By the half-open doorway.
Shen Tingyu listened intently.
Xiao Cui whispered, "Big..."
Before she could finish the word, Shen Tingyu silenced her with a raised index finger.
She mouthed, "Help me down."
Xiao Cui nodded, and the two descended the stairs lightly.
Once downstairs, Shen Tingyu dismissed the servants and picked up a glass of iced lemon tea.
When Shen Muyuan came down, he found her sitting on the sofa, her once bright eyes now vacant.
Hearing his footsteps, Shen Tingyu asked, "Is it Brother?"
Shen Muyuan smiled, "Little sister is quite capable now, able to recognize people by sound."
"After all, I can't just be a cripple," she chuckled wryly.
"Don't say that about yourself," he ruffled her hair. "Stay calm and focus on treatment!"
Shen Tingyu tilted her head back, "Brother, why did it take you so long to come down?"
"Made a phone call," he smiled helplessly.
"Was it to Zhi Xiu?"
"Yes, but he didn't answer."
"He's probably comforting Jiang Mian right now," she said flatly.
Shen Muyuan was surprised to hear her speak so calmly, "You..."
"Brother, what do you take me for? I've come to terms with it. With my condition, finding someone else won't be hard. Why would I cling to one person?"
Shen Muyuan nodded repeatedly, "It's best that you think this way. Truly the best."
"Of course. Only now do I feel that what's not meant to be, simply isn't mine. Don't you agree?"
"It's wonderful that you can think this way. Little sister, you've grown up," Shen Muyuan paused, then praised her sincerely.
"So, Brother, you don't need to worry about me anymore! Think more about your own marriage!"
"You little thing, why are you bringing that up again?"
"It's because I care about you!"
...
Third Ye knocked on Ye Yi's door. Ever since he gave Jing Yiyi the password last time, this guy had started being wary of him.
A moment later, Ye Yi, with his hair in disarray, opened the door, "I already told you to—"
His voice trailed off.
His face soured, "It's you?"
Third Ye teased him uncharacteristically, "What, you thought it was Miss Jing?"
He stepped aside. Wearing cartoon dinosaur pajamas and with his messy hair, he inexplicably exuded a natural cuteness.
"It's best she's not here." Ever since he'd been open about his feelings, Jing Yiyi hadn't come looking for him.
"She's probably heartbroken by you," Third Ye commented, a rare occurrence.
Ye Yi slumped onto the sofa and tore open a cup of mango yogurt, "What? Are you taking her side too?"
Third Ye glanced at the scattered yogurt lids on the table, estimating he'd need to restock soon. "I'm not taking her side. It's rare to find someone who likes you, so that's a good thing."
"What do you mean rare? Plenty of people like this handsome me!"
"But none of them are as persistent as her."
Ye Yi shrugged, "I don't need them to be."
"Alright," Third Ye conceded noncommittally.
"Let's get down to business. You came all this way to see me, surely it's not just to talk about this?"
Third Ye opened the tablet on the coffee table and brought up a page, "Look for yourself."
"Look at what—" As his gaze shifted, he suddenly stood up, "Damn, these internet trolls! What business is it of theirs?"
Third Ye rubbed his nose, "I can tell you're really angry."
He stormed out, holding back his temper.
"Where are you going?" Third Ye asked.
"I'm going to find her."
"But she probably has someone with her right now," Third Ye said abruptly.
Ye Yi stopped in his tracks and glared back at him, "So what?"
"You want to see Ji Zhi Xiu?" he asked, his expression blank, devoid of emotion.
Ye Yi sat down resentfully, "I'm so upset."
"What are you upset about?"
"These people are slandering her, what's the difference from slandering me?"
"You've empathized to this extent?"
"You wouldn't understand."
They were all illegitimate children, and that feeling was just too painful.
Unlike Jiang Mian, he had known his identity from a young age.
Third Ye shook his head, "Indeed, I wouldn't understand."
He was naturally detached, especially after his sister's death.
Ye Yi downed two cups of yogurt, "I still want to go find her."
"They're a legitimate couple, what are you doing getting involved? You need to calm down."
"I can't calm down."
"Are you sure you can even see her?" Third Ye asked coldly.
Ye Yi stood up, walked to the counter, and took a tomato and a cucumber from the refrigerator, blending them into juice.
He drank it expressionlessly, "I've calmed down. Want a glass?"
"I don't want to die yet."
"Then get this sorted out quickly," he said sternly.
Third Ye was confused, "Ji Zhi Xiu will definitely handle this. He'll deal with it better than us. Why do we need to intervene?"
"I don't care!!!!" He slammed his fist down twice.
Fine.
He's lost it.
Third Ye nodded, "Alright, alright, I'll go now."
...
Jiang Mian thought for a long, long time, her head starting to ache.
Only then did she recall someone from the depths of her memory.
It was a mysterious mother and son who had once rented the apartment next to hers.
The gate to their yard had never been opened since they moved in.
Occasionally, she would hear sounds of scolding.
The young Jiang Mian, nestled in her grandmother's arms and sucking on a lollipop, was full of questions. She asked her grandmother what those sounds were.
Her grandmother patted her little head and told her not to worry about it.
Jiang Mian truly didn't bother.
But she was curious.
Until one day, she saw a stunningly beautiful young boy through the kitchen window behind the alley.
He was so handsome, yet his face bore scars.
His eyes held a depth and coldness far beyond his years.
The moment he spoke, he told her to get lost.
This deeply hurt the young Jiang Mian.
But he was too good-looking to resist, so Jiang Mian went back the next day.
Even without a response from the boy, Jiang Mian believed they had become familiar and were good friends.
Until one day, she and her mother went to Kyoto, and when they returned, he was gone.
Lost in the vast sea of people, they were separated.
Later, Jiang Mian forgot...
So that's how it was, so that's how it was...
Pulling her thoughts back, Jiang Mian slowly pushed herself up.
She opened the bathroom door.
The living room was empty and silent.
"It seems he's really gone..." she murmured, unsure if it was disappointment or sadness, but it was definitely sorrowful.
She walked step by step towards the door, her palm resting on the doorknob.
With a gentle twist, the door opened with a click.
The empty corridor outside was devoid of anything.
Jiang Mian blinked, and a tear fell.
"Why are you crying again?"
A voice full of tenderness suddenly sounded.
Jiang Mian’s head shot up, and she broke into a tearful smile, "You didn't leave!"
Ji Zhi Xiu emerged from behind the door, wiped her tears, and said in a low voice, "I was worried."
Jiang Mian threw herself into his arms, holding him tightly, "I remember! I remember!"
Ji Zhi Xiu's embrace paused, his voice hoarse, and his heart held little hope, "You remember what?"
"When I was ten! You lived in Jiangnan, right next door to me!" she said with certainty.
These were all things he had told her. Ji Zhi Xiu nodded slightly, "Yes."
"I gave you medicine for your wounds, didn't I? I told you I liked watching fireworks! You only took me to see fireworks in Ireland because of that! The hair tie in your study is mine too, isn't it?" Her voice was filled with laughter.
It was a small gift she had given him back then.
That haughty boy had said he didn't want it, but it turned out he had kept it.
Jiang Mian's heart swelled with emotion.
So, there really was someone who had remembered her for many years.
With every sentence she spoke, Ji Zhi Xiu's expression softened a little more.
"You really remembered everything?"
"Of course," she said proudly, "I thought so hard my head ached!"
Ji Zhi Xiu's expression changed, "How is it now? Does it still hurt? Do you want to see a doctor?"
Jiang Mian looked up, her bright peach blossom eyes twinkling mischievously, "A kiss from you would make it stop hurting."
He couldn't refuse any of her requests, let alone this one.
Ji Zhi Xiu cupped her soft face and kissed her red lips.
He tasted a faint, salty sweetness. It was the taste of her tears.
The kiss was gentle, as if to soothe all the pain she had endured.
A subtle, invisible barrier between them seemed to break.
They cherished each other even more.
Then, with a "bang," Jiang Mian instinctively pushed Ji Zhi Xiu away, and then said with some annoyance, "The door closed."
A draft had slammed the door shut.
Ji Zhi Xiu raised an eyebrow, "It doesn't matter, it's a fingerprint lock."
"So?"
"Let's continue," his voice held a hint of captivating allure.
Jiang Mian nodded dazedly, her arms wrapping around his neck, and she offered a sweet kiss.