Chapter 64 – The Eternal Rose

The weather was kind, and the second day dawned bright and clear.

A seaside vacation was all about leisure and comfort, so there wasn’t a tight schedule this time; most of the day was left open for free activities.

Li Tang had gone to bed late the previous night, and when he woke up, it was already high noon. Checking his phone, he saw a message from Jiang Lou two hours ago asking if he was awake yet. Li Tang hesitated for a moment before replying, “Just woke up.”

Putting down his phone, he got out of bed to wash up and change clothes. As he did so, he noticed that Jiang Lou’s shirt was still on the bed, wrinkled from being crushed beneath him, an image that could easily spark lascivious thoughts.

The hotel offered laundry services, so Li Tang found a paper bag to put the shirt in and carried it out. Just as he closed the door, he turned around to see someone standing next to the elevator—Jiang Lou, who had only left his room that morning.

Inside the elevator, Li Tang asked, “Isn’t your room on the floor below?”

Moreover, the hotel keycards could only access the floor where the room was located.

Jiang Lou replied, “I took the stairs up.”

Li Tang thought to himself how fortunate it was that he had woken up late; otherwise, they might have run into each other, leading to another round of teasing.

Now that he no longer feared going public, he still felt a bit embarrassed, especially since Jiang Lou was a business partner. News of rekindling old flames could hardly help but affect their work.

Just as he was feeling relieved, the elevator reached the first floor, and the doors opened, revealing a familiar face right in front of them.

It was Li Zichu and Huo Xichen returning from the beach. Huo Xichen was carrying a yellow duck inflatable ring, the same model as the one Li Tang had seen in the bathroom the day before, worn by that man’s son.

Li Zichu pulled down his sunglasses from his nose and looked at them with a skeptical eye. “Did you two sleep together last night?”

Li Tang exploded, “…No.”

“But why are you coming downstairs together?”

“I went to his room to get some clothes,” Jiang Lou said calmly, taking the paper bag from Li Tang’s hand. “He just happened to wake up.”

Li Tang nodded. “Yeah, what a coincidence.”

Li Zichu’s face showed disbelief, ready to grill them further, but Jiang Lou subtly exchanged a look with Huo Xichen, who immediately latched onto Li Zichu’s arm. “Brother, I’m hungry.”

Li Tang felt a shiver run down his spine.

Fortunately, the plan worked. Li Zichu instantly led his beloved younger brother to the restaurant upstairs to find food.

Li Tang and Jiang Lou seized the opportunity to slip away, first taking a stroll on the nearby beach, then dining during the less crowded hours once the time was right.

While waiting for their meal, Li Tang checked the WeChat group chat he had recently created. Everyone reported on their activities: Sun Yuxiang and Li Yuanyuan had been playing water sports since early morning, Qi Sixian had gone snorkeling, Pei Hao had ventured out to film footage for Su Qinhan, while Li Zichu and Huo Xichen had been swimming in the shallow sea before returning.

“It seems like we’re the only ones doing nothing,” Li Tang laughed.

Jiang Lou poured fresh fruit juice for Li Tang. “Eating is the most important thing.”

Rarely did they have the chance to enjoy a leisurely meal in a quiet place. This meal was particularly satisfying and relaxing for Li Tang, who savored various seafood dishes and half a coconut chicken.

After the meal, they walked off their food along the boardwalk leading to the beach. Ahead, the sea breeze caressed their faces, blending the sky and the sea into a single hue. Seabirds occasionally cried as they flew past, everything so beautiful it seemed unreal.

Li Tang removed his shoes and stepped onto the soft sand. As he walked, feeling the heat, he took off his thin jacket used for sun protection. Beside him, Jiang Lou naturally took it and draped it over his arm.

They strolled along the beach, chatting about the weather, food, and recent events. They were like old friends who hadn’t seen each other in a long time but weren’t estranged, making it impossible for anyone to imagine the tumultuous stories that had unfolded between them.

Reaching a spot where a crowd had gathered, upon closer inspection, they found a beach boxing match was underway.

The fighters appeared to be invited by nearby hotels, each tall and muscular, capable of stirring enthusiastic cheers from the onlookers with every punch and kick.

Li Tang stood on the outskirts, watching with keen interest for a while. Suddenly remembering something, he shifted his gaze to Jiang Lou, giving him an appraising look.

As a round ended on the stage, the referee, tasked with hyping up the atmosphere, desperately called out, asking if anyone wanted to give it a try. The fighter would let one arm go, and whoever knocked him down would win. The prize was a free night’s stay in the hotel’s presidential suite.

The spectators glanced at each other, jokingly egging each other on, but few actually dared to step up.

Jiang Lou, however, after receiving Li Tang’s “signal,” headed straight for the stage.

The crowd started screaming and clapping again. Jiang Lou wore a different shirt today, looking tall and slender. Coupled with his fair skin and cold demeanor, he didn’t seem like someone capable of fighting.

Those professional boxers naturally didn’t take him seriously and sent someone to play with him casually.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Lou lost six rounds in a row, four of which ended in immediate knockouts. He deliberately held back, his punches not fierce but extremely swift. Often, before his opponent could react, he would catch them off guard, knocking them down with a single move.

In the last two rounds, the opposing fighters had to take him seriously. However, their panic led to disarray, allowing Jiang Lou to easily spot their weaknesses. By attacking their lower body and destabilizing their balance, he swiftly ended the battles.

The fighters spat out mouthfuls of sand, humiliated. The referee, perhaps not expecting anyone to defeat the professional fighters, was stunned for a moment before announcing the results. He called over the hotel manager to register the customer’s information.

They left amidst the cheering crowd, Li Tang enjoying the treatment of a champion, his mood even more uplifted.

Reaching an open area, Li Tang suddenly said, “Do you still stand by your word about letting me beat you up?”

Jiang Lou was taken aback. It was that day at ROJA when they watched the modified robot, and when asked if he still harbored any lingering trauma, Li Tang blamed himself for Jiang Lou’s father’s death. Jiang Lou told Li Tang that these were two separate matters—the cause of the first had nothing to do with Li Tang, while the effect of the second was entirely due to him.

He told Li Tang, “You should have beaten me up mercilessly, rather than blaming yourself.”

It seemed not that Li Tang didn’t want to beat him up, but that he hadn’t had the chance at the time.

Jiang Lou had no intention of escaping punishment, so he stood firm and said, “Of course.”

Li Tang recalled the moves Jiang Lou had taught him in the past. In a face-to-face situation, a straight punch should be used.

He intended to “find fault” and “rake up old wounds,” not for revenge, but to break down the invisible wall between them.

He knew that if he didn’t do something, Jiang Lou would continue to treat him with a sense of guilt, as if he were inferior. Although being chased felt good, if they were to develop a healthy and stable relationship, they couldn’t remain on unequal footing.

So he threw his punch with all his might. Jiang Lou, who trained in boxing regularly and had a wealth of combat skills, could easily handle grappling and dodging.

However, Jiang Lou stood there motionless, showing no sign of evading.

Li Tang’s fist landed solidly on Jiang Lou’s chest, even producing a heavy thud.

It frightened Li Tang. “…Why didn’t you dodge?”

Jiang Lou swayed slightly but quickly regained his balance. “Again.”

Li Tang stepped back repeatedly. “No, no more.”

Jiang Lou moved forward, offering himself for another hit.

Seeing that Jiang Lou was unharmed, Li Tang couldn’t help but question his own strength. “…Doesn’t it hurt?”

“Not at all,” Jiang Lou said. “Hit me a few more times.”

Li Tang remembered what Jiang Lou had taught him—that the most important thing in combat was to maintain a calm mind and adapt flexibly.

Therefore, despite his curiosity and itching hands, Li Tang firmly refused to strike again.

He placed his hands behind his back, interlocking his fingers tightly, lowered his head, and muttered softly, “If I hurt you…who would chase me?”

Li Tang spoke with conviction, so when he returned to the capital after the holiday and learned from Li Zichu that Yang Baichuan had feelings for him, he nearly jumped in surprise. “You can’t just say things like that.”

“If you don’t believe me, ask Qi Sixian,” Li Zichu shrugged. “She’s the sharpest in our company.”

Li Tang sought her out and asked via WeChat during the off-hours.

Qi Sixian sent a winking emoji. “Boss, you’re too slow. The boss lady has been jealous several times already.”

Li Tang was caught off guard and hurriedly asked Li Zichu what he should do.

Li Zichu said, “Simple. If you’re interested, you might as well give it a try…”

“Not interested,” Li Tang said decisively. “I see my employees as children; it’s incestuous.”

“First, I don’t want to be your child,” Li Zichu held up two fingers. “Second, saying ‘incestuous’ from someone who dated their biological brother doesn’t hold much weight.”

“But I didn’t know the truth back then, and once it was revealed…”

“The truth came out, yet you stubbornly refuse to change, insisting on hanging yourself on a crooked tree.”

“…”

Li Tang thought that Jiang Lou, with his upright character, intelligence, and composure, was far from being a crooked tree.

Li Zichu finally offered a solution, suggesting that if Yang Baichuan asked him out, Li Tang shouldn’t reject him outright but also not meet him alone. Instead, he should invite another friend along. This way, he could avoid hurting feelings directly while subtly conveying the message that “there’s no possibility between us.” It was a strategy that killed two birds with one stone.

Li Tang found this tactic brilliant and happily adopted it.

Sure enough, on the first weekend after returning to the capital, Yang Baichuan invited Li Tang to visit a bracelet shop together. Li Tang agreed and then called Su Qinhan, who was on a business trip in the capital, to join them.

Seeing the pair arrive, Yang Baichuan visibly wilted. His dispirited appearance even made Su Qinhan feel sorry for him, whispering to Li Tang, “Xiao Tang, you’re so heartless!”

Li Tang responded, “What else can I do? Have affairs with both of them?”

Su Qinhan actually began pondering the feasibility. “Jiang Lou is still in Xucheng. It’ll be at least two to three months before they relocate the company to the capital completely…”

Li Tang’s eyelids fluttered. “That won’t be necessary, dealing with one is exhausting enough.”

“Hmm?” Su Qinhan’s interest was piqued, inquiring, “Which type of dealing, how do you deal with him?”

Li Tang blushed, pulled out his phone to pretend to check files, and ignored her.

After bidding farewell to Yang Baichuan at the store entrance, it was still early. Su Qinhan dragged Li Tang to get their nails done.

More accurately, she dragged Li Tang along to accompany her while she got her nails done. Upon arrival, she started chatting with the nail technician, leaving Li Tang idle, boredly scrolling through his phone.

Li Tang rarely browsed short videos, fearing the invisible passage of time, but he had been watching them more frequently lately. Someone had posted a video of the beach boxing match online, and Jiang Lou’s victorious figure was captivating from any angle.

After watching five videos from different perspectives, his finger swiped up, revealing a short video uploaded by a user named Cynthia Qi, titled “My Boss Finally Takes Off His Glasses,” followed by numerous exclamation marks.

The video showed Li Tang sitting pensively under an umbrella by the beach, enhanced with a pinkish filter and accompanied by melancholic background music. It made Li Tang lock his phone quickly, close his eyes, and barely manage to alleviate the awkwardness that made his hair stand on end.

Recently, he had achieved initial success in weaning off sleeping pills. The beach volleyball game had reignited Li Tang’s passion for sports. During this period, he tried to squeeze in running after work whenever possible, significantly improving his sleep quality.

Thus, closing his eyes, he leaned against the sofa back and fell asleep.

The final chapter of the story began in this brief dream.

In a daze, his body felt light as if he had transformed into a transparent wisp of air, drifting to the window of a cottage at the foot of the mountain.

The boy’s tears fell drop by drop onto the butterfly’s wings, miraculously infusing life into it. The near-dead butterfly suddenly moved, starting with its antennae, then its body, and the edges of its wings began to tremble slightly.

Struggling to stand up, the butterfly flapped its wings but couldn’t fly. It needed one more push. So the boy extended his hand and gently scooped up the butterfly.

The butterfly lifted its head, gazing at the boy, its eyes pooling with moisture.

As if to say—don’t cry, don’t cry.

Seeing you cry makes me sad too.

So the boy wiped away his tears, cradling the butterfly to the window, letting it bask in the sun every day and providing it with the freshest dew and nectar.

At night, after the butterfly fell asleep, the boy would lean over the windowsill, stroking its wings and repeating, “I’m sorry.”

Finally, as winter passed and spring arrived, the butterfly spread its wings on a sunny morning, discovering its ability to fly again.

It flew joyfully back and forth, circling the cottage, breathing fresh air for the first time in a long while, and flew down the mountain along the path it had come.

Flying for a while, the butterfly looked back and saw the boy standing at the cottage’s entrance, wrapped in a cocoon woven from silk threads. He watched silently through the gaps, neither moving nor speaking, as if seeing him off.

The butterfly looked at the path down the mountain and then at the silent boy, torn between two choices.

On one side was freedom, and on the other was love. How could he choose without regret?

No, since choosing either would lead to regret, why make a choice at all?

The butterfly spread its wings and flew back, tugging and biting at the silk threads, attempting to carve out a lifeline for the boy.

But the silk was too tough, and his efforts to bite through it caused him pain without achieving anything.

The boy, however, smiled—a genuine smile that the butterfly had never seen before.

He lifted the butterfly, placing it in his palm, then took a step. The fine threads vanished instantly in the air.

The boy walked out, carrying the butterfly with him down the mountain, the vast world unfolding before their eyes.

It turned out that as long as there was love, everything could be saved.

Li Tang was awakened by a WeChat notification.

Pulling out his phone, he saw five words from Jiang Lou: “Don’t sleep here.”

Spring in the capital still carried a chill, and sleeping in a bustling mall was hardly a prudent decision.

But how did he know again?

Li Tang raised his eyebrows, having an inkling. He got up to bid farewell to Su Qinhan and left the shop.

Intentionally choosing crowded paths, he alternated between escalators and elevators, then slipped into the hallway under the cover of passing crowds.

He silently counted in his mind, and just as he reached five, his phone vibrated again. Jiang Lou asked, “Where are you?”

Li Tang switched to another WeChat account and tapped on the black-and-white moon icon at the top of the list. That conversation contained messages from eight years ago, and the person on the other side asked the same question, “Where are you?”

Savoring the peculiar overlap of timelines, Li Tang calmly snapped a photo of the stairwell and sent it.

Then he locked the screen, put his phone back in his pocket, leaned against the wall, and waited for footsteps to approach.

On the other side, Jiang Lou received the first message from “Little Fox” in eight years. His heart raced uncontrollably, as if stricken by illness.

He opened the photo and without hesitation, turned into the hallway. Before long, he found the little fox hiding under the dim light, smiling at him.

Approaching in quick strides, before Li Tang could speak, Jiang Lou cupped his face and kissed him deeply.

It was an intense kiss, yet not aggressive. It was as if he wanted to convey eight years’ worth of tenderness and affection through this kiss, sparing no detail.

As it drew to a close, they lightly brushed their lips against each other’s. Li Tang couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you have your airfare reimbursed for traveling between cities every week?”

Jiang Lou paused, changing the subject. “What kind of bracelet did you buy?”

Li Tang had informed Jiang Lou about his date with Yang Baichuan a day in advance. Jiang Lou didn’t react at the time, and even Li Tang assumed he wouldn’t foolishly make this trip for nothing. Yet, he still came.

Stealthily following, he couldn’t bear to merely watch from afar, so he sent a message to let Li Tang know he was nearby.

Whether they would meet was entirely up to Li Tang.

This point, however, wasn’t surprising. After all, Jiang Lou had long known how to manipulate the situation, often bewitching people with a few words, making them entrust their whole hearts to him.

Letting out a resigned sigh, Li Tang raised his left arm to show him. “Newly bought, does it look good?”

Jiang Lou didn’t really want to look. He feared that the shattered mask couldn’t hide his selfish desire for exclusivity, nor could he bear the ugliness that jealousy brought. No matter how much he loved a face, he would eventually grow tired of it and become disillusioned over time.

However, Li Tang lifted his arm high, presenting it before him.

So he saw the necklace he had secretly placed in Li Tang’s clothes pocket, folded into two loops and worn on his wrist. The red rose pendant glimmered even in the dim environment.

“Were you afraid I wouldn’t accept it if you gave it to me in person, so you took advantage of helping me with my coat to put it in my pocket?” Li Tang asked. “Aren’t you worried I didn’t notice and threw it directly into the washing machine?”

Jiang Lou finally spoke. “It wouldn’t matter if you threw it away.”

A flower in memory, an eternal rose.

It had already blossomed in his heart, enduring wind and rain, its color unwashed and undiminished.

When he learned that this necklace was a gift that hadn’t been given eight years ago, Li Tang sighed in relief. “Thank goodness I didn’t throw it in the washing machine.”

Jiang Lou held his wrist, pressed a gentle kiss to it, and whispered, “Don’t want me to pursue you anymore?”

“Mm…”

Li Tang regretted agreeing immediately and changed his mind. “Still keep pursuing, it’s okay to continue pursuing after reconciling.”

Jiang Lou chuckled and then exhaled.

As if the shackles binding him were finally broken, while being saved, he heard the sound of ruins long deserted in his heart beginning to rebuild.

Later, when asked why they chose the stairwell, Li Tang shyly explained, “That Christmas, we were dating, and we bumped into another couple in the stairwell…”

The seeds of envy were planted at that moment. Li Tang, seemingly timid and reserved, dared to bring his beloved to a place separated from the bustling crowd by only a door, conveying his love through kisses.

Even later, discussing eternity, Jiang Lou remained pessimistically convinced that everything would be lost. Even if he managed to grasp it tightly in his hand, physiological death would be the ultimate endpoint.

So Li Tang came up with a good idea. “Then you must live longer, so you can possess it for a longer time.”

“You have to live a long life with me.”

Before the age of nineteen, Jiang Lou only wanted to survive, wanting to escape the dark and desolate ruins.

Between the ages of nineteen and twenty, he fell in love with someone but was blinded by hatred, believing that love was destruction, that he would die with him.

After turning twenty, he returned to those ruins alone, even more firmly believing that everything would be lost.

And now, at the age of twenty-eight, Jiang Lou began to believe in the elusive concept of eternity, longing to see his lover’s sleepy eyes every morning upon waking.

“What about at night, don’t you want to see my sleepy face?” Li Tang asked.

This question was rather tricky. Jiang Lou didn’t answer, instead closing his eyes and feigning sleep.

Li Tang persisted. “Tell me, tell me… I knew it would be taken for granted if obtained too easily. If I had known, I would have made you chase me for another year or so…”

The corners of his pursed lips curled upward. Jiang Lou extended his arm and pulled the incessant chatterer into a tight embrace. “Go to sleep.”

“You haven’t answered my question.”

“What do you call me?”

“…Now that the truth is out, calling me that isn’t appropriate… Wait, answer my question first!”

“Tomorrow.”

“Alright, let’s sleep then.”

After all, they had countless tomorrows ahead.

Just like the butterfly and the boy in the story, they would be together forever.