Sweetie, sleep with me tonight.

It was dusk, and the afterglow of the sunset poured down, like scattered gold dust on the beach, gilding the entire coastline with a gentle golden edge.

The first glimmer of light appeared on the distant lighthouse, warm and comforting.

He Zhuo took him to the seaside and carried him to a bench to sit down.

The two sat on a bench, silently gazing at the vast ocean.

Zhao Yuan leaned back in his chair, his breath weak, but his face was serene, like the final tranquility before a lamp runs out of oil.

"Those text messages were sent by Zhao Fei."

He Zhuo showed no surprise: "I guessed it."

"It's my responsibility that I didn't keep a close eye on him. I'm sorry."

"It's none of your business, no need to apologize."

Zhao Yuan chuckled: "Actually, you're still the same as when you were a child—cold, but efficient, reliable, and very sincere."

He Zhuo gazed at the shimmering sea: "And aren't you the same?"

The grandfather adopted him and became paralyzed in the second year. Everyone said he was a jinx, and whoever got involved with him would be unlucky.

He Zhuo was very young at the time and did not understand the gossip of the adults, but he could feel that because of these adults' words, no one paid attention to him at school, and when he returned to the village, the adults avoided him like the plague. Children his age threw stones at him, teased him, and even verbally insulted him.

He Zhuo endured it all, but his forbearance only resulted in them bullying him even more.

Finally, one day, he couldn't take it anymore and started to fight back with his fists.

He usually helps his grandparents with chores, and he is stronger than his peers. His punches are fierce, and every move is aimed at vital points.

Although he was strong, he was ultimately outnumbered and pinned to the ground by the group of children, unable to move.

He Zhuo knew the significance of today's fight. If he won, these kids would be more wary of him, but if he lost...

From then on, his days would never be peaceful.

Just as he broke free from their restraints and fought them desperately, a bicycle suddenly came rushing from a distance.

Before anyone could react, they were all knocked to the ground by the bicycle.

He Zhuo dodged in time and was not affected.

The boy stopped the car and shouted at him, "Get in!"

He Zhuo reacted quickly, picked up his schoolbag from the ground, and hurriedly got into the car.

The bicycle quickly moved away from where it was.

That afternoon, the sun was blazing, and cicadas were chirping wildly.

The bicycle wheels rattled and clanged from the uneven cobblestone road.

He Zhuo was eight years old that year, his third year in Yuzhong Village.

That year, he made his first good friend.

He said his name was Zhao Yuan, and he saved him because he was handsome and good at math.

He wanted him to teach him math to fulfill a bet he had with someone else.

He Zhuo had some objections to his reason, but out of gratitude for saving his life, he became Zhao Yuan's only savior in the countless days and nights that followed.

From then on, He Zhuo had someone to accompany him when he ate, someone to respond when he talked, and teammates to play ball with.

Even when taking care of his grandfather, someone helps him out.

Zhao Yuan was the only bright spot in He Zhuo's gloomy and lonely childhood.

He Zhuo thought he would stay in Yuzhong Village for the rest of his life.

But later, He Jingyao took him back to the He family.

He also thought that his "brotherly bond" with Zhao Yuan would continue indefinitely.

But later...

He personally destroyed this friendship in that long, dark, secluded alley.

Zhao Yuan's lips curled into a smile, his pupils gradually unfocused, and even his voice became as light as the wind: "Chi Kuo, do you remember when we were kids, when we were going beachcombing together, and we found that blue conch shell?"

"I remember," He Zhuo said, lost in his memories. "You said you could turn it into a candlestick."

Ten years ago, Yuzhong Village was underdeveloped. Even though the State Grid had covered the area, the power supply was unstable and power outages were frequent due to technical issues.

At that time, He Zhuo needed to take care of his grandfather, and he had to get up every night to turn his grandfather over and massage him.

Sometimes, due to power outages and the humid air of living by the sea, the candles he bought often wouldn't light because of the dampness, so He Zhuo often had to do things for his grandfather in the dark.

Zhao Yuan was very good at handicrafts, and when he found out, he vowed to make him a candlestick that could prevent moisture.

But before Zhao Yuan could fulfill this promise, the kidnapping occurred.

Their last meeting was when they walked together through the dark alley.

"Actually, I had already finished making the candlesticks back then, but before I could give them to you, that kind of thing happened."

He Zhuo lowered his head, his throat tightening: "Where...is it now?"

"In my home."

"Okay, I'll get it when I get back."

Zhao Yuan hummed in agreement and shrugged. "I'm feeling a bit cold. Chi Kuo, could you go get me a jacket?"

The sea breeze was strong in the evening, the temperature dropped, and a chill blew in with the evening wind.

"Okay, wait for me, I'll be right back."

"Um."

He Zhuo got up and left.

Zhao Yuan stared blankly at the man's receding figure, the light in his eyes gradually dimming.

A slight pain began to spread through my chest.

He Zhuo returned to the Zhao family home, grabbed his coat, and was about to leave when he swept the hem of his coat, causing the things on the table to fall to the ground with a clatter.

He Zhuo was taken aback, then bent down to pick it up and take a look.

It's a medicine bottle that Zhao Yuan just opened yesterday.

But the bottle was now empty; the dozens of pills inside had all vanished overnight.

As if realizing something, He Zhuo's pupils dilated.

The medicine bottle fell to the ground, and He Zhuo rushed out of the room in a panic.

He ran back to the beach, looked at the man lying on the bench, his heart stopped, his legs felt like lead, and for a moment he felt so heavy that he could hardly lift them.

He stood frozen in place for more than ten seconds before he came to his senses and rushed forward.

"Zhao Yuan!"

He helped him sit up and then noticed that his face was deathly pale and there was blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

His breathing was extremely weak, even weaker than before, almost as if it would dissipate with a gust of wind.

He Zhuo panicked completely and hurriedly pulled out his phone to call 120, but his hands were shaking so violently that he could barely hold the phone.

Zhao Yuan grasped his hand: "No..."

"I'll take you to the hospital... I'll take you to the hospital..."

He Zhuo wanted to carry him to the hospital, but Zhao Yuan stopped him, saying, "It's no use... my body... has reached its limit..."

"Chi Kuo, you...you talk to me...accompany me through this final stage...please?"

He Zhuo's eyes welled up with tears, and he broke down emotionally: "You lied to me?"

He smiled and said, "Yes, I... lied to you."

Why do this?

"Only when I die will there be no one to threaten me... Only when it comes to you will this matter be completely over, you..." He breathed heavily, "and only then can you completely sever ties with Uokamura and return to your original... life."

He Zhuo trembled all over, his voice heavy with sorrow: "I don't need you to do these things!"

"I know, but this is... the only way I can make amends for you."

If his death can bring him a lifetime of peace.

Then his death was worthwhile.

Zhao Yuan gazed at the blue sky above, his voice distant and ethereal: "I thought... I would never... see you again in this lifetime... Fortunately, God was kind to me... allowing me... to have the chance to sit with you... and talk to you at the last moment."

"Chi Kuo, promise me one thing... okay?"

He Zhuo tightened his arms around her: "Okay, tell me. As long as it's within my power, I will definitely do it."

"Let's take Grandma Meng with us and leave this place."

He Zhuo looked at him.

Like an old man whose life force has run out, he slowly said, "Sever all ties with Yuzhong Village. Don't... don't come back. It's not worth it here."

"it is good."

"Don't trap yourself in the past... Live well... Live the life you want to live."

"it is good."

"Let's put an end to all of this... completely."

"……good."

He smiled with satisfaction.

"Chi Kuo, I'm sorry." His eyes began to glaze over, and at the last moment, his heart pounded wildly, trying to save this broken body. "I've dragged you down with me."

He Zhuo froze, staring intently at him: "You...you don't blame me?"

"No." Zhao Yuan leaned on his shoulder and shook his head slightly. "Chi Kuo, I have never blamed you. You... don't blame yourself."

He Zhuo held onto his shoulders, clenched his teeth, and tried his best to endure it.

Over the years, He Zhuo has acted as if he doesn't care and believes he has done nothing wrong.

But the scene back then was too cruel. Even if he said he didn't care and felt he hadn't done anything wrong, he was the one who led Zhao Yuan down that dark alley. No matter what, he couldn't be indifferent, live without resentment, or feel guilty.

He was still afraid that Zhao Yuan would blame him.

He complained that he led him down that path.

If they hadn't taken that route, Zhao Yuan wouldn't have been kidnapped.

They won't come to that point.

He Zhuo lowered his head, hiding the bitterness in his eyes: "...Okay."

"And what about you?" The blood from his mouth flowed more and more, each breath he exhaled felt like it weighed a ton. "Chi Kuo, do you blame me?"

"No," He Zhuo shook his head, "and I've never blamed you."

Zhao Yuan smiled with relief: "That's good then."

He slowly raised his half-arm, just like the gesture they used when they were together back then.

He Zhuo froze, staring blankly at his severed arm.

Countless memories flooded my mind like a tide.

At that moment, the scene that had repeated itself countless times in his dreams finally became reality once again.

He Zhuo skillfully raised his palm, about to touch his elbow, but his hand suddenly lost its strength and went limp.

He Zhuo suddenly grabbed him and caught his limp arm.

The man on her shoulder remained motionless, and even his faint breaths ceased at that moment.

He Zhuo sat on the bench, head down, holding his arm, motionless for a long time.

The tear that had been lingering in her eye finally broke free of her restraint and spilled onto the lifeless man.

The tear stains were quickly absorbed by the fabric, just like the light of his childhood, which was completely extinguished at this moment.

After an unknown amount of time, He Zhuo finally moved his hand, slowly lifting Zhao Yuan's arm to continue the action he had been working on.

The palm touches the elbow.

There were no more resounding claps, nor the knowing smiles exchanged back then.

Only tranquility and serenity that have completely sunk into the long river of time.

Jiang Youxi didn't see them at the Zhao family's house, so she immediately rushed to the beach.

They were indeed there.

Jiang Youxi walked over, about to speak, when she saw Zhao Yuan, who had already closed his eyes and looked peaceful.

His head slumped limply onto He Zhuo's shoulder, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his face turning cyanotic; he was no longer breathing.

Jiang Youxi froze on the spot, all the words stuck in her throat, unable to be uttered.

The last rays of sunset were swallowed up, and night gradually fell.

They sat on the bench, motionless for a long time.

Peace, deathly silence...

It resembles a permanent sculpted portrait.

It is silently telling this final farewell.