It was night, and it was pouring rain outside the window.

Jane Yi was sleeping soundly on Lan Jin's chest, when suddenly there was a loud knock on the door.

The sound of the rain was mixed with panicked shouts: "Jane Yi! Jane Yi!"

Jane Yi and Big Cat woke up almost at the same time.

"Yi Yi, someone is calling your name outside." Lan Jin rubbed her eyes and said.

Jane Yi listened carefully to the shout several times, and vaguely recognized that it was Jin Xiang's shout.

She put on a coat casually and walked out, but was stopped by the oncoming wind and rain, so she had to turn around and take an umbrella.

The big cats also squeezed under the umbrella.

"Come! Come!" Jane Yi opened the door.

"Jane Yi!" Jin Xiang cried in her hoarse voice as if seeing a savior.

Although she came here with an umbrella, the rain was too heavy. Half of Jin Xiang's body was already wet, and her trouser legs were covered with mud. She held Jane Yi's with her cold hand: "Ah Feng, he has a fever, and it hasn't subsided., taking medicine doesn’t work, the clinic in the village is closed, and the hospital in the town is too far away, I... I wanted to ask Granny Yue Fen for help, but the little lion said she was not at home, so I had to come to you......"

Jin Xiang stammered, the tears in her eyes seemed to fall at any moment.

"Don't panic, I'll drive you to the hospital." Jane Yi reassured her.

"Thank you...thank you..." Jin Xiang wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeve.

Big Cat originally wanted to follow, but was stopped by Jane Yi: "Ajin, you stay at home."

"But...but I want to be with you." Big Mao Mao was not happy.

"It's still in the middle of the night, and the thunder is so loud, Xiaozhu will definitely be scared if he wakes up in the middle of the night and finds that none of us are at home." Jane Yi opened the car door and let Jin Xiang get in the car first, "Hey, I'll be back soon. YouGo back to your room, the rain has wet your fur."

Big Cat had no choice but to compromise and said, "Okay, I understand."

Jane Yi first drove to Jin Xiang's house.

Jin Xiang and Zheng Feng lived in a single-family small white house under Xiaocui Peak. When they opened the door, the tall Futuo tree in the yard attracted Jane Yi's attention, and soon the yard was full of flowers.The petals were scattered by the rain.

Jane Yi followed Jin Xiang into the living room, and unexpectedly found that Zheng Feng was sleeping on the sofa.

A wedding photo hangs on the living room wall.Zheng Feng in the photo is still very young, with a handsome face and a happy and shy smile on his brows and eyes.And Zheng Feng on the sofa already had an old face, even with his eyes closed, he could still see the deep fatigue between his eyebrows.

Time is really merciless.

It was already five o'clock in the morning when drove the man to the hospital.

After examination, the doctor said that the cause was pneumonia caused by a cold.

"Although it's very hot during the day these days, the temperature difference between day and night is huge. You should keep warm at night, especially for an elderly person like this, who has weak immunity." The nurse gave Zheng Feng the needle and said.

Jin Xiang listened carefully to the precautions given by the nurse, and nodded from time to time.

"Okay, ring the bell to call me when the potion in the bottle runs out." The nurse picked up the medicine list on the bedside table and ticked the first box of potion.

When he walked to the door of the ward, he turned around and said, "The family members, please go to the first floor to pay the fee."

Jin Xiang, who was pinching the quilt for Zheng Feng, hurriedly said, "Okay, I'll be right there!"

"Jane Yi, please stay here to watch Ah Feng for a while, and I'll be back after I pay the fee." Jin Xiang put down these words and ran downstairs without touching the ground.

Jane Yi stood by the bed and waited quietly for a while.

The rain outside the window has lightened a lot, just making a ticking sound.

There are two beds in this ward, but Zheng Feng is the only patient at this time.The light from the incandescent lamps in the room was pale and cold, adding a cool tone to the already quiet atmosphere.

When Jin Xiang came back, she had an extra bag of food in her hand.

"I'm so sorry for you. If you hadn't driven Ah Feng here, I wouldn't know what to do. Let's eat something first." Jin Xiangsai gave her a piece of bread and a cup of heated millet porridge, "I'll pay the feeAfter walking around the hospital, I found that most of the shops were closed, so I could only buy some snacks in the supermarket."

Jane Yi wasn't very hungry, but Jin Xiang showed her kindness, so she still tore open the package and tasted a few mouthfuls.

Jin Xiang sat down next to her, and talked a little tiredly about the reason why Zheng Feng contracted pneumonia: "He was woken up by the sound of rain at night, and when he moved the baby flowers in the yard into the living room, he got wet by the rain.In this case, just change into a set of dry clothes, but he was worried that going to the bedroom to find clothes would wake me up, so he didn't change it... until I was also woken up by the sound of rain, and when I got up and went to the yard to look at the flowers, I found that he had already started to have a fever."

Having said that, Jin Xiang smiled wryly, and said, "You also found out, Ah Feng didn't sleep with me at night."

Regardless of Jane Yi's reaction or not, Jin Xiang continued: "He is getting stranger to me now, and it's not that I don't know the reason."

Zheng Feng has been hiding from Jin Xiang, especially outside, and always tries not to stay with her.Stagger when walking, lest others see them holding hands.I dare not go shopping outside, for fear of hearing others say "your daughter is so filial" which makes people feel uncomfortable.

When living in another village, Zheng Feng tried to match Jin Xiang with another young man.Jin Xiang was dull at the time and didn't realize anything. It wasn't until Zheng Feng was thinking about leaving alone, quietly packing his luggage, intentionally or unintentionally creating opportunities for the two of them to meet, that Jin Xiang understood his intentions.

The result is naturally a big fight, and then move together.

"...He is a deaf-mute, and it is difficult to find a job. When he was young, he had several good job opportunities, but he gave up because of me. I will not grow old. In order not to make people around me suspicious, I can only stopMoving to a new place is equivalent to starting anew, which is very difficult for him who is originally introverted. Now his health is getting worse and worse, and his daily meal is only a small bowl." Jin XiangHis voice was a little choked.

"Ah Feng wants to get me to be with someone else and leave by himself, but where can he go? All his money is in my hands. How does he plan to live in the future? After thinking about it, I just think he wants to choose oneDie quietly where I can't see." Jin Xiang's tears rolled down her cheeks.

When they first met, Jane Yi thought Jin Xiang was a carefree flower demon.Unexpectedly, her feelings are extraordinarily delicate.

Maybe he wanted to show that he didn't care in front of Zheng Feng, or maybe he deliberately used the appearance of rough nerves to buffer the damage caused to Zheng Feng by the outside world.

Jane Yi didn't say anything.

She knew that what Jin Xiang needed at this time was not comfort, but a listener.

Zheng Feng had a dream.

Dreamed of the scene where he and Jin Xiang met for the first time.

He is the second child in the family, sandwiched between the eldest and the youngest, has a disability, and is often a neglected child.

When he was in elementary school, he didn't realize the gap between himself and others. He followed the ordinary class for a period of time, but found it difficult for him to keep up.

When the teacher lectures at a fast speed, he has no time to understand the other party's lips.The child has no patience. After finding that he can't understand or speak, he basically won't take him to play, and even make fun of him.

After following the regular class for one semester, Zheng Feng obeyed the arrangement of his family and transferred to a special education school.

The classmates in the class have the same flaws as him, which makes him, who has always been withdrawn, find a sense of belonging.

During the summer vacation when he was sixteen, he went home on vacation and met a classmate from his former primary school.

The other party invited him to play football, and he happily agreed.Who wants to kick down a game, because of the debate about winning or losing, he becomes someone else's punching bag.

Zheng Feng was a little dazed when he recalled what happened at that time, because he was an emotionally stable person, so he couldn't understand why someone's temper would change so quickly. He was very friendly one second, and pointed at his face the next second.Call him useless deaf.

When he was knocked to the ground by his fist, Zheng Feng's first reaction was to protect his head.He has never learned to fight, he only knows the most effective way to protect himself.

The expected fist did not land on his back, but a clear female voice sounded beside his ears: "What are you doing!"

Zheng Feng couldn't describe his feelings at that moment.

This was the first time he heard outside voices.

A light suddenly appeared in the endless darkness.

He looked up and saw a tall girl in an ill-fitting coat.

Zheng Feng didn't care about what other people said, his eyes fell on the girl, and he saw the girl's lips opening and closing, holding his breath amidst the violent heartbeat.

Not dreaming!He could indeed hear the girl's voice!

How the others left, he couldn't remember anymore, just when the girl turned to leave, he rushed forward and grabbed her skirt anxiously——

"Why?" Jin Xiang raised an eyebrow and turned to look at him.

Zheng Feng smelled the fragrance of flowers in a trance.

Is he dreaming?

wake up.

Zheng Feng opened his eyes, and what he saw was the white ceiling and the nearly finished medicine bottle.

Then came Jin Xiang's worried face.

"How do you feel now?" Jin Xiang touched his forehead, "Is there any discomfort...why are you laughing?"

"Nothing." Zheng Feng gestured, "I had a dream."

"What dream?"

"Dream about when we first met."

Jin Xiang frowned and recalled the memories.

"You are brave and bright."

Jin Xiang watched his movements, puzzled: "Bright?"

"It shines into my life like a light."

Jane Yi heard the news of Zheng Feng's death a week later.

If it wasn't Yue Fen's mother-in-law who brought the news, Jane Yi would definitely think it was some bad prank.

She was stunned for a long time before slowly saying: "Is pneumonia a serious illness? When I left the hospital that day, Zheng Feng's fever had almost subsided."

"It wasn't because of pneumonia. Zheng Feng was discharged from the hospital yesterday."

"Why is that?" Jane Yi asked softly, as if afraid of disturbing something.

Granny Yue Fen was silent for a while: "After being discharged from the hospital, Zheng Feng bought fruit from the vendor at the entrance of the hospital. The quality of the bag was not very good, and there was a hole in it. When he bent down to pick up the fallen apple, he disappeared."

Jane Yi paled: "How could it be..."

"Old people are like this. I don't know which will come first, tomorrow or the accident." Granny Yue Fen half-closed her eyes, trying to keep her tone light.

Jane Yi: "How is Jin Xiang now?"

"She is taking care of Zheng Feng's funeral."

Jin Xiang doesn't have many friends in White Deer Village, so only Jane Yi and Yang Yuefen were invited to the funeral.

Jane Yi came to Jin Xiang's house for the second time, and she noticed something strange as soon as she stepped through the gate.

Sensing Jane Yi's gaze, Jin Xiang explained, "The flowers planted by Ah Feng all withered overnight, as if they had made an appointment."

The original green yard has become gray and ruined.

Even the tall futuo tree hangs down its green branches, drooping its head.

A deep hole was dug beside the tree.

"I plan to bury Ah Feng's ashes in this pit." Jin Xiang pointed to the direction of the pit and said, "When I withered before, he buried me here."

Jane Yi watched Jin Xiang's side face, and suddenly heard a slight cracking sound.

A long crack appeared on Jin Xiang's cheek.When she spoke, the crack was also pulled, revealing the golden texture beneath the skin.

"Ah Xiang, what's wrong with your face?" Jane Yi gasped.

"Don't be afraid." Jin Xiang reached out and touched her cheek, and smiled at her: "I'm just about to wither, and it's been almost five years since the last time I bloomed."

"Then...does that require me to bury you?" Jane Yi stared at the wound in horror.

"No, I can bury myself." Jin Xiang said indifferently.

Granny Yue Fen interjected behind the two: "The conversation between the two of you sounds really creepy."

The three of them looked at each other at first, not knowing who started it, and slowly laughed together.

The funeral was not as sad as expected.

After burying Zheng Feng's urn, the three had a simple meal together.

Jane Yi left first, and mother-in-law Yue Fen stayed for a while.

Before leaving, she asked, "Ah Xiang, what are your plans for the future?"

"Grandma Yue Fen, I will never meet someone as nice as Ah Feng again." Jin Xiang said.

She stood at the door, with silent courtyards and houses behind her.

"That's not necessarily true. You still have many years to live. With such a long life, there are still many possibilities." Granny Yue Fen persuaded in a subtle way.

"However, there should be very few people who can accept my periodic withering, can accept my appearance that will not age, and can patiently wait for my resurrection every time."

Granny Yue Fen: "Humans are hard to accept, but monsters may not be able to."

Jin Xiang didn't refute, just supported the edge of the door and said softly: "Grandma Yue Fen, it's getting late, you should go back early."

Two days later, Jane Yi was worried about Jin Xiang's situation, so she brought Lan Jin to visit her.

When went there for the first time, no one answered the phone, and no one answered after knocking on the door for a long time.

When went there for the second time, the situation was the same.

Jane Yi knocked on the door to no avail, and said distressed: "Is something wrong with Jin Xiang?"

Lan Jin thought for a while, then simply lowered her front paws and landed on all fours: "Yi Yi, I'll jump in with you on my back."

Jane Yi asked in a daze, "Jump in?"

She looked back at the courtyard wall which was at least two meters five, and reconfirmed: "Are you serious?"

"Really." Big Cat nodded obediently, "I can jump very high."

Jane Yi lay on Big Cat's back and hugged his neck: "I'm ready, let's jump."

"Okay!" Lan Jin stepped back a certain distance, lowered his body, and ran up——

There was a whistling wind in the surrounding area.

In a blink of an eye, it landed lightly in the yard.

It was too late to marvel at Big Mao Mao's excellent jumping ability, the scene in front of her first grabbed Jane Yi's attention.

"My God!" The big cat turned around, "Yi Yi, what's going on?"

Jane Yi swallowed: "I...I don't know either."

The whole yard is full of golden fragrant flowers.

From the decayed flower pots, from the cracked stone slabs, from the humble corners.

Especially on Zheng Feng's tomb, they are densely piled up.Not like a human grave, but more like a flower grave.

The golden fragrant flowers let the fragrant wind blow in the yard, giving this unpopular house a soft light.

"Jin Xiang?" Jane Yi stood in the middle of the courtyard and called out tentatively.

Only flowers swaying in the breeze responded to her.

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There is one more chapter to follow.