Her expression, her posture, her eyes — and the utter, bone-deep laziness radiating even from the very tips of her hair — revealed not a trace of excitement.

Shen Mo was used to her saying the opposite of what she meant. He reached out and ruffled her hair, smiling faintly.

Bai Youwei leaned back against the sofa, eyes half-closed, and said quietly: “Back then… you promised my mother you’d take me to Yangzhou. We never managed it, but if you can bring me to her now, that counts as completing the task. After that… do we even need to see each other?”

Shen Mo’s hand paused, then slowly withdrew.

“Is Mo-ge leaving?”

A small, faint voice.

The two turned to look, and found Pan Xiaoxin — who had been tidying the luggage — standing in the doorway, staring blankly at the two of them.

“…Xiaoxin, who said anyone was leaving?” Teacher Cheng also came out from the bedroom.

Shen Mo explained: “I have to meet my family shortly. I won’t abandon everyone before things have settled.”

Cheng Weicai understood now — Shen Mo’s family was in Shanghai.

Just like Su Man and Li Li, even though they were in Yan Qingwen’s group, now that they’d found their families, they would naturally return to their families’ side.

Teacher Cheng thought it over, then hesitantly ventured: “Xiao Shen… you’ve already saved us so many times along the way. Now that you’ve finally reunited with your family, you should cherish it. The few of us will be all right — we can take care of ourselves. You don’t need to feel obligated… No feast under heaven lasts forever…”

He paused for two seconds, then asked in puzzlement: “…You and Youwei — aren’t you like siblings? Aren’t you planning to take her with you?”

Shen Mo glanced down at Bai Youwei. “I’ll take her to her mother.”

Bai Youwei’s lips curved slightly — a smile with a faint edge of sarcasm.

“If she doesn’t want to go, I’ll look after her,” he added.

Bai Youwei froze and looked up at Shen Mo.

He was still watching Teacher Cheng — his profile was cool and composed, his tone even: “Everyone settle in and get some rest. The situation here isn’t clear yet; there’s too much we don’t know. Talking about parting ways is premature. Although everyone has their own goals when we’re together, let’s not forget what our goal is right now.”

“We’re going to collect all the puzzle pieces!” Tan Xiao’s voice rang out from the bedroom, ragged and hoarse.

Bai Youwei burst out laughing!

That laugh set everyone else smiling too, and the heavy weight of impending farewells dissipated.

Pan Xiaoxin spun around and ran into the bedroom: “Xiao Ge, please stop talking, you need to rest…”

Cheng Weicai shook his head and sighed, quoting: “The sun rises over the mulberry trees a full ten feet high — the affairs of the world are as fine as hair. This rough-hewn man blazes with fury at the injustice he sees; wearing down the thousand-year blade forged within his breast! — I may be getting on in years, but I’ve got two good hands and a sound body, and I want to do something meaningful. Better that than muddling through my twilight years in mediocrity.”

Bai Youwei pressed her lips together, smiling. “You’ve still got plenty of good years ahead — it’s a bit early to be talking about twilight.”

Shen Mo said: “I’ll be leaving shortly. I may be gone half the day. I’m counting on you to look after things here.”

“Go ahead and go — I’ll take care of the home front.” Teacher Cheng rolled up his sleeves and headed for the kitchen, muttering as he went: “Let me start getting dinner ready…”

Only Shen Mo and Bai Youwei were left in the sitting room.

Shen Mo looked at her. “If you really don’t want to see her, I’ll let them know. But I can’t guarantee your aunt Wang won’t come looking for you herself.”

After all, they were mother and daughter. If she really wanted to come, neither reason nor emotion would give Shen Mo any ground to stop her.

Bai Youwei’s gaze drifted toward the window, light and airy: “I’ll see her… of course I will. But once is enough.”

—