The End (4)
It felt as if they had returned to Christmas four years ago, amidst the falling snow.
At that time, he was busy day and night for a little money, unable to afford anything, unable to provide her with anything. Anyone could easily snatch her away from his side.
During that time, she extended her arm, tightly clenched both fists, and smiled as she asked him, “Guess which one?”
He lowered his gaze, observing her darting gaze that kept wandering, until it finally settled on her left hand. He lightly tapped with his finger.
She smiled and said, “Well done, you guessed correctly.”
Then, she slowly opened her hand, revealing the pull tab from the aluminum can in her palm. The school’s radio played cheerful and light-hearted music, and even the rhythm of the snowflakes dancing outside became gentle, as if humming a melody, gracefully descending to the earth.
“You are the beginning of faith, the content of poetry, and the ending of a fairy tale.”
Amidst the music, her eyes and eyebrows curved. “How about a Christmas gift? How about I give you a ring?” Xie Xinglin lowered his gaze, looking at the pull tab lingering in her fair palm, and remained silent for a long time.
At that time, she thought he disliked this little trinket, so she evaluated it and slipped it onto her ring finger to show him. “Isn’t it pretty?” She muttered to herself for a while. “Well, maybe it’s not that nice.” “It’s okay, when I earn money in the future, I’ll set a five-carat pink diamond on it for you.”
At that moment, he held her hand and then lowered his head, carefully kissing the small ring. She blinked and revealed a smile. “See, I told you it was nice.” She turned to admire the ring on her ring finger, oblivious to the depth in his eyes.
Soft murmurs merged with the joyful music, and no one knew whose promise was concealed by the wind and snow. He had said back then that he would personally put it on her.
In the dimly lit room, she watched him silently staring at her hand, seemingly lost in thought. She was about to mock him and ask if he couldn’t do it or if he wanted her help. Then, she heard him whisper softly, “Four years ago, did I owe you a Christmas gift?”
Before she could react, he took out a white box from his coat. The wind and snow outside tapped against the glass windows, and a hazy white sky was still visible.
Her hand at her side tightened.
As the box in his palm opened, the tear-shaped pink diamond slowly revealed itself before her eyes, sparkling with a dazzling brilliance that illuminated the dim room. Reflected in her eyes, it displayed a stunning hue. Her expression froze completely, and she lowered her gaze in a daze, captivated by the intense, colorful pink diamond. It was so beautiful that it made any other treasure pale in comparison.
His voice was somewhat hoarse, but when it reached her ears, it silenced all the sounds in the world. “I came across this at an auction in Switzerland last year.” He paused, lifted his gaze to look at her, and smiled gently as he said, “The jeweler who discovered it intended to give it to his fiancée, but she couldn’t make it through the winter due to her poor health.”
“He named this diamond, ‘Love’s Remedy’.” She blinked, holding tightly onto the pull tab in her hand.
“It symbolizes that love has the power to heal and embrace everything.”
He tightened his grip on her fingertip and calmly continued, “His fiancée had a terminal illness, but she managed to hold on for four more years because of him.”
Xie Xinglin’s eyelashes drooped slightly. At the time, the jeweler was devastated by the loss of his fiancée and had initially intended to bury this cherished pink diamond with her forever. Xie Xinglin, for some reason, remembered her words and sought out the jeweler. Instead of making grand promises like others, he simply mentioned that he also had someone he loved. However, his beloved was far away in another place—a lovely girl who adored pink things. He wanted to give her this gemstone.
They had been separated for almost four years.
“I miss her a lot.” In a sense, he had also been afflicted with a terminal illness. And she was his remedy for love.
The jeweler agreed.
A tear dropped onto the crystal-clear gemstone, contrasting with the dark surroundings, reflecting the radiant light, and highlighting her stunned yet moved expression. The fact that she sought his comfort showed her unease, but a promise was something that made one feel secure. He didn’t make promises lightly, but he would definitely fulfill each and every one.
He gazed at her, and the light and shadow from the snowy day outside divided his facial contours, with one half immersed in darkness.
Then, he slightly lowered his head, assuming the posture of a devotee before a deity.
A kiss landed on the back of her hand.
A deep, low voice emerged from his chest.
“Qiu Qiu, marry me.”
The jeweler and his fiancée couldn’t endure the snow-filled winter.
Four years were their final moments. They traveled to every corner of the world with this diamond,
embracing passionate kisses in places of extreme peril and breathtaking beauty.
This diamond not only witnessed their love, but also accompanied them across vast snowy mountains, magnificent icebergs, and the auroras of Antarctica.
They walked through windmill-dotted farms, tulip-filled flower fields, crystal-clear lakes, and long-abandoned castles. They laughed heartily in the midst of a desert deemed hellish, tightly embracing each other in the center of a blizzard.
They witnessed her smiling, passing away in his arms, telling him she had seen the world’s most beautiful scenery and loved the most deserving person. The only regret was leaving him behind in the mortal realm.
Love is a wondrous thing that enables people to bravely face life’s adversities.
As long as you’re with me, I’m willing to experience anything.
A snowy winter is not frightening; it’s the absence of you that turns life into hell.
The four years of hardships we endured while apart will forever be my regret for not being by your side. So, in the future, could you allow me to compensate with the brief span of a lifetime?
Through poverty or wealth, life or illness, amid unknown paths ahead, there’s one thing I know: With you, there is light. You are the only remedy for my wounded and barren heart.
<End of Main Story>
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