Chapter 22: The Difference in Photos

  I gaze at the winter moon in the photo, and then at the winter moon before me. Separated only by a frame, yet separated by an entire world.

  Sui Tian

  Qiu Jin was very enthusiastic towards Su Yitian, and Han Mu also asked him questions from east to west. The whole process made Han Yue feel most uncomfortable, as Su Yitian could talk and laugh, being polite and friendly, which quickly won the unanimous praise of her parents.

  "Hey, why are you being so nice today, actually giving me the initiative?"

  It's just that I think your parents might be more willing to see you.

  The conversation had been going on for some time, and Han Yue saw that they were getting along so well, so she deliberately stretched her waist and leaned against Han Mu, half lying down and half sitting.

  "Alright, it's very late, let them rest." Han Mu immediately understood Han Yue's meaning.

  "Xiao Yue, sit properly, you look like a mess!" Qiu Jin immediately scolded Han Yue, then smiled and asked Su Yi Tian, "Yi Tian, are you hungry? What do you want to eat? Aunt will cook some midnight snacks."

  Han Yue stood up straight, adjusting her nightgown. Su Yitian looked at her expression, seemingly smiling yet not quite, then politely said: "I'm not hungry, don't bother. Uncle and Auntie, you should rest early too."

  Just pretend then! Han Yue silently cursed in her heart.

  "We're going back to our rooms, you should rest early too." Qiu Jin suddenly said as she was heading back to her room, "Yi Tian ah, what do you want to eat tomorrow, Auntie?"

  "Mom!" Han Yue pointed upstairs and let Su Yitian go up first, then turned to Qiu Jin and said, "Mom, he's leaving early tomorrow morning, don't bother."

  "There are spare clean clothes in the wardrobe of the star room, I'll..."

  "I'll arrange it!" Han Yue gritted her teeth and said in a low voice, "Mom, he's not my boyfriend, you're being too enthusiastic!"

  "You're a good kid, if not a boyfriend then at least a friend." Qiu Jin was about to say something else when Han Mu pulled him back into the room.

  "You sleep here tonight." Han Yue opened the door and let Su Yitian in.

  Han Yue led Su Yi Tian into the room, and as soon as Su Yi Tian entered the room, he saw a photo frame on the desk. He picked it up casually, and it was a group photo. Su Yi Tian looked at the photo, then looked at Han Yue again, his eyes slightly surprised.

  Han Yue snatched the photo frame and put it on the table, turned around and went out: "Rest early after washing up, we'll be leaving very early tomorrow." As she spoke, she turned around to find a new set of pajamas and some clean clothes to change into and placed them on the bed.

  Su Yitian stood by and watched her find clothes, smiling: "Your parents are really good."

  "Thanks for the compliment." Han Yue coldly smiled, who knew what was wrong with them today, they were not usually so enthusiastic towards people.

  As I was leaving the room to head back to my place, Jian Xing suddenly opened the door across from me. Han Yue walked forward: "You're not asleep yet, what's wrong?"

  Jian Xing turned around and walked into the room, Han Yue followed him in.

  "I want to know your decision." Jian Xing stared at her directly.

  Han Yue knew what he meant, and the decision made must also be told to him. He smiled apologetically: "You go pick up Dad and Mom first, I want to stay a little longer. I've made some friends at Sheng Kai, don't want to leave so soon."

  Jian Xing fell silent for a moment: "Have you really made up your mind?"

  "Hmm!"

  "Alright, have it your way, since you've said so much, what else can I do?" Jian Xing smiled.

  "Ah, I'll have to trouble you to put in a good word for me then." Han Yue smiled, "I won't be staying here for long, at most just one semester anyway."

  Jian Xing furrowed his brow after listening, and finally sighed: "Forget it, you handle it yourself. This kind of freedom is hard to come by in the future."

  Han Yue hugged Jian Xing and sighed: "Don't worry, I'll be back as soon as possible."

  Jian Xing smiled: "Alright, I believe you. Hmm, who was that person just now?"

  "Meet new friends."

  "Huh? Isn't he your boyfriend?"

  Han Yue pushed Jian Xing away and said fiercely, "Don't think too much like Mom! He's my good friend's boyfriend!" As she said this, Han Yue suddenly thought of Jing Rui. She had told Xing that if either of them liked someone, they would let the other know immediately about any interactions with others.

  "Hey, Han Yue, what should I say to Xing about this now?"

  Never mind, it's almost over anyway.

  (Oh, you don't like scenery?)

  But I suddenly didn't want to hurt him anymore.

  It's all right, since we have to part ways, there's no need to say anything more.

  It's better this way. Take advantage of the fact that both parties have just started "crossing" and end it as soon as possible, so as to minimize the harm. Sorry, Jingrui, actually I shouldn't have agreed from the start, it's all my fault for being greedy for that warmth.

  "Star, you go rest early, tomorrow I'll bring the painting to you."

  Han Yue returned to her room and started looking for the few painting albums left by Han Yang. She remembered that one of the paintings was a gift from her brother last New Year, which he had painted himself. Because she didn't like rainy days, her brother had painted a watercolor painting of the sun after the rain, titled "Qing". As she flipped through the album page by page, memories related to those paintings also came flooding back.

  In another room, Su Yitian lay on the 'bed' looking at a photo. In the photo, Han Yue had beautiful chestnut-colored long hair, and a elegant white dress that made Su Yitian feel like he had seen her before. Beside her stood a black-clad young man, with eyes like blue gemstones, sharp facial features, and an overbearing presence.

  Su Yi Tian put down the photo, but what he couldn't put down was the bright smile in the photo and the cold, tolerant expression now, a truly intriguing contrast.

  In the cold sunroom, Jian Xing sat on the 'bed' flipping through the photo album in his hand. His gaze fell on an old photograph. It was a commemorative photo of them winning a fight, three mud-stained children laughing loudly, the innocent and happy smiles in the photo slowly softened his indifferent eyes while also bringing out a few threads of worry.

  "Brother, I still couldn't keep her in the UK. What should I do? How could you just leave like that? She can choose to leave me for your sake, and I really envy you." I used to envy you, I used to be jealous of you. But how could you just leave like that? The brother I admired, you left and it hurts me too. Jian Xing closed his eyes, a low and oppressive mood slowly spreading throughout the room.

  "What's wrong, not speaking?" Qiu Jin poked Han Mo, who was leaning against the head of the bed. "You say Xiao Yue is so stubborn, huh? Ah, Su Yitian is a good kid, you think Xiao Yue and him..."

  "Alright, you're really too enthusiastic today." Han Mu sighed and said, "Or do you have other plans?"

  Qiu Jin also fell silent, and finally sighed: "I just hope they can all be happy."

  "Han Mu sighed and said: 'Aren't we happy now?'"

  Qiu Jin said coldly: "How can they be happy? Don't mention that Xiaoyue didn't mean it at all, even if she did, they wouldn't work out."

  "Han Mu said: 'So many years have passed, you still can't let go, you're too obsessed.'"

  "What's different now and in the past!"

  Yes, what's different now and in the past? It's just that the past tragedy has already happened, and the current one is only just beginning. Han Mu fell silent, lost in thought. If only they could prevent the tragedy from happening, but these two children are too stubborn, and as parents, they can no longer bear the pain of losing another child. Now, all they can do is try their best to protect them.