The cold water cascaded from the tap, flowing around Meng Wange’s pale, slender fingers, washing away the lingering grease on the plate before pooling at the center of the sink, heading toward the darkness that awaited it.
“Splash… splash…”
Meng Wange let out a soft sigh, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing against one another.
Last night, her confrontation with Su Heng in the banquet hall.
“You—just look out for yourself. Next Tuesday is the final deadline. After that…”
Su Heng’s icy verdict pressed down on Meng Wange’s heart like an invisible slab of stone, bringing with it a lingering, unrelenting weight.
When Su Wanli was by her side, it felt bearable. But the moment Meng Wange found herself alone, that pressure began to spread and ferment uncontrollably, threatening to swallow her whole.
Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. She had four days left.
Was that it? The days she could stay by Su Wanli’s side with a clear conscience were already down to the final four?
One chaotic thought after another climbed quietly into Meng Wange’s mind alongside the flowing water, and with them came a surge of immense panic.
After that day, she would no longer be able to naturally share a car with Su Wanli, accompany her back to the same home, or exchange goodnights with her…
That sharp, stabbing pain snapped her scattered thoughts back into focus. Meng Wange instinctively pressed her index finger against the pad of her thumb.
Calm down, Meng Wange. Thinking like this is pointless. Better to focus on something more practical.
What would happen to Su Wanli afterward?
For instance, when she slipped away from the Su residence next Tuesday without a sound, would Su Wanli sleep until the sun was high in the sky as she always did, then lazily drag herself out of bed amid Zhang Ma’s helpless urgings?
Would she sit alone at that enormous, empty white table, complaining about the monotony of breakfast while distractedly shoving food into her mouth in big bites?
Would she get into the car by herself, head to school alone, sit through classes she had no interest in, and then, when boredom and irritation set in, instinctively turn her head toward the seat beside her—now empty, or already occupied by a new master?
When that time came, would Su Wanli remember that there was once a girl by her side with light brown hair who catered to her every whim?
Would she remember that there was someone who appeared at her bedside every morning without fail, laying out her clothes, brushing through that always-messy black hair, and leading her to the banquet hall to enjoy a handmade breakfast?
She would, wouldn’t she?
At least in those first few days, Su Wanli would certainly feel unsettled by her departure.
But after that?
Su Wanli was such a warm, kind person, like a beam of sunlight, instinctively drawing in all those who yearned for light.
So there was no need to worry. Someone would always take her place, preparing breakfast for her, packing her schoolbag, flocking around her like a group of chattering sparrows, laughing and playing with her, sharing topics that belonged to them.
Perhaps someone would even see through her hard outer shell like she had, glimpse her soft and kind heart, and naturally take her place as the unique presence by Su Wanli’s side.
By then… would Su Wanli still remember her?
Meng Wange’s heart felt as if it were being crushed by an ice-cold hand, making it hard to breathe.
Would she still remember that during that brief opening season, a despicable, shameless person named Meng Wange had lingered in her life like an insignificant shadow?
No. Of course not.
Su Wanli’s life was meant to be radiant. She deserved the best the world had to offer, deserved to be surrounded by all things beautiful. What was someone like her, after all?
A liar. A despicable traitor. A sinner bound by heavy shackles. A schemer consumed by calculations.
To even fantasize about receiving Su Wanli’s unique favor—how arrogant could she get?
But then again…
But then again, if she were being honest, Meng Wange did harbor a certain confidence.
As someone who had grown up in such a dark environment, Meng Wange knew many underhanded methods. She knew how to weave herself into someone’s life without making a sound, how to bind them tightly with her traces before they even realized it.
She knew how to cleverly exploit someone’s personality, what actions would draw their gaze, and how to make them grow fond of her without realizing it.
She also knew how to find the softest, most fragile part of someone’s heart, and through days of steady companionship, slowly become the most important, irreplaceable person in their life.
If Su Heng hadn’t discovered her scheme so quickly, if the Bai family’s plan had been delayed a little longer…
If she could have stayed by Su Wanli’s side just a while longer…
Meng Wange had every confidence that she could trade her sincerity for Su Wanli’s.
But it was too late. There was so little time left.
So… should she give up?
Meng Wange took a deep breath, then slowly closed her eyes. The water flowing over her hands came to a stop.
“No. I’m a disgusting worm. Worms never say the word ‘give up.'”
So, I’m sorry, Uncle Su. I’m afraid I’ll have to betray your trust again.
For the next four days, I will carve my existence into the depths of Su Wanli’s heart with more intensity, more directness, and more ruthlessness than ever before.
I will become a poison that cannot be easily quit, seeping into every inch of her marrow, every one of her cells.
I will make sure that after I leave, Su Wanli feels an unbearable emptiness from my absence, tosses and turns at the memory of me, and searches for my shadow in every single moment of her life.
…Her methods before had truly been too ordinary, too gentle.
Time was so pressing now. There was no room to leave her mark on Su Wanli’s heart stitch by stitch like embroidery.
So she had to intensify it. She had to leave behind a shockingly unforgettable memory at the very moment it all ended.
Before that, she needed to build a solid stage and present undeniable proof.
Meng Wange slowly exhaled the stale air from her lungs, then opened her eyes and pushed open the kitchen window, letting the cold wind outside gradually blow away the faint, feigned smile on her face.