Chapter 71 Li Nian's Independent Side Story - When He Remembered (Twenty)

Yu Qingzhou didn't know why she had ended up here—

When I came to my senses, I was already standing at the entrance of the old school building.

The buildings before them appeared all the more desolate in comparison to the previous hustle and bustle.

Seemingly neglected for a long time, this old building, which appears to have been built in the last century, stands quietly amidst the weeds.

The ivy grew wildly, its stems and leaves even twining and entwining around the rusty cracks in the door.

Yu Qingzhou hesitated for a moment, then reached out and pushed open the slightly ajar door.

With a creak.

With the soft thud of the shoes hitting the marble floor, a cool, timeless scent wafted over.

Because the windows were largely covered by ivy, the lobby appeared as dark as dusk, even though it was a sunny morning.

Yu Qingzhou did not linger on the ground floor.

Instead, they walked up the wooden spiral staircase to the second floor.

Footsteps echoed in the empty room, and it sounded as if another pair of footsteps were following—

Yu Qingzhou suddenly turned around and looked around, but there was no one in sight.

(Perhaps... I'm just hallucinating again?)

The thought naturally flashed through my mind.

Yu Qingzhou shook her head to herself, turned around and climbed two more steps before belatedly realizing why she had such a thought.

Has he ever had a similar experience?

—I can't remember.

Then it probably doesn't exist.

But if not, why... say "again"?

Yu Qingzhou gazed at the faint light above the stairs, a strange premonition stirring within her.

The source of all his unease, including the answers he sought, had long been there, ready and waiting.

What I need to do is to put aside all my concerns and step by step face the truth.

My heart pounded heavily, mingling with the sound of footsteps.

Yu Qingzhou watched as the light gradually appeared before her eyes.

It felt like we had gone from night to day.

What should have been a pleasant sight somehow gave Yu Qingzhou a feeling of weightlessness, like a fish suddenly leaping out of the water.

Bright sunshine and dry air are a blessing from heaven for terrestrial life.

However, it can be a deadly poison for fish that live in water.

Not entirely.

Faint voices could be heard in the silence.

It wasn't real, like a forgotten ghost, vaguely floating in the depths of his dizzy mind.

It's like a memory that was lost and then found again.

As he moved forward, it gradually unfolded before his eyes.

It was a conversation that took place between him and a certain boy on a sweltering summer afternoon.

Some fish can also come ashore, breathe with lungs, and walk with their fins.

The boy's calm statement.

Her fair profile almost blended into the intense white light outside the window.

He paused for a moment before letting out a soft, wistful murmur: "There's such a thing? This is too—"

He couldn't find a suitable adjective for a moment, and fell into silence.

The boy by the window, seemingly unaware, naturally picked up the conversation.

Yes. It is indeed amazing. However, this world is full of incredible things, far beyond human imagination.

[...]

This time, the silence lasted rather long.

The boy lowered his eyelashes seemingly casually and leaned closer.

What are you thinking about?

Realizing his lapse in composure, he gave an embarrassed laugh.

I've been thinking about ghosts... After death, do people simply return to dust, or do they become ghosts and linger in the world?

He explained somewhat embarrassedly.

I felt like I had gone a bit off-topic, and I was afraid the other person would be unhappy.

The boy simply looked at him quietly, then asked, "Do you really wish ghosts existed?"

He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but—

That way, I won't be so sad, right? Just thinking about meeting again in another world after death...

What to do with people you dislike?

【Huh?】

"If you can't live a fulfilling life while you're alive, it's absurd to pin your hopes on the afterlife." The boy's tone was calm, but his words were sharp.

That's really... spot on.

He half-jokingly remarked, "Senior, you really are a staunch atheist."

Upon hearing this, the boy seemed somewhat surprised.

What does "as expected" mean?

It's a feeling, like if it were a senior student, they definitely wouldn't be held back by such vague and unrealistic things.

He considered his words and concluded: "They're the kind of people who are always calm and rational, and especially reliable... In short, they're different from me."

This time, the boy on the other side fell silent.

Did I say something wrong?

He is not as adept at handling blank spaces as the other person.

I had no choice but to awkwardly look out the window.

The window was half-open, and the lush green vines of the Virginia creeper silently reached in. A gentle breeze blew through them, and they trembled as if they were living things.

Amidst the rustling sound, he seemed to hear the boy say something.

I subconsciously turned my head to confirm—

The memory abruptly ended.

The scorching summer sun was no longer shining brightly, and the classroom was no longer as clean and bright as before.

Only that familiar figure seemed to have stepped out of a memory, or perhaps had never left at all.

The familiar address came to mind and almost uncontrollably slipped out.

"doctor……"

The people by the window turned around at the same time, their faces pale and their eyes dark.

As his gaze fell upon Yu Qingzhou, a hint of surprise seemed to flash in the man's eyes.

Then, things returned to calm.

"You've arrived."

The man chuckled softly as he spoke.

Seemingly unaccustomed to such direct emotional expression, her expression appeared slightly awkward. This unexpectedly softened the aloofness that might have been a result of her overly refined features.

"I knew you'd come, because you said—"

The man paused, as if he had suddenly remembered something.

"You don't have to call me doctor. I prefer you to call me by my name, that's always been my way... Do you remember my name?"

How could he forget?

—He shouldn't forget.

My palm accidentally touched a protrusion inside my clothes.

That was a business card I'd casually slipped into my coat pocket not long ago.

The card features a simple design with a name clearly printed on the front.

A name I had once forgotten, but now I've remembered again.

"...Long time no see, Chen Yun."