Xia Che isn't stupid.

He understood that some things were permissible, some jokes were acceptable, and being a jerk or goofing off was fine as long as it wouldn't kill him.

But you must not act impulsively.

On impulse...

Life is easily lost.

Looking at his master, who was no longer aloof and was now all smiles, Xia Che felt even more cold sweat on his forehead. He knew that his master must be angry, especially at times like this.

But since Su Miaorou didn't speak, Xia Che didn't dare to say anything either.

The two of them just stared at each other like that.

After an unknown amount of time, the smile on Su Miaorou's face finally disappeared, and she uttered a faint sentence:

"roll."

"yes!"

Xia Che breathed a sigh of relief and then turned and ran.

Ignoring the fact that it was already very late and without considering whether to stay overnight, they acted as if they planned to go back that very night.

That's terrifying...

It would be best if I didn't come to Lotus Peak again before my master's birthday...

Xia Che swallowed hard and silently made up his mind.

Watching Xia Che's disheveled figure flee in panic, Su Miaorou seemed to have anticipated his reaction, and her delicate features showed no sign of surprise.

Or rather, Su Miaorou might have been surprised if Xia Che hadn't acted this way.

After all, Xia Che has always been an awkward guy.

"What a shameless brat, all lust and no guts..."

Su Miaorou shook her head and sighed softly.

The tranquil state of mind cultivated through years of seclusion, which would not be disturbed by any unexpected event, was stirred slightly at this moment, but quickly returned to silence.

Even if it's her own apprentice, it can only disturb her mind for a moment.

That's all.

...

The sky was just beginning to lighten.

Jiang City's mornings are hailed as the most beautiful in all of China, simply because Jiang City has a very good environment. This city, free from heavy industrial pollution, boasts a morning view that surpasses any other large city of equal size.

As a resident of Jiang City, almost no one dislikes the mornings in Jiang City.

Jiang Yu is the same.

Waking up to the rising sun every day, whether going to school or spending some time in her favorite bookstore nearby, are the things Jiang Yu loves to do most every day.

But she couldn't be happy today.

Snap—

She returned from outside carrying a small box, gently closed the door, and then slowly wheeled herself into the house.

The tile-roofed house was small, but it was enough for Jiang Yu and her grandmother to live in, and she never felt that her home was cramped.

But now, she has never felt that her home is too small as she does now.

The narrow passageway and the dim lighting made the whole room look gray and gloomy, giving her a feeling of oppression that made it hard to breathe.

Looking down at the small box she was holding, she had been clutching it tightly all the way back. Her expression was devoid of sadness, only numbness.

Sadness is also an emotion, but Jiang Yu's heart is dead now.

How can a dead heart have emotions?

"...Our home is so small, everything is small, but Grandma, you...are so small now too."

Jiang Yu pursed her lips, her numb eyes flickering slightly, revealing a hint of confusion.

In Jiang Yu's mind, her grandmother's hunched figure had always been very tall and imposing. It seemed that this old woman could bear all the storms for her and would never collapse.

How come my grandma, who was so tall, has become so small now?

It can fit in a small box.

When Jiang Yu's legs were still functioning normally, her grandmother was not as tall as her. After her legs became disabled, her grandmother's figure became much taller.

She always believed that even decades from now, her grandmother would still be taller than her.

But now, Grandma has shrunk.

Even when I'm sitting down, I'm still taller than her.

Even when I'm lying on the ground, I'm still taller than her.

In the short span of more than ten years of Jiang Yu's life, due to the unexpected death of her parents, Jiang Yu never experienced what it felt like to be loved by her parents. Whenever she saw her classmates around her, they would see that their parents would pick them up after school and give them a warm hug when they were in a bad mood.

But... what about myself?

Jiang Yu was very envious.

But she wasn't envious.

Although she no longer has parents, she still has a relative she can rely on, her grandmother.

Jiang Yu never felt like a child who lacked love. With her grandmother around, she was not afraid of anything.

What's wrong with living a little harder?

So what if I'm isolated by my classmates?

Even if I'm bullied... so what?

As long as she returns home and sees her grandmother, all the pressure Jiang Yu has been under outside will vanish.

After enjoying a delicious meal prepared by her grandmother, Jiang Yu's worries vanished.

Happiness at that moment overwhelmed the suffering she had endured.

But now... she has nothing left.

Jiang Yu lowered her head and suddenly noticed a few drops of water on the small box. She panicked and hurriedly reached out to wipe it, but unexpectedly, more and more water droplets appeared, and she couldn't wipe it clean no matter what she did.

That's not water.

Those were her tears.

The more she wiped, the more water droplets appeared. Jiang Yu finally realized what it was, and dejectedly put down her wiping hand, letting the tears flow down her cheeks.

"What's the use of crying now..."

Jiang Yu's eyes were dull; she had forgotten how she got to the hospital and how she brought her grandmother back.

Since receiving the devastating news last night, Jiang Yu has not slept a wink. Like a stiff robot, she signed the papers and took away her grandmother's urn.

By the time everything was finished, it was already dawn.

"Grandma is gone, and no one will care about me anymore. My only remaining connection in the world is gone, so... what's the point of my life?"

Jiang Yu silently turned her head and looked at the hemp rope on the table in front of her. She originally intended to use it to tie up the waste bottles for her grandmother, but she didn't expect this to happen. So... the hemp rope has another use.

Then, the hemp rope was gently tossed onto the roof beam of the tiled house, swung around once, and the other end hung down.

Jiang Yu grabbed one end, deftly tied a knot with both hands, and then held the knotted hemp rope in her hands, her eyes filled with gloom.

There are no more worries in my life.

It's all my fault. I was too slow to react, which led to this accident.

Jiang Yu lost the will to live. Perhaps, for her, she should have died long ago?

But I haven't achieved my real goal yet, and I'm still a little unsatisfied...

Jiang Yu pursed her lips, and for the first time, a hint of resentment appeared in her dejected eyes.

No one knows what she really wants to do. It is something she has been planning in her heart, a motivation that will allow her to get out of the shadow of being bullied and continue to live tenaciously.

But now...

Is there no other way but to give up?

Jiang Yu sighed softly, slowly closed her eyes, and put the knotted rope around her neck. When she opened her eyes again, there was no trace of lingering affection in them.