Chapter 38: The Sunset’s Beautiful—Let’s Watch It Forever

Chapter 38: The Sunset's Beautiful—Let's Watch It Forever

1987.

Chen Qingjuan was invited to join the faculty at Jindu University, teaching history.

The reform and opening-up policies swept across the country, bringing urban economies back to life everywhere. You could see more and more foreigners on the streets, along with plenty of street vendors—a thriving scene.

Guo Pushu had been ready for a long time. When the policy came out, a lot of people held back, still shaken by the past upheaval, but she was bold. She'd already made her first fortune, making everyone else jealous. They rushed to follow her, but only got the leftovers—couldn't steal that early advantage anymore.

She did business both at home and abroad, driven by ambition.

Guo Pushu had the chops to back it up, pulling off amazing results in just a few short years. At the same time, she gave a lot of women across the country a wake-up call: women could make money too.

Her achievements were too many to list.

She didn't just run businesses—she also invested in projects. As long as they benefited the country and the people, she didn't hesitate to throw money at them. Schools all over the country had received donations from her.

As Chen Qingjuan walked through the campus, he heard that Guo Pushu had become the idol of this generation of students. Even her photo and bio were on the school's honor roll.

Every time he heard that, he felt a surge of pride—this was his wife.

"Professor Chen, when is your other half coming back?" In the office, other teachers saw Chen Qingjuan returning with his textbooks and couldn't resist teasing him.

Back in the day, Guo Pushu had been a student at Jindu University too. They were known as the perfect couple. Later he stayed on to teach, and many of his colleagues were still classmates from back then.

Chen Qingjuan had truly shed his old scholar's robe and cold exterior, becoming even more warm and refined.

"She called earlier and said she's almost finished with work, so she'll be home in a day or two," he said with a slight smile. Whenever he talked about his wife, the love in his eyes was obvious.

"If she gets back early, she might catch this year's cultural performance. I heard some film workers are coming to the school and will perform on stage that night."

Back then, there wasn't really a concept of "celebrities" or "artists." Acting was just a job—they were all called "film workers"—a form of artistic expression. Most of them came from traditional Chinese opera backgrounds, with beautiful voices and graceful postures. With those skills, they were worthy of being invited to perform at Jindu University.

As teachers, they probably would've known earlier, but the arrangements weren't made until the last minute. The administration decided last minute, since they'd invited a bunch of notable people from all walks of life to watch the gala. Naturally, they wanted the content and stage to be more impressive, to show off Jindu University's campus culture.

The school wasn't short on money—it was already the top-ranked university, and now it had produced several famous people. Guo Pushu, for example, had donated generously to her alma mater, funding several teaching buildings and arranging to import cutting-edge computers and medical equipment from abroad for study. Just in terms of teaching resources, they could hold their heads high.

"I hope she can come back soon too," Chen Qingjuan said longingly. He missed her terribly. She'd been away for half a month already—first to other provinces, then overseas, then back and off again on business. Her business empire kept growing, and she got busier. He didn't want to bother her too much.

The other teachers knew how devoted Chen Qingjuan was to his wife—a day apart felt like three years. After half a month of longing, he was listless, staring blankly at the photo on his desk—their picture together. He was like a flower that hadn't been watered in too long—wilting and nearly dead.

They'd seen this scene many times when they were students.

Whenever Guo Pushu was busy and away, Chen Qingjuan would become distracted, unable to sleep or eat.

Watching him like that, everyone started believing in love again.

The cultural gala was about to start, and rehearsals were tight.

Chen Qingjuan wasn't in charge of that, but there was one historical act his students had written the script for. He reviewed it, made some revisions, and it was approved.

Now they were rehearsing, so he went to check it out one afternoon.

Inside the rehearsal room, several students were totally immersed in their performance.

When they took a break, they noticed Chen Qingjuan standing at the door, watching.

"Professor Chen!"

"Professor Chen!"

They greeted him warmly.

Although Chen Qingjuan usually gave off a cool, distant vibe, when he smiled, he could be quite approachable.

And as his own students, they knew him well—he was a good man, incredibly knowledgeable. Whatever they asked, he could give an answer.

He was knowledgeable in fields beyond just history. For someone like him to only be a history teacher was almost a waste of talent.

But it was Chen Qingjuan's choice. And being a teacher, passing on his knowledge and nurturing a garden full of students, was a fine thing too.

"You're stepping wrong on that footwork," Chen Qingjuan said, walking up with a faint smile to offer guidance. "And when you hold the sword like that—your gaze needs to be firm, sharp, full of youthful spirit and ambition, as well as the fierce edge and ruthlessness from fighting on the battlefield."

The piece they were rehearsing was about Huo Qubing, the young general who conquered the Xiongnu at Mount Langjuxu—a short, brilliant military career that earned him a lasting glory, earning him the admiration of many.

"Your lines are okay, but a bit too soft…" Chen Qingjuan coached them one by one, then had them run through it again. The effect was now about seventy or eighty percent of what it could be. What remained was the environment, as well as the costumes and props—critical elements for a stellar performance.

The students came from fairly comfortable families, but nailing the details would still require some money. Chen Qingjuan asked, "Are you short on any costumes or props? If you can't find them, I can help you prepare."

"Professor, we've already raised the funds and gotten everything ready. We'd just like you to check if there are any mistakes," one student said, scratching his head apologetically.

"Okay."

Chen Qingjuan told them to balance work with rest—it was getting late, so they could head to the cafeteria for dinner first, then continue rehearsing.

He went home as well.

It was the end of September now, the start of autumn. It wasn't cold yet, just a little cool. Chen Qingjuan had put on a light jacket.

He had a bicycle; riding home didn't take long. Back then, Guo Pushu had been farsighted—when she came to study, she had spent a hefty sum to buy a house: a two-story villa with front and back gardens, a legacy of the old colonial-style mansions.

Chen Qingjuan didn't like having strangers in the house. Every day, he did all the housework and cooking himself. But when Guo Pushu was away, he had no appetite. He made something simple to eat, then read, but he couldn't concentrate. In his mind, he kept thinking: when will she come back?

Unable to contain his longing, Chen Qingjuan picked up the brick phone and called Guo Pushu.

This year, the brick phone had been introduced, and that was exactly what Guo Pushu had been frantically busy with—launching it.

The call went through, but a man answered. A man, and a foreigner at that, speaking Chinese with a heavy accent.

Chen Qingjuan's heart tightened.

He knew all the men around Guo Pushu—her assistants and secretaries—and he was sure this voice wasn't any of them. And there was no foreigner among them either.

"Who are you?" Chen Qingjuan asked coldly.

He had to trust Shushu, but… but there were so many other male comrades out there, and plenty of excellent ones too. What if… what if she really wanted to trade him in?

The other party gave a smug snort and countered, "And who are you?"

Fuming, Chen Qingjuan said, "I'm her husband!"

"Oh, so you're Shu's husband? What, got something to say?" The other party showed no guilt; on the contrary, he grew even more arrogant, as if mocking Chen Qingjuan for being so clueless—so what if he was the husband? Did he think he could check up on her?

"Where's Shushu? I need to speak with her about something," Chen Qingjuan said, clutching his heart, almost unable to breathe.

That person is truly detestable! Just never show his face in front of me—not acting like a decent person, just a homewrecker, stealing someone else's partner!

"Shushu? Oh, she's tired, she's taking a bath," that creep said suggestively.

Then he turned to blame Chen Qingjuan for being inconsiderate: "Shushu is exhausted every day, it's rare for her to relax. As her supportive husband, you can't even help her, and you're always pestering her—how annoying. You don't know how to be thoughtful at all."

There was the sound of water on the other end of the line, and the awkward sounds that come after that kind of thing.

Tears welled up in Chen Qingjuan's eyes, but he didn't dare cry out loud, fearing that homewrecker would look down on him. He hung up the phone in a huff without saying a word.

Yet he didn't have the courage to call back, terrified that things were exactly as he imagined—a result he couldn't accept. He could only suffer alone in agony.

·

Guo Pushu had already returned to Jindu and was helping her new friend Anna get settled.

She had gone to the bathroom and was washing her hands, her phone resting nearby. Anna heard it and leaned against the doorframe, asking, "That wasn't your husband calling, was it?"

"At this hour, it probably was." This was Guo Pushu's private line, only close people call on; her work phone hadn't rung.

"Guo, let me answer it." Anna already disliked the man she hadn't even met for making Guo Pushu marry so young. Otherwise, she could have been her sister-in-law—her brother was a catch too, and a perfect match for Guo.

That was how the conversation with Chen Qingjuan unfolded. Anna looked at the result of her mischief, satisfied.

Guo Pushu rubbed her forehead in exasperation, took the phone, and said, "Why did you tease him? He's probably hiding in bed without turning on the lights, crying."

"Just for fun. Why did he have to take you away?" Anna was defiant, still upset.

Guo Pushu corrected her, "It was me who took him away, not the other way around."

"I don't care, I don't care." Anna was still bratty, spoiled by her family.

Guo Pushu shook her head helplessly.

After getting Anna settled, the sky was already dark. She declined Anna's invitation to stay the night and drove home. Sure enough, the house was dark.

She opened the door and went inside, barely making out someone sitting in the living room, engulfed in darkness, the white shirt barely visible.

Guo Pushu turned on the light. The sudden brightness made her squint for a moment, and sure enough, it was Chen Qingjuan.

Chen Qingjuan looked up, a hint of happiness in his eyes when he saw it was her—only the two of them had keys to the house. But remembering the earlier phone call, his expression dimmed again, and he lowered his head, looking dejected.

"Have you been crying?" Guo Pushu draped her coat over her arm and walked over.

"No," he denied, but his voice was thick with tears.

Clearly, he had been holding it in, and now that she asked, Chen Qingjuan turned his head away, still looking pitiful.

Guo Pushu found it funny and explained, "That was my new friend, Anna. She can do voice acting—imitating voices, especially a man's voice, really well. You thought it was a man, but she's actually a woman. I'll take you to meet her tomorrow."

"I know. I didn't misunderstand," Chen Qingjuan said, happy for the explanation but too embarrassed to admit he had been jealous and upset. So he forced himself to nod calmly, steadying himself.

After hanging up, he had thought a lot: Shushu surely wouldn't be that kind of person. He shouldn't jump to conclusions and misunderstand her, but it still hurt.

"Really?" Guo Pushu studied his reaction carefully; he didn't seem too worked up.

"Of course. I'm not that fragile," he emphasized.

He stood up, took Guo Pushu's hand, and smiled softly. "Have you had dinner yet?"

"I just got back to Jindu. I had Western food with Anna, but it didn't sit well with me. I'm a bit hungry now." Guo Pushu noticed how much he had grown up, now able to hide his emotions. She didn't call him out on it, just watched to see what he wanted.

"Sit down and rest a bit. I'll make you some noodles. Do you want an egg?" Chen Qingjuan poured her a glass of water and then disappeared into the kitchen.

"Yes."

Chen Qingjuan made two servings—he hadn't eaten either, too full of jealousy to have any appetite. But now, with the two of them at home, the warm orange light casting a cozy glow, he felt happy inside. He ate an extra bowl and ended up a bit stuffed.

But nighttime was meant for exercise; eating more meant he wouldn't get hungry too quickly and end things early.

Chen Qingjuan, ever the attentive husband, washed the dishes, then went to the second-floor bathroom to draw a bath and lay out clothes before calling Guo Pushu in.

Guo Pushu had a pretty good idea of what he was up to. She pretended to know nothing, gave him a kiss on the cheek, and entered the bathroom.

A little while later.

By the time Guo Pushu finished her bath and came out, the room was filled with incense and lit by a bedside lamp. Chen Qingjuan was nowhere to be seen, but the bed bulged, the blanket rising and falling with his breath.

She walked over and pulled back the blanket to find Chen Qingjuan already "ready," looking at her shyly.

How bold.

"Shushu, come to bed. It's late." Chen Qingjuan shyly took her hand, his eyes clearly inviting.

Guo Pushu missed him too, so she didn't refuse her man's invitation. They meshed perfectly, passionate and intense.

Usually, they would stop after two or three rounds, but tonight, Chen Qingjuan kept going, pushing past his shyness to try different positions. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment, yet his actions were anything but shy—he used all his strength, his hips working hard.

He had always been the type to look slim in clothes but have a physique underneath. Afraid of being rejected, he made sure to exercise and maintain his looks, something Guo Pushu especially loved.

But by the time they reached around three in the morning, after settling into the most basic position, Guo Pushu touched his face.

"Chen Qingjuan, did you take the wrong medicine tonight?" Her lower back was really sore—he was too intense.

"Shushu, I want to be happy with you." Chen Qingjuan blinked a little slyly. At the peak of the moment, he leaned in to kiss her, lingering and tender.

Guo Pushu felt it—this guy... he was using this to tie them together. People lacking security always have their little schemes.

"If you're that excited, we don't need to sleep tonight." She played along.

They continued until dawn, only then falling asleep, exhausted but wrapped in each other's arms.

·

The next day. When Guo Pushu woke up, she realized she couldn't get out.

She wasn't chained up, but Chen Qingjuan had locked the entire house, even boarded up the windows. Their cozy home had turned into a cage.

"Chen Qingjuan, explain this. What's going on here?" Guo Pushu crossed her arms, glancing sideways at the satisfied-looking man anxiously fussing over her.

Chen Qingjuan hugged her, nuzzling his head into the crook of her neck. Pressing his face against hers, he said with excitement and anticipation, "Shushu, what if we never go out again? We'll stay home forever. The outside world is chaotic and bad. There are way too many shameless people without any decency. Here at home, it'll always be just us two—no one will bother us."

"Why don't you want to go out?" Guo Pushu didn't get angry. She gently stroked his head, coaxing him.

Chen Qingjuan was silent for a few seconds, clearly upset, and muttered gloomily, "Out there, so many people want to take you away. I'm scared. I don't want you to be taken."

"But have you thought about one thing? If I really wanted to leave, do you think locking the doors and windows would keep me in forever?" Guo Pushu countered.

Chen Qingjuan fell silent.

He didn't know if he could keep her locked in, but if she really wanted to leave, he would die too.

"See, you know that in your heart, don't you?" Guo Pushu continued. "I won't leave, and I won't abandon you. If you think locking me up will give you a sense of security, then go ahead—I'm willing to be locked up by you." She showed no sign of being forced; she was truly going along with him.

She wasn't angry at all, indulging his dark side. Chen Qingjuan pressed his lips tight, his heart ached and felt swollen, tears falling like little pearls one after another, his nose, eyes, and cheeks all flushed red from crying.

So she'd known all along about his fears.

"I won't lock you up anymore, I won't." Chen Qingjuan shook his head as he cried, handed over the keys, and hugged Guo Pushu tightly, clinging to her.

Guo Pushu wiped the tears from his face, kissed him on the lips, and said gently, "You don't have to worry or be afraid. We'll be together forever. Trust me, okay?"

This was also why she hadn't refused to let Anna answer the phone. Chen Qingjuan was anxious about losing her; his mind was troubled. Only by having a trigger to let it all out would he finally feel relief.

He was a sensitive person who needed patience, but Guo Pushu didn't find it exhausting. She'd chosen him, so why would she be tired? She was happy to grow together with him, hand in hand.

"Okay." Chen Qingjuan smiled through his tears and nodded firmly.

He had always believed, really, but he couldn't help it—his heart would still feel anxious. Yet she never turned away from him. Chen Qingjuan was truly, truly grateful.

They snuggled for a while. Then Chen Qingjuan unlocked the doors, and they went out to meet Anna.

When Anna saw Chen Qingjuan's face, her attitude immediately changed. She thought they made a perfect couple—she even sincerely apologized for her prank the night before and handed over a congratulatory gift.

·

In the evening, on their way back, the sunset was just right.

They walked hand in hand along the street, forming their own world, the noise around them completely faded away.

"Shushu."

"Mm?"

"Can we watch sunsets like this together for the rest of our lives?"

"Sure."

Chen Qingjuan gazed at the sunset on the horizon. The once lonely bird now had a companion flying alongside.

Compared to the morning sun, he preferred the sunset.

Once, it was because the sunset was the nearest glimpse of the next day's beauty—the more he looked at it, the more hope he had of surviving, helping him endure the agonizing nights.

Now.

The sunset is infinitely beautiful, growing old together till the end of life.

As long as he thought about seeing the sunset, it meant they had another day together. And his heart, oh, would keep beating forever.