Youthful rebellion and resentment—In the grand scheme, they are merely jokes played by fate,Gradually smoothed out by the passage of time.
I stayed in the hospital for over a week, and during this time, Chen Qiao Luo didn’t show up even once. Instead, Gu Yu came by twice. I thanked him, but he waved it off with a smile, saying, “Zhu Yun Hao, you falling this ill has a lot to do with me too. If you thank me, you’ll make me feel guilty!”
I smiled without saying anything more. After this incident, I felt that something had subtly changed in Gu Yu’s demeanor toward me. Yet, I couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was.
Li Zi came to visit me at the hospital almost every day after school, sometimes even dragging Tong Xiao Tian along. Over time, the tension between Tong Xiao Tian and me eased, thanks to Li Zi’s presence.
Sometimes, I thought this might just be life. We lose some people, but we also step into better futures.
By mid-December, I was back at school. However, Chen Qiao Luo seemed to have vanished entirely—even his classmates didn’t know where he was. Occasionally, I’d run into Gu Yu on campus, and he would always stop to give me a warm smile. We never brought up what had happened that rainy day, as if we were two old friends with an unspoken understanding.
It felt as though Chen Qiao Luo had drifted far away from us. But one evening, as twilight deepened on my way home, Gu Yu suddenly asked, “Zhu Yun Hao, do you like Chen Qiao Luo?”
It was the first time in a long while that we’d spoken of Chen Qiao Luo.
I remained silent, slowing my steps gradually.
These days, I had been dreaming of Chen Qiao Luo almost every night. In my dreams, he wore a pristine white shirt, its hem fluttering lightly in the breeze. The weather was perfect, with a spring wind caressing everything. He looked at me and smiled—kept smiling—until he slowly faded away.
Seeing that I didn’t respond, Gu Yu didn’t press further.
After that, we never mentioned Chen Qiao Luo again. But I knew that his departure was a wound I least wanted to face.
I hadn’t realized that losing someone could hurt this much.
* * *
Dad brought Auntie Shen home during New Year’s Day. He had given me a heads-up earlier, mentioning that he was inviting a friend over. I teased him, asking if he was bringing home a new mom for me. To my surprise, his face flushed with a rare redness. Seeing his reaction, I knew my guess was spot on.
I’ve never been the type of daughter who doesn’t understand the need for compromise. After all, it was Mom who abandoned us first. Over the years, Dad had raised me alone, playing the roles of both father and mother. The hardships he endured could only be known to him. He gave so much for me. Now that he had found someone to walk through life with, I was genuinely happy for him. How could I ever stand in the way of his happiness?
Auntie Shen was five years younger than Dad. Though she had been married before, she didn’t have any children. Upon meeting me, she gave me a big bear hug and immediately complimented my looks.
After spending just one meal together, I understood why Dad had fallen for her. Honestly, even I, as a girl, couldn’t help but adore her. Despite being in her thirties, Auntie Shen had the temperament of a young girl, a genuine quality that didn’t seem forced.
After dinner, while Dad was in the kitchen preparing some fruit, Auntie Shen pulled me onto the couch to chat. She spoke about the various people she had encountered over the years and then, like a curious child, asked, “Yun Hao, at your age, most girls have little crushes, right? Do you have someone you like?”
I had never discussed this topic with Dad before, so when Auntie Shen brought it up, I froze.
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