(This section begins with the story of the male lead and the two female leads during those two years. Originally, I wanted to write about Mo Qingqing, but I feel like I need to think more about her character.)
"So, how did we end up meeting you in the first place?"
Luo Shiya gently traced her fingers across the face of Mo Xuan, who lay sleeping beside her. It had been almost half a year since they left the country, and their family had already adapted to life abroad.
For them, it seemed as though nothing had really changed—it was just a different environment.
The only difference was waking up every day, opening the door to the sight of the sea and the sound of seagulls calling.
Late at night, when everything was quiet, they could still hear the sound of the waves.
Luo Shiya slowly got up and looked out the window at the moonlight. She vaguely remembered that day—it seemed to be Luo Muqi's 12th birthday. The two sisters had been sent to the old mansion, and they knew something had happened in the Luo family. They also knew that their parents wouldn't have hidden them there unless it was absolutely necessary. They couldn't even go to school; instead, trusted tutors were hired to teach them at home.
On that day, her sister's birthday, Luo Sheng and Shen Qingyun, who had promised to find a way to come and celebrate with them, ultimately didn't show up.
"It's okay. I know Mom and Dad are busy. It can't be helped," Luo Muqi said with a smile as she looked at Uncle Zheng. But Luo Shiya knew her sister still cared deeply.
Being born into the Luo family was both a blessing and a curse for the sisters. They had endless wealth, a prestigious family background, and access to the best resources.
But it also meant they couldn't live like ordinary children.
Luo Shiya remembered one time when she was in middle school. She happened to see a girl around her age at school, who was surprised to see her mother picking her up after class.
"Mom, you're so busy with work. How do you have time to come get me?"
"No matter how busy I am, I'll always find a way if I miss my daughter."
Watching this scene, Luo Shiya couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Being a wealthy heiress, a princess of a powerful family—these glamorous titles felt cold and distant.
It was the same with her relationship with her parents. Luo Sheng and Shen Qingyun could give her and Luo Muqi anything they wanted, and it would always be the best.
But when it came to spending time with them, their parents were the most stingy.
Luo Sheng was always busy, and Shen Qingyun, despite her strained relationship with the Shen family, had her own businesses to manage in the Capital. On top of that, she was always preoccupied with Luo Sheng.
For Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi, even seeing their parents was often a challenge.
"Really? Your family is so rich. You can have anything you want. Why would you care about something like that?"
When Luo Shiya confided in her classmates about this, the responses were all eerily similar.
It was as if everyone thought she was being overly dramatic—complaining about something trivial when she already had everything.
"Isn't that just being spoiled?"
"Seriously, with the Luo family's status, she's still upset that her parents don't spend time with her?"
Other classmates, afraid of offending the Luo family, only dared to whisper behind her back. But as the saying goes, walls have ears. After hearing these remarks, Luo Shiya never shared her feelings with anyone again.
"Shiya and Muqi are so well-behaved. They matured early, unlike other children."
One time, while passing by the living room, Luo Shiya overheard Shen Qingyun chatting with some socialites. That casual remark left a bitter taste in Luo Shiya's heart.
Wasn't their maturity forced upon them by their parents, Luo Sheng and Shen Qingyun?
Luo Shiya couldn't remember how many times their parents had missed their birthdays. Unlike her, Luo Muqi used to cry, throw tantrums, and even destroy her gifts.
But gradually, Luo Muqi became just like Luo Shiya—less about being mature and more about resigning herself to the situation.
"You can't have both emotional connection and material wealth. As daughters of the Luo family, you need to understand this sooner rather than later."
This was something Shen Qingyun often told them. But to the sisters, it felt like their mother was simply prioritizing their father over them.
From a young age, the sisters knew one thing: their parents loved them, but they loved each other more.
Every time Luo Shiya thought about this, she couldn't help but laugh bitterly. After all, she didn't have the right to blame her mother now. Compared to her mother, she and her sister had done something even worse.
On Luo Muqi's birthday that day, she had put on a beautiful princess dress. Luo Shiya teased her, "It's not like we're going to a party with Mom and Dad. Why are you dressing up so much?"
"Come on, sis, it's my birthday!"
In truth, Luo Muqi knew their parents were supposed to come. Despite the sensitive timing, the fact that they still remembered her birthday made her incredibly happy.
But as usual, the only ones who ended up celebrating with them were Uncle Zheng and the servants.
When she saw the cake on the table—a cake Luo Sheng had specially sent, her favorite—Luo Muqi suddenly lost her appetite. She just looked at Luo Shiya and said, "Sis, since it's my birthday, can I go out for a walk?"
Luo Shiya didn't answer immediately. Instead, she glanced at Uncle Zheng, seeking his approval.
"You can go nearby, but you have to come back soon."
Uncle Zheng sighed helplessly. Having watched them grow up, he couldn't bear to disappoint Luo Muqi on her birthday.
Besides, it was just a short walk. What could possibly go wrong?
"You never ask to go out. What's going on today?"
As soon as they stepped outside, Luo Shiya held Luo Muqi's hand and asked softly. Luo Muqi shook her head and replied in a subdued voice, "I don't know. I just feel like going out..."
Luo Shiya smiled wryly. Luo Sheng had chosen this location precisely because it was secluded, with mostly elderly residents, making it quiet and peaceful.
Luo Muqi knew her parents' instructions: unless necessary, they weren't supposed to leave the house. But today, she just wanted to go out.
Ever since they moved here, their days had been filled with nothing but tutors and the unfamiliar scenery outside the window.
This suffocating feeling wasn't just hard for 12-year-old Luo Muqi—even Luo Shiya was starting to feel a strong sense of resistance.
But what could they do? The Luo family was in trouble, and as daughters of the family, they had to follow their parents' arrangements.
Sometimes, even when they knew it wasn't wrong and that it was unavoidable, the feeling was still unbearable. It was like a knot in their chests, impossible to untangle no matter what they did.
Luo Shiya held Luo Muqi's hand as they walked aimlessly, eventually stopping under a large tree. While Luo Shiya was lost in thought, Luo Muqi's attention was drawn elsewhere.
"Why is that person sitting there reading?"
Hearing Luo Muqi's words, Luo Shiya curiously looked up. There, sitting on a tree branch, was a boy with a novel resting on his bent legs. His right hand flipped the pages, while his left hand held a melon he was eating with great relish.
The boy had a handsome face, framed by a pair of oversized glasses. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on him. His focus was entirely on the book, as if nothing else in the world mattered.
Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi stared at him, momentarily entranced. Sensing their gaze, the boy turned and looked down at them—a stunningly beautiful girl holding hands with a cute girl in a princess dress, both staring up at him curiously.
When their eyes met, the boy's face flushed red. Embarrassed, he quickly looked away.
"Mo Xuan, your grandma's calling you!" Aunt Zhang's voice rang out from a distance. "She wants you to buy some groceries and bring back some salt!"
"Okay, I got it!"
Mo Xuan responded, still holding the melon in his mouth. He closed the book, grabbed the branch, and nimbly climbed down from the tree, landing right in front of the sisters.
When their eyes met again, Mo Xuan was so flustered that the melon fell from his mouth and dropped to the ground.
Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi, who had been expressionless until then, couldn't help but giggle at the sight. Mo Xuan scratched his head awkwardly, gave a sheepish grin, and then ran off with his book...
Sitting by the window now, Luo Shiya looked at the still-sleeping Mo Xuan and couldn't help but chuckle.
Looking back, none of them—her, her sister, or him—could have imagined that their future would turn out like this...