Ji Family Villa
Ji Qingyi and Ji Yuewu were sipping tea at the tea table.
Ji Qingyi gently sipped her tea, set the cup down, then picked it up again for another sip.
Ji Yuewu also lifted her cup and took a small sip, then setting it down, she remarked, "It's a miracle, isn't it?"
Ji Qingyi looked up at her.
After a long gaze, Ji Qingyi slowly said, "You have a keen eye; it truly is a miracle."
"But..."
Pausing, Ji Qingyi's voice faltered slightly, "Can miracles happen consecutively?"
Ji Yuewu didn't immediately respond but instead countered, "What do you think?"
"It's impossible."
"Miss, you say 'impossible' too often," Ji Yuewu interrupted her. "I must remind you, if there's one miracle, there can be another. You needn't worry."
"I actually hope you are prepared mentally."
Ji Qingyi took a light sip from her cup, speaking softly.
"Thud thud~"
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.
Ji Qingyi put down her tea cup, and after exchanging a glance with Ji Yuewu, Ji Yuewu got up to open the door.
Standing outside was a middle-aged woman dressed in a black women's suit, who respectfully said to Ji Qingyi, "Miss, Su Cheng is missing!"
Upon hearing this, both the master and servant stiffened momentarily.
After a silence, Ji Qingyi asked, "Have you checked thoroughly?"
"He suddenly left the celebration banquet, wasn't in his room, and there's no footage of him on the surveillance. We've started investigating, but..." the housekeeper hesitated, then lowered her head, "It's as if he vanished into thin air, leaving no trace."
"What about his family?"
Ji Qingyi asked calmly.
"Lord Ji has forbidden us from approaching there."
After she finished speaking, she glanced at Ji Yuewu, then bowed her head, waiting to be dismissed.
Ji Qingyi observed the maid for a few seconds, then glanced at Ji Yuewu, who was suddenly silent and seemingly lost in thought. After pondering for a while, she said, "You may leave."
"Yes!"
The maid bowed respectfully and left.
For a moment, only Ji Yuewu and Ji Qingyi remained in the room, both silent.
After a while, Ji Qingyi suddenly spoke, "Based on your understanding of him, you probably know why he disappeared without a trace, right?"
Ji Yuewu was momentarily startled, then lowered her eyelids and softly hummed in agreement, then stood up and said, "I will find him."
With that, she turned and walked towards the door.
Ji Qingyi watched her tall, slender figure and suddenly called out, "Wait."
Ji Yuewu stopped and turned her head towards Ji Qingyi.
"You once said, 'A miracle is only a miracle in the eyes of those who believe in it.'"
Ji Qingyi's voice was calm, betraying no emotion, but her words made Ji Yuewu tremble slightly.
Though Ji Qingyi's voice was indifferent, her tone was resolute: "I believe in you."
Ji Yuewu's pupils dilated, and she bit her lip, pausing before saying, "Thank you for your trust."
After speaking, Ji Yuewu lifted her leg and headed towards the door again, her departure somewhat hurried.
She went to her bedroom, shed her maid's outfit, and slipped into her long-unworn school uniform before quickly calling a driver and heading straight to Su Cheng's home.
Knowing Su Cheng well, she was certain he would have left something behind, after all, the promise made by the young lady had yet to be fulfilled.
She had always known about Su Cheng's heart condition, but given his unique circumstances, she assumed he had already cured himself and thus never took it seriously.
But today, Su Cheng's sudden disappearance was out of character.
It was unlike him. Given his personality, he would definitely be waiting quietly with the club members for Ji Qingyi's people to find him. It was impossible for him to leave without a trace, without even a word.
From Su Cheng's perspective, there was only one possible explanation for his disappearance...
The thought made Ji Yuewu's heart inexplicably panic.
The air inside the car seemed to freeze instantly; breathing became difficult, and her chest felt as if it were pressed by a huge stone.
After a while, the car stopped below the apartment building of Su Cheng's home, and Ji Yuewu pushed open the car door and got out.
"Hey, young lady!"
Suddenly, a security guard at the door called out to her.
Ji Yuewu turned to look at the security guard and realized he was the old man she had inquired information from before.
However, she failed to notice a young girl holding a knife nearby.
She stopped, politely asking, "May I help you?"
"You're a friend of Su Cheng, right?"
Seeing Liu Qingyue nod, the security guard continued, "He said you would come later and asked me to give you the keys."
With that, he pulled out a set of keys from his pocket and handed them to her.
"When did this happen? Has he left?"
"An hour ago. He went out."
Liu Qingyue took the keys, thanked him, and then turned to leave.
Su Cheng had specifically instructed the old man to give her the keys, knowing from the old man that she had been asking around, so he deliberately arranged for the keys to be handed to her.
She hurried to Su Cheng's door, opened it, and found the living room empty, just as before.
The only difference was that there were a few more pairs of shoes in the shoe cabinet.
It seemed that during her absence, Su Cheng's home had seen quite a few visitors, and quite frequently at that.
Especially since some shoes showed signs of being washed.
She didn't change her shoes but walked into the living room in her black silk-stockinged feet, scanning the area and finding no one, she directly pushed open the door to the master bedroom.
She walked over, her gaze quickly sweeping over each area, noticing all the clothes on the rack were gone, and finally, her eyes locked onto the computer, which she then approached and turned on.
A few seconds later,
The computer booted up successfully.
Ji Yuewu sat down in front of the computer, only to find it had been reset, leaving nothing behind.
She frowned slightly, turned off the computer again, and began searching the room, trying to find any clues.
But it was all in vain.
Ji Yuewu stared at the ceiling for a long while, murmuring to herself, "So, why did he give me the keys?"
She was not content, so she searched the living room again, finding nothing. But ultimately, on the balcony, she discovered a flamboyantly beautiful flower, alongside a letter and a box.
Ji Yuewu walked to the balcony, took a deep breath, and took out the letter to open it.
It read:
【Liu Qingyue, long time no see, I know you've learned why I disappeared. Yes, unfortunately, I planned my own departure. I can't decide my birth, so now I can only decide my death, perhaps the only thing I truly control.
I don't know what you'll think after I'm gone—anger? Pity? Sadness? Or frustration?
Despite being a transmigrator with cheats, my end is quite embarrassing.
If I were you, I'd be furious, even resentful.
From a god's perspective, it seems I'm just a fool constantly influenced by those around me, eventually sacrificing my life for a promise...
But I could have lived on, yet living such a lingering, pathetic life is worse than a swift death, so don't feel sad for me.
Now, how I die is what matters most.
The value of my life is not determined by how I live, but by what I achieve before I die.
Looking back, my life has been a series of capital 'F' failures, so of course, I couldn't win the championship by my own efforts, and compared to other protagonists, what I did was utterly worthless, terribly bad.
Yet even so, my days have been filled with laughter, perhaps the youth I never had.
The brilliance of a story is determined by the essence of its ending, so I have no regrets, for I fulfilled the meaning of my transmigration, experiencing joys I never knew before.
Lastly, I hope you respect me, this incompetent transmigrator, and do not hinder my final choice.】
I think you know what I want, I can't tell your young mistress myself, please pass the message to her.
Also, the flower your mistress asked me to care for has survived, and next to it is a batch of sticky rice dumplings, the only gift I can use to thank her. Please convey this for me.
This settles the debt I owe you.
Signed: Su Cheng.
…………………………
Reading the message Su Cheng wrote to her, Liu Qingyue felt a surge of indescribable emotions—sour, bitter, angry.
She couldn't snap out of it for a long time.
But eventually, she forced herself to set aside these emotions, as she had more important things to do. She turned to the box, opened the lid, and inside, lay a dozen sticky rice dumplings.
“Thump thump～”
Just as Ji Yuewu was about to close the lid, suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
Ji Yuewu thought for a moment, then went to the peephole to look outside.
She saw a girl in cute clothes with twin blonde ponytails, continuously tapping on the door frame.
"Knock knock knock."
Golden Hair knocked on the door three more times, then spoke in an annoyed tone, "Su Cheng, I know you're in there. Why on earth did you leave two boxes of drinks at the security desk? Leaving a note saying you're going back to your hometown, what does that mean? Explain yourself, you better come out now. Otherwise, I'm breaking in!"
After saying that, she headbutted the door, producing a dull thud.
"..."
Normally, she would have laughed at such foolishness, but today, she wasn't in the mood for laughter at all.
The impact made her wince in pain as she crouched down, clutching her forehead, tears welling up in her eyes as if she could stare through the door.
After a while, she stood up, rubbed her head, and peered through the crack in the door.
Ji Yuewu ignored her, still leaning against the door frame, waiting coldly.
"Getting famous and ditching your friends, what kind of person are you! I've always wished you well, you heartless thing! Don't think I can't find you!"
Golden Hair, seeing that no one opened the door for a long time, cursed a few times, stomped her feet in frustration, and then turned and ran off.
A good while later, Ji Yuewu picked up the box and flowerpot and headed outside, preparing to go to Su Cheng's hometown.
"Liu Qingyue."
Suddenly, a familiar yet strange shout reached her ears.
Liu Qingyue turned around to see a girl with a ponytail, holding a knife, a bag slung over her shoulder, dressed in black, staring at her expressionlessly.
It was Li Guanqi.
Liu Qingyue paused for a moment, but then responded, "Junior, what is it?"
"I've been waiting for a long time."
Li Guanqi glanced at Liu Qingyue indifferently, her tone neither warm nor fiery, "I know you and Su Cheng are close, so I've come to ask you to change his fate. You're our only hope now."
Liu Qingyue was shocked for a few seconds by her words, then regained her composure.
She looked at Li Guanqi, her expression calm, "Junior, why don't you go yourself?"
"He confesses to me once every ten days, today is the sixth day, I can't change anything."
Li Guanqi said, her tone somewhat sad and desolate, as if something had happened between her and Su Cheng that made it impossible for her to accept the situation.
Hearing this, Liu Qingyue's pupils shrank sharply.
That statement was loaded with information.
Because the other party also knew that confessing to Su Cheng could earn a reward.
Even Su Cheng had confessed to her.
The frequency was once every ten days.
The last confession was six days ago.
So confessing now wouldn't earn any rewards.
Thus, Li Guanqi was placing her hopes on her, hoping she could help Su Cheng earn the reward and change the situation.
"Do you think I can make a difference?"
Liu Qingyue asked, her gaze fixed on her, not missing any detail, as if trying to see right through her.
"As long as there's a sliver of hope, there's a possibility."
Li Guanqi's eyes were downcast, her voice husky.
"Su Cheng isn't one to give up easily..."
Liu Qingyue asked, her tone even but her gaze fixed on the knife in Li Guanqi's hand, speaking with a grave expression, "He has even given this to you, which means he has no way out. Junior, do you think we can save him?"
"It's still better than doing nothing."
Li Guanqi said, her eyes intently searching Liu Qingyue's for an answer.
Liu Qingyue fell silent for a moment, then lifted her head to meet her gaze and slowly said, "I understand."
"Please pass these props to him; it's better to keep these things in the treasure pouch."
After speaking, Li Guanqi handed over the backpack and the knife, then smoothed Liu Qingyue's long hair and removed a hairband, placing it in the shoulder bag.
Liu Qingyue was stunned by the contents of the backpack, which included two packs of cigarettes, a bottle of red potion, and a pair of glasses.
Apart from the red potion, all the props were known to belong to Su Cheng.
She hadn't expected Su Cheng to give all his props to Li Guanqi.
She took a deep breath, then lifted her eyes to Li Guanqi, her tone complex, "It seems you two have gotten along well during this time."
Li Guanqi remained silent, neither confirming nor denying.
Liu Qingyue didn't ask further, tightened her grip on the knife handle, slung the backpack over her shoulder, and walked out, her steps growing heavier until she vanished into the night.
Li Guanqi watched her departing figure, her lips tightly pursed, her eyes revealing a glimmer of hope and anticipation.
After leaving, Liu Qingyue headed straight to the back seat of the car, where the driver was waiting for her to speak.
Liu Qingyue threw the backpack onto the seat and then sat down without buckling up, sitting rigidly, her expression wooden, her mind racing with thoughts of where Su Cheng might be.
She had initially planned to go to the river near Su Cheng's hometown.
After all, Su Cheng had emerged from this river.
So naturally, he might choose this river to leave.
But now, she changed her mind, uncertain.
Su Cheng knew her personality and that she would definitely come looking for him, so he might change his route.
As she was caught in an unprecedented dilemma, a dog carrying takeout suddenly appeared at the intersection, breaking her train of thought.
Following that, Cornelia appeared behind the big yellow dog, leading it forward.
After a moment of contemplation, she made a decisive command: "Follow them."
"Alright."
The driver heard the order and immediately stepped on the gas to chase after them.
After a long while,
The vehicle stopped in front of a hospital, but the entrance was crowded with people, including police and reporters, and even police tape was drawn up. On the other side of the tape, a crowd gathered at the hospital entrance, pointing and discussing animatedly.
Cornelia and the dog, still unclear about the situation, were stopped from proceeding, and then the dog changed direction and started walking, with Cornelia following behind.
Liu Qingyue glanced at the scene, then pushed the door open and stepped out.
"Why would someone just jump off a building like that?"
"I heard this person was a patient at the hospital. For some reason, he jumped off the rooftop while smoking a cigarette today."
"No wonder he ended up like that."
Listening to the discussions among the crowd, Liu Qingyue frowned slightly, then glanced at the body covered with a green cloth, almost certain of what had happened.
It was likely Su Cheng's doing.
But now was not the time to delve into these matters; it was time to deal with Su Cheng.
From the looks of it, Cornelia might actually find Su Cheng.
Without hesitation, Liu Qingyue got into her car and followed the direction Cornelia had gone.
She checked the contents of her backpack in the car.
Hard cigarettes 10/pack, soft cigarettes 17/pack, a knife, red potion, a pair of glasses, and a black hairband.
Soon, the dog stopped at the entrance of a bus station.
Cornelia and the dog were naturally stopped by the staff.
"Miss, except for service dogs, other pet dogs are not allowed at the station," the staff member said, his tone somewhat stern.
"It is a service dog," Cornelia stated, pointing to the big yellow dog beside her.
"This..." The staff member glanced at the big yellow dog, his face showing a 'you must be joking' expression, then looked back at Cornelia and said, "Miss, please do not cause me trouble. We have rules here, and pet dogs are strictly not allowed at the station."
"It really is a service dog; it used to work in a circus!" Cornelia insisted earnestly.
Liu Qingyue stepped out of the car and suddenly asked the staff, "Excuse me, where is the ticket office?"
The staff member looked up to respond, but the big yellow dog took advantage of his distraction and dashed into the station with Cornelia, quickly running off into the distance.
"Wait, don't run!"
The staff member was too late to chase after them.
Seeing this, Liu Qingyue quickly followed, and soon she saw the big yellow dog stop at a ticket booth. She looked closely, then turned back to the car and urgently said to the driver, "Get on the highway, head to XX city, XX county, XX town."
That was Su Cheng's hometown.
The driver immediately floored the accelerator.
The car sped away.
However, sweat beaded on her forehead, a sign of a wrong decision. She then abruptly shook her head and said to the driver, "No, go to the nearby seaside."
"Yes," the driver responded, and then continued to accelerate.
The car's taillights gradually disappeared into the night.
Cornelia and the big yellow dog, having been chased out, also headed in the same direction and soon vanished from sight.
Would a person truly seeking death hope someone would find them?
The answer, of course, is no.
From the moment of disappearance, Su Cheng's actions had been too hurried; it was impossible not to have time to spend a few days and nights at home.
If there really had been ample time, the scene might have been different.
The only possibility was that he was deliberately acting this way.
It was a feigned disguise, meant to deceive her.
Liu Qingyue's mind raced, and finally, half an hour later, the car stopped on a sandy beach. She pushed open the car door and stepped out, lifting her eyes to the dark, boundless ocean before her, a serious expression forming on her face.
The night sea breeze was strong, with waves crashing rhythmically. Her gaze landed on a row of rocks not far away, and she walked towards them, counting each one as she passed the sign warning of high tide.
"Three... four... thirteen... sixteen..."
When she reached the sixteenth rock, her pupils dilated, shock flickering in her eyes, and a complex expression crossed her face.
Beneath the sixteenth rock sat a figure, the seawater already reaching his chest, yet his expression was indifferent.
The next second, the water rose to his neck, and with just a slight bow of his head, he would be submerged in the dark waters.
This scene, combined with the night sea and Su Cheng, created a strangely beautiful tableau.
Liu Qingyue was stunned for a moment before she regained her composure. Without hesitation, she walked towards Su Cheng. Her feet touched the cold seawater, gradually advancing until the water reached her ankles, then her knees, and finally her thighs. Wave after wave surged towards her, but she moved steadfastly towards Su Cheng, each step firm and resolute.
Finally, she was less than five meters away from Su Cheng. She looked at him, her lips parting to speak, but just as she was about to, she suddenly heard Su Cheng, head bowed, say, "Learn..."
But before he could finish, a mouthful of seawater surged into his throat, followed by a bout of coughing.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
After Su Cheng finished coughing, he looked up, a hint of embarrassment crossing his face, then said, "The seawater isn't exactly cooperating with me."
"I can see that."
Liu Qingyue nodded, her steps unwavering as she approached Su Cheng. She crouched down beside him, mimicking his seated position, and gently patted his shoulder, her voice calm, "Not..."
But before she could finish, another wave surged over them, choking them both, followed by several more.
Eventually, they both stood up, spat out a mouthful of water, and then began to size each other up.
Despite their disheveled appearance, both were full of energy.
"This thing really ruins the mood."
Su Cheng remarked, his gaze drifting to the knife in his senior sister's hand and the backpack on her back.
"Su Cheng."
Liu Qingyue called out, her tone filled with utmost certainty.
"These things are trivial in the eyes of some."
Liu Qingyue continued, handing the knife and backpack to Su Cheng with a serious expression, "Please keep them safe."
Su Cheng paused, looking at the knife and backpack in her hands, and finally stowed them away in his system space.
"I understand."
Su Cheng said, his gaze shifting towards the distance.
Liu Qingyue followed his gaze but saw nothing except the tumultuous waves of the sea. Then she turned to Su Cheng and said, "If you died, I could never forgive myself."
Her words made Su Cheng pause, but he did not respond because he knew he had only half a day left.
He looked up at the horizon, his eyes empty and bewildered.
"Aren't you going to say anything?"
Liu Qingyue asked, her tone tinged with disappointment.
Su Cheng shook his head.
"I just want to know, if I confess my feelings now, can I get a reward?"
Liu Qingyue asked again.
Su Cheng was slightly startled by her question, glanced at Liu Qingyue, and then shook his head again.
Feeling a chill in her heart, Liu Qingyue then said, "If that's the case, who can receive a reward from your confession? Tell me. I'll bring her here for you to confess!"
Su Cheng looked at Liu Qingyue, his mouth moved, but he said nothing.
He silently gazed into the distance, watching the vast expanse of the ocean, his eyes gradually deepening.
"Su Cheng..."
She called out tentatively.
"Senior sister, let's not talk about it."
Saying this, he sat down on the rocks and closed his eyes.
Seeing this, Liu Qingyue pursed her lips, her heart inexplicably stung, and then she sat down beside Su Cheng. The two sat shoulder to shoulder in silence.
She realized there might be a problem with Su Cheng's external assistance. Her intuition was always sharp, and she could feel Su Cheng's emotions gradually changing, becoming lonelier, more desolate, and finally settling into calm and stillness.
Time passed, and they maintained this posture. Just as it was about to strike midnight, Su Cheng finally opened his eyes, turned to look at Liu Qingyue beside him, and finally spoke, "To have a beautiful girl like senior sister with me at the end isn't too bad, I guess."
"Su Cheng."
Liu Qingyue opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but Su Cheng had already stood up and started walking towards the shore.
Liu Qingyue's gaze followed Su Cheng, and her body also moved in the direction he was heading, one after the other, until they reached the shore. Su Cheng's feet stumbled slightly on the sand, but he never looked back.
"Senior sister, you can stop following me now."
As soon as he finished speaking, his steps suddenly halted, and Liu Qingyue also stopped instantly, standing some distance away.
"Can you confess to me just once?"
Liu Qingyue's gaze was fixed on Su Cheng's back, her tone serious.
"What's the point now?"
Su Cheng asked softly, his voice utterly calm.
"I want to hear what I've longed to hear."
Liu Qingyue said, her tone even more solemn.
Su Cheng heard this, slowly lowered his gaze, and his voice turned bitter, "I'm sorry, senior sister, I won't confess anymore."
At eleven fifty-nine at night
Su Cheng's figure was half submerged in the sea, and Liu Qingyue shouted loudly, "Then I'll confess to you."
"I like you—"
At precisely twelve o'clock, she spoke these words, accompanied by the crisp sound of a guzheng string being plucked in the distance.
However, she didn't notice this sound because Su Cheng, who had been in front of her, had vanished into thin air—not swallowed by the sea, but disappeared as if merging with the darkness, leaving no trace behind.
Liu Qingyue's pupils dilated as she stared in the direction where Su Cheng had been. When she came to her senses, she hurried into the sea to look for him, but after searching for a good while, she found nothing—not even a ripple in the waves, as if Su Cheng had never existed.
"Bark, bark, bark!"
Suddenly, a dog's bark echoed in Liu Qingyue's ears, pulling her back from her daze.
Turning around, she saw Cornelia holding a dog on the shore, blinking curiously at her.
"Do you know Su Cheng?" Liu Qingyue asked tentatively, her tone neutral, revealing no emotion.
"Who is Su Cheng?"
At this, Liu Qingyue's pupils shrank suddenly, a foreboding feeling rising within her.
Seeing Liu Qingyue silent, Cornelia spoke again, "I don't know this guy who forgets his friends once he becomes famous!"
"……"
Liu Qingyue breathed a sigh of relief; she had feared that Su Cheng had been erased from existence.
"Was that guy just here?!" Cornelia pressed on.
"Um..."
Liu Qingyue murmured an affirmation.
"Hmph! Where did he go?"
"He's gone back to his hometown."
"That heartless creature."
Cornelia muttered, then she started running towards the sea, staring out at the vast waters.
She had clearly felt the presence of two people earlier, but upon approaching, she found only a soaking wet Liu Qingyue standing there.
And this person actually knew Su Cheng.
"By the way, who are you to Su Cheng, and how do you know him?"
Cornelia asked, unable to hide her frown.
"I'm Liu Qingyue from the class next door."
Liu Qingyue spoke softly, then turned and walked towards her car.
"How did you know I know Su Cheng?"
"He mentioned you."
Liu Qingyue said, opening the car door and sitting down before finally saying, "Get in, I'll give you a ride. It's hard to get a taxi here."
"Thank you."
Cornelia climbed into the car with her dog, closed the door, and then turned to look at Liu Qingyue, only to find her staring blankly out the window, silent.
"Hey, Liu Qingyue."
Cornelia called out.
Liu Qingyue suddenly came back to her senses, looking down at Cornelia with a somewhat vacant gaze.
"What's up?"
"What did Su Cheng say about me?"
"He said you're both smart and cute."
…………………………
In the villa district
Cornelia got out of the car, muttering to herself, "Smart and cute... smart and cute..."
Outside Su Cheng's apartment
Liu Qingyue looked at Li Guanqi, who had been waiting at the door for news, but she hesitated to get out of the car, unsure of how to face her.
But Li Guanqi had seen her, jogging up to the car, and Liu Qingyue had no choice but to open the door and step out.
Li Guanqi found that Su Cheng was not in the car, and her eyes immediately dimmed. She turned to Liu Qingyue, her face pale.
Liu Qingyue bit her lip, looking at Li Guanqi: "He... has already left."
"Is that so?"
Li Guanqi murmured to herself, then stretched out her hand, her eyes still brimming with tears, and said, "Give me his house keys."
Her voice was choked with sorrow as she spoke these words, and she sobbed softly after finishing.
Liu Qingyue took the keys out of the car and handed them to her.
Li Guanqi, trembling, took the keys and turned to run towards the staircase leading to Su Cheng's apartment.
Her steps were urgent, as if weighed down by a thousand pounds, each footstep seeming to tread on Liu Qingyue's heart, making her breathing more difficult.
Liu Qingyue watched her retreating figure, her heart souring in waves.
Liu Qingyue quickly turned around and returned to the car.
When she arrived at the Ji Family Villa, her expression had returned to its usual cold indifference, terrifyingly so, as if the vulnerability shown earlier was not her true nature.
Yet, her eyes were still red.
..........
She carried flowers and a box of glutinous rice dumplings, heading straight into the Ji residence. She went directly to the third floor and knocked on Ji Qingyi's bedroom door.
"Knock, knock~"
The light in the bedroom was on, Ji Qingyi was writing and drawing at her desk. She put down her pen and looked up: "Come in."
Liu Qingyue, holding the items, entered with a cold and stiff expression.
Ji Qingyi, seeing the potted plant in her hands, her pupils suddenly contracted: "This...?!"
"Mm."
Liu Qingyue responded softly, placing it in front of the desk, then said, "He nurtured this flower."
Although Liu Qingyue's tone was calm, Ji Qingyi could clearly feel the hidden sadness and pain.
She pursed her lips in silence, and after a long while, she softly spoke: "And him?"
"He has gone into the darkness..."
Liu Qingyue's voice was very soft.
"This is his gift to you."
Liu Qingyue lowered her head, her voice hoarse: "And he hoped that you would sponsor his hometown's orphanage, hoping you would agree to his request, to allow those children to live a plentiful and happy life."
After saying this, Liu Qingyue handed the box to Ji Qingyi.
Ji Qingyi looked at the glutinous rice dumplings inside the box, silent for a long time.
She remembered a time not long ago when Su Cheng had asked her what she liked, the images flashing in her mind like reflections, lingering.
"Is this what sustained him?"
Ji Qingyi murmured softly, then slowly reached out her right hand, carefully picking up a glutinous rice dumpling and tasting it, savoring its crispy, soft texture.
"Is it just this..."
Ji Qingyi's tone carried a hint of melancholy.
"........"
Liu Qingyue, hearing this, remained silent, her head bowed, tears quietly falling.
"You arrange everything for this matter."
"Yes."
Liu Qingyue nodded.
..........
Liu Qingyue took care of everything, then returned to her own room and locked the door.
The room was empty.
Liu Qingyue curled up on the bed, her gaze vacant as she stared at the ceiling, tears streaming down like a fountain.
She clenched her fists tightly, her fingernails digging into her palms.
Even now, she could hardly believe that the male protagonist was dead.
A man capable of miracles had chosen this path to return, and it deeply shocked her. What shocked her wasn't his self-destruction, but the compelling reasons behind his choice!
Yet deep inside, she still harbored some fantasies...
…………………………………
The next day at the bus stop,
A short-haired girl dressed in black thigh-high stockings stood at the bus stop, her eyes fixed on the station, seemingly waiting for the bus.
Suddenly, as the bus arrived and passengers started disembarking and boarding, she remained motionless.
The TV at the bus stop was showing the morning news, and suddenly, Su Cheng's photo appeared on the screen, snapping her back to reality.
The news was covering yesterday's archery competition, and Su Cheng was nominated as a candidate for the best male athlete in sports.
Su Cheng's photo on the news showed him with a bright and dazzling smile.
"Young lady, are you getting on the bus or not?"
Suddenly, the bus driver called out loudly.
Liu Qingyue then realized, quickly turned around, and shook her head: "No, thank you."
"Eh? If you're not boarding, what are you doing at the stop?"
"I'm waiting for..."
Just as she was about to say who she was waiting for, she swallowed the word back down. As she was about to show an awkward yet polite smile, suddenly the screeching sound of a bicycle braking fiercely reached her ears.
"Hurry up, we're going to be late, get on!"
(Note: This chapter is nearly ten thousand words long, which is about five chapters.)