TIMO - Chapter 86

Chapter 86

Three years later.

Winter came to Nanke Island once again.

Like the many winters Nanke Island had experienced in memory, this one also brought no snow.

It hardly even felt like winter.

The breeze was gentle as always, the air as warm as spring, and the flowers bloomed in clusters. It was the Nanke Island of her memories.

It seemed the snow Fu Zhao had experienced last time was just a dream that could never be reached.

She missed it a little; after all, a snowy Nanke Island was a rare sight.

But she also felt fortunate, because during that snowy scene on Nanke Island, she had been together with the few people who were incredibly important to her.

She even remembered the sunrise that Jiang Wenqing had failed to record.

Because it was a sunrise viewed from a mountain on a snowy day, because she and Shi Nan had already confirmed their relationship, because all regrets had been filled.

That sunrise was the most beautiful one she had ever seen.

In the three years since returning to Nanke Island, she hadn't seen a sunrise like that for a long time.

It was difficult for the few of them to gather together anymore.

After graduating from university, Ye Er continued his advanced studies at RT University. His project team became increasingly busy, and he returned to Nanke Island less and less.

Jiang Wenqing officially became a specially appointed reporter for the Omega Rescue Center, traveling all over the galaxy. She had only returned to Nanke Island for a rest a few days ago.

Fu Wanqing had already left Nanke Island. Just like last time, she went to a distant planet, bought a piece of land, and planted it full of roses. Fu Zhao had visited a few times; that place seemed more suitable for roses to grow, and they were far more beautiful than the ones on Nanke Island.

On the other hand, she saw Shi Nan much more frequently than the others.

Shi Nan traveled between various planets, busy with the Qixing Project and collecting evidence. When things on Nanke Island weren't too busy, Fu Zhao would occasionally visit the planet Shi Nan was on.

A year ago, Lu Jingmo was sent to the Interstellar Prison for illegal human research. Shen Caiwei's crimes of harming Alphas and Omegas were also exposed, leading to a boycott by all netizens on the StarNet. After the evidence was confirmed, she was sentenced to life imprisonment. Sheng Yun remained quiet; it was said that his family discovered he was an Omega pretending to be an Alpha and arranged for him to go farm on a remote planet.

The fugitive who attempted a forced marking and the assailant who stabbed her were all captured and imprisoned.

All dangerous elements had been eliminated.

Fu Zhao's differentiation period had also quietly arrived a few months ago. She differentiated from a Beta into an Alpha again, but this time she had more experience, so she wasn't flustered and didn't suffer much.

Just like that, Fu Zhao's 28th birthday arrived, along with the transition from the 51st to the 52nd century of the interstellar era.

The turn of the century seemed to be a major event.

Everyone on the StarNet was speculating whether the new century would bring unexpected events, or if, as depicted in movies and novels, an insectoid invasion would occur.

This was Fu Zhao's first time experiencing a century transition. She found it a bit novel but also knew that such talk became popular on the StarNet every time a century turned.

Century Transition Day was an exciting day for everyone, especially for Nanke Island, which had a particular fondness for ceremony.

So on this day, Nanke Island held a grand ceremony-a cross-century fireworks festival, the ringing of the bell in the square, a parade around the island... not a single event was missed.

Of course, there was one person who was especially excited about it-Jiang Wenqing.

"Did Sister Shi Nan say she's not coming back?" The 23-year-old Jiang Wenqing still had a chirpy and boisterous personality. She held a miniature recording device in front of her, aimed at an indifferent Fu Zhao.

Fu Zhao was still a little unaccustomed to being in front of a camera. She pursed her lips imperceptibly. "Yeah, she's in the H Star System. She won't be able to get to Nanke Island until tomorrow."

In recent years, Jiang Wenqing had continued to run her StarNet account, insisting on recording the interesting moments of her life.

Fu Zhao and Shi Nan had also appeared a few times-as Jiang Wenqing's friends, not as the Island Master of Nanke Island and the heir to the Shi Corporation.

"That's such a shame..." Jiang Wenqing puffed out her cheeks and said dejectedly, "But this is Century Transition Day! Aren't you two spending it together?"

"It's a once-in-a-millennium Century Transition Day!!"

"Why didn't you go find her??"

Fu Zhao stared at the indignant Jiang Wenqing, stuck her hands in her pockets, and said nonchalantly, "Too much work. Even if I went over after I'm done today, I wouldn't make it in time."

"So I decided not to go."

"Besides, there will be plenty of time to see each other in the future."

Fu Zhao's expression was calm and her tone was relaxed. In contrast, it was Jiang Wenqing, who was anxiously fussing over them not being able to meet, who seemed to be worrying too much.

Jiang Wenqing eyed Fu Zhao suspiciously, her eyes narrowing. In the end, she didn't say anything more, just replied calmly, "You're right. You two are like an old married couple. You don't need us youngsters to worry about these things."

"When you're a little older, you'll understand..." Fu Zhao's voice softened unconsciously, and her eyes curved into a smile. "Two people in love don't need to be stuck together every day."

"Sometimes, even if you're far apart, just knowing the other person is safe and well is enough."

"Really?" Jiang Wenqing asked, then pouted with great regret. "Sometimes I really miss how things were two years ago..."

"I remember that year during the Mid-year Celebration, Sister Shi Nan didn't come back to Nanke Island. Weren't you crying after the dinner party, hugging a wine bottle? You refused to let go and even said that if Sister Shi Nan didn't come back, you'd go jump into the sea. In the end, you insisted on a projection call with Sister Shi Nan, and she had to coax you for three hours, right? She said all sorts of things before you finally let go of the bottle."

"Oh, and in front of everyone, you said you had no strength to stand up and needed a kiss from Sister Shi Nan before you could..."

Like an open floodgate, Jiang Wenqing poured out everything from her memory, adding many details she had witnessed herself. She glanced over and noticed Fu Zhao's calm expression growing increasingly stiff, so she cleared her throat and asked kindly,

"By the way, I actually filmed it back then. I even edited a small part and put it on my StarNet channel. Do you want to see it?"

Fu Zhao's expression finally cracked. She closed her eyes and took a light breath to calm herself, trying her best to remain composed. "I was young and foolish back then..."

"So that's how it is." Jiang Wenqing stroked her chin as if deep in thought. "So you've changed after two years?"

"You're not as inseparable from Sister Shi Nan as you were before?"

Jiang Wenqing asked it casually. Fu Zhao didn't answer her question, but her lowered eyelashes trembled. After a moment, she looked absently at the fireworks in the distance, which were blooming in dazzling splendor, illuminating the entire sea.

She watched for a little longer before speaking softly, "Aren't you going to film the fireworks? Why do you keep the camera pointed at me?"

Reminded by Fu Zhao, Jiang Wenqing finally remembered that she was supposed to be recording Nanke Island's magnificent fireworks display. She moved the camera towards the sky, aiming at the exploding fireworks. "Right, I almost forgot."

"There's also the bell-ringing ceremony and the parade. I can't miss any of them. I promised the netizens who subscribe to my channel that I'd show them the ceremonial feel of Nanke Island's Century Transition Day."

"You actually remembered to promote Nanke Island," Fu Zhao said, her gaze flickering as she watched the brilliant fireworks in the sky.

The most dazzling fireworks display in her memory, it seemed, was the one she watched with Shi Nan.

Later, she and Shi Nan watched fireworks many times, all on Nanke Island, but none of them seemed as beautiful as that first time.

She had been like a clueless fool, not knowing Shi Nan, and had stupidly mistaken her for a suicidal patient, spouting some enthusiastic and generous chicken soup for the soul. Afterward, she was afraid Shi Nan would secretly run off to commit suicide again, so she kept a close eye on her.

But she only found out later that Shi Nan had just found it incredible to be back in that moment and wanted to test if she was dreaming.

That was all.

Thinking back on it now, she felt that her young and naive self was a bit silly, but she also felt it was a golden part of her life.

Fortunately, Shi Nan still remembered.

Fortunately, this wasn't a memory she held alone.

They were like each other's collection folders, recording details unknown to others, recording each other's shining moments.

In this world, there were many things that only she and Shi Nan remembered.

That, too, was a romantic thing.

"What's wrong with you?"

A clear, bright voice interrupted Fu Zhao's thoughts. She snapped out of her daze and looked at Jiang Wenqing beside her, taking a moment to realize:

Her thoughts had drifted from the fireworks to Shi Nan.

"Look at you, you're grinning from ear to ear. You must be thinking about Sister Shi Nan," Jiang Wenqing said with disdain, then brandished the recording device in her hand. "I'm going to film the bell-ringing ceremony. You can stay here and watch the fireworks, or whatever you want."

"Okay."

Fu Zhao replied softly, not denying Jiang Wenqing's claim. Jiang Wenqing just pouted again and was pushed by the surging crowd toward the bell-ringing ceremony.

On Century Transition Day, the square and streets were thronged with people, like mountains and seas.

It seemed that on this once-in-a-millennium day, spending it with the people you valued and loved was the only way to truly have no regrets.

With people coming and going, the temperature had risen considerably, completely losing the atmosphere of winter.

Fu Zhao watched for a while, her gaze falling upon the surrounding crowd: young couples in love, busy taking selfies; families in groups of three or five; children jumping around, with their parents chasing after them.

It was lively and bustling, an unprecedented spectacle.

Infected by the crowd's enthusiastic excitement, Fu Zhao took out her phone. In her call log, she had called both Fu Wanqing and Shi Nan half an hour ago.

Fu Wanqing seemed to have been drinking again just now; who knew if she was still drunk.

Shi Nan had answered, saying she was rushing to the starship port and would arrive on Nanke Island tomorrow morning.

Perhaps Shi Nan was on the starship right now.

Thinking this, Fu Zhao's fingertips twitched slightly, but she still "accidentally" pressed the call button.

If she didn't answer, she was on the starship.

If she did... then she would say that she missed her very much.

The ringing tone sounded a few times, long and distant.

She sighed softly and, after the mechanical voice prompt, hung up the phone.

Shi Nan didn't answer.

She felt a little uncomfortable, but she attributed this discomfort to the reasonable loneliness of standing alone in a crowd.

It wasn't Shi Nan's fault.

She was already 28 years old; she couldn't be as unreasonable as before.

What she should give Shi Nan was a mature love, a calm companionship, not something that needed to be earth-shatteringly dramatic.

Thinking this, Fu Zhao let out a long breath.

I'll watch for a little longer, then go back.

She made this decision, but as she turned around, her body swayed involuntarily.

An unexpected person was standing quietly in the crowd behind her, walking towards her step by step, a smile in her eyes, just like every surprise she had ever imagined.

She still gave her a surprise.

A tall, slender figure, a fair face glowing under the brilliant fireworks, a gentle yet firm gaze.

It was her Shi Nan.

"I was in a bit of a hurry just now, so I didn't answer the phone."

In the noisy crowd, Fu Zhao couldn't hear Shi Nan's voice clearly, but she could still make out the words from the shape of her lips.

Just as she had felt before, meeting Shi Nan's eyes in a crowd was the most tender and romantic thing she could imagine.

As soon as Shi Nan spoke, the sounds around them seemed to disappear, leaving only the slow, steady beat of their hearts.

The crowd was a bit dense, slowing Shi Nan's pace as she walked toward her. Despite this, their gazes remained locked.

Fu Zhao snapped out of her daze, put her hands in her pockets, and started walking towards Shi Nan as well.

Until there was only a single step between them, she could clearly see the brilliant fireworks reflected in Shi Nan's tea-brown eyes, and she could also see the complete image of herself held within them.

It was as if she had been struck by something soft. No matter how much time had passed, no matter how many times she had mentally prepared herself, her heart, which she thought was calm, would always stir the moment she saw Shi Nan.

At this moment, Fu Zhao decided to cast aside all her maturity and let impulse guide her reason.

She took out the small cloth pouch she always carried with her. After returning this time, she had a new pair custom-made-in the name of wedding rings.

"Let's get married, Shi Nan." Following the tidal wave of emotions surging within her, she said these words, her hand holding the ring still trembling uncontrollably.

She was afraid that if she said a few more words, she would start to stutter, just like the clueless fool she used to be.

The countdown bells had already begun to ring. The crowd grew noisier and more excited.

"Three..."

The crowd shouted in unison.

Shi Nan drew closer, closing the one-step distance between them. Her gaze was gentle and tender as she looked at her, and she spoke in a soft breath.

"Okay."

Fu Zhao felt like she hadn't processed it; her entire arm was still numb. But when she met Shi Nan's gentle gaze, she instinctively stiffened her fingers and tremblingly placed the ring from her hand onto Shi Nan's ring finger.

Then it was Shi Nan's turn. She took the other ring from her hand and slipped it onto hers.

Their cool fingertips touched, and their fingers naturally intertwined.

Careful and devout.

Passionate and firm.

Shi Nan smiled at her, the corners of her eyes seeming to glisten with tears. Then she leaned in and hugged her, her arms wrapping around her waist, her chin resting on the side of her neck, her breath soft and tender.

"I don't know if I should say Happy New Year or congratulations on your wedding right now."

Fu Zhao froze for a moment as the clamor in her ears grew louder.

"Two... one..."

The unified countdown ended, followed by a deafening "Happy New Year" that rang in her ears.

"Happy New Year," Fu Zhao said softly, holding Shi Nan. "And happy wedding to you in advance."

Shi Nan hugged her, her warm breath almost brushing against her ear, her voice light and lazy.

"A new century, a new year, a new identity."

"I love you, Fu Zhao."

"I love you too, more than you love me."

Fu Zhao held Shi Nan tightly, the words tumbling out subconsciously. It seemed she had to follow every "I love you" with that sentence. But the next second, she still felt a bit dazed, finding it incredible that Shi Nan had returned to her side so suddenly.

Or perhaps, it was that a long time had already passed.

She and Shi Nan had a happy ending, yet it still felt like a lifetime ago.

The memories of starting over and over had, without her realizing, become something they would occasionally recall now that everything had settled.

She still couldn't quite believe she was so lucky. It seemed she hadn't paid any irreversible price, yet after dying so many times, she still obtained the most perfect ending.

The most fortunate thing was that before the 52nd century arrived,

this immature first love of hers, which had lasted for more than a decade in the 51st century, had spanned two centuries.

An immature love, at this very moment, was about to become an immature marriage.

Grand in scale, green yet passionate.

Previous Table of Contents Next