Chapter 67.2

In the letter, her family expressed how much they missed her and hoped she would come home. This time, no matter whether Shu Jinyu wanted to marry or not, they would support her decision. They were her family, and no matter what, they would unconditionally stand by her side.

Every word in the letter was filled with deep emotion. Given the events of the morning, Shu Jinyu had no reason to doubt its sincerity. However, Ke Yu immediately noticed a problem with the letter—it was overly emotional, making it seem insincere, as if Shu Jinyu’s family was trying to trick her into returning home.

The two were sitting together as they read the letter, their eyes fixed on the paper, neither noticing the other’s expression.

Shu Jinyu wore a bright smile, as if the letter was a ship carrying hope, ready to take her and Ke Yu to a beautiful future. In contrast, Ke Yu looked anxious, her gaze unfocused, and her fingers trembling slightly.

“Sister Ke!” Shu Jinyu exclaimed with excitement. “Should we leave this mountain and go to my home together? My grandpa, mom, dad, and brother will support us! Once we leave, we won’t have to endure others’ gossip and criticism anymore… we…”

The little sparrow’s eyes were full of sparkle, completely oblivious to the anxiety in Ke Yu’s eyes.

Ke Yu hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not voice her suspicions.

…

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Mblal oyp y pnldl vbyv aliwkale shladktbv qkzxkdt.

Ms ynbklhl vbl elpkale lqqlnv, Pkalnvsa Tyd Hkdyd watle vbl vos vs alvwad vs vblka assxp lyazu, vyjl y tsse cyvb, yde tlv psxl pzllr, ps vblu nswze oyjl wr alyeu vs pbssv obld dktbv qlzz.

Jynj kd vblka assx, Dky Fbwvsdt blze Zwd Wlkow’p byde vktbvzu, vblka qkdtlap kdvlazsnjle. Mblu sdzu zlv ts obld vblu dllele vs nbydtl nzsvblp. Wsa vbl rypv vos xsdvbp, vblu pllxle vs cl kd vbkp pvyvl—nzkdtkdt vs lynb svbla yde wdokzzkdt vs cl yryav qsa lhld y xsxldv.

Ohld obkzl vyjkdt y cyvb… Dky Fbwvsdt kdpvkdnvkhlzu vssj Zwd Wlkow’p byde yde obkprlale bsyaplzu, “Yysxys, pbyzz ol cyvbl vstlvbla?”

Slnyzzkdt vbl zypv vkxl vblu olal kd vbl cyvbassx, Dky Fbwvsdt’p qynl qzwpble pzktbvzu, cwv bla lulp pbsole y bkdv sq ydvknkryvksd.

Zwd Wlkow’p lulp caktbvldle kdpvydvzu; nzlyazu, pbl yde Dky Fbwvsdt bye vbl pyxl vbswtbv.

Mblka tyglp xlv, csvb qkzzle okvb oyhlp sq elpkal.

Jwv kd vbl lde, Zwd Wlkow zsolale bla blye, bla lulp qyzzkdt yp bla lulzypblp qzwvvlale pzktbvzu. “El byhl vs pbssv vsdktbv, Swyd Swyd, usw…”

She hesitated for a few seconds before reluctantly uttering two words: “Hang on.”

Xia Shutong was stunned for a few seconds, and the hint of passion on her face quickly faded. Could this little wolf really say such a thing?

Hang on?

It made Xia Shutong seem overly eager.

Seeing that Yun Feiwu had no intention of following her into the bathroom, Xia Shutong’s smile gradually became more formal. She blinked and directly closed the door.

Soon, the sound of running water echoed through the bathroom.

Xia Shutong couldn’t quite explain why, but now, as long as Yun Feiwu left her for even a moment, she felt incredibly uncomfortable. She not only wanted to see Yun Feiwu at all times but also wanted to keep her by her side forever and ever.

Moreover, Xia Shutong could clearly sense that Yun Feiwu shared the same feelings.

So when Yun Feiwu rejected her just now, she felt incredibly wronged and empty inside, unbearably so.

What Xia Shutong didn’t know was that after the sound of the shower started, Yun Feiwu quietly opened the door, slipped out, and gently closed it behind her before knocking on Qian Lingling’s door next door.

Half an hour later, when Xia Shutong finished her shower and came out, she saw Yun Feiwu sitting obediently on the floor, looking up at her. “Ruan Ruan, finished bathing?”

She looked like a big, lovable puppy.

“Yes.” Xia Shutong nodded, and the frustration in her heart instantly vanished. “You go ahead and wash.”

Yun Feiwu tilted her head slightly and said, “Ruan Ruan… will you join me for another bath?”

Xia Shutong: “?”

“Why didn’t you say we could shower together earlier?”

Yun Feiwu held her fingers, swaying them playfully, and with a hint of a whine, said, “I missed you.”

Xia Shutong could never resist Yun Feiwu’s charm.

She quickly calculated that she had already showered for half an hour, and her mind was completely filled with thoughts of Yun Feiwu. If Yun Feiwu took another half-hour shower afterward, it would indeed be unbearable…

So, Xia Shutong decided not to dwell on why Yun Feiwu hadn’t joined her earlier. Generously, she pulled the little wolf cub up from the floor, and they headed back into the bathroom.

Steam enveloped them, creating a dreamy haze.

…

When the alarm clock woke her up, Xia Shutong still found it hard to open her eyes.

You really can’t trust that little wolf cub.

Initially, Yun Feiwu had seriously suggested that Xia Shutong should endure a bit longer, but in the end, it was Xia Shutong who couldn’t hold back once they were in the shower.

…Though, Xia Shutong hadn’t really intended to refuse anyway.

As a result, both of them ended up utterly exhausted—one with sore arms and an aching back, the other with wobbly legs.

However, once they got to the set, they quickly adjusted their states.

“Action!”

That night, Shu Jinyu, immersed in the joy of “going home together,” fell asleep very early and slept soundly. On the other hand, Ke Yu quietly watched Shu Jinyu’s sleeping face the entire night.

Ke Yu’s heart was in turmoil.

It felt like countless poisonous thorns were piercing her heart. She was agitated and in pain, yet had no one to confide in.

Going home with Shu Jinyu? Ke Yu didn’t dare. Unlike Shu Jinyu, she wasn’t naive; she knew that the world outside wasn’t much better than the mountains. While the people in the mountains despised her, at least they feared her. She relished that fear. But outside the mountains, she would only face contempt.

If Ke Yu followed Shu Jinyu home, what awaited Shu Jinyu might very well be “betrayal” from her family. Shu Jinyu was already heartbroken after being betrayed by the villagers, so what if it were her family?

Could she bear it?

Ke Yu couldn’t bear to watch Shu Jinyu be abandoned by everyone she loved. Ke Yu knew she liked Shu Jinyu, but she didn’t love her. If Ke Yu loved Shu Jinyu enough, she might have had the courage to face all of this alongside her, to protect Shu Jinyu fiercely.

However, Ke Yu was inherently a vile person—selfish and cowardly. In front of Shu Jinyu, she only dared to cloak herself in lies.

Ke Yu did not love Shu Jinyu, nor did she have the courage to stay by her side.

But… should she really just let go like this?

Ke Yu’s fingers reached for Shu Jinyu’s cheek, but before they could touch her skin, she withdrew them. Her expression was panicked, her bloodless lips slightly parted and trembling incessantly.

At five in the morning, Ke Yu stealthily wrapped herself in a coat and walked out into the yard, staring blankly at the gradually brightening sky.

By six, she had returned to the living room and found a pack of cigarettes.

She smoked one after another.

By seven, Shu Jinyu was about to wake up.

Ke Yu walked back to the room and sat by the bed again, gently gazing at the young girl’s features, a faint smile appearing on her face.

She had come to a realization.

Or rather, she had successfully convinced herself—

Shu Jinyu was meant to live a vibrant life, not to stay hidden away in a remote mountain corner with her.

Although it was clear that Shu Jinyu’s family wanted to deceive her into coming back, family was still family, and blood ties could not be severed. Ke Yu had listened to Shu Jinyu talk about her family and knew that she had come to the mountains to teach out of defiance and that she always missed her family. Perhaps, for Shu Jinyu, going back home was the right path.

Shu Jinyu had accompanied Ke Yu in the mountains for more than half a year; it was time for her to return to her proper path.

So, Ke Yu decided to let go.

When Shu Jinyu woke up from her sleep, the first thing she did was wrap her arms around Ke Yu’s neck and excitedly ask, “Sister Ke, when are we leaving?”

Ke Yu was in immense pain, but she remained calm and softly said, “Jinyu, I can’t go back with you.”

Shu Jinyu was taken aback, full of surprise. “Sister Ke, are you… abandoning me?”

“Silly girl, what are you thinking?” Ke Yu gave her a gentle kiss on the lips. “We’ll live together in the city, right? So, I need some time to handle the affairs of the farm. Once I sell the farm, we can buy a house in the city and live together in our own home, okay?”

Ke Yu asked three consecutive questions.

If Shu Jinyu had been a bit more observant, she would have noticed this was a sign of Ke Yu’s lack of confidence—Ke Yu was lying, deceiving her.

But Shu Jinyu didn’t notice at all; she believed Ke Yu’s words without a doubt.

In the end, it was Ke Yu who took Shu Jinyu to the train station.

After Shu Jinyu boarded the train, the scene was split into two parts. On one side was Shu Jinyu, unable to contain her joy, her face filled with innocent happiness, her mind brimming with dreams of a blissful future.

An aunt sitting next to Shu Jinyu saw her smile and couldn’t help but ask, “Young lady, are you this happy because you’re getting married?”

“Mm-hmm!” Shu Jinyu nodded vigorously. “She said she’s going to buy a house for me in the city.”

“That’s wonderful…” the aunt sighed with admiration.

On the other side was Ke Yu, staring anxiously at the receding train car, her face expressionless. Only when the train finally disappeared from her sight did Ke Yu mechanically turn around and start walking away, her steps stiff.

One step, two steps, three steps…

Suddenly, a young couple walked past her, chatting and laughing, their voices cheerful, their steps light.

In an instant, Ke Yu felt all strength leave her body and collapsed to the ground.

Yet, not a single tear fell.