Main Story Ch. 7-21 (NIGHT END) - If It’s the Grand Finale (假如是终曲) | Light and Night 光与夜之恋

Previously on Chapter 7-19 (Read here)

Chapter 7's Light End can be read here!

Long-haired woman: But what for? What for?! My life can't return to how it was anymore!

The woman screeches in her cries, with the large shadows of the dark clouds shrouding her.

I suddenly understood, perhaps what she cares right now is no longer her appearance, but an affirmative pledge and trust.

Rather than pain, sometimes, betrayals are more lethal.

The persuasions from downstairs still continued, but the woman's emotions have gotten increasingly agitated. Her body trembles violently, and she is looking like she's about to fall.

If there isn't anyone stopping her, she will really fall!

Realizing this part, I put myself together, and walked a step forward to her.

Long-haired woman: I told you to not come any closer!

You: I knew you have considered this for a very long time before coming to such a decision, it must've been a tough one. So I will not try to change your decision. 

You: Did you know? I watched a movie before, the protagonist in it insisted for death. Everyone have tried persuading her, but in the end, everyone realized that death is the best end-result for her. Because at that moment, she looked so calmed and peaceful. So I will not stop you.

The woman looked at me dubiously, her body seemed to have relaxed a little.

You: However, she did something before passing. Do you know about it?

The woman shook her head.

You: She bought a dress that she has been liking for a long time, but she couldn't bear to buy it. Then, facing the DV, she recorded a clip for herself in her next life. This is her sense of ritual before death. They said the sense of ritual will allow one to live solemnly. How about you? Do you have anything you wanted to tell yourself in the next life?

The woman looked at me at a loss, with a grim smile.

Long-haired woman: I hope that she will never meet such happenings again in her next life.

You: Although we've only known each other for five minutes, but there are some things I'd like to tell to your next life too. Since you're planning to leave the world anyways, would you be willing to give it a listen?

The woman hesitated, then nodded.

You: I wished you will not be too mature, and be a little more selfish. Don't let anyone, or any prejudice to bind you, and always place yourself on your top priority.

Long-haired woman: How... will this be useful?

You: Of course it'd be useful, only by trusting yourself, relying on yourself, that it'll be the truth.

The woman looked at me, and her eyes have unknowingly reddened.

Long-haired woman: But as soon as I remembered my face, I feel that the world is too unfair, I'm unable to accept it--

??: There's never fairness when it comes to living.

A familiar voice came from my back, I turned around, the afternoon sun pours onto the tall figure.

You: Sariel?

He is standing not far away, quietly looking at us. I suddenly had a misconception, as if he has been standing there, standing there for a long, long time.

Sariel: Every happening will always result in something that you have no choice but to accept. It's not salvation or reconciliation that you rely on in order to live, but forgetting. 

I suddenly recalled something, tugging Sariel's hand, and walked towards the woman.

You: Did you know? He's the best best BEST designer in this world, you look beautiful in his eyes.

The woman stunned, smiling bitterly as she shakes her head.

Long-haired woman: Even I would be scared when I look at my face now.

I winked towards Sariel, then tugged his sleeve.

Sariel: She's right, you are beautiful.

Hearing so, the woman startled, and is looking at a loss. She stared at Sariel for a long time, her body kept trembling.

Long-haired woman: Thank you.

Just then, the nurses and security guards have finally caught up, and helped the woman to walk down from the edge of the balcony.

Sariel nodded slightly, holding my hand, then turned around and left.

The woman cried her heart out, different from her sobbing earlier, it's as if she wanted to let out all of her anxiousness and helplessness out at one go.

Until I've followed Sariel to the depths of the wards, I'm still thinking about his words.

"It's not salvation or reconciliation that you rely on in order to live, but forgetting."

Why did he say so? Did he also faced sufferings that were beyond salvation? Or did he also had self-doubts towards himself?

You: Just now, you--

Sariel stopped his footsteps, and looked at me.

Sariel: The movie actually didn't exist, right?

You: Eh? Yeah, I made it up.

Sariel: Looks like besides being a female short-put athlete, you can also become a screenwriter.

You: I'll take that as a compliment from you.

Sariel: Why did you want to try so hard to save her? Have you thought it before, perhaps death was her choice after careful consideration.

You: Yeah, I knew that to certain people, perhaps it'll be a burden for them to live. But when I was looking into her eyes, although it was clouded with haze, but I can still feel her desire to live. There was a time when I was playing hide-and-seek when I was a child, I was accidentally locked inside a cabinet for the whole day. I really thought I was about to die, the surroundings were particularly dark, even the air was thinned out, and nobody came to rescue me no matter how I've shouted. I was in great despair back then, crying as I drafted a will internally.

Sariel did not utter a word, only looking at me quietly.

You: I have even thought of who I should give my lollipop after I died, but in the end I still felt unwilling to let things go, so I started to yell with all my might again. Ms. Qin's despair must be a whole lot deeper than this, and it'll be even harder to overcome it. But her desire to live is still the same. Since "living" is a wonderful thing, there will always be certain things that you'll never be willing enough to let go. Perhaps, even an encounter with a little flower by the roadside in the future would be enough to become a reason for some people to live on.

It seems like I've accidentally started a self-talk again. I quietly raised my gaze to measure up Sariel's expressions, but I realized his gaze have became a lot more gentle.

Sariel: Troublemaker, causing trouble since childhood. 

You: Well I really wanted to win hide-and-seek back then. But I was quite thankful for that accident that time, after that granny has been always worrying about me, so she always kept me by her side ever since. I guess that's what you call a blessing in disguise!

Seeing me smiling, Sariel unexpectedly raised an arm and gently pinched my cheek.

You (flustered): ......!

Even he is stunned, as if he never expected himself to make such a gesture, immediately placing his hand down, with a tint of scarlet soaking over his ears.

Sariel (flustered): Clumsy bird.

You (pouting): You're dissing me again!

An almost inaudible chuckle came out from Sariel's throat, without saying a word, he held my hand as we continued walking forward.

You: But why are you in the hospital?

Sariel: To visit the sick.

You: Your friend?

Sariel didn't answer, only to open the door before him.

You: Lao Zhong?

Lao Zhong saw us, and can't help but to let out a hearty laughter.

Lao Zhong: Hohoho, why are the two of you dropping by together?

I curiously looked around this ward. There aren't a single drop bottle, or equipment like an electrocardiograph around here, looking a little empty.

You: Lao Zhong, what's your illness? Why didn't you tell me? How are you doing now, do you want to eat anything?

Lao Zhong: Of course I wanted to eat the sandwiches you made, the type with lots of meat!

You: Sure sure, I'll send them over to you tomorrow!

Sariel: Don't listen to his nonsense, he can only be a vegetarian from now on. 

Lao Zhong's face immediately drooped, pouting in dissatisfaction. 

Lao Zhong: If that diet is continued, this Lao Zhong will soon have not a single ounce of muscle left.

Sariel: Y/N, head out to help me buy some fruits.

You: Okay. What kind of fruits?

Sariel: Any would work, just watch the budget.

As he speaks, he handed his wallet to me. I waved my hand, and pushed it back to him.

You: There's no need~ It's just some fruits, I'll head out to buy them now!

Until the girl has disappeared at the end of the corridor, Lao Zhong has let out a heavy sigh, with two long and sharp horns appearing from the top of his head.

Not only him, every single patient in this ward have all changed their forms.

Knock knock-- The door is knocked, and an old doctor walked in.

Lao Zhong: Lao Li, did you see that? The young lady walking out earlier is his--

Sariel: Ahem! 

The doctor smiled as if he's already used to it, then shook his head.

Lao Li: Visiting Lao Zhong?

Sariel: Mm.

Lao Li: Unsure why, there are many Erdas started to degenerate recently. Although hospitalization can slightly relieve it, but long-term degeneration will definitely affect life spans. You probably aren't--

The doctor carefully looked into Sariel's pupils, and suddenly got shocked.

Lao Li: How did YOU also start degenerating?!

Sariel: You don't have to worry about me. I've stayed in this world for too long, the vicissitudes of mortal life, I've seen it all. It's enough.

Sariel no longer spoke, only quietly standing before the window, an arm supporting himself on the pole, allowing the curtains to brush over his hair.

Under the lights, his face is illuminated so much that he's almost transparent, his figure looking particularly distant, as if he's almost blending into the heavenly lights.

Just like the blurry, almost-disappearing star before dawn.

Noises could be heard from afar, as if there were a few drops of rain fluttering. Sariel can't help but to gaze towards the grounds.

Among the crowds, a tiny dot entered his vision. Carrying a basket of fruits, sprinting so quickly, and not even knowing how to cover the top of her head.

The bustling mortal world is so lively, misting his heart with warmth. Sariel smiled a little, but very quickly pursed his lips.

He suddenly turned around, as if he sensed something, and looked towards the corridor in alert.

Lao Li noticed it, and walked close to him, lowering his voice.

Lao Li: It's a new specialist from the burns department, his identity seems unusual. I'm still investigating his background.

Sariel nodded ever so slightly that it's almost unnoticeable, and slowly kept his gaze back.

I carried a basket of fruits, squeezing through the crowd.

Sounds of wheels rolling over the floor could be heard. A few nurses are pushing a hospital bed, yelling "give way" from their mouths as they run towards the operation room in a hurry.

I quickly moved sideways, letting them to pass through first.

Right then, a familiar figure walked past me in large strides. The moment our shoulders crossed, I stunned right there.

Although he's wearing a white coat, although he's looking stern and nervous, but that is an unforgettable face.

??: Heart rate and blood pressure?

Nurse: Heart rate 135, systolic 80, diastolic 50, heart rate is still continuously increasing.

??: Check on the patient's airways, lung condition and the ventilator's performance. Arrange an ABG*, prepare for deep vein catheterization**, go with a 500ml drip of Ringer's solution first.***

*T/N: ABG: Arterial blood gas test, measures the amounts of arterial gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide.

** T/N: Vein catheterization: A catheter placed into a large vein for more reliable vascular access. There are various medical uses and types as well. 

*** T/N: Ringer's solution is a solution of several salts dissolved in water for the purpose of creating an isotonic solution relative to the body fluids of an animal. Often used in IV drips for dehydrated patients.

In the noisy, chaotic corridor, his calm and rational voice is calming the people like a shot of cardiotonic. 

After explaining all of these, he subconsciously glanced towards me, the purple pupils shrunk a little in surprise.

Charlie: Why are you here?

You: Cha- Charlie?!

At the same time, at the northern outskirts in Guang Qi city.

A metal manufacturing factor is quietly standing here, surrounded by tall walls that securely cuts this place off from the outside worlds.

Osborn lowered the brim of his cap, passing through the narrow yet long workshop corridor, arriving before a large entrance.

Man: Shift's over?

Osborn quietly nods, taking out a card to place on the machine, with a quiet beep, the green light lights up.

The conveyor belt kept bringing him to move forward, the card is between Osborn's fingers. Its owner is now 'Osborn's' corpse, staying at Erre bay eternally along with the bombed car.

Not long after, he's brought till the end. What's before him is a dark space, with a faint burning smell lingering in the air. Standing before the operation station, the rows of display screens are rolling with complicated intel.

Instead, it's a "prison room" on the right side, with the densely packed people filling the space by either laying down or sitting down, their chests are still moving up and down, but the sounds of their breaths are already inaudible.

Osborn walked straight towards the operation station, browsing in high speeds.

Osborn: Self-destruct vessels... Report... Just as expected.

He inserted a small chip into the slot, waiting for the loading bar to be completely filled.

Suddenly, another document piqued his attention -- "Name List of Project Eclipse's Volunteers". 

Fingers gliding over the screen, pages and pages of details of the experimental subjects appeared before his eyes, there's a familiar name among them, Zhao Ze.

Osborn: !!

The notification of the completion of data transfer sounded, warning him that he has no more time left in this place.

He glanced at the people on their last legs in the "prison room", then worked around on the calculator, and finally inserted the card earlier.

Osborn: Try your best to escape.

The transparent glass gradually rises. A prisoned person seemed to have felt the breath of life, wobbling as he stood up, walking outwards.

Right on the very second he stepped out from the "prison room", there's only a blinding white around him, with sounds of explosion coming from the deeper grounds, getting gradually closer, and closer.

The shattering sounds of the metals are just by his ear, Osborn was swept over by the sudden heatwaves, and crashed towards the thick windows of the factory. The metal shards and shattered glasses full of blood is completely swallowed by fire, smoke and dust.