The photo was of Cornelius Gentry and me, taken at sunset.
It turned out that the illusions I thought I had were not illusions at all.
Cornelius Gentry, you crazy fool!
I staggered as I ran outside.
If he had driven back, it must have been via the mountain path at the foot of the hill.
But he hadn't returned yet, so he must have been trapped on the way.
I couldn't care less about the relentless rain, praying with all my heart that nothing had happened to him.
Not far ahead, I saw the road blocked by a mudslide.
A car was buried in the earth.
It was Robert's car.
My legs went weak, and I almost couldn't stand.
I ran up to the car, which was covered in yellow soil, and I could only see the sealed windows from the left side.
"Cornelius Gentry..."
I knocked on the window with trembling hands.
No response.
"Cornelius Gentry! Cornelius Gentry! Say something! I know it's you!"
I lost control of my emotions, desperately digging at the mud on the car, bleeding from my fingers. I grabbed a stick and hammered at the window.
But no matter what I did, I couldn't save him!
I broke down and cried uncontrollably.
"Why? Why are you doing this to me?"
Why did I only realize it was you now?
Not far away, the workers rushed over and pulled me away.
"Charlie! It's dangerous, let us do it!"
"Let me save him!" I screamed with all my might.
"Carlee!"
In that instant, my world went silent.
I thought I was hearing things.
But when I turned around, I saw Cornelius Gentry standing not far away, looking at me with such longing in his eyes.
This time, he wasn't hiding his face under a hat; he looked just like he did in my memory.
Seeing him again, it felt like centuries had passed.
I stood still, trembling all over.
He ran toward me and hugged me tightly.
Feeling the familiar warmth, I couldn't hold back my tears anymore.
"Cornelius Gentry, you fool!"
"Why did you lie to me like this?"
"I've already repaid everything I owe you!"
Cornelius Gentry held me tight, not letting me pull away. I could only pound on his back weakly.
He said, "But everything I owe you... I can never repay..."
It was his voice, and Cornelius Gentry had removed all his pretenses, truly standing there beside me.
Back at school, I had just finished my shower when a knock on the door sounded.
I knew it was him, and stubbornly refused to open the door.
"Carlee... Carlee!"
Cornelius Gentry leaned against the door, calling out in a playful manner.
I still opened the door.
His hair was still damp, and he smelled like the fragrance of someone who had just showered.
The jasmine scent that I liked.
As soon as I stepped inside, I was pressed against the wall.
Cornelius Gentry's hands wrapped around my waist, trapping me, and he held my head down before showering me with kisses. I could only tilt my head back and endure.
He was tall, and soon my neck ached. I reached out to push him, but was quickly picked up and thrown onto the bed.
It wasn't until I was kissed so hard I could hardly breathe that he buried his face in the crook of my shoulder.
Tears fell onto my collarbone.
I snapped back to my senses and whispered, "Cornelius Gentry, you jerk!"
"I know," he murmured, his voice low.
What had happened between us made my departure inevitable.
Cornelius Gentry said he knew from the very beginning that I would leave.
On our last night, he didn't sleep a wink.
So, he had always known where I was.
Robert, Robert, the person who came from a distant place.
I asked him, if I hadn't discovered it, would he have planned to stay by my side like this forever?
He said, "As long as you're happy and safe, I'm willing to hide behind you forever."
He said, "When I hear you call my name, I forget everything else."
He said, "Carlee, can you forgive me now...?"
I broke down in his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Cornelius Gentry, I've really lost to you…"
Later, the workers finished repairing the road.
I wasn't wrong—these supplies had all been sent by Cornelius Gentry.
The principal was so happy, he personally cooked a meal for us.
Cornelius Gentry took my hand and introduced our relationship to everyone.
The principal was surprised, then pretended to be unhappy, saying:
"I said, little Gentry, even though you've sent us so many good things, you're going to steal our best teacher, Charlie!"
Cornelius Gentry quickly promised that after we left, he would help establish connections between here and the outside world, closely monitor and fund the children's education and growth.
The workers privately joked that the boss had hidden his identity and traveled thousands of miles for love.
The children at the school found it fascinating when they saw Cornelius Gentry.
"Robert, so this is what you look like?"
"You're so handsome!"
"Just as good-looking as Charlie!"
"Will Robert's older brother come back to teach us basketball?"
When the children found out I was leaving with Cornelius Gentry, they immediately burst into tears.
"Charlie, we don't want you to leave."
I felt a bit sad, but Cornelius Gentry told the children that in the future, we would wait for them to grow up in the outside world.
Not long after, we set off on our way home.
Cornelius Gentry said, "This home is complete with you."
On the balcony, I was pleasantly surprised to find the small garden filled with strawberries.
The strawberries were blooming beautifully.
I asked Cornelius Gentry, "Mr. Gentry, when did you start getting involved in agriculture?"
The art studio, he had always kept it for me.
He said, from now on, whatever I wanted to do, he would be there with me.
A year later, I was pregnant.
When Cornelius Gentry found out, he canceled all his work and stayed by my side, never leaving me for a second.
Whenever there was the slightest sign of trouble, he became incredibly nervous.
In the evening, I leaned against him, staring at the sky full of stars.
He said, "Honey, do you think our parents will know we're having a baby?"
"They will. They're up there, and they must be very happy for us."
All the struggles ended, and we experienced despair, but ultimately saved each other.
In the haze, I saw a bright star flicker quietly.
