Shu Nian lowered her head, no longer speaking, her entire body curled into a tiny ball, looking extremely insecure. She had stopped crying, but her throat still had unstoppable hiccups from crying, and her body was still unconsciously trembling.

Xie Ruhe fell silent, his eyes clouding with a layer of gloom, red as if about to bleed. Suppressing the urge to kill, he took off his outer coat and gently wrapped it around her.

She instinctively shrank back but didn’t resist like before. She sniffled, suddenly clutching the coat he had placed over her, wrapping it tighter around herself.

Xie Ruhe stroked her head, saying hoarsely: “Don’t be afraid, I’ll go open the door.”

Realizing he was about to leave, Shu Nian immediately grabbed the hem of his shirt, nervously standing up. But it was as if she had exhausted all her strength, unable to stand steadily.

Seeing this, Xie Ruhe lowered his eyes and without hesitation picked her up. Like carrying a child.

Because of this sudden action, Shu Nian’s body stiffened somewhat but quickly relaxed again. She hesitantly wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in the crook of his neck.

Xie Ruhe walked to the entrance, freeing one hand to open the door.

Outside stood two police officers. Seeing this situation, their expressions froze momentarily, then one asked: “Sir, you reported the case, right? About a thief breaking in?”

Xie Ruhe nodded, stepping aside: “He’s inside.”

The other officer kindly asked: “What happened? Is this young lady alright?”

Shu Nian’s condition was very poor, and she couldn’t give a statement. Xie Ruhe could only roughly explain what had just happened.

Because of the presence of strangers, Shu Nian became tense again, her breathing becoming more rapid.

One of the officers took the criminal outside, while the other stayed to inquire about the situation. Xie Ruhe had little patience, but fearing he might frighten Shu Nian, he tried his best not to lose his temper.

Xie Ruhe helped Shu Nian put on her shoes.

Fang Wencheng arrived just then, freezing in place: “Young master, what happened?”

Xie Ruhe picked up Shu Nian, saying: “Going to the hospital.”

All four got into the car.

The police officer sat in the front passenger seat, while Xie Ruhe and Shu Nian sat in the back. Perhaps knowing that Shu Nian’s condition wasn’t good, the officer, having clarified the situation, didn’t continue questioning.

Fang Wencheng first dropped Xie Ruhe and Shu Nian at the entrance of the city hospital. Afterward, he restarted the car, following the police officer to the station to handle the paperwork.

At this hour, they could only go to the emergency department.

Xie Ruhe took Shu Nian to get a tetanus shot and have her wounds redressed, then quickly left the hospital. Her state had gradually calmed somewhat, lying on his back as if asleep.

The small path next to the hospital wasn’t particularly well-lit.

Few people were coming and going, most of them alone.

Xie Ruhe carried Shu Nian on his back, walking forward in silence, gradually losing himself in thought. He remembered eight years ago, that gray day when he saw exceptionally vivid colors.

That day, he saw Ji Xiangning covered in wounds all over her body. She lay in a pool of blood, her heart pierced by a sharp knife, her life taken away.

It was the only scene in his life he didn’t dare to recall.

Because of this incident, Xie Ruhe left Shiyan Town with his grandfather.

That place also became the only nightmare in his life. He was unwilling to return, afraid it would remind him of his mother, who in some corner of that place, was tortured to death by a demon.

Xie Ruhe suddenly stopped walking and softly called out: “Nian Nian.”

Shu Nian didn’t respond, breathing very softly.

He turned his head to look at her, only able to see her tightly closed eyes and small nose, with tears still hanging on her eyelashes.

Xie Ruhe’s eyes reddened, his heart so painful that even taking a breath hurt. His gaze was fixed, and suddenly tears fell, his voice hoarse and deep: “I regret it.”

Regret leaving Shiyan Town that year, leaving you there alone.

Regret so strong it felt like death.

…

For post-traumatic stress disorder, when Shu Nian’s condition had slightly improved, her psychologist Wang Yue suggested a treatment method called “exposure therapy.” It had a good effect on improving the symptoms.

The treatment method was, in a safe environment without threats, the doctor would repeatedly ask her to recount the traumatic experience, scene, and process until the fear completely dissipated.

Shu Nian didn’t consider it at all, directly refusing. At first, she hadn’t fully trusted Wang Yue yet, guarded like a thorn, stiffly lying: “I won’t do this, I don’t remember.”

Later, when Wang Yue patiently brought up this treatment method again.

She just shook her head, saying seriously: “I don’t want to remember again.”

But in reality, that memory.

For Shu Nian, it was probably the most firmly remembered thing in her life.

What time she left that day, when she got in the car, who she saw when she arrived at Shiyan Town, every detail, every development, she remembered clearly.

It was the first day of the National Day holiday.

Since she was only going home for a week, Shu Nian didn’t bring much luggage. It was ten o’clock in the morning, her three roommates were night owls, still lying in bed, only one was awake, playing with her phone while lying down.

Shu Nian said goodbye to her in a whisper, then shouldered her backpack and went out.

Xu Zeyuan was already waiting for her downstairs at the dormitory. He wasn’t planning to go home; after falling in love, he had become especially clingy. Because he didn’t want to be apart from Shu Nian for so long, he had been coaxing her not to go home.

Shu Nian didn’t listen to him.

Her bus ticket was for 2 PM.

Xu Zeyuan took her to watch a movie. When they came out, it was already noon. It took an hour from the school to the bus station. Shu Nian was afraid of being late and kept saying they should go to the station, but Xu Zeyuan didn’t seem concerned.

He took her to eat something else.

Because of Xu Zeyuan’s dawdling attitude, Shu Nian was extremely annoyed, almost losing her temper.

Only then did Xu Zeyuan reluctantly take her to the station.

They were indeed late when they arrived at the bus station. Shu Nian could only refund her ticket and buy a new one. Most tickets for the National Day holiday were sold out, and the one Shu Nian bought was for 5 PM.

Although it didn’t have much impact, she was really unhappy.

Even after boarding, she didn’t speak to Xu Zeyuan again.

From Ruchuan City to Shiyan Town by bus, if there was no traffic jam, it would take about four hours. Shu Nian always took this bus when going home, and after arriving in Shiyan Town, since the distance wasn’t far, she could walk home.

It had been like this for three years.

She thought this time would be the same.

Shu Nian left the bus station.

The sky had completely darkened, and there were hardly any people on the streets of the small town at night, with few vendors out. Occasionally she would see a few familiar uncles and aunties, and Shu Nian would smile and greet them.

At that time, Deng Qingyu had just married Wang Hao.

Shu Nian didn’t mind her remarriage but hadn’t moved in with them, still living in her original home. And because she was coming home for National Day, Deng Qingyu had also stayed at home that day.

After walking for about ten minutes, Shu Nian reached the open space near the Water Bridge.

She saw a man crouching by the roadside, next to him a bicycle lying on the ground, and oranges scattered all over. She blinked and walked over, asking: “Are you alright, sir?”

The man looked up, smiling gently at her: “I’m fine. Just fell, having a bit of trouble standing up.”

Just then, Deng Qingyu called her. Shu Nian nodded to him and walked aside to answer the phone: “Mom… Mm-hmm… You don’t need to come out, I’m almost home… Okay, okay, I understand.”

After hanging up, Shu Nian went over to help him pick up his things, saying: “You should be more careful when cycling in the future. There are a lot of small stones on this road, easy to hit them while cycling. An uncle I know also often falls here.”

The man was still smiling: “Alright, thank you.”

Shu Nian stood up, revealing a friendly smile: “I’ll go home now, please be careful on the road.”

She took a step toward the direction of Water Bridge.

Before she had walked a few steps, the man suddenly called out: “Young lady.”

Shu Nian turned back: “Hmm? Are you calling me?”

“Yes.” The man handed her the bag of oranges that had just been picked up, “Thank you for helping me. This bag of oranges is my thank-you gift, I just picked them, they’re very sweet.”

Shu Nian waved her hand: “No need, thank you.”

The man didn’t lower his hand, insisting: “Take it.”

Shu Nian was also insistent: “Really, there’s no need.”

The man explained: “My ankle is a bit injured, it’s difficult to walk, and difficult to carry. Might as well let you take it home.”

Hearing this, Shu Nian’s expression softened, and she hesitantly walked over.

Almost at the moment she took the bag, the man produced a hard object from somewhere, forcefully hitting her head with it, his face still wearing a friendly smile, like a mask.

In an instant, Shu Nian lost consciousness.

Even at the moment of fainting, she hadn’t reacted.

The person harming her now was the same person who had been smiling and thanking her just a moment ago.

…

…

Xie Ruhe called a housekeeping lady to come over and change clothes for Shu Nian. There were no other clothes in the house, so she could only change into his long-sleeved shirt, which was as loose as a dress.

He looked at Shu Nian’s sleeping face, her cheek still swollen, looking pitiful and heart-wrenching.

Xie Ruhe reached out to turn on the small lamp beside, turned off the room light, and left the room.

Sitting on the sofa in the living room.

Xie Ruhe illuminated his phone and called Ji Xinghuai. Hearing his grandfather’s aged, gentle voice, his expression remained calm as he went straight to the point: “Did you know that Shu Nian was captured by Zeng Yuanxue?”

The other end instantly fell silent.

Xie Ruhe lowered his eyes, pressing his lips tightly, waiting for his answer.

After about several dozen seconds, Ji Xinghuai sighed and admitted: “Yes. At that time, you had just woken up from your car accident, your leg still had problems, and you were in very poor condition.”

“…”

“Afraid you wouldn’t be able to handle it if you knew, I kept it from you.”

Xie Ruhe closed his eyes briefly, didn’t lose his temper with him, and hung up the phone.

After a few minutes, the phone rang again.

It was Fang Wencheng’s call.

Xie Ruhe answered.

Fang Wencheng described the situation on his end: “This thief seems to be a habitual offender. He’s just been exposed for stealing from several other homes before without being caught, and once even injured someone…”

After saying this, Fang Wencheng continued: “By the way, young master. About Li Sheng, you asked me to investigate, and I found that he’s still using drugs. I’ve already contacted entertainment reporters to expose it. Tonight he posted on Weibo saying he’s quitting the industry…”

Xie Ruhe didn’t let him finish: “I understand.”

Then he hung up.

He didn’t stay in the living room, returning to the bedroom instead.

Shu Nian seemed to have just woken up, now with her eyes open, looking at the ceiling. Hearing movement, she immediately scrambled up, shrinking into a corner, not daring to raise her head, breathing heavily.

Xie Ruhe called softly: “Shu Nian.”

Her reaction was slow; it took several seconds before she raised her head, looking at him blankly.

Seeing it was him, Shu Nian’s fearful emotions instantly dissipated. She breathed a sigh of relief, looking more lucid than before, nervously saying to him: “Xie Ruhe, we can’t stay in a pitch-black room.”

“Mm.” Xie Ruhe didn’t ask why, turning on the light, “Okay.”

“Pitch-black rooms.” Shu Nian murmured, “Bad people will come.”

Xie Ruhe went to sit beside her, not daring to get too close, afraid of frightening her. He coaxed in a low voice: “It’s bright now, no bad people will come.”

When the room lit up, her condition improved somewhat, but she said nothing more.

After a while, Xie Ruhe reached out to touch her face, asking: “Do you want to sleep?”

Shu Nian didn’t avoid him, shaking her head: “I’ll have dreams.”

Xie Ruhe complied: “If you don’t want to sleep, then don’t.”

Shu Nian crawled under the covers, asking with extreme insecurity: “Can you lock the door…”

He nodded: “Yes.”

Xie Ruhe went to lock the door and walked back. Looking at Shu Nian hiding her entire body under the covers, he suddenly said: “Nian Nian, would you like to move in and live with me?”

Hearing this, Shu Nian poked her head out from under the covers, looking at him cautiously.

“Not in the same room as you, I’ll stay in another room. If you don’t like it, I can also live on the 17th floor.” Xie Ruhe’s voice was very gentle, seeking her opinion, “Do you think that’s okay?”

Shu Nian sniffled, saying: “You saw, didn’t you.”

Xie Ruhe paused: “What?”

“The way I was just now…” Shu Nian buried her head back under the covers, choking as she said, “I have a mental illness, I know my condition. I shouldn’t be dating you.”

“…”

“You’re so perfect.” Her negativity reached an extreme, self-deprecating as she said, “You shouldn’t be with someone like me. Many people like you, you shouldn’t have chosen me, you should find someone without flaws.”

She continued talking to herself.

Soon, on the soft bed, there was a sense of sinking beside her. As if he had moved closer.

Shu Nian’s covers were pulled away from her head.

She met his gaze.

Xie Ruhe looked at her intently: “What flaws of yours?”

Shu Nian, red-eyed, was about to speak when he suddenly leaned in and kissed the dimple on her face.

It was a completely unexpected gesture for Shu Nian.

She stared at him wide-eyed, as if she had been taken advantage of.

It became quiet.

Looking at her expression, Xie Ruhe’s lips curled into a smile, and he brushed her dimple with his fingertip, asking seriously: “Is it this?”