischief. "You know, there’s definitely some chemistry there. That guy was practically glued to your face with those eyes. He's got good taste, you know. Maybe one day, I’ll be calling you my sister-in-law."

"Su Jingning!" Song Dingxiang huffed, her face flushing in disbelief. "Stop making things up. He’s just a nice guy, nothing more. There are way too many beautiful women around for him to pick me. Anyway, enough about that. Let’s focus, we have work to do."

After dinner, as everyone began to scatter, Su Jingning wasted no time in dragging her boyfriend off for a romantic evening. Before leaving, she tossed over her shoulder, "Hey, make sure you show my cousin around, and escort the senior back to her dorm safely, alright?"

Song Dingxiang, feeling a bit awkward as the evening stretched on, turned to Zhou Yinuo with a strained smile. "Jingning’s like that, don’t mind her. It’s getting late, and you’ve traveled a long way. You should head back, get some rest, and meet your dorm mates. I’ll be fine on my own."

Just as she was about to walk off, Zhou Yinuo’s voice stopped her. "Song Dingxiang," he said, his tone suddenly serious. "When I told you that you looked familiar earlier, I wasn’t just saying that to be polite. I know it might sound cheesy, but when I first saw you... I just knew. It’s like... you're the one I’ve been looking for."

She turned back, caught off guard by his words. His gaze seemed to pull her in, the way his face mirrored something from her own dreams, a realization striking her.

"Zhou... Yinuo," she whispered.

["I'll give you a name, how about Yinuo? A man's word is his bond..."]

["You promised to wait for me, how could you leave before me? I was so worried when I couldn't find you."]

"Finally, I've found you..."

"Song Dingxiang."

(The End)