Chapter 41

“Academic Representative, over here.”

In her daze, Shen Shuyu vaguely felt someone calling her. Her unfocused vision refocused.

Zhou Qin had come down the stairs at some point and was quietly calling for her to come up.

Shen Shuyu just stood where she was, showing no intention of walking towards Zhou Qin.

Yet Zhou Qin reached out and grabbed Shen Shuyu’s wrist, pulling her towards the stairs.

Shen Shuyu stepped onto the somewhat worn stone steps, looking upwards.

Amidst the interwoven shadows of the trees, Yu Mo’s nose bridge was straight and elegant, catching the sunlight.

The summer school uniform outlined the girl’s slender figure; at a glance, she was brimming with youthful energy.

Her fair arms held a large bouquet of petals, scattering them freely.

Countless petals then cascaded down the left side of Shen Shuyu’s vision.

The wind was gentle, sweeping a single petal into Shen Shuyu’s hand.

Vibrant red and full, it burned like a flame in her palm.

Zhou Qin pulled Shen Shuyu onto the stair landing and asked with a hint of pride, “What do you think, Academic Rep? Isn’t it beautiful?”

Shen Shuyu had just stopped right beside Yu Mo. She looked down at the garden full of blooming flowers below and answered calmly, “Very beautiful.”

“There’s still a small flaw. Originally, I planned for red and white petals, but unfortunately, the flower shop didn’t have enough white roses, so I supplemented with some of these purple and pink ones.” Yu Mo said to Shen Shuyu as she continued scattering petals.

There was a trace of regret in Yu Mo’s voice.

Shen Shuyu remembered that in her previous life, when Yu Mo confessed to her, there had only been these two colors.

Pure white and fervent red.

Shen Shuyu composed her expression and asked Yu Mo, “Did you think of all this yourself?”

Yu Mo nodded with an “Mm,” admitting it openly.

“What made you think of coming here?” Shen Shuyu asked again.

“I’ve been here before. I thought the scenery was nice, a perfect place for a confession. Look, flowers, a pavilion, and such an advantageous terrain. Isn’t it great?” Yu Mo said, revealing a satisfied smile.

This was the best confession spot she had discovered after searching the entire school in her last life.

Yu Mo still remembered that time, just like today, she had brought Wei Lai and the others to scout the location and set up. She had leaned on this old railing, looking down at the decorated Flower Pavilion below, imagining her confession to Shen Shuyu. Imagining that faint, shallow smile she had once been fortunate enough to glimpse on her face.

Even if all the vibrant flowers in the world were in full bloom, none could compare to even a fraction of that smile.

Only later, Shen Shuyu arrived as promised. Under the rain of red and white petals, all Yu Mo received was her indifferent: “I’m sorry.”

Polite, reserved, yet it struck right into Yu Mo’s heart.

Yu Mo’s fingers rubbed a red petal, crushing out a scarlet juice that stained her soft fingertip. She pulled herself out of the memory, lowered her head, and chuckled wryly, “Come to think of it, this setting isn’t really auspicious. Last time, I ended up being rejected.”

Shen Shuyu’s heart ached with a dull, throbbing pain.

“Why bring it out if it’s unlucky? Wouldn’t it be better to just hide it away?” she asked.

Yu Mo glanced at Shen Shuyu, then released the petal she had tormented to tatters. “It’s not some precious memory. What’s there to hide?”

The hand Shen Shuyu held clenched within the folds of her skirt tightened even more. Her nails, recently trimmed, had grown out a straight white edge – rounded yet sharp. It pinched her palm, turning it deathly pale.

Even though Shen Shuyu knew Yu Mo’s attitude towards her and had mentally prepared herself, hearing Yu Mo say it wasn’t precious with her own ears caused the defenses in her heart to instantly collapse and crumble.

The eight years between them in the past had been labeled unimportant by this life’s Yu Mo.

Cast aside casually.

It was her own grave mistake, wounding someone who once had her heart and eyes full of her, leaving them utterly broken. So much so that in this life, she wanted no emotional entanglement with her.

Yu Mo leaned against the railing, speaking casually, “Besides, I won’t be using this setting again in the future. Might as well give it to Wei Lai, help her and Li Qingqing get together. Consider it a good deed done on my behalf.”

Yu Mo looked at the two people embracing in the flower pavilion, a smile curling on her lips.

And fulfilling a broken happy ending left over from her past life.

Yu Mo shook off the few remaining petals nonchalantly and said to the others, “Shall we retreat?”

“Ah, so are we single dogs still having dinner together?”

“What dinner? I just said that to trick Li Qingqing earlier. Did you guys actually believe it?”

“I knew it. My sister is back these days; I need to go home.”

“Your sister’s back? I’m coming to your place today!”

…

The three walked side-by-side, quietly discussing familiar and interesting topics.

Shen Shuyu walked slowly behind them, her style completely different from theirs.

Aloof and cold, moving through the garden like a painting detached from the world.

But watching the three frolicking ahead, a feeling of envy rose in Shen Shuyu’s heart.

Compared to her own stillness, their liveliness was the true essence of youth, wasn’t it?

Forever bright, forever magnificent.

School had already ended for the afternoon. The school gate wasn’t bustling with crowds; it was even somewhat deserted.

As usual, Yu Mo swiftly split from the group, bidding farewell to everyone: “See you tomorrow.”

Soon after, the Zhou family’s car arrived. Seeing that the Shen family’s car hadn’t come yet, Zhou Qin proactively invited, “Academic Rep, are you waiting for your car? Want to come along?”

“Thank you, no need.” Shen Shuyu politely declined Zhou Qin’s kindness.

Zhou Qin didn’t insist, saying goodbye to Shen Shuyu before getting into the car and leaving with Feng Ruoyu.

The school gate, where conversation had just been heard, suddenly became much quieter. Shen Shuyu stood tall and straight at the gate, looking towards the east.

In her sight, the girl with the color-block backpack walked against the light towards the Lower City.

A few freshly fallen green leaves fluttered onto the stairs. With a light leap, she escaped Shen Shuyu’s view.

Only to be quickly recaptured by Shen Shuyu’s gaze.

But Yu Mo walked farther and farther, growing smaller and smaller in Shen Shuyu’s sight, until finally, she completely vanished into the street shaded by interwoven green trees.

Had Yu Mo stood by the roadside like this long ago, watching her leave without looking back?

A black Porsche slowly stopped in front of Shen Shuyu. The clean car window reflected Shen Shuyu’s somewhat forlorn face.

Shen Shuyu lowered her head slightly, putting away her desolation, and got into the car.

The car started slowly. Watching the street scenery recede rapidly past the window, Shen Shuyu suddenly spoke to the driver, “Go to Tranquil Garden.”

“Yes, Miss.” The driver answered respectfully.

The car signaled left and turned around at the intersection ahead.

After passing several traffic lights, the bustling cityscape gradually faded, replaced by the natural, uninterrupted greenery of the suburbs.

Like ocean tides, waves of emerald green rippled one after another.

Turning past a peach orchard, the car slowly entered a manor built in an ancient, elegant style.

—This was where the Shen family buried their descendants for generations.

The caretaker here, Aunt Chen, seeing a car approach, had been waiting at the entrance early on.

The car stopped. Aunt Chen respectfully opened the door, saying, “Miss has arrived.”

“Mm. Prepare two bouquets for me. I’m going to Tranquil Garden.” Shen Shuyu walked straight into the house, sat down on the sofa she was extremely familiar with, and gave a calm instruction.

“Right away, please wait a moment.” Aunt Chen bowed slightly in acknowledgment and immediately went to prepare.

The interior of this house was simple in layout, some designs already outdated, as if forgotten in the torrent of time. Shen Shuyu sat upright within it, like two paintings of different styles spliced together.

Yet Shen Shuyu didn’t mind. She gently lifted the white porcelain teacup prepared for her on the table, her eyes slightly raised as she surveyed her surroundings.

Every object, every piece was still as she remembered it. Memories of her childhood surged forth with the reawakening familiarity.

This was where her grandmother, Old Madam Shen, had lived for the latter half of her life.

And where Shen Shuyu herself had stayed, from a swaddled infant to a child of seven or eight.

She looked at the old single-seater sofa placed under the semi-elliptical glass window.

The setting sun slanted, its final lingering rays falling onto the sofa through the window.

This was Old Madam Shen’s favorite spot when she was alive. She had specifically ordered the window here enlarged so she could sit in the sun doing things all day long, as long as the sun was out.

Of course, very often, she would fall asleep on the sofa while working.

And little Shen Shuyu always loved to tease her grandmother at those moments.

Once in the summer, little Shen Shuyu picked a pocketful of all kinds of flowers from the garden, climbed onto this sofa – huge to her then – and wove a head full of flowers into Old Madam Shen’s hair.

Old Madam Shen woke up and went outside. She made a round and came back, and it was only later when Aunt Chen saw her that she was reminded.

The old lady looked in the mirror, her soft face showing no trace of anger. She pulled little Shen Shuyu into her arms and asked, “Doesn’t Grandmother look pretty?”

Little Shen Shuyu nodded earnestly: “Pretty, Grandmother Flower, sweet.”

Old Madam Shen pursed her lips in a smile, rubbing little Shen Shuyu’s chubby cheeks.

Perhaps it touched some switch in little Shen Shuyu, for the grandparent and grandchild just laughed like that for a long time in the brilliant sunshine.

Back then, Shen Shuyu smiled, ran, jumped, and darted through the flower fields. Unfettered, innocent, and carefree, like a sprite.

At that moment, Aunt Chen arrived beside Shen Shuyu holding two bouquets. “Miss, everything is ready.”

Shen Shuyu stood before the single sofa, no longer enormous to her now, and abruptly came back to her senses.

She nodded lightly: “Alright. You don’t need to follow me.”

It wasn’t yet the height of summer. The afternoon temperature at sunset carried a hint of coolness.

Shen Shuyu carried the two bouquets to Tranquil Garden.

First, she swept the dust off Wu Jue’s grave, telling her about Shen Lin being diagnosed with Alpha Pheromone Disorder and going abroad for treatment last week. Then, Shen Shuyu placed a bouquet of sunflowers – Wu Jue’s favorite – in front of her tombstone.

It was somewhat helpless. Shen Shuyu crouched in front of Wu Jue’s grave, looking at her photo, unable to think of anything she could share with her.

She had spent even less time with her mother than with Shen Lin. Wu Jue had passed away early. To Shen Shuyu, she was just a few simple words: Mom, daughter of a distinguished family, forever elegant. That was all.

“I’m going now, Mom.” Shen Shuyu stood up, bowed slightly to Wu Jue’s grave, turned, and carried the bouquet of white lily-of-the-valley further up.

Old Madam Shen’s tombstone still bore that never-fading smile Shen Shuyu remembered.

“Grandmother, I’m here.” Shen Shuyu crouched gently before Old Madam Shen’s tombstone, placing the lily-of-the-valley before it. “I’m sorry I’m coming to see you so late.”

Shen Shuyu’s hand lightly caressed Old Madam Shen’s tombstone, brushing away the dust. “I think, even if I don’t say it, you probably already know… Do you think I’m too despicable? I feel if I died and met you underground, you would surely scold me.”

“I deeply hurt someone who loved me so much.” Shen Shuyu’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke. “So… she doesn’t love me anymore.”

“I…” Shen Shuyu choked up, then continued: “I know… Yu Mo’s heart for me has, has died. I also understand that I, I have to put in immense effort to reawaken this dead heart of hers.”

“But Grandmother, when Yu Mo really told me today…” A tear welled up in Shen Shuyu’s eye, reddening the corners of her eyes and the tip of her nose. “She said… the memories between us aren’t important anymore. I’m truly heartbroken.”

Shen Shuyu bit her lip hard, refusing to let herself cry.

She brought this all on herself; it was what she deserved.

What right did she have to tell others about her sorrow?

Shen Shuyu took a light breath, her voice hoarse yet firm. “But I won’t give up… One day, I will bring her to meet you. You will definitely like her.”

Shen Shuyu gently touched Old Madam Shen’s photo, her pale-pink fingertips tracing the kind face.

Even surrounded by thousands, Shen Shuyu remained utterly alone. It was only here, facing her dearest grandmother, that she could pour out a fraction of the grief suppressed in her heart.

“Grandmother, I miss you so much.”

A crystal-clear teardrop hung on Shen Shuyu’s jade-white chin, trembling on the verge of falling.

Finally, unable to bear the weight, it fell onto the white bouquet of lily-of-the-valley.

Tree shadows swayed. The wind brushed against Shen Shuyu’s back, gentle as an old woman’s soft palm.

She crouched before the grave, caressing her grandmother’s photo on the cold headstone, as if she were still that seven-year-old child.

She could always nestle in her grandmother’s warm, soft embrace, enjoying that paradise that would never be destroyed.