The white rose I picked up cried and said she liked me.

"I need your help."

Xu Nian, holding onto the door frame, said directly.

Zhou Xiaoman raised an eyebrow.

"Come in and talk."

......

"Tsk tsk tsk..."

After listening to Xu Nian's description, Zhou Xiaoman lit a cigarette, leaned back on the sofa, and had a faint smile on her lips.

"I never imagined that Mr. Xu could have such a heartless thought in his head."

"This is the only way."

Xu Nian lowered her head, her eyes glazed over.

"Can you help me?"

"Mr. Xu is really putting Xiaoman in a difficult position."

Zhou Xiaoman's beautiful eyes were fixed intently on Xu Nian.

"Why would I help you do such a bad thing?"

Xu Nian's expression froze for a moment, and her fists clenched slightly.

He raised his head and looked sincerely at the beautiful woman in front of him.

"If there is an afterlife, I will be your ox or horse to repay you."

Zhou Xiaoman smiled gently, but then her smile became increasingly unrestrained, and she burst into laughter, unable to stop herself.

The slender cigarette traced an elegant arc in her hand.

This was the first time Xu Nian had ever seen her so out of control since she had known her.

He couldn't tell whether Zhou Xiaoman's laughter was mocking or joyful.

He nervously gripped the hem of his clothes, quietly awaiting the woman's reply.

"Xiaoman has heard quite a few sweet words in her life."

"This is the first time I've encountered someone express themselves so frankly, like Mr. Xu."

She stopped smiling.

"Xiaoman will be there on time."

"Xiaoman will also handle Mr. Xu's funeral arrangements."

"Mr. Xu, please remember the promise you made."

"I will."

Xu Nian breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and bowed to Zhou Xiaoman.

He knew that this promise was like a joke, like an empty check.

"I'll repay you in the next life"—what an absurd statement.

He owed Zhou Xiaoman yet another favor he could never repay.

...

As the boy walked away, the woman's vision gradually blurred.

She picked up a bunch of violets from the coffee table and pursed her lips slightly.

"We'll go to the lakeside on the grasslands to wait for the migratory birds to return."

"When we're both grown up, we'll have a chubby baby..."

......

Today, the usually quiet ward was unusually lively.

The pristine white bed sheets were replaced with festive red ones, and large double happiness characters were pasted all over the windows and walls.

A young girl dressed in red sat quietly on the edge of the bed, supporting herself with one hand on the bed frame to steady her weak body.

Two girls were around her; one was applying glamorous makeup, and the other was tying her hair up with elaborate ornaments.

They wanted this rose to bloom one last time in the world, a bloom that would be breathtaking.

Even the most glamorous makeup couldn't hide her deathly pale complexion.

No matter how gorgeous the hair accessories are, they cannot hide the sparse hair.

The girl touched the top of her head, her eyes filled with disappointment.

These were the most important days in her short life.

But she couldn't present her best self to the boy she loved most.

"Yaoyao, is my hair...ugh?"

"Not bad-looking at all, not bad-looking at all, my Xibao is the prettiest!"

Wen Yao stroked the tips of her hair tenderly.

She used to envy Xu Xi's beautiful, jet-black hair so much that she wished she could secretly cut it off while Xu Xi was sleeping and wear it on her own head.

Now, she would rather transfer her hair to Xu Xi's head.

Xu Xi naturally sensed the insincerity in her words.

She lowered her head, her disappointment evident.

But soon, she revealed a sweet smile.

Today is her and her beloved boy's big day.

She shouldn't be sad; she should be very happy.

After dressing up, the girl opened the black medicine box and took the medicine with warm water.

Director Huang said that taking too much of this medicine would put a great burden on the body.

Therefore, we didn't give her too much.

This was her last pill.

Eating it means that from now on, she will never be able to leave her hospital bed or walk again.

So what?

She smiled faintly and threw the empty medicine box into the trash can.

Being able to marry the boy she loved meant she had no regrets in her short life.

At noon, the sun was shining brightly.

The auspicious time has arrived; it is auspicious for marriage.

Wen Yao, the master of ceremonies and witness, tied her tie and silently recited the script in her mind again and again.

The only bridesmaid, Zhao Lin, stood beside the bride, supporting her slender arm to steady her.

There were no distinguished guests, no crowds of visitors.

There were no complicated ceremonies, and not even a wedding photo.

A few naive and inexperienced wild children designed a simple wedding that was hardly formal at all, based on their vague impressions.

Qi Yu, dressed as a groomsman, made his entrance with the male protagonist of the day.

Xu Nian was dressed in a smart evening suit with his tie tied perfectly straight.

He shaved off his messy beard and tidied himself up neatly.

Even her white hair was dyed back to black at a hair salon.

Soothing piano music gradually filled the ward.

The ethereal notes combined one after another, forming the melody of "Wedding in a Dream".

The piano music was melodious and gentle, but it didn't convey a sense of happiness.

Instead, there was a faint trace of sadness.

Like a beautiful oil painting, every stroke of the brush depicts a grand wedding.

But the faces of the bride and groom were blurred.

It was like a dream.

Perhaps, a beautiful wedding only exists in dreams.

But the harsh reality is destined to lead to tragedy.

"Brother...cough cough cough...consider this my dowry, please keep it safe."

A young girl dressed in red, supported by someone beside her, tiptoed and carefully wrapped the scarf around the boy's neck.

Do you like it?

Xu Nian gripped the scarf tightly with one hand, feeling its soft, fuzzy texture, and a deep sorrow welled up inside her.

He watched as the girl, enduring overwhelming fatigue and battling illness, painstakingly sewed this scarf full of love, stitch by stitch, through countless dark nights.

This is the most precious gift that this girl, who can't even leave her hospital room, can offer.

He loved it so much that he wanted to wear it around his neck forever, not even taking it off in the sweltering summer.

But he couldn't say he liked it.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he probably won't live to see next summer.

So he turned his head away, not daring to look directly into the girl's sincere eyes.

"Brother Xu, hold hands, hold hands!"

Qi Yu whispered a reminder in his ear.

Before he could react, a cold, slender little hand was already placed in his palm.

They turned around and faced Wen Yao, who was dressed as an emcee.

"Ms. Xu Xi, do you take Mr. Xu Nian to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, for joy or for sorrow, to love him, to cherish him, and to be faithful to him until the end of your life?"

Wen Yao looked at Xu Xi solemnly.

There was no touching opening speech, nor any introductory remarks that would easily evoke tears from the audience.

Everything was kept simple in order to take care of Xu Xi's health.

Her face was as pale as snow, and it was very difficult for her to even stand up with someone's help.

Therefore, Wen Yao cut out many of the pre-prepared procedures and went straight to the point.

Xu Xi took a deep breath, opened her small mouth, and shouted loudly.

"I do!"

Then, she bent over, coughing violently, a faint trace of dark red blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.

That shout used almost all of her strength.

She wanted to shout to the heavens and declare to the world that she loved the boy beside her, even if their love was separated by mountains and seas, or by life and death, she would still rush to his aid, until death do them part.

Tears welled up in Wen Yao's eyes.

She turned her head and looked at Xu Nian.

"Mr. Xu Nian, do you take Ms. Xu Xi to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, for joy or for sorrow, to love her, to cherish her, to be with her, for all eternity, and to never leave her?"

All eyes were fixed on Xu Nian's face, waiting for him to say those words.

Among them, the girl dressed in red looked the most expectant.

Even if she could only be the wife of her beloved for a few days, she would have no regrets.

Xu Nian closed her eyes and softly uttered four words.

"I don't want to."