Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Lu Nian's first year of high school life was rather uneventful. Her health had improved slightly compared to before, but the many years of frailty left her looking rather slender, unable to gain weight no matter how much she ate.

Especially her waist, which looked exceedingly slender in the high school uniform of Fu Zhong, barely filling out the blouse and skirt. Due to her chronic illnesses, her complexion was paler than average, a pristine and crystalline white resembling snow, devoid of any rosy hue. Coupled with her unadorned black hair, she stood out remarkably as she walked through the campus.

Fu Zhong's tuition fees were high, and naturally, their private school uniforms looked somewhat more elegant compared to public schools. Fu Zhong's high school section had uniforms for all four seasons, and the yearly cost for these uniforms was not insignificant. One of the consequences was a stark divide in appearances; those who were attractive looked even more so in these uniforms, while those less endowed in the looks department preferred the public school uniforms.

However, there were exceptions.

At the entrance of Fu Zhong, student council members took turns on duty, checking uniforms and school badges. Lu Nian always maintained a neat appearance, but on that day, she witnessed a familiar face being stopped at the gate.

The young man stood out quite distinctly at the school gate, not donning the school uniform but wearing a baseball cap tilted at an angle, his face as exquisite as carved jade.

Zhao Yayuan's voice held a note of impatience, "I transferred here, I don't have the uniform yet. How many times do I have to explain?"

A spectacled student remarked, "Our school doesn't accept students transferring in halfway. Those who completed the proper procedures beforehand have their uniforms already."

Spotting Lu Nian's figure in the distance, Zhao Yayuan didn't want to waste any more time arguing at the school gate. His patience wearing thin and irritation bubbling up, he retorted, "I don't have it because I don't have it. I transferred here midway, deal with it. If you don't believe me, ask Feng Mingjie. If you can't find him, go ask your father at home."

Feng Mingjie was the name of their school principal.

The student hadn't expected such words from a youth who looked so refined and dignified, his face turned bright red and he was left stuttering, unable to formulate a response.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhao Yayuan grabbed his backpack and hurried after Lu Nian.

Lu Nian was contemplating whether to greet Zhao Yayuan, recalling his attitude during their last encounter, when unexpectedly, he caught up to her and called out loudly, "Hey!"

Lu Nian thought, "... I am not called 'hey'."

Zhao Yayuan quickly caught up to her and naturally remarked, "Why are you walking so fast?"

Lu Nian replied, "Otherwise, I'll be late."

Focused on unwrapping a lollipop, Zhao Yayuan glanced at her and said with the candy held between his teeth, "You also bought your way in, why fear being late? Are you a good student or something?"

He looked quite engrossed in his lollipop, his cheeks slightly puffed, and his deep amber, almond-shaped eyes had a cat-like quality to them.

He looked rather childlike.

Lu Nian, "..."

Nonetheless, Zhao Yayuan, with the lollipop in his mouth, mumbled, "I know you have good grades."

Lu Nian responded, "Not really."

They weren't that great; after all, their school was a haven of talents. Even her unusually good performance last time barely placed her within the top hundred of her grade, hardly a notable achievement.

"I saw your name on the grade's honor roll." Zhao Yayuan said expressionlessly, "I can still recognize characters, you know."

Lu Nian, "..."

Zhao Yayuan continued, "You scored several hundred points higher than me."

"However, the textbooks in Haicheng are different from here," Zhao Yayuan pursed his lips, "Give me some time to adjust."

Only then did Lu Nian remember he was from Haicheng, "...I don't detect any distinct accent in your speech."

Haicheng was situated further north, and Lu Nian had a former classmate who transferred from there, speaking with an accent that differed markedly from the local soft-spoken Wunong dialect, much like Zhao Yayuan, whose usual speech retained slight differences from the locals.

Zhao Yayuan explained, "I had health issues as a child and spent a long time living in another region, hence my speech doesn't carry a prominent accent."

Lu Nian felt she had heard Zhao Tingyuan mention it somewhere before, "Another place?"

Zhao Yayuan looked at her, discarded the unfinished lollipop into the trash can, and said softly, "Nanqiao."

However, upon hearing this place name, Lu Nian showed no reaction.

The young man spoke quietly, "I thought it would have left a deep impression on you."

Lu Nian's pace slowed, her large eyes fixed on him. From the moment she first met Zhao Yayuan, she subconsciously felt that something was amiss. Now, that feeling had escalated to its peak.

The bell signaling the start of class rang slowly.

Without another word, Zhao Yayuan and she headed to their respective classrooms.

The matter occupied Lu Nian's mind the entire day.

Throughout her years here, she had been gradually inheriting Lu Nian's memories. By now, she had almost fully absorbed them.

The memories she inherited from Lu Nian were somewhat blurry, but she at least had a vague impression of most things. However, she had absolutely no understanding of the place name mentioned by Zhao Yayuan.

She conducted an online search for this place name.

It was a small city some distance from Ancheng, named after a mountain.

Nanqiao City was built against a mountain, with a range of tall mountains forming a picturesque backdrop. Many areas remained untouched, offering a tranquil environment and fresh air. Hence, it was perfectly reasonable for Zhao Yayuan to choose Nanqiao for recuperation given his frail health.

But what did this have to do with her?

After dinner, unable to hold back her curiosity, Lu Nian asked Zhang Qiuping who came in to clean up, "Aunt Zhang, do you know of a place called Nanqiao?"

Zhang Qiuping stiffened, nearly dropping the plate she was holding. "Why do you ask about that place?"

Lu Nian didn't expect such a strong reaction, "Just asking. A classmate mentioned the scenic beauty there and suggested a visit. I was considering discussing it with dad..."

"No," Zhang Qiuping interrupted firmly, "The master would never agree to it."

She seemed to realize her overreaction and forced a smile, "There's nothing interesting there, just a remote and backward area. Moreover, it's not safe. If you want to travel, we can wait until the master is free to take you to Europe for a vacation..."

Lu Nian watched her silently with wide, innocent eyes.

Cold sweat nearly broke out on Zhang Qiuping's back.

She managed a strained smile, "Alright."

Lu Nian inquired further, "Also, Aunt Zhang, I assume my childhood photos are kept in an album? I'd like to see them."

Zhang Qiuping replied, "Sure, I'll have Miaomiao bring it to you right away."

Previously, Lu Nian had never expressed a desire to view those photos. Yet, her personality had undergone many changes over the years.

It seemed that Lu Nian had a growth photo session every year. In the photos, the little girl appeared pale and frail, dressed in thick formal clothing, her face devoid of any smiles.

Lu Nian calmly flipped through the items and asked, "Auntie Zhang, is this all there is?"

It seems the collection only starts from when she was eight or nine years old; everything before that had disappeared.

Zhang Qiuping mentioned, "Some were lost during a move."

Lu Nian found it hard to believe. For an ordinary family, losing photos during the chaos of a move might be quite common, but this was the Lu family, a household where professional help handled every detail of a move meticulously, making the loss of photographs an implausible occurrence.

She closed the photo album in silence, handing it to Miao Miao to take back.

She lay back down on her soft bed, alone.

Lu Nian furrowed her brows, reviewing the day's events in her mind.

The Lu family seemed to be deliberately hiding something from her.

She couldn't clearly recall any of her childhood memories. Initially, Lu Nian didn't give it much thought, attributing it to the forgetfulness of youth, but now, she had a burgeoning premonition.

Could it be that Lu Nian had experienced memory loss in the past?

She had truly lost that fragment of memory, hence she couldn't remember anything from that period. Furthermore, within those lost memories were events that the Lu family didn't want her to recall, events that had once taken place.

Noticing the unusual behavior of Lu Nian tonight, Zhang Qiuping didn't dare to take it lightly and hurriedly phoned Lu Zhihong, recounting the matter to him in great detail.

The Lu corporate building was still brightly illuminated, and in the office at the top floor, Lu Zhihong was sitting across from a young man in his early twenties.

Lu Yang was waiting respectfully for him to finish the call.

Lu Zhihong didn't say much in front of him. After hanging up the phone, he continued the conversation with Lu Yang that they were having before.

Lu Zhihong remarked, "You've been taking good care of Nian Nian in your daily life, thank you for your efforts."

Suppressing the joy in his voice, Lu Yang modestly replied, "Nian Nian is a good girl, not troublesome at all. Moreover, I am her brother; it's only right to look after my sister."

"Keep a closer eye on her," Lu Zhihong instructed, "Inform me of anything amiss, be it her social interactions, physical condition, or academic performance. Keep me posted."

He added, "Make sure Nian Nian doesn't find out."

Lu Yang nodded, "Alright." He had always been doing it this way.

Lu Yang was already twenty years old, and his university graduation was not too far away.

Lu Zhihong mentioned, "Once you graduate, come try working at Lu Corporation first; I have reserved a position for you."

Lu Yang's eyes lit up, "Thank you, uncle."

Recalling Zhang Qiuping's words from earlier tonight, Lu Zhihong nodded and told Lu Yang, "You're welcome."

He said, "That will be all for tonight. You can leave now. Remember what I told you."

As the conversation was drawing to a close, Lu Yang didn't leave immediately. He hesitated before saying, "Uncle, there's one more thing, concerning that Qin Si..."

Lu Zhihong set down his tea cup, "What is it?"

Lu Yang stated, "I believe, since he is nearing adulthood, there is no need for our family to continue supporting him."

"Furthermore, his influence on Nian Nian is quite adverse."

Lu Zhihong removed his gold-rimmed glasses and massaged his eye sockets, "How is it adverse?"

Gritting his teeth, Lu Yang finally blurted out, "I fear he might be enticing Nian Nian into a premature romantic relationship."

After all, for someone with Qin Si's status, climbing the social ladder by getting involved with the young mistress of the Lu family would be nothing short of soaring to great heights overnight, wouldn't it?

Lu Zhihong's brows knitted slightly, "Nian Nian told me last time that they haven't been in contact anymore."

Lu Yang urged anxiously, "They are still in the same school, with opportunities to meet. He has many tricks up his sleeve; Nian Nian is no match for him."

Lu Zhihong queried, "So what do you propose we do?"

Contrary to Lu Yang's expectation, he didn't exhibit anger, but remained composed.

After all, Lu Zhihong, having navigated the business world for so many years, possessed a depth of character and cultivation far beyond what Lu Yang currently could muster.

Lu Yang spoke softly, "Or, should we prohibit Nian Nian from seeing him again? Nian Nian has always been obedient, as long as uncle..."

He met Lu Zhihong's gaze and fell silent.

Lu Zhihong smiled, "Little Yang, you are still too young."

"Rest assured," Lu Zhihong said relaxedly, "The things you're worried about will not happen, I already have plans in place for Nian Nian's future."

He intended to arrange a perfect marriage for his daughter, a union that would be compatible in all aspects.

As for Qin Si's feelings, they were not within the scope of his concerns.

However, if Qin Si turns out to be of use in the future and harbors affection for Lu Nian, it would certainly be much better for the Lu family compared to harboring deep hatred towards her.

If, by then, Nian Nian could subtly manipulate him, persuading him to devote his life and allegiance to the Lu family wouldn't be a bad thing.

"They are still young," Lu Zhihong commented, "There's no need to consider such matters at this stage."

"Nian Nian doesn't have a brother anymore," Lu Zhihong said with a meaningful glance, "You should be like her biological brother."

Lu Yang nodded again, "I will take care of her as if she were my own sister."

Lu Yang then retreated.

Lu Nian's biological mother, Cheng Mingying, passed away quite early.

However, later on, a room was always reserved for Cheng Mingying in the Lu family mansion, located on the second floor at the end of the corridor.

Inside, her photograph is displayed, accompanied by some of her previously used belongings. Apart from the annual customary cleaning, the room seldom receives visitors.

But during festivals and holidays, Lu Nian would offer incense to her, acknowledging that she now lives the life meant for her daughter, and she is thankful for the renewed life granted by them.

Light rain fell on this evening, bringing with it the crisp chill of early autumn.

Lu Nian stealthily ascended to the second floor alone. The servants were busy with their tasks; she had told Miaomiao that she was going to work on her exam papers and asked not to be disturbed, seizing this opportunity to slip away unnoticed.

The room remained as tranquil as ever. Lu Nian switched on the light, scanning the familiar surroundings.

Lu Zhihong never came here. The lilies in the vase were the same bunch she replaced on her last visit, emanating a faint, delicate fragrance.

Having experienced the evening's events, her mind was in turmoil. Somehow, she found herself returning to this room.

Lu Nian took it upon herself to clean the surrounding area.

In fact, Cheng Mingying bore some resemblance to her real mother, particularly in demeanor, much like how Lu Nian shares physical similarities with her; each cleaning visit here reminded Lu Nian of her true mother.

She reckoned she was indeed a filial daughter, having passed away so prematurely. Although against her will, her parents must have been heartbroken to experience such a sudden tragedy...

She cleaned slowly, but meticulously.

The small cabinet holding Cheng Mingying's photograph was a high-quality mahogany wardrobe, one of the dowries brought by Miss Cheng when she married. With its intricate carvings and considerable age, it could be considered an antique.

Lu Nian gently dusted the cabinet with a duster. As she squatted to wipe off a mark, her fingers stumbled upon something, causing a soft click, and something sprung out.

It turned out to be a secret compartment...

Lu Nian was taken aback. The hidden compartment was empty, save for a small silver necklace. The necklace seemed ordinary, but the pendant was beautiful, set with a transparent blue gemstone.

Could this be a relic of Cheng Mingying? Lu Nian caressed it gently, intending to return the necklace to its original spot.

However, she suddenly realized that the pendant seemed to be hollow.

It could be opened.

She gently lifted the silver lid to reveal an embedded, somewhat yellowed old photograph.

It featured a pair of infants, still too young to determine their genders. One was dressed in a pink bunny jacket, while the other wore a blue kitten one, both sharing very similar facial features.

A young Cheng Mingying, beaming with contentment, pushed the baby carriage.

The little one in the pink bunny outfit was somewhat dominant, resting a leg on the blue kitten-clad infant, who looked at the camera with a wide grin, round eyes making them look especially adorable.

A tightening grip seized Lu Nian's heart...

The little girl in the pink dress must be Lu Nian.

But who is the person next to her? Considering their inclusion in a photograph housed within Cheng Mingying’s personal accessory, it can only logically be her biological child.

However, why was she completely unaware of this child's existence for so long?

Every trace of the child’s existence seems to have been meticulously erased from the Lu family’s history.

Where could they be now? Are they alive or dead?

Lu Nian was experiencing an intricate whirlpool of emotions. She pondered for a moment, then took out her phone to capture photographs of the photo and the necklace from various angles.

Subsequently, she gently restored everything to its original state.

It seems there are still many things about this household that she is unaware of.

Exiting Cheng Mingying’s room, Lu Nian felt an inexplicable chill pervading her entire body.

That peculiar sensation was resurfacing.

She felt like she was floating in a void, resembling a sourceless stream, a rootless duckweed.

She pursed her lips tightly, feeling a growing coldness creeping in. Lu Nian's health was never robust, often having inadequate circulation that left her lips somewhat pale. However, this coldness transcended beyond physical, chilling her very soul.

For some reason, her mind wandered to that warm embrace once again.

The autumn rain was icy cold, the curtains of the small attic room across remained firmly shut. Lu Nian knew it was empty, likely gathering a thick layer of dust by now.

Suddenly, she yearned to see the owner of that place.

Various emotions cluttered her heart, leaving her feeling like a tangled mess, craving a heart-to-heart talk with someone.

A wry smile appeared on Lu Nian's face.

Reflecting on her life, she felt utterly defeated, still enveloped in the loneliness that haunted her since childhood. The only friend — albeit self-proclaimed — she had was the future antagonist in the original text.

She retreated into a corner, suddenly feeling unwilling to accept her fate. With a surge of determination, she pulled out her phone from her pocket.

In fact, Qin Si never gave her his phone number. It was the bar owner who had secretly followed her and handed it over. At that time, Lu Nian accepted it and saved it in her phone, yet she had never called it until now.

She wondered if Qin Si had changed his number.

Her mind was a whirlpool of chaotic thoughts.

Despite her doubts, the call connected.

"Hello." A familiar voice of a young man emanated from the other end, a voice she recognized for its emotionless, indifferent yet clear and magnetic tone.

Amidst the faint electrical buzz of the line and the persistent patter of the rain outside, the voice seemed both strangely foreign and familiar.

Lu Nian knew he harbored no fondness for her, and considering their last encounter ended in an argument, she was unsure of what to say during this abrupt call, leaving her engulfed in silence.

"...Lu Nian?" After an enduring silence, a question suddenly came from the other end.

Lu Nian sniffled slightly, "It's not me."

Qin Si, "..."

He switched the phone to his other hand, stepping out from the shop into the corner of the street, "What is it?"

Lu Nian, "Nothing really."

Just feeling somewhat scared.

However, she feared Qin Si would mock her.

Lu Nian adopted a bold tone, "I was wondering, you haven't paid back the money you owe me, have you?"

Qin Si inquired, "...Did you write down the wrong account number?"

In truth, she had received the money long ago, but Lu Nian hardly cared about that sum.

With a surge of resolve, Lu Nian began to play dumb, "I didn't make myself clear before. I want cash, no transfers."

A silence settled on the other end.

A gust of autumn wind blew in from outside, making Lu Nian feel a deepening chill, especially in her hands and feet. She wrapped her coat tighter, feeling a sneeze coming on.

Qin Si asked curtly, "Where are you now?"

Lu Nian, "At home."

Remembering Qin Si's dislike for the Lu family, she quickly added, "I can step out... No, I'm actually at school now."

It was late, and the evening breeze of early autumn carried a crisp chill.

Lu Nian couldn't withstand such coldness.

He advised, "Then don't wander around aimlessly."

Leaving only these few words, he then hung up the call.

Lu Nian had been squatting in a corner while making the call, her arms had gone numb.

She stared blankly at the night sky and the curtain of rain outside, suddenly feeling lost about the true purpose of her call.

Could she really have been expecting Qin Si to brave the rain and come to the Lu residence in the dead of night?

Half an hour later, her phone vibrated with a new message, "Look outside."

Lu Nian, who was just about to change into her pajamas and go to bed, nearly fell off the bed at the sight of this message.

In the darkness of the night emerged the elongated silhouette of a young man. His hair slightly dampened by the rain, and his T-shirt partially soaked. Just like when he was a child, he still preferred wearing dark clothes, almost as if he was merging with the night itself.

But it was Qin Si. Lu Nian recognized him instantly, even at a glance.

The young girl held her breath, fixated, as she maneuvered around the servant's quarters, ensuring no one saw her.

Then, holding an umbrella, she stumbled and raced towards him.

Her hair was tousled by the wind, yet her eyes sparkled brightly.

The two stood at a distance from each other.

The young man silently observed her, scrutinizing her from head to toe.

Lu Nian seemed better than he had anticipated, albeit a bit pale. But her spirit seemed intact, showing no signs of injury or sickness.

Qin Si couldn't fathom what had transpired with Lu Nian.

She had conveyed a sense of uncertainty, perhaps he wasn't mistaken... for some unknown reason, she wanted him to be there.

He felt compelled to run over to her, unable to resist, like a dog answering a call.

Even if it was a momentary illusion, he felt a fleeting shame for the secret and uncontrollable emotion that had sprouted within him at that time.

With a stoic face, he averted his gaze from her, "It's too late; the banks are closed. I can't get the cash."

"I came to let you know," he said.

Lu Nian responded, "Oh."

She queried, "Are you not mad at me?"

The girl’s eyes were luminous, as if washed by water. Enveloped in a hastily grabbed coat, her long black hair hung untamed and freely, encircling her delicate neck, accentuating her fragility and slenderness.

It was quite late, and the rain was still falling. Lu Nian realized that her call had been nothing short of capricious.

She had braced herself for Qin Si to either hang up coldly or hurl cynical and sarcastic remarks at her.

The young man's dark eyes shifted elsewhere, "...I had nothing to do tonight. I was planning to come over to get something, anyway."

So that was it, she mused. She was fortunate that his visit was merely a coincidental errand.

It wasn't surprising, really.

Internally, Lu Nian felt significantly relieved. More accurately, the moment Qin Si appeared, her mood had inexplicably lifted quite a bit.

Despite the maintained distance between them, making any romantic sharing of an umbrella in the rain a far-fetched thought — she guessed Qin Si would rather get drenched than share an umbrella with her.

She said, "Then I'll accompany you."

Qin Si didn't probe into what had happened to her, which allowed Lu Nian to breathe a sigh of relief. At this moment, she simply wanted companionship, to be with someone.

If pressed to articulate exactly what had transpired, the complexities involved were too numerous for her to succinctly convey, leaving her at a loss for words and unable to speak.

The joys and sorrows of human beings do not always resonate with one another.

Lu Nian understood this principle, acknowledging that Qin Si must have grasped this reality far earlier than her.

Lu Nian's voice held a note of melancholy, "I don't wish to return home to sleep tonight."

At this moment, she couldn't bear to face Zhang Qiuping, even the thought of returning to the Lu residence filled her with dread. A reckless idea even crossed her mind—considering seeking refuge in a hotel somewhere outside.

The young man halted in his tracks, his entire figure, even his silhouette, seeming to freeze momentarily.

The author has a message to share:

Si Si (the pet name for Qin Si): ...?

Nian Nian (the pet name for Lu Nian): ...What exactly are you thinking?! You're being quite perverted.

Si Si, blushing, with a stoic face: Who said anything about living together?

Nian Nian: ???

Our Si Si is so innocent and shy, any future corruption would only be your doing!!