His strength was so great that it seemed as if he wanted to meld Wu Pengpeng into his very bones and blood.
Wu Pengpeng gasped in pain from the tight hold and instinctively tried to push him away.
But Jiang He clung to her tightly, burying his head in the crook of her shoulder. His voice was filled with a strong plea, "Let me hold you for a while, just for a while."
Wu Pengpeng's heart skipped a beat. She thought that maybe talking about his sad childhood had made him sad, so the strength in her hands that were pushing him gradually faded.
A dying person's heart is always softer than others.
She reached out and patted his back, her tone full of indulgence like an elder, "It's okay. Everything will pass."
Jiang He didn't say a word. Instead, he tightened his embrace a little more. Then, warm liquid dripped onto her skin.
Wu Pengpeng was slightly startled and silently patted his back again.
After a long time, Jiang He finally let go of her. He had already sorted out his thoughts, and his face once again wore his usual nonchalant expression.
Afraid that he might feel embarrassed, Wu Pengpeng kindly changed the subject, "Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?"
"Sure!" Jiang He suggested enthusiastically, "How about we have some barbecued meat?"
Wu Pengpeng had no appetite, but seeing his high spirits, she couldn't bear to dampen his enthusiasm, so she nodded in agreement, "Sure!"
Soon, Jiang He had someone set up a simple barbecue grill and start a fire. He personally started grilling the meat, while Wu Pengpeng just sat there.
Wu Pengpeng sat on the side, watching him bustling around in the smoke and fire. Suddenly, the smoke got into her eyes, and tears welled up in her eyes.
She really regretted it. She had known He Qianshan for one year and six months, 548 days in total. They had so much time together, but she had always been indulging in wasting money and had never truly devoted herself to him for a single day.
She had never watched the snow with him, never set off fireworks with him, never had a barbecue with him...
Those things she had never done with him had become her eternal regrets. In the remaining short days of her life, every minute and second was like a thousand ants gnawing at her heart, cruelly and clearly reminding her that she had missed such wonderful times.
"Here, have a taste." A skewer of barbecued meat suddenly appeared in front of her. Wu Pengpeng hurriedly wiped her face and looked up, smiling sheepishly, "The smoke is too thick. It's stinging my eyes."
Jiang He just quietly looked at her without exposing her thoughts. He stuffed the skewer into her hand and turned towards the grill, "I'll move it a bit further away."
Wu Pengpeng turned to look and saw Jiang He move the grill to the other end of the room. He stood there with his back to her for a long time without moving.
After a long while, he came over with a plate of barbecued meat and placed it on the small table in front of her, "Eat while it's hot!"
"Jiang He." Wu Pengpeng called out to him.
Jiang He turned around. She saw that his eye sockets were red. She didn't know if it was because of the smoke in his eyes.
She pretended not to notice anything and gave him a gentle smile, "Come and sit with me and have some."
Jiang He nodded and came over to sit beside her. The two of them ate the barbecued meat and chatted casually.
It took them two hours to finish the small plate of barbecued meat. The meat had long since turned cold, but neither of them cared.
When the servant came to clear away the mess, Jiang He stopped the short and thin man, "Is Wu Junyu back?"
The short and thin man was taken aback for a moment and then nodded, "Yes, he's with the third master..."
Jiang He nodded in understanding but didn't say a word. He waved his hand to signal the man to leave.
After eating and drinking, Wu Pengpeng felt a bit sleepy. Wrapped in a small blanket, she sat by the window, forcing herself to stay awake to say goodbye to Jiang He, "Jiang He, go back now. There really is no hidden property. Otherwise, I would definitely tell you."
After all, he had accompanied her through the last stage of her life. She didn't want him to feel guilty and restless when he thought of her in the rest of his life.
She didn't want anyone to accompany her for these last few hours. She wanted to quietly think about He Qianshan and have a good farewell with him.
Jiang He stood there without moving. He looked at her silently for a long time. Then, he suddenly said in a low voice, "The 24 hours are almost up, aren't they?"
Wu Pengpeng unconsciously let out a soft "hmm", and then suddenly realized something, "How do you know?"
Jiang He pulled a chair and sat down opposite her. He didn't answer her question but took off his windbreaker and put it on her.
He turned to look at the lollipop she had left on the table and then looked back at her. He said seriously, "I'll send you back!"
Wu Pengpeng shook her head. Even if he managed to send her back now and let her see He Qianshan one more time.
But it would be too cruel to let He Qianshan watch her die right in front of him.
She would rather die silently here, even if no one knew about it, than let him suffer the pain of losing his beloved again.
"I can't promise you what you asked for." Jiang He reached out and ruffled her hair. His eyes were gentle and affectionate, "I'll send you back to him. You can tell him those things yourself."
Wu Pengpeng shook her head in panic, as if afraid that he would take her away. She desperately tried to dodge backwards.
"Don't worry!" Jiang He held down her chair. His tone became even gentler, "You'll live a long and worry - free life by his side."
Wu Pengpeng saw something in his eyes that she couldn't grasp. She tentatively asked, "Are you..."
"Yes, I know." Jiang He still smiled, "This is my well - thought - out decision. I'm willing."
He picked up the lollipop on the table, tore open the wrapper, and gently broke it. Inside the candy was a miniature bomb.
This was the result of his research over the past year, a type of miniature bomb with extremely strong destructive power. A single small one could blow up half a floor, and he had thrown countless of them in this building, which was enough to raze the place to the ground.
The bomb's activation device was a chip that he had implanted in his wrist. Ordinary instruments couldn't detect it at all, which was why he had successfully deceived Wu Junyu.
This was originally just a last - ditch measure for his own safety, but now, he had to use it to ensure her safety.
He leaned over to zip up Wu Pengpeng's coat and gently instructed, "When you jump down later, pull these two ropes. A parachute will pop out behind you. It has an intelligent recognition system to ensure that you land safely."
As he said this, he winked at her, looking like he was asking for praise, "This is also the result of my research over the past year."
Since he knew that Wu Junyu had ill intentions towards her, he had started preparing for this day, so that one day, when she was at the end of her rope, he could give her unexpected support.
And now, he had finally achieved it. Even if it cost him his life, he was willing.
Seeing Jiang He's expression as if he was arranging his last affairs, Wu Pengpeng was completely panicked, "What are you going to do?"
Jiang He didn't say a word. He just quietly looked at her, his eyes full of longing and tenderness, as if he wanted to engrave her appearance in his bones.
Wu Pengpeng struggled to avoid his gaze, but Jiang He held her down. She shouted anxiously, "Jiang He!"
Jiang He reached out and stroked her face, smiling gently, "Don't forget, you promised to give me an answer in 50 years, but I won't be able to wait until then... So just consider it as you promising me the next life."
He leaned down and gently, reverently kissed her forehead, "Wu Pengpeng, see you in the next life. I'll be waiting for you by the River of Forgetfulness."
After saying that, he picked up Wu Pengpeng and walked towards the balcony without a railing.
Wu Pengpeng already knew what he was going to do. She was both scared and angry, but she couldn't break free. She cursed angrily in a hurry, "To hell with the next life! Jiang He, you're crazy! There's no such thing as a next life! Keep your life and live well!"
Jiang He's steps paused slightly, and then he quickly continued walking forward. His voice was as soft as a whisper in the wind, "If there isn't, then there isn't."