In Shanghai in June, the rainy season had just ended, and the air still held a lingering damp warmth. Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting dappled shadows in Gu Yanting's former top-floor office. Now, the place had a new owner, and the air was thick with the scents of fresh paint and unfamiliar perfume. Three months had passed since the Gu Group's bankruptcy and liquidation, and Gu Yanting's imprisonment on multiple charges. The city, which had been rocked by his actions, had finally, like the receding tide, temporarily returned to a seemingly calm state.
[Part 1: An Empty Apartment and Unopened Packages]
At 6:30 in the evening, Ah Yu opened the apartment door, and the motion-sensor light in the entryway turned on, its pale light illuminating several delivery boxes piled up in the corner. The top box, labeled "Fragile," had its corners torn, revealing brown bubble wrap inside—it was the coffee machine that Zhong Hua had ordered for him half a month ago, which he hadn't had time to open.
The living room was quiet, save for the hum of the refrigerator. Lin Wanqing's bedroom door was tightly shut, with no light shining through the crack. Ah Yu walked past quietly and noticed a folded sticky note lying on the floor near her bedroom door.
"Brother Yu, dinner's in the fridge. I'm going to the hospital to keep Sister Zhonghua company. —Wanqing"
The handwriting was neat and beautiful, with a small smiley face drawn at the end. Ah Yu picked up the note, her fingertips tracing the edge of the page, a slight sting feeling spreading through her heart. Three days ago, Zhong Hua's mother's condition relapsed, requiring a second surgery. Zhong Hua stayed by her side at the hospital almost every step of the way, and Lin Wanqing took the initiative to take on the responsibility of delivering meals and caring for her.
He opened the refrigerator, inside which were two insulated containers neatly arranged: one containing stir-fried vegetables and mixed grain rice, and the other containing tender pork rib soup. Lin Wanqing was always like this, keeping everything in perfect order, as if only by constantly being busy could she fill the emptiness in her heart.
Ah Yu carried the insulated food container to the dining table, pulled out a chair, and sat down. On the table lay an open photo album, which Lin Wanqing had found last week while tidying up old things. Inside was a photo of her and Ah Yu as children at the orphanage. In the photo, a little girl with crooked braids hid behind Ah Yu, only half her timid face showing, while Ah Yu, like a little adult, frowned protectively at her.
At that time, they were unaware of their blood relation; it was purely a matter of dependence. Now, this relationship acts like an invisible shackle, separating him and Zhong Hua, and plunging Lin Wanqing into deeper self-blame.
My phone vibrated in my pocket; it was a WeChat message from Zhong Hua.
"Ayu, Mom just fell asleep and her condition has stabilized. Wanqing has been with me until now, so tell her to get some rest and not overwork herself."
Ah Yu tapped his fingertips on the screen and replied, "Got it. Don't force yourself. Call me anytime if you need anything." After sending the message, he stared at Zhong Hua's profile picture in the chat box—it was a photo they had taken after an interview. She was wearing a smart business suit, her eyes crinkling with a smile, and sunlight fell on the tips of her hair, making them look like they were edged with gold.
Back then, Gu Yanting's shadow hadn't completely enveloped them, and everything seemed so bright. But now, even though Gu Yanting is in prison, the fear and hurt etched into their bones still entwine them like vines.
He picked up the spoon and took a sip of soup. The warmth slid down his throat, but it couldn't dispel the chill in his heart. Gu Yanting's venomous gaze in court still haunted his dreams at night. "Ah Yu, you, your good sister, and Zhong Hua, none of you will have an easy time..." The man's hoarse voice seemed to still echo in his ears.
Part Two: The Moonlight in the Hospital Corridor and the Unspoken Words
The corridor of the inpatient department was silent, the smell of disinfectant thick and lingering. Zhong Hua sat on a bench outside her mother's ward, looking through the glass window at the steady curve of the electrocardiogram monitor inside, and her tense nerves finally relaxed a little.
"Sister Zhonghua, go wash your face. I'll watch over Auntie." Lin Wanqing walked over with a cup of hot water and gently placed it on the chair next to her. "Your eyes are all red."
Zhong Hua raised his hand to rub his temples and gave her a tired smile: "It's nothing, I'm just a little sleepy. Thank you, Wanqing, you've worked hard these past few days."
"Why are you being so polite with me?" Lin Wanqing sat down beside her, her gaze falling on Zhong's mother, who was fast asleep in the ward. "Auntie will definitely get better."
Silence fell between them. They had once clashed fiercely over Ah Yu, even causing a scene at their engagement party. But now, after weathering so many storms, especially after Lin Wanqing's surrender, Zhong Hua's kidnapping, and Ah Yu's solo rescue, their relationship had become delicate and complex.
Without Gu Yanting's deliberate provocations and the initial hostility born from misunderstanding, an unspeakable awkwardness often surfaced. Zhong Hua knew Lin Wanqing's feelings for A Yu and understood her inner struggles; Lin Wanqing, on the other hand, was aware of Zhong Hua's importance in A Yu's heart and the distance created by her role as "older sister."
“Sister Zhonghua,” Lin Wanqing suddenly spoke, her voice very soft, “Actually… you don’t need to worry about me.”
Zhong Hua turned his head and met her clear eyes, which were tinged with sadness.
“I know about you and Brother Yu…” Lin Wanqing paused, as if gathering her courage, “You two have been through so much, you should be together. I was so foolish before, I was used by Gu Yanting, and I almost hurt you…” Her voice gradually lowered, filled with deep self-reproach.
"Wanqing, let's not talk about the past." Zhong Hua sighed and gently patted the back of her hand. "None of that was your fault."
“But…” Lin Wanqing bit her lip, “If it weren’t for me, you and Brother Yu might have already…”
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