(367)

Lin Tingfeng, feeling lost and sad, quickly disappeared down the forest path, holding her pretty figure.

He now felt he had found the answer to why she had disliked and rejected him from the very beginning: she was a smart, self-respecting girl who didn't want to associate with a married man, so—

For this reason, Lin Tingfeng began to carefully consider the possibility of divorce.

Ye Wenyu returned to the Cai family home at breakneck speed, panting and drenched in sweat. As she passed the tall, ancient camphor tree, a sudden gust of cool wind sent shivers down her spine. She dared not look at it again and rushed straight into her room.

In the Cai family's living room, the mother, Aunt Cai, and Uncle Cai were drinking tea and eating snacks.

Her hands and feet were as cold as ice.

Seeing Ye Wenyu suddenly burst in, Zhang Susu was taken aback, then laughed and said, "What's wrong? You're a college student now, why are you acting like a little girl?"

Ye Wenyu wiped her face, wondering if the fright she had just experienced was written all over her face.

Uncle Cai also asked, "Xiaoyu, did you run into something while you were taking a walk nearby? Your face is as pale as paper."

Ye Wenyu immediately composed herself. Her heart was pounding like a drum. She calmed herself down and said, trying to cover it up, "I was taking a walk when I saw... saw a big snake, and I was so scared that I ran home."

I see.

Uncle Cai smiled, nodded, and said to her, "Oh, I see. Xiaoyu is a girl, and she's timid. Sit down and rest."

Aunt Cai stood up at this moment, took Ye Wenyu's hand and sat down next to her, and then lovingly put a handful of candy into Ye Wenyu's cold palm.

She was still shaken because Lin Tingfeng had just invited her to his house.

She felt that the people and events of the past, like the tentacles of an octopus, were reaching out from the black hole of memory, trying to pull her whole being back to the past.

A gust of wind blew by outside, and the camphor tree leaves fell down, making a rustling sound like rain. A few camphor tree leaves fell in through the open window.

Aunt Cai said to her, "It's so cold outside, so don't go out. Let's stay here, have some tea and snacks, and chat. It's still winter."

Ye Wenyu nodded, still unsettled. She glanced at her mother, who was sitting comfortably by the stove, happily drinking tea and eating melon seeds, showing no intention of leaving.

She was getting impatient and wanted to leave. She gave the old woman a meaningful look, but Zhang Susu seemed not to notice.

The mother didn't seem to be in a hurry to leave.

Sigh—I really shouldn't have come today. I've already broken up with Cai Wenchuan, and now I'm coming to his house again. What's the meaning of this?

Ye Wenyu's heart felt heavy and cold.

At this moment, Uncle Cai suddenly said, "Xiaoyu, did you really see a snake just now? Logically speaking, it's just after the New Year, still winter, and snakes should be hibernating."

Ye Wenyu froze, feeling as if all the blood had drained from the soles of her feet. After a while, she stammered, "But, maybe it wasn't a snake. I, I must have been seeing things. I only saw a black shadow flash in front of my eyes and then I ran back in fright."

Uncle Cai nodded suspiciously.

Aunt Cai said to her husband, "Oh dear, Xiaoyu might have seen some other small animals. Why are you so concerned? Don't scare the child. Come here, Xiaoyu, let Auntie take you to Wenchuan's room for a walk."

What? Go to Cai Wenchuan's room?

While Ye Wenyu was still in a daze, Aunt Cai had already pulled her to her feet.

Ye Wenyu looked at her mother, her eyes telling her that she didn't want to go; all she wanted to do was go home. However, Zhang Susu smiled and nudged her, saying, "You and Brother Wen were best friends when you were little. Go play in his room now. Your Uncle Cai and I also have something to talk about."

What? Ye Wenyu was completely bewildered.

Aunt Cai had already led her upstairs with a loving expression.

Cai Wenchuan's room is on the second floor.

Ye Wenyu still refused to go to Cai Wenchuan's room, afraid that seeing the things there would remind her of him. Everything was in the past, and she had already let go. Why should she go to his house and his room? Going there would only make her sad and unable to forget the past.

Therefore, her steps were as heavy as if they were filled with lead, each step lazier than the last, and she gradually fell behind Aunt Cai.

Aunt Cai had already reached the second floor. She turned around and saw that Ye Wenyu hadn't followed, so she stood on the second-floor floor, waved to her, and smiled, "Xiaoyu, come up quickly."

Ye Wenyu smiled slightly, stopped, and said to her, "Auntie, Brother Wen isn't home. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to go to his room."

"That's not true." Aunt Cai walked up to her warmly, took her hand, and led her upstairs. She then quickly opened Cai Wenchuan's room and led her inside.

Seeing Aunt Cai's persistent behavior, Ye Wenyu knew that she probably had something to say to Cai Wenchuan in his room. Her heart began to ache with anxiety.

As Ye Wenyu entered Cai Wenchuan's room, she was immediately drawn to the south-facing window. Sunlight, like fiery rain, streamed in through the open window. As if drawn by a magic, she walked straight to the window, with Aunt Cai following behind her.

Ye Wenyu stared blankly at the scenery outside the window.

Outside the window was the canopy of that huge, ancient camphor tree, its branches stretching out towards the window and into the air like a dragon's body. If Cai Wenchuan were a mischievous boy of fifteen or sixteen, he wouldn't need to take the stairs; he could simply use the branches of the camphor tree to go downstairs. Of course, if there was a mischievous person downstairs, they could also use the camphor tree to climb up the trunk without having to go through the main hall or the apartment, and then use the elasticity of the branches to get to their room.

Ye Wenyu seemed to be deep in thought.

Outside the window is a green ocean, a forest of towering trees, mysterious and beautiful, like a fairy tale world.

Aunt Cai smiled and said, "Isn't this camphor tree beautiful? It was already here when we moved here. The owners said it might be fifty or even a hundred years old."

Ye Wenyu nodded.

Aunt Cai took Ye Wenyu's hand, turned her around so that she was facing her, and said to her, "Xiaoyu, you have been lovable since you were little. You were beautiful when you were young, and you are even more beautiful now."

Ye Wenyu blushed. Although she was beautiful, she had never cared much about her appearance. Her two years of working life had taught her that while good looks could bring some advantages, society still valued genuine skills. A pretty face couldn't buy you a job. Even though she looked like an angel, she still needed to work hard to make a living.

Therefore, seeing Aunt Cai praising her beauty so enthusiastically, her little face turned as red as a rose.

Aunt Cai looked at Ye Wenyu with satisfaction, her gaze exactly like a mother-in-law looking at her daughter-in-law. She said to her affectionately, "What are your plans after graduating from university? Do you want to find a job, or pursue postgraduate studies?"