Chapter 29

  From that day on, Si Luo Chen went to see Wang Shao Ke every day with all kinds of nourishing soups, hoping she would recover soon.

  Seeing her complexion getting better day by day, Si Luo Chen finally felt at ease.

  "The doctor said that the scar on your stomach may never go away. Unfortunately, my sister didn't catch the person who hurt you, or else..." Si Luochen said.

  "I remember his appearance, there's a scar on the back of his hand. Next time I see him, I'll definitely recognize him." As he said that, he touched his face with his hand and smiled in relief: "Fortunately, it didn't hurt this handsome face of mine, or else I'd be disfigured. You really have to take good care of me now." He picked up the orange slices cut by Si Lu Chen and put them into his mouth.

  It's only at times like these that I can enjoy the exclusive service of the big sister, it's really a blessing in disguise. Seeing Si Luochen only smile and not speak, she asked again: "Qian Tong has been in England for more than a week, has he contacted you?"

  Cai Luo Chen shook his head in response, and the room fell silent.

  This week, Si Luo Chen has been thinking of this person every moment. The city feels strange to Si Luo Chen without her presence.

  If it weren't for her sister and Wang Shaokui still being here, she wouldn't be able to stay a single moment.

  Wang Shaokuo was very regretful about bringing up the topic, coughed twice: "Maybe they're busy over there. I asked the doctor, he said it'll be at least another month before I can take a plane."

  "You must listen carefully and rest well. It's okay to stay for a while longer, do you understand?"

  "What's the big deal." Her optimistic face was quite in line with her personality, and she continued: "Let's just consider it a long vacation for myself. Since I opened my law firm, I haven't had a holiday in a long time."

  "Or should I thank you for letting me get hurt?"

  They say you can't mess with women, especially the kind that counterattack immediately. Wang Shaokuo almost got choked by Orange and coughed twice, which still affected his abdominal wound...

  It's a complete tragedy.

  "Alright, alright, you're so big now, and yet you still eat so carelessly." She said with a smile, comforting him.

  Wang Shaokai: "......"

  Just as he was about to say something else, Si Luo Chen's phone rang, an unfamiliar number.

  After looking at it for a while, I finally picked up the phone.

  After connecting the phone, Si Luo Chen was a little surprised, and he quickly made an appointment for a meeting, thanking him repeatedly.

  Wang Shaokuo, who was standing beside him, looked puzzled, holding an orange and staring at the woman in front of him.

  Did you win the lottery?

  Jian Si hung up the phone and curiously asked: "What's going on?"

  Si Luo Chen raised an eyebrow and looked at this eight-trigram face, gave her a white eye: "What's the situation? You eat your orange well. I still have things to do, I'll leave first."

  "Hey, leaving just after arriving?" Wang Shaokuo blinked his eyes, with a pitiful and adorable expression, saying: "I... am alone here, it's so boring."

  Si Luo Chenyi let out a laugh: "Stop pretending to be pitiful, I'm not Shen Lue, this trick only works on her." He ignored him and stood up, grabbed his bag and left.

  "I... " reached out to stop, but it was too late, my arm still suspended in mid-air, my mouth slightly open. Paused for a long time before saying that sentence: "I didn't pretend to be innocent at all, let alone... Qian Tong wasn't even here, how could there be someone more important than me?"

  ...it still ended up being just talking to myself.

  Xia Luo Chen took a taxi to the familiar apartment building. He stood quietly at the entrance for a long time, trying to suppress the turmoil in his heart, before finally gathering the courage to push open the door and walk in.

  Standing in the elevator with a slightly furrowed brow, as if even breathing is somewhat stifling.

  As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, he saw an old lady standing at the door. It was clear that the old lady was startled by Si Luochen's expression.

  "Was it you who wrote that letter?" The voice was different from the one on the phone.

  "Hello, it's me who wrote this. May I ask who you are?" replied Si Luochen politely.

  The old lady looked at Si Luo Chen carefully, the surprised expression on her face gradually disappeared, and she smiled faintly: "It was my daughter who made the call, but I didn't expect that the person who wrote this letter to me would be such a young girl."

  Si Lu Chen smiled and stood still, politely asking: "Want to go in and chat?"

  The old lady shook her head: "No, I just finished saying my thoughts and left. Originally, I never thought of selling this house, it was where my daughter lived with her husband after marriage, and it was full of happy memories. But... we saw your letter, were very moved, and also wanted to do a good deed."

  It wasn't her job to do this, she just wanted to see what kind of person wrote such a letter. Nowadays, it's rare for people to express their inner thoughts and feelings towards another person through handwritten letters, including all the happy moments in this house.

  It made the old lady recall the happy memories she had with her husband.

  "Really?" Shi Luo Chen exclaimed in surprise.

  "But... didn't Miss say she was leaving? You guys..." The old lady still couldn't quite believe it, and asked tentatively: "You two are really... lovers?"

  Xia Luo Chen understood the old lady's meaning, and nodded slightly: "I'm just doing what I can do, I don't know if she'll come back or not. But... in a place filled with memories, I want to protect it in my own way, thank you for your support."

  The old lady sighed softly and asked: "Is it worth it? You're still so young."

  Pursed her lips and nodded without hesitation: "Worth it."

  The old lady nodded: "People who are persistent are good people. So I've decided to temporarily entrust the house to you for safekeeping. Three years later, if you still decide to buy it, I'll sell it to you again, okay?"

  "Thank you... I really appreciate it."

  After seeing off the old lady, Si Luo Chen stood in front of that door for a long time before he mustered up the courage to open it. Holding his breath and opening his eyes, the environment that entered his vision was exactly the same as when he left last time.

  It's just... missing Xian Tong.

  She walked into the kitchen with a stride. Recalling how busy she was when cooking for Qian Tong, here, she had said to her: "I am too."

  A pair of coffee mugs in front of me, placed tightly together, but when I lightly stroked them with my hand, they became so cold under my fingertips...

  Xia Luochen sat on the sofa with her knees tucked in, recalling those happy moments... She sat with Xiang Qiong watching TV, lying on her lap reading a book. They didn't need too many words, just a smile, and they would understand each other's hearts.

  But here... it's no longer warm like before.

  Turn on the light in the next room, and the world puzzle that has not been unpacked is placed on the table.

  Xia Luo Chen's hand was clenched tightly, and tears fell down uncontrollably. At that moment, Xiang Qian Tong's eyes clearly told her that this puzzle would one day be completed together.

  If you can't do it, why give her hope.

  Si Luo Chen lay flat on the bed, turned his head to look at the other half of the bed beside him, and a faint smile curled up at the corner of his mouth. He tightly hugged the pillow into his arms, wanting to find that warm and enchanting scent from it, but... reality was just not as wished.

  Happy memories are always fleeting like fireworks that flash and disappear in an instant, leaving no time to savor before they vanish.

  But... at this moment, what else can Cui Luochen do except use every means to protect these few remaining memories?

  A cold laugh.

  Why can everyone understand and support it, but you always avoid it?

  Why get everyone's blessing but can't summon your courage.

  To Qian Tong...... If I hadn't found you and didn't get your recognition, would it be so painful?

  If only it were just a simple obsession, how much better would that be.

  The most exhausting and torturous thing is... persistence after being obsessed.

  Late at night, Si Luo Chen dragged his tired body back home, only to find Si Rou Nan in the living room.

  "So late and still not resting?"

  "Aren't you sleepy? Have you eaten?" Si Yunnan asked.

  He nodded: "I've eaten."

  "Mom called today and asked when we're going back." Si Rou Nang asked, standing in front of Si Luo Chen with her hands in her pockets.

  Si Luo Chen thought for a moment and replied: "Wait until Xiao Ke is discharged from the hospital, I still have some things to take care of, at least... a week."

  "Alright, I'll arrange it. It's been a busy day, get some rest early." Si Ruo Nan turned around to leave but was stopped by Si Luo Chen: "Sis, thanks for your hard work, I waited especially for you to come back."

  Xie Yun turned around and raised an eyebrow: “……”

  "Tomorrow I'm going on a trip to the rehabilitation center, where one of my patients is. After finishing up, I'll be back early."

  "Are you really okay?" Si Yun Nan confirmed: "These two days, you don't watch the news, don't watch TV... I'm a bit worried."

  Ji Luo Chen hung his head and responded after a long time: "I'm adapting, so... I should be fine. With you by my side, I don't worry about getting mental illness."

  "Fallen!" Ci Wen Nan didn't like her negative look.

  "Joking aside, I'm not that fragile. As a psychologist, I naturally know how to control my mindset... Seeing Si Ruo Nan's silence, she continued: "If you want to live a carefree life, there are ways to do so. If you want to exhaust yourself, you'll be extremely exhausted. Don't worry, I know how to vent myself."

  "Get some rest early then?" Si Rou Nan said softly.

  "Likewise, sis."

  Xie Wan didn't respond, she just nodded and left.

  That night, I don't know if it was because he had stayed in that apartment for too long, but Si Luo Chen had a very, very long dream.

  To be exact, it's a happy dream.

  In dreams.

  Wake up to see your loved one smiling at you, lean over and kiss, then get up to prepare breakfast. Then the two of them go to work together, study more difficult psychology problems together.

  As soon as it's a holiday, they will arrange a trip hand in hand, with the goal of completing that puzzle.

  Watching the puzzle take shape bit by bit, Si Luo Chen's mouth curled up into a happy smile.

  Just as I turned around, the person beside me was gone...

  The empty room had only her, the puzzle on the wall was gone, even her dreams reminded her that it was just a dream.

  Open your eyes and look at the square ceiling, thinking about that endless empty dream.

  After a long time, a sigh.

  Si Lu Chen stood up straight and walked directly into the bathroom, splashing water on himself to wake up.

  Finally understood, even the happiest dream is just a dream, waking up will make people more sad. Everything is just the true desire of the heart.

  Unfortunately, reality is like a cruel knife that stabs you repeatedly, sprinkles salt on your wounds, waits for them to scab over, and then rips them open again... repeating the process endlessly, making you wish you were dead.

  ...until numbness sets in at last.