Shrouded Seascape-Chapter 1147. Confrontation

The peaceful and quiet life of Gao Zhiming and Zhao Jiajia began. School days were far from exciting. Their usual routine was just travelling between two points: school and home.

But in comparison to their previous chaotic lifestyle, this current life was much better.

They went to school together, came home together, did their homework together, and shared every meal together.

As the simple days passed, their bond grew stronger and closer.

Time at junior high flew by in the blink of an eye. With Anna's help, Gao Zhiming barely passed the high school entrance exams and managed to get into a high school.

"Here," Anna said, holding up a half-eaten bun to his mouth. "The steamed buns here are pretty good."

Gao Zhiming received the bun and took a large bite. "It really is! Big sis, let's eat out next time. I think breakfast outside tastes better."

"Hmm? Are you complaining that my cooking is bad now?" Anna asked with a raised eyebrow.

Gao Zhiming flashed a mischievous grin before nodding and swiftly running away.

"You little brat! You think you're all grown up now and have the guts to rebel, huh?" Anna shouted. They laughed and bantered as they made their way to the school gates.

Like any high school, there was bound to be a group of kids who thought highly of themselves.

Near the entrance, a group of girls dressed caked in heavy makeup and clad in colorful, skimpy outfits clustered around the boys with tattoos. They tossed around smug words and occasionally erupted in cocky laughter.

One couple was even making out in full view of everyone else, while their friends cheered them on. They weren't the least bothered by the crowd around them.

As Gao Zhiming watched their display of affection, his eyes shifted, almost instinctively, toward Zhao Jiajia. As soon as her eyes met his, however, his cheeks flushed red, and he quickly turned his head away.

When he was much younger, hugs and kisses between them came naturally. But now that he had grown older, they hardly did those things anymore.

A mischievous glint darted through Zhao Jiajia's eyes. She tugged on Gao Zhiming's sleeve and led him into a quiet alley beside the school.

"Big sis, what are we doing here?" Gao Zhiming's breathing quickened.

Zhao Jiajia tilted her head up to look at him. Gao Zhiming had grown up, and his resemblance to Charles was becoming uncanny.

The only difference between him and Charles eight years later was the lack of exhaustion on his youthful face and the hopeful glint in his eyes.

Looking at the face before her, something in Zhao Jiajia stirred. She suddenly had the urge to tease him.

The two lingered in the alley for a long while before they emerged. By then, class had long started, but they weren't in a rush. Their fingers were linked, and when their eyes met, their lips curved into a knowing smile.

For ordinary students, high school was the most critical turning point in life.

But for Gao Zhiming, this was the first time he tasted the sweetness of love, and it was utterly intoxicating. He fell hard, swept away in its current, and before he knew it, he was in too deep.

These were the happiest days of his life.

They didn't need to do anything. Just sitting by Anna's side and watching the delicate curve of her side profile was enough to make his heart brim with joy.

Soon, freshman year passed, and then the sophomore year ended. They were finally in their crucial senior year, signaling the inevitable: it was soon time for Gao Zhiming to depart for the Subterranean Sea.

Their lovey-dovey days were coming to an end.

Neither of them talked about it, but some things could not be ignored forever.

As that day crept closer and closer, the pressure weighing down on Gao Zhiming's chest grew heavier and heavier. It was so suffocating that he almost couldn't breathe, and it wiped the smile from his face.

In the cosy living room, Anna and Gao Zhiming were having dinner. No words were exchanged, and the only sound that filled the room came from the television.

"What are you thinking about? You've been so quiet. I've heard good reviews about that recently released movie. Want to go see it together?" Anna asked in a gentle voice.

"Jiajia, what happened to those people who used to be with us?"

Gao Zhiming's question caught Anna off guard. She hadn't expected this question at all.

"Most of them are dead," Anna answered calmly. "Jackal, Roy, Wang Sheng, even Tobba... They're all dead. Even the survivors... Li Lu has completely lost her mind."

"She went crazy?"

"Yeah. She went crazy. They don't know if she was affected by the presence of a god or if it was the shock from losing her son, Tobba.

"Olivia tried to use her powers to heal Li Lu, but... judging from the latest updates, it hasn't been very effective."

"Then what about Olivia?"

"Olivia? She's doing great. I've asked her to stay nearby and always be on standby."

"On standby to alter my memories?" Gao Zhiming's words pierced through the elephant in the room. The atmosphere thickened with tension.

"Jiajia... I don't want to go down there," Gao Zhiming said. This was the first time he decided to defy her orders. "I don't want to go to the Subterranean Sea! I don't want to go to that terrible, oppressive place! I just want to live like a normal person!"

Zhao Jiajia reached out with a soft hand and grabbed his trembling fingers. "Don't be afraid. I'll come along."

Gao Zhiming's breathing turned ragged, and emotions flickered across his face.

"Jiajia, don't you get it?! I don't want to go down there. Neither do I want you to go down there! It's such a dangerous place. I don't want you to take the risk. Can't we just stay here and peacefully live out our lives? Why do we have to go there?!"

Zhao Jiajia's expression faltered. She realized now that she had been oversimplifying the situation. She had never considered Gao Zhiming's feelings over this matter.

Gao Zhiming suddenly threw his arms around her, trembling as he held her tight.

"I don't want to end up as the madman that you spoke of. I don't want our memories to be erased. Also..." Gao Zhiming's voice trembled and cracked. "Jiajia, I love you. I don't want to leave you."

Zhao Jiajia lowered her head and nestled in against the curve of his neck.

In a soft voice, she said, "Eight years. In the eighth year after going down there, you'll meet me again. We'll have an adorable and beautiful child. Her name is Sparkle.

"If it were just the two of us, then nothing else would matter. Screw the time paradoxes. However, this doesn't concern only us.

"We have to consider Sparkle. Because she is in danger in the Subterranean Sea. We have to go back for her. She is our responsibility, our love."

A tremble coursed through Gao Zhiming. He parted his lips, wanting to say that he didn't give a damn about a daughter he had never even met. However, the words wouldn't leave his mouth.

After a long silence, he slowly let go of Zhao Jiajia and took another look at the girl he loved.

Her arms were pale and soft like lotus roots. Her legs were smooth and slender. Accompanied by her serene presence, she sat there like a painting rendered in elegance and light.

Gao Zhiming leaned in again and took her lips. He kissed her softly at first before deepening it.

He let the love swelling in his heart overflow, and he expressed it with every touch, every breath. That night, he gave her all of himself—his tenderness, his longing, and a deep love he could no longer hold back.

When it was all over, Gao Zhiming lay beside her on the bed. With his arms wrapped around Zhao Jiajia's silky, porcelain skin, he planted a tender kiss on her smooth forehead and listened to her narrate stories of what was to come in the Subterranean Sea.

"Jiajia, I'm willing to have my memories erased. I can also go to that hellish place. But can you promise me one thing?"

"What is it?"

"The Subterranean Sea is too dangerous. Don't come along with me. As for Sparkle, don't worry. I'll protect her with everything I have. I swear upon it."

At that moment, Gao Zhiming suddenly felt some sort of resonance with his future self. He finally understood why his future self had sent Zhao Jiajia to the surface world.

It was all because the love his future self had for Anna was no less than the love he currently felt toward her.

Traces of conflict clouded Zhao Jiajia's gaze. "I... I need to think about it. I need to think it through..."