Autumn of the eighth year of the reign of Emperor Qianlong
The trees along the bluestone path have already taken on the colors of autumn.
The maple leaves burned like fire, rustling softly in the breeze.
A bright moon hung high in the sky, casting its silvery light and enveloping the entire courtyard in tranquility.
It was the season when crabs were at their fattest, and in the courtyard, Wang Xiuxiu specially prepared a grand crab feast for Luo Qiyou and Qi Ming, who had just been released from prison.
The table was laden with golden, plump crabs; the freshness of the crab meat and the richness of the wine blended together, creating an intoxicating experience.
However, of the three, only Qi Ming was destined to be able to fully enjoy this incredibly pleasant crab feast.
When Wang Xiuxiu said she was leaving, Qi Ming looked reluctant and couldn't help but ask, "Xiuxiu, even the shameless dog has been arrested, why are you still leaving?"
His tone carried a hint of confusion and regret.
Luo Qiyou seemed to have expected this, and watched her silently.
From the moment he saw Xiuxiu on the day he was released from prison, he knew that Xiuxiu must have paid a huge price to get him and Qiming out of prison.
He tried to gloss over the truth and ignore all the suspicious points, but the separation was still unavoidable.
Luo Qiyou's hands were clenched tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms.
Reason told him that he couldn't change Xiuxiu's fate and could only watch her leave, cowardly praying that Xiuxiu could live a happy life.
But emotionally, he couldn't let go of his deep affection for her.
He longed to keep her; he wanted to tell Xiuxiu that he was willing to bear everything for her and accompany her through this difficult time.
But she was also afraid that her promise would become a burden to Xiuxiu, plunging her into an even deeper predicament.
Everything filled him with contradictions and struggles, making him increasingly unsure how to begin.
He looked at Xiuxiu with complex emotions in his eyes, pain and helplessness, yet he could not bring himself to say what was in his heart.
At this moment, Wang Xiuxiu turned around, looked at Luo Qiyou and Qi Ming, raised her glass high, and smiled, "Brother Luo, Qi Ming, goodbye, I will always remember you!"
After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, as if he wanted to pour all his emotions into this glass of wine.
"Qiyou? What are you standing there for? Xiuxiu is toasting us!" Qiming urged, seeing that Luo Qiyou hadn't moved yet.
"Oh, oh, oh!" Luo Qiyou snapped out of his daze and hurriedly raised his glass in response, but his movements seemed a little stiff, as if the glass in his hand weighed a ton.
After the meal, Wang Xiuxiu saw the two of them to the door.
Qi Ming waved goodbye to her with a grin, his carefree smile still on his face.
Luo Qiyou, meanwhile, gazed at Wang Xiuxiu's figure in the lamplight.
He knew he couldn't keep her.
Xiuxiu is an exceptionally clear-headed and rational girl; she knows exactly what she wants.
He had no reason or ability to keep her, and even asking why seemed superfluous.
"Qi You? Qi You? Why are you spacing out?"
"It's nothing. What did you just say?"
"I'm asking you, you haven't told Xiuxiu that I want to recognize her as my sworn sister yet, have you?" Qi Ming gently nudged Luo Qiyou, who was still in a daze, his tone tinged with a hint of probing.
"Not yet...not yet," Luo Qiyou replied in a low voice, his voice a little hoarse.
"That's great!" Qi Ming breathed a sigh of relief.
"What do you mean? Haven't you always wanted to recognize Xiuxiu as your adopted sister?"
"Sigh, it's all because of my mother."
Qi Ming scratched his head, a hint of helplessness on his face. "When she heard about Xiu Xiu, she repeatedly told me not to drag her into this mess. At first, I was not convinced, but then I thought that someone as troublesome as me should not involve Xiu Xiu."
After he finished speaking, a look of disappointment appeared on his face, clearly indicating that he regretted the decision.
As Luo Qiyou listened, he guessed that Madam Qi must know some inside information, which was why she was trying her best to stop him, fearing that Qi Ming would cause trouble again.
He remained silent for a moment, then finally just sighed softly and said nothing more.
A cool night breeze blew as Luo Qiyou slowly turned around.
My relationship with Xiuxiu has come to an end.
That unspoken love could only be buried deep in his heart, becoming a secret he could never tell in his life.
In this lifetime, I can only wish her peace and happiness from afar.
The moonlight still shines on the bluestone path, and the maple leaves still rustle in the wind, as if telling unspoken stories.
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