Chapter 10, The Truth

Su Cuo, have you not come down yet

You all? Su Cuo glanced around the kitchen and gave a wry smile. It is known that very few girls these days can cook. Especially those from affluent families, who have little to do with pots and pans; it is entirely reasonable that they cannot cook. This kitchen is impressively large, accommodating three or four people without feeling cramped. There are at least three cookbooks in the kitchen. Su Cuo observed them bustling about in a chaotic manner, wearing aprons, completely lacking any method; one moment they were chopping meat, the next they were tossing vegetables into the pot. Mi Shi's cooking skills are slightly better than Ying Chen and Lin Zheng, as she at least knows to put the shredded meat in after the oil has heated up.

It is hard to recall how many years have passed since I last heard this name from someone else's lips. Su Cuo's mind was instantly bombarded, and then her breath was snatched away by an invisible hand, the suffocating pain heralding the return of days filled with prolonged suffering. In the extreme silence of the environment, even the rustling of leaves in the wind and the chirping of insects in the grass could not break the oppressive stillness, where every trivial detail in the courtyard was illuminated, including every aspect of Su Cuo herself. Everyone could see her face appearing almost translucent under the moonlight and the swaying lights in the courtyard, with the bluish veins beneath her skin nearly discernible, yet the flow of blood remained invisible. In the extreme silence of the environment, even the rustling of leaves in the wind and the chirping of insects in the grass could not break the oppressive stillness, where every trivial detail in the courtyard was illuminated, including every aspect of Su Cuo herself. Everyone could see her face appearing almost translucent under the moonlight and the swaying lights in the courtyard, with the bluish veins beneath her skin nearly discernible, yet the flow of blood remained invisible.

Seeing Wang Chensu made me feel a headache, I smiled and said, "You are also here."

The sarcasm in her tone was evident to anyone, and both Chen Lin and Zheng exchanged glances. Su Cuo smiled at them lightly and said casually, "Alright, I will go out now," before heading towards the exit. With her head slightly lowered and her steps hurried, she was not paying attention to her surroundings and bumped into someone at the kitchen door. Startled, she looked up and met Chen Zijia's deep gaze. Su Cuo's face stiffened, and she instinctively recoiled as if shocked. She glanced at the person and smiled, "Why did you come down?" Chen Zijia wanted to return Su Cuo's smile, but he found himself unable to do so. Su Zhi patted his shoulder and said with a smile, "We just saw smoke coming from the kitchen and were startled, so we came down to check the situation."

As they passed through the small garden, several people entered the house. Su Cuo walked in last, and by the time she entered, the others had already changed into their slippers. Chen Zijia circled behind her and reached out to take the heavy backpack from her back. Su Cuo was not accustomed to having someone help her with her bag, and just as she was about to refuse, she felt a piercing gaze sweep over her from top to bottom, sharp as the winter wind.

Xu Yihao walked towards her. As he got closer, he noticed that Su Cuo's face was pale, and her expression seemed contemplative, lacking the spirit she had during the card game in the afternoon. He steadied himself, and the tenderness in his gaze unconsciously revealed itself.

Su Cuo smiled at him, intending to say "thank you," but for some reason, her voice became hoarse in her throat. She only smiled, lacking even the strength to speak.

"Your father? Oh, Principal Xu?" Su Cuo, feeling unsettled by the article she had just seen, asked almost without thinking, "Senior Brother, I want to ask you something."

You speak

Ying Chen and Su Zhi exchanged a bewildered glance, the shock having dissipated, leaving only a sense of helplessness. No one knew what to do. The truth was glaringly obvious, yet they had lost the courage to continue probing further.

Xu Yihai fixed his gaze on the road ahead, not looking at her, and responded to Chen Zijia with a simple "mm" as an acknowledgment

Seeing Su Cuoli swiftly tidying up the kitchen, Lin Zheng looked at her in shock, his expression complex, and after a long while, he finally uttered an "mm".

Knowing that you returned last week, I came over to invite you to go out and gather, after all, we have all graduated. " Chen Zijia sighed, glancing at the distant campus, " The school is no longer ours.

Su Cuo said: "Indeed, it has been a long time since we last met. If you do not appear soon, I might just forget what you look like."

"Truly virtuous," Lin Zheng remarked, "I wonder how many lifetimes of good fortune Su Zhixiu must have accumulated to find a girlfriend like you"

Su Cuo's lips curled into a slight smile, "I have enough money myself. I have gotten used to it, and I cannot change it no matter what."

Ying Chen coughed while saying: "Acuo, I didn't expect you could cook. I really didn't think so. Ah, do you need my help?"

"After I leave, you must take good care of yourself," said Chen Zijia

Yingchen cast a helpless glance and said, "Be mindful of the impact, in a public setting like this, we should not be afraid of polluting our eyes."

Wang Chen, standing nearby, was so surprised that his mouth fell open, almost large enough to fit an egg inside. He exclaimed twice, "Su Cuo, I never expected you could cook. You truly excel in both the parlor and the kitchen. Whoever marries you in the future will be truly fortunate."

Hearing this, Chen Zijia frowned, "In the middle of the night? You alone?"

Chen Zijia felt his mind was numb. He clearly saw the expressions of everyone present, yet he chose to ignore them. "Acuo, I will say it again, do not leave. Just this one day, is it that difficult?"

Startled by the sound, Su Cuo suddenly turned her head. Xu Yihao stood by the door, looking at her. He was in the shadow behind the door, his face not clearly visible, but his eyes shone brightly, and the contours of his face gradually became clearer.

Very few people know. At that time, the two of them were very careful and discreet, after all, they were in their senior year of high school. Before I encountered them on the mountain, I was completely unaware. Moreover, later Jiang passed away...

The car drove out smoothly, and outside the west gate was the staff dormitory area of the university, which could also be considered part of the school. The driver kept the speed very slow. Su Cuo rarely came to this area and was not familiar with it. After turning a few corners on the shaded path, Su Cuo saw a dense circle of tall white birch trees, behind which was a cluster of small buildings with courtyards.

Chen Zijia showed no intention of stopping his speech

The so-called gathering is actually of little significance; it is still those few friends from Su Zhi University. Upon seeing the car outside the west gate, Su Cuo immediately understood.

Su Cuo, his voice came from the shadows, almost a sigh, "My dad plans to send me abroad for graduate studies in international law"

I just want you to eat a little more, there's nothing wrong with that. Mi Shi was hurt by those words, and she said with grievance, her eyes turning red, "You are going abroad—"

There was a slight tremor in her voice. Su Cuo felt a tightening in her heart, yet she reminded herself to remain calm and unperturbed as before. She waved her hand and said, "I have already arranged to meet Senior Sister Liu Fei; she will be here to pick me up soon. I have an experiment tomorrow afternoon, so I need to go back and prepare."

"Indeed," Su Cuo lowered his head and said, "Oh," with a tone of realization, "At that time, you were probably just born, how could you possibly know?"

Indeed, one can discern a woman's potential for being virtuous during mealtime. At the dining table, with men and women seated alternately, the women diligently serve the men. Particularly, Mi Shi, resembling an angel, happily and sweetly serves Chen Zijia, even removing the bones from the fish for him.

It is rare for them to gather so many barbecue tools, and they are doing it quite impressively. The charcoal fire is blazing, and Su Zhi places a plate of grilled ribs onto the grill, producing a sizzling sound.

A burst of white headlights illuminated the courtyard. Before anyone could comprehend what was happening, they first heard the sound of the engine shutting off. A snow-white sedan came to a stop at the entrance, and Liu Fei opened the left side door.

A day of idleness often passes very quickly, as Su Cuo writes code while looking at the materials on her computer. The hard drive of her computer is filled with various types of materials, often to the point where she herself does not know where she has placed them. While searching for information, she inadvertently discovers a document from long ago, which contains introductions to the past presidents of Huada and the university. This document was collected when she first entered university, but she did not have time to read it back then, and it has been sitting on her computer for several years.

Liu Fei silently gazed at her, and finally started the car

"It is water boiled with jujubes and ginger, which is good for the stomach when consumed during barbecues," explained Chen.

Ah, is it already this late?" Su Cuo glanced at the time, then turned her head in surprise to look at the sky outside the window. Indeed, it was the time when the sky was filled with red clouds. "I thought it was still early." As she spoke, she rubbed her fingers and with a "snap," closed her notebook.

This push was quite forceful, and Su Cuo lost her balance, stepping on the shards on the ground. Her foot slipped and she bumped into the refrigerator. Her arm and shoulder collided with the hard metal surface, causing a sharp pain. Once she steadied herself, she saw Mi Shi's ice-cold eyes and heard her mocking voice: "Su Cuo, how dare I trouble you? Do you really think I can't even prepare a meal?"

She did not know how many years had passed since she last cried, not shedding a single tear. She did not know how to cry, how to weep. She had completely forgotten how to do so.

In the direction where the two were facing, Xu Yihai and Chen Zijia had just entered the garden one after the other. Although their expressions appeared similar to usual, their brows were tightly furrowed and their demeanor was markedly different. Based on Su Zhi's understanding of the two, something must have just happened upstairs.

He said he could not go on, sliding down against the wall. "I always thought it was the death of your uncle and aunt that you could not let go of, but I was wrong. You have hidden this from us for three whole years, and do you still want to continue hiding it? You have already done enough for Jiang Weizhi, do you plan to never talk about love for the rest of your life because of him? To disregard the living for a dead person? Open your eyes and take a look, just look." "You have already done enough for Jiang Weizhi, do you plan to never talk about love for the rest of your life because of him? To disregard the living for a dead person? Open your eyes and take a look, just look."

Su Cuo let out a bitter laugh, took the spatula from Mi Shi's hand, and glanced at the three people who were coughing from the smoke, saying: "You all go to the second floor, I will handle it here." As she spoke, she opened the window and began to tidy up the chaotic kitchen.

Xu Yihao was the first to pick up the photograph, and then everyone gathered around, ultimately passing it to Chen Zijia.

The car drove to the outskirts and stopped in front of a three-story small building nestled among the mountains. The hill was dotted with such exquisite little houses, hidden within the woods. Su Cuo followed Chen Zijia into the house, hearing him mention that it belonged to one of his uncles. Since they were currently abroad, the house had been left vacant.

What is this? Lin Zheng asked curiously

"Su Cuo, what exactly are we in your heart?" Chen Zijia looked at Su Cuo, who was intently staring at the computer, with a thousand words swirling in his mind, yet at this moment, he did not know why he had said this.

Su Cuo smiled gently and said that she would leave first, which was met with complete silence from the audience

"Some, " she said, "Mishi, you need not trouble yourself."

Lin Zheng was surprised, "Who is this boy? Is it you, Yihao?" As she spoke, she caught a glimpse of Xu Yihao's expression and understood roughly: she quickly added, "Ah, no."

"As far as you remember, I have no impression at all," Su Cuobai glanced at Su Zhi, shook his head, and laughed.

Su Cuo tilted her head and spoke clearly: "Senior Brother, I am truly sorry, I have something to attend to"

Ying Chen chuckled softly, "Su Zhi likes it. Having spent a lot of time eating out with him, I naturally came to know that."

Stung by such brilliance, Su Zhi staggered back in shock. After waiting for a sufficient amount of time, he finally stepped forward and called out to her: "You attend classes in the building every day, how can you still not have had enough?"

At first, she spoke with a hint of annoyance, her words lacking any logic; however, as time went on, she became much calmer, clearly displaying an expression of "I appreciate your intentions, but there is no room for negotiation on other matters"

Ke Suocuo remained unmoved, as if those words had never reached her ears. She maintained the same posture, her fingers gliding gently over the keyboard. Her fingers were slender, and the bluish veins beneath her skin were faintly visible; Chen Zijia seemed to hear the rhythmic flow of blood coursing through her veins. The two sat in silence facing each other until the sun rose high in the sky, and the rooftop began to grow hot.

The sun at the end of July is merciless, bleaching the ground to a glaring white. From a distance, it resembles tranquil white rivers, encircling each building of the school into isolated islands. In such intense weather, girls would typically carry sun umbrellas, but Su Cuo has never had this habit, allowing the sunlight to redden her cheeks.

Thus, Su Zhi proposed: "Let the girls cook while the boys play cards."

"How can this be?" Mi Shi came out of the kitchen, her smile radiant as she spoke, "Zi Jia Ge, don't worry, we will definitely be able to make it. If you're really hungry, you can eat something else first." After saying this, she looked around one by one, "Is that alright?"

Chen Zijia poured himself a drink, his voice calm and distant from the slightly pleading words he had just spoken: "Su Cuo, can you hide for a moment, but can you hide for a lifetime? Perhaps you think you can avoid it for now, but what about later? What will you do? Maybe to you, our hearts are not made of flesh, and it doesn't matter whether they exist or not."

I remember that the two of them just went to find you, how did you come down later than them?" Su Zhi sat down with her sister at the barbecue table, examining her and asking, "You three were fine just now, right?"

I did not know your family was also here," Su Cuo turned her head to look at him, smiling brightly as she said, "I once got lost inside and almost couldn't find my way out.

I know that this money won't last long abroad. " Su Cuo paused slightly, " You are not lacking in this amount, which is why I am giving it to you, as a token of my goodwill. Once you leave, I don't know how long it will be before you return. I have no more to offer. Moreover, this money originally belongs to Su Zhi. Senior sister, please accept it.

Looking at him, Su Zhi recalled that photograph and became somewhat distracted; Chen Zijia noticed Su Zhi's strange expression and was about to speak when Xu Yihao finally took a seat in the back.

"All the money my parents gave me is on this card, and I have already exchanged it all," said Su Cuo

A gentle night breeze wafted in, carrying with it a faint sound that seemed to possess a different essence. One could vaguely hear it, but when one focused to listen, there was nothing at all, as if it were the whispers of another world. Su Cuo's hair was tousled by the wind as she quietly gazed at the lights scattered throughout the courtyard, yet even the lights could not provide her with the slightest warmth

"How do you know so well?" Mi Shi looked at her

What did Liu Fei tell you

As night fell, Su Cuo stood up to go to Ying Chen's side. Ying Chen had wrapped a headscarf around her head and was using long bamboo chopsticks to flip several pieces of ribs. Her face was flushed from the heat of the grill, and she distributed each piece to everyone without eating a single bite herself, remaining busy in her tasks. Su Cuo lent a hand, went to the kitchen, and poured the ginger date tea that had been brewed in the afternoon into a teapot, serving it to fill everyone's cups.

Wang Chen shivered, glanced at the puzzled Lin Zheng beside him, and immediately made a gesture to stop, nervously chuckling, "Su Cuo, if you don't speak, it's fine, but once you do, I have no way to deal with you. Since you arrived, you haven't even had a sip of water; have some tea."

Chen Zijia sat in the driver's seat and turned to greet her: "Acuo, how have you been lately?" His voice was calm, revealing nothing.

Inside the envelope was a bank card and an unopened password paper. Yingchen turned the ordinary card over and over, completely puzzled. In her confusion, she looked up to see Su Cuo nodding and smiling at her, and in that instant, she suddenly understood. Despite her best efforts to restrain herself, the expression on her face could only be described as shock, and for a long while, she could not utter a single word.

Mi Shi frantically grasped Chen Zijia's arm, her long nails leaving several deep crimson marks on his skin. Her sudden appearance distracted Chen Zijia, causing him to instinctively loosen his grip due to the pain. Su Cuo seized the opportunity to struggle free from his embrace, nearly running to the courtyard gate, where she swiftly turned the doorknob.

The silence was unbearable on the rooftop, and the two of them had just come down from the floor below. They had stayed up too late last night, and everyone had only just gotten out of bed now, each appearing to still be half-asleep.

Xu Yihai seemed to be falling apart, unable to stand. He leaned against the chair and sat down, his gaze suddenly scattering, then he smiled. He gently placed the photo on the table in front of him and slowly nodded. He had hardly spoken these past two days, perhaps because his throat had not been used for so long, his voice was hoarse to the point of being unbearable: "So that's how it is. I understand now, I understand. I should have known earlier. On the day of the recruitment, you stood in front of me and said you wanted to join the club, it was because of this face; you asked me to teach you to dance, it was because of this face; we took a taxi back together, you took the initiative to hug me, it was because of this face; I broke my leg and you came to the hospital to see me, it was also because of this face... Your voice was hoarse to the point of being unbearable: 'So that's how it is. I understand now, I understand. I should have known earlier. On the day of the recruitment, you stood in front of me and said you wanted to join the club, it was because of this face; you asked me to teach you to dance, it was because of this face; we took a taxi back together, you took the initiative to hug me, it was because of this face; I broke my leg and you came to the hospital to see me, it was also because of this face... You approached me, then pushed me away, all of this was for the purpose of this similar face, right? Su Cuo, right?"... You approached me, then pushed me away, all of this was for the purpose of this similar face, right? Su Cuo, right?

It was evening, where did the sun come from? The streetlights suddenly went out, Su Cuo's eyes shone so brightly they seemed almost green, "I thought I had encountered a ghost wall"

In front of everyone's eyes, Su Cuo's hand holding the plate trembled, and a stack of plates nearly fell. Ying Chen silently cursed and quickly reached out to catch them, but Su Cuo would not allow it and turned to leave.

Su Cuo replied generously: "Hello, Senior Brother."

The door was suddenly pulled open with a loud noise again

After finishing this sentence, both Su Zhi and Ying Chen's expressions changed, and then they realized that the atmosphere at the dining table had successfully cooled down. Su Zhi shot a glare at Wang Chen, gritting his teeth, unable to suppress the pounding in his heart, and began to contemplate whether it was a good idea to invite Su Cuo to this gathering.

What is this for

Su Cuo immediately felt her headache intensify several times over. She forced a smile and explained, "I just bumped my head."

Su Cuo shook his head, and his smile deepened

Su Cuo took out the prepared white envelope and handed it to Ying Chen, saying, "You are about to leave, and I have nothing else to give you, only this. Senior sister, you must accept it."

Lin Zhengrou glanced at him and smiled as she introduced, "Most of it was made by Su Cuo."

Su Cuo mentioned the recent work at a joint laboratory at Xida Huada, where Wang Chen also participated in the project under her supervisor. Some time ago, she frequently encountered Wang Chen in the laboratory and naturally learned some insider information.

Hearing the sound, Su Cuo quickly turned around and saw the figure she was all too familiar with. She let out a chuckle and said, "Brother, when did you come back? Why did you arrive two days early?"

Those few, you are familiar with them

Mi Shi is very adorable when she smiles, and no one can bear to refuse her. Seeing everyone nodding, she joyfully returned to the kitchen. Ying Chen and Lin Zheng exchanged a glance and began to tidy up the tableware and clean the table. Su Cuo hesitated for a moment in place, then turned and followed her into the kitchen. Mi Shi did not lose control of her emotions again; she no longer busied herself with kitchen tasks but instead moved a stool to sit there, watching Su Cuo bustling about, saying not a word, while playing with a set of keys in her hand

Chen Zijia sat across from her, his hands resting on the table. After a prolonged silence, Su Cuo could no longer resist the urge to look up at him. He was wearing a blue tracksuit, his arms exposed to the air, glimmering slightly in the rosy morning light

"By the way," Wang Chen looked at the nearly empty plates on the dining table and asked with great interest, "Who made these dishes?"

"No need, you all just go up," Su Cuo said without turning his head.

Su Zhi was completely at a loss for words

Xu Yihao stood by the roadside under the white birch tree, hands in his pockets, wearing a white shirt and gray pants. After more than a year apart, his expression remained calm as ever, though he appeared somewhat thinner than before. Aside from that, he seemed to have changed little.

At this moment, Xu Yihao glanced at Su Cuo, but it was merely for an instant. He averted his gaze and said, devoid of any emotion: "It is not safe."

Ying Chenban is both amusing and helpless, "You really are well-connected on all sides. Then let Chen Zijia know, after all, he is the host here"

It was as if a switch had been flipped, and the voices around fell silent. Wang Chen, who usually enjoyed joking, remained completely silent at this critical moment, sitting on the sofa with Lin Zheng, both of them wearing solemn expressions. Su Cuo heard a loud rumble. She turned her head with an extremely slow motion, and the person she looked at was neither Chen Zijia nor Xu Yihao, but Mi Shi. The expression on Mi Shi's face was filled with deep sorrow and resentment, and her gaze towards Su Cuo shattered into countless fragments. She turned her head with an extremely slow motion, and the person she looked at was neither Chen Zijia nor Xu Yihao, but Mi Shi. The expression on Mi Shi's face was filled with deep sorrow and resentment, and her gaze towards Su Cuo shattered into countless fragments.

Xu Yihao could not have imagined that this was what she was asking about; he was mostly surprised. He thought for a moment and said, "I am not sure; my father has never mentioned it to me."

Mi Shi did not know when she had walked over. She stared at Chen Zijia, her face bearing an expression close to collapse. She reached out to pry his arm, crying heart-wrenchingly as she shouted: "Let her go, let her go, let her go! Why do you like her so much? She doesn't like anyone at all, Chen Zijia, you are just asking for trouble!"

Su Zhi's eyes flickered as he lowered his head to look at the photo, pondering and saying: "Jiang Weizhi? There are such individuals in the school, how come I am completely unaware?"

Ying Chen hurriedly and angrily went over to help Su Zhi, who had fallen to the ground, while glancing at the photo. His expression changed sharply; it was indeed the same one they had seen last time at Su Zhi's home. It was unclear when Su Zhi had obtained it from his classmates.

Wang Chen laughed heartily, "Ah, there is indeed a difference between people. My mentor speaks highly of you, to the point of wanting to recruit you as my junior sister next year. However, President Bai is reluctant to let you go, and the two of them even had a dispute over this matter. And today, I came here to enjoy a free meal, but you are different; to invite you, three handsome guys were dispatched. In the end, it is you who holds the prestige, or rather, you are indispensable"

She did not attend either the memorial service or the funeral, and everyone was looking for her, but no one knew where she had gone. However, when she was at school, she seemed unchanged, truly unchanged, except that she had replaced Jiang Weizhi as the top student in the grade. Su Zhi, you also know that Su Cuo's grades have never been good. I have been her classmate for more than half a year, sitting behind her, and apart from during class, I have never seen her touch a textbook. Her backpack was always stuffed with other books, books we had never even heard of, none of which were related to studying. For her regular assignments, she would simply copy them from Jiang Weizhi and submit them, and Jiang Weizhi did not mind, just watching her with a gentle smile; he even deliberately practiced Su Cuo's handwriting to help her with her homework, and the teacher never discovered it. However, this Su Cuo, in the last monthly exam and diagnostic test, miraculously achieved the highest score and became the top student in the entire school, and later in the college entrance examination as well, easily gaining admission to Huada.

As they ascended the stairs, Su Cuo cautiously poked Su Zhi and whispered, "How many more people are coming?"

Of course, " Wang Chen said with a smile, " it is precisely for you to attend this gathering. " He spoke to himself, regardless of the expressions of those around him

At that moment, the aroma of barbecue wafted through the yard, and she hurried downstairs

I am indeed considering myself, " Su Cuo glanced at the time, " so I would like to leave first

Su Cuo ate very little and spoke very little, and almost all the dishes on the table had not been touched. Suddenly, a pair of chopsticks reached out from her left side and placed some braised eggplant into her bowl. Su Cuo knew that Xu Yihao was sitting to her left; he had not spoken for a long time and had remained quiet, yet his presence was impossible to ignore

A classmate paused and sighed: "Later, some classmates guessed that their relationship was unusual, but no one dared to mention Jiang Weizhi in front of Su Cuo. Then, we each went on to university. Thus, our high school days came to an end."

Chen Zijia picked up the words left by Su Cuo and jokingly said, "How could you possibly get lost there? Did you follow the sun to find your way?"

Su Zhi sat dazedly, falling onto the sofa. He held his head and murmured to himself: "So that's how it is"

Everyone laughed, and Xu Yihao was no exception, as a faint smile finally appeared in his eyes

The group exchanged glances with one another, while only Su Cuo leisurely accepted the teacup he offered, a faint smile still on his lips. Under the evening glow, the shadows of the trees in the courtyard were scattered and cast onto the living room, creating an ink wash painting on the coffee table

When Su Zhi found her, she noticed that she was slightly on tiptoe, carefully wiping the dust off a glass picture frame with a tissue. After finishing, she stepped back a bit, her gaze still lingering on it, her eyes appearing deep and tranquil

Mi Shi lowered her head and did not speak

They all have very good temperaments. Apart from you, I can't think of anyone else who could make them so angry. Su Zhichun was determined not to let her off the hook, and after a pause, said, "Both of them are impeccable in every aspect. You must be aware of their intentions, so think carefully.

After getting into the car, Su Cuo turned her head to look at the night scenery outside the window. The shadows of the trees danced gracefully, the cicadas chirped as usual, and the distant lights flickered and vanished, leaving unknown numbers of people already immersed in their dreams. She knew Liu Fei was watching her, but she did not turn back; she simply said softly, "Thank you, Senior Sister. Please take me back to school."

At the moment her hand touched the door, Chen Zijia suddenly awoke from his dream. He rushed over and tightly wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing his chin firmly on her shoulder. He held her so tightly, as if he wanted to embed her into his own body. It was only then that he realized how slender the girl in his arms was. "Where are you going at this late hour!" Chen Zijia roared in her ear, his arms resembling iron rings.

Xu Yihao stood beside Su Zhi with his arms crossed, observing the situation in the kitchen, and said lightly: "Let's go out to eat"

As summer arrives, the department's summer study program is once again upon us

Su Zhi laughed uncontrollably, "How could she be afraid of these things? When she was a child, after watching the story of Song Dingbo capturing ghosts, A Cuo would sneak out every night and wander around the yard. When her parents finally found her, she said she wanted to know whether ghosts really existed in the world, and if so, whether she could communicate with them, and so on."

Chen Zijia did not comfort Mi Shi, and slightly raised his gaze. Su Cuo was sitting opposite him, so naturally, his gaze fell upon Su Cuo. Mi Shi was exhausted from cooking, and with the people around her not being particularly appreciative, her delicate face turned pale with anger. She followed Chen Zijia's gaze to look at Su Cuo, making a great effort to suppress her displeasure. This scene caught the eye of Xu Yihao, who was sitting next to Su Cuo. He was perhaps the most taciturn person at the dining table, so he observed more than others.

Indeed, they all know each other. In the living room, Lin Zheng and Wang Chen are sitting together, chatting joyfully about something, their expressions and gestures revealing an unspoken intimacy, reminiscent of the feeling one gets from Su Zhi and Ying Chen, as if they were an old married couple of many years. Upon seeing Su Cuo enter the living room, Wang Chen smiled and said, "Su Cuo, you’re here? We’ve all been waiting for you."

Mi Shi has just regained her composure. Amidst the smoke filling the room, her face alternates between shades of blue and white, and her large eyes, distinctly black and white, are fixed on Su Cuo. After a moment, as if recalling something, she strides over and forcefully pushes her away.

Chen Zijia put down the wine glass in his hand, raised his eyes to look at her, but did not speak, only gazing at her, slowly and deliberately saying: "Acuo, please don't go, okay?"

Chen Zijia brought the photo in front of Su Cuo, his eyes shining as he stared at her, "Su Cuo, is it? Is he Jiang Weizhi?" He did not understand why he was pressing for answers, yet he stubbornly continued to ask. He heard a voice in his heart laughing maniacally, repeatedly saying, "You are all wrong, you have all been deceived by her. This is the truth. He heard a voice in his heart laughing maniacally, repeatedly saying, 'You are all wrong, you have all been deceived by her. This is the truth.'

Su Zhi stood up with a start and asked, "What happened?"

Due to the near fire incident, a bit of time was delayed. When all the dishes were served, the boys were so hungry that their stomachs were touching their backs, thus the food tasted particularly delicious. Once a dish was served, it was quickly devoured.

If there is really nothing to do, then go upstairs and play cards with them. After saying this, Yingchen added, "We are here, so just wait for the meal."

Ying Chen was somewhat rational, "What happened to A Cuo after that?"

"What are you going crazy about again?" Yi Chen, realizing the situation, trembled with anger and shouted at Su Zhi, "Isn't it enough? Huh?"

"As Yihao suggested, let's go out to eat," Chen Zijia sighed

Ying Chen looked at the photo, feeling lost and without any clues. After a long silence, she asked: "Do all the classmates know about the matter between Jiang Weizhi and Su Cuo?"

A single remark caused everyone's expression to change. Chen Zijia's gaze intensified as he was about to speak, but he saw Su Cuo smilingly interject: "Senior Brother, you are being too modest, and that is not good. You have always been popular, haven't you? I still remember Senior Sister Liu from the laboratory—"

She rose and drew back the curtains, and the dim light of the early morning streamed in through the window

She did not turn around and raised her voice slightly: "I have placed breakfast in the living room; you can heat it up in the microwave."

Su Cuo's face turned pale in an instant, she curved her lips into a smile, and the color gradually returned to her cheeks, yet her lips remained pale. She stood up to clear the dishes.

At that moment, the pot that Mi Shi was using to cook suddenly erupted with flames reaching two feet high, and as if it were not frightening enough, it was accompanied by thick billowing smoke. Mi Shi was so frightened that her face turned pale, waving the spatula and shouting loudly; the other two were dumbfounded and immediately scattered. Their movements were frantic, causing pots and pans on the stove to crash to the ground, shattering porcelain everywhere. Su Cuo furrowed her brows and hurried to the stove, pushing the bewildered Mi Shi aside, decisively turning off the gas and covering the pot. After the thick smoke cleared, what remained in the pot was just a blackened mass.

I will return after I finish my studies. I want to know, will I still be able to find you then? Or rather, by that time, will your heart be unburdened?

Su Cuo furrowed her brows slightly, placing her left hand on her temple, and while pondering, she asked: "Did Principal Xu serve as a visiting scholar at Duke University in Germany for half a year when he was young"

Liu Fei parked the car by the roadside, took her hand, and tried to transfer warmth to her. She softly said, "Acuo, if you want to cry, just cry. Don't hold it back."

"No, there isn't anything." Su Cuo replied with a smile.

Although she did not know what had happened here, Liu Fei could vaguely guess about seventy to eighty percent of it by observing the expressions of everyone in the yard at the door. She carefully observed Su Cuo, whose face was pale and whose lower lip had already been bitten until it bled. In her, Liu Fei saw hardship and extreme endurance. Liu Fei silently looked around and, feeling heartbroken, embraced her and left.

That night, Su Cuo slept very poorly. In the middle of the night, she woke up, curled up at the head of the bed with her arms wrapped around herself, and began to recall the last time she cried. Eventually, she remembered that it was on New Year's Eve the year after her parents passed away. She sat on a small stool in her grandfather's yard, playing Go with her left hand and right hand. Su Zhi and several of her cousins were setting off fireworks, colorful fireworks shooting up into the sky, disappearing into the dark horizon as if they had never existed.

Of course not—" Su Cuo uttered a syllable and then quickly closed her mouth. Because, apart from her, the other three had no objections, especially Mi Shi, who seemed a bit eager to try. Her brain instantly lit up as if electrified; without a doubt, cooking was an idea that the three girls had come up with themselves. There is a saying that goes, one should know that a man's stomach is next to his heart. Reluctant as she was, Su Cuo had no choice but to follow them to the kitchen. There is a saying that goes, one should know that a man's stomach is next to his heart. Reluctant as she was, Su Cuo had no choice but to follow them to the kitchen

Upon seeing Su Cuo appear in the courtyard, Su Zhi was filled with exuberance and vitality, saying, "Your brother is not bad, right? It's not just you who can cook; I am not inferior either."

"I am not crazy; I am clearer than ever," Su Zhi said, his eyes shining frighteningly. He poured a mouthful of wine from the bottle and forcefully threw a photograph onto the table, producing a crisp sound. "Aco, for the deceased Jiang Weizhi, how long will you continue to live for him? He is already dead, dead in a way that he cannot come back. In all these years, have you had a single day where you lived for yourself? Why don't you think about yourself for a change?" Aco, for the deceased Jiang Weizhi, how long will you continue to live for him? He is already dead, dead in a way that he cannot come back. In all these years, have you had a single day where you lived for yourself? Why don't you think about yourself for a change? You took first place for him, you got into Huada for him, you studied engineering physics for him..."

What did he say? Su Cuo stopped pressing the button, only to feel as if she were hearing things. After a moment of silence, she began to speak: "I—" but her voice trailed off. She recalled a certain summer two years ago, after a gathering like this one, when she returned to school on a similarly quiet morning. She remembered glancing back as she left, seeing the still figure at the window on the third floor.

"Try this," he said gently, "it's very delicious"

This shout alerted everyone, and they all shifted their postures, staring in astonishment at Su Zhi. The series of actions from the crowd finally brought about a subtle clamor.

"Feel free to ask," Su Cuo smiled and said, "There is nothing—"

Just as a few words were spoken, a gust of wind suddenly arose in the mountains, and the window, which had not been properly closed, was blown open by the strong wind. The window frame struck Su Cuo on the back of her head with a loud "bang," causing her pain and making her see stars in front of her eyes. Su Cuo gritted her teeth, covered her head, and tried to stand up, but Xu Yihao pressed her back down into the chair, forcing her to sit again. He became serious, his demeanor and expression both extremely sharp. "Remove your hand, let me see." He became serious, his demeanor and expression both extremely sharp. "Remove your hand, let me see."

Yingchen opened her mouth but did not know what to say, then closed it again. After repeating this several times, she handed the envelope back and finally spoke: "What are you doing! Do you think Su Zhi would want this from you? Do you think I would accept it? We are not short of this little money. You should keep it for yourself, in case something comes up and you need it urgently."

The pear tree in the photograph blooms so beautifully, its whiteness as dazzling as winter snow. The face beneath the tree is one I have not seen for many years, so vivid and handsome, as if it were just yesterday. The wound that never scabs is once again sliced open by the sharp edges of the thin photograph. A cold sensation flows through her veins, creeping up her spine, ultimately reaching her heart, freezing into ice in an instant, causing her blood to cease flowing

Su Cuo exerted all her strength to struggle, but the harder she fought, the tighter the person behind her held on. No matter how hard she tried, it was all in vain. Chen Zijia remained silent, simply holding her, waiting for her to exhaust all her energy

The siblings chatted as they walked. Su Zhi had returned last night and was currently staying at Ying Chen's house. They would board a plane together in three days. The purpose of his visit today was to hope that everyone could gather before he left, as once they parted ways, it was uncertain when they would reunite again. Su Zhi's tone was so earnest that Su Cuo felt it would be extremely unethical not to join him for the gathering. Thus, she had no choice but to comply. Su Zhi's tone was so earnest that Su Cuo felt it would be extremely unethical not to join him for the gathering. Thus, she had no choice but to comply

Mi Shi caught a glimpse of Chen Zijia's expressionless face and felt a vague sense of unease. Although Su Cuo had promised her, she just could not feel at ease. So she said: "I feel the same way. Su Cuo, do you have someone you like? If not, I can introduce someone to you. He is my cousin, and he is also at your school, currently pursuing his master's degree."

Chen Zijia and Xu Yihao, reeking of alcohol, stood by the dining table, their faces flushed and sullen as they glared at each other. After Xu Yihao's remark, "I lost, but you didn't win either," the atmosphere between the two became tense, charged with an air of hostility, as if a single spark could ignite an explosion. Upon seeing Su Cuo arrive, both of them shifted their gaze, yet the tension only intensified.

Prepare to start the barbecue, let's go

Although her tone was flat, Yingchen still detected a rare hint of pleading. She looked directly into Su Cuo's eyes and said clearly: "Why are you unwilling to spend Su Zhi's parents' money? Now you also call them 'Mom' and 'Dad.' Unless you tell me the reason, I will not accept it."

A long-lasting expression of compassion appeared on the classmate's face as he spoke softly: "Saving a person. It was shortly after the spring outing. Jiang Weizhi saw someone jump into the river and jumped in after them. As a result, the person was rescued, but he could not be saved... The teachers wept, saying that heaven is jealous of talent, which is why it took his life so early. It truly was like a shooting star, fleeting and gone. " He paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and continued, "Later we learned that the woman who jumped into the river intended to commit suicide, but the one who sought to end her life did not die, while such a good classmate passed away. Everyone cursed that woman fiercely in their hearts. " It truly was like a shooting star, fleeting and gone. " He paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and continued, "Later we learned that the woman who jumped into the river intended to commit suicide, but the one who sought to end her life did not die, while such a good classmate passed away. Everyone cursed that woman fiercely in their hearts.

The moonlight that night was beautiful, and everyone gathered on the rooftop terrace. The evenings in the mountains are quite cool, and if like-minded individuals come together, it is indeed a fitting occasion to recite poetry to the moon, reminiscent of ancient scholars. Everyone remained silent, listening to Chen Zijia play the violin, with the piece being "Butterfly Lovers". In such musical ambiance, it seemed that no one had the mood to speak or play. The cards on the table were still scattered, yet no one went to play. The twinkling lights flickered among the trees and vanished, while the moist breath of the mountain stream came rushing in. The chilling moonlight rippled in waves with the melodious music, weaving through the trees and then returning, the sound lingering long, guiding each person's thoughts to extend endlessly into the vastness of space. It was as if the melody sang of a world beyond the mundane, a world beyond the mundane.

Su Cuo's seat was between Ying Chen and Su Zhi. She looked left and right, and could no longer hold back, letting out a soft laugh. As soon as she laughed, everyone else joined in, leaving Su Zhi to grit his teeth in frustration

Suddenly, Su Cuo felt that Senior Sister Liu was not wrong

As the sound approached, it was Chen Zijia. Su Cuo raised her head in a daze. The expression on the visitor's face darkened instantly upon seeing the intimate and ambiguous actions of the two under the window, without any buffer. Su Cuo stood up, and Xu Yihao noticed her movement, straightening up in confusion. Upon seeing Chen Zijia, he frowned, instinctively crossing his arms, without a single unnecessary explanation. Their gazes met in the air, like a flash of lightning. Upon seeing Chen Zijia, he frowned, instinctively crossing his arms, without a single unnecessary explanation. Their gazes met in the air, like a flash of lightning.

She cautiously lifted her head, and Mi Shi was standing at the stairway, a smile as lovely as an angel's gracing her lips, yet her gaze was piercing as lightning, fixed on her. Su Cuo said nothing, sidestepped Chen Zijia, and handed her backpack to Su Zhi for assistance, bending down to change her shoes. Su Zhi looked at her thoughtfully, and also offered a helpless smile to the equally exasperated Chen Zijia.

Although this answer was expected, no one was willing to believe it before now. Su Zhi glanced at Su Cuo, feeling the intoxication that had been building up until now suddenly overwhelm him. He leaned weakly against the wall, his voice filled with compassion: "Acuo, do you still not understand? Jiang Weizhi is already dead"

No one knew what to do. Everyone stood there, dumbfounded, watching her go upstairs, then come down with her backpack, walking through the garden, step by step towards the gate. All of them remained rooted to the spot, as if they had forgotten how to move.

After a hasty lunch, a group of people began to play cards. Su Cuo went to the study to write a thesis on the computer

Wang Chen scoffed, "What is there to be polluted? We are all adults here, do you still think you are in kindergarten? Ying Chen, you and Su Zhi have been together for several years, don't tell me he hasn't kissed you."

Su Zhi opened the car door and waved to him. Xu Yihao walked over, but when he supported the car door, he saw Su Cuo inside the car. The smile that had been on his face instantly faded, and his dark eyes became even deeper, possessing a sharpness that had not been there before. With the car door open, the heat rushed in, enveloping everyone.

I called Senior Sister Liu Fei, and she will come to pick me up shortly

In the middle of the night, it rained, and the air was damp with a faint fragrance. The rose-colored morning light painted half the sky red, while the intermittent gentle breeze softly stirred, causing the raindrops lingering on the trees to roll down through the dense leaves, making a rustling sound as if it were still raining. Su Cuo sat alone on the rooftop, typing commands into her computer. She did not need to rush to write this program, but since she could not sleep, it was better to do something.

Laughing, the boys began to compete in drinking. Lin Zheng and Mi Shi were trying to persuade them, while Su Cuo took the opportunity to make a phone call and then pulled Ying Chen to a corner of the garden. Through a few large trees, one could see the bright lights under the trees over there

He transferred to our school in his senior year, so of course you wouldn't know. He is a genius, truly not an ordinary person. Later on... both of his parents are university professors, and he received an excellent education. He is intelligent and talented in many areas. He plays the piano exceptionally well, having achieved level 9; he is also quite good at Go, and some classmates have seen him play against Su Cuo, where he didn't lose often. These interests are quite similar to Su Cuo's, so I thought that might be why they were able to come together. His academic performance is also outstanding; since he arrived, he has ranked first in the grade every time, far surpassing the second place by many points. In the first semester of his senior year, he participated in the national physics competition and won first prize, which guaranteed him admission to university, oh, the same university that Su Cuo is currently attending.

Taking the plate he handed over, Su Cuo patted his shoulder and encouraged him, saying: "Indeed, indeed, becoming a househusband in the future will surely lead to limitless prospects"

The kitchen is located on the first floor, and Su Cuo gazes at the garden outside through the glass. The yard is tidy and beautiful, but the flower beds have likely not been tended to for two or three months, lacking the meticulous craftsmanship of careful cultivation, presenting a kind of beautiful disorder.

Crying? Su Cuo was puzzled, and then said in a daze, "I forgot."

Xu Yihao leaned against the table, remaining silent. His gaze was fixed on Su Cuo, as if he were trying to find the answer in her actions

Aco, do you have something to discuss

Chen Zijia was closest to her, and only he noticed that although she smiled, her gaze was profound. A layer of mist covered her eyes, obscuring all emotions along with the light, revealing only a faint trace of desolation and sorrow deep within her eyes, freezing the moonlight. Those eyes seemed to be staring at him, motionless, from within his body

Chen Zijia was initially very polite, but later he finally frowned. He spoke very slowly, as if each word was marked with emphasis, carrying an irresistible certainty, "Mishi, I have hands"

Since they were quite familiar with each other, there was no need for formalities. After exchanging greetings, the group began to attend to their own matters. Su Cuo then realized that they intended to cook for themselves, having already purchased a variety of ingredients, filling the refrigerator to the brim. However, it was evident that with so many people, cooking would not be feasible, especially with a card table set up on the balcony.

How will you go back by yourself

Yingchen shook his head with a bitter smile, "Acuo, when have you ever considered yourself?"

The sunlight broke over the horizon, instantly spreading across the land, bringing with it a wave of warmth. As she exhaled, she heard footsteps in the stairwell

Mi Shi's eyes flashed, "Who is it? Can they come and meet us all?"

Su Cuo was knocked unconscious and momentarily forgot to dodge. Moreover, how could her movements compare to those of Xu Yihao, someone who had played basketball? By the time she remembered, Xu Yihao was already standing behind her. He bent down, carefully brushed aside her hair, and his fingers gently glided through her strands. The breath he exhaled brushed against her neck, "Did I hit you here?"

Su Cuo stood there, allowing the sensation of palpitations to surge and pierce through every organ in her body. Every part of her ached, yet she could not care less. After a moment of lowering her gaze, she finally lifted it and smiled faintly. Her smile remained as it always was, with the corners of her mouth slightly raised, silently evoking a sense of comfort in others

I arrived in the morning. I am coming to find you now

Upon exiting the laboratory, Su Cuo did not rush to leave. She stood alone in the hall outside the Physics Institute, gazing at the photographs of physicists who had graduated from the institute, which were displayed on the walls along with their respective introductions. It is certain that these photographs are not the best representations of these elderly scientists, yet it is still evident that this older generation of intellectuals possesses a unique aura, with clear and refined features, and bright, penetrating gazes. Each one exudes a gentle wisdom.

Wang Chen laughed heartily as he embraced Lin Zheng from behind, regardless of whether Lin Zheng was blushing, and planted a kiss on her cheek, "I have also cultivated for several lifetimes to meet you."

A sharp, cold laugh sounded from the right side, and Mi Shi spoke with a chilling tone: "Why not let her go? Why?"