Chapter 65: A Life Returned to Peace, No Regrets in This Lifetime

Time passed gently, the years were kind. In the dream, days of stability and reunion quietly flowed through one autumn and spring after another. After seeing off their parents, Chen Mo and Zhao Xiaoling truly entered the twilight of their lives. Time frosted their temples and carved marks upon their brows; their steps were much slower than in their youth, and their figures were no longer upright. Yet, the way they leaned on and supported each other remained as tender and steadfast as when they first met in their youth.

Their post-retirement time was as leisurely as a cup of lukewarm water—plain, yet most nourishing. They no longer needed to rush for work, toil for a living, or worry day and night about their family’s basic needs. Every morning, the two would go downstairs together, strolling slowly along the familiar tree-lined paths of the neighborhood. Greeting the rising sun and listening to the crisp chirping of birds, they would chat about the small, warm memories of the past decades. In the afternoon, they would sit together on the old but comfortable rocking chairs on the balcony, basking in the warm sun with a cup of warm tea at hand, slowly flipping through a thick stack of Family Photos.

In the photos, there were their green looks when they first arrived in the city, their shy smiles when they were newlyweds, the heart-filling joy when their son Anan was born, and the bustling reunion of four generations under one roof. Page after page, photo after photo, it recorded their entire journey from weathering storms together to the peaceful years they now enjoyed.

Having grown up, Anan had long since firmly established his own small family. His career was stable and smooth, his marriage was harmonious, and he had raised his son and daughter to be sensible, polite, and filial. Every weekend and holiday, the whole family would gather at Chen Mo and Zhao Xiaoling’s home. The small house would instantly be filled with the aroma of steaming food, the crisp laughter of children, and the warm conversation of family members—bustling and cozy. The sight of four generations together was warm enough to melt all the coldness of the years and fulfilled all of Chen Mo’s lifelong expectations.

The children loved to sit around the two elders, tilting their young faces up to listen to stories of the past. They heard about the lush Old Locust Tree at the entrance of their home village, the young boy and girl walking side by side on the field ridges, the hardships and warmth of striving in the city, and how the family grew from having nothing to supporting each other, step by step, to reach today’s health, stability, and fulfillment. Those simple words and tender pasts planted seeds of kindness, gratitude, and appreciation in the children’s hearts, allowing this warmth that spanned half a lifetime to be passed down through generations.

At such moments, Chen Mo would often quietly watch his lively and harmonious family, then turn his head to look at Zhao Xiaoling, whose eyes were still as gentle as ever. His heart would be filled to the brim with peace, stability, and relief. He was once that boy who came out of a barren village with nothing, a person of regret in the real world who had no time to grow up, no time to repay kindness, no time to start a family, and no time to love properly before his life hurriedly ended. He had fallen into this long and gentle dream carrying a soul full of unresolved regrets, a heart full of unfinished business, and eyes full of reluctance and concern.

And now, at the end of the dream, he had succeeded in his studies, had a stable career, married and stayed with his wife, raised a talented son, and honored his elders until the end. He personally watched his elders enjoy their later years and pass away with smiles, saw his child start a career and a family while being sensible and filial, and saw his grandchildren growing up around him, innocent and romantic. All the wishes he hadn’t time to realize in reality, all the debts he couldn’t repay in half a lifetime, and all the unresolved regrets buried deep in his heart—all were fulfilled and made whole one by one.

In such quiet moments, Zhao Xiaoling would always lean gently on his shoulder, her voice soft and tender, just like the young girl who smiled at him under the locust tree decades ago: “In this life, following you from the countryside to the city, from youth to white hair, I have never regretted it. Every day has felt peaceful and happy.”

Chen Mo gently squeezed her wrinkled but still warm hand, their fingers interlocking and their hearts connecting. All the deep affection that had never been spoken was hidden in this simplest of gestures. His voice was deep and soft, carrying a lifetime of contentment and gratitude: “Xiao Ling, if you hadn’t stayed with me all the way, I wouldn’t have made it to today. Being able to meet, accompany, and stay with you for a lifetime is the greatest blessing of my life and the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done.”

From the first heartbeat of their meeting under the locust tree to leaning on each other with white hair;

From sharing hardships in the same boat to sharing sweetness in peaceful years.

They used their entire lives to fulfill their original promise.

Several more years passed, on a bright and sunny morning with warm sunlight.

In the dream, Chen Mo lay on the bed that had accompanied him for half his life. The room was warm and quiet, without noise or pain, only filled with tenderness. Zhao Xiaoling sat quietly by the bed, holding his hand tightly. There was reluctance in her eyes, but no panic, only the stability and tenderness of a lifetime of companionship. Anan stood by quietly with his wife and children. The whole family stayed by his side silently and gently, saying their final farewell in the most peaceful way.

He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze gently sweeping across the familiar and kind faces before him—

The lover who had accompanied him for a lifetime, never leaving, always by his side;

The son who was filial and sensible, who had started his own family and career, living up to the grace of his upbringing;

The grandchildren who were innocent and lovely, bringing joy to his old age and continuing the family’s warmth;

A large family, harmonious, safe, and reunited.

In this life, the filial duty he should have performed, he had performed;

The home he should have guarded, he had guarded;

The person he should have loved, he had loved until the very last moment;

The life he should have fulfilled, he had walked through completely, without leaving a single trace of regret.

No debts, no burdens, no regrets, no lingering concerns.

A peaceful, gentle, and supremely satisfied smile slowly spread across Chen Mo’s face. It was the relief of seeing a rainbow after the storm, the tranquility of a life well-lived coming to a perfect close, and the tenderness of all wishes fulfilled and no regrets in this life.

He took a soft, deep look at Zhao Xiaoling, hiding all the love and gratitude of this lifetime in that final glance.

Then, amidst the warm morning light filling the room, he slowly, gently, and calmly closed his eyes.

His face was peaceful, his breath gradually slowing, as if falling into a long sleep from which he would never wake, yet would always be warm.

And at that very same moment.

In reality, in that quiet and simple small room, the first ray of morning sunlight happened to pierce through the window frame, gently falling on Chen Mo’s quiet face. He still lay there quietly, his body already slightly cool, but the supremely happy smile that had persisted through the entire dream remained clear, gentle, and never faded.

As if their hearts were in sync, as if their souls had become one.

The Chen Mo in reality gently smoothed his brow, completely letting go of all concerns and exhaustion.

At the moment his dream self closed his eyes,

He in reality also simultaneously, gently, and peacefully closed his eyes.

There was no struggle, no pain, no resentment,

Only complete peace, complete relief, and complete fulfillment.

Reality Timeline

The small room was quiet, no longer containing any sadness, only peace and warmth flowing slowly through the air.

His mother sat quietly by the bed, gently stroking her son’s peaceful and soft cheek. Her tears had long since dried up over countless days and nights. At this moment, her face held only complete peace of mind and a smile of relief. She knew clearly that her child, in another world, had lived out a complete, happy, and stable life without regrets. With a lover to stay with for life and a family reunited, with a beginning and an end, and gentle years, there were no more concerns or regrets in this life.

His father stood by the window, looking at the clear, bright, and cloudless sky outside, slowly letting out a long sigh of relief. The back that had been tense for a lifetime completely relaxed, and the brow that had toiled for a lifetime completely smoothed out, showing a peace and stability that hadn’t been seen for a long time. His son was finally fulfilled, finally at peace, and could finally take a good, worry-free rest.

In this life,

Reality gave him a life full of regrets and a hurried end;

The dream returned to him a lifetime of fulfillment and a gentle conclusion.

His life in reality quietly came to an end in the morning light, with no more concerns.

His life in the dream would be eternally warm in time, with peace year after year.

He had once come carrying a body full of frost and regret,

In the end, he left carrying a heart full of joy and fulfillment.

This life, no regrets.

This world, complete.

—— The End – Grand Finale ——