After half a month of sightseeing in Shanghai, Lu Yige's father finally took three days off, saying he wanted to take them out to relax.
Mother Lu shot him a mildly reproachful look. "You workaholic—you've been here for over half a month and only now think to spend some time with us."
Father Lu pulled her into his arms and said, "I've been swamped lately. I had to settle things first. Aren't I spending time with you now?"
Lu Yige: Why do I suddenly feel like I'm being force-fed affection?
Watching her parents cling to each other, she felt it was best to stay quiet and slip away.
She glanced at Jiang Yu, signaling him to leave with her, but just as she turned around, Father Lu called out.
"Yige, any objections?"
"No." She turned back. "I was just wondering where you're taking us, Dad. You didn't say—being all mysterious."
"I forgot to mention it earlier," Father Lu replied. "It's a new project developed by your Uncle Jiang—a seaside resort. He invited me to check it out a month ago. I wanted to wait until you arrived."
Uncle Jiang.
The moment Jiang Yu heard the name, his nerves snapped tight.
At the same time, he heard Lu Yige ask, "Uncle Jiang?"
Father Lu reclined comfortably on the sofa and replied casually, "A business partner I've worked with for many years. You've met him a few times before."
Lu Yige nodded. "Oh, right. I remember."
In truth, she had no idea who he was. The system hadn't given her the original owner's memories; everything she knew came from the novel Nian Nian.
Father Lu didn't pay much attention, busy coaxing his wife instead.
Lu Yige couldn't help smiling. How nice—her parents' relationship was really good.
The next day, Father Lu didn't call a driver. He drove them to the resort himself.
Lu Yige looked at the sign and frowned. "Jiangcheng Resort? Shouldn't it be something with 'seaside' in the name?"
"Silly child." Mother Lu laughed. "That's your Uncle Jiang's name."
"Oh." Lu Yige responded, chuckling.
Jiangcheng. Jiangcheng.
Hearing the name, Jiang Yu's breathing grew rapid, the last thread of rationality in his mind snapping.
So it really was this name. He remembered his mother mentioning it when he was little. When he had mistakenly believed Father Lu was that man, he had even thought the man was using a fake name to deceive his mother.
Jiangcheng—the man who deceived his mother, got her pregnant out of wedlock, caused her to be cursed as a mistress and driven from her home.
The man who promised to come take them away, yet abandoned them without a second thought.
The man who drove his mother completely insane...
The root of all his childhood nightmares.
When they arrived at the prepared sea-view suite, Lu Yige casually asked, "Where's Uncle Jiang?"
Father Lu smiled helplessly. "He's even busier than I am. Not someone you can meet just like that."
"But he'll come by in a couple of days to discuss next quarter's cooperation."
"A big shot," Mother Lu said pointedly.
"Well—" Father Lu laughed it off.
Lu Yige walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The view was excellent—sea, sky, and beach all spread out before her.
"It's beautiful," she said softly.
Jiang Yu came to stand beside her, staring blankly at the sky, lost in thought.
"Isn't it beautiful?" she asked.
Jiang Yu nodded, resting his hand on the window ledge, pensive.
Lu Yige felt that ever since coming to Shanghai, Jiang Yu had turned into a brooding artsy type.
Artsy was fine—anything was better than a scheming scumbag plotting every second.
That evening, they strolled along the beach together. Seeing her parents growing increasingly affectionate, Lu Yige proactively pulled Jiang Yu off to the side.
There weren't many people around. Listening to the sound of the waves and feeling the slightly salty sea breeze, Lu Yige felt utterly relaxed.
Jiang Yu spoke slowly. "Do you want to collect seashells?"
She was puzzled. "Why would I collect seashells?"
"I thought... girls might like that."
"Don't presume to guess what others like." Lu Yige wagged a finger at him. "I'd rather do physics problems than collect seashells."
"What's so fun about collecting shells? One, two, three—basic counting. I stopped playing that game when I was five—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Because she realized Jiang Yu was actually picking up seashells.
Lu Yige: ...
This guy was seriously subtle—he wanted to collect them himself, yet claimed she liked it.
Jiang Yu picked for a while, counted the shells in his palm, and selected one to hand to her.
"I don't want it." Lu Yige looked at him disdainfully. Childish. Childish. Childish.
Jiang Yu said calmly, "The pattern is quite nice. I think it suits you."
She looked at it—an ivory-white shell with faint pale-blue markings. It really was... quite pretty.
Fine. She'd reluctantly accept it.
That night, Jiang Yu had a nightmare.
He dreamed he had killed Jiangcheng, his hands covered in blood. He kept running, running, until the police cuffed him.
Through the iron bars, he saw many people—Jiang Nian, the orphanage director, Chi Yexuan, and Lu Yige standing in a corner, looking at him with calm eyes that seemed to understand everything.
He woke up drenched in sweat.
At breakfast, he heard Father Lu say, "Your Uncle Jiang is coming today."
"Coming for what?" Lu Yige bit into her sandwich.
"Yige, your memory really is something. Didn't I say he's coming to discuss cooperation?"
"Oh." Lu Yige took another sip of milk. "Here?"
Father Lu glanced at her. "Any objections?"
"No, none at all," she smiled.
Jiang Yu was on edge all day. Finally, at three in the afternoon, the doorbell rang.
He flinched.
Beside him, Lu Yige sprang up and went to open the door. "Coming!"
A man in a black suit walked in—tall, well-built, with striking features and an imposing presence.
He looked at Lu Yige. "Yige, you've grown taller."
"I stopped growing a long time ago," she replied.
The man laughed and walked inside.
The moment Jiang Yu saw his face, it felt as though he had fallen into hell.
Every drop of blood in his body boiled, scorching him.
Lu Yige stayed at the resort for nearly a week. With high school senior year approaching and the school requiring students to return two weeks early for remedial classes, Mother Lu reluctantly took them back home.
After they returned, Lu Yige remembered what Jiang Yu had said earlier. She looked at him expectantly and asked, "You said you had something to tell me after we got back. What was it?"
"Yige, let's be together."
Lu Yige: ...
What did she just hear?
Jiang Yu's gaze was resolute as he repeated, "Let's be together."
Lu Yige pressed a hand to her forehead. As expected—placing too much hope in a scumbag was a mistake.
She said weakly, "Aren't we... already together?"
***
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