At first, Sui Yan had no idea that on her 20th birthday, Qi Linhan had invited all of them to attend her birthday party.
Qi Linhan had gradually realized that there was a deep misunderstanding between Sui Yan and her family.
She was clearly an innocent, somewhat slow girl. But in the eyes of those people, she had become so unworthy.
Qi Linhan walked excitedly towards the room where Sui Yan lived, wanting to talk to her about this matter properly, hoping that Sui Yan could be happier in the future.
However, upon entering the room, he was horrified to see Sui Yan curled up by the bed, blood flowing from the corner of her mouth.
His pupils constricted sharply: "Yan!"
Qi Linhan carefully picked up Sui Yan: "Yan, let's see a doctor."
Sui Yan coughed a couple of times, grabbing Qi Linhan's hand, her voice calm to the point of making one tremble: "Qi Linhan, put me down."
Qi Linhan's eyes reddened: "No! We're going to see a doctor!"
Sui Yan felt pain in all her internal organs: "Let go!"
Qi Linhan's movements froze, he was almost pleading: "Yan, shall we go see a doctor?"
Sui Yan shook her head slightly: "No... Qi Linhan, I'm tired, I don't want to continue like this anymore."
Qi Linhan's eyes were red: "I've called Sui Yu and the others over, you can resolve any misunderstandings, just like we did back then."
Sui Yan curved her lips slightly: "No, Qi Linhan, wounds are hard to heal, and even if they do heal, they'll leave... scars."
She said word by word: "These years, I've lived a tiring life. I've now completed everything I wanted to accomplish, there's no reason left to support me living on."
Qi Linhan's voice almost choked: "But you still have your grandparents, Bai Heng and that military doctor, you still have Ti Zi, and you still have me."
Sui Yan coughed violently again, weakly saying: "I just want... to do something I truly want to do, I don't want to live in such pain anymore..."
Ti Zi's gaze was heavy, it walked to Qi Linhan's side, gently placing its paw on him.
Qi Linhan smiled bitterly, his eyes wet: "Okay, then in your next life, you must be happy and content, you must know how to protect yourself."
Sui Yan forced a smile: "Thank you."
Qi Linhan carefully placed Sui Yan on the bed, tucking her in gently. He lightly stroked her hair: "Yan, I'm sorry."
I thought treating you well was enough, but it seems I've never truly treated you well, I've never truly understood you...
His face was somber as he walked step by step towards the grand hall where he had prepared Sui Yan's birthday party.
Sui Yan watched Qi Linhan's figure disappear into the distance, she propped herself up, looking at Ti Zi and said: "They're here too, I want to leave something for them."
Ti Zi silently helped Sui Yan with her tasks, silently watching her record a video.
After completing all this, Sui Yan said: "Let's go."
Ti Zi walked to Sui Yan's side, allowing her to lean on it.
This girl and wolf, treading through the thick snow outside, left the magnificent estate alone.
...Dividing line...
The cold wind was biting, heavy snow was falling.
In a manor on the outskirts of a city, a group of people were gathered.
The atmosphere, originally meant to be lively, was now exceptionally gloomy.
Qi Linhan pressed his brow, feeling restless and anxious just thinking about that frail figure.
Next to him, Lu Yunling had her eyes lowered, concealing the malicious laughter in her gaze.
Finally, Ye Anning could no longer hold back: "Why did you call us here?"
Shen Nian frowned: "If there's nothing important, I'll head back."
The others didn't say much either, but the coldness in their eyes was evident.
Lu Yunling bit her lip: "I know you all dislike her, but..."
Qi Linhan's voice turned cold: "Lu Yunling!"
Shen Nian also sneered: "Why mention her? We really don't like Sui Yan. Besides, didn't Qi Shao also dislike her before?" Sui Yan had previously clung to him as Qiao Ze's childhood friend, eventually forcibly breaking him and Shen Nian up.
That's why Shen Nian harbored such resentment towards Sui Yan.
Qi Linhan took a deep breath: "Yes, I know you all dislike her. But now, she's going to die." He said it very calmly, but the grief in his voice was undisguisable.
Upon hearing this, everyone in the living room looked at Qi Linhan in astonishment.
Although they disliked Sui Yan, even hated her, they had never wanted her dead...
Qi Linhan smiled bitterly: "You all always indiscriminately pinned the blame on her, when it was actually her closest ones who caused her the greatest harm."
Lu Yunling instinctively objected: "Linhan, but those incidents were indeed related to her..."
Qi Linhan gave her a cold look. Yes, he had no evidence to prove that those incidents were not caused by Sui Yan, he could only believe Sui Yan himself.
Sui Yu and Sui Zhi were a bit flustered. Sui Yan was their sister, but due to all those messy incidents, they had neglected her, even verbally abused her.
But they had never wanted her to die.
Ye Anning was the daughter of Sui Yan's stepmother, she had no blood relation to Sui Yan. But she was also feeling uneasy now. Sui Yan had once caused her mother to miscarry, eventually losing her ability to bear children, and even now her health was still affected.
Although Sui Yan was young at the time, she later suffered retribution. She was deliberately hit by a car, and even now she had a slight limp when walking.
Ye Anning eventually couldn't hate her anymore, just because she had seen Sui Yan crying.
Qiao Ze stood in the corner, his gaze somewhat dazed. Compared to the others, he had actually felt guilty towards Sui Yan a long time ago. His fingers curled up, as if wanting to say something.
Qi Linhan spoke first: "She actually missed you all very much, even though you said such cruel things to her, personally caused her such great harm, she never blamed you."
"I hope, for her sake as she's dying, you could all make an effort to see her one last time... even if it's just an act."
Shen Nian pursed her lips, Qi Linhan's words did strike a chord with her. She couldn't imagine what it would be like if Sui Yan died.
Everyone fell into contemplation, pondering the meaning behind Qi Linhan's words. What did he mean by... not indiscriminately pinning the blame on her?
Seeing that the others seemed to be wavering, Lu Yuling was about to subtly fan the flames when suddenly a projection lit up in the hall. On the screen was a girl around twenty years old.
The girl was pale, with a relaxed smile on her face, but her pitch-black, hollow eyes were devoid of any life.
She said, "Hello everyone, I heard you all came here, so I set this up. I know you don't want to see me, but I'm afraid if I die, there will be some things I can never say."
"Nian Nian, I never wanted to break you and Qiao Ze up. I don't know why you think of me that way, and I don't know if you still believe me now."
"Sister... I know you don't like me calling you that, but this will be the last time. I don't seem to have anything to explain, so... *cough, cough*..."
The girl broke into a violent coughing fit, crimson blood trickling down the corner of her mouth and staining her snow-white shirt, making it appear especially stark.
Her gaze began to drift as she gently shook her head, "Never mind, it seems like there's nothing I can say. Just... goodbye, I hope in my next life, I never have to meet any of you... that's what you all must be thinking too, right?"
The projection turned off as her voice faded away, leaving Qi Linhan's heart in turmoil.
He was about to say something when suddenly a servant rushed into the hall, their voice trembling, "Young master Qi, Miss Sui Yan has just left the estate."
Qi Linhan froze, almost instinctively running out.
But as soon as he stepped outside, he saw two sets of footprints in the snow that were already fading.
The others in the hall also rushed out, now only hoping they would have a chance to make amends to her. Regardless of the truth or lies in the past, the harm they had inflicted on her far exceeded what she could bear.
Qi Linhan followed the footprints, not knowing how long he had walked, only that he finally caught sight of her.
All around was a vast expanse of white snow, and in the distance, a massive white wolf lay on a huge boulder.
Beside the white wolf leaned a girl, wearing only a shirt in this bone-chilling cold.
She was still and quiet, as if she would disappear any second.
Qi Linhan stumbled over, making his way to her side.
Sui Yan heard the sound and turned her head, hazily seeming to see the young man who had saved her from the fire, the young man she had entrusted with all her trust.
The white wolf beside her let out a low growl, a threat between beasts.
Sui Yan came back to her senses, her dim eyes hollowly gazing at the white snow.
Qi Linhan's voice trembled, "Ah Yan..."
Sui Yan seemed to drift off again, reaching her hands out towards Qi Linhan, her voice sounding as if it could fade away at any moment. She said, "Qi Linhan, I want to go home."
Qi Linhan carefully took her in his arms, gently telling her, "Okay, Ah Yan, I'll take you home."
The white wolf gently nuzzled Sui Yan's leg, as if knowing she had to leave first, a hint of reluctance in its eyes.
Sui Yan's slender fingers lightly hooked onto Qi Linhan's collar as she said, "Qi Linhan, I want to go home."
Qi Linhan tightly pursed his lips, about to comfort her when he heard her dazed voice again, "But... it seems like I don't have a home..." Her voice grew softer and softer, until it was almost a murmur.
As she spoke those words, the hand lightly holding onto Qi Linhan's collar fell limply.
Those who had followed behind looked on in disbelief...
Yet Qi Linhan remained oblivious, lowering his head to gently touch Sui Yan's forehead. Feeling her icy cold body, his eyes slowly reddened.
He held her close, step by step walking back, his voice trembling, "Ah Yan, don't be afraid. I'm taking you home."
He regretted it all. If he had another chance, he would definitely protect her properly, not allowing anyone the opportunity to harm her.
But she could no longer hear his words, no longer know what he was thinking.
Sui Yan died, on her twentieth birthday. In life, she was abandoned by all, dying of illness. Yet in death, she took away everyone's heart...
Despite the bitter cold, a heavy rain suddenly poured down, melting the foot-deep snow which then froze over.
Thunder rumbled, lightning struck repeatedly, this winter unnaturally frigid.
Qi Linhan stood before a crystal casket, staring blankly at the girl lying inside.
Qiao Ze said Sui Yan had taken many sleeping pills - she had committed suicide.
Her body was cold, her exquisite features still so beautiful. She had always been the most beautiful, but somehow, at some point, she stopped caring about her appearance.
Perhaps it was because she heard Qi Linhan say he hated her face.
Ever since seeing that projection, Shen Nian and Ye Anning realized they had been wrong. Sui Yan used to be such a bright and optimistic girl, how did she end up committing suicide?
They had destroyed her with their own hands, turning a cheerful and innocent young girl into someone who only wished for death.
But they would never be able to apologize to her, never gain her forgiveness.
Lu Yunling also looked grief-stricken, but in an unseen corner, her eyes were icy cold.
Sui Yan, you really are impressive, still causing trouble even in death.
No matter, she would make everyone forget about Sui Yan sooner or later. She would make Qi Linhan fall for her eventually.
Outside, the rain seemed to pour down even harder, the sky pitch black despite it being daytime.
Lightning flashed one after another, and Qi Linhan's gaze turned rigidly towards the window. He forced a pained smile, murmuring softly, "Ah Yan..."
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck directly at the estate, plunging the entire place into darkness.
...Dividing line...
Outside the estate, on that massive boulder.
The huge white wolf slowly shrank, eventually transforming into a man dressed in white.
He looked at the manor from afar, his eyes slowly welling up with moisture.
He said, "Sui Yan, wait for me. I'll find you soon."
Not far away, a girl in a red shirt holding an oiled paper umbrella was strolling towards him at a leisurely pace.
She walked slowly, but soon arrived by the side of the man in white.
Her voice was clear and cold, "Ye Jin, it's time to go back."
Ye Jin heard this long-unheard voice and was momentarily dazed, "Sister."
The girl's long hair fluttered slightly as she said indifferently, "It's over."
Ye Jin gritted his teeth and said word by word, "I won't give up on her. She's still waiting for me."
The girl seemed to smile, or perhaps not. There was a hint of relief in her words, "You're different from before... Go to the south, and you'll find her."
Ye Jin froze for a moment, "Sister..."
A hint of a smile appeared in the girl's eyes, "She's doing well."
Ye Jin's eyes reddened, but he managed a smile, "Sister, thank you."
The girl stretched out her hand, and a string of prayer beads gradually appeared in her palm. One of the beads was engraved with the character "Willow."
She handed the beads to Ye Jin, "After all these twists and turns, it's still connected to you. When you find that little girl, return this to her."
Ye Jin accepted the beads, his gaze filled with gratitude, "Sister..."
The girl tilted her head, "No need to thank me. After being away for so long, that's all the manners you've learned? I'm leaving now, take care."
She folded up the oiled paper umbrella, and in an instant, her figure disappeared.
Ye Jin took a deep breath and vanished from the spot.
In the deathly still manor, everyone fell into a deep slumber.
Until the first rays of dawn the next day shone upon the manor, those who had fallen unconscious gradually regained their senses.
In a large hall within the manor, a crystal coffin stood in the center, holding a pale and motionless girl.
The other people in the hall were slumped over chairs or sofas, their faces wearing expressions of either satisfaction or bliss.
Only one person had a pale and terrified look on his face.
