Chapter 21
Father Yu said he knew Yu Zhezhi had climbed so hard all these years because he was a cautionary tale.
Whether it was due to lack of ability or the misfortunes of fate, once you fell from a height, there would be a line of people waiting to mock and trample you. Mockery was the least of it; there were many more who remained silent, waiting only to bite off a piece of your flesh.
It wasn’t impossible to give up on yourself, drop your dignity, and just “rot” to survive, but that required a heart of steel. And for someone with that kind of mental fortitude, what couldn’t they succeed at?
Yu Zhezhi was that kind of person, but she refused to let herself fall beneath the feet of others.
Father Yu was one of the few who could see her hard work and pressure. Watching her reputation rise day by day, he felt both pride and heartache. He felt that his own bad example as a father was what forced her to work so desperately to gain a foothold.
He didn’t know the truth behind his daughter’s marriage. His words were a heartfelt advice born from the past. Yu Zhezhi found it hard to argue, so she only nodded in agreement, but her mind drifted to someone else.
A face nearly identical to Hua Luoyue’s, yet she had been her deepest solace since her youth.
If she had possessed her current wealth and status back then, she wouldn’t have had to watch as that person stepped alone onto a journey to a foreign land with nothing but an old bag. Since then, there had been no news.
Later, when she finally stood firm and wanted to find her, she realized she couldn’t even be sure exactly how to write that person’s name. The place where they once met had long been demolished and rebuilt, transforming from a dilapidated old alley into a bustling amusement park. The neighbors had scattered, and the trail went cold.
In a vast sea of people, how easy could it be to find someone whose name you didn’t even know?
If not for that, she wouldn’t have been unable to look away when she saw Hua Luoyue. From Yu Zhezhi’s perspective, she had no way of knowing when she might see “Sister Shen” again. She had even once prepared for the worst—perhaps that person had remained in a foreign land forever.
Yu Zhezhi knew that even if she were given another chance, she would still find a way to keep Hua Luoyue and do her best to solve her difficulties.
—As a small comfort.
Perhaps she could even find the shadow of a matured Sister Shen in Hua Luoyue.
But a substitute was a substitute. Currently, she had a reason to use her, which allowed her to keep Hua Luoyue naturally. Once the current troubles were cleared, they would eventually return to their original places. The fake could never truly replace the real.
But as long as Hua Luoyue was obedient, even if they separated later, she would find a way to settle her for the rest of her life, ensuring she never wanted for food or clothing.
Simply because of that face.
Their relationship was nothing more than that.
Faced with her father’s advice, Yu Zhezhi weighed it in her mind for a moment but decided not to tell him the truth. There wasn’t much benefit in it. Better to let him worry a little less for now.
“I understand.” Yu Zhezhi thought of Hua Luoyue’s mother, and some ideas did form in her mind. “I’ll ask for the doctor’s opinion later.”
Returning to the company the next day, Yu Zhezhi called Assistant Li to ask about the hospital situation.
“Dr. Song’s opinion is that if you truly want to chase a miracle, the only way is surgery, and the sooner the better. The success rate of doing the surgery back in City A is ten times higher than in City X, but in reality, it’s still less than 1%. If it fails… it will accelerate her final death. She might only have a few days left.”
Assistant Li sounded a bit distressed as she spoke, pausing before adding: “The situation has been explained clearly to Hua Luoyue. The final decision is up to her.”
Yu Zhezhi gave an “Mhm.” “If she decides to come to City A, arrange everything for her.”
Assistant Li whispered: “Understood…”
Yu Zhezhi asked further: “What about Hua Luoyue?”
Assistant Li replied: “She’s back at school. She has classes all day today.”
Yu Zhezhi: “I’m asking about her mood.”
Assistant Li froze. It wasn’t until Yu Zhezhi started tapping impatiently on the desk that she snapped back. “She seemed fine. She said she’d go back and think it over and give me an answer tomorrow.”
Yu Zhezhi: “Did she go back alone?”
Only now was Assistant Li certain that Yu Zhezhi was worried about Hua Luoyue’s mental state.
“She went back alone, but I asked around indirectly. She’s been with her classmates lately. She said she’s joining a competition next week and is busy training, returning late every day. She should be fine.”
Yu Zhezhi’s question was exactly what Assistant Li had worried about, but since she was still in City X, she could check the situation directly.
“I also secretly went to her school to ask. Since Yuan Xiaoxiao went home, basically no one is making trouble anymore. Hua Luoyue has a good temper, and her popularity has been decent since then. It seems many people in her class are happy to be around her; they even invite her to private dinners.”
Of course, the one closest to Hua Luoyue now was still Cai Xinyue.
However, compared to the previous situation of being gloomy, withdrawn, and ostracized by her roommates, Hua Luoyue’s social life was now significantly better.
Assistant Li felt a bit emotional: “Actually, their natures aren’t bad. It was probably just those ‘rat droppings’ and financial pressure that made it that way.”
Yu Zhezhi didn’t respond, and Assistant Li knew the topic was over.
“Once Hua Luoyue makes a decision, I’ll call you again,” Assistant Li said.
Hua Luoyue wasn’t one to procrastinate. The next morning, as Assistant Li was debating whether to send a reminder, Hua Luoyue’s call came through. They agreed to meet at a café near the school.
Hua Luoyue said she wanted her mother to have the surgery.
“Are you sure?” Although it was the expected answer, Assistant Li couldn’t help but confirm.
“I’m sure…” Hua Luoyue paused, then added, “But I hope it can wait until after the New Year.”
There were less than two months until the New Year.
If they did nothing, it was equivalent to watching her mother slowly drift toward death; the probability of waking up was nearly zero. Surgery at least offered a probability close to one, which was better than waiting to die. With that tiny chance in front of her, Hua Luoyue naturally chose to grab it.
But no matter how much hope she held in her heart, her logic dictated she must be clear about the most likely outcome.
Visiting the hospital so often had brought back more of the original host’s memories.
In the first half of the year, Mother Hua was already in the hospital, but she was still conscious. Not long after Father Hua was sent to prison, various family tragedies had softened this once harsh and strict woman. When the original host visited, Mother Hua gradually stopped asking about her grades. Instead, she finally started asking if she was cold, if she was hungry, and how her mood was. She would comfort her, telling her not to be sad, and sometimes she would suddenly say, “How about we stop the treatment?”
In the end, it was always the original host who forced a smile to comfort her mother, then turned away to wipe her tears in a deserted corner.
Mother Hua pretended not to notice.
It was only during that last period of consciousness that smiles could often be seen on her face. One day, after the host finished an exam, she snapped a few branches of roses from the path outside the school to bring to the hospital. Seeing the bright red flowers, Mother Hua mentioned a certain New Year years ago. She had seen someone selling flowers by the vegetable market; they were red like these, looking festive against the holiday atmosphere. She wanted to buy them, but she couldn’t bear to spend the money, and after hesitating, she gave up.
After returning home, she couldn’t stop thinking about it, so she decided to buy a pot next time she went for groceries. But when she went back, the flower vendor was gone. She went several more times but never saw that pot of flowers again.
It was a small thing from many years ago. Mother Hua mentioned it casually, and the original host said that for this year’s New Year, she would definitely find a way to buy them for her, even asking in detail about the shape of the flowers and leaves.
Not long after, Mother Hua gradually fell into a coma.
The original host was crushed by pressure from all sides and naturally pushed those casual words to the back of her mind. But after Hua Luoyue arrived, this was the first memory she recalled regarding her mother in the ward.
So, no matter what, they had to spend the New Year first.
Assistant Li didn’t know this history, but she felt the request was understandable.
“Beds in City A are quite tight, and transferring involves a process.” Assistant Li did a rough calculation. “After the Spring Festival holiday, aiming for before your school starts, the timing is about right.”
“That would be best,” Hua Luoyue said.
“The doctor’s suggestion is to transfer to City A as soon as possible,” Assistant Li added. “But in this state… it doesn’t make a huge difference. It’s just that there are more people and business at the end of the year, so the paperwork might not be as light as it is now. It’s up to you.”
If she went to City A early, Hua Luoyue still had to attend school, which made commuting inconvenient. But if she didn’t visit her mother, she might feel uneasy. And once in City A, where she would stay was also an issue. Many people there knew Yu Zhezhi; if they were seen living apart, it would surely invite gossip. But looking at Yu Zhezhi’s attitude, she might not want to live with Hua Luoyue every day.
The more Assistant Li thought, the more of a headache she had.
Hua Luoyue seemed to see her dilemma. After a moment of thought, she said: “Wait until I finish my exams.”
“When is that?”
“The exact dates haven’t been announced, but most subjects will finish before New Year’s Day. The exams should be around then—after New Year’s Day is fine. If there are rescheduling issues, I can always come back to take them. During winter break, I’ll have more time to spend with my mom.”
Assistant Li had a sudden inspiration: “Then I’ll help you rent an apartment near the hospital.”
“That would be wonderful. Thank you, Sister Li.”
Assistant Li wanted to say the girl had saved her a lot of trouble, but looking at Hua Luoyue’s face, she swallowed it. She only said: “I hope the surgery is a success.”
Hua Luoyue smiled. “From your mouth to God’s ear.”
Whether these words were sincere blessings or hollow comfort, they both knew the truth.
As Assistant Li dropped Hua Luoyue off at the school gates and watched her lonely silhouette walk onto campus, she suddenly felt that Yu Zhezhi’s decision not to come in person was wise.
Originally, she had disliked Hua Luoyue more than Yu Zhezhi did. Later, seeing her quiet and calm, she gradually developed some goodwill. But that goodwill was limited; it didn’t even reach the level of admiration. Watching her occasionally wasn’t too annoying, but she would still grumble about her being a “troublemaker” when the teachers called.
It wasn’t until she stood here that she realized more vividly how truly alone the girl was. Even for a reunion holiday like New Year’s Eve, her only hope was an unconscious mother. This might even be the last New Year for them as mother and daughter.
Pitiful… Even Assistant Li couldn’t help but feel she was truly pitiful.
Pity, sympathy, and then an inevitable softening of the heart. If Hua Luoyue had turned around at that moment and asked Assistant Li to do something difficult for her, she might not have even thought of refusing.
Fortunately, she didn’t.
By the time Hua Luoyue got back, it was nearly time for class, so she messaged Cai Xinyue and went straight to the classroom. Cai Xinyue had a few of her textbooks; over the last few days, she had been borrowing them to catch up on notes. Usually, Hua Luoyue would find her at the dorm first, then they’d go to class together. Today, there wasn’t enough time for the back-and-forth.
Close to the start of class, Cai Xinyue replied with a “Received,” followed by several exclamation marks. She had likely overslept.
Hua Luoyue rubbed her brow, regretting not calling her directly. Fortunately, the teacher for this class usually didn’t take roll until the second half. Cai Xinyue was over three minutes late, slipping in through the back. The teacher, head down reading the text, didn’t seem to notice.
Hua Luoyue had specifically chosen a seat in the back row, so the distance was short when Cai Xinyue ran over.
“This is yours.” Cai Xinyue pulled out a chair and sat down. She flipped to the title page and pushed the book with Hua Luoyue’s name over, whispering, “Lend it to me again after class, I still have notes for the last two sessions to finish.”
Hua Luoyue nodded. This course wasn’t difficult for her; taking notes was just a way to “review the old to know the new.” As for the textbook and notes, going over them once before the exam would be enough.
As Cai Xinyue opened her book, she whispered: “What did they say about your mom?”
Hua Luoyue didn’t hide it: “Transferring to City A after exams, and having surgery there after the New Year.”
Cai Xinyue sounded happy: “Really? Can she be cured?”
“The probability of success is less than 1%,” Hua Luoyue said.
Cai Xinyue froze, then said after a moment, “I’m sorry…”
Hua Luoyue gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s fine. It’s better than the probability of her waking up while just lying here like this.”
Cai Xinyue thought about it and agreed. These days she had grasped the general situation of Mother Hua and had even looked up a lot of information; none of it was good. Sustaining treatment was equivalent to a “slow death.” Though it wasn’t a nice thought, Cai Xinyue couldn’t help but feel that “it’s finally coming to an end.” Whether the result was good or bad, at least there was an end in sight, rather than crawling aimlessly in the dark.
Cai Xinyue didn’t say what she was thinking, fearing Hua Luoyue would be unhappy. She finally asked: “Are you going alone?”
“Arrangements have been made over there,” Hua Luoyue replied.
Cai Xinyue realized she meant her marriage partner. “Then are you going to stay in City A for the whole winter break?”
“Probably…” Hua Luoyue wasn’t entirely sure.
Cai Xinyue sighed, looking visibly disappointed. “I wanted to ask you out during winter break. Did you hear about the new theme park in the suburbs?”
Hua Luoyue gave a helpless smile. “Maybe next time.”
Cai Xinyue thought for a bit and added, “True, it just opened, so who knows if it’s actually fun. And it’s so cold in winter; better to wait until spring.”
The conversation went on and on, and Cai Xinyue gradually forgot to control her volume. The teacher at the front finished writing on the board and finally lost patience, turning around to call out: “Students in the last row! What’s your name? Cai Xinyue? You, translate this sentence!”
The teacher tapped the blackboard. Cai Xinyue instinctively shot a look for help toward Hua Luoyue.
Hua Luoyue opened the textbook and pointed to a specific line. She had already gone through the entire book, filling in answers for exercises as she went. This specific question happened to be one she had answered.
Cai Xinyue tried her best to read the words on the page and managed to give the answer just before the teacher blew up. The teacher’s brow softened slightly, but she gave a warning glare to Hua Luoyue sitting beside her, motioning for Cai Xinyue to sit. “Save the secrets for after class,” she reminded them.
Cai Xinyue stuck her tongue out sheepishly. Once she sat down, she covered her mouth and whispered a “Thank you” to Hua Luoyue.
We were both talking, how did she know what the teacher was saying? Cai Xinyue was genuinely confused and instinctively looked over at Hua Luoyue again.
Hua Luoyue had just flipped to the next few pages when she suddenly froze. She turned her head and ran right into Cai Xinyue’s gaze.
Cai Xinyue sensed something was wrong with her expression.
Hua Luoyue pulled a folded piece of white paper from between the pages. It was covered in writing. After just a few glances, she looked at Cai Xinyue in shock.
At the last moment, she remembered to keep her voice down: “Did you write this?”
Cai Xinyue instinctively wanted to shake her head, wondering what was on the paper that caused such a reaction.
Hua Luoyue lifted the paper. Cai Xinyue focused her eyes and instantly captured the most critical line in the center:
“I have loved you for a long time.”
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