02

That night, as I returned home from the art gallery and just opened the door, I saw my mother and Wei Lan sitting on the sofa, whispering to each other. Upon seeing me, their voices immediately fell silent, and both of their gazes turned towards me, their expressions complex. I noticed a glimmer of tears in my mother's eyes. A thought crossed my mind, and my head buzzed lightly. I looked intently at Wei Lan, only to see her eyes flickering, her mouth opening slightly, but in the end, she lowered her head. In that moment, my heart sank to the bottom; I never expected...! ... Wei Lan actually! My thoughts stirred again, and my head buzzed lightly as I gazed intently at Wei Lan, noticing her flickering eyes, her mouth opening slightly, but ultimately, she lowered her head. In that moment, my heart sank to the bottom; I never expected...! ... Wei Lan actually!

Have you ever experienced a moment like this? When you exhaust all your efforts to uncover the answer to a certain matter, yet no matter how hard you try, you cannot reach the core of that truth. It seems to be shrouded in layer upon layer of mystery. Just when you think you have finally peeled away one layer to catch a glimpse, another layer emerges as you open your eyes, until you are utterly drained.

"Ximan... both my aunt and I hope you will see a psychologist." After a long silence, Yuelan finally raised her head and looked at me, speaking each word clearly.

I did not wait for the boy named Jiang Li, but instead, I was met with my mother's worried tears

"I didn't mean it that way..." Mother said, her voice already choked with sobs, "But your reckless actions... do you know how much it hurts me, how sad and guilty I feel?" As she spoke, tears began to fall, "It's all my fault, it's all my fault... If I had paid a little more attention, you wouldn't be like this..."

That night, lying in bed, I tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. The silvery moonlight streamed in, casting a grid of light on the floor through the window. I lay on my side, staring blankly at the beams of light, while the name of the psychologist with the surname Ji echoed in my mind. He was a college alumnus of my mother and quite well-known in the industry in this city. My mother said he could definitely help me. But what does it matter how famous he is? I do not need it! ... If it were not for my mother ...! ... Sigh!

She followed me into the room, persistently questioning me about the meaning of the phrase "The summer solstice has returned." Annoyed by her inquiries, I snapped at her, "It's something a lunatic said, so why take it seriously! Just consider it my hallucination, okay?"

I spent day after day at the art museum, like a fool waiting by a tree stump for a hare, until the exhibition came to an end, yet I never had the chance to see Jiang Li. I inquired with the staff at the museum, but they were unable to provide a definitive answer. Some said that Jiang Li himself had not returned to the country, and that his family was responsible for the arrangements for this exhibition; others mentioned that Jiang Li seemed to have appeared on the first day of the exhibition, only to fly back to Lyon without delay

Mom ... ... In this world, the last thing I want to see is my mother's tears. Since I became aware, I have rarely seen my mother cry; she has always been a strong woman. Despite her busy work schedule, she has never neglected me. She has never missed a single parent-teacher meeting at school. Our family conditions are not particularly good, but she has always strived to provide me with the best life. I know that my mother wants to make up for the absence of paternal love along with her own.

"Ximan..." Mother came over trying to pull me, but I dodged her hand with a quick movement of my body. I looked at her sadly and after a long while, I gently spoke: "Mother, do you also think that I am sick?"

"Really?" Mother choked up again, hurriedly took out her phone, "I know a familiar psychologist, Ximan, don't be afraid, just treat it like a conversation between friends and books, okay?"

"Siman, is everything that Lanlan said true?" Indeed, there was a slight tremor in my mother's voice, and in her deep gaze towards me, there was pain, worry, as well as self-blame and guilt

Suddenly feeling very tired, I no longer wanted to say another word. As I stood up to return to the bedroom, Weilan suddenly grabbed my arm and gently said from behind me, "I'm sorry." After a pause, she added, "I will accompany you when the time comes."

I suddenly jumped up and took several steps back until my body pressed against the wall, stopping there, staring at her in disbelief: "Weilan, I thought you were the one who understood me the most, I thought that even if the whole world could not understand, you would definitely understand!"

The azure eyes dimmed momentarily, but she quickly forced out a strained smile and said, "Then you should rest early, I will head home first." She then turned and walked out of the room

I want to chase after, but my heart feels heavy, and my feet seem rooted to the ground, unable to move.

I silently chuckle to myself, can this be considered a conversation between friends? No, it cannot

No need for that. I broke free from her hand, did not look back, my voice was indifferent

On the last day of the exhibition, I watched the staff moving back and forth, carefully taking down the paintings from the walls and packaging them with great care, as if I were witnessing the last glimmer of hope associated with the summer solstice being packed away. A sense of indescribable loss and powerlessness filled my heart

"Mom, I am sorry." I ran over and squatted beside my mother. Even though I had a thousand words to explain in my heart, when I opened my mouth, they all turned into a deep apology. At this moment, all I could say was probably just one phrase: I am sorry. I did not expect Yuelan to betray the agreement between us and tell my mother about this matter.

I will go, Mother, I will go. If it can make her feel a little more at ease