The Final Chapter (1)

  Another summer day has arrived.

  The summer in Fengcheng is always particularly hot, by June it's already as hot as a furnace, even at dawn when the sun has just come out, it makes people sweat profusely.

  Zhao Zimo was airing clothes on the balcony, with fine beads of sweat on her smooth and pale forehead. Gu Chengge stood beside her, handing her a clothes rack, and after she finished, he took a damp towel to wipe away her sweat.

  "Ah Mo."

  "Huh?"

  "Today is your graduation ceremony."

  "Yes, finally graduated." Zhao Zimo raised his eyes and smiled.

  "In the afternoon we went to the Civil Affairs Bureau."

  "Go to the Civil Affairs Bureau?"

  Gu Cheng's song simply looked at her, with a clear and radiant gaze.

  Zhao Zimo quickly understood, then rolled his eyes upwards: "I'm afraid it's not possible, the studio has arranged for me and Shen Ximiao to go on a business trip to Shanghai, as soon as the graduation ceremony is over, I'll be leaving immediately..."

  Gu Cheng's song: "......"

  Zhao Zimo suddenly smiled slyly and mischievously, tiptoeing closer to his handsome face: "Top-quality unmarried husband, what's the hurry?"

  Gu Cheng's song: "......"

  Silently, silently... blushed behind the ears.

  This fairy, this little demon actually ridicules him!

  Zhao Zimo quickly dodged and entered the living room, "You haven't formally proposed yet, I need to carefully consider it..."

  Hehe.

  Actually, last spring on her birthday, she had already held an engagement ceremony with Gu Cheng Ge, and according to Feng Cheng's customs, living together after getting engaged is perfectly normal. Gu Cheng Ge also spent half of his savings before the engagement to buy a new house in the "One Life Water" luxury residential area as their "love nest", but...

  The night of engagement.

  As the engagement banquet was about to end, Zhao Zimo was pulled by his mother to a relatively secluded balcony.

  After discussing some private topics, Kitano Kiyomi said seriously: "A-Mo, I still trust Cheng Ge, but mom has two requirements for you."

  At home, her father was extremely strict with her, while her mother was the most indulgent, so once her mother spoke seriously, Zhao Zimo would naturally restrain her playful smile.

  "Mom, you say." She leaned against her mother's arm and snuggled up close.

  Kitano Sei said, "Firstly, the marriage certificate must be obtained after graduating from university. On one hand, mothers naturally want to keep you for a few more years, on the other hand, they don't hope that you will be too busy with family trivialities too early, academic pursuits are still very important."

  Zhao Zimo paused for a moment and nodded. Although she loved Gu Chengge, she had absolutely no intention of becoming a married woman while still a student.

  "Secondly, from tonight onwards, you can move out of the school and live with him if you want to, or occasionally stay over at his place, but I'll say it again: without a marriage certificate, you absolutely cannot sleep with him."

  Zhao Zimo listened very seriously.

  Since the first year of college when I said I wanted to fall in love, my mother has taken this matter very seriously. Although she is cheerful and carefree, she is absolutely a clean and proper good girl. In the few years of dating with Gu Cheng, the closest we've been is a passionate kiss.

  Zhao Zimo nodded in agreement with his mother. Cheng Ge cherished and treasured her, never crossing the line until they could get married.

  But she was still curious and asked with a bit of mischief: "Mom, since Cheng Ge is destined to be my husband anyway, what's the difference between sooner or later?"

  "It's only natural for people like you to be together, but..." Kitano Seigi paused for a moment before saying seriously, "One of the rules of the Kitano family is to prohibit premarital sex. You have the blood of the Kitano family in your veins, so you must follow the family rules."

  Zhao Zimo couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.

  Bei Ye was the first big family in Xi Tong City, with a deep historical background. Every time Zhao Zi Mo went to her maternal grandfather's house, she felt a sense of heaviness, but she never knew why the Bei Ye family had such strange... uh, seals... uh, weird family rules?

  Kitano Kiyoshi irresponsibly dropped a sentence: "I'm not sure about the specifics either."

  Then she added, "Anyway, your grandma once warned me and your aunt that although it can be said that the social atmosphere was not open at that time, it's always good for girls to keep themselves clean."

  Kitano Sei's words were heavy with emotion: "Zimo, not every couple can have a perfect ending like you and Cheng Ge. One cannot be irresponsible to oneself for the sake of temporary pleasure or to satisfy one's desires. The Kitano family still upholds this motto, it's not without reason. Nowadays, more and more children are becoming indifferent to the concept of chastity. I'm asking you to do this, firstly because life is unpredictable, secondly because I hope that in the future, you can set an example for your own children. Although my words may seem far-fetched, those who have Kitano family blood must pass on this idea from generation to generation..."

  Because of her mother's lengthy talk, after getting engaged, Zhao Zimo still lived in the school dormitory and didn't move to "One Life Water". What was surprising was that Gu Chengmei agreed without even frowning, and moved in alone.

  Zhaizi Mo occasionally stayed overnight, but whether it was a playful kiss or a lingering caress, they never crossed the last step. Gu Cheng Ge cherished her and would stop halfway each time, even when their emotions ran deep, he would think of other ways...

  She knew he was suffering a lot, and she even had the idea of putting her mother's words aside, but he said: "Silly Mo, I can wait."

  One time she went to the office to wait for him after work, no one else was there, before entering the office door, she heard He Bizheng teasing him: "...... Old Gu, you're too useless, already engaged and still haven't made Mo Mei beautiful yours?"

  "She is my woman. She becomes my woman, it's not just about possessing her body. She and I are together, that's all."

  "Heh heh." He Bixi laughed lewdly, "With a beauty in your arms, you don't want to..."

  There was a moment of silence inside.

  Then came Gu Cheng's warm and moving voice: "Anyway, she was destined to be my wife, I'm not in a hurry for the time being." After a pause, he added, "There is still a long way to go."

  ……

  Gu Cheng Ge personally accompanied her to attend the graduation ceremony. When they arrived at school, the ceremony had not yet started. Along the way, they met the principal, who invited him to his office. Zhao Zi Mo then returned to the dormitory.

  Jiang Jiang is the only one in the dormitory.

  Jiang Jiang and Qi Wei eventually parted ways, but in Jiang Jiang's words, they neither held hands nor did they break up.

  Zhao Zimo remembered that the day they parted ways was a sunny day, just when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom in March. They stood under the only cherry blossom tree on Fengda campus.

  Their final scene was Jiang Jiang smiling, then turning around and saying "goodbye".

  Later, Jiang Jiang never showed any sadness. She said, "I knew from the beginning that we wouldn't be together in the end, and I had already prepared myself mentally when I found him."

  Perhaps because she thought it through thoroughly, she said this with a calm and peaceful expression.

  "Jiang Jiang, have you found a house outside the school yet?" Zhao Zimo asked while packing up his things. Jiang Jiang had already become an official employee of a magazine after completing her internship, but due to financial difficulties, she still lived in the school dormitory.

  Jiang Jiang nodded: "Found it, sharing with others, just near the magazine office."

  Xiǎo Féi pushed open the door and shouted: "ā Mò ā Mò, my superstar older cousin is here!"

  Zhao Zimo and Jiang Jiang exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with sadness.

  Shi Xiaofei's big brother is Xiao Mingxing, who is Xiao Chu Yan.

  Shi Xiaofei lived with her father since birth until she was ten years old, when he took her to a mental hospital to see her mother.

  At that time, Wang's political affairs were in a mess. Xiang Jia, who had been pretending to be mad for years, testified in court and only then did Shi Xiaofei learn that her mother was the third daughter of the Xiao family and that Xiao Chuyan's mother, Xiao Duan, was her aunt from a different mother but same father.

  Xiao Chuyu left from the west of the city, after his father was executed by firing squad and his contract with Guangdong Television Station expired, he entered the entertainment circle and became famous overnight.

  Zhaizi Mo found Xiao Chuyan behind a lush Four Seasons Greenery, which was their usual meeting spot. Xiao Chuyan wore a simple black T-shirt and jeans, with sunglasses on, looking very low-key.

  At that time, Wang was busy with government affairs, and many people spread the word that it was the result of her father Zhao Qingyun's years of planning. At first, Zhao Zi Mo was worried that her relationship with Xiao Chu Yan would also disappear due to this, but Xiao Chu Yan just stopped entering her home, treating her as usual.

  Xiao Chuyan said: "Ah Mo, this is not your fault, I have no right to vent my anger on you."

  So they can still be good friends with each other.

  Xiao Chuyan said this with a sigh, Zhao Zimo knew that he was still resentful about the tragic events at Xicheng, his father's betrayal and murder of her mother. What was his fault? His fault was only that he couldn't choose his parents; his fault was only that he shouldn't have fallen in love with her!

  ……

  Zhao Zimo sat down beside him and asked: "What brings a big star like you to this place today? Aren't you afraid of being exposed?"

  Xiao Chuyan took off his sunglasses and smiled faintly: "I'm here to attend the graduation ceremony."

  Zhao Zimo was taken aback, then understood.

  Gu Chengxi wasn't there, but she still had to come and attend what was originally her own graduation ceremony.

  Three years have passed, and Zhao Zimo knows that Xiao Chuyan has been waiting all along.

  "Xixi has been gone for three years, are you going to keep waiting?" she asked.

  Xiao Chuyan twitched the corner of his mouth.

  "I'm not waiting," he said. "I just haven't met someone who can move my heart."

  Zhao Zimo teased him: "There are so many beautiful female stars in the entertainment industry, isn't there one that moves your heart?"

  "No." Xiao Chuyan replied succinctly.

  "What about Su Ting? Can't she move your heart?"

  Zhao Zimo knew that since Xiao Chuyan entered the entertainment industry, Su Ti gave up the great opportunity to be a host at the Radio and Television Center, and resolutely followed in his footsteps, becoming a small assistant by his side.

  "Su Ti is great everywhere..." Xiao Chu Yan said and stopped again.

  "But it's not what you want." Zhao Zimo added.

  What he wants has always been Xī (West) of Gùchéng.

  Heartless Gu Cheng Xi, arrogant Gu Cheng Xi, unreasonable Gu Cheng Xi, disregarding his feelings Gu Cheng Xi...

  Xiao Chuyan suddenly smiled vaguely and acknowledged Zhao Zimo's words.

  "She can't compare to Su Ting in any way." He said, "Not pretty, timid, hypocritical, willful, selfish, before university she never dared to reveal our relationship, even if someone found out, she would push the blame onto you; She's unreasonable and petty, when I helped her with homework, if she couldn't do it herself, she'd get angry at me, scold me for one sentence, and not speak to me for a month... But despite all this, without her in my life, it feels like something is missing, just thinking of her makes my fingertips ache."

  Zhao Zimo listened quietly.

  "But I won't go looking for her again unless one day she comes back on her own..."

  ……

  After the graduation ceremony, Xiao Chuyan quietly left. Zhao Zimo had to go to the airport for a 1 pm flight and hastily ate lunch at a restaurant near the school. Gu Chengge sent her off to the airport.

  Jiang Jiang and Shi Xiao Fei, who had come out to eat together, deliberately delayed Gu Cheng Ge when she went to get the car, and the two of them were laughing slyly.

  Xiao Fei said: "A Mo, a few days ago I made a bet with Jiang Jiang."

  The two of them laughed too strangely, Zhao Zimo cautiously asked: "What did you bet?"

  Jiang Jiang said: "I bet your perfect unmarried husband will take you to get a marriage certificate on graduation day."

  Shi Xiaofei said: "I bet that on the night I got my marriage certificate, your excellent husband wouldn't eat dinner but would eat you."

  Zhao Zimo: "......"

  Take a deep breath, take a deep breath!

  "You're all going to lose!" Zhao Zimo raised an eyebrow, "How can you casually choose a day to get a marriage certificate? Moreover, I'm about to go to the airport, even if today is a good day, it's too rushed. So, Jiangjiang, you've already lost. As for Xiao Fei, I'll make you lose, and you will lose! Hehe!"

  She smiled triumphantly as she got on the bus, then Shi Xiaofei and Jiang Jiang looked at each other and laughed.

  Xiao Fei couldn't help but laugh: "This silly woman, how could her excellent husband possibly let her off?"

  Jiang Jiang also smiled: "But foolish people have foolish blessings, among us four, only she has been happy all along."

  Xiao Fei smiled and said, "Yes."

  Jiang Jiang and Qi Wei eventually parted ways, while she and Zhou Dai had no possibility of continuing after Cong Rong's death, they had already broken up for several years.

  "Xiao Fei, you've graduated, what are your plans?" Jiang Jiang asked.

  After the internship ended, Shi Xiaofei did not fight for a place to stay.

  "Of course! I'm preparing to find a job!" Xiǎo Féi raised his smile, with an attitude of high morale, "For the house, car, and tickets, I will persist in my efforts without slackening!"

  Jiang Jiang also burst out laughing: "It's better to strive for a man who has a car, a house and stocks!"

  ……

  For three years, Zhao Zimo's work has been outstanding, but as she is still a student, Gu Chengge expressed that he did not want her to become the dream girl of all men after hosting an episode of a variety show, so she has been doing behind-the-scenes work, either going out for interviews with reporters and colleagues or editing footage shot by reporters into programs - this also thanks to Yu Ao, who has since left, if it wasn't for him requiring her to learn non-linear editing skills before officially entering the broadcasting industry, she wouldn't have had multiple choices in her work.

  But also because of this, compared to Shen Xiwei who entered earlier, she doesn't have as much limelight. Shen Xiwei is already a first-line female host in the industry, hosting not only "The Backstage" where she interviews celebrities and famous people, but also a popular variety show that sweeps the nation. The two shows are vastly different in style, yet she navigates them like a versatile magician, from elegant to stylish, from refined to lively and playful...

  This trip to Shanghai was very rewarding for Zhao Zimo.

  On the way back, due to being delayed by one day from the scheduled date, the time of getting off the plane coincided with Gu Cheng's court appearance. After saying goodbye to Shen Xi Wei, she sent him a message and took a taxi home directly.

  At dusk, Zhao Zimo was holding a notebook in the living room, playing games leisurely. Beiye Qingyu came out of the painting room and was about to cook, she immediately grabbed the exquisite pastries next to her and said "Come eat".

  Kitano Kiyoyuki walked while stretching his arms and said, "You don't have to waste your phone bill, he'll definitely come over."

  Zhao Zimo stopped his action: "Mom, how did you know?"

  Kitano Kiyoyuki didn't respond and went straight into the kitchen.

  Zhao Zimo thought for a moment and put down his phone.

  Is mom really so clever and calculating?

  But two minutes later, Zhao Zimo knew that his mother's preconceptions were not for nothing.

  Gu Cheng's song called.

  "I just came down from court." He said, then asked, "Are you tired from traveling?"

  She was full of energy: "Not tired at all, it's a lot of fun."

  "Uh-huh." His voice was a bit hoarse, probably because he hadn't had time to drink water since coming down from the courtroom. "Tell Mom I'll come over for dinner tonight."

  Zhao Zimo: "......"

  After putting down his phone, Zhao Zimo immediately jumped off the couch and ran into the kitchen, "Mom, Mom, Cheng Ge called to say he's coming over for dinner tonight... how did you guess?"

  Kitano Sei: "I'm not guessing, this is an iron rule."

  ？？？

  "When did he not follow you back home alone, stupid Mo, unless he didn't know you were back."

  Zhao Zimo: "......"

  Really? Why didn't she show up? Hehe.

  The next day, Zhao Zimo took a leave of absence, thinking that her fiancé would bring up the matter of going to the Civil Affairs Bureau again, but he didn't mention anything and went straight to work.

  Uh...

  Shouldn't he be anxious?

  This summer in Fengcheng was particularly strange and changeable, with scorching sun one day and torrential rain the next due to the influence of a coastal typhoon.

  This time, Fengcheng has been raining for a week, and many low-lying areas and towns are threatened by floods. According to reports, the neighboring city of Tongcheng is also affected due to its low terrain, as most of Fengcheng's water flows in that direction, causing widespread flooding.

  The TV station immediately dispatched a reporter to interview and report, but there was a small disagreement over the personnel selection. In general, no one was very willing to go... after all, the flood was rampant, and if they weren't careful, they might not be able to return.

  Just as they were at an impasse, Zhao Zimo happened to come in after finishing a phone call and heard their debate. He immediately raised his hand: "I'll go to Tongcheng for the interview!"

  Finally, there were two more people willing to go.

  But this time Zhao Zimo wasn't being particularly noble or dedicated, it was just that the phone call she had just received was from Ji Anchen, someone she didn't often contact but hadn't lost touch with either.

  In the winter of his freshman year, Ji Anchen gave her a bouquet of plum blossoms and then stopped interning at Heqi City Law Firm. He returned to work in the family business, starting from the most basic level, and now he is the general manager of the Tongcheng branch.

  Sitting on the press interview special train to Tongcheng, Zhao Zimo answered Gu Chengge's phone call, but perhaps he was in court again, his mobile phone was turned off, and she could only leave a message for him.

  "I'm going to Tongcheng for an interview and also looking for XiXi, might take a few days before I come back."

  Then she called Xiao Chuyan again, the phone was connected, but the person who answered was Assistant Su Ti. After exchanging greetings, Zhao Zimo hesitated for a moment and said: "Su Ti, would you please tell Xiao Chuyan that I'm on my way to Tongcheng now, someone seems to have seen Xixi there."

  Zhao Zimo thought that although Su Ti liked Xiao Chuyan, she was a straightforward and generous person who would not do something as underhanded as "concealing without informing".

  But she obviously underestimated the magic of love, and even more so, the heart of a woman like Hai Di Zhen. It wasn't until later that she realized it was because of Su Ti that Xiao Chu Yan and Gu Cheng Xi would be separated for ten whole years...

  When we arrived at the junction of the two cities, it was already noon. Tongcheng was indeed flooded, and the low-lying areas on both sides of the highway were all white with water, many rural fields and villages were submerged, and there were refugees and rescue workers everywhere.

  ……

  A few days later.

  He Qi Cheng Law Firm

  The whole day, Gu Cheng was restless, just because from the morning on, Ah Mo's mobile phone had been unreachable. Later, he called Shen Xiwei and asked for the numbers of the other two colleagues who were supposed to go with Ah Mo, but they were also in a no-signal state.

  He, who had always been calm and composed, had an unprecedented flustered expression.

  He Qianzheng heartlessly teased him, "I really didn't expect that you, who I call Old Gu, would also have a day when your mind is muddled. It's only been half a day since we lost contact, and on a rainy day like today, the signal is already affected. If she went to interview in a mountain village, the signal would be even worse, it's normal that you can't get through."

  Gu Cheng also felt that he might be making a big fuss over nothing, so he calmed down and sat back down.

  The mobile phone rang, it was Kitano Kiyomizu calling.

  He immediately picked up: "Mom."

  "Cheng Ge, have you seen the noon news?" Beiyeshuang's voice was a bit urgent. "The TV reported that a reporter from Sakura Maple TV station went missing. Did Zimo go for an interview? Her phone can't be reached!"

  Gu Cheng Ge felt his hand holding the phone go limp, and the mobile phone was about to slip off. He grasped it tightly, trying to keep his voice steady: "Mom, don't worry, I'll call the TV station to ask."

  He grabbed the car keys and stood up.

  "Hey, Old Gu, where are you going?"

  His shadow was still in the office, and all that came through the damp air were three words: "Go to Tongcheng."