The Liang family estate was bathed in the soft glow of lantern light as dusk fell over Blackthorn City. The grand halls, lined with ornate carvings and priceless artifacts, were a testament to the family's power and influence. Yet, amidst all the opulence, an unsettling quiet filled the air.
In the central hall, **Liang Tian Yi**, the patriarch of the Liang family, sat calmly at the head of a polished wooden table. His face, weathered by years of leadership, bore a permanent look of indifference, a man who had long mastered the art of suppressing emotion, and beside him sat **Liang Feng**, his father and the elder of the Lian family. Though retired from official duties, Liang Feng's presence carried an unshakable authority. He rarely spoke, but when he did, his words were law.
The silence was broken as a servant hurried into the room, bowing deeply before addressing the two men.
"Elder Feng, Patriarch Tian Yi," the servant began hesitantly, his voice trembling slightly. "A messenger from the Yan family has arrived. He says it's urgent."
Liang Tian Yi glanced at his father before gesturing for the messenger to be brought in. Moments later, an older man clad in the distinct robes of the Yan family entered the hall. His face was serious, but there was a hint of unease in his eyes as he bowed respectfully.
"Patriarch Tian Yi, Elder Feng," the man greeted, his tone measured. "I bring news concerning Liang Chen."
Lian Tian Yi's expression remained unchanged, but there was a flicker of acknowledgment in his eyes. "Speak," he commanded.
The Yan elder hesitated as if weighing his words carefully, before finally speaking. "Earlier today, Liang Zhen was seen leaving the mountain where he resides. He was carrying a small bundle of belongings, enough for travel. It appears he has left the city."
The hall fell silent again, the weight of the words hanging heavily in the air. Servants who lingered at the room's edges exchanged nervous glances, unsure how the Lian family would react.
Elder Feng's eyes narrowed slightly, but his voice, when he spoke, was calm and cold. "So, the boy has finally left."
The Yan elder shifted uncomfortably. "Yes, Elder. He didn't say where he was going or when he would return. Given his... condition, we thought it best to inform you immediately."
Liang Tian Yi leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest. There was no anger in his demeanor, no concern. If anything, there was a faint air of relief, as if a troublesome problem had solved itself.
"He's just a blind boy with broken meridians," Tian Yi said, his tone devoid of emotion. "He'll wander for a while, and when he realizes the world outside is far harsher than the one he knows, he'll return. If he doesn't... well, it's no great loss to the family."
The Yan elder seemed taken aback by the coldness of the patriarch's words, but he said nothing, only bowing once more before taking his leave.
Elder Feng, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, finally spoke as the messenger departed. "Do you truly believe he'll come back?"
Liang Tian Yi allowed himself a faint smirk. "He has nowhere else to go. He'll return when he's had enough of the world's cruelty. If not, it's better this way. The Lian family has no place for the weak."
Elder Feng nodded slightly, though there was a glimmer of something unreadable in his eyes. Whether it was doubt, indifference, or hidden pity, he didn't say.
The servants quickly resumed their tasks, the tension in the room dissipating as if nothing had happened. For the Lian family, Liang Chen's departure was a trivial matter, barely worth discussing.
But outside the grand estate, under the vast night sky, a boy with white eyes and a bundle of meager belongings walked into the unknown, determined to find his path.
The Lian family, secure in their arrogance, had no idea that the "trash" they so easily discarded would one day cast a shadow far greater than their own.
The Liang family mansion was quiet, the kind of silence that pressed against the ears and made the heart uneasy. At the heart of the estate was a small, dimly lit room. Everything within it was meticulously arranged—books neatly stacked, a single bed made with precision, and a desk holding only the essentials. Yet despite its order, the room exuded a profound sense of loneliness. The air was heavy, the walls cold, and the faint light from a lone lantern only deepened the shadows that clung to the corners.
In the center of the room stood two girls, **Lian Hua** and **Chen Yue**. They were silent, their expressions unreadable as they stared at the desk before them. On its surface lay two neatly folded letters, each addressed to them.
Lian Hua, Liang Chen's fiancée, hesitated before picking up the letter with her name. Her fingers trembled slightly as she unfolded the paper and began to read.
---
*To Lian Hua,*
*I have left the engagement paper for you. I have signed it, breaking our engagement.*
*From now on, you will no longer have to endure ridicule for being engaged to me. The burden I brought upon your life is gone. You are free to pursue your future without the weight of my name dragging you down.*
*Goodbye.*
---
Lian Hua's grip on the letter tightened, her knuckles turning white. A storm of emotions flickered across her face—relief, confusion, and something she couldn't quite name. She set the letter down carefully, her lips pressing into a thin line.
Zhen Yue, Liang Chen's closest companion, stood beside her. Her gaze was locked on the second letter, her emotions masked by a calm exterior. Slowly, she reached out, took the letter addressed to her, and began to read.
---
*To Zhen Yue,*
*I am Liang Chen. I do not need anyone's pity or sympathy.*
* I no longer need lies to keep going. Thank you for everything you've done for me, but our paths end here.*
*Goodbye.*
---
Zhen Yue's hands dropped to her sides, the letter slipping from her fingers and fluttering to the floor. She remained still, her face betraying no emotion, though her heart felt heavy.
The two girls stood in silence, the weight of Liang Chen's words hanging in the cold air. The letters spoke of severed ties, of a quiet farewell that neither of them had anticipated.
The room, once a space that held fleeting moments of companionship, now felt emptier than ever. Liang Chen's absence was palpable, his departure marked by the finality of his words.
Lian Hua was the first to move, placing the letter back on the desk as if returning it to a tombstone. She turned to Zhen Yue, her voice low.
"He's gone."
Zhen Yue nodded, her eyes fixed on the empty bed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes... he's gone."
The two girls left the room without another word, their footsteps echoing faintly in the quiet mansion. The light of the lantern flickered and dimmed, leaving the room shrouded in darkness once more.
And in that darkness, the letters remained silent witnesses to the boy who had left behind a world that had never wanted him.