Shen Zhi Qiu pursed her lips slightly, seemingly hesitating about something. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at the stairwell and noticed a figure standing there. She gently raised her head, her gaze meeting Lu Wei's. Lu Wei stood there, smiling and waving at her. Her warm and friendly smile stirred a strange feeling within Shen Zhi Qiu.
As night fell, Shen Zhi Qiu stepped out of her room and into the courtyard. Moonlight, like water, spilled across the ground, illuminating her figure. She walked to the wicker recliner and gently lay down.
The next second, tears streamed down her cheeks and dripped into the cracks of the recliner. She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself, but painful memories flooded back like a tide.
She thought of Lu Jia; his departure filled her with endless grief and loss. She couldn't accept the fact, nor could she let go of her obsession.
A year has passed, and she still can't face herself.
She didn't know how much time had passed when she heard a very faint sigh. She wiped away her tears and opened her eyes.
Lu Wei stood at the top of the stairs, not knowing how long he had been watching her.
She walked over and sat down on the swing, gently stroking the ropes with both hands. The swing swayed gently in the air, bringing a cool breeze and the fragrance of flowers.
“Zhiqiu, I didn’t expect you to come. I was also a little surprised when I received your call.” Lu Wei sighed softly. “Zhiqiu, even though I am Lu Jia’s older sister, I still want to tell you that you should start a new life. Don’t trap yourself in your own inner demons. Lu Jia will not come back. You are so smart, you shouldn’t torture yourself like this.”
Shen Zhi Qiu didn't speak, but listened silently to Lu Wei's words. She knew she needed to pull herself together and face reality bravely. But she couldn't.
Shen Zhi Qiu's lips pressed together slightly, her eyes appearing particularly dim in the night. She remained silent for a long while, seemingly sorting out her chaotic thoughts, before slowly speaking: "I know you're running the sanatorium now, and I know you want to fulfill Lu Jia's wish. I think Xiao Yu feels the same way, which is why she resolutely returned here. I wanted to come back and see, after all, Lu Jia and I..."
She paused, her words revealing a sense of helplessness and sorrow. Lu Wei looked at her quietly, her eyes shining with understanding and sympathy. She knew that Shen Zhi Qiu, like her, carried a heavy past.
“Xiaoyu was brought back by Lu Jia, and he considers this place his home. After Lu Jia left, he couldn’t stay in the capital; he couldn’t get over it in his heart. So he wanted to come back to help improve the sanatorium, so that Lu Jia wouldn’t feel uneasy.” Lu Wei’s voice trembled slightly, and her fingers unconsciously twisted together to hide her heartache.
As Lu Wei spoke, she sighed softly and reached out to gently pat Shen Zhi Qiu's shoulder. "Zhi Qiu, I know you're in pain, but Zhi Qiu, you have many people who love you, and you have children. You shouldn't trap yourself and live in the shadow of the past. Life is so short; if it's filled with a sad past, there's no way to live in the sunlight."
Shen Zhi Qiu raised her head, looked at Lu Wei, and said nothing.
“Go back tomorrow and don’t come back.” Lu Wei’s voice was gentle but firm. “If you stay in the past, Lu Jia will feel sorry for you. Don’t let him worry about you.”
Shen Zhi Qiu turned her head to the side, her gaze falling on the blooming roses. Moonlight shone on the rose petals, casting dappled shadows, as if each petal was gently telling a story of the past. An indescribable sadness and longing welled up in her heart; those roses seemed to be the only link between her and Lu Jia, connecting the past and the present.
“These roses were planted for me by Lu Jia himself.” Shen Zhi Qiu’s voice choked with emotion, each word seeming to be squeezed from the bottom of her heart. “He did so much for me, but I did nothing for him. There are many memories here, but when I was here, I didn’t understand Lu Jia’s feelings.” Her tears fell again.
“Lu Jia doesn’t need you to do anything for him.” Lu Wei’s voice was gentle, yet full of strength. “Zhi Qiu, do you know? Before I met you, I saw your photos, but at that time I thought Lu Jia only loved your beauty. I even mocked him, thinking he was just lustful.” She paused, as if recalling the past.
"Later I learned from him that you were married. He was very depressed at that time and locked himself in his room for a whole week. I was so worried that he would just give up."
"But when he came out a week later, he seemed like nothing had happened, except that he was more composed."
Lu Wei continued, "I asked him out of curiosity, and he told me that I wouldn't like a man who was so decadent. At that time, you were already married to someone else, so he couldn't bother you, but he could live his own life."
Hearing this, Shen Zhi Qiu's tears welled up again. She remembered what Lu Jia had once said to her; those warm and firm words seemed to still echo in her ears. It turned out that from a long time ago, Lu Jia had been silently giving to her and thinking of her, but she had never realized his feelings.
"I asked him if he would regret it?" Lu Wei's voice was deep and strong, each word seemingly carrying all her emotions. "He said no. He won't force you to do anything, nor will he make things difficult for you. He just wants you to be happy. As long as you're happy, he doesn't care what happens to him." Lu Wei paused, as if gathering her thoughts, and then continued, "As long as you're happy, he'll be at ease. Even if the person who brings you happiness isn't him, it doesn't matter to him."
Lu Wei's words brought tears to her eyes again, and she sobbed uncontrollably. Her body trembled, and her shoulders shook constantly.
Seeing that Shen Zhi Qiu was already sobbing uncontrollably, Lu Wei stepped forward, gently hugged her, and whispered to comfort her, "Zhi Qiu, I'm telling you all this because I want to tell you that only when you're doing well will Lu Jia be at peace. Don't trap yourself in pain. I know you must have regretted countless times why you didn't die in Lu Jia's place. But, Zhi Qiu, do you know? If you had died on that ship, Lu Jia would never have been able to forgive himself and would have lived in regret forever. Fortunately, you survived."
Lu Wei loosened her embrace, looked into Shen Zhi Qiu's eyes, and said, word by word, "So, please, you must live well, carrying Lu Jia's love with you."
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