Chapter 72 Li Nian's Independent Side Story - When He Remembered It (Twenty-One)
Yu Qingzhou called out that name—
The name that had been stirring deep within my mind since the first time I met Dr. Shen, yet I couldn't bring myself to say it.
At the same time, he finally understood where the sense of familiarity with the woman came from.
Yu Qingzhou had indeed met Dr. Shen a long time ago.
In fact... the two were once quite familiar with each other.
However, this "Dr. Shen" is not the same as that "Dr. Shen".
Deep and resonant.
This senior, who was several years ahead of Yu Qingzhou, was not only Yu Qingzhou's friend, but also... his lover's older brother.
When did that happen?
Even though I didn't experience it myself, the non-existent memories flowed before my eyes like water.
—It is "him", yet it is not "him".
In that version of memory, Yu Qingzhou was not an orphan who grew up in an orphanage.
Instead, he was a child born into an ordinary family with both parents.
They had an ordinary, but undeniably happy, childhood.
Besides, there is also a childhood sweetheart who, though eccentric, is extremely dazzling.
Because both parents work, they don't have much time to spend with their child.
Yu Qingzhou thus had no choice but to frequently visit his neighbors' homes to disturb them.
They're supposed to be neighbors, but they're actually two streets apart.
Yu Qingzhou didn't quite understand at the time what kind of neighbor this was.
But I heard that the aunt and my mother had a very good relationship when they were young.
It's probably what you'd call a close female friend or something like that.
Even though they have each started their own families, they still visit each other frequently during holidays.
However, in reality, only he and his mother were walking around.
In her memory, her father had never accompanied her on a visit to that family, just as Yu Qingzhou had almost never met the male head of the household during her visits.
There seems to be an unspoken understanding between them.
At that time, Yu Qingzhou didn't understand; she was simply shocked by the appearance of the family's son on her first visit.
To be precise, it was more surprising than amazing.
Because Yu Qingzhou had no concept of beauty or ugliness as a child, when she saw the little boy standing by the stair railing, her first thought was that there really were people in reality with green eyes like a cat.
Then I felt a little sorry for the other person who was so young but already had a full head of white hair.
He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice the other person's extremely unhappy expression.
【come over. 】
Aunt Li greeted the boy as if he were a kitten or puppy.
Yu Qingzhou was still lost in thought.
When I looked up, the boy was already standing in front of me.
Yu Qingzhou then realized that the other person was very tall... or maybe she was too short in preschool.
Even with all your might, you can only see the boy's pointed chin when you lift your head.
Hello, my name is Yu Qingzhou. What's your brother's name?
The little children smiled and raised their heads, trying their best to appear friendly.
This is what my mother told me before I left home.
However, after waiting for a while, the person on the other end did not respond.
I could feel a scrutinizing gaze upon me.
Yu Qingzhou was caught in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat, and could only stand still, enduring the scrutiny of the other party's gaze as if being punished.
Finally, there was movement on the other side; it was a soft hum from the boy's nose.
Yu Qingzhou froze instantly.
Although he is insensitive to beauty and ugliness, his perception of emotions is quite the opposite.
Being in a completely unfamiliar environment, and facing the rejection shown by the only person present who is of similar age, one would naturally feel helpless.
He was just wondering if he had said or done something that might have upset the other person.
Suddenly, a hand shot out from the side and slammed it hard on the boy's raised head.
A crisp thud was heard.
The boy immediately changed his attitude, let out a howl, and squatted down, clutching his head.
Who taught him that ridiculous mannerism?!
Yu Qingzhou never expected that Aunt Li, who looked so stern and aloof, would have such a ruthless style when disciplining her son, just like the ruthless grandmother of Erzhuzi next door.
A sense of awe and respect arose within me.
A hint of guilt crept into her gaze as she looked at the boy.
After all, the other party got beaten up partly because of him...
Apologize right now.
Aunt Li's voice rang out again.
Yu Qingzhou wanted to wave her hand and say that she was fine.
Moreover, he suspected that, given the boy's personality when he first appeared, it would be difficult for him not to hold a grudge after being beaten and forced to apologize.
Yu Qingzhou didn't want to make an enemy for no reason.
But before he could make a move, the boy squatting on the ground spoke first.
【……sorry. 】
The boy spoke in a muffled voice, his previous pride completely gone.
It looks just like a defeated rooster.
"It's my fault," the boy continued.
Then suddenly a hand was stretched out and placed directly in front of Yu Qingzhou.
Yu Qingzhou stared at the hand for a moment before realizing that it might mean shaking hands and making peace.
It's...it's okay.
As he spoke, he reached out and gently shook hands.
I had originally planned to just touch it symbolically, but I was so surprised by how cold it was the moment our fingertips touched.
While the child was still in a daze, his outstretched little hand was grasped in the palm of his hand.
Yu Qingzhou looked up and was immediately struck by the vast expanse of green.
It turned out that the young man had raised his face at some point and was smiling as he looked in this direction, his curved eyes gleaming with a light that Yu Qingzhou could not fathom.
Then he heard the boy turn to Aunt Li and ask for permission to take him around.
When Yu Qingzhou heard the boy call his birth mother "mother" to her face, a hint of surprise flashed through her mind.
Because that's far too formal a statement.
Yu Qingzhou had only heard of it in some pretentious dubbed films.
However, the boy had clearly become accustomed to it.
To be precise, of the few people present, apart from him, none seemed to sense that anything was amiss...
Before Yu Qingzhou could continue to wonder, the boy had already received his birth mother's permission and was taking his hand to walk away.
Yu Qingzhou couldn't say whether she was willing or not.
I'm just a little lost.
He turned to his mother for help, only to see her smile and nod.
The child then let go of all resistance and allowed the neighbor, whom he was meeting for the first time, to lead him on a tour of the building's interior.
The boy was naturally very fair-skinned, and his hair was also light-colored.
When the sun shines on you, it's as if your whole body is glowing.
Yu Qingzhou couldn't remember much about the room's layout as she walked; all she could think of was the white expanse under the sunlight.
That's strange.
His first meeting with that person, where they held hands, was on a sunny day...
My first solo birthday celebration was on a sunny day...
Our first kiss, though accidental, was also on a sunny day...
It seems that all the beautiful and precious moments in life are perfectly timed sunny days.
But the most profound memory of that person that remained in Yu Qingzhou's mind was from a rainy day.
That car accident...
Also, Yu Qingzhou attended that person's funeral.
That was probably one of the few times that the male heads of both households were present at the same time.
Yu Qingzhou, however, had no interest in it anymore.
He just stared intently at the old photograph on the tombstone.
Only after everyone else had left did an umbrella open over his head.
Standing next to Yu Qingzhou, holding an umbrella, was Shen Yun.
The Shen and Li families are considered close relatives.
However, Yu Qingzhou met Shen Yun back when they were in school.
The two only had a brief interaction before the other person went abroad to study.
They met again at the funeral.
At that time, Shen Yun was already a qualified psychologist.
It's hard to say whether their relationship is that of friends or doctor and patient.
Yu Qingzhou felt that she was not sick.
They simply saw things that others couldn't see and heard sounds that others couldn't hear.
He once asked Shen Yun about the existence of ghosts in the world.
Years later, Shen Yun's attitude has become even more resolute. But he holds a completely different view.
Or rather, Yu Qingzhou hoped that ghosts existed in the world.
Because he focused too much energy on that possible other world, he found it increasingly difficult to engage in real life.
He became forgetful, absent-minded, and often couldn't tell which day he was living in.
Time can sometimes feel as long as it stands still, and sometimes it can turn black and white upside down in the blink of an eye.
Suddenly finding themselves in an unexpected place, they are confused and at a loss.
Finally, one day—
Yu Qingzhou was suddenly brought back to her senses from the blankness and found herself lying in bed.
My head was spinning, my limbs felt weak, and the air was filled with the smell of a gas leak.
He thought, "It'll probably be today."
He did not deliberately seek death, but when that moment actually arrived, he felt an unprecedented sense of peace and release.
The only slight regret was that his phone suddenly rang, and he vaguely remembered that he still had one last consultation with Shen Yun that he hadn't finished.
Yu Qingzhou wanted to say sorry in person.
But it was too late.
He heard piano music.
It was the piece the boy had personally taught him to play...
My consciousness followed the music and sank into a bottomless darkness.
—After that, I must have died.
Yu Qingzhou thought.
So, what about the world I live in?
If I have truly been reborn as a human, how could I retain memories of my past life?
Most importantly, the serene and composed demeanor before him was almost identical to his appearance during their last meeting...
Could this actually be the afterlife?
And could it be that he, Chen Yun, has already—
But why?
The other person is clearly so young.
"...Was it an accident, or a sudden illness?"
Yu Qingzhou asked in confusion.
Upon hearing this question, Shen Yun was taken aback at first. After staring at Yu Qingzhou for a while, she suddenly burst out laughing.
Yu Qingzhou was baffled by the young man's trembling laughter.
Shen Yun laughed for a while before slowly stopping and looking at Yu Qingzhou, saying, "It's been so long, but you're still the same as before."
It was clearly a teasing joke, but it also seemed to carry a hint of sadness.
Yu Qingzhou didn't like this atmosphere.
Moreover, he was indeed eager to know the truth.
So, the answer is—
Noticing Yu Qingzhou's change in mood, Shen Yun became slightly more serious.
“I know what you’re thinking, but none of that has happened. In fact, only one thing happened before we got here.”
"What?"
"I think I... saw another version of myself."
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