Sweetie, sleep with me tonight.

He Zhuo stood motionless, his five fingers gripping the bucket handle tightly, his knuckles turning white from the effort.

All around was silent, with waves crashing against the rocks, surging violently, their sound echoing through the quiet night.

She thought she would receive a response from He Zhuo, but in the end he didn't say a word and resolutely left.

Jiang Youxi was led by him, the sea breeze carrying the dampness of the seawater constantly lapped against her, and every breath she took carried the salty smell of the sea.

"He Zhuo, slow down, I can't keep up."

The slippers on my feet got so sand that they fell off.

Jiang Youxi quickly grabbed him: "Wait, my shoe fell off."

He Zhuo finally stopped, turned around, picked up the slippers, and half-squatted down to put them on her.

Jiang Youxi placed her hand on his shoulder and silently gazed at the man's broad shoulders.

Noticing his dejected mood, she gently patted his head with a touch of tenderness: "A-Zhuo, don't be sad."

He Zhuo was taken aback, but her words of comfort gradually calmed him down.

He stood up: "Can you still walk? Do you want me to carry you?"

Jiang Youxi shook her head, pinching her fingers together: "Just slow down a little bit."

He Zhuo chuckled and ruffled her hair. "I was in a bad mood and didn't think of you. I'm sorry."

"What's there to be sorry about? Everyone has negative emotions. As long as you can release them, that's fine. You haven't wronged anyone."

He Zhuo slowed his pace and took her hand as they walked together.

"He Zhuo, can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead and ask."

"Was that man just now...the childhood friend you mentioned before, the one you hurt?"

He Zhuo's expression froze slightly, then he nodded.

"Is this the same person who sent you those malicious text messages?"

"Yes, it's his phone number."

"Don't you believe he sent those text messages either?"

He Zhuo looked up in surprise: "What do you mean?"

He remained skeptical of those text messages, but he didn't actively seek to find out the truth.

He simply felt that the phone number belonged to him, so he indulged in the influx of these offensive text messages in a self-deceptive way, as a way of punishing himself.

His attitude toward both the text messages and the person remained ambiguous.

Normally, he should feel resentment and hatred in the face of such a thing.

But the guilt and self-blame hidden in his heart for many years served as a tough shield against these resentments.

Especially seeing him like this now.

He Zhuo's feelings were a mix of emotions, becoming increasingly complicated.

Jiang Youxi smiled: "Because I know you. If you're sure it was him who sent it, when you answer me, you should say for sure it was him, not just his phone number."

A person's mobile phone number can be used by anyone, and there are many reasons and accidents that may result in the person using the number not being the person they actually are.

He Zhuo is such a smart person, he must have thought of this as well.

Jiang Youxi couldn't help but look towards that lonely figure on the beach.

He tried to get away by controlling the wheelchair, but perhaps the wheelchair was out of power, because he couldn't get it to move no matter how hard he tried.

He gave up completely, his shoulders slumped limply, just as she had when she first met him, sitting motionless in the same spot, like a lifeless statue.

For some reason, the more Jiang Youxi looked at this man, the more familiar he seemed.

It felt like I'd seen it somewhere before.

Jiang Youxi felt inexplicably heavy-hearted: "I feel like he's not the kind of person who would send you this kind of text message."

He Zhuo did not answer, but simply said, "Let's go."

Jiang Youxi followed him home.

Hearing the commotion, Aunt Zeng got up and came out. Seeing them carrying two full buckets of seafood, she was quite surprised: "You just went beachcombing?"

"Yeah, we can't sleep, so we're going to the beach."

"Okay, I'll do it."

"No need, Aunt Zeng. You work so hard taking care of Grandma. It's late, you should go to sleep. I can do it."

Aunt Zeng saw that the quantity was not large and that the seafood was easy to clean, so she did not refuse.

She was about to go back to her room when she saw the man standing alone at the door, so she went over and asked, "Mr. He, what's wrong?"

She followed the man's gaze and saw a splash of white against the dark, gloomy sea.

"Who would be at the beach this late at night?"

"It's him."

Aunt Zeng paused, then asked, "Is it Zhao Yuan, the eldest son of the Zhao family?"

Aunt Zeng.

"What's wrong?"

"Go and push him back."

After the man finished speaking, he turned and went back into the house.

Aunt Zeng was stunned. She looked at the man who had gone back into the house, then at Zhao Yuan in the distance, and sighed helplessly.

She started walking towards the sea.

-

The next morning, Jiang Xu woke up unusually excited: "Mom, do you know what day it is today?"

"What day is it?"

"It's your birthday." He Zhuo came out of the restroom, took a tissue to wipe his hands, and said, "So, what do you want?"

After being reminded by them, Jiang Youxi realized that today was her birthday.

She was so busy she forgot.

"You gave me everything I wanted when you were pursuing me," Jiang Youxi shrugged. "It seems like there's nothing else I want."

"Mom! You have to buy a birthday cake, no matter what!" Jiang Xu grinned at He Zhuo. "Dad, how about we go to town together later to order a cake for Mom?"

"Ordering a cake is fine, but I don't need you."

"Oh! Dad, you don't want me anymore?"

"You stay here to take care of Great-Grandma, your mother and I will go."

Jiang Xu crossed his arms and huffed, "Hmph! You two went on a date and didn't let me come along!"

"Why do I need you to come along on our date?"

"I can act as your love bodyguard!"

He Zhuo warned, "Sticking so tightly, do you even want to be born?"

Jiang Xu: "..."

Jiang Youxi: "..."

have to.

Others threaten you with money or your life.

He used birth as a threat.

You'd think this bastard was from the reproductive committee!

Knowing it was Jiang Youxi's birthday, Meng Lan immediately smiled and took out her savings, stuffing more than ten hundred-yuan bills into He Zhuo's hand, asking him to take Jiang Youxi to town for a good time.

Jiang Youxi was flattered and about to refuse when He Zhuo looked at her and asked, "Do you know why Grandma gave me so much money?"

Jiang Youxi thought for a moment: "Do you think I'm cute and filial?"

"Because she approves of you."

"What do you mean by 'acknowledging' me?"

"She acknowledges you as her granddaughter-in-law."

Jiang Youxi suddenly had an idea. She leaned closer to him and whispered, "Then do you know why I accepted Grandma's money?"

He Zhuo lowered his eyes and gazed at her small, adorable dimples.

He couldn't help but reach out and pinch it: "Why?"

Jiang Youxi closed her eyes and subconsciously rubbed her face against his palm: "Because I accept you too."

"Hmm?" He Zhuo chuckled. "Mimicking my voice?"

No, I'm just telling the truth.

He Zhuo narrowed his eyes: "Tell the truth?"

"Yes," she whispered, standing on tiptoe and close to his ear, using her hand as a soundproof barrier to lower her voice.

"Because I've already accepted Ah Zhuo as my husband."