He knew that Shen Moyu was asking for the final answer.
But can he give it to me?
How can someone who has tasted the dawn willingly succumb to darkness? Just as he once possessed it, how can he accept its loss?
But light is always sacred; it belongs to no one, nor should it linger for anyone or be troubled by love.
Perhaps to soothe Shen Moyu's emotions, or perhaps to give himself a glimmer of hope, his faint reply dissipated in his heavy breathing: "Yes, wait for me."
The person on the other end of the phone said yes without hesitation.
This person is always a bit foolish, because love has caused them to lose many options.
The phone call ended, and Su Jinning's heart sank. She turned around and grabbed Shen Donghai by the collar: "Are you even human?! How could you do anything to make us break up?!"
He suddenly remembered what Shen Moyu had said: if he called him and asked him to come pick him up, he would definitely come.
It turns out he wasn't just talking; he had already anticipated what he would face upon returning.
Su Jinning wished he could punch Shen Donghai right now, turn around and leave with Shen Moyu, but perhaps because his stomach hurt too much and his hands and feet were ice cold, he had no strength left.
"You'd do anything for your family fortune, including scheming against your own son..."
Shen Donghai was quite provoked by Su Jinning's words, and his smile turned into a sarcastic tone: "Stop talking to me like that. I'll give you three more days to think it over. Think carefully about who is right and who is wrong. If you still don't want to let go, I have plenty of other ways."
Shen Donghai snorted coldly and got up to leave.
"Wait a minute..." Su Jinning pressed her left hand tightly against her stomach, which was cramping with pain, and struggled to stand up, supporting herself on the table with one hand: "Don't keep him locked up all the time. If he's willing, take him out for a walk... He'll get suffocated if he doesn't go out for a long time..."
He knew that what Shen Moyu hated most was not the hustle and bustle, but being isolated from it, leaving him all alone.
Shen Donghai seemed surprised by his words and turned around to give him a thorough once-over.
The boy's once upright and proud back was now bent over with stomach pain, his shoulders trembled uncontrollably, and his temples were covered in cold sweat. He looked as disheveled as a young general who had just finished his battle.
Shen Donghai didn't answer him and left with Zhou Xingqi.
Su Jinning finally couldn't hold on any longer and sat down. Every breath he took was accompanied by intense pain in his stomach, as if countless steel claws were scraping against his intestinal walls, tearing apart all the nerves in his body.
Amidst the unbearable pain, he repeatedly recalled Shen Donghai's words.
Was he right?
If he thinks he's right.
Why was I both happy and afraid during that period? Why did I hesitate for so long before finally choosing to talk to Shen Donghai?
He could have answered Shen Moyu's question directly; he had never made Shen Moyu wait before. But this time, he stood still. It wasn't that he didn't want to pick him up; it was that he lacked the courage.
He had long ago accepted that what he was doing was wrong.
Shen Donghai gave him three days to consider, but what was there to consider? Everything was under his control and within his expectations, wasn't it?
——
Sakura Road is very close to Su Jinning's home; it's just one street away. The scent of early spring wafts through the streets and alleys. He looks up and glances at the beef noodle shop that has long since been plastered with the words "For Sale".
The alley was still crowded with people, as if nothing had changed, except that the noodle shop was now closed with a sign that read "For Sale".
People coming and going didn't pay any attention to it, because the closure of a noodle shop wasn't surprising or even worth a second glance.
But he kept looking until his eyes stung, as if someone had cruelly ripped something out of his heart, leaving a huge void.
He always remembered that the rain in early spring that year seemed to be very heavy. In the mist, a boy turned around, his baseball cap covering half of his face. He said that his name was Shen Moyu.
At that time, he had no idea that this name would be etched in his heart for so long, and perhaps it would stay with him for the rest of his life.
The wind in early spring seems strong and cool these days, blowing away so much stuff.
That popular beef noodle restaurant was eventually sold; it couldn't retain so many customers.
But that street was still just as bustling as ever.
And what about them? Will they, in the long run, be to him like passersby would to this noodle shop?
That's all in the past, not worth mentioning.
His gaze drifted away from the alley, and Su Jinning turned back, as if he had just taken a short train ride, the familiar scenery vividly before his eyes, unforgettable for a long time.
He chose the least crowded street to go home, even though it was a longer route.
Perhaps it was because this place allowed him to calm down, or perhaps it was because there were few people around that his disheveled state wouldn't be seen by many.
"Su Jinning?"
A familiar voice came from ahead. He looked up and met Han An's somewhat puzzled gaze. He opened his mouth, but was a little dazed and couldn't say anything.
"What are you doing here?" Han An asked again, lifting his suitcase as he spoke.
Su Jinning also noticed the luggage behind him and frowned. "Hello, teacher. I was just about to go home. So... what's this?"
Han An glanced down at his luggage and smiled slightly: "Getting ready to move."
As far as he knew, many teachers lived in this community because it was close to Zhengde No. 1 Middle School, and Han An was no exception. Moreover, he heard that Han An and Teacher Song Chengnan lived together.
"Really... Then, isn't Teacher Song here? Why are you carrying so much by yourself?" Su Jinning glanced back a couple more times, but there were only a handful of passersby.
Han An shook his head, forcing a smile, "No, he didn't come."
"Then I'll help you carry it," Su Jinning said, reaching out her hand.
"Jinning." Han An called him softly, and Su Jinning suddenly stopped what she was doing and looked up at him.
He liked Han An as his teacher, not only because of his gentleness and kindness, but also because of the way he was addressed. Many people knew him, but only Han An would call him that.
"I just want to tell you that there's only one semester left until the college entrance exam. You absolutely cannot be distracted or slack off." He stared at Su Jinning's face, his eyes seemingly reddening. "And Mo Yu, you are both very good students, and I'm very reluctant to part with you. However, if you have any questions you don't understand, you can still ask me on WeChat. Even if you change your Chinese teacher in the future, you must study hard, and don't..."
"Wait!" Su Jinning finally realized something was wrong: "Teacher, what...do you mean?"
Even though his meaning was obvious, I still couldn't believe it.
Han An sat for a long time, quietly looking at the ground. The dim sunset fell on his face, making him tilt his head slightly: "We... broke up."
Su Jinning's movements trembled, and the hand that she wanted to help him with his luggage reached out but then withdrew.
"You broke up??"
Han An had told him that he and Song Chengnan met in college, had been dating for six years, and lived together almost every day. Moreover, it was not hard to see how much they loved each other.
They broke up? He never imagined those words would come out of Han An's mouth.