[Plum Blossom, Orchid, Chrysanthemum, and Bamboo in the Cool Autumn and Cold Winter] (February 5th) Author: Little Chicken Soup

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-23

Author: Little Chicken Soup
Word Count: 23115

(II)

I am not a man, but I still try my best to keep my promises to women. After that day, I forgave
Qiuju, but I never said I wanted to date her. I don't know when she took my hand.

I dated Qiuju, or maybe we were dating.

I tried my best not to mention Xialan's affair, and after marriage, she and Qiuju seemed to have little contact. The past
relationship was like a lock between the two of us, and we tried not to touch it unless necessary. But Qiuju seemed to be very interested in this
, and often asked me about my past with Xialan indirectly.

"Did you and my sister...do you sleep together?"

"Hey, why are you asking such questions?"

"Answer me, yes, no?"

"Yes..." "

I knew it..."

"Are you angry?"

"No!"

"That's good...hey, where are you taking me?"

"To a hotel! To make love!"

Qiuju and I went to bed. Unlike Xialan's time, it wasn't a holiday, there was no anniversary, it was just an ordinary day that
I forgot even the date.

"I'm not a virgin, would you mind?"

"Of course not, I'm not a virgin

either." "I know, your partner is my older sister!"

"Can't we not bring up the past at a time like this?"

"I'm going to bring it up anyway! Tell me! How did you two do it the first time? How many positions did you try? How long did it last?"

"There's no way I could tell you that, right? I've forgotten! I've forgotten everything that happened so long ago!"

"No! I need to know, you have to tell me everything, without missing a single detail!"

When things got really out of hand, Qiuju actually asked this kind of question.

"Did you film it?"

"Film it?"

"Yeah, did you film those times when you were in bed?"

"In bed? Of course not!"

"Is it strange? Lots of couples film it, it's a life memento!"

"Why are you so nosy? And won't you get jealous seeing that kind of stuff?"

"I won't! I just want to know everything about you two, I don't want my sister to know some secrets better than I
do!"

"Okay, I'll tell you, really, not a single minute!"

"Hehe, is that so? Then I win." Qiu Ju smiled slyly, waving the phone in her hand.

"What does this mean?" I didn't understand, but when I saw the recording option was flashing red,
I was immediately incredulous: "You secretly recorded me? What we were doing just now..."

Qiu Ju stuck out her tongue, her face full of teasing: "It's just recording. Today is such an ordinary day,
I'll forget about it soon. I want to keep a record so I know when Lu Qiu Ju entrusted her life to Cheng Ren, so I can look back on it
on our 80th wedding anniversary."

Seeing Qiu Ju's sweet smile, I wasn't too angry. I just told her to keep it safe, as it's a personal
privacy, and it wouldn't be good if others heard it.

"Just recording doesn't seem very meaningful. How about we film it next time?"

"Film it? What if others see it?"

"It's okay, just be careful. If they really see it, so be it. Anyway, she has a good figure,
it doesn't matter if they appreciate it."

"So you're this bold?"

"I want to have some memories with you that you and my sister don't have."

Qiu Ju's insistence on the relationship made me feel that she valued my past relationship with Xia Lan very much. Women are
always jealous creatures who like to compare. I didn't want to compare her to Xia Lan. Qiu Ju wasn't
a substitute , and she never would be.

After Qiu Ju finished asking her questions, I casually brought up my ex-lover's current situation.

"Is your sister happy?"

"Yes, my sister-in-law is doing well."

"That's good..."

"Do you still miss her?"

"No, there's just something I don't understand."

"She doesn't tell you, there must be a reason."

"That's true, she's a good woman..."

"..."

"What's wrong? Are you jealous?"

"No!"

Growing up in the same family, Xia Lan and Qiu Ju's personalities were completely opposite. Xia Lan was the kind of woman who was meticulous and
considered the consequences; while Qiu Ju was impulsive, the type who would do anything when she got angry.

Once I asked her, "If I had chosen to have sex with you at the hotel that day and didn't forgive you, wouldn't you have
let me have my way with you for nothing?" Qiu Ju's reaction at the time was: "So what if I had had my way with you for nothing? Who's afraid of who?" Facing a girl like that, if you don't teach her a lesson in bed
, she won't know that she needs to reflect on her actions.

"Who's afraid of who? Do you know you're wrong?!"

"I-I know, be gentle, it'll break! Ah! Ah!"

After each encounter, Qiuju would always bring up Xialan, always comparing her to her.

"Has my sister ever called you 'husband'?"

"Only... once..."

"Even once is enough! Husband! You are my husband, Chengren is Lu Qiuju's husband!"

Having crossed that final step, Qiuju and I became increasingly intimate, and she would intentionally or unintentionally bring it up, hoping
I would visit her parents. This is a very common behavior for a girl; when she sees someone as a potential partner,
she has the idea of letting her family know and establishing the relationship.

Although I had one romantic experience, this still felt unfamiliar. Back then, I was just a minor
student, and Xialan couldn't report to her parents that she was dating such a young child, so I had never met
her parents.

I didn't intend to refuse Qiuju's request. In fact, I thought it was time. By then, I was
a college , and Qiuju and I had a proper status. We could date openly, unlike
the illegitimate relationship I had with Xialan back then.

But what still troubled me was Xia Lan. I didn't hate her, but the thorn in my heart remained. I didn't know
how to face her again, especially as her sister's boyfriend. Once, I asked Qiu Ju if
she had told her about my relationship with her sister. She shook her head, saying she didn't know how to ask. I understood Qiu Ju's feelings; falling for
her sister 's ex-boyfriend was a rather perplexing thing.

"I never intended to keep it from my sister forever. I'll find an opportunity to tell her clearly," Qiu Ju sighed.
She said she would find a suitable time to reveal the truth when everyone wouldn't feel awkward.
No one in the Lu family knew about my past relationship with Xia Lan; the only hurdle was Xia Lan herself.

How would Xia Lan react when she found out Qiu Ju's boyfriend was me? And how would I, as a loser, face
the woman who abandoned me? I dared not think about it, and could only take things one step at a time.

But what was bound to happen would happen eventually. Soon it would be Qiu Ju's grandfather Lu Wugong's birthday, and as her boyfriend,
I should attend to celebrate my future father-in-law's birthday. Qiu Ju thought this was a good opportunity to smooth things over; with the family
gathered and her husband present, even if Xia Lan was surprised, she wouldn't say anything. Everyone could just pretend not to know each other and it would
all pass smoothly.

I don't deny that this was a less deliberate method, but the resistance to facing Xia Lan again was
greater than I had imagined. I was very distressed during that time, unsure how to maintain my expression on that day. I felt incredibly
embarrassed , even more embarrassed than the day I learned I had been abandoned.

Qiuju is a clever girl, and of course she noticed my troubles. My girlfriend seems like a strong person on the surface,
but after spending time with her, you'll find that she's actually very considerate. I thought she would understand my situation, so I suggested that I
leave the party, but to my surprise, she refused outright.

"No! I already promised Grandpa I'd introduce him to my boyfriend, I can't just suddenly say I'm not going." "

But you should know..."

"Of course I know, so what? It's all in the past. My sister's married, and you have a
new girlfriend. Why bring up the past?"

"I didn't say I wanted to, but it'll always be awkward for everyone, because we..."

"You? You slept together? Shouldn't it be my sister who's embarrassed, not you? Women
are the ones who ."

"What are you talking about? I never intended to take anything from Xia Lan that would make her suffer."

"That's even better. We have nothing to lose, and we can be friends even if we're not lovers." Qiu Ju pointed at me and said,
"That's my sister. You can't never see her again, and I can't deny she's my sister. Things
have to be faced."

"I understand..."

"Good. It's decided then, stop being so hesitant."

"Hmm..."

After using the hard approach, Qiuju would also speak softly for Xialan: "You don't need to avoid my sister. When you two were dating, she
often mentioned you to me, saying you were a good guy, otherwise I wouldn't have taken the initiative to approach you."

"A good guy, but he ran away without a word." I smiled bitterly, and Qiuju comforted me: "Well,
it's hard for girls to say 'break up,' letting it fade away slowly is also a way."

"Fade away slowly, will it?"

"What do you mean? You haven't let it fade away? Do you still like my sister now?"

"No, she's already someone else's wife. "

"You know that's good, my sister is already someone else's wife! Don't you dare have any thoughts about her!"

I didn't intend to argue with Qiuju. A man like me can never win an argument with a woman.

But the closer the day got, the more uncomfortable I felt. After graduating from university, I found an office job, which wasn't a
high-paying job. If I didn't have a distinguished family background, I would have to face my
ex-girlfriend who was now the wife of the vice chairman of a listed company. That sense of inferiority made me feel very painful. I deceived myself, and I deceived Qiuju. I thought I could
look back on our past love with a smile, but I couldn't.

Finally, on the day before my birthday, I asked my girlfriend again to let me go. I really didn't want to face it.
I thought if Qiuju truly loved me, she would understand my feelings and wouldn't push the man she loved into such an embarrassing
situation .

"Okay, since it's really making things difficult for you, then forget it."

"It's not that it's making things difficult, it's just..."

"I've already made my decision, so don't provoke me anymore."

"I just want you to know..."

"I know everything! No matter how hard I try, I can't make you forget your sister!"

"Qiuju... Qiuju!"

My girlfriend stormed out. I chased after her for a couple of steps and then stopped. There was no point in saying anything more at this point; calming down
was the best solution.

That night, Qiuju didn't contact me, and she didn't contact me for the rest of the day. I avoided facing the crisis with Xialan, and I also
avoided the cowardice of facing defeat.

Two weeks later, Qiuju sent me a message. The message was simple: chicken cutlet rice or pork cutlet rice? I replied,
"Hamburger ." That night, we had coffee at McDonald's.

We made up. Maybe we didn't even argue, just had some disagreements, at least that's what I thought.
So when Qiuju said she wanted to break up with me a month later, I was stunned. Just because of that one thing? Just because I
wanted to retain a little bit of my dignity as a man, you wanted to leave me?

"That's not the reason, it's that we're incompatible!"

"Incompatible? Then just bring it up and we can change it slowly, right?"

"There's no way to change it, breaking up is better!"

"Can you be reasonable, Qiuju..."

"I'm just unreasonable, I've been unreasonable from day one!"

I couldn't convince Qiuju. She was right, she was an unreasonable woman. I
felt breaking my promise to Qiuju, so this month I was very obedient and tried my best to be good to her, hoping to make amends,
but I didn't expect this outcome.

"Okay, since you're determined to break up, I won't force you anymore, I'll respect your wishes."

During the breakup period, my mindset was very distorted, trying to reflect on whether I really did something wrong.
If I bravely showed up that day, would it have appeased my girlfriend? If I had simply smiled
and , would my relationship with Qiu Ju have been perfect?

In a relationship, problems must be faced together. Qiu Ju's unilateral decision infuriated me.
In my I even felt she was exactly like her sister—a woman who could be summoned and dismissed at will.

But thinking back, my relationship with Xia Lan was an obstacle for me, but wasn't it the same for Qiu Ju?
Falling for the man her sister had been with—wouldn't Qiu Ju feel pressured? Judging from our occasional, unintentional
comparisons , perhaps Qiu Ju felt I didn't love her as much as Xia Lan. I always emphasized that she wasn't a substitute, but
perhaps unconsciously I was using her to heal past emotional wounds.

I've never given anything to Qiu Ju; she was the one who initiated contact. Everything was hers. If I
have no hatred for Xia Lan, then I should have even less resentment towards Qiu Ju.

Should I wait until she calms down before coming back to me? Or should I disappear silently from my life like Xia Lan?

Perhaps even if I had tried my best back then, I couldn't win back Xia Lan's heart, but the reality is, I didn't make
any effort at all.

If this is a thorn stuck in my heart for many years, should I pull it out myself, even if it means
bleeding profusely?

"Phew..." I sighed and dialed my ex-girlfriend's number. As with every previous cold war, she didn't answer.
It seems that without apologizing, it's hard to win this girl back.

"I drank a lot to have the courage to contact you, don't make me suffer for nothing!"

I know, I also mustered a lot of courage to contact you, don't make me leave disappointed.

When I was dating Xia Lan, I fulfilled my duties as a boyfriend, escorting her home several times, but each time I only saw her to
the door and never stepped into the Lu family home. As for Qiu Ju, although we talked about meeting her parents many times, it
never happened. Perhaps today is the day, the day I can no longer hide myself.

I went to the Lu family's house, arriving alone at the door I had visited many times before. It was Qiuju's house, and also Xialan's house.

I had never formally visited Qiuju's parents before, so this sudden visit was rather presumptuous, but I had no choice
now . I pressed the doorbell, and their mother, Chunmei, answered.

"Auntie, hello. I'm sorry to bother you at this hour. My name is Cheng Ren, and I'm Qiuju's... friend.
Is home?"

Qiuju's mother looked a little surprised, but still invited me in. I think she had already guessed that I was
the boyfriend her daughter had mentioned introducing them to. I didn't see Qiuju there, but I saw Xialan.

It was my ex-girlfriend from several years ago, whose status was completely different.

Xialan's expression showed slight surprise when she saw me, but only for a moment before she quickly regained her friendly smile.
She nodded to me as if I were a complete stranger.

My heart ached. It turned out that a woman I had forgotten could cause me such heartache. I gritted my teeth,
trying my best not to reveal my feelings. I drank the hot tea my aunt poured for me. She said it was unfortunate that Qiuju had gone out and
hadn't said what time she'd be home, asking if I wanted to call her. I said no, because at that moment, my mind was already
in turmoil with Xialan's presence, and I didn't know what to say to Qiuju.

Right, it's common for married women to return home for dinner with their parents on Sunday evenings. The Xialan I knew was a
filial daughter, and that hadn't changed even after all these years.

I only stayed at their house for a short time, during which I didn't speak to Xialan at all; she was knitting
, her expression serene. I felt like I was sitting on pins and needles. After chatting for a while, I said goodbye to Qiuju's family.

"Auntie, thank you for your hospitality, then…"

"It's getting late, Mom, I'll be going home too." Just as I was about to leave, Xialan suddenly
stood up from the sofa. I was surprised by her action and didn't know how to react. Xialan went to the door, put on
her high heels , said a few words to her mother, and then left with me. My heart started pounding. I didn't know Xialan's
intentions, or if she had anything she wanted to say to me.

But she didn't. She didn't say a word during the entire wait and elevator ride; the air was deathly
still. Only after everyone stepped out of the building did she turn back and smile at me, saying, "Take good care of my sister. Goodbye."

No calling her name, no explanation of the past, no mention of current events—it was a farewell that left no
trace .

I took a deep breath. How stupid of me. Was I expecting something? This was how it should have been.

I wandered the streets for a while, my mind involuntarily recalling the happy days I spent with Xia Lan. She
was still as beautiful as she had been then, perhaps even more beautiful.

"Phew..." My plan to comfort Qiu Ju that evening was completely ruined by Xia Lan's expression. No wonder Qiu Ju
was angry; no wonder she said I couldn't forget her sister.

This wasn't a suitable evening to ask my girlfriend to get back together. I didn't try
calling , but unexpectedly, she was sitting in front of my house.

"Where did you go?" Qiu Ju asked in a very unpleasant tone, as if she had been waiting for quite a while. I scratched my head and
said, "I went to your house..."

"Hmph, what are you doing at my house after breaking up?"

"So you came to...my house after breaking up..."

"Fine, if you don't welcome me, then leave!"

"Welcome...of course you're welcome..."

I hurriedly took out my key from my pocket and welcomed my girlfriend...my ex-girlfriend, into the house. She pouted, seemingly
still . We'd been together for almost a year, and Qiu Ju and I had argued countless times. I was quite confident
I could make her laugh back. If you don't let me see you, there's nothing you can do, but if you do let me see you, I can always make you smile through your tears.

Unexpectedly, I was wrong this time.

I opened the refrigerator and poured Qiu Ju some juice to help her calm down, and casually reported what should be considered good
news: "I just ran into...your sister at your house."

Qiu Ju's eyes widened a little, but she instantly understood that this was the day Xia Lan usually went home to visit her parents, and her face
darkened. I took a sip of hot tea and said with a smile, "Isn't this great? The thing that's been bothering us
is solved . She didn't say anything and even told me to take good care of you. Isn't this the best outcome?"

Qiu Ju lowered her eyes and said softly, "We've already broken up, what does this matter?"

"Hey, you're not serious about breaking up, are you? I admit that my absence that time was wrong, and I apologized to your mother just now. Even if I'm
guilty, it's not a capital offense. Give me a chance, please let me off the hook." My attitude was playful and cheeky. I
knew Qiu Ju's personality well; after grumbling for a while, she would inevitably pretend to be unwilling to forgive me, turning a big problem into a small one, and a small one into nothing.

But today, everything was so surprising, as if heaven wanted to give me all the amazing challenges of a lifetime
at once.

"Do you really want to be with me? Do you know who I am?" Qiu Ju's tone was melancholic. I
still didn't realize the seriousness of the situation and said flippantly, "Aren't you Lu Qiu Ju, the second daughter of the Lu family? You just turned twenty-three last month,
an Aquarius, and... a great beauty!"

Before I could finish my rambling, Qiu Ju said, "I'm Vice Commander Gao's first love."

"Haha, I knew it... What... Vice Commander Gao's... first love?" I froze, a cold sweat
running down my face. I hadn't expected my girlfriend to bombshell me like this.

Qiu Ju nodded and continued calmly, "Yes, it's Vice Commander Gao who stole your girlfriend, and he's also
my sister Lu Xia Lan's husband. Do you know what I've been hiding all this time?"

(Part Three)

"Yes, it's Gao Fushuai, who stole your girlfriend, and is also my sister Lu Xialan's husband. Do you know what I
've been hiding all this time?"

I was so shocked I didn't know how to react, and could only blankly answer "yes." Qiuju took a breath and slowly recounted
her relationship with Gao Fushuai.

"Fushuai is my senior. We knew each other in middle school, and even became a couple before graduating."

Qiuju said that Gao Fushuai was four years older than her. Because he was tall and handsome, and came from a wealthy family, he was always
the prince charming admired by many female students in school, and Qiuju was one of them. Fortunately, at the school's anniversary
celebration, she met this golden school heartthrob whom everyone longed to be favored.

"At the time, things were going very well. After dating for a month, I had given him everything about me,
and he treated me very well, which made me very confident in our relationship. But because we were both students, and his father
was from a more traditional generation who didn't want his son to meet a girlfriend at school, we
kept very low-key. The deputy commander promised me that he would introduce me to his family when I turned eighteen. I trusted him completely and
believed he wouldn't lie to me."

I took a breath. My secret relationship with Xia Lan—it turned out that Deputy Commander Gao and Qiu Ju had also experienced something similar.

"Later, my older sister graduated from university. She was worried about finding a job when the vice-commander mentioned that his father's
company was hiring. I introduced my sister to the interview, and that's how they got together." Qiuju
said with tears in her eyes, "I know, my sister is prettier and smarter than me, so it's normal for the vice-commander to be interested in her. But I
never thought they would fall in love so quickly, after only knowing each other for half a year. I also never thought he would be so heartless, asking me
to let him and my sister be together."

"Qiuju..."

"I was heartbroken and thought about telling everyone everything. Actually, my sister knew about my
relationship . We had a good relationship and had no secrets from each other. She told me that she was dating a high school student,
and I also told her that I was with the vice-commander. But in the end, she betrayed me. Knowing that the man was my sister's boyfriend, she still
stole him away."

"Xia Lan stole your boyfriend..." I didn't believe that Xia Lan would be the kind of woman who would do such a thing, but Qiuju had no
reason to wrong her sister.

"I argued with the vice-commander many times. He always reassured me that he still loved me the most, and that he was dating my older sister because
his father liked her very much and he didn't want to go against his father's wishes. Of course, I didn't believe such a thing, but I really loved
him. Even though I knew it was fake, I kept enduring it and even continued to be with the vice-commander secretly. It wasn't until they were about to get married that
I realized it was all too late."

"Qiuju..."

"At that time, I knew it was useless to say anything. The vice-commander told me that it was normal for a man to have several women,
especially rich men like them. He said that if I didn't mind, I could continue to be her mistress. I've had enough. I'm the rightful choice. If anyone should
be the mistress, it should be that woman!"

Qiuju's eyes were filled with resentment as she directly called Xia Lan "that woman."

"On their wedding day, seeing my sister wearing the wedding dress that should have been mine, I was determined to take revenge.
I wanted that happy couple to suffer the most vicious curse. Back when my sister and I were on good terms, I knew
you were her boyfriend. I approached you with the aim of exposing my sister's secret to everyone
, like a bomb exploding."

Qiuju stared at me and said, "I know my sister still has feelings for you. I've seen her
secretly , and on her wedding day, she even cried looking at your picture."

"Xia Lan cried looking at my… picture?"

"Yes, but all of that pales in comparison to the allure of being the wife of the future chairman of a listed group. My sister
ultimately chose the vice-commander. Since she stole my man, let me play
with her man too. I'll pretend to be dating you, and every time I go to your house, I'll look for intimate photos and videos of you and my sister from the past. I'll also
use various methods to ask you about your sex life with my sister and record the conversations. I plan to show the vice-commander
how his beloved wife was played with by other men in the past!"

I gasped. Qiu Ju's questions and demands for me to keep as souvenirs with her were all intended
to humiliate Xia Lan.

"I don't think this will make them divorce, but it'll be enough to damage their relationship. The vice-commander is a grown man; he won't
tolerate the insult of his wife being called a 'used shoe.' I love him very much, and I also hate him for betraying me."

Qiuju recounted the events of that day at her grandfather's birthday celebration: "I insisted you go to Grandpa's birthday banquet because I
thought it was the best time to make everything public. I imagined the surprised
expression ;

I imagined
the ."

"But you didn't go. I was furious. My plan, which I had been arranging for a while, failed, and I couldn't find any evidence
on to humiliate my older sister. I didn't want to waste any more time on you and planned to take this
opportunity to break up with you. But fate played a trick on me; in the following days, I discovered I was pregnant."

"You... pregnant..."

"Of course I knew it was the vice-commander's child, and I knew he would never give birth to it for me, but I really
wanted it, I wanted to have his bloodline. I had an idea, maybe I could let you be the father of
this child. So I went back to you, pretending to get back together with you." Qiu Ju smiled bitterly, "I know I
'm very selfish and even malicious, but I really love the vice-commander, and I'm willing to do anything for him."

"But you were so good to me that month, which made me feel so guilty. I was deceiving a
man who truly cared for me, while the person I loved never treated me like a human being, just a toy to satisfy his desires. Then, what
broke my heart the most was when my mother told me the good news recently—that my older sister is pregnant."

At this point, Qiuju shed tears. "This is the biggest joke God has ever played on me. We're both
pregnant. That's his son. What is the one in my belly? He won't
even 'll never be acknowledged. I'm so stupid, so incredibly stupid, using all my strength to pursue a
love that was impossible to have."

Qiuju sobbed uncontrollably, while my heart was in turmoil, my head spinning. This was too much of a blow. Qiuju
had never loved me. I was just a tool she used to get revenge for being abandoned. Everything was just
a scheme .

'I drank a lot to have the courage to come to you, don't make me suffer for nothing!'

'I love you!'

"I just want to know everything about you. I don't want my sister to know more secrets than I do!" It

was all fake, everything, every single word, a lie. Her laughter, her tears, her love—
all of it was fake.

This hurt me more than Xia Lan's departure. When you find out that a girl who once said she loved you had ulterior motives,
the feeling of being betrayed again is something no third party can understand. My heart aches; it's a piercing pain. She's so
unfamiliar . This girl is truly a stranger.

"Now that you know the truth, do you want to beat me up? Go ahead. I came here today just to let you beat me up."

Qiu Ju raised her head, her eyes filled with sorrow. Her hands fell limply, offering no resistance.

I looked at this girl, completely surrendering, and felt sorry for her, so weak, tormented by love
to the point of being inhuman, recklessly throwing herself into one-sided love, even at the cost of her own life.

Was it your fault? If loving someone is wrong, then you were undoubtedly wrong.

Is this despicable? Compared to that, am I noble for not interfering with my lover's pursuit of a future, or just
a hundred times weaker act?

I sighed and said, "You mean, you've never loved me?"

Qiuju didn't answer, she just nodded.

I let out a long sigh and said, "I understand now. All the mysteries are finally solved. I was just wondering what kind of luck I had, that a beautiful girl would
suddenly throw herself into my arms. Now I'm finally at peace."

"Ah Ren..."

I said self-deprecatingly, "Don't comfort me. I know myself. I'm not the kind of man that girls like.
I know that very well."

"It's not like that. You're a very nice person. It's just that I..."

Before Qiu Ju could finish speaking, I continued, "I'm fine. My advantage is that I'm self-aware. I won't be hurt by
this kind of thing. I've already been dumped once, so one more time won't make a difference. But saying that you've never loved me at all
seems a bit hard to believe, doesn't it?"

"Really, really not. The only person I love is..."

I interrupted her again, "Then why did you tell me everything?"

"This..."

"Was it a change of heart? Did you not want to lie to this poor thing anymore? But this is also a kind of love!
You wouldn't care about the life or death of someone you have no feelings for, right? Besides, we've already broken up. We can just not see each other again.
You didn't need to be honest with me. This already proves that you have me in your heart and that you love me very much."

"You're so vain! I just told you because I was annoyed by your call again and didn't want to bother you anymore,"

Qiuju pouted. I said narcissistically, "Is it bothering? But I think you
enjoy , at least you always have an orgasm!"

"N-no way! It was all an act, it wasn't comfortable at all!" Qiuju blushed and shouted. I
said disappointedly, "So it was all an act too? Okay, then I'll work harder from now on to make you orgasm."

"Who would want to have sex with you? We've already broken up!"

"It's not a breakup. As you said, the past was all fake. We never really dated, which is
fine . What you get without effort is meaningless. Let me, Cheng Ren, start pursuing Lu Qiuju properly from tomorrow!"

"Are you stupid? How can you say such things? Can't you handle a shock?" Qiu Ju was frightened by my unusual words.
I patted my chest: "No, I'm not. A beautiful lady is sought after by a gentleman. Now that I know Lu Qiu Ju is
such deeply affectionate woman, I naturally can't miss her. I must pursue her properly. You have the right not to love me, but you don't have the right to stop me from loving
you. I will try my best, and one day I will be able to move you."

"I don't know what nonsense you're talking about. I won't go crazy with you. I'm leaving. I've said what I needed to say. Don't bother me
again ." Qiu Ju made an impatient expression and stood up from the chair. I asked with a smile: "Do you want me to take you
home?"

"No need!"

"That's right. I haven't won her over yet. There's no reason to take my girlfriend home. Tomorrow, I'll start
my offensive tomorrow!"

"You're so annoying!"

Qiu Ju ignored me and left half-angrily. After she left, I sat back down on the wooden chair. Whew, this anti-
climax was too explosive. I need time to sort out my chaotic thoughts.

I don't deny that my words just now were meant to comfort Qiuju, letting her know that she too is a
woman worthy of love, and that she doesn't need to dwell on a relationship that's already set in stone. That night, I thought a lot. Lying in bed, my mind
kept replaying the moments I shared with Qiuju, as if I were trapped in a labyrinth of love with no way out.

But as I closed my eyes to ponder, I suddenly realized there was another person standing beside my bed—it was Qiuju!

"Qiuju? What happened?" I was surprised. She scolded me, "You're really careless. You didn't even notice when I
left the door open. What if a thief broke in?"

"What's there to steal in my house? It just so happens that a female thief came in." I said with a forced smile. Qiuju remained calm,
sat on the edge of the bed, and silently looked at me. "What you just said... was it true?"

"Of course it's true. Would I, Cheng Ren, joke about something like this?"

"Why could you do this? Why did you know I'm this kind of woman and still say you wanted to pursue me?"

"Why? Because I was moved by you, and I've been very happy with the days we've spent together. I don't want to lose such a good girl because of something
so trivial."

"Trivial? Is this considered trivial?"

"Of course it's trivial. You were only in middle school when you met Vice Commander Gao. It was practically a budding romance. If this isn't trivial,
then what is?"

"But what I did..."

"Yes, you might have lied to me, but I haven't lost anything, and I've had over a year of happy times,
so I won't hold it against you. What I need to do now is figure out how to continue this happiness for the rest of my life."

"Didn't you hear me just now? I'm pregnant, carrying another man's child. Can you even
accept ?"

"Don't be so sure it's Vice Commander Gao's. I've slept with you, maybe it's mine. Even if it isn't,
isn't it enough that it's the child of the woman I love most? Is it necessary to be so concerned?"

"Foolish...you fool..." Qiu Ju's eyes were full of tears, glistening as if about to fall. I wiped them away
gently and said softly, "Don't overthink it. Get some rest. Tomorrow is a new day."

"Okay, can I sleep here tonight?"

"Sharing a beautiful woman's bed is my pleasure, of course!"

Qiu Ju silently slipped into the covers, and I happily embraced her, her warm, soft, and delicate body captivating.

"Thank you, A-Ren..."

These were Qiuju's last words to me.

The next morning, I woke up to find Qiuju gone. Still half-asleep, I brushed my teeth and found a
delicate breakfast on the table.

"Wow, she makes breakfast! Looks like this girl's sincerity has moved me!" This was the first time Qiuju
had cooked breakfast at my house. Without hesitation, I picked up my chopsticks and tasted it. It was a little salty, and the flavor needed improvement, but it
had potential. A few more tries and I was sure it would be perfect.

"Where did she go? To work so early?" I muttered to myself as I ate. Qiuju had slept at my house
overnight, and she needed to change clothes for work; perhaps she didn't want to wake me and went home alone. Thinking this, I didn't
think much of it. After finishing my meal and changing, it was time for work.

But just as I was about to leave, I saw a neatly bound letter on my pillow. I picked it up and saw it
was Qiuju's handwriting.

"Wrote a love letter? Haha, this girl really wants to start from the very beginning?"

I smiled as I opened the letter and read it carefully. The contents were terrifying, enough to make my heart bleed.

"Ren, are you up? Have you had breakfast? This is the first time a man has cooked for me, you have to
eat , or I won't let you off the hook.

What I said to you yesterday, was it unexpected? I was surprised too, you actually said those things to me, I was very
happy and touched. I want to thank you again, thank you for being willing to forgive even a woman like me.

But unfortunately, I can't forgive myself. When I heard your words, I felt even more guilty. I am not
a woman worthy of your love, never will be.

Actually, there's something else I haven't told you, the day after we broke up, I aborted the baby in my belly. It
wasn't a child that should have been born, since it was destined to never be able to lift its head." To be born a human being and never be able to
acknowledge one's father is worse than letting him suffer.

The feeling of killing one's own child is terrifying. I've been crying constantly these past few days, having nightmares every night,
constantly thinking about that tiny life that was taken out—my child's life.

Another thing that makes me feel ashamed is that in the early stages of my pregnancy, my older sister noticed it very early. She congratulated me and
told me many things I needed to be careful about. At that time, I realized that the woman I hated was my sister who cared about me. No matter
how much I blamed her, how much I hated her, she was still my sister.

But for a moment, I thought about wanting her dead.

I can't forgive myself, even if everyone else forgives me. I can't forgive myself. I'm sorry,
I can't agree to your pursuit of me. I can't reciprocate your love. I'm going to a
very, very far place to be with my child. I know this is running away, but right now,
running away is the only option I have.

Don't look for me, don't be sad for me, and don't worry about me. If possible, I hope you won't
tell my sister and the deputy commander what we talked about yesterday. They are still two people I love, and I hope they can be happy.

I've chosen to leave this way. Maybe my family will misunderstand you. I left another letter;
please give it to them if needed. They'll know it has nothing to do with you. I'm sorry. I'll trouble you until the very last moment
.

The USB drive on my desk contains recordings of our past; you can burn it, it shouldn't
remain in this world.

Ah Ren, I don't even know if I ever loved you, but you're the last
person I want to confide in. I hope you forget me soon, and on behalf of my sister, I apologize to you. We both hurt you; we were both
selfish. I'm sorry.

Goodbye then, thank you, Ah Ren, thank you.

May you rest in peace.

—Lu Qiuju's final words. "

I was terrified when I saw this letter. I abruptly opened another one; it was Qiuju saying goodbye to her family and instructing
Xia Lan to take care of her parents and siblings.

Suicide! Qiuju is going to commit suicide!

'Qiuju!!!!'

I rushed into the street like a madwoman, running through every nearby street, frantically dialing a number I hadn't contacted
in years . I didn't have her number saved in my phone, but I
will never forget those few digits."

The other end answered, and I was frantic, like an ant on a hot plate: "Is that Xiaolan? Something terrible has happened! Qiuju is trying to commit suicide!"

"What?"

Upon hearing this news, the entire Lu family was thrown into chaos, including the Gao family, who searched everywhere for places Qiuju might be
. We also called the police, but no matter how hard we tried, we couldn't find her. Everyone spent the day in a state
of anxiety and panic, dialing Qiuju's number countless times, sending countless messages and pleading messages, praying
for a miracle, hoping the girl would change her mind.

"It'll be alright, it'll definitely be alright." I knew Qiuju was joking with me; she had always been a
girl who liked to tease others. She would scare everyone half to death, then appear with a smile, making a face and asking if it was fun.

However, all hope turned to despair the next day when the body was recovered from the sea.

"Qiuju..."

In those years, I was twenty-three years old. The girl I thought would be my life partner had left me, as if she
had taken all my future happiness with her.

The cool late autumn ended with the separation of love.

(IV)

"Cold Winter"

"Murderer!"

I saw Dongzhu again a year later, a week before the Qingming Festival.

At Qiuju's funeral, the Lu family forbade me to participate in any capacity. I did not
deliver the letter to them as Qiuju wished. I did not want to affect Xialan's current life, nor did I want anyone
to associate Qiuju with Vice Marshal Gao based on the slightest clue.

The entire Lu family believed that Qiuju's death was due to problems in our relationship, and that she committed suicide because she
spent her last night at my house. I was the culprit who killed Qiuju. I would not blame anyone for this. In fact,
I felt it was my responsibility. If I had comforted Qiuju in a better way that day, perhaps I could have changed her
mind . My words, which I thought were to comfort her, only added to her guilt.

I am responsible for Qiuju's death. This is an undeniable fact.

I have no face to see any member of the Lu family again. They are grieving the loss of their beloved daughter, and all their accusations and
condemnations are understandable. If I were in their shoes, I would never forgive the murderer who killed my loved one.

That's why I chose a week ago to pay respects to Qiuju, but unexpectedly, I still ran into her sister.
After my second sister passed away, Dongzhu cleaned Qiuju's grave every week, placing her
favorite white chrysanthemums there.

To say I saw her again was a stretch; I'd only ever seen Dongzhu's face. That night, during my visit to the Lu family, Dongzhu, dressed in her
pajamas had curiously come out to see who it was, but only glanced at me before immediately returning to her room. Therefore, I
had no recollection of her face.

But she clearly remembered me—the man who killed her second sister.

I had no face to say anything. I knelt down, bowed three times to Qiuju, placed the flowers, and left. Dongzhu
stood by, coldly rolling her eyes, until I left, when she coldly uttered, "Murderer."

I didn't turn back, silently enduring the girl's curses. I completely understood Dongzhu's feelings. Qiuju's grave was well-
maintained , without a single weed, and the tombstone was spotless. It was clear how much this younger sister loved her
second sister. If Qiuju saw this, I think she would regret it. There were still many people in this world who loved her; she chose to leave
and end it all, leaving behind only to suffer endless pain.

I had no intention of having any further contact with the Lu family, but perhaps fate had its own way of working things out;
I still felt an inextricable connection with them. Just like with Qiu Ju back then, I later learned it wasn't a coincidence;
Dong Zhu had actively reached out to me.

During the time Qiu Ju was gone, I couldn't escape the pain, and every spare moment would be filled with memories of her
. To numb myself, I filled every minute with work, not allowing myself much
room .

In university, I majored in languages with excellent grades. After graduation, I continued my studies in teacher training in my spare time, obtaining
my teaching qualification a year later. I became a part-time teacher at an evening tutoring school primarily for high school students, and combined with my daytime
job , I was incredibly busy.

"Class, I'm your teacher, Cheng Ren. I'll be responsible for teaching you all from now on." I
introduced myself to the newly formed class. As always, the name Cheng Ren elicited laughter from the class, and one student even asked me, "
Teacher , is your English name Lover?"

I smiled and replied, "This student is very clever, that's right."

The class laughed again. At this moment, a female student raised her voice and said, "Isn't it Murderer?"

Everyone fell silent. The girl continued coldly, "The murderer, shouldn't it be Murderer
?"

I looked at the girl; it was Dongzhu.

I was stunned, surprised to run into her here. The classmates were whispering about the girl. Dongzhu
stood up from her seat and questioned me, "Did I say something wrong? Teacher, have you ever killed anyone?"

"Wow, you killed someone!" Everyone jeered at the word. I remained calm and smiled, "
This student, I haven't killed anyone."

"Really? Playing with a woman and causing her to commit suicide, what's the difference between that and murder?" Dongzhu wouldn't let go of my question.
I didn't know how to respond to her, and the atmosphere became extremely awkward. Dongzhu had achieved her goal of humiliating me and
didn't pursue the matter further, but she always made things difficult for me in class.

"Teacher, how do you write 'deceive a woman's feelings' in English?"

"Teacher, what should we call an irresponsible man?"

"Teacher, I wrote an article about manipulating women and causing someone to commit suicide. Please give me your comments!"

The rumors were rampant, and even other teachers asked me, "Ah Ren, I heard you messed with a girl's
older her to commit suicide. Is that true?"

I didn't deny it, which undoubtedly added a lot of trouble for me, but since Dongzhu wanted to use this method to vent
her anger for her second sister, I could only endure it. Determined to forever protect Qiuju's secret, I wouldn't refute it.
Compared to Dongzhu's pain over losing her sister, what were these rumors I was suffering?

But perhaps this negative attitude prevented Dongzhu from getting the effect she expected. Her attacks on me intensified.
When I returned to the classroom that day, I saw a photo of me and Qiuju on the blackboard, a photo torn in half.

I was furious and, ignoring the situation, rushed over, grabbed the girl by the collar, and yelled, "You can insult
me all you want, but don't insult your sister!"

Dongzhu stared at me without the slightest fear: "Who insulted her more than you?"

I had no words, suppressed my emotions, released her collar, and sighed, "I'll resign immediately, okay?"

"No, you can't repay what you've done in this lifetime. Unless you die, I will never
let you go!" Dongzhu said through gritted teeth.

"Fine, whatever." I gave up and returned to the blackboard, picked up the stylus, and wrote the lesson
for that evening .

I could completely understand Dongzhu's hatred for me. Qiuju was only fifteen when she committed suicide. I don't think she told
her sister her relationship with Vice Commander Gao. What about Xialan? Qiuju once said that Xialan knew about her relationship with her husband.
Could Xialan have guessed that her second sister's suicide was due to her relationship with Vice Commander Gao?

Oh well, even if she guessed, what difference would it make? The dead are gone, what can the living do? I think Xia Lan didn't want to cause any more trouble.
Blaming anyone at a time like this wouldn't help; it would only add to everyone's suffering.

That day after class, I mentioned my resignation to the tutoring school principal. He was an open-minded person and said that if
I hadn't done anything wrong, I shouldn't care about Dong Zhu's words. Rumors among students are common; the innocent will clear themselves,
and that's the right attitude towards rumors.

I accepted the principal's offer to stay. Strangely, from that day on, Dong Zhu stopped insulting me. Perhaps she also realized that
posting Qiu Ju's photo was disrespectful to her sister and reflected on her own behavior.

But her revenge wasn't over. That day after class, the girl followed me everywhere. I pretended not to notice at first, but
when we were almost there, I couldn't help but turn around and ask her, "Where are you going?"

Dongzhu said without hesitation, "To your house!"

"My house? What for?"

"I'm taking back my second sister's things. You don't deserve to have her belongings." Dongzhu's words were resolute. I
sighed and said, "Is that so? Fine, take them, but I can tell you, there's really nothing there."

"I want everything, I won't leave a single thing behind!"

"Whatever."

When Qiuju and I were dating, we were like any other couple. We had some small trinkets and photos together. I put most of them in a box after
Qiuju passed away, occasionally taking them out to remember her. They were quite valuable, but if Dongzhu wanted to take them back,
I had no choice but to comply.

"Is that all?" Dongzhu checked them over, a little disbelieving. My emotional anchor was about to
be taken away, and I wasn't in a good mood. I shrugged and said, "After a year of dating, that's about it?"

"You heartless man! My second sister risked her life for you, and this is all you care about?" Dongzhu
scoffed . I didn't bother to argue, letting her do as she pleased. Dongzhu continued rummaging through the other drawers, looking for
anything I had hidden. I was thankful that since my mother sometimes came to tidy up for me, to avoid her discovering it,
Qiuju's suicide note was hidden in the innermost compartment of the bookcase. No matter how hard Dongzhu searched, she wouldn't find it.

After rummaging through everything in the mess and finding nothing else, I thought I was finally done. But then Dongzhu held out
her hand: "Give me your phone, and delete all the photos too!"

"So cruel..." I reluctantly handed it over. Dongzhu took it and commanded rudely, "Password?"

"98769876..."

Dongzhu immediately entered it, opened the photo album, and deleted all the pictures of me and Qiuju. I was heartbroken. After
everything was finished, the girl picked up the box containing my second sister's belongings and left. Before leaving, I made a final plea: "Just
leave one photo, please?"

"No!" Dongzhu refused without hesitation. I sighed. Even the last thing I had to remember Qiuju
was gone. How could I live like this?

However, Dongzhu's purpose was not that simple. The next evening, she didn't go to the tutoring school. When I returned home, I
found her ransacking my house again: "It was you? How did you get in?"

Dongzhu didn't answer, casually raising the key in her hand. A clever girl; she had secretly taken the
spare . I said irritably, "You searched everything yesterday, what are you looking for today?"

Dongzhu turned to look at me, her eyes sharp: "What are you hiding from me?"

"Hiding from you? What am I hiding? I've even taken responsibility for Qiuju's death, what else is there to
hide?"

"Really? Then what's this?" Dongzhu pointed to the computer screen on my desk. I was surprised that the password had been
cracked . She said smugly, "People like you aren't good at password management. Once you know one, you
know almost everything else."

Dongzhu was right; this was indeed a weakness of city dwellers seeking convenience. To avoid confusing and forgetting passwords, most
commonly used appliances used the same password. If she knew the phone, she naturally knew the computer.

Dongzhu pointed to a locked file labeled "Qiuju." I was shocked and hurriedly said, "These
are Qiuju's photos. This is just a last bit of remembrance. Please, have some compassion and leave me a final memento."

"Photos? It's clearly an MP4 file, and it's locked. The password is different from the others. It's suspicious.
Let me see it. If there's nothing wrong, I'll keep it for you."

I saved the file Qiuju left on her USB drive to my computer. It was a recording of my first time making love with Qiuju
, mentioning Xia Lan and how Dongzhu couldn't hear it. I insisted, "You're Qiuju's sister,
but this is your sister's privacy. Even you can't see it!"

"Hey, so nervous. There's definitely something fishy going on. I'll definitely see it then!" Dongzhu seemed to have found a sore spot,
her tone resolute. I didn't back down. Dongzhu forcibly picked up the computer tower: "Fine, if you won't let me see it, I'll find
a way myself. I'll even hire a hacker to help me find the password!"

"Stop messing around!" I couldn't take it anymore and slapped Dongzhu across the face.

"Slap!"

Dongzhu was surprised by our outburst, her eyes wide with astonishment. A nearly bloody handprint remained on her delicate face.
I knelt on the ground, pleading, "If you love Qiuju, please leave her some dignity as an older sister, okay?"

Dongzhu asked silently, "Is it...the video of those things?"

I nodded slightly. Dongzhu's attitude softened. She put down the computer and left alone without saying anything more.

"Phew..." I took a breath. I considered deleting this dangerous file, but I really couldn't bear to.
It was the only thing that remained of Qiuju's voice.

"Husband! You are my husband, Cheng Ren is Lu Qiuju's husband!"

I pressed play, and Qiuju's voice came through the speakers. This voice was my pillar of life.
I listened to it every night for the past year, as if Qiuju was still by my side.

"Qiuju...you never loved me, but I really loved you..."

At that time, I still naively believed that Dongzhu's actions stemmed from hatred towards me. Therefore, when she knelt in my house the following night,
sobbing and begging me, I was at a loss.

"I beg you, please tell me the truth, okay? I don't care why, I just want to know why my second sister
died. I don't want to be her sister and not understand until the very end."

Sure enough, Dongzhu knew something.

For a moment, I couldn't answer coherently. It was all so sudden; I was probably even more confused than Dongzhu. Of course,
I couldn't reveal the truth, and it wouldn't be easy to immediately fabricate a plausible story. Most importantly, I needed to know what
Dongzhu knew.

I sat on the bed, trying my best to remain calm as I asked, "Why do you ask that? Isn't everything clear to everyone?
What's there to doubt? Do you think I killed Qiuju and then orchestrated her suicide?"

Dongzhu shook her head, not answering my question. She was an exceptionally shrewd girl; she knew I was looking
for clues to continue concealing the truth. With both of us holding firm to our positions,
a period of dead silence ensued. Finally, she, who was even more eager to know than I was, gave in.

"That day, after you left, my brother-in-law came."

The brother-in-law Dongzhu spoke of was undoubtedly Vice Commander Gao.

My shock was evident on my face, but I quickly composed myself, only for a second before Dongzhu noticed.

"Sure enough, it's related to my brother-in-law," Dongzhu said, her tone suggesting she had found a clue. Dongzhu

told me that after I left that day, she cleaned the cemetery one last time before leaving, but unexpectedly
, she ran into Deputy Commander Gao while emptying the trash.

"I was standing on the hilltop, and he didn't see me. I was puzzled as to why my brother-in-law would come to pay his respects
a week , and alone." Dongzhu recalled the scene: "He went to my second sister's
grave, knelt on the ground, and wept bitterly for a long time."

"Deputy Commander Gao wept bitterly at Qiuju's grave?" I gasped, unable to hide my astonishment any longer.

"My second sister is my brother-in-law's aunt, so it's normal for him to be sad for her. But I don't think he needs to come alone on such
a and cry so bitterly. A week later, on Qingming Festival, our family went to pay respects. My
brother-in-law also went with my eldest sister that day, but their attitudes were completely different. It was
the standard etiquette a husband gives to his wife's family, and his attitude was very indifferent."

Dongzhu asked, seemingly unable to find a reason, "Why would my brother-in-law do this? He clearly doesn't want others
to know that his grief for my second sister is greater than what everyone sees. Why is he hiding it? What exactly is his
relationship with my second sister?"

Ah, so that's it. A single visit to the ancestral grave had aroused Dongzhu's suspicions. I was certain Dongzhu didn't know
much, and before the truth was revealed, I tried to smooth things over again: "It's nothing. Qiuju mentioned to me before that
your brother-in-law, Mr. Gao, was her senior at school, and Miss Xialan was introduced to the Gao Group by her. So they
're good friends, which is normal,

isn't it?" "Really? Then was it necessary to go a week ago, at a time when no one knew? And was it necessary to deliberately act cold in front of
everyone ? I feel like he's hiding something."

"Maybe he doesn't want your parents to misunderstand. After all, these things need to be kept quiet; rumors aren't good for anyone."

Dongzhu wasn't satisfied with my answer. In fact, my explanation wasn't really an explanation; it was just an attempt to downplay her
doubts. She raised her eyebrows and said, "I know you won't tell me easily. As my second sister's younger sister, do you think
I'm not qualified to know the truth?"

"Of course you are, more qualified than anyone else, but this is the truth, the whole truth."

"Is that so?" Dongzhu pulled a photograph from her pocket, making my lips turn pale in an instant.

It was a photo of me and Xia Lan when I was seventeen.

I didn't know how the girl got such a photo, and I secretly blamed Xia Lan for being so careless. Qiuju hid it
very well; to preserve my eldest sister's happiness, she left no clues, while Xia Lan had leaked the evidence.

"I found this by chance at home. After my eldest sister got married, she gave me her room, and everything was cleaned up
. But I found this hidden photo on the inside cover of an old photo album." Dongzhu questioned me, "You
know your eldest sister?"

My mind was in turmoil, and I tried my best to tell the past that I wouldn't reveal the truth: "Yes, Miss Xia Lan used to be my
tutor. Qiuju also knows this. It was because I was once your eldest sister's tutor that she
noticed me back then."

"You mean, your eldest sister was your tutor, and there was no other relationship?"

"Of course not. I was just a kid back then. Your eldest sister was a few years older than me, so why would she be interested in me?"

I shrugged, speaking casually, "These kinds of things happen often, right? Boyfriends and girlfriends
meet ."

Dongzhu didn't ask anything more. Fortunately, the photo in her hand was a very ordinary group photo, without any intimate
actions, and it was convincing to explain it as a teacher-student photo.

"Okay, I believe you. I hope you haven't lied to me." Dongzhu stood up from the chair, her attitude becoming calm.
Before leaving, I called out to her, "Dongzhu!"

The girl turned around, and I said to her, "I hope you understand that some things are in the past and that's the past.
Dwelling on them won't do anyone any good. Qiuju loves your family and you love her too. She wouldn't want you to live in her shadow
.

For your second sister's sake, be yourself. You have your own life too."

"Thank you." Dongzhu said this and closed the door. I didn't know if saying this to her would arouse her
greater suspicion, but I really hoped that things would end here. She was a smart girl. If things continued,
the truth wouldn't be hidden.

I must not let Dongzhu know the truth. She was an extreme girl and would think that Qiuju's suicide was because
Xialan stole her love. The Lu family had already suffered a great tragedy, and we couldn't let this girl cause further turmoil.

"Qiuju, it's your wish for Xialan to be happy forever, isn't it? I hope your sister is willing to listen to me."

(V)

In the following days, everything returned to calm. Dongzhu didn't go to the tutoring school anymore, and I also hoped that I wouldn't
run into her again. I didn't dislike this girl; I just hoped she could let go of her doubts and live the most
beautiful stage of her life.

However, my wish didn't come true. Two months later, one day after school, I came home to find the lights on and
a clattering sound coming from the kitchen.

"Who's in the kitchen…?" I peeked in. I'm an ordinary person, and my place is quite ordinary;
there should n't be any thieves looking for me. I saw the stove lit, and
the soup pot, which my mother only used when she visited, was smoking.

"Mom, are you here?" I looked around curiously. Dongzhu came out of my room.

"It's you?" My expression clearly worsened. She wasn't a repulsive person; my reaction was
because of what she had done.

"What's wrong? Are you unhappy to see a thief? What do you think is worth stealing from your house?" Dongzhu
smiled and asked me. This was the first time I could remember seeing this girl smile. She had a pretty face, but it didn't inspire any
admiration .

"Who wouldn't be happy to come home to a stranger, right?" I said rudely. Dongzhu's smile
remained unchanged, tinged with sarcasm: "A stranger? The sister of a woman you once deeply loved is a stranger."

I was speechless, unable to answer Dongzhu. She seemed to be in a good mood, not taking it too
seriously , "Don't take it seriously. I came today to thank you."

"Thank me?"

"Thank you for letting me know the truth." Dongzhu nodded, revealing the truth herself: "He confessed." The "

he" Dongzhu referred to was Deputy Commander Gao.

"He told me everything."

I was stunned for a moment. I simply couldn't believe that Deputy Commander Gao would tell Dongzhu everything. Didn't he intend to
protect his wife? Didn't he know that this would ruin the sisterly relationship between Xia Lan and Dongzhu? Didn't he
even think of leaving a shred of dignity for the girl who died for him?

I wasn't looking in a mirror, but I could roughly guess my expression right now.

"You must be wondering why he told me everything, right?" From my expression, the clever Dongzhu
guessed my question: "Keeping a secret that makes you feel guilty isn't easy. The deeper the guilt,
the more you want to confide in others to lessen the demons tormenting your heart."

At this moment, I completely believed Dongzhu's words. The fact that Vice Marshal Gao wept at Qiuju's grave meant he still deeply loved her.
Under Dongzhu's pressure, it was understandable that he couldn't resist confessing the truth.

I felt a sense of utter despair, and asked in a low voice, "Then why did you come to me if you already knew?"

"To thank you. Without your help, I would never have found the answer." Dongzhu calmly
put on her heat-resistant gloves and opened the pot lid to let the steam escape.

I was completely bewildered. My assistance? What assistance had I provided? Had Dongzhu discovered
something during my conversation with me? The girl's words sent a wave of panic through me as I pondered what I had said wrong that day.

A recording? Dongzhu listened to that recording! She could freely enter and leave my house,
copy the audio while I was away, and then use software to crack the password.

That must be it! There couldn't be any other possibility! I was too careless! Knowing how dangerous it was, I
didn't act immediately!

I frantically ran into the bedroom. Although I had changed the name and location of the file, with Dongzhu's
intelligence , finding it wouldn't be difficult.

The computer was off, untouched, but just as I was about to turn it on to check,
Dongzhu, standing outside the door, revealed a sly smile: "Hey, that video, it really is related to my brother-in-law."

I turned to look at the girl; she shrugged: "I was lying to you. I didn't ask him anything, and he didn't
confess to anything."

I'd been tricked…

I was so stupid, falling for Dongzhu's trap. She hadn't asked Vice Commander Gao anything, but used that as an excuse
to test me.

Such a clever girl, and such a foolish me.

Being schemed against by a girl eight years younger than me, I felt an indescribable humiliation. Dongzhu gave a
mocking laugh, then calmly left the bedroom. I stood there like a defeated rooster, speechless, filled with an unprecedented
anger .

Why? Why did I let you fool me? I was only trying to protect your other sister, you little brat who knows
absolutely nothing!

Leave! Leave here! Leave my home!

I rushed outside, determined to get rid of Dongzhu by any means necessary. I couldn't let her control me;
how could a grown man be subdued by a little girl like her?

But when I got to the living room, I saw her taking a hot pot out of the kitchen and placing it on the dining table.

"What's this?" I asked, bewildered. Dongzhu ladled the soup into a bowl and answered matter-of-factly, "Radish
and pork shank soup with chicken feet. As a Chinese person, don't you even know this common soup?"

"Of course I know radish and pork shank soup with chicken feet. I'm asking why you're making soup in my house?"

"Didn't I say I came to thank you? So cooking you dinner is perfectly reasonable." Dongzhu looked at the pile of empty instant noodle cups in my
trash can , her tone teasing, "Anyway, no one else will cook for you, right?"

My face flushed. This little sister was indeed quite domineering. Dongzhu ignored me, ladled a bowl, and handed it to me.
"Try it and see how it tastes?"

I took the soup, full of doubt. The hot soup reflected my face, and I didn't understand why I was drinking soup from what should be considered
the soup of a strange girl. Dongzhu teased, "Don't drink it! It's poisoned. I'm here to avenge my second sister and
kill you, you heartless man."

I grunted and poured the soup into my mouth, then spat it out. "Hot! So hot!"

Dongzhu said irritably, "I saw it just come out and you still poured it in. You deserve to be burned to death. To kill
someone like you, we don't even need poison."

"Xue... Xue..." I slurred, not having time to argue with her anymore.

I wasn't very good at dealing with women, and I didn't know how to get rid of an uninvited guest. After all, it's hard for
a man to report to the police that a sixteen-year-old girl broke into my house and cooked dinner.

"What's wrong? Aren't you going to eat? As a teacher, don't you know that wasting food is a shameful act?"

Dongzhu filled the table with dishes, eating her own portion without a care in the world, her face still showing that indifferent
expression.

"I just finished dinner and came back." I refused outright, but Dongzhu, knowing all too well, said, "It's 9:36 now
. Tutoring ends at 9:00. It's a 20-minute drive back from there, plus walking time. Unless
you're ignoring the rule against eating on the train, you probably ate on the train."

"You even know this so clearly? Anyway, you're shameless, so I don't need to be polite. I'll eat!
Do you really think you'll poison me?" I mumbled, feeling a little embarrassed that I couldn't refuse. I picked up my chopsticks, took
a bite, and the taste was surprisingly good.

How many years had it been since I'd eaten home-cooked food? I picked up the bowl and shoveled mouthfuls of white rice into my mouth. This little girl's
behavior was disgusting, but she was a good cook.

"How is it? Is it worse than Second Sister's?" Dongzhu asked smugly, waving her chopsticks. I didn't want
to talk , but I still ate and casually replied, "Do you think Qiuju will cook dinner for me?"

"That's true. I don't think I've ever seen Second Sister cook. What about Eldest Sister?"

"Xiaolan doesn't either... Huh?" I blurted out, then realized I'd said the wrong thing. Dongzhu
looked at me with a sly look, a slight smirk on her lips: "Oh, it's Xiaolan..."

A chill ran through me, afraid she'd pursue the matter further. The girl waved her hand and said, "Don't worry, I'm here to repay you today.
I won't make things difficult for you. Anyway, you probably already guessed what I need to know without me saying it."

Ugh, this is such an annoying girl.

The food wasn't bad, but it was tasteless. I just wanted to get rid of her as soon as possible. Dongzhu casually glanced around the house a few times and
asked in a relaxed tone, "Do you have a girlfriend now?"

I didn't answer, knowing what she was going to say to put me down again. Dongzhu nodded, answering her own question, "
It's pointless for me to ask. There's not a trace of womanly atmosphere here. How could there be? It seems that apart from my sister, no woman
would be interested in you."

Hearing the deliberately emphasized "sister," I didn't know if she was referring to Qiuju or Xialan.

"How much is the rent here?" the girl suddenly asked. I didn't want to talk to her, but I still reluctantly answered, "Ten thousand."

"Ha, you do a cheap job and also work part-time as a teacher. Paying this kind of rent must be very difficult. No wonder you don't have
a girlfriend."

I felt like I was wasting my time even replying to her.

"How about this, I'll share the rent with you, that'll ease your financial burden a bit, right?"

Dongzhu's sudden suggestion almost made me vomit up the rice I'd just swallowed. "You'll share the rent?"

Dongzhu nodded, her smile fading. "Yes, my second sister passed away a year ago, and Mom still can't accept it. Seeing
her room every day reminds her of her, and her mental state is getting worse. My eldest sister suggested they move in with her and her husband, and
they agreed."

"What does that have to do with you sharing the rent?"

Dongzhu said seriously. "I don't like living in other people's homes."

"Hey, isn't this someone else's home too? And didn't you say I'm a murderer? Why are you sending me to
the lion's den ?"

Dongzhu shook her head and said, "After observing for a while, I think the chances of my second sister committing suicide because of you are very low.
You are a useless man, not worth dying for. I don't think my second sister's death was because of you."

I was both amused and exasperated by her reasoning: "Then should I thank you for clearing my name?"

Dongzhu stared at me fiercely and said, "Don't laugh! I'm not joking with you, that was my second sister's life!"

I had no idea how to talk to this girl, so I calmed myself down and said, "Okay, then I'll be serious with you.
Since your parents are still unable to get over the pain of losing their daughter, shouldn't you, as their daughter, stay by their side instead of moving
away and leaving?"

"This is my family matter, you don't have to worry about it. Anyway, I'll move in tomorrow, so you can prepare a room for me."

I was annoyed by her self-righteousness and said, "Don't be ridiculous! Do you think you can just do whatever you want?"

The girl stood up, her eyes resolute: "I am Lu Dongzhu, and I always do what I say!"

The youngest daughter, indeed, is the most unreasonable one in the family.

"There's half a bowl of soup left, you can finish it." Dongzhu ladled the soup into a bowl and handed it to me. I wanted to slap her
face.

That day, Dongzhu cleaned up the dishes and left on her own. I sighed, completely baffled by her intentions.
It turned out that all three Lu family daughters had princess syndrome, and each one was more severe than the last.

Of course, I didn't believe Dongzhu was serious. Not long ago, she called me a murderer, so why was she saying
she wanted to ? Could it be that she was too heartbroken over Qiuju's death and developed a mental illness?

But judging from her expression, which didn't seem like she was joking, I couldn't be completely careless. That night, I took
half a and rushed home after work to protect my home. Unfortunately, it was already too late. When I opened the door, several bags of miscellaneous items were piled up in
the middle of the living room, leaving me speechless.

"Phew, so heavy." Dongzhu, covered in sweat, came out from inside and said rudely when she saw me, "
Why are you all just standing there without helping? Is this how men behave?"

Help! Isn't this like a cuckoo taking over someone else's nest?

I rushed into the bedroom, only to find the desk and bedside covered in stuffed animals. What was going on? I angrily turned to the girl
and demanded , "Who let you put your things in someone else's room?"

Dongzhu nonchalantly replied, "Didn't we agree on this yesterday? We even settled the terms. Are you even a man to go back on your word now?"

"A man, precisely because I'm a man, doesn't want to argue with a woman, so I let her take advantage of me step by step!" I
said furiously, "Take all your things out of here!"

Dongzhu, as if the die was cast, said, "You've already moved your things in. Do you think you can change my mind? Go
if you want, but please leave half of your rent."

"Hey! Hey! Hey!"

Crazy! This girl is even crazier than her sister!

In the end, I couldn't get rid of Dongzhu. I don't know how much of the current law actually protects men;
gender equality is clearly out of balance.

"I'm tired. I won't cook today. Just make me some instant noodles, roommate." After turning my room into
a girl's bedroom, Dongzhu sighed deeply. I wanted to put rat poison in her instant noodles.

I completely fail to understand Dongzhu's intentions; what she did was even more incomprehensible than Qiuju's. My feelings towards her have
shifted from initial sympathy to resentment. Losing a loved one is pitiful, but it doesn't justify reckless behavior.

I've had enough! I've had enough!

I sat down at the dining table and said seriously, "I don't know what you mean, but it's okay.
Whatever you want to know, whatever you want to investigate, I'll cooperate with you, as long as you don't bother me anymore!"

Dongzhu calmly replied, "Thank you for your cooperation, but unfortunately, I'm not interested in knowing anymore. As you said,
the dead are gone, and my second sister has been gone for a year. Dwelling on it won't help. I have my own life,
and I don't think my second sister would want me to live in her shadow."

Dongzhu's understanding surprised me: "You finally understand."

"I'm not an unreasonable person; I understand such a simple principle."

"Then since you know, why are you still like this?"

Dongzhu looked around: "This place is nice. I feel that I can live my own life here."

"Hey, are you building your life on someone else's house?" It was obvious that this girl
understood reason, but she wouldn't reason with you. I retorted, "Fine, if you really decide, I welcome it.
Men never lose out in these kinds of situations. I'm used to running around naked at home, not even closing the door when I poop or shower. I hope you
can tolerate it."

Dongzhu rested her chin on her hand, remaining silent and watching me quietly. I couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing?"

Dongzhu replied flirtatiously, "Waiting for you to take off your clothes. I also want to know how
good-looking my second sister's boyfriend was."

This girl, I'm no match for her.

I can't chase her away, I can't scare her away, I'm helpless. The only thing I can do is console myself that she's still Qiuju's sister,
and I bear some responsibility for her becoming like this. Consider it paying back a debt to the Lu family, making them tolerate this headstrong
little girl.

"For Qiuju's sake, if you insist on staying, you can, but you
have to agree on three rules: mutual respect and maintaining distance."

Dongzhu raised her eyebrows, "Do you think you have any leverage to negotiate with me?"

Ugh, this girl won't budge an inch. I

remember how Qiuju had me completely under her thumb back then, but it turns out her sister is the real queen.

As a result, I couldn't get Dongzhu to leave that night, so I had no choice but to let her stay. I don't know
what their parents' mentality is. They should be very anxious after losing a daughter, so how could they let a sixteen-year-old girl
stay out overnight?

Not just overnight, but living with a man!

"Are you alright? I'll go take a shower." Dongzhu took out her change of clothes from her travel bag, treating someone else's
home as her own without any hesitation.

"Really? A man and a woman alone together, isn't she afraid of being taken advantage of?" I muttered, seeing Dongzhu
in . To me, she's still a child at this age; I wouldn't have any dirty thoughts about her.
In fact, compared to the gentle and considerate Xialan, and the enthusiastic and active Qiuju, the oblivious Dongzhu is definitely not my type. This
is perfect for me to treat her like a younger sister without any ulterior motives.

After showering, I gathered my pillowcase and blankets, preparing to rest on the sofa. Dongzhu said, "Go
back to your own bed. I'm your new neighbor; I won't be so heartless as to kick you out."

"So generous?" I felt bad for making the little girl sleep on the sofa, but then I realized she had brought this on herself.
The deputy commander is from a wealthy family. He has a comfortable bed and warm pillows, yet he comes here to occupy someone else's place. He deserves to suffer a little.

"I shouldn't be polite with a girl like this," I thought, pulling the covers up to get a good night's sleep
. Maybe it would all be a dream when I woke up. But after a while, Dongzhu crawled into my bed.

"Hey, what do you mean by this?"

Dongzhu said matter-of-factly, "This bed is so big, two people can sleep comfortably. You wouldn't be so heartless
as to make a little girl sleep on the sofa,

would you?" "Really? You're planning to sleep with me?"

"Is there a problem?"

"Of course not! I'm a man, you're a woman. Is it okay for us to sleep in the same bed? Aren't you afraid I'll violate you?
Or are you just used to sleeping with men?" Faced with Dongzhu's completely unreasonable actions, I didn't need to be polite. The girl coldly
said, "I'm a virgin. If you think violating your ex-girlfriend's sister is something you can forgive yourself for, then come on."

Then she added provocatively, "However, I believe you don't have the courage." "

Ugh..." I had the urge to strangle this woman immediately.

But before I could retaliate, Dongzhu hugged my soft pillow and asked, "Did Second Sister sleep
here that day?"

These words left me speechless for a moment, and after a long pause, I nodded. Dongzhu hugged the pillow tighter, her voice filled with
sorrow , "Second Sister, Dongzhu misses you so much..."

Seeing that tear suddenly fall, all my anger vanished, and I couldn't bring myself to argue with this girl anymore.

I'm an only child, and I don't really understand the bond between brothers, let alone sisters. Xialan
is twelve years older than Dongzhu, and perhaps Qiuju is closer to her than to my eldest sister. Judging from the fact that she also
cleans , the two sisters have a very good relationship.

"Alright, Qiuju, then let me look after your sister for now..."

(To be continued...)

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