Chapter 4 The long and winding road is never smooth

Su Anyi was surprised: "He has never mentioned it to me."

He said that for the remaining two times, he had no intention of coming back alive

Su Anyi rushed forward, supporting the handlebars, and pushed his shoulder: "You don't need to worry about it."

"Wow, he said the same about you." Utai laughed, "Just now Qiao said, you are too competitive, taking you along is equivalent to going to your death. Even for him, there are eight out of ten times he won't make it to Qingye Wan."

He is already someone else's fiancé. Su Anyi murmured, briefly recounting the connection between the two families' children, "If I do not attempt to win him back now, I may never have the chance again in this lifetime. But I have reached a dead end; I have cried out and pleaded with him, and I have done foolish things to provoke him, all in vain. When a person no longer has you in their heart, those childish actions appear to others as nothing more than the antics of a clown."

I do not wish to speak with you. " Joe interrupted her, " You did not come to find me either.

"I knew you would be this foolish. Qiao said that when you arrived just now, you looked disheveled and covered in dust. He knew that you are too serious and will not rest until you achieve your goal"

Qiao had a stern expression on his face and said, "Come back with me"

Qiao jumped into the car: "It has nothing to do with me."

"That's wonderful, thank you!" She exclaimed with great joy and rushed over to give Qiao a kiss on the cheek

"Good." Qiao took down the key, "You may leave."

The torrential rain fell like a deluge, and in an instant, she was drenched through and through. Through the curtain of water, the world appeared hazy and indistinct, making it impossible to discern the direction. The sounds of wind and rain intertwined with the crashing waves. She dared not proceed recklessly, fearing that a moment's inattention might lead her to fall over the edge of the cliff.

While speaking, Qiao emerged from the kitchen with grilled fish, helped himself to some rice, and ignored Su Anyi.

Qiao pointed behind him: "It's buried in the mud"

After passing the gravel road outside the village, the bumpy dirt road was riddled with ravines, undulating with the terrain and steep in gradient. Su Anyi rode her motorcycle alone, stopping at the bottom of a steep slope. She looked up, and the reddish dirt path crossed over the ridge. Her palms were damp, and she began to have second thoughts.

"That was just a heated remark." Su Anyi pressed her lips together, "This is not the time for an argument. I will be leaving in a few days. Before that, could you listen to my reasons and then decide whether to take me to Qingye Wan?"

The car could not turn around on the road and could only continue forward, soon catching up with Qiao

Utai was unwilling to seek out Qiao, saying that at this moment he would surely despise himself as well, and that he would wait for two days until he calmed down. Su Anyi set out early in the morning; the old pickup truck in the village had a malfunctioning engine, so she had to borrow a motorcycle. Confident from having ridden a bicycle for many years, she practiced briefly in an open area by the village before hurrying on her way. At this moment, she recalled the arduous journey days ago when she had driven across the island with Utai, feeling a sense of trepidation.

Su Anyi let out a "hum"

Su Anyi cried even more fiercely, her shoulders shaking violently, her breath choked with sobs. The waves surged over the rocks, washing over her bare feet, warm and slippery, gently caressing them. She gazed at the shimmering waves on the sea surface, took a deep breath, and plunged into the ocean

Since the last time she was caught by Qiao with a frog's foot, Su Anyi has been practicing diligently, and her ability to hold her breath underwater has increased significantly. Occasionally, she takes a breath, unaware of how long she has been drifting in the sea. Initially, the saltwater stings her eyes, but after getting used to it, she can open her eyes. The weather is overcast, and the colors in the water are also dull, yet in the distance, the coral emits a faint green glow. Su Anyi has never seen such a sight; her curiosity piqued, she swims closer, but the flickering light disappears again. She has not had lunch and has been swimming for half a day, feeling extremely hungry at this point. She finds a shallow area to come ashore, where there is only a simple little restaurant nearby. The food is rudimentary, but fortunately, the fish and shrimp are fresh and delicious.

Utai shouted: "Where is my motorcycle?"

I will not bring a person lacking sleep into the sunken ship

That is new

Oh, he just said that a friend will come for dinner, and this fish is what he just caught. The shopkeeper looks at the sky and says, "There will be a heavy rain soon. After you finish eating, I will help you find a place to stay."

The shopkeeper pulled her: "Qiao said, you cannot ride a motorcycle, the road is very dangerous, I advise you not to run around"

Su Anyi was completely chilled, merely shivering

"He is Flora's younger brother..." Utai fell into deep thought, "I am sure I have seen him. At that time, I was always with Azan, and Tianwang came to find her. Shortly after the incident, he arrived at Sucha Island, when Qingye Wan was still in its original place, not yet carried to the edge of the cliff by the current. Therefore, he went diving twice, but found nothing."

Is it like this... Su Anyi lowered her head and said, "I don't care whether you come back or not"

Someone stepped back and pushed her aside, bending down to lift the motorcycle

Qiao Zhi appeared to be oblivious to the situation

Having lost a beloved one, Qiao can only use a hibiscus flower to replace the visage of A-Zan; yet at least he knows that Shen Tianwang is living healthily and vibrantly in this world. In contrast, what right does he have to speak lightly of giving up?

The shopkeeper asked: "You are Joe's friend, aren't you?"

"What use is there in saying these things now? He ultimately still gave up..." She felt a deep sorrow in her heart, "Could it really be that it is my elder brother... His words were full of inconsistencies, and later he simply stopped explaining."

"I don't have time to coax you." Qiao leaned down and took out a speargun from below the balcony

"Why not strive for it? You are such a beautiful and lovely girl." Utai said as he put his arm around Su Anyi's shoulder

Rest assured, I understand Qiao; he is not one to easily agree with you, " Utai said as he patted her head, " but once he is willing to go with you, he will do everything in his power to protect you

Arriving in front of the cabin, just as he was about to raise his hand to knock on the door, Qiao pushed the door open. In front of him, Su Anyi was covered in dust, having fallen countless times, drenched in sweat, and with a face smeared in dirt. He frowned and asked, "How did you get here?"

Su Anyi nodded: "If he doesn't take me, I will swim over myself"

She held a plate, sat down opposite him, and said: "I am sorry. I did not know the guide who previously brought Tian En..."

"As you wish." Qiao picked up the spear gun and the mask, and strode away

The long road was rugged, and the wind and sand struck her face. Su Anyi could not bring herself to cover her mouth and nose, only feeling the difficulty of breathing. She could not open her eyes, so she simply leaned forward on the motorcycle and pushed it uphill, her feet slipping constantly, as if a thousand-pound weight pressed down on her shoulders, making it nearly impossible to move. The clouds were torn apart by lightning, and large raindrops fell with a crackling sound, creating small puddles on the ground, showing a tendency to become increasingly dense. Su Anyi felt anxious in her heart and could not help but grip the throttle tightly, causing the motorcycle to lurch forward and throw her to the ground. She gritted her teeth, got up, and went to support the motorcycle.

I somewhat regret not stopping you back then, Utai scratched his head, now it seems that you did not simply want to pay tribute to a friend.

As if returning to a vast embrace

My ex-boyfriend, we broke up more than five years ago

Su Anyi held a cup of hot tea to warm herself, while Utai asked something in the local dialect. Qiao responded briefly, changed clothes, and collapsed onto the mat to sleep.

In that case, I will return now. Su Anyi stood up and left the shop

Uthai opened his eyes wide: "I seem to have heard this story before"

Utai sighed: "At the very least, Tian Wang has not easily given up on you."

Su Anyi chuckled lightly: "He is truly a stubborn person"

Su Anyi, feeling competitive, got back on the motorcycle. She still owed Qiao an apology.

Indeed, she is quite proud

In the distance, two beams of light slowly moved. Uthai jumped down from the pickup, wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and pushed her into the driver's seat, his tone tinged with reproach: "My silly sister, why did you run out by yourself? If I hadn't fixed the car, you would have been washed away to the sea by the heavy rain"

In the midst of worldly vanity, who can maintain a heart of innocence? His fiancée is right; the bond of childhood innocence is merely a childish game, taken seriously by no one

In an instant, all hope faded; she wished she could leap from the cliff's edge. Gazing out at the sea, a solitary small island came into view, precisely where Qingye Wan was located. She stumbled to the cape, where beneath a tree lay a small pile of stones adorned with shells and coral fragments. On the bark that had peeled away, there was an inscription carved with a knife: "Jialang, Zani Wansi Li." Utai sometimes joked with Su Anyi, calling her Jialang, meaning the one most beloved.

Qiao waved his hand to push An Yi away and turned inward

I am not a child, nor do I have time to listen to your stories. Qiao lowered his head to eat.

His attitude was indifferent, and Su Anyi retorted, "Why should it be? Is this beach yours? Where I go has nothing to do with you"

At this moment, I realize how naive I have been, unable to help but cry out loud, needing to scream in order to release the sorrow that is trapped within my heart. The strong winds and turbulent waves drown out her cries. She tightly hugs her shoulders, feeling like a solitary speck of dust in the vastness of the sky and sea, with the anguish of a collapsing world in her heart, unnoticed by others, disregarded, and without anyone to offer comfort.

Indeed, on our way back from the clinic

She turned slightly and cast a sidelong glance at Qiao's profile: "Since I can come this way, I can certainly go back!"

The buoyancy of the seawater alleviates all her burdens, allowing every cell to relax, as if her bones and blood have merged into this expanse of azure. She wishes to hide within these emerald waves, like a fetus curled up in its mother's womb, thus avoiding the disturbances of the real world.

Forget it, forget it. Wu Tai waved his hand, Tomorrow we will come back to move. You two have such bad tempers, I can't afford to offend either of you

Qiao suddenly interrupted the two with a gruff voice: "You two have been talking non-stop, how can anyone sleep?"

The road was filled with loose soil, and once the wheels sank in, it was easy to skid. Su Anyi pressed the accelerator harder, leaping over several dirt ditches, and suddenly the resistance lessened. The motorcycle sped towards the cliff by the roadside. She hurriedly squeezed the brakes and turned the handlebars, but the rear wheel was blocked by bushes, leaving almost half of the motorcycle suspended in the air. She broke into a cold sweat, steadied the motorcycle, and dared not accelerate forcefully again. Focusing her mind, she slowly moved forward, keeping close to the inner side of the dirt road. The ridge ahead was too steep, and halfway up, the wheels began to spin in place and slowly rolled back. Su Anyi panicked, unsure whether to accelerate or to hold the brakes. In her hesitation, the motorcycle had already started to roll back. She lost her grip, lost her balance, and fell backward, sliding down to the roadside. She was enveloped in dust, coughing incessantly, but fortunately, she was not injured, only her back ached severely. Struggling to get up to support the motorcycle, she exerted all her strength to push it to the top of the slope, her arms and legs tense and trembling. Exhausted, Su Anyi collapsed onto the grass, reflecting on how much effort she had expended while Shen Tianwang remained completely unaware, offering her no sympathy. What difference would it make to know? Over the years, she had done all sorts of foolish things, yet he had never shown the slightest concern. She had always been proud, thinking that Tianwang was merely pretending to be indifferent, but after playing the role of the heartless for so long, she wondered if it had become real. Over the years, she had done all sorts of foolish things, yet he had never shown the slightest concern. She had always been proud, thinking that Tianwang was merely pretending to be indifferent, but after playing the role of the heartless for so long, she wondered if it had become real.

"This is truly insane," Qiao snorted coldly, "You should not have come here"

Su Anyi stubbornly turned around and walked towards the beach in the opposite direction, feeling suffocated. Wu Tai once said that Qiao only appeared to be harsh, but in fact, he was being even more ruthless at this moment. It was in vain that she had trusted him so much, as if she had placed her life in his hands while underwater. It turned out to be nothing more than unrequited feelings; Qiao did not consider her a friend and would certainly not fulfill her wishes by going to Qingye Wan. A black reef jutted out from the sea, and Su Anyi sat on it with her knees hugged, gazing at the vast waves, feeling as if she had reached the ends of the earth, unable to take another step forward. It turned out to be nothing more than unrequited feelings; Qiao did not consider her a friend and would certainly not fulfill her wishes by going to Qingye Wan. A black reef jutted out from the sea, and Su Anyi sat on it with her knees hugged, gazing at the vast waves, feeling as if she had reached the ends of the earth, unable to take another step forward

Qiao was shaken by her impatience: "It depends on the situation; the sea surface is calmest around noon."

Does that mean there is still a chance for success

Su Anyi was taken aback: "We are just acquaintances"

Su Anyi threw off her helmet and shouted: "If you want to go, then go!"

Su Anyi could not believe her ears, and after a moment of astonishment, she rushed over to shake his shoulder: "You are really willing to take me? Is it true? We are going tomorrow?"

Rest assured, I am not here to look for you either

Self

Who

I know that my request is quite foolish

I do not know what I can prove, I just do not want to live in a daze. Su Anyi said, "I have already spent a few years living in a drunken stupor, but none of this is effective; I cannot numb myself. I cannot lose him."

"You are very smart, not foolish at all," Joe looked up and said, "It's just that whatever you do is useless"

Riding a motorcycle

A gust of wind swept through, raising clouds of dust, and she could hardly open her eyes. Thick clouds had gathered from the horizon, suggesting that a storm was imminent. Su Anyi's tourist visa was about to expire, and time was of the essence. Gritting her teeth, she tightened her grip on the handlebars, and the motorcycle roared as it careened up the slope.