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The Agreement
墨書 Inktalez
"Several new PhD students have joined the research institute, and they seem quite nice," her husband, He Jiayue, suddenly murmured as he lay beside her.
It was already past one in the morning. She had just finished work and was utterly exhausted, her body aching as if it were falling apart. Her husband wrapped his arm around her, pulling her into his embrace.
"Huh? New PhD students?" she asked softly, gently brushing her palm against his cheek.
"Yes, they're all fresh graduates, young girls, very fashionable. I didn't expect that... So I chatted with them a bit; after all, they are young..." He Jiayue sighed and turned away from her.
"What did you talk about?"
"I can't remember... Probably something like 'Uncle looks very young' or 'You must have been quite a handsome guy when you were young'—just some light banter... It made me feel good inside. At this age, one can't help but care about their age..." His voice gradually faded, and soon rhythmic snoring filled the air.
Though she was extremely tired and her eyelids felt heavy, once she lay down, her mind remained wide awake, refusing to let her sleep. She tossed and turned, the bed creaking under her movements.
Was this person beside her truly the one she would accompany for a lifetime? Wrinkles were beginning to creep into the corners of his eyes; even that once charming young man lamented the cruelty of time.
If she were still alive, perhaps everyone’s lives would be different now.
Fifteen years ago, everyone was still young. Four young people, filled with beautiful dreams about life, planned a spring outing. In the season when flowers bloomed abundantly, the air was sweet with pollen, and the hearts of the youth felt as if they were soaked in honey. Two girls were sisters: the elder sister Zhao Yizhi and the younger sister Zhao Yi Ye, dressed vibrantly like butterflies flitting about. Yizhi sat in the passenger seat, occasionally whispering to her fiancé He Jiayue, bursting into carefree laughter. In the back seat were Zhao Yi Ye and her boyfriend Yang Wenyan.
"Sister, don’t go overboard! Consider those of us sitting in the back!" Yi Ye pouted playfully, provoking more laughter from the other three.
"Yi Ye, who told you to make him propose? Otherwise, you could prepare a wedding dress like your sister!" He Jiayue said while glancing at the rearview mirror.
"Annoying brother-in-law! I don’t want to get married!" Yi Ye said with a pout and a blush on her cheeks.
"Yi Ye, why not marry me? You could have the same wedding day as your sister," Yang Wenyan said, leaning in and wrapping his arms around Yi Ye's slender waist, whispering softly in her ear.
"Dream on!" Yi Ye pushed him away and turned her face to the side.
"Sister, that's where you're wrong. Wenyan rarely takes the time to accompany you for a spring outing; can't you be a little kinder to him?" Yizhi turned her face around, smiling at the two sitting in the back.
"This guy is the most boring person ever; he can't compare to my brother-in-law's charm," Yi Ye said, shooting a glare at her boyfriend.
"You little rascal, I really can't do anything with you," Yang Wenyan pinched his girlfriend's cheek, feeling both exasperated and amused. "When you're happy, it's like I'm in heaven, but when you throw a tantrum, it's unbearable."
"That's because you're not as stylish as my brother-in-law!"
Yizhi shook her head and said, "You two little troublemakers are just like children."
"Yi Ye, so you really admire my brother-in-law that much? Haha..." He Jiayue, who was driving, couldn't help but feel a bit proud.
At that time, He Jiayue had just graduated from school with a doctorate and started working at a research institute. Although it was a stable job, the pay wasn't high. However, He Jiayue was handsome and articulate; even the leaders at the institute wished he would marry their daughters.
Zhao Yizhi and He Jiayue were of the same age and had grown up together as childhood friends. After graduating from university, she began teaching English at a middle school. Her personality was gentle and calm, contrasting sharply with her lively sister.
Zhao Yi Ye was five years younger than her sister and had an impatient temperament but listened most to her brother-in-law He Jiayue. She was still in college, studying psychology. Yizhi often teased her about how someone with such an impatient nature chose such a meditative field of study. Her boyfriend Yang Wenyan was someone she met online; they initially clashed over a psychological question but eventually grew to appreciate each other. He worked as a junior employee at a foreign company with modest pay but promising career prospects.
Next month, Zhao Yizhi would be marrying He Jiayue. The two families were neighbors who knew each other well; their marriage was simply a natural progression.
"Why not go wild for your last days of being single before the wedding?" Yi Ye suggested to the two soon-to-be newlyweds.
"Where should we go?" The quieter sister would never have "wild" in her vocabulary.
"Let's go to the countryside! Why don't we learn from the ancients and enjoy a spring outing?" Yi Ye suggested, always full of clever ideas when it came to fun.
"A day like this, with flowers blooming and the warmth of spring, sounds delightful for a trip to the countryside," someone replied.
"Let’s have my brother-in-law drive us. We can bring some beautiful dresses and take stunning photos in the mountains, making those stuffy wedding photo studios jealous!"
"Absolutely! Your idea is incredibly appealing!"
So, the four young people made their plans and chose a sunny day to set off. The blue Polo sped down the green country road. The fresh breeze playfully brushed against their youthful faces. Occasionally, wild rabbits darted across the roadside, causing a few minor scares and adding excitement to their journey. Zhao Yi Ye shouted "Thrilling!" as he danced with excitement.
"Look! There's a dark shadow running ahead! Brother-in-law, chase after it!" Yi Ye exclaimed as if he had discovered something extraordinary.
"Really? Alright, let's rush over and take a look!" He Jia Yue, usually composed, seemed inspired and pressed down on the accelerator. The blue shadow appeared to soar.
"Slow down, He Jia Yue!" Yizhi screamed, covering her eyes.
"Haha! I've never felt this exhilarated before! Don't worry; I have plenty of driving experience!" The car's speed continued to increase, almost feeling like it was flying.
Suddenly, that dark shadow turned and ran straight towards the front of the car.
He Jia Yue thought to himself, this is bad. He slammed on the brakes, but due to inertia, the car kept speeding forward. The shadow collided with the front of the car and was thrown several meters away. The blue Polo skidded off the road, flipped over multiple times, and crashed into a tree by the roadside.
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