Chapter Thirty-Five — A Belated Departure

The next day, just as dawn broke, Xu Shixi hurried back to Rong City.

Summer days always arrived too early. Yi Shu wished it were the winter solstice, so parting could be delayed a little longer.

Yi Hui returned to school to fill out his college entrance exam preferences. With his grades, he could only apply for unpopular majors in smaller cities. The popular majors in big cities were entirely out of his reach. In truth, he had already prepared himself for the possibility of not attending university. He couldn't bear to waste four years of his life and make his sister toil for another four years. Besides, his current life was tranquil, simple, and ordinary—exactly the kind of life he longed for. To live one’s life plainly and quietly could also be considered a great aspiration, couldn’t it?

Upon entering the school gates, he saw Tang Chao’s car driving toward him from afar. Like Yi Shu, Yi Hui had no sense of car models or their prices. Yet, judging by the shrill screams of the girls gathered around, it was clear the car was worth a fortune.

Tang Chao’s car had been a birthday gift from Tang Jingguo on his eighteenth birthday. After receiving the car, he managed to obtain his driver's license in just one week.

The world of the wealthy is unimaginable to the poor—just as the world of the poor is unimaginable to the rich.

Some girls, facing imminent separation from Tang Chao, became sentimental and reluctant to leave, their expressions so touching that onlookers might have been moved. Others eagerly inquired about the majors he would apply for, hoping to attend the same university and rekindle their connection.

Yi Hui couldn’t bear to watch any longer. He adjusted the strap on his shoulder and headed toward the computer room.

Tang Chao, arriving soon after, deliberately sat next to Yi Hui. Tilting his head thirty degrees to the left, he flashed his signature smile.

Yi Hui shivered. Only the passage of time could dull painful memories, though never erase them.

“Which university are you planning to apply to?” Tang Chao asked, as though speaking to an old friend, so naturally, so casually.

Yi Hui was certain Tang Chao wasn’t talking to him. He tapped the mouse, clicking aimlessly on the computer screen.

“I’m asking you!” Tang Chao raised his voice at Su Yihui.

Startled, Yi Hui turned to him blankly. “In any case, I won’t be applying for the same major as you. You can rest easy.”

Tang Chao was stung by his reply and nodded, frustrated. He was surprised that he wanted to speak with Yi Hui today, and even when rebuffed, found himself not as angry as he would have expected.

After finishing his preferences, Yi Hui checked the time. It was almost noon—he would be late for work if he didn’t hurry. Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, he rushed out, not even sparing a backward glance at the school where he’d spent three years.

Perhaps memories too painful to recall are best left sealed away.

“I’ll give you a lift,” Tang Chao offered, catching up.

“I’ll just take the bus,” Yi Hui replied without looking back. “No need to trouble you.”

Su Yihui truly couldn’t fathom what role Tang Chao was trying to play. But whatever it was, starting from today, from this very moment, he would disappear from Yi Hui’s life.

A weight lifted from his shoulders.

On his way to work, at the very same hour, Yi Shu was also hurrying toward Textile City.

After the tender hours of the previous night, drowsiness clung to her in the morning. Before Yi Hui left, he had gently knocked on her door twice. Half asleep, Yi Shu mumbled a response and drifted back into dreams. When she finally awoke, the sun had shifted from the western wall to her bed, its scorching rays burning as though she were in a desert.

She quickly changed clothes and washed up hastily. In less than ten minutes, she grabbed the crossbody bag hanging from the wall, slung it over her shoulder, and dashed out the door.

Today happened to be Guo Yamei’s day off, which meant the shop’s doors were still locked. One of the customers she’d contacted earlier would be arriving at noon to place an order. Yi Shu checked her phone—11:25. She’d barely make it in time.

Gripping the metal pole on the bus, she felt uneasy. The endless red lights delayed her journey, and she wished she could simply fly to her destination.

What made her even more anxious was that the physical store had surveillance cameras installed. Beyond deterring theft, they were also used to monitor employees’ work attendance.

Luckily, the manager didn’t check them constantly—only logging in occasionally out of boredom.

There was a new globe-shaped landmark in the flowerbed outside the building, woven from plants of various shades. Yi Shu paused to admire it briefly as she walked around. Next to it was a metal figure in a running pose.

The running figure seemed to serve as a reminder. She quickened her pace.

“You’re finally here!” A stylish young woman in her early twenties complained impatiently. “I came over during my lunch break, and you show up late. Is this how you do business?”

Yi Shu couldn’t bring herself to admit she’d overslept, so she apologized repeatedly to soothe the customer’s irritation.

Unlocking the glass door and switching on the main power, she was greeted by rows of curtains that looked like oil paintings—a mesmerizing sight.

“Please have a seat, I’ll bring you some water,” Yi Shu put down her bag and gestured to the customer.

“No need, I’m in a hurry! Here are the exact measurements for my windows.” The woman took a folded sheet of white paper from her cobalt-blue leather handbag and tossed it onto the table. “Hurry up and calculate the price based on these measurements.”

“All right, just a moment.” Yi Shu pulled out a chair, grabbed a pen from the holder at the corner of the desk, opened the drawer to her right for a sheet of blank paper, and started calculating quickly.

All the details and requirements had been discussed thoroughly two days ago. Today, all she needed to do was calculate the curtain sizes and the price—nothing too time-consuming.

The young woman, arms crossed, glanced around restlessly. She was about the same age as Yi Shu, wearing a short, light blue dress, her makeup impeccable, her slender fingers coated evenly with pink nail polish.

Yi Shu glanced at her and thought she bore a faint resemblance to Tang Dai.

In less than ten minutes, Yi Shu had completed the calculations. She handed over the process and informed the customer of the final price.

The woman was straightforward. She took out her phone and scanned the QR code at the counter, paying the full amount without hesitation.

Yi Shu asked for her delivery address and promised shipment within a week. In truth, she wasn’t sure she could guarantee such a timeline, but to appease the customer’s annoyance, she had to take the gamble.

That afternoon, there was a steady stream of customers—most were just browsing. Judging by their appearance, Yi Shu suspected they were migrant workers, perhaps living or working odd hours. They wore T-shirts in bright, vivid colors—fuchsia, lemon yellow, turquoise.

Clearly, they were just there to kill time and enjoy the air conditioning.

Having dealt with many types of customers, Yi Shu’s discernment had improved somewhat.

Customers in physical stores were far more difficult than those online. At least online, if someone said something ignorant or made an unreasonable demand, she could vent her frustrations openly. In person, however, she had to respond courteously and endure any rudeness with a smile, turning anger into geniality.

Min Hangrui remained as cold and terse as ever in his replies, but Yi Shu had long grown used to it. After clarifying the details, she ended the conversations promptly.

Why always lower oneself to accommodate others’ arrogance?

Since Lu Xugao had taken extended leave, Yao’s apprentice, Xiao Chu, had temporarily filled the shipping clerk’s position. Xiao Chu was attentive and thoughtful. In just a month, he had grasped the essentials, and after a few more months, he was capable of managing on his own. Master Yao was gratified, but with business improving, the shortage of staff became a problem. With no suitable candidates available, they could only fill the gaps from within the company for now.

A few days earlier, Yi Shu had spoken with Lu Xugao over the phone. His tone had grown much calmer and more composed, as though the violent storm had abated and the weather was clearing.

A twenty-four-year-old man revealing a maturity beyond his years.

Perhaps maturity has nothing to do with age.

—“We’re doing well. You should take care of yourselves too. I hope that when we meet again, we’ll all be different people.”

We?

Had he found her already? Yi Shu asked eagerly, “Have you found Yan Lu? If you have, you must let me know immediately.”

—“Well…” Lu Xugao hesitated. “I definitely will.”

Yi Shu’s instincts told her he’d probably found Yan Lu already. But no matter how she pressed or questioned, he insisted he hadn’t.

Perhaps he really hadn’t found her yet?