"Lanlan, are you here to buy breakfast for your grandpa again?" The proprietress deftly placed the fried buns Mu Yiran had ordered onto the hot oil pan. "Red bean soup again today?"

"Yes, the same as always."

Mu Yiran had given up on correcting the way the other person addressed her; it was indeed quite difficult to distinguish between "r" and "l".

She flashed a smile that elders love, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons.

"My sister looks even more beautiful today than yesterday! I'm so glad I came today, otherwise I wouldn't have seen how beautiful she is!"

The proprietress immediately pouted: "Oh my~ Lanlan, what a mouth you have!"

She shoved a tea egg into the girl's mouth, then scolded Mu Yiran, looking at her puffed-up cheeks, "Such a glib tongue at such a young age! You're nothing like your grandfather!"

Mu Yiran chuckled, biting the tea egg from her left cheek to her right. With her fair skin, big eyes, and obedient demeanor, she made the proprietress like her even more, and the smile on her lips never faded.

Old Wang, who was standing behind Mu Yiran preparing to order, saw the smile on the proprietress's face and his eyes widened in horror. He cleared his throat and said in a serious manner:

"My sister looks even prettier today than yesterday! I'm so glad I came today—"

"Smack!" A piping hot fried dumpling wrapped in an oil paper bag was slapped onto his face.

The proprietress twitched her lips. "Get out."

Old Wang held a fried bun in one hand and covered his face with the other, his tone extremely aggrieved: "Wife..."

The proprietress, aloof and elegant, said: "If you don't get out, I'll call the police and say you're harassing a beautiful woman."

Old Wang: "..."

Mu Yiran met Old Wang's eyes:

Stay calm and don't panic!

She handed Old Wang a sandalwood box she had brought out, whispering, "Uncle Wang! My grandfather has mended it all for you!"

Old Wang's eyes widened with delight. He swallowed the fried bun in his mouth and immediately handed Mu Yiran a red envelope.

"Please thank Master Lin for me!"

Then he took the box and rushed to the proprietress.

"Wife! Wife! Look, the bracelet is fixed! It's all fixed!"

"...Leave the bracelet, and get out!"

Mu Yiran smiled as she watched the two bickering together again. Without opening the red envelope, she picked up the breakfast she had prepared, walked through several alleys, and pushed open the door of a small courtyard.

A vast expanse of purple greets the eye, and the fragrance of wisteria fills the entire courtyard after a rainy night.

Mu Yiran took out breakfast and placed it on the stone table. With a bag of soy milk in her mouth, she squatted in front of the flower waterfall and pruned the flower branches.

"Don't kill my flowers." The old man's uniquely hoarse voice was slightly moist as he tapped his cane on the stone brick floor.

Mu Yiran didn't turn around, and said with a light smile, "How could that be? I've studied it before!" As soon as she finished speaking, the scissors in her hand tilted and snipped off a long section of the inflorescence.

"....."

Lin Changxun's gaze shifted from the flower vines at his feet to the girl's face, and the old man and the girl stared at each other.

A few seconds later, the older one closed his eyes.

Mu Yiran swallowed nervously, just about to pout and act cute, when the old man silently tapped the floor tiles twice with his cane, then turned and sat down at the stone table.

Mu Yiran quickly followed and sat opposite him, helping him set out the fried buns and red bean soup.

Lin Changxun moistened his chopsticks with tea. "What time are you leaving?"

Mu Yiran: "My flight is at ten o'clock. I'll stay and have dinner with you before I leave."

"Didn't they say the class wouldn't start until July? What are we doing going so early?" Lin Changxun swallowed a mouthful of red bean soup and pushed the shrimp-filled pan-fried buns on his plate forward.

"Go familiarize yourself with the area, find an apartment or something, an editor invited me to the spring fashion show, and while I'm at it..."

Mu Yiran touched her empty left wrist and pursed her lips: "I'll also find a friend."

Lin Changxun put down his chopsticks. "You asked me to fix that bracelet for you just so you could take it to this friend? That child, Xiaosheng?"

The grandfather and grandson had spent about half a month together, but because they were not close, and because so many people asked Lin Changxun to repair jade and antiques, they didn't talk much except for a few words at the dinner table.

Lin Changxun did most of the work, while Mu Yiran squatted behind him, secretly learning.

Perhaps because she took "Drunken Life, Dreamy Death" too frequently, Mu Yiran often fell asleep while studying and would sleep until the next morning.

So she only remembered this matter after Lin Changxun repaired her jade bracelet.

"The bracelet clearly belongs to your mother. What does it have to do with finding that child?"

"Because—" Mu Yiran caught the words that were about to come out of her mouth.

What else could it be? Of course, it's because she can't find Shi Youxi!

More than a month ago, Mu Yiran was rescued at home by Li Bingchen, who helped her deal with the two men who broke into her home. Since there was no other evidence to prove that they were acting under someone else's orders, the two men were only arrested on charges of burglary and intentional assault.

After recovering from her injuries for a few days and getting a new security system installed, Mu Yiran didn't forget to file a complaint against the original security company. She then hurriedly returned to school to complete the procedures for studying abroad before finally finding time to rush back to Haishi to find Lin Changxun.

For the past month or so, Mu Yiran has been searching for news about Shi Youxi in 2023.

She asked Chen Yili to go to Shiye in the capital, but not only was Shi Youxi not there, but even Chairman Shi Yan had not been to the group for a long time.

If you ask again, you won't get the answer.

These days, you even need to know your family name to get information.

It just so happens that Xing Jie invited her to see Lac's spring show in the capital of Liguo. The Shi family's headquarters are there, so Shi Youxi might be there too...

After thinking for a moment, Mu Yiran changed her mind and said:

“Because jade bracelets are tokens of love. Grandpa, didn’t you and Mom make a jade pendant for him before? We haven’t seen each other for so long, I have to wear something that can show my identity.”

Lin Changxun thought for a moment and it seemed like there was such a jade pendant, but something felt off. "Isn't there a photo?"

Mu Yiran: "...Can that photo be photoshopped? There's only one piece of this jade in the world, it can't be fake, right?"

Mu Yiran crouched behind Lin Changxun and secretly studied for several days before she finally figured out what kind of jade the bracelet was made of.

The Lin family had been imperial craftsmen for generations, and this jade was a gift from the emperor during the Lin family's most prosperous period in the Qing Dynasty. The ancient jade was a single piece, and by the time it reached Lin Changxun, the Lin family had no descendants, so there was no need to keep the jade; they could make it however they wanted.

Later, Lin Changxun adopted Mu Yanzhe, and this jade was one of the betrothal gifts given to Wen Qie.

Lin Changxun looked at his granddaughter for a while, then squinted and said, "Since we haven't seen each other for so long, why are you looking for him?"

Mu Yiran choked. She had never been questioned by Lin Changxun before. In the past, whatever she said, the old man would either say "hmm" or close his eyes and take a deep breath.

She stammered, "Return the jade pendant to its owner?"

Lin Chang-hsun: "Can't we send it by courier?"

Mu Yiran: "...Wow! Grandpa, you even know how to send packages!"

Lin Changxun took out the new phone Mu Yiran had bought for him, opened his contacts, and said, "Tell me your address, and I'll have someone send it to you. If no one signs for it, it will be returned. Don't wander off by yourself..."

"No, no, no!" Mu Yiran pressed his hand down. "Grandpa, I just wanted to go play a bit before school starts and then visit him."

"It really was just something I did on the side!"

"..."

Lin Changxun's gaze flickered, and the girl in front of him transformed into another equally delicate face.

"I'm going to Japan too. I applied for a study abroad program. I just happened to come see you... just happened to be there!"

"..."

The old man opened his mouth, and after a long while, he finally said, "You..."

Mu Yiran was expecting a scolding, but the other party shook his head and handed her Lao Wang's red envelope, saying, "Travel and accommodation expenses."

Inside was a check for 200,000.

The old man went into the workshop, and Mu Yiran silently cleared away the dishes and then stared blankly at the wisteria flowers.

Actually, she didn't know what she wanted to do by going to see Shi Youxi.

only……

"If it were me, I wouldn't be so heartless."

—"At the very least, I will say goodbye properly."

Thinking about it this way, it seems that she hasn't kept any of the promises she made to Shi Youxi.

Mu Yiran admitted that she didn't have much of a conscience, but she did have a little bit.

We can't just treat promises made to children as jokes.

The sound of the wooden door opening came from behind her. Mu Yiran was about to get up to say goodbye to Lin Changxun when she saw that her hands were covered with petals that Lin Changxun had destroyed.

Without a second thought, Mu Yiran raised her hand and scattered the petals into the cascading waterfall of flowers!

Destroy the body and cover up the evidence, clap your hands, turn your head with peace of mind, and meet someone's gaze.

Lin Changxun: "..."

Mu Yiran: "..."

Mu Yiran gave a stiff smile: "Would you believe me if I said it fell down by itself?"

Lin Changxun gripped his cane tightly. "I believe whatever it says."

Mu Yiran: "..."

A long wooden box was shoved into her hand, and Mu Yiran was coldly and ruthlessly escorted to the door. Lin Changxun couldn't wait to get her into the car.

Lin Changxun only slowly sat back down on the stone chair in the courtyard after the taxi left the alley.

A gust of wind blew, and petals that the girl had plucked covered his face. Lin Changxun held one petal in his hand, and after a long while, he whispered:

“Ayan…”

"That girl is just like your granddaughter, her temper is exactly the same."

...

"The plane is descending. Please return to your seats..."

The blonde flight attendant glanced through the curtain at the man sitting by the window.

His light pink hair softened his cold and stern demeanor, adding a touch of childishness. The boy leaned lazily against the back of his chair, his broad shoulders swaying as the plane flew through the clouds, the flickering sunlight illuminating the undulating lines of his profile.

His long, thick eyelashes cast a shadow on his lower eyelids, making it even harder to see his eyes.

I've seen all kinds of men in first class, but I've never seen one so handsome yet so charming—even more handsome than the guy I flirted with last time.

However, the other party has gotten a little tired of her these past two days, and the flight attendant is looking for another job. But today she happened to meet such a stunning beauty.

The blonde flight attendant was deeply moved. She slightly pulled back her scarf, took a cup of coffee without permission, and walked over, lifting the curtain.

The hot woman, with a generous and glamorous smile on her face, walked up to the man, bent down, and said, "Hello sir, would you like some coffee?"

"..."

The man stared out the window, seemingly oblivious to everything around him.

Thinking he hadn't heard her, the flight attendant sat down on the empty seat next to him, leaned closer, and softened her voice.

"gentlemen……"

The man turned his head, his phoenix eyes narrow and his pupils dark black, and casually extended his hand, saying:

"Thank you, please give it to me."

The flight attendant's heart skipped a beat as she stared at him, her breathing quickening as she gazed into his eyes.

She poured a cup of coffee and handed it to him. Her fingers touched the man's slightly cool fingertips, and the flight attendant's smile widened. Her alluring curves were about to touch the man's slender, bony fingers.

The next instant, the milk cup handed over shook violently.

"ah!"

Shi Youxi supported the cup with the side of it and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I didn't hold it properly."

The flight attendant awkwardly covered her soaked uniform around her waist and abdomen. "It's alright, please wait a moment while I get you another cup."

Shi Youxi smiled faintly and handed over the cup, "No need, I'm a minor and can't drink coffee."

Airline stewardess:"……"

What do these two things have to do with each other?!

The other passengers around her laughed and turned to look at her. The blonde woman's face flushed. She was about to try to change the milk when she met the man's cold gaze, and her face tightened.

"Oh, he's allergic to caffeine, so he doesn't need it."

The blonde woman glanced gratefully at Shi Si as he approached. "Alright, then I won't disturb your rest any longer."

Shi Si smiled and nodded. After the person left, he sat down next to Shi Youxi and said helplessly, "If you don't want to drink, then don't drink. Why did you have to accept it?"

Shi Youxi raised an eyebrow. "This isn't good. She won't be coming back."

Shi Si opened his mouth, but could not refute it.

Over the past year, the boy's personality has become increasingly unpredictable, the same as before, yet different.

The boy grew up like crazy in Liguo, expanding Shimen to more than twice its original size in just over a year. Shi Si followed behind Shi Youxi and watched him grow like a thorn in the wind, but Shi Si could hardly understand the boy's thoughts.

With a silent sigh, Shi Si glanced at his knees. "You knelt down so many steps yesterday, did you apply any medicine?"

Shi Youxi: "What? Did Father send you to ask me this? Are you afraid I'll break my leg? That way, there will be one less person to pray for Mother in the future?"

Shi Si: "...Sir, you didn't mean that."

Besides, you didn't go to pray for Bai Shengsheng...

Shi Youxi exclaimed and then burst into laughter, "Yes, he wouldn't ask such unnecessary questions."

Shi Si: "..."

That's absolutely right.

Abruptly changing the subject, Shi Si said, "Guan Yi said that the body... has been taken care of."

Shi Youxi was very averse to calling that person a corpse, even though she herself was a corpse.

The boy's faint smile slowly faded. "Mm."

The conversation ended there again, but Shi Si's gaze inexplicably fell on the boy's knees again. He tried to resist, but couldn't.

"Haven't you ever thought about letting it go? It's been so long, if she really was going to come back, she would have already..."

Shi Si felt that he had really been misled by Shi Youxi. A dead person could not possibly come back to life!

Why don't you come back to the underworld?!

"There are so many women in the world, why do you have to choose that one who will never come back?"

Shi Si had followed Shi Yan for over a decade, and he was well aware of the entanglement between Shi Yan and Bai Shengsheng. He didn't understand it, only feeling that the two were in a painful situation, but all he could do was sigh.

But times and places are different.

Shi Youxi was different from him.

"Your illness this past year... has become very serious. You know better than I why it has worsened! For your own life, wouldn't it be better to just let go?"

Shi Si didn't understand why this young man was acting so dramatic about his relationship, even though Shi Si had no idea when Shi Youxi and Cheng Ran had started dating.

At first, he thought that Shi Youxi regarded Cheng Ran as a substitute for the older sister he had when he was a child.

But Cheng Ran is dead!

But that stand-in wasn't even spared after he died?

"Do you like it that much? Losing one person won't change anything in this world. No one is irreplaceable."

Shi Si firmly believes: "If there is such a thing, it's because you don't know enough people!"

"..."

Shi Youxi looked up at him, her eyes glazed over for a moment, the same words echoing in her ears.

"—Young master, haven't you ever thought about letting go?"

Shi Youxi staggered down the thousand-step staircase and glanced at the old Taoist priest who had hardly aged in the past few years.

When the old Taoist priest saw him looking over, he fanned himself with his featherless fan. "Want your fortune told? I'll give you a discount."

He numbly felt the soreness in his knees, and slowly asked:

What can you calculate?

The old Taoist priest made that gesture commonly used by charlatans, muttering incoherently:

"Deeply attached to emotions, one can never escape them."

Clinging to a single thought, one becomes trapped in this situation.

If you can let go, you will surely find liberation.

Shi Youxi knelt on the futon. In the July weather, there was no need for hand warmers, but every time he knelt here, he would still subconsciously reach into his pocket.

Shi Youxi suddenly laughed at his own foolish action and looked at the old Taoist priest.

"Liberation? Why?"

The old Taoist priest laughed as well, pointing to the thousand-step staircase. "Didn't that young master once scoff at how foolish this trip was? Why are you now willing to be that fool?"

Why?

Shi Youxi didn't want to kneel anymore; he found this person extremely annoying for talking so much.

But this time he had nothing to shut the man up.

Seeing that his business was about to slip away, the old Taoist priest shouted, "Young master, do you think I'm wrong? Oh dear, it may sound harsh, but it's the truth!"

“You’re right,” Shi Youxi said calmly, turning his back and slowly walking out of the temple.

That's right, he really is pretty stupid.

As the plane landed and taxied at high speed, amidst the roar, Shi Si heard the sneers of the people around him, mixed with the air currents, which dissipated with a single breath.

"Like her? I hate her to death."

A person who doesn't keep their word.

He hated her so much.

Hate?

Shi Si rolled his eyes, looking out the window at London's busiest airport, cursing inwardly.

She gave up a prestigious university to learn how to operate a sewing machine for love, and you still hate her?

You've dyed your hair such an unconventional style and you still hate it?!

Shi Si felt that Shi Youxi was completely hopeless!

He wanted Guan Shiyan to quickly prescribe some other medicine for Shi Youxi!

"Ladies and gentlemen, our plane has arrived at London Heathrow Airport, and we will be..." (with built-in English translation)

Have a pleasant journey.

Mu Yiran smiled at the pretty blonde flight attendant, got off the plane, and her phone rang. She answered it:

"Uncle Xing, um, I just arrived. Where is your boss's apartment address that you mentioned before?"