The Remaining Warmth Of Fog Harbor Chapter 41
byPut pen to paper and end love
After Zhou Xi left, the mess in the apartment was like a broken picture, which stung Shen Zhiyi’s eyes.The trampled photos, the paintings scattered on the floor, the empty wardrobe, and the gold-plated engagement invitation all silently declared the death of her love.She collapsed on the ground, crying until she was exhausted. Her tears had long since dried up, leaving only a numb hollow, as if all her soul had been sucked away.
The shadow of severe depression once again completely enveloped her, auditory hallucinations and despair intertwined, but this time, Lu Wanheng’s gentle call was no longer in her mind, only his cold words, Zhou Xi’s proud smile, and the dazzling engagement invitation remained in her mind.She once stubbornly believed that Lu Wanheng had his own difficulties, believed that he would not give up their love easily, and believed that those oaths of eternal love were not lies.But now, all trust and expectations have been crushed by reality.
She chose her family, her interests, and that well-matched marriage. But she was just a dispensable episode in his life, a burden that he could easily give up in order to cling to the powerful.This knowledge was like a cold dagger, piercing her heart, completely cutting off her last glimmer of hope.
Shen Zhiyi slowly got up, walked to the desk, and picked up a pen and a piece of paper.Her hands were still shaking slightly, and her fingertips were cold, but her eyes were extremely firm, with a determination that would break the boat.She wanted to write this letter, the end of this relationship, and her last dignity.
“Wan Heng:
Seeing the words is like seeing the face.
When you read this letter, I have left Fog Harbor and will never come back.
Zhou Xi came here. He took your engagement invitation and told me that you will hold an engagement ceremony with her in a week.I saw the pride on his face, and I also saw your names printed side by side on the invitation. It was so dazzling that I couldn’t open my eyes.
Once, I thought our love was indestructible and that you would always protect me and never give up on me, just like you promised.I thought that even if the whole world was against it, you would stand by my side and face it with me.But I was wrong, naively wrong, stupidly wrong.
I finally understood that in the face of family interests, love is worthless; in the face of power and wealth, my so-called sincerity is just a cheap joke.You chose the inheritance of the Lu Group and the marriage that would bring you infinite glory, and I, who had nothing and was seriously ill, naturally became your burden and a stumbling block that hindered your progress.
I don’t blame you, really.After all, everyone has his own ambitions, you have your pursuit, and I have my persistence.It’s just that I can no longer believe in those promises that I once believed in deeply, and I can no longer face you who can easily betray love for the sake of profit.
This relationship, from acquaintance to falling in love, has been sweet, warm, and filled with countless beautiful memories.Those days were the warmest times in my life, and I will remember them forever.But now, it’s time to say goodbye.
I took nothing away from the apartment except my personal belongings and painting supplies.Those objects that are full of our memories will be left to you. Perhaps, they can become evidence that you will occasionally think of me in your future life.But, I hope you won’t think of me again, I hope you can marry Zhou Xi with peace of mind, inherit the Lu Group, and live the life you want.
I have suffered from severe depression for a long time.Once upon a time, you were my hope to live and my courage to fight against the darkness.But now, hope is gone and courage is exhausted.I don’t know what the future will bring, nor how long I can live, but I will try to live, try to get rid of the shadow of the past, and try to find my former self.
Finally, I wish you a happy wedding and a bright future.
From then on, the mountains are high and the rivers are far away, we live in peace and never see each other again.
Shen Zhiyi’s masterpiece”
After writing the last word, Shen Zhiyi’s tears fell again, dripping on the letter paper, and the ink blurred, like her broken heart, which could never be recovered.She carefully folded the letter and placed it at the entrance of the apartment, covering it with the dried bouquet of baby’s breath that Lu Wanheng had given her but which was now withered.
After doing all this, she took one last look at this apartment full of memories. There was no reluctance or nostalgia in her eyes, only complete relief and determination.She picked up the suitcase she had already packed, which contained a few simple clothes, her painting tools, and those new works with calm tones, and turned around to leave the cage that imprisoned all her love and pain.
The moment she opened the door, the fog in Fog Harbor rarely dispersed, but she didn’t hesitate at all, and walked forward step by step, never looking back.She didn’t know where she was going or what she would encounter in the future, but she knew that she had to leave here, leave this scarred city, and start a new life without Lu Wanheng.
Lu Wanheng was placed under house arrest in his old house for three full days.During these three days, she thought about escaping and Shen Zhiyi all the time.She knew that her father would not let her go easily, let alone Shen Zhiyi. That ridiculous marriage was a sharp sword hanging over her and Shen Zhiyi’s heads and would fall at any time.
She began to pretend to compromise, no longer went on hunger strike, no longer resisted, and obediently cooperated with the doctor’s infusion and eating, showing that she accepted the reality.Father Lu thought she had finally figured it out, so he relaxed his guard, reduced the number of bodyguards outside the door to one, and no longer restricted his activities within the old house.
Lu Wanheng knew that this was her only chance.She took advantage of the bodyguard’s unpreparedness and sneaked into the storage room of the old house, where some discarded tools were piled up.He found a rusty wrench, hid it behind his back, then deliberately distracted the bodyguard’s attention, knocked him unconscious when he didn’t have the wrench in hand, and then rushed out of the old house quickly.
She had no ID card, no mobile phone, and only a few hundred dollars in cash in her pocket.She ran all the way, stopped a taxi, and gave the address of Shen Zhiyi’s apartment.As the car drove on the road, her heart felt like a rabbit, beating wildly, feeling both excited and panicked.What she was excited about was that she finally escaped and could see Shen Zhiyi; what she was scared about was whether something would happen to Shen Zhiyi in the past few days, and whether her father had already attacked her.
The car finally arrived at the downstairs of the apartment. Lu Wanheng paid the money and rushed into the corridor almost staggering.He ran to the door of the apartment in one breath, took out the key with trembling hands, and opened the door.
“Zhiyi! Zhiyi!” She rushed into the apartment and shouted Shen Zhiyi’s name loudly, with uncontrollable excitement and urgency in her voice.
But the apartment was empty, and there was no response.
Lu Wanheng’s heart sank suddenly, and an ominous premonition came to his mind.He quickly walked into the living room and saw the mess all over the floor – the trampled photos, scattered drawings, the “Late Night” series of works in the trash can, and the empty wardrobe.Everything in front of him was like sharp knives, piercing into his heart.
“Zhiyi! Where are you? Zhiyi!” He searched everywhere in the apartment like crazy, including the bedroom, kitchen, and studio, but there was no sign of Shen Zhiyi anywhere.She disappeared completely from this apartment as if she had evaporated.
Lu Wanheng’s body was shaking uncontrollably, and his eyes were full of panic and despair.He thought of his father’s threats and that marriage. Could it be that his father had already done something to Shen Zhiyi?Or maybe Shen Zhiyi already knew about the marriage and left heartbroken?
Just when he was about to collapse, his eyes fell on the entrance.There lay a folded letter, pressed atop a wilted bouquet of dried gypsophila.That was the first gift he gave to Shen Zhiyi, and she kept it well.
Lu Wanheng staggered over and picked up the letter tremblingly.There was no signature on the envelope, only a familiar handwriting that said “Wan Heng personally writes this”.He recognized that it was Shen Zhiyi’s handwriting.
She couldn’t wait to open the letter and read it word for word.Shen Zhiyi’s words were like cold daggers, piercing his heart word by word, making him unable to breathe in pain.She mentioned Zhou Xi, the engagement invitation, her severe depression, and her decision to leave.
“From now on, as far as the mountains are high and the rivers are far away, we will live in peace and never see each other again.”
The last sentence was like a thunder, causing Lu Wanheng’s mind to go blank.She collapsed on the ground, holding the letter tightly in her hand. The paper was crumpled by her, and tears poured out of her eyes like broken beads.
She finally understood that Shen Zhiyi had really given up completely.She thought she chose family and interests, chose marriage, and chose to betray their love.He wanted to explain, wanted to tell her all the truth, wanted to tell her that he had never given up on her, but now, it was too late.She has left, left Fog Harbor, and will never come back.
“Zhiyi! I’m sorry! I didn’t! I never thought of giving up on you!” Lu Wanheng shouted heartbreakingly to the empty apartment, his voice hoarse and broken, “My dad forced me! It was she who put me under house arrest! I didn’t want to be engaged to Zhou Xi! Zhiyi! Come back! Listen to my explanation!”
But the only response he received was endless silence.
Shen Zhiyi’s faint scent still lingered in the apartment. It was a familiar scent that made him feel at ease, but now it has become the most hurtful poison.He looked at the mess on the floor, the decisive breakup letter, and the empty room, and a huge feeling of despair and self-blame instantly overwhelmed her.
It was her, it was she who failed to protect her; it was her, it was she who made her endure so much pain; it was her, it was she who destroyed their love with her own hands and drove her to a dead end.
Lu Wanheng rushed out of the apartment like crazy and ran aimlessly through the streets of Wugang.He didn’t know where Shen Zhiyi had gone or which direction she would go, so he could only look around like a headless fly.
He ran to Shen Zhiyi’s former studio, which was already deserted and the door was locked and covered with dust.He leaned against the door and shouted Shen Zhiyi’s name loudly, his voice hoarse, but he got no response.He thought of the days when they were in the studio, and those sweet memories turned into the sharpest blade at this moment, cutting his heart with blood.
She ran to the restaurant where they had their first date, to the seaside, parks, bookstores, and docks where they had been together. He visited all the places where they had left memories, but Shen Zhiyi was nowhere to be seen.
She stopped pedestrians on the road, took out Shen Zhiyi’s photo from her phone, and asked anxiously: “Have you seen this woman? Her name is Shen Zhiyi. Has she been here before?”
But passers-by either shook their heads and walked away, or looked at him strangely, and no one could give her an answer.Like a lunatic who had lost her mind, she ran wildly on the street, shouted, and asked questions until she was exhausted and collapsed on the roadside.
Her clothes were soaked with sweat and covered in dust, and her forehead was still aching from the wound left by hitting the door before, but he didn’t care.There was only one thought in her mind: to find Shen Zhiyi, tell her the truth, ask her for forgiveness, and take her away.
She thought of her assistant Xiao Zhou and immediately took out her mobile phone – it was a cheap mobile phone she bought with her remaining cash after escaping. She dialed her assistant’s number, her voice trembling uncontrollably: “Xiao Zhou, do you know where Zhiyi went? She left and left a breakup letter. I can’t find her!”
The assistant was also shocked when he heard his voice: “Mr. Lu? You escaped? Miss Shen…she sent me a message three days ago, saying that she was leaving Wugang, so that I didn’t have to worry about her, and she didn’t say where she was going.”
“She didn’t say where exactly she was going?” Lu Wanheng’s heart suddenly sank to the bottom. “Then did she say which city she was going to? Or did she mention anyone?”
“No,” the assistant’s voice was hesitant, “Miss Shen’s message was very brief. She just said that she was going to start a new life and asked us not to look for her. Mr. Lu, Miss Shen… did she know about the engagement?”
Lu Wanheng did not answer, but hung up the phone feebly.He knew that Shen Zhiyi not only knew, but also completely believed that he had chosen marriage and betrayal.
She thought about Shen Zhiyi’s original family again, but he knew that Shen Zhiyi had already broken away from her original family, and it was impossible for her to go back.So where will she go?A strange city with no relatives or friends?
Lu Wanheng stood up and walked forward aimlessly again.He came to the train station in Fog Harbor and looked at the people coming and going, his eyes full of anxiety and despair.He squeezed into the crowd and carefully looked at everyone’s face, hoping to see that familiar figure, but in the end, he came back disappointed.
She came to the bus station, the airport, and even the pier. He didn’t know which mode of transportation Shen Zhiyi would choose to leave, so he could only check each place.He repeatedly played Shen Zhiyi’s name and characteristics in the radio rooms of train stations and bus stations, hoping that she would hear him and appear, but the voice on the radio seemed so weak and weak among the bustling crowd.
She searched frantically in every corner of Fog Harbor for two whole days and two nights without sleeping a wink or having a good meal. Her whole body was haggard and her eyes were empty, like a soulless body.His voice was hoarse and he could no longer make a sound. His feet had blisters and every step he took was painful, but he still didn’t give up.
It wasn’t until the third day that she finally couldn’t hold on anymore and fainted in the lobby of the airport.When she woke up, she was lying on the hospital bed with her aunt Lu Qinghe standing next to her.
“Wan Heng, what are you doing?” Lu Qinghe looked at his haggard appearance and sighed distressedly, “Your father is still looking for you. You should hide here with me recently, and I will help you keep an eye on the news.”
Lu Wanheng sat up suddenly, grabbed Lu Qinghe’s hand, and asked in a hoarse voice: “Aunt, where is Zhiyi? Have you seen Zhiyi? Where is she?”
Lu Qinghe shook his head, his eyes full of helplessness: “I have sent people to look for her, but there is no news. Wanheng, Miss Shen is determined to leave you and leave Wugang. She doesn’t want us to find her.”
Lu Wanheng’s body collapsed instantly, and he collapsed on the hospital bed, tears welling up again.She knew that Lu Qinghe was right, and Shen Zhiyi really didn’t want her to find her.
She thought of the words in Shen Zhiyi’s letter: “From now on, the mountains are high and the rivers are far away, we are safe and sound, and we will never see each other again.”
Do they really want to be like this, separated from each other and never see each other again?
Lu Wanheng’s heart was filled with endless pain and self-blame.She hated her own powerlessness, hated herself for not breaking away from her father’s control earlier, and hated herself for causing Shen Zhiyi to suffer so much grievance and harm.If he had been braver, if he had told her the truth earlier, if he had protected her, wouldn’t he have reached this point?
But there are no ifs in the world. If you miss it, you will miss it. If you lose it, you will lose it.
After being discharged from the hospital, Lu Wanheng did not return to the Lu Group or his old home.She returned to the empty apartment and lived there.She cleaned up the mess on the floor, carefully collected Shen Zhiyi’s drawings, reframed the trampled photo, and placed it on the desk.She waits in the apartment every day, waiting for Shen Zhiyi’s return, even though he knows that this kind of waiting may never bear fruit.
She sent people around to search for Shen Zhiyi’s whereabouts and used all her contacts and resources, but Shen Zhiyi seemed to have disappeared from the world, leaving no clues.
The sea breeze from Fog Harbor blows by, carrying a light salty smell, as well as endless thoughts and regrets.Lu Wanheng stood by the window of the apartment, looking at the sea outside the window, silently chanting Shen Zhiyi’s name in his heart.
“Zhiyi, where are you?”
“Zhiyi, I was wrong. Can you come back?”
“Zhiyi, I will wait for you until the day you come back.”
She didn’t know if Shen Zhiyi was still alive, if she was doing well, or if she had forgiven him.She only knew that she would wait forever, waiting for her to come back, waiting for her to listen to his explanation, waiting for their love to have a chance to start over.
However, I don’t know how long this waiting will last, and I don’t know if I can finally wait for the desired result.And Shen Zhiyi may be in a strange city at the moment, trying hard to treat depression and find her former self. However, there is no longer a place for Lu Wanheng in her world.
Their love eventually lost to reality, misunderstanding, and that absurd marriage, leaving only endless longing and regret, echoing in the wind of Fog Harbor for a long time.
Banxia novel, a lot of fun