The next day, sunlight filtered through the white curtains, scattering speckles of light across the floor.
Lu Zhe had already woken up. He looked down at the girl nestled in his arms, her head resting against his chest, revealing only the back of her dark-haired head. Her feet were comfortably tucked between his, their bodies pressed close together.
Suddenly, the girl stirred. She lifted her chin, her face brushing against his neck, her warm breath falling softly on his skin.
A tingling sensation spread through him, and Lu Zhe's Adam's apple bobbed as he instinctively tried to pull back slightly. But the girl's hand rested on his waist, her entire body clinging to him tightly.
Lu Zhe didn't move again. Instead, he held her closer, his dark eyes filling with warmth as he gazed at the sunlight streaming into the room.
Today, Lu Zhe needed to go to the hospital for a check-up. As usual, the caregiver arrived at the scheduled time and knocked on the door.
The girl in his arms shifted, frowning as she burrowed deeper into his embrace. "Lu Zhe, I still want to sleep," she murmured drowsily, her voice filled with dependence.
Lu Zhe couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy for his future self.
The caregiver continued knocking outside. Su Ci finally woke up, her eyes hazy with sleep as she blinked at Lu Zhe, still not fully conscious.
"Did the noise wake you?" Lu Zhe leaned down and kissed the top of her head.
Su Ci's voice was soft and lazy. "Who's outside?"
Lu Zhe reached out and gently pinched her rosy cheek. "It's the caregiver. I have to go to the hospital for a check-up today."
"A check-up?" Su Ci's mind cleared as she realized she was face-to-face with the Lu Zhe from her previous life. "Then you should get up quickly," she said, no longer holding him back.
"Mm," Lu Zhe responded.
Outside the door, the caregiver frowned when she received no response. Over the past few months, she had learned that Lu Zhe was a highly disciplined person with a very precise internal clock. Normally, he would already be up by this time.
But today, there was no answer from inside the room. Concerned, the caregiver turned the doorknob and entered.
As a patient with ALS, Lu Zhe was at constant risk, and his family had given her permission to enter his room in emergencies to ensure his safety.
The caregiver stepped inside, only to freeze in shock at the sight before her. Lu Zhe was lying in bed, his arms wrapped around someone—a girl in a white shirt, her fair skin peeking out from under the covers.
Lu Zhe quickly pulled the blanket higher, shielding Su Ci from view. His voice was cold as he demanded, "Who told you to come in?"
"Lu Zhe, I... I thought something might have happened to you," the caregiver stammered, utterly stunned. She had rushed in, fearing the worst, only to find a woman in his bed.
"Get out!"
Lu Zhe's sharp tone left the caregiver flustered. She quickly apologized and hurried out of the room.
Once the door closed, Su Ci peeked out from under the blanket. "What do we do now? We've been found out."
Last night, Su Ci had forgotten to lock the door, and Lu Zhe didn't have the habit of locking it either, given his condition. If his health deteriorated further, someone needed to be able to reach him at any moment.
Lu Zhe gently reassured her, "It's fine. I'll handle it."
Since the secret was out, Lu Zhe made no attempt to hide it further. He instructed someone to prepare clothes for Su Ci.
When Wen Ya heard from the caregiver that there was a strange girl in her son's room, she was equally shocked.
When she arrived at Lu Zhe's room and saw the unfamiliar girl opening the door, Wen Ya had no choice but to believe it.
"Auntie Wen Ya, hello," Su Ci greeted her with a hint of shyness. Despite meeting her in a different timeline, Su Ci felt no sense of unfamiliarity with Wen Ya, as they had always gotten along well.
Wen Ya nodded politely and entered the room, where she saw her son sitting in his wheelchair, fully dressed. "My dear, who is this...?"
Lu Zhe didn't look at Su Ci. He was being selfish, but he admitted, "She's my girlfriend."
Su Ci's eyes lit up at his words. Had Lu Zhe finally acknowledged their relationship?
Wen Ya was momentarily speechless. "Why haven't you mentioned her before?"
Lu Zhe's smile was faint. "Because I thought I'd lost her."
Wen Ya had never heard her son speak of a girlfriend before, so the sudden appearance of this girl was indeed a shock.
But as a woman accustomed to high society, Wen Ya quickly composed herself and turned her attention to the girl.
Now that she took a closer look, Wen Ya realized how beautiful the girl was—delicate, refined, and radiant. She had met many young ladies from prestigious families, but none could compare to the girl before her.
Wen Ya spoke gently, "What should I call you?"
Facing the older woman's scrutiny, Su Ci remained poised and introduced herself confidently. "My name is Su Ci."
Wen Ya thought for a moment but couldn't recall any prominent families with the surname Su.
However, Wen Ya wasn't one to insist on social status. As long as her son was happy and the girl had a good character, she wouldn't object, even if Su Ci came from an ordinary background.
Moreover, she felt an inexplicable fondness and familiarity toward Su Ci. Perhaps it was because the girl's beauty made it impossible not to like her.
Wen Ya said to Su Ci, "Lu Zhe hasn't told me about you. When you have time, you should come chat with me."
Su Ci knew that Wen Ya had accepted her.
Wen Ya turned to her son. "Were you planning to keep her hidden from me?"
Lu Zhe's expression softened. "No, I was going to tell you today." He didn't want Su Ci to have to hide any longer.
Wen Ya knew her son's reserved nature well, and given his illness, she hadn't paid much attention to his romantic life. She never expected him to have a girlfriend.
In the end, Wen Ya was happy. It was comforting to know that someone was willing to stay by her son's side.
After Wen Ya left the room, Su Ci knelt beside Lu Zhe's wheelchair, her face filled with worry. "What if... what if I suddenly disappear again? How will you explain it to Auntie Wen Ya?"
Lu Zhe's eyes darkened.
He looked down at her, his cool fingertips brushing against her smooth cheek. "I'll tell her you left me."
"That's not true," Su Ci protested, her eyes wide. "If I disappear, it's only because I've returned to my own time. In the next life, I'll still be with you."
Lu Zhe pinched her pouting cheek, his voice low. "It's not the same."
Once she was gone, he would no longer have her.
After breakfast, Lu Zhe went to the hospital for his check-up, accompanied by Su Ci and the caregiver.
The caregiver sat in the front passenger seat, still reeling from the morning's events.
She had never imagined that the woman in Lu Zhe's bed would turn out to be his girlfriend. And not just any girlfriend—Su Ci was stunningly beautiful, the kind of beauty that made others feel inadequate.
The caregiver stole a glance in the rearview mirror. In the back seat, Su Ci leaned against Lu Zhe, her smile enchanting as she held something up to his lips.
The caregiver quickly averted her gaze, looking out the window instead.
She had once thought highly of herself—educated, attractive, and with no shortage of suitors. Although her family background didn't match the Lu family's status, she had considered the possibility of being with Lu Zhe, given his illness and the assumption that no other woman would want him. Now, she felt nothing but shame for even entertaining such thoughts.
She was grateful she hadn't acted on her feelings. Compared to Lu Zhe's girlfriend, she would have been nothing but a joke.
In the back seat, Su Ci fed Lu Zhe a piece of candy. "Is it sweet?" She had picked up the candy earlier in the living room—all of them were peach-flavored.
Meeting her bright, smiling eyes, Lu Zhe's usual coldness melted away. "Mm."
Then, Su Ci handed him another candy. "Your turn to feed me."
Lu Zhe obliged, unwrapping the candy and holding it to her lips.
Su Ci opened her mouth, taking the candy and lightly catching his fingertip with her tongue.
The softness of her tongue sent a shiver through him, and his eyes darkened. He suppressed the surge of desire, his voice low and strained. "Su Ci."
Su Ci gave him an innocent look. "It's so sweet."
Today’s check-up was a routine one. Based on Lu Zhe’s condition, the doctor adjusted his medication dosage. His illness had worsened compared to before, and the hardening of his muscles had progressed further. Everyone knew that there was no cure for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), and the only option now was to control the symptoms with medication.
In the late stages of the disease, not only would Lu Zhe’s muscles atrophy, but even his breathing, swallowing, and speaking would become difficult.
Su Ci had long memorized the symptoms of ALS. Her nose stung with emotion. In this lifetime, she couldn’t save him.
After leaving the hospital, Su Ci remained quiet, slowly pushing Lu Zhe’s wheelchair.
Ahead, Lu Zhe spoke up, “Tuantuan, would you like to take a walk with me?”
Su Ci responded, “Wherever you want to go, I’ll accompany you.”
Lu Zhe asked the caregiver to leave first. The caregiver, understanding the situation, didn’t dare to stay and play the role of a third wheel. Moreover, standing next to Miss Su, she felt an indescribable sense of inferiority, which made her uncomfortable.
Near the hospital was a shopping mall, and Su Ci pushed Lu Zhe there for a stroll.
Lu Zhe was handsome, even though his face was now affected by the illness, with sunken cheeks and confined to a wheelchair, his natural good looks were still evident. Paired with the radiant Su Ci, the duo attracted many glances from passersby.
Lu Zhe’s expression remained calm as he asked the girl behind him, “Tuantuan, do you mind?”
Mind what?
The whispers of the crowd? Or the pitying looks directed at Su Ci?
Su Ci was smart and knew Lu Zhe well. She answered firmly, “The only person I care about is you. Everyone else is irrelevant to me.”
Lu Zhe chuckled softly, his sickly face looking even more refined.
He was just afraid that he wouldn’t have enough time to do anything with her before she suddenly disappeared again.
If she were to disappear for another year, he might no longer be here...
“Are we on a date now?” Lu Zhe asked the girl behind him.
Hearing his words, Su Ci was slightly surprised, then she laughed, “Yes.”
She added, “Dates usually involve watching movies. Do you want to watch one?”
“Have you watched movies with the next version of me?”
“Of course, it’s one of the things couples must do.” The current Lu Zhe was still very inexperienced, and while Su Ci liked that about him, she also felt the urge to tease him.
Since Lu Zhe was in a wheelchair, a regular theater wasn’t suitable for him. Fortunately, there was a private cinema on the fifth floor of the mall.
The cinema had private rooms, perfect for couples or friends, offering a quiet and comfortable environment. They also provided drinks and snacks.
After buying the tickets, Su Ci pushed Lu Zhe into the private room.
The room was lit with warm yellow lights, featuring a long sofa, a coffee table, and a large screen. The decor was casual and relaxing.
Lu Zhe’s wheelchair was placed next to the sofa. He supported his upper body and, refusing Su Ci’s help, struggled to move himself onto the sofa.
Su Ci folded his wheelchair and placed it to the side, then sat down next to him.
At that moment, a staff member knocked and entered, placing drinks, a fruit platter, and snacks on the coffee table before politely exiting.
The movie began.
There weren’t any particularly good films recently, so Su Ci randomly picked a sci-fi movie.
She grabbed a handful of popcorn from the table, feeding a piece to Lu Zhe before eating some herself.
The movie started with an intense action scene. Su Ci leaned back on the sofa, quietly watching the screen.
Beside her, Lu Zhe quietly watched the girl. The light from the screen reflected on her face, making her fair skin glow even more.
“Lu Zhe,” Su Ci turned her head, her eyes meeting his gaze. She smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, “Is the movie not as good-looking as me?”
“Mhm.”
Su Ci’s delicate features filled with a hint of pride. She took a sip of her juice, feeling quite self-satisfied, “I thought so too.”
“But don’t keep looking at me, it’s distracting,” Su Ci bit her straw, slightly annoyed.
She knew she had no resistance against him, yet Lu Zhe kept staring at her like that. Was he trying to tempt her into doing something reckless?
Lu Zhe chuckled softly. He took the drink from her hand and placed it on the table. His cold fingertips gently held her chin as he leaned closer, “Tuantuan, can I kiss you?”
Su Ci blinked, but before she could respond, his lips were already on hers.
Cold, yet soft.
He kissed her slowly, tracing her lips, nibbling gently, his movements still clumsy.
Su Ci pulled back slightly, teasing him, “Do you not know how to kiss?”
Remembering something, she nodded, “I almost forgot, your first kiss was just as clumsy as this.”
Lu Zhe’s eyes darkened. Men hated being compared, even if it was to his future self.
His large hand cupped the back of her head, pulling her closer.
This time, Lu Zhe kissed her more firmly. Su Ci had just sipped her juice, and her lips tasted sweet. Yet, he seemed to lack finesse, eagerly tracing the outline of her lips.
Su Ci’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she slightly parted her lips.
Finding his way, Lu Zhe’s gaze deepened, the sweetness on his tongue overwhelming.
