In that instant, Xueqiao’s mind went blank. Li Sitong moved too quickly, covering her eyes almost the moment she saw someone falling from the building.

She instinctively tried to pull Li Sitong’s hand away, her expression confused and fearful.

“Don’t look, Qiao Qiao be good, we shouldn’t look.” Li Sitong pulled Xueqiao into his arms, firmly pressing her head against him, not letting her see.

“Shu Lan! Shu Lan! Ah—” Nearby, Ding Qi and Mai Jiajia cried out as they ran over.

Shu Lan? It was Shu Lan?

Xueqiao’s hands trembled slightly as she clutched at Li Sitong’s hand in confusion: “What happened? Sitong, what happened? Is it Shu Lan?!”

Li Sitong didn’t release his hold, taking out his phone to call 110 and 120 while saying: “We’re calling an ambulance. Qiao Qiao, don’t look, be good.”

In the distance, Mai Jiajia and Ding Qi’s voices were hoarse with despair.

Tears “swooshed” down Xueqiao’s face as she cried out: “Is it Shu Lan?! Li Sitong, let me go!”

She was frantic, desperately wanting to rush forward.

Li Sitong looked back at the scene over there, his eyes closing slightly: “Wait for the ambulance to come. Be good, wait here for a moment. Don’t look now, okay? You’re not a doctor, you can’t help her, be good.”

“No—let me go over there!”

Li Sitong gently patted her back, trying to calm her emotions.

“Shu Lan! Ahhh!” Ding Qi’s voice was filled with despair, causing both Li Sitong and Xueqiao to flinch.

One held tighter, the other struggled more intensely.

“Sitong, Sitong, let me see, what happened to Shu Lan? What happened to Shu Lan?!” By the last sentence, her voice was breaking.

Li Sitong clenched his jaw, steadfastly refusing to let go. Xueqiao opened her mouth and bit his wrist, hard.

Her emotions were starting to collapse; she just wanted to rush over and see what had happened to Shu Lan!

But Li Sitong still refused to let go. The building wasn’t particularly tall, but he had just seen with his own eyes that the girl had fallen right next to a flower bed with sharp edges.

And… head first. This kind of fall was extremely dangerous.

The desperation in Mai Jiajia and Ding Qi’s voices made it clear that the girl… had little hope of survival.

Li Sitong had witnessed death several times, but Xueqiao hadn’t. She was still young, and such scenes could easily become future nightmares for her.

To spare her as much pain as possible, Li Sitong absolutely would not let her see the scene with her own eyes.

Even if she resented him, got angry at him, or hit him, he wouldn’t let her go over there now.

That traumatizing and terrifying bloody scene—not seeing it would be better.

“Let me go—” Xueqiao shouted, hearing Mai Jiajia and Ding Qi’s desperate cries for help in the distance, she struggled even more fiercely.

The ambulance arrived quickly; there was a hospital just down the hill, and they dispatched an ambulance immediately.

But when the medical staff approached, they immediately shook their heads and said softly: “I’m very sorry, call the police and the funeral home.”

When Shu Lan fell, her head hit the corner of the flower bed hard, and she almost instantly left this world.

Li Sitong didn’t approach, although he already knew the outcome.

He wouldn’t prevent Xueqiao from seeing Shu Lan one last time, but not at this moment.

“Ah—” Ding Qi and Mai Jiajia collapsed to the ground, their bodies shaking.

Ding Qi was almost in a state of semi-fainting, and the medical staff quickly came forward to comfort them.

“What happened? What happened?” Xueqiao trembled. “What happened to Shu Lan!! Tell me!!”

She was standing far from where Shu Lan had fallen, and with Li Sitong covering her eyes, she couldn’t see anything, only hear Mai Jiajia and Ding Qi’s desperate cries.

Li Sitong didn’t respond, and Xueqiao desperately hit him: “Let me go over there!”

He allowed her to kick and hit him but didn’t let go.

At this point, the police also arrived and began examining the scene.

It was then that Li Sitong released his hold and said softly: “Qiao Qiao, Shu Lan is gone…”

Gone?

Her brain, already blank, now completely collapsed as she fell to the ground.

After a moment, she raised her reddened eyes and looked at Li Sitong in confusion: “Gone? What do you mean?”

Li Sitong knelt, holding her, silently patting her back.

Gone…

Shu Lan was dead?

Xueqiao remained rigid for a long time, then suddenly began to wail in despair.

Sometimes, life seems to play jokes on us. How could a perfectly fine person suddenly be gone?

Why her?

She was so young, her future so bright, her life just beginning—how could it end so abruptly?

Why did it have to be her?

How could heaven take a person away in such a ridiculous manner?

This day would forever be etched in Xueqiao’s memory, but all her impressions of this day would be nothing but despair.

The rest was just a blank.

Xueqiao sat slumped on the ground, almost dazedly watching the police coming and going, watching them enter and exit the Yu family’s home, while no one from the Yu family ever emerged.

Until Shu Lan’s parents arrived, crying, and said something to the police.

After that, they rushed into the Yu family’s home, only to emerge a long time later, looking dejected.

Xueqiao and the others followed Shu Lan’s parents into the car, dazedly arriving at the funeral home.

In her ears were the cries of others and her uncontrollable sobs.

Later, their parents and school teachers all rushed over.

“Qiao Qiao—” Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong rushed over, tightly hugging the pale and trembling Xueqiao.

Nearby, a police officer was telling the parents and teachers: “You need to pay attention to these three girls’ emotions, especially the two who saw the scene firsthand. The deceased is gone; you must help the children adjust their mindsets so the girls don’t develop psychological trauma from witnessing such a scene.”

Mai Jiajia and Ding Qi’s conditions were indeed much worse than Xueqiao’s; they had seen that desperate, bloody scene.

The teachers were busy comforting them, especially Mai Jiajia, whose parents lived too far away to come.

“Qiao Qiao, cry, go ahead and cry. After crying, try to think positively. The deceased is gone.” Li Sitong gently patted Xueqiao’s back, tears in his eyes.

Such a young girl, leaving the world for such a ridiculous reason—just thinking about it could make one’s eyes redden.

The Yu family had security cameras, so everyone knew what had happened.

Shu Lan’s mother had already cried until she fainted, her father seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, and her middle-school-aged brother collapsed to the ground, wailing.

“How could Shu Lan just be gone?” Xueqiao’s voice trembled with disbelief and despair.

Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong didn’t know how to comfort her. How could anyone be comforted about something like this?

“Qiao Qiao…” They opened their mouths but could only utter these words.

Then they looked at her with concern and worry in their eyes.

Li Sitong crouched down in front of Xueqiao, holding her hand, seeing her eyes swollen from crying, and softly said—

“Qiao Qiao, there’s a saying—you never know whether tomorrow or an accident will come first.”

Li Sitong pressed her hand against his face: “Anyone can have an accident—a car crash, a terminal illness, a natural disaster, or even walking down the street, a terrorist filled with hatred for society might rush out and kill people. There are too many accidents. Anyone can have an accident; I could too. You see me fine now, but who knows if tomorrow I might suddenly be in a car accident and be gone?”

Li Sitong was just making a point, but Xueqiao was frightened by his words.

“No—” Xueqiao’s vision blurred with tears as she covered his mouth, shaking her head hard. “No, no…”

In this instant, her already despairing heart sank even further.

Car accident?

Just thinking about it drained all color from Xueqiao’s face.

No! Li Sitong had already changed his fate; he wouldn’t be in a car accident!

Xueqiao removed her hand from his mouth and hugged him tightly, crying: “Don’t die… don’t die… you won’t…”

She thought her heart had already gone numb from the pain, but hearing Li Sitong’s words still hurt unbearably.

He crouched there, his face full of heartache. She sat, embracing him.

The two clung to each other, one full of heartache, the other full of fear.

“Alright.” Li Sitong returned her embrace and said softly, “You see, there are too many accidents. Shu Lan just happened to encounter one, and we can’t save her now. We can only try to let go. Perhaps in another world, she’ll live a life without pain or suffering. And we will keep her forever in our hearts. The deceased are gone, but the living must continue to live well.”

Xueqiao buried her face in his shoulder, sobbing loudly.

Her heart was in agony, and she had many what-ifs.

If Yu Cheng hadn’t attempted suicide, if he had followed his parents’ decision to go abroad, perhaps Shu Lan would have gradually moved past her painful love for him and encountered someone who wouldn’t make her suffer.

If Yu Cheng hadn’t used such methods to rebel, if he had been more rational and found the right way to resist his parents, perhaps he and Shu Lan would have been together properly, or perhaps they still would have broken up one day.

If Shu Lan hadn’t pulled Yu Cheng back today, maybe Yu Cheng would have been the one to die. If Shu Lan had pulled Yu Cheng back but hadn’t fallen herself, they both could have lived well…

So many what-ifs, so many possibilities where Shu Lan might not have died.

But life is like that, filled with countless terrifying, unknown turns. Perhaps after one turn comes happiness, or perhaps despair.

The unknown future and accidents that can come at any time are things we can never predict or understand.

At times like these, it seems all we can do is cherish each day, cherish every minute and second we still live under the sun.

Cherish ourselves, cherish those around us.

“Shu Lan—” Xueqiao bit Li Sitong’s shoulder, her gaze fixed on the half-closed door, bidding farewell to this young girl.

Shu Lan, may you, like me, have a brand new life in another world.

A place without tears, without obstacles.

A place with the love you want and the future you most desire.

—

Shu Lan was gone.

This fact only slowly sank in for Xueqiao after Shu Lan’s burial.

That calm, smiling girl, that girl who had cried in her arms, had truly left this world.

In Xueqiao’s future, even if she traveled thousands of miles and met several girls named Shu Lan, none would be her.

None would be that slightly timid girl who stood in the dormitory, smiling at her, asking if she needed help.

Li Sitong had covered her eyes, so Xueqiao hadn’t seen the scene firsthand. She was sad, she was in pain, but she wasn’t afraid because of the bloody scene.

The school arranged for Mai Jiajia and Ding Qi to receive psychological counseling for some time. They had witnessed that scene, and the school was worried they might develop psychological trauma.

That scene was something they had never seen before—truly terrifying.

Both parents and the school hoped that psychological counseling would help them emerge from the shadow and regain sunshine in their hearts.

Xueqiao took a week’s leave to stay at home. Li Sitong accompanied her every day, even sleeping with her at night. Cheng Mingze spent most of his time at home, and Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong practically moved their offices to the house, all to keep her company.

They hardly let her be alone, never let her suffer alone.

They talked with her, comforted her, made delicious food for her, coaxed her.

For the first few nights, Xueqiao would wake up crying. She kept dreaming of Shu Lan, dreaming of her face and her smile, dreaming that she was talking with them, dreaming that they were still chatting in the same dormitory… then in the middle of the night, she would wake up crying.

Li Sitong would hold her, and comfort her, just like when they were little when Xueqiao was still young and Li Sitong was still gentle.

During the day, Xueqiao would sometimes zone out, and that’s when Cheng Shuo, Cheng Mingze, and Li Sitong would try to cheer her up.

This was probably a rare occasion when Li Sitong and the Cheng father and son got along peacefully.

“Qiao Qiao.” Li Sitong crouched beside Xueqiao, who was zoning out again.

After a while, Xueqiao finally turned to look at Li Sitong.

She gently bit her lip: “She told me to leave first, so I left. Why did I leave? If I hadn’t left, would Shu Lan still be…”

Li Sitong hugged her and said softly: “There are no what-ifs. Even if you had stayed in the dormitory, if she wanted to find Yu Cheng, you couldn’t have stopped her. She still would have gone.”

He paused, then continued: “Even if she had known she would have an accident, she still would have gone.”

It was just unfortunate that she saved Yu Cheng but accidentally lost herself in the process.

Xueqiao bit her lower lip, saying nothing. She had cried so much these past few days that she couldn’t even shed tears anymore.

“Accidental deaths while trying to save others happen frequently. Qiao Qiao, we’re just ordinary people, not gods. We can’t know what will happen in the future, nor can we save everyone who has an accident.”

Li Sitong spoke as he interlaced his fingers with Xueqiao’s, raising her hand to gently kiss her knuckles: “I’m too ordinary a person. I’m not a god, nor do I have a god’s benevolence. I can only protect my Qiao Qiao, and I hope that when my Qiao Qiao does anything, she’ll always remain calm and put her own life first. For me, no one’s life is more important than yours.”

“So Qiao Qiao, no matter what happens, keeping yourself from harm is what makes me happiest.”

Li Sitong spoke softly. He had never been a saint; he only cared about Qiao Qiao.

His voice was very serious, full of love.

Xueqiao leaned against his chest, and after a long while, she softly said: “Me too.”

“Hm?” Li Sitong was startled, thinking he had misheard.

Xueqiao said softly: “Your life is also very important to me. I hope you can live well forever, accompany me until we’re old, and die after me.”

Li Sitong’s whole body trembled as if he had heard something unbelievable.

After a moment, his voice shaking, he said: “Qiao Qiao… what did you say? Did I hear wrong?”

The corners of Xueqiao’s mouth moved slightly, which could barely be considered the first smile since Shu Lan’s passing.

“You heard wrong…”

“No!” Li Sitong’s face lit up as he lowered his head to gently kiss Xueqiao’s hand twice. “I heard you! You agreed to me, you want to grow old with me!”

Xueqiao looked at him and slowly nodded.

Those who have left are gone, but the living must continue to live.

Since we don’t know whether tomorrow or an accident will come first, we can only live well today.

Cherish everyone around us, cherish our love and those who love us.

Li Sitong was so happy he didn’t know where to put his hands. He picked up Xueqiao and spun her around excitedly—

“Qiao Qiao!!”

Xueqiao’s lips moved slightly; at this moment, she also felt happiness.

In our lives, we encounter all kinds of accidents, all kinds of sadness and pain. But in these days, there is also much unforgettable joy.

Whether sadness or happiness, they are all part of life, all part of the mottled memories we will recall in the future.

Xueqiao had originally been very hesitant, but when Li Sitong mentioned that he might also die… she became afraid.

Accidents are unpredictable for anyone; he might encounter one, and so might she.

She feared that there might come a day when it would be too late to speak words left unsaid, too late to do things left undone.

So now, at this moment, is the time to seize the opportunity to do what we want to do and say what we want to say.

Sometimes, being a little brave is a very good thing.

Outside the door, Cheng Mingze had one hand pressed against it, grinding his teeth—typical of someone angry enough to grind their teeth.

Beside him, Cheng Shuo gritted his teeth: “This man is taking advantage of the situation!”

But Li Sitong smiled: “Qiao Qiao is finally not being awkward anymore. Haven’t you seen these past few days how sincere Li Sitong’s feelings are for Qiao Qiao?”

Cheng Shuo: “…”

Cheng Mingze: “…”

By lunchtime, Li Sitong was holding Xueqiao’s hand as they came out. Although his expression was carefully controlled,

His eyes were almost filled with joy, and his steps were light.

Cheng Mingze couldn’t stand the way he looked, and couldn’t help but coldly laugh: “So you two are together now?”

Li Sitong couldn’t restrain the joy on his face, but he didn’t dare to be too outward about it, only quietly making an affirmative sound.

Cheng Mingze smiled: “Brother-in-law, shouldn’t you call me ‘big brother’ then?”

Li Sitong: “…”

He looked at the young man in jeans and a hoodie in front of him, and it was really…

Awkward.

—

Just as Xueqiao was gathering her courage to return to school, Mai Jiajia called.

“Jiajia.” Xueqiao’s voice was soft, the tip of her nose a bit sour.

People who knew the same person shared the same grief.

“Qiao Qiao, Ding Qi, and I are planning to go to the Yu family’s house. Do you want to come?” Mai Jiajia’s voice carried anger.

Xueqiao was stunned for a moment, then gritted her teeth: “Yes!”

How could she not go?

She wanted to ask Yu Cheng if he truly loved Shu Lan!

Did the Yu family still have any conscience?!

After hanging up the phone, Li Sitong asked her: “Where are you going?”

“To find Yu Cheng!” Xueqiao said through gritted teeth.

Although Shu Lan’s death couldn’t be entirely blamed on Yu Cheng, it was because of him that she had died, yet this man hadn’t appeared once from beginning to end!

Li Sitong paused for a moment, then still said: “I’ll drive you.”

So Li Sitong drove Xueqiao to meet Mai Jiajia and Ding Qi.

When the three girls met, they were all stunned for a moment. Xueqiao instinctively exclaimed: “How did you both lose so much weight?!”

Mai Jiajia forced a smile: “You’ve lost a lot too…”

They had indeed all lost weight, but Xueqiao was more concerned about them. She stepped forward, taking one hand of each girl, holding them tightly.

The three of them sat in the back seat, hands clasped, leaning on each other, while Li Sitong drove in the front.

“Yu Cheng never showed up?” Xueqiao’s voice was cold.

Mai Jiajia and Ding Qi’s faces also simultaneously hardened. Ding Qi gave a cold laugh: “The Yu family is something. They gave money to Shu Lan’s parents, but Yu Cheng never appeared once throughout the whole process!”

Mai Jiajia sighed and said: “Shu Lan’s parents initially didn’t want the money; they wanted to hold Yu Cheng accountable. But…”

She didn’t finish, but all three knew that legally, Yu Cheng couldn’t be held responsible.

The security footage clearly showed Shu Lan entering the Yu house on her own, reaching out on her own…

“They got off easy!” Ding Qi said through gritted teeth.

“The teachers negotiated privately, and they accepted the money as retirement funds for Shu Lan’s parents,” Mai Jiajia sighed. “Fortunately, Shu Lan still has a younger brother; otherwise, what would her uncle and aunt have to look forward to?”

Xueqiao also let out a heavy sigh: “It’s really… unfair…”

Ding Qi sneered: “Isn’t it? The Yu family parents, being such people, are still living well, but Shu Lan…”

All three of them almost simultaneously reddened their eyes. Mai Jiajia took a deep breath and changed the subject: “Did the school teachers tell you that it’s best not to mention Shu Lan after returning to school?”

Xueqiao nodded: “They did.”

Ding Qi also nodded: “They did.”

For incidents like this, all schools typically try to handle them as discreetly as possible to avoid causing unnecessary emotional distress.

“Jiajia, are you still staying in the dormitory? My mom won’t let me stay there anymore,” Ding Qi suddenly said, with an apologetic look in her eyes.

Mai Jiajia nodded and said softly: “It’s okay. I’m planning to move to a dormitory downstairs—there’s an empty bed, and I know the people there.”

If they continued to live in that room, they would always be reminded of that girl whenever they saw certain things.

“That’s good.”

Xueqiao squeezed their hands and said softly: “Shu Lan is already gone. We will always remember her.”

“Yes!” Both responded fingers tightly interlocked, leaning on each other for warmth.

Li Sitong, driving, glanced at the girl sitting in the middle through the rearview mirror—his Qiao Qiao—and said softly—

“Look forward. Let the past be the past.”

The three nodded.

This was their first experience of someone so close suddenly leaving. But no matter how much grief they carried, life went on, and people still had to move forward.

No matter how slowly they accepted it, they had to gradually come to terms with it.

The car moved steadily forward, but suddenly Ding Qi said: “This isn’t the direction to the Yu family’s house!”

Xueqiao raised her head in surprise, looking at Li Sitong.

“Did we take a wrong turn?”

Li Sitong shook his head: “No, we didn’t. Yu Zhengguo, Su Qing, and Yu Cheng don’t live there anymore.”

“What? Where did they go!”

Li Sitong sighed and said softly: “You’ll know when we get there.”

The car continued steadily until it stopped by the roadside, and they pushed open the doors to get out.

Looking up, they were suddenly stunned.