Chapter 245 Epilogue - New World Arc (42)
—Yu Qingzhou.
This is how the young man introduced himself.
Children also address each other in this way.
Regardless of social status or how close or distant one is to another, they are always addressed by name.
Why did that happen?
—It's probably still because of Li Nian.
Because Li Nian didn't want to define their relationship based on this.
Although, in fact, Yu Qingzhou made her intentions clear from the beginning.
"Because I sensed it—the jade pendant you wear around your neck—"
It turns out that the young man was the one who gave the jade pendant...
The one who was rumored to have had an affair with Li Nian's biological mother...
A sudden, subtle unease arose in my heart.
I can't really explain why.
Li Nian silently clenched the jade pendant hidden under her clothes, feeling the strange heat emanating from her palm.
He knew the other party wasn't lying.
However, handing over the jade pendant was something Li Nian simply could not do.
—This is mine.
Li Nian thought to herself.
He even considered that he would rather smash the jade pendant before he died than hand it over to someone else.
So even now, with the former owner of the item right in front of him, he still doesn't want to hand it over.
Reluctant to part with it.
Unwilling to accept it.
Even less willing.
Thinking of this, a dark glint flashed in the child's eyes, and his five fingers, hidden in his sleeve, suddenly clenched.
When she raised her head again, she adopted a timid and weak appearance.
"Please, could you not take the jade pendant with you? It's the only keepsake my mother left for me... I... I really..."
Mother.
What an unfamiliar title!
Previously, Li Nian had never cared about the bond between mother and son.
But when you actually say it to a young person, it's much easier than you imagine.
It felt so natural, as if I really thought it from the bottom of my heart.
That's really strange.
The child silently pondered to himself.
As he spoke, tears welled up in his eyes.
That pitiful expression, on the verge of tears, was enough to melt the heart of anyone with a conscience.
Young people were clearly among them.
He paused for a moment upon hearing this, and a complex expression appeared in his gaze as he looked at Li Nian.
"Your mother, Miss Yun Yao, she... no wonder... no wonder..."
The young man murmured to himself, his voice sounding like a sigh or a lament, a silent regret settling over his already weary eyes.
That wistful expression didn't seem fake.
What are you regretting?
Did he fail to appear in time to see the girl Yun Yao, whom he had mentioned, one last time?
Or should he leave behind an orphaned girl and depart alone, leaving her adrift and rootless in this chaotic world, still longing for her on her deathbed?
—Anything is fine.
Li Nian pondered to herself.
As long as one feels genuine remorse, even the slightest bit, it can be profitable for oneself.
Hold onto this guilt.
Enrich it.
Zoom it in.
Let it truly serve you.
This is what I should really be doing next.
Li Nian suppressed his inner thoughts. No rush, he told himself.
Plans can never keep up with changes; the most important thing is to remain calm and wait for the right moment, and proceed gradually.
"Yun Yao...you...you actually know my mother's former name?! I haven't heard anyone call her that in a long time. Are you...very close?"
The child asked cautiously.
At first, there was surprise and delight. After a slight pause, as if remembering something, she looked at the person in front of her with a hesitant expression.
This was the second time Li Nian had mentioned her birth mother in front of Yu Qingzhou.
The addition of the word "I" was simply to deepen the connection between the mother and son in the young man's mind.
Don't you feel regretful?
Then let's just keep regretting it.
—But at least remember that I'm still here.
The person you wronged left behind a child, equally lonely and helpless... and standing right in front of you right now.
Should we seize the opportunity to wallow in useless self-blame, or—
Why not take concrete actions and personally mend the conscience that has been hurt by reality?
Li Nian stood quietly, looking up at the young man and waiting for his response.
After a moment, the latter sighed and looked away, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes.
“Your mother and I are old friends.”
"Old friend?"
Li Nian repeated softly, a slight sense of loss welling up in her heart... It was just an old friend after all?
Judging from how much the woman cherished the jade pendant, he assumed that the two must have had at least a deeper past.
However, he carefully observed the other person's expression and movements, and the subtle changes in tone of voice when they spoke.
It's still impossible to discern any further hidden emotions.
On the contrary, it was that pervasive, subtle weariness that was more profound.
This person is like someone who has traveled a very long and arduous journey, a journey so long it's unimaginable, before finally arriving before you.
When this thought arose in his mind, the child couldn't help but feel a slight stirring in his heart.
In all her years, no one had ever taken the initiative to do anything for her.
Not to mention this...
if……
If there were someone in the world who would go to such lengths for him...
But no.
This didn't exist before.
Not now.
I'm afraid the future is also uncertain...
At that moment, a burning jealousy clearly surged within the child as he pressed the jade pendant to his chest.
Suddenly, a towering flame appeared before my eyes—
But it's not entirely a nighttime scene.
The people who scattered and cried out in the flames, their faces contorted with pain, were familiar yet strange.
He simply watched, watching the fire rage and devour everything in its path.
Except for the girl kneeling on the ground beside him, her head bowed, her long hair disheveled, crying and laughing.
Those sounds of crying and laughing were all too familiar to me.
(...Yun Yao.)
Li Nian frowned as the strange images flashed through her mind.
He saw... a scene that should never have been seen.
However, it always happened in dreams before.
This time, however, it happened in broad daylight, after I had woken up from my dream.
Could it be because the person from the dream has come into reality...?
Li Nian did not let her thoughts wander.
Bearing the title of the son of a mad concubine does not mean he has to become a madman.
Besides, compared to those empty dreams, the person in front of me is the one I should hold onto—
"Young Taoist priest..."
Li Nian suddenly called out, and was immediately satisfied to receive a fleeting look of obvious surprise on the other person's face.
He remained unmoved.
As if oblivious to the young man's emotions, she lowered her innocent eyes and rambled on to finish her sentence.
“My mother kept calling out this name before she passed away… I didn’t understand at the time, but now I think she probably wanted to see me one last time.”
After the child finished speaking, tears welled up in his eyes.
He stood still, without moving or looking up.
I counted silently in my heart.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves.
A white hem of clothing flashed by in my already blurred vision.
The next moment, a hand that wasn't particularly large gently rested on Li Nian's shoulder.
The young man bent down, his gaze level with the child's. When he spoke again, his tone was calm yet earnest.
He said, "I'm sorry I'm late."
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