Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Zhao Yayuan usually only spends one or two weeks in Nanqiao every year, and this time the stay was even shorter than before.

Qiulan seemed somewhat reluctant, "Leaving so early this year?"

Zhao Yayuan replied, "It's senior year, the school is offering extra classes, we need to start the term earlier."

"You'll be off to university next year," Qiulan said with a warm smile, "In a few more years, you might bring a wife home to me. Who knows, I might even live to see my great-grandchildren."

Zhao Yayuan assured, "Don't worry, you definitely will."

"Grandma, your legs aren't in good shape, and the station will be crowded. Stay at home," Qiuli advised, "I will see Xiao Ya off."

Though his demeanor was generally mild, there were moments when he could be quite stubborn.

Qiulan had no choice but to acquiesce. She gently tapped her leg and lamented, "I'm becoming more and more useless, I wonder how many more years I'll get to see you all."

Qiuli remained silent, his actions gentle and meticulous, clearly adept at caring for others. He tucked Qiulan into bed, drew the curtains, and closed the door behind him.

Qiuli accompanied Zhao Yayuan to the station for his return journey.

He walked quietly, although somewhat pale, his facial features were beautiful. With soft lines that conveyed no hint of aggression, a pronounced nose, and warm, clear eyes, reminiscent of a tranquil spring.

Very similar.

Zhao Yayuan thought.

The first time he saw Lu Nian, this thought had crossed his mind. However, as both grew older, the influence of their respective genders became more pronounced - one embodying a feminine sweetness, while the other exhibited the gentle charm of a young man.

Zhao Yayuan said, "I will come back next year."

He looked in the direction of home, "What are your plans, staying here until old age?"

Qiuli replied, "Grandma doesn't want to go anywhere. I plan to stay here to take care of her."

Zhao Yayuan fell silent for a moment, "Grandma is almost eighty."

Qiuli understood the unspoken implication in his words.

However, it was an inevitable fact, one that he had contemplated long before.

The morning in Nanqiao town starts quite early, the distant mountains, enshrouded in dark hues, stretch endlessly, shrouded in white mist. People in the small town lead a simple and honest life, nearly everyone knows each other. Early in the morning, there are already people setting up breakfast stalls, and children run and play, laughing as they cross the cobblestone bridge.

The green mountains and clear waters paint a picturesque scene akin to a paradise lost in time.

"I love Nanqiao," Qiuli said, his gaze extending far into the distance. "I love the people here, as well as the lifestyle. The children I once taught at school, they all rely on me greatly."

Zhao Yayuan responded, "If you are willing to go back, you can have a much better life than now, and it would be easier to help them."

Qiuli remained silent.

"If you are still worried about the issues with Lu Nian, rest assured, if you decide to go back, the Lu Nian of now would only welcome you," Zhao Yayuan looked at him and finally spoke.

The truth is, Qiuli was quite fond of her.

Even though Lu Nian had done that kind of thing to him, over these years, he often talked about their childhood days. Although Zhao Yayuan only heard bits and pieces, he had a near-complete understanding of their childhoods.

When he was younger, he used to argue about it, saying that he heard so much about it that his ears were developing calluses.

If Qiuli truly harbored no resentment now, returning to Ancheng would only be a decision beneficial to everyone.

Gently, Qiuli shook his head.

"Alright," Zhao Yayuan said, "I won't insist, it's just a suggestion."

Not wanting to return was quite understandable.

No matter how fond he was of the place before, it is likely that the repeated hurt had completely cooled his heart.

He respected his friend's decision.

They finally reached the station, where Zhao Yayuan complained, "Damn, this broken station has remained the same for over a decade. Next time, I must get someone to come and fix it."

"Xiao Ya," Qiuli escorted him to the train door and repeated, "Remember our agreement."

"Okay," Zhao Yayuan gestured with his hands spread, "See you next year."

When Qiuli talked about those past events, he made a pact with him, to absolutely never reveal his background and experiences, especially emphasizing never to tell Lu Nian.

In fact, Zhao Yayuan had complied, respecting his decision. Coincidentally, Lu Nian had also lost her memory, not remembering at all that such a person existed in her life, so everything was as it should be.

However, lost memories can also be recalled.

Lu Nian plans to come to Nanqiao with him next year. At that time, when she meets Qiuli, if he doesn't say anything and she discovers something on her own, it won't be considered as breaking the agreement.

Zhao Yayuan was seen off.

Qiuli returned home alone, many people on the road recognized him and greeted him.

Qiuli was quite popular in Nanqiao. Living only with his grandmother, he was gentle and handsome, intelligent and considerate, especially popular among the children.

He arrived home.

Qiu Lan was still asleep.

He returned to his room, sat for a moment, and retrieved a box from the depths of his wardrobe.

Inside, there was only one item.

It was a hair tie, commonly used by little girls. It was somewhat frayed, bearing peculiar dark red marks on its pale pink fabric, the color of which had faded considerably over time.

Even the original hue of the hair tie had begun to fade due to the passage of time. He gazed at it silently, holding it in the palm of his hand, his fingers gradually tightening around it.

He closed his eyes, then silently restored everything to its original state.

As the third year of high school began, each day seemed more pressing than the last.

Now, Lu Nian was also feeling the mounting pressure; after all, each set of grades would significantly influence the trajectory of her future.

If she had a choice, Lu Nian would absolutely prefer not to study abroad.

Moreover, if there was no progress, all the efforts she put in during the summer vacation would be in vain.

During the first monthly exam, it was rare for Lu Nian to be this tense. Tian Yue couldn't help but joke, "Nian Nian, do you realize you look quite fierce right now?"

When receiving the report card, it was the first time she felt this nervous.

Math was the second subject to have the scores announced.

Lu Nian scanned from the top to bottom, her heart skipping a beat when she saw the first digit "1". Quickly moving to the next, it was another "1", which brought a slight wave of disappointment. But her eyes widened in surprise at the third digit - a "9".

Her math score had jumped from 91 to 119.

It had been a while since she scored this high, especially since the math total score had been changed to 150. Moreover, the questions this time were not easy, and everyone's scores were relatively low.

A little more, and she could reach 120.

It seemed that the aura of a top student had indeed bestowed her with some blessings.

When Lu Yang came to pick her up, he noticed her unusually joyful demeanor.

"Your uncle will be home tonight too." Learning about Lu Nian's improved grades while driving, he said, "He will certainly be pleased."

Lu Nian replied, "Hmm."

This time, she surprisingly didn't resist Lu Zhihong's opinions. After all, the decision to study abroad still largely depended on him.

After showing her report card to Lu Zhihong, he praised her briefly, but the gist was that she still needed to continue working hard, as this set of grades didn't reveal much.

In truth, Lu Nian didn't place much value on his praise.

Returning to her room, Lu Nian couldn't resist snapping a photo of her test paper to share it with Qin Si.

She pursed her lips, a smile lighting up her face as she gazed at her phone screen.

All thanks to his notes and tutorials.

She felt as though she might have begun to grasp the concepts, even if just slightly.

In the evening, Qin Si responded.

Lu Nian hastily clicked to view the message.

Then she was dumbfounded.

He had actually gone through and organized the questions she got wrong, providing explanations and analyses of her mistakes next to each.

Did he think she was asking him for guidance?

Lu Nian, "…"

Hadn't he noticed that her score improved from 91 to 119?

Dejected, she mused that perhaps, in the eyes of someone who consistently scores above 140, there was no substantial difference between a 91 and a 119—they were both pitiful scores.

She closed her phone.

She imagined Qin Si, far away.

University life, huh?

It always seemed so distant and yet, potentially, so much more relaxed and colorful.

He would probably continue working part-time, but since university courses aren't as numerous, he would likely have more free time compared to before. What would he be doing with this newfound leisure?

Lost in her wild imaginings, and cuddling her plush deer, Lu Jue, Lu Nian gradually drifted off to sleep, unaware.

Lu Zhihong and He Tian's bedroom was on the first floor, where there was another living room that was mostly used just by the couple.

Lu Zhihong was just reviewing Lu Nian's report card.

Because her math score increased by more than twenty points, her rank had improved to 99th, just barely meeting his minimum expectations.

"Young Qin is quite competent," remarked Lu Zhihong, "It's the first time Nian Nian has shown such a clear improvement."

"Does that mean you're reconsidering sending her abroad?" He Tian asked nonchalantly.

Lu Zhihong shook his head, "It's just one time, what can this really show? We'll talk about it once we see consistent progress."

He added, "She is my only daughter. Honestly, if possible, I'd prefer for Nian Nian to study here, domestically."

This way, he could monitor her more effectively. He feared that sending her abroad might encourage a too wild or independent spirit.

Since being rescued from her suicide attempt that year, Lu Nian's personality has been improving steadily over the recent years.

Lu Zhihong found himself worrying less and consequently refrained from utilizing harsh measures on her. If possible, he naturally preferred to have a harmonious relationship with his daughter instead of resorting to those punitive approaches.

He Tian hinted with insinuation, "If it were that one, you certainly wouldn't need to fret over the grades."

Lu Zhihong really disliked when she mentioned Lu Zuo with such a sarcastic and ambiguous tone, yet it wasn't appropriate for him to express his anger.

"I'm going to bed first," he said, rising from his seat and leaving the living room.

Zhang Qiuping happened to walk in to refill the tea pot and stood at the entrance, observing Lu Zhihong's somewhat angered exit from the living room.

"She's just a pitiful child too," He Tian remarked, casually blowing on her nails while flipping through a trendy magazine. She gestured to the space in front of her, "Change the tea to wine later, and ask them to bring the bottle of red wine from last time."

She was still young, there was no need for health-promoting teas.

Her relationship with Zhang Qiuping had always been lukewarm.

Zhang Qiuping had been a long-time servant in the Lu family, whereas He Tian married into the family later on.

Due to Lu Zhihong's oligospermia, He Tian would never have children of her own. Lu Zhihong naturally felt somewhat indebted to her. Additionally, he did not want her to disseminate this scandalous news, therefore he showed exceptional tolerance towards her.

Zhang Qiuping was one of the few people in the Lu family who knew the story concerning Lu Zuo.

She went about her duties quietly.

For some reason, He Tian felt chatty that night, "Imagine, if A Zuo were still alive, I wonder how the relationship between the siblings would be now. Nian Nian probably wouldn't be having such an easy life. In the future, this household would likely belong to A Zuo."

Lowering her head, Zhang Qiuping couldn't help but retort, "... The young master was very kind to Miss Nian Nian."

"True," He Tian conceded, "But that was when they were children. Who knows how it might be when they grow up."

Given Lu Zhihong's parenting approach, a fallout between the siblings seemed inevitable sooner or later.

The twin siblings lost their mother at a young age, and Lu Zhihong was seldom home.

Before discovering his oligospermia and inability to have more children, Lu Zhihong didn't prioritize them and even grew somewhat resentful towards them due to their maternal lineage.

Yet among the two children, he clearly favored Lu Zuo more. Partly because Lu Zuo was a boy capable of inheriting the family business, and partly because Lu Zuo was intelligent, well-behaved, and obedient, unlike Lu Nian who was unruly, difficult to deal with, and prone to hysterical outbreaks at home, terrifying the housekeepers and servants.

He Tian, having just married into the Lu family at that time and not yet aware of her infertility, naturally held no affection for the twins left behind by the previous wife.

The offspring

Had little sympathy to offer. However, between the two, her impression of Lu Zuo was somewhat better.

The relationship between the two children back then was rather peculiar.

A personality geared towards pleasing others.

"This should be the right word, I suppose," He Tian mused.

A phrase that aptly encapsulates Lu Zhuo's attitude towards Lu Nian.

For Lu Zhuo, his twin sister, with whom he shares a maternal bond, is the person he is closest to.

He earnestly endeavored to please Lu Nian, offering her the first of every delightful food or entertainment he encountered, willing to give anything unconditionally to his sister.

He shadowed her daily.

Resembling a small creature striving fervently to be adored, yearning for a gentle touch and a bit of affection.

But it was futile.

Lu Nian detested him.

She believed that he had usurped the scarce affection that their father initially bestowed upon her, attracting the attention of everyone in the family.

She even thought that the universal preference for Lu Zuo over her, evident in the entire household, was entirely Lu Zuo's fault.

It would have been better without Lu Zuo.

Up until the moment Lu Zuo genuinely disappeared from their home, she had never once addressed him by his nickname, nor had she spoken to him with a soft and gentle tone.

"That child had a hard fate." He Tian commented somewhat languidly, worn out by the discussion, "Leaving early, spared from further sufferings in this world, might actually be a blessing."

This winter seemed to arrive exceptionally early.

Su Qingyou had also been admitted to An University and was now very close to Zhao Tingyuan.

Sometimes when Zhao Yayuan came home, she would find her brother in the living room, with Su Qingyou seated across from him at the coffee table, both engrossed in a cheerful conversation.

Su Qingyou greeted her every time.

Regardless of how bad Zhao Yayuan's attitude was or how much she ignored her, Su Qingyou remained obliviously pleasant, maintaining a gentle and graceful smile.

As time went on, even Zhao Yayuan couldn't keep up her resistance, eventually giving up on making things difficult for her.

"This woman is really skillful at maneuvering," Zhao Yayuan remarked to Lu Nian.

Zhao Tingyuan's attitude towards Su Qingyou was ambiguous too; he never rejected her visits but also hadn't taken any overly forward actions or expressed any fondness for her publicly.

They maintained a relationship that, on the surface, resembled friendship.

Zhao Yayuan complained, "Now I don't even want to go home; the moment I do, I see her."

While engrossed in her math homework, Lu Nian advised, "Library, please keep your voice down."

Zhao Yayuan, "... Fine."

As expected... the romantic fates of the male and female protagonists are extraordinary, they seem destined to be together, no matter what.

Lu Nian mused.

"There's only half a year left before the college entrance examination," said Zhao Yayuan, "Do you want to go out and have some fun after it?"

Without lifting her eyes, Lu Nian responded, "Weren't you the one who promised to take me to Nanqiao?"

"Nanqiao?" Zhao Yayuan asked, sprawled lazily on the table, "You still remember that?"

Lu Nian nodded, "Of course, I remember."

The youth's peach blossom eyes lazily narrowed, "But, do your folks trust me enough to let you go out alone with me?"

Lu Nian was left speechless.

"Bringing someone else is not an option," Zhao Yayuan declared, "It's non-negotiable. It can only be the two of us, or forget it."

Lu Nian pondered, "...I'll find a way when the time comes."

It's not like Zhao Yayuan would actually do anything to her.

They've known each other for so long, and she has a basic understanding of him. Moreover, being the son of the Zhao family, he would at least have some decorum; the monk may run away, but the temple won't run with him.

She reassured herself.

She had already reached adulthood, and by the time she graduated high school, she would be considered a young adult. Perhaps the Lu family would loosen their reins on her.

The winter vacation arrived swiftly.

For senior high school students, including the Lunar New Year, the winter break lasted a mere eleven days.

And before she realized it, half a year had passed since she last saw Qin Si.

Suddenly, it felt like he had vanished without a trace. Being a man of few words to begin with, it was even less likely for him to post any updates or pictures. Now, Lu Nian was completely cut off from any news about him, utterly clueless about what he was doing or how he was faring.

This year, the Lunar New Year came early.

As Lu Nian looked at the keys to Qin Si's house, she finally grew restless, wrapped herself in a scarf, and secretly stepped out.

She visited Qin Si's home, where the furnishings were all covered with a thin layer of dust, giving off a quiet and lonely atmosphere, clearly showing signs of being uninhabited for a long time.

Lu Nian called a cleaning service, asking them to clean and tidy up the house.

Ming Ge, on the other hand, was flourishing brightly; both Xiao Qu and Huang Mao had saved up some money and joined forces to open a hot pot restaurant near a bar, which was doing brisk business in the winter.

"Sister Nian?"

Lu Nian stood at the doorway, adorned with a creamy thick-knit scarf, fluffy gloves, and her hair flowing down freely, making her fair and sweet face appear even more radiant and delightful.

She removed her scarf and gloves, "I'd like to have a hot pot meal."

"You've become even more beautiful after half a year of not seeing you," Ming Ge remarked, "You don't need to pay, just eat whatever you want."

Huang Mao chimed in, "This is our place, how can it become a favor from you, come on, Sister Nian Nian, this is on Brother Huang and Brother Xiao Qu."

Lu Nian joined them, engaging in casual conversation.

She asked seemingly casually, "Is it just the three of you here?"

She knew that Ming Ge, Huang Mao, and Xiao Qu were all alone, either estranged from their families or without any relatives left.

Huang Mao responded, "Yeah, just the three of us. Originally, we had a table for playing Dou Dizhu, now with you, we can play a round of Mahjong."

Mentioning this seemed to remind Ming Ge of something, and he cursed, "That rascal, once he went out, he never came back."

"I asked him, he said he doesn't have time," Ming Ge said, "I have no idea what the hell he's busy with."

She knew very well who the "rascal" was.

"Is he really that busy in his first year?" Lu Nian couldn't help but comment.

College is supposed to be more relaxed than high school, right?

"He is busy with his own stuff," Xiao Qu mentioned, "Moreover, Qin Ge has taken many courses, aiming to complete them early."

Xiao Qu seems to know a lot... Lu Nian felt a bit uncomfortable inside.

Everyone here seemed to know more than she did.

It seems that it's not that Qin Si avoids contact with the people from An City; it's just that he avoids contacting her.

After finishing the hot pot meal, Lu Nian thanked each of them, handing out the New Year gifts she had prepared for them in gratitude for their past care. Each gift was unique.

"Oh, Sister Nian Nian is really something, beautiful with a kind heart," Ming Ge said with a beaming smile, his eyes squinting, "Whoever marries you in the future will be truly blessed."

Huang Mao quickly added, "Absolutely, beautiful and gentle. Our future sister-in-law has to meet this standard, or we will definitely reject."

Xiao Qu was fervently nodding in agreement nearby.

Lu Nian felt embarrassed, her face turning red.

She truly had no other intentions, merely wanting to thank them for their care over the years. After all, whenever she didn't want to stay home, she had imposed on them numerous times, yet Ming Ge and the others never showed any impatience, always looking out for her.

"I should get going," she said, covering her somewhat hot face, "Happy New Year!"

After she left,

Ming Ge joyously took the gift home, and all three of them took pictures of their gifts.

He sent the photos to Qin Si, "Gifts personally prepared by Sister Nian Nian. It's been a long time since we saw her, she has become even more beautiful."

"We have received them too."

Huang Mao and Xiao Qu also sent him pictures together.

[Huang Mao]: Sister Nian Nian really has a sweet way of speaking, the way she calls us "brother" just melts our hearts.

[Xiao Qu]: Inside the box of the mechanical keyboard she gave me, there was even a little card she drew herself, it's really cute.

[Ming Ge]: Did that certain someone receive his gift? You've known each other for so long, the gift should at least be better than ours, right?

The certain someone who received nothing: ……

[Ming Ge]: That's what you get for not responding. Just settle for this in your lifetime, and forget about Sister Nian Nian. In the future, watch as another man kisses and hugs her, while you stand by and watch.

……

Lu Nian found this year to be quite mundane.

Fortunately, she was in her senior year of high school, and Lu Zhihong was aware that she was tired from studying, so many of the New Year's activities were canceled.

Lu Nian's mood had not been great, and she felt her head spinning while working on problems today.

Lately, her communication with Qin Si was limited to math problems.

Each time she sent a problem over, she would receive a reply by that evening at the latest.

However, there were no calls, only solutions written clearly and comprehensively on paper, easy enough for even a fool to understand.

But they never spoke over the phone.

Lu Nian struggled with her problems and didn't feel like texting him again, so she simply left it blank.

The heating in the room was a bit too high.

She didn't feel like continuing with her exercises, so she put down her book and took out her digital drawing tablet from the cabinet.

She used drawing as a way to relieve stress.

On her Sea Rabbit account, the sections were clearly separated between original works and fan arts.

Most of the fan art was based on Lu Jue from "Star Strike", while the original works were the "Black and White" series, which the old fans knew well, featuring a boy usually dressed in black and a "white" girl who appeared very occasionally.

Lu Nian logged into her account and posted a new picture. This account had already accumulated quite a number of followers.

Replies quickly poured in.

"Where did Black go?"

"Why is there only Little White this time?"

This was the first time the scene depicted only the young girl, without the young boy.

With a cold detachment, Lu Nian typed, "It's over."

???

"What do you mean by 'it's over'?"

"Oh no, don't tell me it's gone for good? I really liked the dark theme."

"Is it not coming back?"

"You can't be serious?"

Lu Nian didn't respond again, her anger not subsiding even a little as she looked at the picture.

Men.

They are all heartless.

Lu Nian chuckled bitterly.

Having ventured out to see the big wide world, he probably got dazzled by all the new sights. She should have known from the incident with Bai Xi that he's not a good person.

Fickle and shameless.

She hugged Lu Jue, switched off her phone, and fell asleep in her anger.

After the new year, a heavy snowfall graced the area, blanketing the front door in a flurry of snowflakes.

Ming Ge opened the store in the morning, grumbling and cursing as he shoveled the snow. Suddenly, he noticed a tall figure standing at the corner of the street.

He couldn't help but rub his eyes to confirm he wasn't seeing things, "Damn, you finally remembered to come back?"

He threw the broom aside, landing a hearty punch on the young man's shoulder.

The young man had matured considerably, becoming more restrained in demeanor and growing taller compared to before.

Recalling something, Ming Ge grumbled as he picked up the broom and thrust it into the young man's hands, "Damn it, you do the sweeping."

Having grown taller and stronger, it would be a waste not to put that strength to use.

"Come and see the shop," Ming Ge said enthusiastically, "See, we've been doing quite well in the half-year since you left."

With snowflakes adorning his long eyelashes, the young man didn't discard the broom. He glanced towards the shop calmly, "It's very good, at least the shop hasn't blown up."

Ming Ge, "... you son of a..."

"No wonder Nian Nian doesn't want you anymore," Ming Ge cursed, "Even I am getting tired of you."

"What were you doing over the New Year that you couldn't even find time to come home?"

Qin Si remained silent.

There were too many things he needed to do, with absolutely no time to pause.

Ming Ge ushered him into the shop, habitually sliding a glass of liquor his way.

"Sister Nian Nian visited once, you know that, right?" Ming Ge said.

Qin Si, "Hmm."

There seemed to be no peculiar expression on his face. Clutching the transparent glass with his slender fingers, Ming Ge suddenly realized that he didn't refuse the drink.

Normally, he wouldn't drink alcohol at all.

Ming Ge, "Oh yes, she also mentioned something."

The young man had his long eyelashes lowered, giving him a lukewarm glance.

Forging ahead, Ming Ge said, "She mentioned that you should visit her once you return, as she cannot come out and her phone is unreachable."

The situation at Lu's house was known to them both.

However, Lu Nian had never actually said that.

Qin Si was not easily fooled, but when it came to matters concerning Lu Nian, his judgment seemed to falter.

A little bit of 'sweet talk' could easily throw him into a daze.

Ming Ge watched as he silently finished the glass of liquor, leaving behind an empty glass.

"Where is your luggage?"

"I'll leave it here," he said.

Ming Ge, "..."

Skipping the New Year's return was one thing, but now it seemed he couldn't even spare half a day. It was as if he was rushing to attend his own wedding.

By the third day of the Lunar New Year, most of the guests at the Lu residence had dispersed.

Only some intimate guests who were specially invited would still come for visits.

It was actually the first time Lu Zhihong had a casual conversation with Zhao Ya Yuan.

In the past, he only conversed with Zhao Ting Yuan, never having a one-on-one chat with the supposedly unruly and rebellious younger son of the Zhao family.

Zhao Yayuan was quite beyond his expectations - though embodying the brashness of youth, he was not without contemplation and had a good sense of propriety.

The pleasant conversation was drawing to a close.

Miaomiao knocked on the door.

Lu Zhihong said, "Come in."

Miaomiao walked in, originally wearing a smile, which diminished slightly upon seeing Zhao Yayuan.

"It's alright, go ahead," Lu Zhihong said, casting a profound glance at the young man beside him.

Clearly, he did not consider Zhao Yayuan an outsider.

Miaomiao hesitated, then said, "Mr. Qin has arrived."

"Little Qin?" Lu Zhihong responded, "You must be home for the winter break as well. Ask him in, it's timely, I wanted to have a chat with him."

"In that case, I will go downstairs to play with Nian Nian," Zhao Yayuan said, stretching lazily.

Lu Zhihong said, "Go ahead."

A note from the author:

Lu Zhihong: One is set to become my son-in-law, the other assists my daughter in her career, blissful indeed.

Sadly, there's a saying - losing both the daughter and the troops.

In the process of helping, they end up serving together in bed, hehe.

Little Si has some jealousy to swallow, being stimulated to the point of misery, but without a little provocation, how would one reveal their true nature?