Sui Yu remained silent.
Bai Heng felt suffocated even by his breathing. His family had searched for so long, only to find that his aunt had passed away accidentally over a decade ago, and he had failed to take care of his only sister...
He raised his head, his eyes bloodshot: "None of you are worthy of seeing Yan."
Sui Yu's slender fingers curled slightly: "Yes."
He also had no face to appear before his sister again. He was preparing to donate his entire fortune, hoping only to accrue a little bit of merit for his sister.
Bai Heng took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down: "For now, get as far away from here as you can. We will handle Yan's affairs."
Sui Yu stepped back twice and bowed deeply. He straightened his body, filled with shame and pain: "If there is anything we can help with in the future, I hope Mr. Bai will let us know."
Bai Heng ignored them, and Ye Anning and the others had no face to stay any longer, especially since Sui Yan had clearly expressed her wish not to see them before her death.
One by one, they bowed deeply to Sui Yan, then left in a daze.
Bai Heng and the military doctor sat on either side of Sui Yan, not daring to disturb her. Their emotions gradually transformed from grief and despair into motivation.
Since they hadn't been able to provide her with enough warmth and strength to live before, now they could only follow her last wishes and pray for her to be happy in her next life.
The Bai family had always wielded immense influence in the capital, but everyone was puzzled as to why the nation suddenly began granting the Bai family privileges after a certain day, allowing their influence to grow ever greater.
Yet the Bai family seemed not joyful but grief-stricken.
After that year, they established a charitable foundation, donating almost enough money each year to seemingly drain their family fortune.
As soldiers, Bai Heng and his most trusted comrade often had long vacations, but aside from family and close friends, no one knew what they did during those times.
The Qi family was originally granted some privileges as well, but Qi Linhan rejected them. He locked Lu Yunling in the basement of his manor, with people constantly watching her.
He never went to see Lu Yunling himself, only hearing about her from his subordinates' reports.
He paid no heed to anything, only demanding that his subordinates torture Lu Yunling by any means necessary, but keep her alive on a thread.
The two elders of the Sui family were kept in the dark by everyone, as if ignorant of everything, but their contact with their granddaughter grew less and less, and they suddenly began devoutly Buddhist, chanting scriptures and praying every day.
As for the rest of the Sui family, they were almost entirely disheartened, especially Sui Zhi, who withdrew from the entertainment industry at the peak of his influence to teach in mountain villages.
Sui Yu and Sui Jinhong continued their business pursuits, while Ye Anning managed her family's charitable foundation on behalf of her father.
Their family grew increasingly frugal, but their donations increased year by year.
The Sui and Bai families even became the enterprises with the greatest charitable contributions in the nation and the world.
Shen Nian became an outstanding teacher.
Qiao Ze also resigned from the hospital to provide free medical services in remote areas.
Those who should have been together never ended up together, except for Sui Zhi, who met the girl of his dreams while teaching in the mountains.
That girl was simply pretty, but very kind and pure.
She even had an idol, an idol younger than her who had made great contributions to the nation but died tragically at the age of twenty.
They had done unforgivable things, and they would spend their lives atoning and praying for the girl they had harmed.
Years later, Bai Heng, dressed in his military uniform, slowly squatted before a gravestone.
This gravestone was different from the others nearby, with fresh flowers and snacks placed before it every day.
The photograph on the gravestone was of an exquisitely featured young woman. He smiled wryly, his eyes reddening: "Yan, your brother has come to see you again. Do you resent us for coming so often?"
The military doctor also squatted beside him, placing two boxes of chocolates before the gravestone: "Yan, these chocolates are very sweet, different from what Bai Heng gave you."
Bai Heng sat down, leaning against the gravestone as he rambled on about various matters.
The military doctor sat beside him, occasionally adding a few words with a smile.
They stayed until the late morning. Before leaving, Bai Heng couldn't help but shed tears: "Yan, we've done so much. You'll be alright, won't you?"
What they owed her could never be repaid. All they could do was their utmost for her.
...Dividing line...
Years later
A small city in the south
On a quaint old street, there was an inconspicuous tavern called Que Bridge.
Two birdcages hung in the tavern, each holding a parrot.
That day, after a series of thunderclaps, a torrential downpour began.
One of the parrots looked around and squawked loudly: "Wolf King waiting for human girl! Wolf King waiting for human girl!"
The other parrot chimed in: "Won't wait! Won't wait!"
"Waiting for girl!"
"Won't wait!"
"Waiting for girl!"
"Won't wait!"
Ye Jin, seated at a table, didn't look up as he calmly said: "Things won't go beyond three times."
Upon hearing this, the two parrots immediately shut their beaks and fell silent.
Ye Jin turned a page of the book in his hand, finally glancing towards the door.
The downpour outside showed no signs of letting up.
He sighed inwardly and continued reading.
But the next moment, a young woman around twenty burst in clumsily.
She clutched two books, looking utterly bedraggled.
Ye Jin frowned at her, but froze the instant he saw her face.
The two parrots suddenly cheered: "Waited! Waited!"
"Waited! Waited!"
Their squawks seemed to startle the girl. She brushed aside her drenched bangs and smiled shyly: "Sorry, the rain outside is too heavy. I'll just take shelter here for a bit."
Ye Jin stared at the girl, momentarily forgetting to react.
The girl grew anxious: "I, I'll leave soon..."
"It's alright, come sit here." Ye Jin regained his composure and immediately stood up to let the girl sit down.
The girl breathed a sigh of relief, smiling with crescent-shaped eyes: "Thank you, are you the owner of this place?"
Ye Jin's gaze softened: "Yes, what's your name?"
The girl said seriously: "My name is Xu Yan, Xu as in 'gradual return', Yan as in 'ink slab'!"
Ye Jin couldn't help but laugh: "Do you have a brother named Xu Mo then?"
Xu Yan opened her eyes wide in surprise: "How did you know that?"
Ye Jin suppressed a laugh: "I guessed. I have some clean clothes here, would you like to change? Your clothes are all wet."
Xu Yan frowned: "Do you have a girlfriend? It's not good to let a stranger wear your girlfriend's clothes, she'll get angry."
Ye Jin quickly explained: "No, I don't have a girlfriend. My sister occasionally comes to this place and stays for a couple of days." He said seriously, "It's my sister's clothes!"
Xu Yan still disapproved: "That's still not right! You can't just lend someone's clothes without their permission!"
Ye Jin felt helpless: "Then I'll send my sister a message and ask if it's okay?"
Xu Yan couldn't help but be a little wary of how overly kind this tavern owner was being to her: "Well, okay then."
Ye Jin breathed a sigh of relief: "Would you like a drink? Warm up your body first, or you'll easily catch a cold."
Xu Yan was deeply convinced that she must have encountered a human trafficker. This person looked perfectly normal, devilishly handsome even, but unexpectedly up to no good!
He must be trying to drug her! To get her unconscious!!!
