As the days went by, Shen Zhi Qiu's heart began to calm down.

One evening, Zhou Xiaoran sat on a bench in the vineyard, watching the afterglow of the setting sun cast a golden halo over Shen Zhi Qiu's face. She asked softly, "Zhi Qiu, when are you planning to leave?"

Shen Zhi Qiu was slightly taken aback, as if the question had pulled her back to reality from her reverie. She remained silent for a moment, seemingly considering how to answer the question. After a long while, she slowly spoke: "Xiao Ran, I know I should leave, but I still want to stay a few more days." Her voice revealed a faint sense of reluctance and longing.

“I want to understand more about Lu Jia’s feelings here,” she continued, her voice trembling slightly. “Lu Wei told me that Lu Jia has been staying here ever since I got married.” A hint of sadness and longing flashed in her eyes.

Shen Zhi Qiu choked up, her hands clenched tightly together as she tried to control her emotions. "Xiao Ran, do you think he feels lonely when he's here all alone?"

Zhou Xiaoran sighed, her eyes revealing deep sympathy and understanding. She gently took Shen Zhi Qiu's hand and tenderly stroked her hair. "Zhi Qiu, don't do this. Don't torture yourself. Lu Jia wants you to be happy."

As Shen Zhi Qiu listened to Zhou Xiao Ran's words, tears gradually blurred her vision. She hugged Zhou Xiao Ran tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.

*

On the island.

Lu Jia's injuries have healed. The wounds on her face are now just faint scars, almost unnoticeable unless you look closely.

However, compared to the scars on his face, Lu Jia's leg injuries appeared much more severe. A long scar stretched from his knee to his calf, its color darker than the surrounding skin, making it look particularly gruesome. Whenever he walked or moved, the scar would ache faintly, a reminder of the difficult time he had spent recovering.

Lu Jia stood before the simple wooden hut, a gentle breeze ruffling the hair on his forehead. His gaze was somewhat unfocused, as if recalling a past dream. The figures that had once been so clearly visible in his dreams were now growing increasingly blurry, as if being gradually swallowed by sea fog. This feeling stirred an indescribable fear within him, as if he were slowly losing some important memory.

He turned and went into the cabin, where Ayu and Xingxing were busy preparing dinner. Lu Jia looked at them, his heart filled with gratitude. For the past year, they had been by his side, offering endless care and concern. However, he knew he couldn't stay any longer; he had to regain his lost memories and return to where he belonged.

Lu Jia walked to A Yu's side and nodded solemnly. His voice was firm and strong: "A Yu, Xingxing, I'm leaving."

Ayu and Xingxing were both stunned, staring at Lu Jia as if they couldn't believe their ears. Ayu put down the spatula, walked up to Lu Jia, and asked with concern, "Are you leaving? Why? Didn't you just recover from your injuries?"

Lu Jia took a deep breath. "Ayu, I can't stay here any longer. It's nice here, but I need to find my lost memories. I'm afraid if I stay any longer, I'll never be able to go back to my original life."

Upon hearing this, Xingxing's eyes immediately welled up with tears. In just over a year, they had become like family. She walked over to Lu Jia and gently patted his shoulder. "We understand. Let us take you home."

Looking into Xingxing's tearful eyes, Lu Jia felt a pang of sorrow in her heart.

The moment Lu Jia stepped out of the cabin, he already had his luggage on his shoulder. It wasn't a heavy package, just a few pieces of clothing that Xingxing had carefully selected, but for Lu Jia, these clothes carried memories of the island and the deep friendship between him, Ayu, and Xingxing. They were more than just clothes; they were precious moments, testaments to his life here.

Ayu stood to the side, watching Lu Jia pack his luggage, a hint of reluctance on his face. He knew that Lu Jia's departure meant they might not see each other for a long time. He stepped forward, patted Lu Jia on the shoulder, and said, "Let's go. Since you've made up your mind, leave as soon as possible. Perhaps your family is also very anxiously waiting for you to return."

Lu Jia nodded; he understood what A Yu meant. He glanced back at the simple wooden house, a strange feeling welling up inside him. Then, he turned and followed A Yu, walking towards the harbor. Xingxing silently followed behind them, her eyes filled with reluctance.

This should be the last time Lu Jia boards A Yu's boat. Unlike before when he went out to sea to fish with A Yu, this time it was his turn to leave. He put down his backpack, sat on the boat, and felt the refreshing sea breeze on his face. However, his feelings were unusually complicated. He was both looking forward to the journey ahead and reluctant to leave this place that had given him warmth and care.

The ship drifted at sea for a long time until night fell. In the distance, the lights of the harbor twinkled like stars in the night. The scene was like a beautiful painting, captivating all who beheld it. However, for Lu Jia, it was a symbol of farewell. He knew that no matter how reluctant he was, parting was inevitable.

When the ship docked, Xingxing stepped forward and handed Lu Jia her backpack. Then, she gently hugged Lu Jia, turning her face away sadly. Her voice trembled slightly: "I hope we'll meet again someday."

Ayu also stepped forward, his eyes filled with emotion as he looked at Lu Jia: "Take care!"

Lu Jia nodded solemnly: "I will definitely come back to see you!"

Ayu stood at the bow, gripping the helm tightly, and started the engine with all his might. With the roar of the motor, the small boat slowly left the dock and headed into the distance. He stood there, watching Lu Jia's figure recede into the distance until it disappeared into the night.

"Lu Jia, take care!" A Yu shouted, his voice echoing across the vast sea. "If you want to come back, come find us anytime. You'll always have a home here!"

Hearing A Yu's shout, Lu Jia's eyes instantly welled up with tears. He turned around, waved vigorously, and walked forward. He didn't even dare to look back, afraid that he would burst into tears. He silently made a resolution in his heart: once he found his family, he would definitely go back and thank A Yu and Xingxing properly.

After walking for a while, Lu Jia began looking for a hotel to stay in. He walked on unfamiliar streets, and the surrounding buildings and people made him feel somewhat lost.

Before leaving, Xingxing had placed his earnings from fishing at sea in the inner pocket of his backpack. He unzipped it, intending to take out the money. However, when he touched the wad of cash, he found that what had been a thin wad now felt noticeably thicker.

Lu Jia was stunned; the amount of money was far more than he had expected. It was equivalent to several years' worth of savings for A Yu and Xing Xing!

Lu Jia gripped the stack of money tightly, her heart filled with gratitude and emotion.