Lin Ziyan had once said that if she couldn’t endure living in Liu Yinuo’s home anymore, she could return to the Lin family and that she would protect her.
Ye Xingmian didn’t know if those words were true, but at this moment, she could only hope that Lin Ziyan would keep her word.
As luck would have it, another weekend arrived before long. Ye Xingmian took the initiative to make a request to Liu Yinuo, saying she wanted to go out alone for a bit.
But she hadn’t expected Liu Yinuo to refuse so decisively and firmly. It was as if a sensitive trigger had been hit—she became jittery for the rest of the day.
“Where do you want to go?”
“I want to go out and clear my head. Just walk around a little.”
That was, of course, a lie. She didn’t want to lie, but if she told the truth, Liu Yinuo would never agree to let her go out.
Her gaze was terrifying, burning with a flame called possessiveness.
“Go where? Can’t I come with you?”
This reaction only strengthened Ye Xingmian’s resolve to leave.
If things continued like this, she couldn’t imagine what Liu Yinuo might do when the day of parting truly came.
“No, it’s nothing… I just—I just want to go shopping. I don’t know where I’d go either,” she said.
“You don’t have money, and you don’t have a phone. Even more reason for me to come with you.”
“I don’t need money. I just want to be alone for a while.”
“No!”
Liu Yinuo stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
Ye Xingmian finally backed down. She realized she couldn’t break free from Liu Yinuo’s grip no matter what.
No matter what she said, Liu Yinuo would use concern as an excuse and refuse to let her go. Either they went together, or she couldn’t go out at all.
The idea of going to talk to Lin Ziyan had to be shelved for now.
When it came down to it, she didn’t hold much hope in what Lin Ziyan had said anyway. She couldn’t even be sure if her foster parents would still be willing to take her in.
But if Lin Ziyan’s words were true, then even if life in the Lin family was harder and more exhausting, she could endure a month or two.
Besides, that Qin Haiyue hadn’t come looking for her in a long time. She must have given up on those boring matters by now, right?
That was her reasoning.
She didn’t know if it was right or wrong, but she felt it was a solution that would benefit both Liu Yinuo and herself.
She believed that after some time apart, Liu Yinuo’s obsession would fade considerably.
Liu Yinuo needed time to calm down and stop pouring so much energy into her.
The only question was when she’d find the opportunity to leave.
Another ordinary Saturday.
Tutoring, cooking, housework—the usual routine.
Ye Xingmian thought this kind of life would continue for a while until a turning point appeared. But she never expected the turning point to come so quickly.
That night.
Liu Yinuo had gone to the restroom, Liu Fu was cooking, and Liu Mu called Ye Xingmian out from the kitchen.
“Little Ye, come out here. I want to talk with you.”
The two of them went to a secluded corner, and Liu Mu cut straight to the point.
Ye Xingmian had a rough idea of what Liu Mu wanted to talk about.
Seeing Liu Mu’s calm eyes, Ye Xingmian’s heart clenched.
“Little Ye, you must have noticed Nuo Nuo’s grades slipping, right?”
“Mhm mhm…”
Knowing that she was the cause of it, Ye Xingmian nodded guiltily.
In truth, if she’d known she would hold Liu Yinuo back, she should never have come here seeking refuge in the first place.
That decision back then might have been wrong from the very start.
After all, she’d always been like this—unlucky, unable to help with anything, just a burden.
“Then I’ll be direct with you, Auntie. You two have a very close relationship, and I don’t want to hurt you. But if you two keep going like this, it really won’t work. I’m worried. Nuo Nuo is still young, and I’m afraid she’ll make some irrational decision.”
“I’m sorry…”
“I’m not blaming you, Little Ye. You’re a good child. I’ve seen it all these past few months. If I could, I’d even take you in as my own daughter. It’s just… you came at the wrong time.”
Liu Mu patted her head, her tone gentle and tactful.
But Ye Xingmian knew that her “verdict” was about to be announced next.
After all, when words reached this point, continuing like this really couldn’t work, could it?
“What does Auntie want to do?”
She lifted her head, her sakura-colored eyes carefully watching the other woman.
“Your Uncle and I talked it over these past two days. We’re planning to rent an apartment for you near the school, and we’ll give you a cellphone to contact us with.”
“We’ll send you money regularly. You have the ability to support yourself now—it’ll just be a period of living alone, and you might find it hard to adjust. What do you think?”
“That would be a lot of trouble, right? And it would cost a lot…”
This would undoubtedly deepen Ye Xingmian’s psychological burden.
She already couldn’t repay the kindness of the Liu family taking her in. If they added more to it, she really wouldn’t know what to do.
“Then what does Little Ye want to do?”
Liu Mu frowned, as if she wanted to hear her opinion.
But Ye Xingmian knew that staying here was definitely no longer an option.
Though she hadn’t planned on staying anyway.
“Can you help me contact my foster parents? If they’re still willing to take me in, I’d like to return to the Lin family.”
Liu Mu’s expression turned worried.
Having spent so much time together, she had grown fond of the girl before her and naturally didn’t want her to suffer abuse again.
“Are you sure? Your previous experience at the Lin family…”
“Mhm mhm… If it really becomes unbearable, I’ll tell you.”
The girl forced a faint smile.
What a sensible child. Sometimes Liu Mu wished she weren’t quite so sensible.
The sight of her was truly heartbreaking.
But since it was her proposal, Liu Mu had no reason to refuse.
“Alright.”
And so, this matter was settled behind Liu Yinuo’s back.
Even when they returned to the dining room to eat, the two of them deliberately avoided the topic to keep Liu Yinuo from getting suspicious.
Doing something behind Liu Yinuo’s back inevitably filled Ye Xingmian’s heart with guilt.
She would occasionally steal glances at Liu Yinuo as she ate, which naturally drew the other girl’s attention.
“What’s wrong?”
The owner of those tea-colored eyes asked.
“Nothing, it’s nothing.”
Ye Xingmian shook her head, as if nothing had ever happened.
Naturally, Liu Yinuo didn’t take it as a sign of what was to come.
It was just a small blip, unnoticed by anyone.
That night, Liu Yinuo didn’t come to Ye Xingmian’s room to see her.
Ye Xingmian simply hugged her stuffed bear, staring blankly at the night scenery outside the window.
Outside, tall buildings stood in rows, neon lights flickering.
Even this room—it was clean, tidy, and spacious.
But unfortunately, none of it belonged to her.
Even that cluttered little attic didn’t belong to her.
Nothing belonged to her. All she had was the little bear in her arms and her mother far away.
Perhaps… also the precious memories in her mind?
Regardless, the few months spent with Liu Yinuo were the happiest, most blissful time of her life so far.
Shining like gold, brilliant like fireworks.
But even fireworks burn out eventually.
Would the light in her memories eventually turn to ashes, obscuring the path ahead of the young girl?
She didn’t know.
Her small heart pulsed as she held tight to the only fuzzy symbol of her mother before her, waiting for the next tomorrow.
Waiting for fate to cast her once again into a bottomless sea.