Infinite Life: Trapped in a lifetime

At the age of eighty-eight.

Familiar, the early summer sunshine shines through the dappled shades of trees,

While the shadows of swaying branches and leaves are reflected on the ground,

It also fell on the body that was aging due to old age, but I couldn't feel any heat.

This is like an early summer scene that symbolizes the end of life,

Reappear again.

In this life,

A few days before the final moment of the countdown,

Mo Dao and Qin Huaishi still lived an ordinary and peaceful life.

It's just that the body occasionally seems heavier and the steps become more staggering.

Qin Huaishi also vaguely felt something, but didn't mention it much.

Just like usual, spending time quietly with Mo Dao.

…

"The Capital University Affiliated Press, which previously published Speculation, has sent another message asking you if you have any ideas to publish another monograph in the near future."

That day, after lunch, I sat by the window.

Qin Huaishi and Mo Dao talked again.

In recent years, as the influence of "Speculation" has grown,

I can actually sell a few more copies a year, which is probably the same as the one that used to sell for just over a thousand, but now it sells for three or four thousand.

For an academic monograph, it's pretty good.

"What I want to say is pretty much what I said in the previous book. As for the rest, I'll leave it to others to add."

Mo Dao responded and just said.

Qin Huaishi nodded, then smiled again.

Now that we have finished talking about this serious matter.

Qin Huaishi and Mo Dao briefly talked about some trivial things.

Occasionally, Qin Huaishi remembered the places he and Mo Dao had been to before.

He would also talk to Mo Dao, and the two of them would exchange a few words.

But I won’t talk for too long,

Because the past was good, and the present is also good.

After finishing speaking, the two of them were not in a hurry to continue talking.

They sat leaning against each other,

Feeling the sunlight falling into the house from the window at this moment,

and the wind blowing in without being impatient, enjoying the environment and inner peace at this moment,

Time passed quietly again.

"What's wrong?"

Noticed that Mo Dao turned his gaze back to her from the window,

Qin Huaishi also looked at Mo Dao and asked warmly.

Mo Dao looked at his wife's face and just smiled and shook his head.

He didn't pay attention to the countdown at the moment,

But the end of this life is today.

"Want to go somewhere?"

Qin Huaishi seemed to think for a while, stretched out his hand to hold Mo Dao's hand, and then asked Mo Dao,

"Just here, right now, is good."

Mo Dao smiled again and shook his head. He also reached out and held Qin Huaishi's hand.

The two pairs of hands, both already somewhat old, hold each other,

Just like many years ago, the same two pairs of much younger hands.

"Um."

Looking at Mo Dao, Qin Huaishi responded softly.

No more words were spoken, the two of them quietly felt the tranquility at this moment,

Holding each other's hands, one can feel each other's pulse and temperature.

This was an ordinary day for Mo Dao and Qin Huaishi.

Like suddenly.

In the quiet, subtle, rustling wind,

There were more Mo Dao's heavy breathing sounds,

It's like there's a break between two consecutive breaths,

For this reason, the person who breathes has to unconsciously increase his breathing.

It seems like more air is being sucked into the body,

But it didn't seem to have much effect, it just made the chest rise and fall violently, and the breathing became rapid.

"...Huai Shi, I'm a little tired."

Mo Dao lowered his head and glanced at his rapidly rising and falling chest.

But he seemed to be withdrawing, and it was difficult to feel his heavy breathing.

"Um……"

Qin Huaishi obviously realized something,

After a pause, he just held Mo Dao's hand tighter.

"...If you're tired, just rest."

Qin Huaishi and Mo Dao hugged each other,

The two old bodies supported, helped, and leaned on each other.

Mo Dao didn't speak anymore.

He just tried his best to use the last strength in his body to hug his girl Qin Huaishi.

Breathing is getting heavier.

The last bit of strength in his body seemed to be seeping out of his body and then disappearing.

but,

Mo Dao felt very peaceful inside, but felt a little sad about separation.

In this life,

Mo Dao has no regrets.

This is an ordinary life.

In this lifetime,

More, just like at this moment, quietly spending the time quietly passing by with Miss Qin Huaishi.

The two of them have been to many places, some of which they have visited in previous lives, and many of which they have never visited before.

Compared with the previous life, or even the previous lives,

Mo Dao's achievements in this life were not so dazzling.

Even as a scholar or teacher of philosophy, I have not reached the peak.

But it doesn't matter.

For Mo Dao, this life was like a lazy afternoon after a long sleep after being exhausted.

Maybe not so exciting, but peaceful, just spending time like this never makes people feel bored.

"If you are tired, just close your eyes and take a nap...Don't be afraid, I will always be with you."

Qin Huaishi and Mo Dao hugged each other and just whispered to Mo Dao,

"Um……"

Uncontrollably and increasingly heavier, as if my lungs were broken, I gasped,

Mo Dao reluctantly responded.

But he didn't close his eyes, he just looked at Miss Qin Huaishi again.

The two looked at each other again,

Qin Huaishi looked at Mo Dao again and forced a smile.

"... I feel that I have lived a fulfilling life all my life, and I have no regrets, whether it is for research or for... you."

"You are my best thinker and philosopher, and... the best husband."

Qin Huaishi said to Mo Dao again.

Mo Dao looked at Qin Huaishi and smiled again.

"I have no regrets, either for others or for you."

Mo Dao also said.

After saying these words,

The two of them hugged each other quietly and spent the last time of this life.

Mo Dao's body changed from heavy to a little light,

My consciousness gradually became blurry.

The heavy breathing caused by the rising and falling chest should have stung the lungs;

But this seems to be felt.

I wanted to move my arms and body some more, but every part of my body seemed to be out of control.

In this life,

That's where it ends.

"Poetry..."

Mo Dao just reluctantly called out to his "Girl Huai Shi" at the end.

"Yeah. I've always been there."

Miss Qin Huaishi responded warmly.

Mo Dao completely lost consciousness in Qin Huaishi's arms.

He slowly closed his eyes and his heavy breathing disappeared.

Miss Qin Huaishi paused.

Then, it was like this again, hugging Mo Dao quietly for a long time.

…

In this life, after dealing with Mo Dao’s funeral affairs,

Qin Huaishi passed away soon after.

Students of Mo Dao and Qin Huaishi,

The two were finally buried together.

The epitaph on the tombstone where the two were buried together reads,

"They lived an ordinary but fulfilling life together. They loved each other from the past to the future."

…

As for the deaths of Mo Dao and Qin Huaishi.

The outside world also made some brief reports.

"Mr. Mo Dao, a famous Chinese thinker, scholar and professor at Capital University, and his wife, Ms. Qin Huaishi, an outstanding biologist, passed away in the capital."

"...Professor Mo Dao has published many academic papers and the famous philosophical monograph "Speculation", and has trained many outstanding scholars in philosophy."

"Ms. Qin Huaishi was a Yangtze River scholar and a second-level professor at Capital University. She has made many important achievements in the field of biology, including..."

"...I have read "Speculation", which is an excellent work. I hope Mr. Mo Dao and Ms. Qin Huaishi will have a good journey."

"They are all excellent people, whether it is Mr. Mo Dao or Ms. Qin Huaishi..."