Chapter 8 Light

On her birthday, Yu Weiyou happened to be invited by her teacher. The teacher said they were going to do a photoshoot and would treat her to a meal.

It's a rare outing! We're finally going outside the facilities! Even Yu Weiyou, who's usually not in a good mood, is a little excited.

Perhaps the human heart is not naturally dead.

A detached temperament is not something one is born with.

It turns out I'm still alive, and the sky outside isn't gray, it's blue.

—This was the thought that welled up in Yu Weiyou's heart the moment she opened the door, as the wind brushed against her face. Perhaps it's a bit cliché, but it's a genuine feeling.

"Hey! Happy birthday to our Miss Yu Weiyou!" It was that familiar yet frivolous voice.

"..."

"Why are you ignoring me again? And where are you going dressed up so nicely on the weekend? Hey! I even prepared a gift for you..."

Yu Wei walked straight to the car parked at the intersection, and the person inside even came out to open the car door for her.

So it was Rokujusaki.

Shuciyin squinted and looked in that direction, watching her leave.

"Not bad, this outfit looks like it fits you quite well. As you can see, today we're shooting a cool yet gentle style, tailor-made for you. By the way, you probably don't have experience with doing your own makeup, right?" Lu Jiucheng said as he stepped on the gas.

"No, no."

"It's okay. I don't need heavy makeup today, so I didn't hire a makeup artist. Just apply those two bottles over there first, and I'll touch up your eyebrows and stuff in a bit."

"good."

Along the way, they chatted casually, while Yu Weiyou gazed at the street scene outside the window, her heart inevitably stirred.

I haven't seen the outside world for almost a decade. Even when the facilities organize outings, they're usually in the surrounding area and don't go far at all, probably to prevent them from escaping.

Only now did she realize what the world was like. Skyscrapers everywhere, people coming and going on the streets. So unfamiliar, so distant, so unfamiliar and distant that it seemed the world was so vast yet couldn't contain her.

Oh well, it doesn't matter anymore. At least I've seen it all today and seen it for Li Rong. Even if it's the worst that can happen, it's still death. At least I can die without regrets.

Lu Jiucheng glanced at Yu Weiyou, who was gazing out the window in silence, and gently raised the corners of her mouth, saying, "Today is just the beginning. We'll come out often in the future. If there's a chance, I'll take you to more places and let you see all the beautiful scenery in the world. Or perhaps one day you'll leave me and embark on a journey to a new world on your own. Please look forward to it."

Yu Weiyou was pulled back to reality by his words. After a long while, she only replied with one sentence: "...Thank you."

If only it could really be like that, but all those descriptions seem so unrealistic. She's terrified that if she starts to have expectations, she'll only fall into an even more terrifying abyss.

But is Lu Jiucheng truly trustworthy?

The filming went smoothly, and before we knew it, it was almost dinnertime.

Lu Jiucheng took Yu Weiyou to a restaurant with a very nice ambiance. The slightly dim lighting and elegant music created a wonderful atmosphere.

Unfortunately, the unromantic Yu Weiyou couldn't sense any of that; she only felt it was novel and elegant, while she herself felt like a country bumpkin in the city.

After seeing the waiter off, Lu Jiucheng said with a smile, "I didn't know what you liked to eat, so I just ordered some ordinary dishes. I hope they will suit your taste."

"Thank you, I'm fine."

Lu Jiucheng shook his head: "How could that be? It's my honor to have dinner with Yu Weiyou. Of course, I should treat you well."

"Eh...?"

Before Yu Weiyou could react, the appetizers were served.

"Your meal is served! Try it!"

"good."

As she spoke, Yu Weiyou forked a piece and put it in her mouth.

The food at this restaurant is indeed delicious. Or rather, it's more accurate to say that the food in the facility is too bland, or perhaps it is genuinely delicious, but the only comparison Yu Weiyou can make is the food in the facility.

Yu Weiyou met Lu Jiucheng's questioning gaze and replied, "Yes, it's delicious."

"Really? As long as it suits your taste."

Lu Jiucheng didn't order much, and the portions weren't large. It wasn't until the last dessert was served that Yu Weiyou realized Lu Jiucheng's true intention.

It was a delicate and adorable little cake.

"I'm sorry, I took the liberty of looking at your information and know that today is your birthday. I hope you don't mind my presumption. Happy birthday." He lit the candles for Yu Weiyou.

It was indeed a bit too sudden, but it was still quite reasonable; he certainly couldn't be completely unaware of her.

"Anyway, thank you." Yu Weiyou said.

“I don’t have anything to give you, so I’ve already contacted someone to expedite the printing of one of the photos I took during the day. I’ll take you to pick it up later; consider it a birthday souvenir,” he said.

"Ah... I'm so sorry, you really don't need to bother."

"It's nothing, please have some cake!"

This birthday plan is really special and meaningful; you can see the careful planning involved... That's just how he is; even the gifts he gives are impossible to refuse.

It's impossible not to be swayed...

After all, it's normal to be investigated first, otherwise, would he really suddenly decide to help a welfare student whose background is unknown, and with such an attitude? What exactly does he want? Can she really provide something that would make him go to such lengths?

With that thought in mind, Yu Yu cut a piece of cake and put it in her mouth.

The cake had a rich aroma, though she didn't know what it was, and it tasted quite good. She had eaten cakes given to her by others before, but they were very ordinary cakes, nothing special like this one. However, those cakes were considered rare items in the facility.

Yu Weiyou reached out and cut another piece.

Looking at her slightly flushed face, Lu Jiucheng laughed again: "It is said that this cake has received many positive reviews, and it seems that you like it very much... It is a chocolate liqueur cake, although the alcohol content is indeed only a negligible amount, but it seems that you should not eat too much at once."

"Huh?"

The cake wasn't very big, and Yu Weiyou had already eaten most of it. She was holding the next piece in her hand, about to put it in her mouth.

No wonder it feels a bit hot...

But does this kind of cake really have an alcohol content? She couldn't even taste the alcohol, it just smelled quite fragrant. Is that not allowed...? It seems she can't touch a drop of alcohol from now on.

Yu Weiyou silently put down the cake. He had other plans to follow, so it was probably best not to eat any more.

Dinner ended there.

"Let's go get the photos now," said Lu Jiucheng as he opened the car door for Yu Weiyou.

"Ugh..." Yu Weiyou was a little dazed. She covered her chest, where her heart was pounding.

"Yu Weiyou?" Lu Jiucheng leaned closer to look at her in the dim light of the roadside lamp.

"I am here……"

"ah."

Just then, a car drove by on the street, and in the instant its headlights shone on her, he saw her clearly. Yu Weiyou's naturally red eyes, combined with her slightly tipsy cheeks, made her look even more pitiful. She looked at him dazedly, blinking hard, as if trying to escape from her drunkenness.

No wonder Lu Jiucheng gasped softly; she was absolutely stunning at that moment.

"Never mind, I'll take you home first."