Chapter 121

A few months ago, Yingning ran into Chen Hui at the airport.

"Yingning, what are you doing here?" Chen Hui was surprised to run into Yingning at the airport.

During the recent "online storm," Chen Hui sent a message to Ying Ning, cautiously asking if she wanted to come to N City temporarily to relax.

Afterwards, Chen Hui also recommended Qingsheng Law Firm's business card to Yingning.

When Yingning looked up at the sound, she saw a strikingly handsome man standing next to a radiant beauty with wavy brown hair.

He wore a dazzling diamond on the side of his ear.

His gaze was almost fixed on Chen Hui. When he saw Chen Hui greeting Ying Ning, he politely asked, "Hui Hui, is this your friend?"

"Okay, wait here for a moment," Chen Hui said to the man as she turned to him.

"Huihui, your boyfriend?" Yingning asked curiously.

"No, he's just my ex-boyfriend."

"We haven't gotten back together yet!" Chen Hui was surprisingly a little shy.

"Oh?" Yingning teased her as well.

"I didn't expect you to like this type."

"He saw a video of me on a variety show, and then... he came back from abroad."

Two years ago, they broke up after an argument due to numerous problems in their long-distance relationship.

Chen Hui never expected that he would run back to China this time.

She looked at Yingning's suitcase: "Where are you going?"

She knew that Ying Ning's matter had almost come to an end recently.

"Go for a walk to relax."

"I've been too tired lately."

Chen Hui also knew that she had been under a lot of pressure online recently. Now that almost everything had calmed down, going out to relax was a good choice.

Where to?

"Europe."

"So far." Chen Hui hadn't expected Ying Ning to go to such a far place.

"When are you coming back?" she then asked.

"It will take some time," Yingning said with a smile.

"Oh, right, I just ran into you. Can you take a picture of me?" Yingning handed her phone to Chen Hui.

Chen Hui patiently took several photos.

The airport photo on Weibo was taken from Chen Hui at that time.

"Then when you come back, you must come to N City to visit me." Chen Hui handed her phone to Ying Ning, thinking that when Ying Ning returned, they could go on vacation together in N City.

Yingning didn't answer directly, but instead abruptly said:

"Chen Hui, may you always be happy."

These were the last words she spoke as she left the airport.

As Chen Hui watched her retreating figure, she felt a sense of loss.

It felt as if this parting would be the last time we would see each other.

*

After arriving in Europe, Yingning sent a gift package to Chen Hui's address.

After visiting the exhibition and spending a few days exploring the area around Serena, Yingning finally arrived at the outer street of the exhibition and noticed a candy shop.

“Master, I will be leaving this world tomorrow,” 0067 said.

Yingning picked out some candies, then declined the advances of a strange man next to her, paid, and left the candy shop.

"Little 7, didn't Shen Yan have a precognitive dream?"

"Yes, Master, but Shen Yan is still in the hospital."

Yingning smiled gently, opened the candy bag, and took out a candy with her delicate hand.

I took a small bite, and my mouth was filled with a sweet, cloying taste.

"Little 7, after you leave this world, just find a corpse anywhere."

Yingning instructed 0067 to find a female corpse in the open space of that crime den, place the necklace there, and even leave the original owner's blood on it.

They also "threw" a pair of pearl earrings into the hideout.

A day later, Ken received a pearl earring.

*

Seven years later.

He Zhiqian came to Yuehai Hotel to sign a contract.

The high-end residential project in H City was halted by He's headquarters two years ago.

After that, the He family lost all their money in almost all of their projects in H city, which even caused considerable damage to the He family's real estate business in other regions.

He Zhiqian came today to sign a transfer agreement.

On the other hand, there was a real estate tycoon who had once been at a drinking party in H city.

Back then, the other party had shared drinks with me and talked about wanting to invest in He's project in H city.

At this moment, however, he wished he could bite off more flesh from He Zhiqian.

It doesn't matter; the business world is inherently ruthless.

He Zhiqian was now extremely thin, and his once noble appearance was barely visible.

There was already a hint of deathly gloom in his eyes.

The unidentified injection that was forcibly registered in Serena tormented him almost day and night.

Police investigations into the underground research institute revealed that they were actually researching harmful injections that could attack various parts of the human body.

Furthermore, no cure has yet been developed.

In the past few years, apart from when he was at the company, He Zhiqian has spent almost all his time lying in a hospital bed.

This lifeless, linear path left him with almost no time to touch the forbidden areas deep within his memory.

He felt that these seven years had been like seven days of dull and tasteless time.

After the ephemeral beauty faded, he could find no other hope.

He could only struggle to survive amidst daily pain and illness.

But,

How much longer can I hold on...?

When He Zhiqian came down from the top floor of the hotel, he felt a little tired.

He has had these symptoms for a long time.

For the past few months, I've been feeling dizzy all the time, especially if I stand for even a short while.

He then went to the coffee shop on the first floor: "Hello, I'd like an Americano."

He Zhiqian sat down in the corner, but just looked out the window.

The streets were bustling with people, but he couldn't find the person he was looking for.

......

"Take all of these down and replace them with new photos," the coffee shop manager said directly.

Seven years ago, Yuehai Cafe created a photo display board, allowing customers to post their own photos on it.

The photos were pasted on layer after layer.

The manager of Yuehai Cafe plans to clean up some photos today because photos posted years ago have been pushed to the bottom by newer ones.

If it's not cleaned up soon, this thick photo display board is really unsightly.

The waiter tore the photos off one by one, but accidentally knocked one off, and it landed at He Zhiqian's feet.

"Sir, I'm sorry." The waiter was about to bend down to pick up the photo.

But then he saw a pair of sickly right hands with bulging veins pick up the photo before he could.

The photo shows a woman with a cool and aloof appearance, a small mole at the corner of her eye that hints at her affection, wearing a light blue ankle-length dress, her figure languidly holding a cup of coffee.

I wonder who they're waiting for.

When He Zhiqian saw this photo, the forbidden areas he had dared not touch for the past seven years seemed to be released at this moment.

His eyes gradually reddened, and his cold, stern face broke into a mask of emotion.

His slender fingertips caressed her somewhat faded face, reminiscing about a time that could never be returned to.

Her unrestrained and carefree attitude by the fountain...

The sweet words she whispered in his ear...

Her phoenix eyes, blurry with drunkenness...

But she brushed past him in the end, and that was how she left him.

if...

I deleted those videos in time...

If I could go to Europe with her...

Or...

He didn't need to threaten her by posing as a werewolf.

Is it possible to go back to the way things were?

The waiter looked at the frail man in front of him, dressed in expensive clothes, who was staring intently at the photograph, his expression gradually becoming uncontrollable.

Her already pale complexion looked even worse.

"Sir... what's wrong?"

"Should I call a doctor for you?" the waiter asked nervously.

But he remained silent for a long time.

A long time passed.

"Can...can I take this photo?" He Zhiqian asked, forcing back tears.

The waiter casually said yes.

After a while, when he realized what had happened, the strange guest was already gone.

The waiter, puzzled, put away the coffee he hadn't tasted, only to find a few drops of water on the table.

The guest from just now...

[After seeing the photo...]

Did you cry?

*

Yinlin Manor is still managed by the same chubby manager.

He Zhiqian dismissed him with a few words and then walked alone to the woods in the backyard.

The last time I came here, it was bare with only some saplings.

Seven years have passed, and the red maples here have long since become a striking sight in the autumn at Yinlin Manor.

Following his memory, he walked to the spot where he and she had planted the red maple tree together.

He Zhiqian looked up at the red maple tree that was now large enough to cover his shadow.

This red maple is even stronger than the surrounding trees.

The lush foliage of the maple forest is filled with unique, blood-red leaves.

"Look, this red maple tree has grown up."

"Seven years have passed in the blink of an eye."

"But there's no going back at all."

Why don't you come to see the red maple leaves?

He Zhiqian felt a little weak, so he simply sat down next to the red maple tree, leaning his back against the trunk.

He took the photo out of his pocket and carefully traced her features.

After seeing her body in Serena that year, Shen Yan prostrated himself on the ground and cried like a madman.

He Zhiqian knew that he was experiencing the scene from his dream once again.

The grief that follows ecstasy is far more cruel.

He Zhiqian later obtained the results of the blood test...

It was her...

Afterwards, He Zhiqian sat quietly in the police station chair for an entire day without closing his eyes.

He watched as Shen Yan cried and roared in anguish.

I watched as Shen Yan fainted once.

Finally, he watched as Shen Yan was taken away by the Shen family.

He watched all of this with a cold gaze.

From the moment He Zhiqian saw the corpse, he felt as if some unknown emotions were gnawing at his chest.

She left herself alone.

The epiphyllum is a rare sight, blooming only once every few years.

Therefore, when you lose something, you will endlessly reminisce about the beautiful scenery of that time.

He Zhiqian even envied Shen Yan, who could vent his endless pain by crying.

His chest was almost gnawed open...

Then a name crushed my heart, leaving a bloody wound before it could even form a scar.

But why...?

He couldn't shed a single tear at that time.

...

A maple leaf landed on his shoulder, and He Zhiqian gently picked it up.

Strangely enough, out of so many red maples, there is only this one, whose leaves are the color of a hazy blood mist.

Unlike other rich flavors.

Was it because she and I planted it together?

Thinking of this, he smiled, a rare moment of relief on his face.

However, He Zhiqian, who was no longer the handsome man he once was, now had a bitter smile even when he smiled.

He Zhiqian placed the maple leaf and her photo together and sat quietly by the tree for a long time.

As the sun set, he vaguely realized that a long time had passed.

The driver is still waiting...

He Zhiqian thought about getting up.

Suddenly, everything went black, and he collapsed to the ground, powerless.

The moment the body hits the ground...

He saw her...

Even faded photos cannot hide the beauty of her fair face.

At the last second, He Zhiqian suddenly felt much more relaxed:

Heaven is merciful enough...

He actually managed to get to see her one last time.

*

Although Shen Yan's leg injury had improved over the past seven years, his nerve problems were becoming increasingly serious.

He would occasionally lose all feeling in his body, and even faint.

However, the biggest problem now is not a neurological disease.

Mother Shen watched as Shen Yan returned to the bedroom once again.

"Yan Yan, can you please stop doing this?!" she couldn't help but say.

In recent years, Shen Yan has not only been unwilling to cooperate with doctors' treatment, but he has also been found to frequently take sleeping pills.

Sleep aids that are available for purchase will not endanger your life.

However, after waking up again, Shen Yan would drink the medicine again to force himself into a deep sleep.

In fact, there was one instance two years ago.

Shen Yan suffered nerve damage due to taking too many pills.

He only woke up again after being taken to the hospital for a stomach lavage.

But after waking up, he ignored everyone's advice and still went to buy the same type of sleep aids.

Shen's father confiscated his medicine.

On the third day, upon entering the house, I found the living room filled with empty wine bottles.

Shen Yan drowned his sorrows in a dream, searching for a non-existent glimmer of hope.

Searching for her life...

Upon hearing his mother's words, Shen Yan simply stood there stunned, then picked up his water glass and prepared to return to his room.

"Yan Yan!!"

"Say something to me!"

"Can you please stop?!"

Chen's mother rushed over in despair, grabbing Chen Yan's arm, not wanting him to take the medicine again.

"Mom is really begging you."

"Don't hurt yourself like this!"

Looking at Shen Yan, who was now so dejected that he was unrecognizable from his former self, Shen's mother could only plead.

"mom..."

"You...let...let go..."

Shen Yan hadn't spoken for a long time; his vocal cords, ravaged by alcohol and prolonged silence, were no longer able to produce a normal sound.

"Yan Yan, please don't do this anymore, okay?"

"Tell Mom what's wrong, and we'll solve it together, okay?!"

Shen Yan's eyes darkened, and his once unrestrained and beautiful peach blossom eyes had long since disappeared.

"Mom...you can't help..."

"Tell me, tell me and Mom will help you!"

......

"Yan Yan, Mommy will help you."

"What's wrong? Tell me, and Mom will help you!"

Shen Yan seemed unable to break free from her relentless questioning.

These things had been weighing on his mind for seven years, and perhaps that's why he was being interrogated now.

Perhaps fearing that too much time had passed and he might forget his sins, he suddenly became willing to speak out about his feelings over the past seven years:

"mom!!"

"I've ruined someone's life!!"

"If it weren't for me...she wouldn't have been insulted like that..."

"I won't go to Europe..."

"It won't happen..."

He died.

Shen Yan practically had to shout it out at the very end.

Hearing this from the side, Chen's mother was taken aback and hurriedly asked, "What don't you mean?!"

"What on earth happened?!"

Shen Yan tried to wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes, but they remained wet no matter how many times he tried.

He closed his eyes and spoke directly:

"She wouldn't..."

"She won't die..."

It's all my fault.

He hurt someone because of his careless decision, and even ended up taking her life.

"Mom...please..."

"Don't worry about me, I might be able to find a way..."

Perhaps if he wakes up again, he can return to seven years ago.

Go back to the time before all of this happened...

He wanted to save... her.

The mother was startled by the word "death," and she couldn't understand how her son could be involved in someone's death.

While she stood frozen in shock, Shen Yan broke free from her grasp.

I took my water glass and went back to my room.

His back was hunched, and he really didn't look like a young man.

Even Shen's mother noticed that there was already a lot of gray hair on the back of his head.