She pursed her lips into a faint smile, "Grandma will live to be a hundred."
Grandma's eyes welled up with tears. She let out a heavy sigh and asked, "Are you still waiting for him?"
Shen Yue fell silent, her head bowed. Her smooth black hair cascaded onto her shoulders, which appeared thin and frail; she had grown even thinner.
In the silence, Grandma received her answer. She found Shen Yue incredibly stubborn and foolish.
The young master of the Qi family, it was uncertain, he was just saying it in jest.
Yet, this foolish girl took him seriously.
Grandma retrieved a piece of paper from beneath her mattress and gave it to Shen Yue.
Shen Yue opened it to find a string of phone numbers.
"This is Mrs. Qi's number. When you're tired of waiting, go find him. Mrs. Qi owes me a favor; she'll take you in."
The paper was rough, perhaps having been kept for a long time, its color turned yellow.
A tear rolled down Grandma's cheek. Trembling, she held the girl's cold hand. The wrinkles around her eyes made her look very kind, and her eyes held reluctance and sadness.
"If he doesn't like you anymore, then come back."
"Grandma hopes you'll be happy, truly happy, your whole life."
Shen Yue's heart gave a spasm. She said, "Okay."
Only then did Grandma manage a smile before closing her eyes and falling into a deep sleep.
This sleep, it turned out, was her last.
The village was filled with joy, firecrackers lining the streets, children in new clothes, holding lanterns, their laughter carrying far.
Meanwhile, in another place, the girl lost the only family she had in this world.
From then on, she was all alone.
---
Shen Yue waited for four years, but Qi Rui never came.
After much hesitation, she took all her savings and went to the capital.
The distance from the village to the capital was long. Shen Yue endured two days of train travel, vomiting several times, her face as pale as paper.
Shen Yue's legs were unsteady as she disembarked the train. She didn't have much luggage, only a few clothes. After crouching on the ground to rest for a few minutes, Shen Yue stood up.
Finding a shopping mall, Shen Yue took out the paper and made the call.
---
The night was pitch black, as if boundless ink had been heavily smeared across the sky, not even a glimmer of starlight could be seen. The cold wind howled, and the branches of trees were blown about erratically.
A black Bentley glided steadily into a magnificent manor, brilliantly lit. In the garden, a large circular fountain sparkled.
Shen Yue looked on, feeling a touch of timidity.
She lowered her head, gazing at her faded canvas shoes, nervously fiddling with the hem of her clothes.
The car door opened. Shen Yue paused before stepping out, where servants awaited to guide her.
The ornate crystal chandelier illuminated almost every corner. Expensive paintings and vases worth millions – these were things Shen Yue had never been able to touch, a world she had never seen, something she hadn't even dared to imagine.
She felt increasingly awkward, her face growing even paler.
The servants led the young girl to a sofa.
The sofa was so soft, it felt like sitting on clouds.
This was Shen Yue's first time away from home, and her nerves were taut.
The servants brought tea and water, treating her without any neglect.
The girl quietly murmured, "Thank you."
It was winter, and the wind outside was fierce, yet inside the villa, it was as warm as spring. However, Shen Yue's palms were still sweating.
The unfamiliar environment made Shen Yue deeply uneasy and anxious, but as soon as she thought of meeting Qi Rui soon, she felt less afraid.
She touched the necklace around her neck.
She even felt a little joyful and expectant.
Four years had passed; the boy had become a man, and he should be more mature.
She wondered, did Qi Rui still remember her?
If he did, then why didn't he come looking for her?
Was it because he was busy?
He must be very busy, right?
With countless questions, Shen Yue felt a sliver of apprehension deep within her heart.
The sound of an approaching vehicle reached her ears, and Shen Yue suddenly looked up, her attention focused on the sounds outside.
Soon after, steady footsteps, rhythmic and measured, could be heard.
Under the brilliant lights, every corner was illuminated.
An incense stick was lit on the coffee table, and the faint, elegant, and alluring scent of sandalwood filled the air.
Shen Yue saw the man entering.
He was both a stranger and familiar.
The man's hair had grown longer, all combed back, revealing a smooth forehead. His brows and eyes were handsome and composed. A perfectly tailored black suit accentuated his tall, slender frame while exuding an air of restrained allure.
He spotted the girl sitting on the sofa as soon as he entered and paused for a moment.
The other person's eyes held a pronounced distance, an odd sense of unfamiliarity spreading between them.
The girl looked at the man, her smile, which had not yet fully formed, froze, pricked by the indifferent expression on his face.
Qi Rui loosened his tie and asked the maid beside him over his shoulder, "Who is she?"
The maid bowed her head and replied, "Madam said this young lady is a guest from afar, staying here for a few days."
A guest?
Qi Rui's gaze, though seemingly indifferent, was subtly appraising her.
The girl was very fair, with vibrant lips, and quite thin.
She looked at him, her eyelashes long, her fair face beautiful and delicate.
Yet, the clothes she wore were old, even a little shabby.
Qi Rui did not recall the Qi family ever having such a guest.
Perhaps she was his mother's guest. Out of politeness, Qi Rui walked over. Standing to speak to someone felt somewhat condescending, so he sat down on another sofa.
His fingers rested on his knees, long and distinct. His jawline was elegant, his features sharp and clear. The smile on his face was just right, not excessively cold. "Hello, I'm Qi Rui. My mother likely won't be back tonight. Shall I prepare a guest room for you first?"
Shen Yue was momentarily stunned. The man before her was familiar, but the way he looked at her was unfamiliar.
Staring blankly at the man's face, her heart felt as if a hole had been punched through it, and cold wind rushed in. She felt nothing but cold.
Shen Yue did not speak. The beautiful eyes held a hint of moisture, almost overflowing. Her smooth black hair fell to the sides of her face, giving her a fragile, delicate appearance.
Her throat felt constricted, and she couldn't utter a sound. Shen Yue wanted to ask Qi Rui why he hadn't come to find her.
But meeting Qi Rui's dark eyes and hearing his words made her feel as if she had fallen into a mire.
It was suffocating and laughable.
"You... don't remember me?"
The girl finally spoke, her voice as gentle as the waters of Jiangnan, a soft, melodic tone.
Qi Rui paused, looking intently at the girl's face. He searched his memory for a long time, but it remained a blank.
He offered an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry, I had a car accident a few years ago and forgot a lot of things. Could you tell me your name?"
Shen Yue's fingertips turned pale. She clearly saw the unfamiliarity in the man's eyes. Even his actions, though polite and courteous, made her feel like a stranger.
So, it wasn't that he hadn't come to find her; he had simply forgotten her.