Stars Fall Into The Sea, Love Never Fades Chapter 52

Chapter 49: The mountains and rivers are safe and the return trip to the seaside

In the autumn of the 35th year of the Republic of China, Lin Qi was painting in the studio when a familiar sound of footsteps came from outside the door, with a hint of hesitation, but extremely firmness.

He raised his head, his heart beating rapidly.Standing at the door was a man in Chinese tunic suit. His hair was a little gray and his face had traces of weather, but he still looked like he was thinking about it day and night.

“Lin Qi.” The man’s voice contained an imperceptible tremor.

The paintbrush in Lin Qi’s hand fell to the ground, and tears burst out instantly.He walked forward quickly and hugged the man tightly, as if he wanted to integrate all the thoughts and worries of the past few years into this hug.

“Shen Zhi…you are back, you are finally back.”

Shen Zhi hugged him, his voice choked with sobs: “I’m back, Lin Qi. I’m back.”

It turned out that after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Shen Zhi had been receiving treatment in the rear hospital due to serious injuries.In the past few years, he had been inquiring about Lin Qi. It was not until recently that he learned that Lin Qi had opened a studio in Peiping.

In the days after their reunion, they managed “Xingluo Studio” together.Although Shen Zhi’s legs are disabled, he can still use crutches to help Lin Qi organize his painting tools and receive guests; Lin Qi will accompany Shen Zhi on walks in the alleys of Peking, reliving the path they have taken.

“Let’s go to the beach.” On this day, Shen Zhi suddenly said to Lin Qi.

Lin Qi was stunned for a moment, then smiled: “Okay. Let’s go now.”

They packed their simple luggage and boarded the train going south.As the train headed south, the scenery outside the window gradually became gentle, with green mountains and green waters, birds singing and the fragrance of flowers, and there were no traces of war anymore.

On the day we arrived at the beach, the sunset was slowly setting, dyeing the sea surface orange.Shen Zhui, leaning on a cane, held hands with Lin Qi and walked on the soft beach.The waves crashed against the rocks, making a gentle sound; the evening breeze rolled up their clothes, bringing with it a salty and wet breath.

“Look,” Lin Qi pointed to the sunset on the horizon, his eyes shining, “it’s exactly the same as in my painting.”

Shen Zhi nodded and held his hand tightly: “Yes, exactly the same.”

They sat on the beach and watched the sun sink into the sea and the stars climbing into the night sky one by one.Shen Zhi took out a ring from his arms. He polished it with his own hands using copper pieces captured on the battlefield, and it was engraved with tiny star patterns.

“Lin Qi,” Shen Zhi knelt on one knee, his eyes full of tenderness and determination, “In troubled times, I failed to give you a stable home; in peaceful times, I want to give you an eternal promise. Will you marry me? For the rest of our lives, we will see the mountains and rivers together, and guard this peace together, and we will never be separated for the rest of our lives.”

Lin Qi’s tears fell. He nodded vigorously, his voice choked with sobs: “I do! Shen Zhi, I do!”

Shen Zhi put the ring on his ring finger and hugged him tightly.Under the starry sky and by the sea, two souls who have transcended troubled times finally fulfilled their agreement in a peaceful era.

Later, they settled by the sea and opened a studio facing the sea.The studio is filled with their paintings – perseverance in the flames of war, tranquility in peace, the brilliance of the starry sky, and the vastness of the sea.

Every autumn, they would return to Peiping to see the places where they had fought and the friends they had met during the war.Their story has also become a local legend and is talked about by people.

The mountains and rivers are safe, and the years are quiet.Their love has withstood the test of life and death in troubled times, and has settled into the warmest form in peace.Just like the stars on the seaside, no matter how many winds and rains they go through, they will always shine and be bright.

This is their story, a reunion in the flames of war, a stay together in peace, an agreement across time and space, and a bond for life and death.

The stars set and return, but love never fades.