Zheng Xing and Zhou Yue’s wedding took place on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The ceremony was held on a grassy plain at an altitude of over 3,000 meters, nestled among the lush forest and towering peaks.
Bai Cheng sat among the guests, with a dense forest behind her and the snow-covered mountain before her. The mountain’s surface was blanketed with pure white snow, and above, clouds rolled over the peaks. Sunlight streamed down from the high, distant sky, reflecting off the snow and casting a soft, crystalline glow.
Luo Tian sat to her left. The crisp, cold mountain air filled their lungs, and Bai Cheng found the scent of it deeply refreshing.
As soft music began to play, Zheng Xing, arm-in-arm with her father, walked down the aisle toward Zhou Yue. Zhou took her hand, and they gazed at each other with tender affection as the priest recited their vows.
“Zhou Yue, do you take Zheng Xing to be your wife, to live with her according to the teachings of the Bible, to love, comfort, honor, and protect her, as you love yourself? Whether in sickness or health, in wealth or poverty, will you be faithful to her until death parts you?”
“I do.”
“Zheng Xing, do you take Zhou Yue to be your husband, to live with him according to the teachings of the Bible, to love, comfort, honor, and protect him, as you love yourself? Whether in sickness or health, in wealth or poverty, will you be faithful to him until death parts you?”
“I do.”
The bride and groom’s faces were filled with happiness.
As Bai Cheng watched them exchange rings, the sunlight streaming between them created a warm, golden halo around their heads. They looked sacred, almost as if they didn’t belong to this world.
Bai Cheng’s eyes filled with tears. Through her blurred vision, she thought she saw Lu Heng standing on the stage, dressed in a white suit, as handsome as ever. In her mind, he was gently slipping a ring onto her finger, just like they had once dreamed.
Tears rolled down Bai Cheng’s cheeks, and her vision became clouded again. When she blinked away the tears, the image of Lu Heng was gone, replaced by Zheng Xing and Zhou Yue, now sharing their first kiss as husband and wife.
Bai Cheng sat hunched over in her seat, gripping the hem of her dress, quietly crying. The tears soaked through her skirt, forming a dark patch.
Luo Tian reached out, gently placing his right hand over Bai Cheng’s clenched left hand, patting her hand softly. She noticed a dark green handkerchief between his fingers. Bai Cheng flipped her hand to take the handkerchief, and Luo Tian quickly withdrew his hand.
Though she now held the handkerchief, Bai Cheng lacked the strength to even wipe her tears. She took a deep breath, using the moment to smooth her wind-tousled hair and discreetly wipe her face before turning her gaze back to the newlyweds.
After the ceremony, guests began to mingle, eat, and drink, while Bai Cheng quietly told Luo Tian she wanted to take a walk. Luo Tian, as always, accompanied her, and they wandered through the forest.
They reached a flat clearing, but beyond it was a towering cliff with no path forward. At the edge of the cliff was a long platform extending out into the open air, completely unguarded on all sides. Bai Cheng sat down on the clearing’s edge, hugging her knees and staring out at the forest. The endless greenery soothed her tear-strained eyes. Luo Tian lay on the ground beside her, his hands behind his head, one leg bent, resting with his eyes closed.
Most of the mist had cleared from the forest, revealing the snow-capped peaks in the distance with crystal clarity.
As Bai Cheng thought back to the fleeting vision of Lu Heng at the wedding, a sharp pain constricted her chest. Lu Heng’s features were as beautiful as ever, the face that had been with her for as long as she could remember. But now, like the mist in the mountains, he had disappeared, impossible to find again.
Struggling to breathe, Bai Cheng gasped for air. Luo Tian immediately sat up. “Are you okay?”
Bai Cheng panted heavily but managed to say, “I’m fine. I just need a moment.”
“You’re thinking of him again, aren’t you?”
Bai Cheng shook her head, giving a sad smile. “No, this time I saw him.”
“I saw him in a white suit, putting a ring on my finger. I know it was just my imagination, but… I can’t help feeling sad,” she continued. “I haven’t been having nightmares like before, so I don’t dream about him much anymore. But today, at the wedding, the Lu Heng I saw was so clean, so warm, with the same smile he always had. I just wonder where he is now… and if he’s doing okay.”
Luo Tian pointed toward the distant snow-capped mountains and said, “Do you see those peaks?”
Bai Cheng looked at him and nodded.
“The last book of the Bible, Revelation, speaks of a city of God. In that city, there’s no need for the sun or the moon, for God’s glory illuminates everything. God’s home is open to humanity, and He will live among them. He will wipe away every tear, and there will be no more death, no sorrow, no pain. Only those cleansed by Jesus will enter that indestructible, beautiful new world. All pure souls rest there. Maybe, beyond those mountains, in the heavens, lies that city. The powerful and merciful God surely guided Lu Heng’s soul there. And maybe, what you saw today was Lu Heng’s soul returning, trying to tell you that he misses you too and that he’s happy where he is now.”
Bai Cheng stood up and walked toward the platform at the cliff’s edge, stepping onto it without hesitation.
Luo Tian followed closely behind her, ready to pull her back at any moment.
Standing at the very end of the platform, Bai Cheng cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted into the vast expanse, “Lu Heng! Lu Heng, are you okay?”
“Lu Heng, are you okay?”
She called out over and over, her voice growing louder each time. Her shouts echoed across the mountains and forest.
As she kept shouting, her voice grew hoarse, her strength waning. Bai Cheng clutched her chest, feeling faint. In her daze, she saw Lu Heng once more, floating in the air, smiling at her.
Muttering Lu Heng’s name under her breath, Bai Cheng stepped forward into thin air. In that instant, Luo Tian grabbed her right hand and yanked her back from the edge, pulling her into his arms.
Luo Tian hugged Bai Cheng tightly, taking several steps back from the cliff.
He loosened his grip slightly, about to ask if she was okay, but Bai Cheng clung to him tightly, clutching his shirt as she buried her face in his shoulder and sobbed.
Luo Tian held her closer, his right hand gently cradling the back of her head as he stroked her hair.
He stood there, letting her cry in his arms for a long time. Slowly, he felt her trembling subside until, finally, she was calm.
As Bai Cheng’s hands slipped from his back, she began to slump to the ground. Luo Tian quickly scooped her up into his arms, his face full of concern. “Are you okay?”
Bai Cheng, nestled in his arms, her face partially hidden by her hair, weakly replied, “My head hurts.”
“I’ll take you back,” Luo Tian said, carrying her back to the wedding venue. He briefly explained the situation to Zheng Xing, then took Bai Cheng back to the guesthouse.
On the way back, Bai Cheng fell asleep in the car, and Luo Tian carried her into the room before stepping outside to sit in the courtyard. Sitting in the sun, he called Officer Liu for an update on the station. As soon as the video call connected, both Officer Liu and Officer Li appeared on the screen.
Officer Liu said the station was running smoothly, promising to keep Luo Tian updated on any case developments. He mentioned that Deputy Captain Fang would be discharged in two days and that the team planned to send a few representatives to welcome him back. He asked Luo Tian if he wanted to join them.
Before Luo Tian could respond, Officer Li nudged Officer Liu and gave him a look, signaling him to drop the subject. Turning to Luo Tian, Officer Li said, “Captain Luo, no need to rush back. We can handle welcoming Deputy Fang. You should enjoy your time in Lijiang. We’ve got everything under control at the station.”
Officer Liu, catching on, quickly chimed in, “Yes, yes, Captain! Have a great time and don’t worry. The team is always ready for your return.”
Luo Tian smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll be back in two days to help welcome Old Fang out of the hospital.”
Liu and Li responded in unison, “Got it, Captain. We’ll be waiting.”
After hanging up, Luo Tian leaned back in his chair, basking in the warm sunlight.
The afternoon sun wasn’t too harsh, its rays soft and delicate. As he soaked in the warmth, Luo Tian dozed off. When he lazily woke up, he found Bai Cheng sitting beside him, looking as though she had just woken up too.
“You’re awake?”
“You’re awake?”
They spoke at the same time and laughed together.
“Thank you. Really, thank you for everything lately,” Bai Cheng said.
“Thank me? I brought you here, so of course, I’ll make sure to take you back without a scratch.”
“But my hair’s been blown away by the wind!” Bai Cheng joked.
“Even that’s my fault?” Luo Tian teased back.
Bai Cheng gave him a playful, challenging look, as if to say, “So what if it is?”
“Fine, blame me. Worst case, I’ll shave off my beard to make up for it. Look at this—tons of beard for you,” Luo Tian said, stroking his stubble.
“Who wants your beard?” Bai Cheng said, tilting her head back to soak in the sun.
“We should head back tomorrow. Old Fang’s getting discharged, and I need to be there,” Luo Tian said.
“Alright,” Bai Cheng agreed.
