I dared not try to stop them.
After that incident, Liang Shi never dared to say anything related to Shen Hui again.
No matter how upset Zhao Xuning was, he resolutely refused to use the name Shen Hui to provoke or hurt her.
That was Zhao Xuning's real weakness.
To be loved so persistently is a kind of luck.
Now that Shen Hui is getting engaged, things are finally settling down.
Liang Shi was deeply moved upon hearing this.
But she and Xu Qingzhu were outsiders and powerless to do anything about it.
However, Liang Shi had an interview that day, and during a break, she overheard some staff members discussing, "Wow, what grudge do they have? They're actually kneeling up three thousand steps?"
"I'm not saying this, but are young people's relationships these days really this dramatic?"
"The key is that with such good looks, why hang yourself on one tree?"
"What? I heard that these two broke up and now one of them is getting engaged. He was on his way to the mountain with his fiancée to enjoy the scenery when his ex-girlfriend came out and said that they couldn't get engaged. The woman got angry and said that if she could climb all three thousand steps to Huichang Temple at the top of the mountain with a bow and prostration, she wouldn't get engaged."
"Is this even possible? What kind of treacherous ex-girlfriend is this?"
"If she were ugly, I would just say she got what she deserved. But she's so beautiful, and she's wearing a white coat, I... I feel like I'm watching a fantasy drama."
"Someone has discovered that this is Zhao Ying's cousin!"
"Huh? Really? Her ex-girlfriend is an angel! Is it really necessary to do this?"
"Who knows about matters of the heart? But to be honest, the way she knelt and climbed the steps was so heartbreaking, it broke my heart."
"People online really thought she was filming a movie, not trying to win back her ex-girlfriend. They just didn't see any cameras, hahaha."
"..."
The discussion was in full swing. It was evening, and the sky was filled with crimson clouds. Liang Shi overheard the conversation and immediately heard about Zhao Ying's cousin. Wasn't that Zhao Xuning?
Then I asked my assistant for my phone, but no messages came through.
However, there was a trending topic on the hot search list: #ZhaoYing'sCousinThreeThousandSteps#.
The "three thousand steps" is actually an exaggeration. In reality, there is a mountain on the outskirts of Haizhou City, and on the mountain is Huichang Temple, which is said to be particularly effective for praying for marriage and children. Most people take the cable car from the foot of the mountain to Huichang Temple at the top, but there is a mountain path that, according to incomplete statistics, has more than two thousand steps, which is jokingly referred to as the "three thousand steps".
In the past, some people would kowtow as they walked up the three thousand steps, mostly to pray for their children.
In recent years, everyone has gotten used to taking the cable car and is too lazy to even walk up, let alone take a step and make a fuss.
Liang Shi saw Zhao Xuning's picture online. Her clean white coat was covered in dust. When she left her house this morning, she was wearing black high-waisted wide-leg pants and a white shirt, a look that she has kept almost unchanged for years.
Her light brown straight hair was tied into a low ponytail, which was rather haphazard and lacked any aesthetic appeal.
But her face will enhance her beauty.
Even the most ordinary clothes look beautiful on her.
The most widely circulated videos online are only a dozen seconds long.
Zhao Xuning's face was somewhat pale. He didn't look ahead, but just bowed devoutly and woodenly. His forehead was dirty, and a few strands of hair hung down on the side of his face. He truly bowed once for every step, and every movement was very standard.
Originally, climbing three thousand steps with each step and each prostration was not a big deal.
But Zhao Xuning was too good-looking, and today was Huichang Temple's annual anniversary celebration, so there were many people from all over the country.
At first, people thought it was a movie shoot, but later they realized there were no cameras.
Furthermore, someone witnessed Zhao Xuning arguing with Shen Hui, which led to what happened later.
At first, it was just a topic about a lovelorn woman trying to win back her girlfriend. Later, someone discovered that this person had previously posted a photo with Zhao Ying on Weibo and was Zhao Ying's doctor cousin.
There are no secrets on the internet.
Zhao Xuning became a trending topic.
Even though it carries Zhao Ying's full name.
Liang Shi stared at the video three times. Zhao Xuning's complexion in the video was very strange. She had a fever when she left her house in the morning. How could she possibly withstand this?
Liang Shi sent Xu Qingzhu a message: 【Did you see the trending topic? Zhao Xuning.】
Xu Qingzhu replied after a while: [Just finished a meeting, what's up?]
Liang Shi: [...She's gone mad.]
There is no other explanation but madness.
Xu Qingzhu also finished reading the trending topics and sent her a screen full of ellipses.
Liang Shi forwarded the video posted by a netizen to Xu Qingzhu: "[She's probably still running a fever. If she falls down the steps... that would be a tragedy.]"
Xu Qingzhu: [Never mind, I'll go find her.]
Liang Shi: [No, she's already climbed so high, don't tire yourself out. I'll go, I'm almost done here.]
Xu Qingzhu: [I'll try calling her.]
After a while, Xu Qingzhu said again: "I can't get through."
Liang Shi also tried to contact Zhao Xuning, but the phone call went unanswered.
The interview was still a ways off, so Liang Shi urged the staff to cut two questions and finish the interview as soon as possible. As soon as the interview was over, he immediately ran out and drove to the outskirts of the city.
//
Meanwhile, in the suburbs, Shen Hui and Wu Li stood at the foot of the mountain.
People were coming and going all around, and many were already descending the mountain.
People passing by were talking about the person they had just met, saying how beautiful she was.
We started talking about how this person even trended on social media, because he climbed 3,000 steps to try and get back together with his ex-girlfriend.
Wu Li stood to the side, somewhat at a loss. Shen Hui remained silent and motionless. Ever since Zhao Xuning began to climb the three thousand steps one step at a time, she had maintained this posture, without moving an inch.
It looks like a sculpture.
Finally, Wu Li couldn't hold back any longer, "Ah Hui, we're getting engaged next week, right?"
Shen Hui looked at her and pursed her lips: "Not necessarily?"
His tone was slow and gentle, with a hint of huskiness.
"You don't really want to... because of Zhao Xuning..." Wu Li was taken aback, and said with a bitter smile, "Have you two always been entangled in something?"
Shen Hui shook her head: "We haven't been in touch for a long time."
"Then you?" Wu Li frowned. "You didn't really believe her, did you? I really didn't lie to you, I..."
“I have my own judgment.” Shen Hui stood straight with her hands in her pockets. “There are many things that I can’t believe just because she says a few words.”
Wu Li anxiously tried to explain, "We've been together for half a year, you should know what kind of person I am, right?"
“I know,” Shen Hui said. “You might be able to lie to me, but Zhao Xuning…”
She paused, then added, "I would never lie about this."
Zhao Xuning said that Wu Li should not be married, and that Wu Li's mistakes were unforgivable.
Although it was not explained in detail what it was about.
Zhao Xuning wouldn't slander someone like this without absolute evidence.
That's Zhao Xuning.
He is Zhao Xuning, who is stubborn, obstinate, and unruly, but always maintains high moral standards.
Shen Hui heard someone beside her talking about Zhao Xuning trending on social media. Soon after, several cars stopped at the foot of the mountain, a large group of bodyguards appeared, and a woman dressed in gorgeous clothes appeared at the foot of the mountain. Her face was somewhat similar to Zhao Xuning's.
Shen Hui remained unmoved.
Soon, the trending topics on the internet were all removed, and Shen Hui received a call from Shen Fenghe, "Where are you?"
"At the foot of the mountain," Shen Hui said, "I originally came here to relax."
"Go home," Shen Fenghe said, "if you don't want to get entangled with Zhao Xuning anymore."
Looking at the seemingly endless three thousand steps, Shen Hui smiled bitterly and said, "It seems I'm destined to be entangled with her."
Shen Fenghe paused for a long time without speaking.
"Have you thought it through?" Shen Fenghe asked.
Shen Hui let out a soft breath, her laughter tinged with emotion: "Sister, she's climbing three thousand steps for me."
Shen Fenghe was taken aback: "I know."
“She…” Shen Hui paused, a tear rolling down her cheek, her voice choked as she said, “She bowed down to me.”
Shen Fenghe coughed lightly: "Otherwise what? You are Shen Hui, isn't it only right that she bows her head to you? How many times have you compromised for her sake?"
Shen Hui's voice was very soft, blending with the evening spring breeze: "She once said that she would never do something like climbing three thousand steps, one step at a time, even if it meant death."
"So?" Shen Fenghe also softened her voice.
Shen Hui thought for a moment and said, "I'll wait for her on the mountain."
"Your marriage to Wu Li?" Shen Fenghe asked.
Shen Hui glanced at Wu Li standing beside her: "Cancel it."
Cold and heartless.
It's as if she wasn't the one who's been dating these past few months.
It certainly doesn't count as dating.
Even though they work in the same hospital, they only see each other three times a week. Wu Li still doesn't know where her home is. They eat together once a month, and she only met her family last week.
Rather than saying she wants to get married, it's more accurate to say she's genuinely looking for a way to let herself go.
It is difficult to find either one.
When I wake up in the middle of the night, I still think of Zhao Xuning, and the phantom that occasionally appears when I pass by the university campus is still Zhao Xuning.
I'm punishing myself day and night, unable to let go, unable to put it down.
These days left Shen Hui utterly exhausted.