"It's like A Chinese Ghost Story," Zhang Wei exclaimed with an "Oh wow."
Zhang Chao chuckled, "Indeed. In ancient times, Nie Xiaoqian and Ning Caichen. Today, a boyfriend becomes a ghost to cling to his girlfriend. This is truly love that lasts beyond death."
Speaking of love, Zhang Chao glanced at Zhang Wei, "Speaking of which, our dear Xiao Wei Zi, how are things progressing with Xiao Mantou?"
"Amitabha," said Wunian, who was eating beside them. Although he continued to eat, his perked-up ears and the occasional stolen glance at Zhang Wei betrayed him.
At this moment, Zhang Chao stopped slurping his noodles and, with a gossipy grin, asked, "You didn't reply to my messages last night, saying you were busy. Were you making love with Xiao Mantou?"
As he spoke, Zhang Chao mimed rapid clapping with both hands, producing a crisp, rapid *pa pa pa* sound.
"Alas, Wunian, look at us. We don't even have ex-girlfriends."
"And look at Zhang Wei. Not only does he have an ex-girlfriend, but last night he took his girlfriend 'one step to the stomach,' starting to procreate."
Zhang Wei playfully smacked Zhang Chao's head, "What nonsense are you talking about? I was playing League of Legends with people last night."
After Zhang Wei's explanation, Zhang Chao learned the details. He rolled his eyes, "I say, Zhang Wei, you traveled all the way from the Northeast to Wenling City to help Xiao Mantou exorcise a ghost, and you didn't do anything?"
"Have you gone bad? Instead of learning something good, you're learning from Wunian how to waste that thing, or have you already stopped believing in love?"
"What? Zhang Chao, what are you saying? Do you believe in love?" Zhang Wei teased.
Before Zhang Chao could respond, Wunian, who was beside them, looked up and casually mentioned, "Amitabha, Zhang Chao recently registered with a matchmaking agency."
"Go, go, go, get out of here," Zhang Chao quickly interrupted Wunian.
Seeing this, Zhang Wei burst into laughter, "I can't believe it, Zhang Chao. Are you going through your adolescent phase?"
Zhang Chao blushed in embarrassment, then said in a low voice, "No, it was my dad who insisted. He said I'm not young anymore, and if I'm not studying, I should get married early."
"And I do believe in love. Although there are many deceivers, many simps, and many gold-diggers now, I believe there is still love in this world."
As he spoke, Zhang Chao's gaze drifted towards the shop entrance. "Look over there. Isn't that love?"
Huh?
Zhang Wei and Wunian looked stunned and followed Zhang Chao's pointed direction.
It was an elderly couple.
An old grandmother and an old grandfather, their hair completely white, around seventy or eighty years old. They were dressed very ordinarily, not like they were wealthy. Just a common old couple.
Yet, as they entered the shop, they attracted many people's attention.
The old grandmother seemed a bit dazed, perhaps not in good health, walking very slowly, pausing to rest after every step.
At this moment, it was lunchtime, and the restaurant was crowded. The old grandfather, afraid that the crowd and his wife's slow pace would cause them to get separated, reached out to hold her hand.
Although the old grandfather was also old, even appearing older than the old grandmother, his aged hand held hers tightly and firmly, preventing the crowd from pushing them apart.
This scene had an indescribable warmth.
It made people's lips curl up inexplicably, and it felt like even the worst mood would improve at this moment.
"That's so nice," Zhang Chao smiled, his eyes never leaving the elderly couple.
One could see that the old grandfather was holding the old grandmother's hand. The old grandmother seemed to feel she was walking too slowly and wanted to speed up, not wanting to hold her old man back.
"Old partner, walk slower. We're out to eat today, no need to cook. No need to walk so fast," the old grandfather said slowly, holding his wife's hand, a smile on his aged face.
The old grandmother gave him a playful glare, "Why are we eating out? Cooking at home is fine. Eating out is too extravagant."
The old grandfather's aged face creased into a smile, "Isn't it our 50th wedding anniversary today? Didn't you say a few days ago you wanted to eat dumplings? I'll take you out to eat. By the way, do you want an ice cream? I heard from our son that this place sells ice cream."
The old grandmother walked up to the old grandfather and lightly patted him, "That's why our son says you're cultured. Old man, what our son said was 'Saint Something,' ah, right, 'Sundae.'"
The old grandfather laughed, "It's all the same, it's all eating ice. Old partner, haven't you eaten ice in a long time? Come on, I'll take you to eat today."
The old grandmother did not refuse, nodding with a hint of happiness.
In the eyes of others, they were an old grandfather and an old grandmother. But in the old grandfather's eyes, this was not just an old grandmother; she was his wife. Even though they had walked together from youth to old age, in his eyes, the old grandmother was always his girl. He remembered she loved ice in the summer, but her health didn't allow her to eat much of it anymore. This year, they were eating it for the first time in a while.
"That old grandfather and grandmother don't look like wealthy people, but they seem to be living very happily," Zhang Chao exclaimed.
"Actually, I just want to be like them. I don't seek great wealth or status, nor do I want to marry a stunningly beautiful wife. As long as she loves me and cherishes me, that's enough."
"Then, we'll start a normal family and live ordinary days, spending our lives together. Isn't that good?"
"Zhang Wei, haven't you thought about these things too?"
Zhang Wei glanced at Zhang Chao and nodded, "I have. I think everyone has thought about it, fantasizing about the kind of wife they'll find and the happy family they'll have in the future."
"Then what kind of wife do you envision?" Zhang Chao asked curiously.
Just as Zhang Wei was about to speak, a series of exclamations interrupted their conversation. They looked and their pupils suddenly contracted.
They saw the previous elderly couple, chatting and laughing, walking into the shop. However, shortly after entering, as the old grandfather was ordering food from the waitress, he suddenly clutched his chest and collapsed to the ground in pain.
This scene terrified everyone, especially the old grandmother, whose face turned pale.
"Old man, what's wrong? Old man!" she anxiously shook the old grandfather and frantically asked the waitress to call an ambulance.
"Yes, yes, quickly call an ambulance," the people around also reacted. Someone took out their phone and quickly called for an ambulance.
In an instant, the entire shop descended into chaos. Many people stopped to watch, wanting to see what had happened. Upon seeing the situation, many felt a pang in their hearts.
There, an old man lay on the ground. Someone with first-aid knowledge was performing CPR, repeatedly pressing his heart. Beside the old man, an old grandmother was crying anxiously, repeatedly murmuring, "Old man, wake up quickly, save my old man."
Soon, because Zhang Wei and the others had to go to the hospital, the restaurant they chose was close to the hospital. The ambulance arrived quickly, and medical personnel alighted from the vehicle, lifting the old man onto a stretcher and into the ambulance.
During this time, the old grandmother stayed by the old man's side. Even though her legs were not convenient, at this moment, she ignored them and tried her best to keep up with the stretcher, unwilling to leave the old man. Her aged hands remained tightly clasped with his, just as he had tightly held her hand earlier. This time, it was her turn to hold on tightly, not daring to let go.
"Old man, the doctor is here, the doctor is here. You'll be fine, you must be fine. Old man, say something to me, okay?"
These murmurs echoed in everyone's ears, making their hearts ache, especially those who had seen the old man holding the old grandmother's hand as they entered the shop. They watched the ambulance drive away, discussing their hopes that the old man would be alright.
Their discussions were heard by Zhang Wei and the other two. They fell silent…
In the eyes of others, including the old grandmother, they only saw the old man being lifted onto a stretcher and into an ambulance. But in the eyes of Zhang Wei and the other two, they saw something else.
On the stretcher lay the old grandfather, his hand tightly held by the old grandmother. And as the stretcher was lifted, another old grandfather appeared… He looked exactly like the old grandfather on the stretcher. His body was ethereal and transparent.