The light extinguished, and Zhang Yao's already shattered world crumbled in an instant.She walked out of her house but didn't go downstairs, instead wandering to the rooftop like a soulless body.Staring blankly at the horizon for a while, she bitterly smiled. There was nothing worth holding onto in this world. Without hesitation, she took a step forward, only to hear a sudden "thud" behind her.Frowning deeply, Zhang Yao thought she had never done anything wrong in her life, so why was everything always going so poorly? Even at the moment of death, she couldn't find peace.She furiously turned around and glared. The boy was still staring at her, standing over a shattered watermelon, which at first glance looked like a bloodied, mangled head. It reminded her that if she jumped, she would end up looking just like that. Instinctively, she took a few steps back.
"A smashed head is frightening even as a ghost," Chu Yuxuan said earnestly. "Who knows? Maybe you'll become a ghost boss, but... you'll be ugly, though that's okay—ghosts are scarier when they're uglier.""Could you show a little more consideration? I'm about to jump!""Jump then, I'm not stopping you," Chu Yuxuan replied calmly. After a pause, he looked at her tear-filled eyes and said, "Come a little closer, I'll draw a picture of you. I'll burn it for you later. After you jump, you'll be unrecognizable. After a while, you might even forget what you look like."Zhang Yao clenched her fists, glaring at him with gritted teeth."Smile a bit. The way you look now... you're already like a ghost, baring your teeth and looking ugly.""You... even if I die today, I'll drag you down with me!" Zhang Yao screamed, charging at Chu Yuxuan, knocking him to the ground as she sobbed and fought him.But she was just a girl. Chu Yuxuan easily pinned her hands down, no matter how much she struggled. Eventually, she lost all her strength, collapsing on top of him, sobbing uncontrollably.
Suddenly, Chu Yuxuan gently hugged her, whispering in her ear in his usual indifferent tone, "Taking it out on yourself? That's nothing. If you've got guts, fight back."Zhang Yao fell quiet. The evening breeze blew softly as her tears dripped onto Chu Yuxuan's face, blossoming into cold, icy flowers.The boy had no idea how horribly this girl had suffered. He just assumed she was someone as pitiful as he was—no, perhaps even worse off than him.Zhang Yao herself didn't understand why the boy who saved her was so calm and collected, or why his tone held a hint of shared sorrow.But she could feel it—this boy was terrifyingly mature, lacking the childishness of his peers.Could a boy of fifteen or sixteen really react like this when witnessing someone about to jump?
"Thank you..." Zhang Yao calmed down, sitting up beside him.Chu Yuxuan said nothing, tidying up his drawing board and picking up the metal spoon on the ground, preparing to head home.Zhang Yao called after him, "What's your name?"Without looking back, he continued walking and said, "Chu Yuxuan."Zhang Yao wiped her tears, quickly following behind, mumbling, "My name is Zhang Yao..."Getting no response, she glanced at the drawing board, gathering her courage to ask, "Could I... have your drawing?"Chu Yuxuan paused for a moment, thought about it, then took the drawing off and handed it to her.Zhang Yao didn't follow him any further. Holding the picture in her hands, she watched as Chu Yuxuan disappeared into the building. Softly, she murmured, "Chu Yuxuan... what a nice name."
After that, they didn't cross paths again. However, Chu Yuxuan noticed that Zhang Yao always seemed to orchestrate "coincidental" encounters after his evening study sessions. She never said anything, just smiled and nodded before running away shyly.A month later, during one of these chance meetings, Zhang Yao appeared with bruises on her face, looking just like she had on the rooftop. Chu Yuxuan's heart ached a little as he asked, "Your dad got drunk and hit you again?"Zhang Yao smiled bitterly and nodded. "I'm used to it."Chu Yuxuan opened his mouth to say something but couldn't find the words.In that moment, he pitied this poor girl, but there was nothing he could do.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, Zhang Yao suddenly called out, "Yuxuan... gege (brother)."He stopped, looking back at her. "Hmm?"After a pause, he asked, "Do you want me to call the police for you?"Zhang Yao shook her head, pressing her lips together, saying nothing, just smiling at him.They locked eyes for a moment before Chu Yuxuan turned his gaze away and said, "I'm heading home," then walked toward his building. What he didn't know was that Zhang Yao didn't run away shyly as usual this time. Instead, she watched his back as he walked away, her eyes filled with farewell, her smile unusually sweet.Blooming in the abyss, embracing the darkness—that was her form of release.
That night, a gas explosion occurred at Zhang Yao's home. The drunken, gambling-addicted devil was sent to hell, while Zhang Yao only suffered minor injuries. After a night in the hospital, she dropped out of school the next day, and no one knew where she went.Later, on New Year's Eve, Zhang Yao's former homeroom teacher was declared missing by the police. To this day, there's no trace of him—alive or dead.
In the present, Chu Yuxuan stared in disbelief at Situ Jingyao, stunned for a long time before asking, "Why are you called Situ Jingyao now?"Situ Jingyao swayed her hips as she approached him, casually saying, "After the explosion, I was adopted by someone, so I took my adoptive father's surname and changed my name."Chu Yuxuan wanted to ask how she became the manager of Red House, but the question felt foolish. With someone like Situ Jingyao, it was obvious how she got everything she had."Do I look that different? You didn't recognize me for so long." She teased, standing in front of him.Chu Yuxuan grinned roguishly, his eyes sweeping over her curves. "You've changed... a lot."Situ Jingyao laughed. "Hey, why do you act like a hooligan now? Give me back the Yuxuan gege I used to know." She opened her arms playfully, "Hug?"Chu Yuxuan raised an eyebrow, "Let's not. I'm a married man now, with strict house rules.""Such a killjoy." Situ Jingyao didn't push further, folding her arms. "Lunch together?"Chu Yuxuan thought for a moment, then said, "I've got something else to do... Hey, since we're old acquaintances, can you tell me what's really going on with the Xue family—""Stop." Situ Jingyao rolled her eyes. "I already made myself clear earlier. Don't make me repeat it." She smirked, "I know you're suspicious, thinking I'm in cahoots with Xue Can, plotting against you."Chu Yuxuan kept a straight face. "I didn't say that.""You're lying."Chu Yuxuan chuckled awkwardly, "Alright, I'll come see you again another day. I've got to go for now."Situ Jingyao didn't stop him. "Fine, but at least add me on WeChat. House rules can't be that strict, right?"Chu Yuxuan laughed, "Not that strict, but I lost my phone. Next time.""I added you last night. Just remember to accept it.""...Sure. I'm off then.""I'll see you out."
Situ Jingyao personally walked Chu Yuxuan downstairs and watched as he drove off, her eyes lingering on him for a long time.The truth was, ever since Chu Yuxuan returned to the country, she had been quietly following him, the man who had once saved her life. But for various reasons, she couldn't approach him, so she kept her distance.When a flower hasn't bloomed, there's no need to attract the wind.