In that instant, Xue Jiao's mind went blank. Lin Zhihua moved too quickly—almost the moment she saw someone falling, he had already covered her eyes.

She instinctively reached up to pull his hand away, her expression dazed yet fearful.

"Don't look, Jiao Jiao. Be good, we won’t look." Lin Zhihua pulled Xue Jiao into his embrace, pressing her head firmly against his chest to keep her from seeing.

"Shu Lan! Shu Lan! Ah—" Nearby, Ding Qi and Mai Jiajia screamed and sobbed as they rushed forward.

Shu Lan? Was it Shu Lan?

Xue Jiao’s hands trembled as she clutched Lin Zhihua’s sleeve in confusion. "What happened? Zhihua, what happened? Was it Shu Lan?!"

Lin Zhihua didn’t let go. Instead, he pulled out his phone, dialing 110 and 120 while murmuring, "We’re calling an ambulance. Jiao Jiao, don’t look. Be good."

In the distance, Mai Jiajia and Ding Qi’s voices were hoarse with despair.

Tears instantly streamed down Xue Jiao’s face as she cried out, "Was it Shu Lan?! Lin Zhihua, let me go!"

Panicked, she struggled to break free, desperate to run forward.

Lin Zhihua glanced back at the scene, then closed his eyes briefly. "Wait for the ambulance, okay? Stay here for now. Don’t look. You’re not a doctor—you can’t help her. Just be good."

"No—let me go!"

Lin Zhihua gently patted her back, trying to soothe her.

"Shu Lan! Ahhh—!" Ding Qi’s voice cracked with devastation, making both Lin Zhihua and Xue Jiao flinch.

One held on tighter; the other struggled harder.

"Zhihua, Zhihua, let me see! What happened to Shu Lan? What happened to her?!" By the last word, her voice was nearly shattered.

Lin Zhihua clenched his jaw, refusing to release her. Xue Jiao opened her mouth and bit down hard on his wrist.

She was on the verge of breaking down, desperate to see—what had happened to Shu Lan?!

But Lin Zhihua wouldn’t relent. The building wasn’t very tall, but he had seen exactly where the girl had fallen—right onto the sharp-edged flowerbed.

And… headfirst. A fall like that was deadly.

The despair in Mai Jiajia and Ding Qi’s voices made it clear—that girl… was unlikely to survive.

Lin Zhihua had witnessed death many times, but Xue Jiao hadn’t. She was still young. A scene like this could haunt her nightmares for years.

To spare her some pain, he absolutely would not let her see it firsthand.

Even if she resented him, even if she raged at him, even if she hit him—he wouldn’t let her go now.

That horrifying, blood-soaked sight—it was better if she never saw it.

"Let me go—!" Xue Jiao screamed, her struggles growing fiercer as she heard Mai Jiajia and Ding Qi’s desperate cries nearby.

The ambulance arrived quickly—there was a hospital at the foot of the hill, and they had dispatched one immediately.

But when the medical staff approached, they shook their heads softly. "I’m sorry. Call the police and the funeral home."

When Shu Lan fell, her head had struck the corner of the flowerbed. She had left this world almost instantly.

Lin Zhihua didn’t go closer, though he already knew the outcome.

He wouldn’t stop Xue Jiao from seeing Shu Lan one last time—but not now. Not like this.

"Ah—!" Ding Qi and Mai Jiajia collapsed to the ground, trembling violently.

Ding Qi was nearly unconscious, and the medical staff hurried over to calm them.

"What happened? What happened?!" Xue Jiao sobbed, shaking uncontrollably. "What happened to Shu Lan?! Tell me!!"She was standing far from the spot where Shu Lan had fallen. With Lin Zhihua covering her eyes, she couldn't see anything, only hearing Mai Jiajia and Ding Qi's desperate wails.

Lin Zhihua didn't respond to her. Xue Jiao beat at him in despair, "Let me go over there!"

He endured her kicks and punches without loosening his grip.

At that moment, the police arrived to inspect the scene.

Only then did Lin Zhihua release his hands and say softly, "Jiao Jiao... Shu Lan is gone..."

Gone?

Her mind was already blank, and now she completely collapsed to the ground.

After a moment, she raised her reddened eyes and looked at Lin Zhihua in confusion. "Gone? What do you mean?"

Lin Zhihua half-knelt, embracing her while silently patting her back.

Gone...

Shu Lan was dead?

Xue Jiao remained stiff for a long time before suddenly bursting into desperate, heart-wrenching sobs.

Sometimes, life plays cruel jokes on us. How could someone who was perfectly fine suddenly be gone?

Why her?

She was so young, her future so bright, her life just beginning—how could it come to such an abrupt end?

Why did it have to be her!

How could fate take someone away in such a ridiculous manner?

This day would forever be etched in Xue Jiao's memory, yet all she could recall was overwhelming despair.

Everything else was just a blank void.

Xue Jiao lay collapsed on the ground, dazedly watching the police come and go, entering and exiting the Yu residence, yet no one from the Yu family ever emerged.

Eventually, Shu Lan's parents arrived in tears, speaking briefly with the police.

Afterward, they rushed into the Yu household, only to stagger out much later, utterly defeated.

Xue Jiao and the others followed Shu Lan's parents into a car, numbly arriving at the funeral home.

All around her were the cries of others and her own uncontrollable weeping.

Later, their parents and school teachers arrived.

"Jiao Jiao—" Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong rushed over, tightly embracing Xue Jiao, whose face was pale and trembling.

Nearby, a police officer spoke to the parents and teachers, "You need to pay attention to these three girls' emotional states, especially the two who witnessed the scene firsthand. The deceased is gone, but it's crucial to help the children process this. That kind of sight could leave deep psychological scars on young girls."

Mai Jiajia and Ding Qi were in much worse shape than Xue Jiao—they had seen that horrific, bloodstained scene with their own eyes.

The teachers focused on comforting them, particularly Mai Jiajia, whose family was too far away to arrive quickly.

"Jiao Jiao, cry if you need to. Let it out, and then try to come to terms with it. The departed are gone." Li Sitong said tearfully, gently patting Xue Jiao's back.

The thought of such a young girl leaving the world for such a senseless reason was enough to bring anyone to tears.

The Yu household had surveillance footage, so the truth of what happened became clear to everyone.

Shu Lan's mother had already fainted from grief, her father looked as though he had aged ten years overnight, and her younger brother, still in middle school, lay on the ground wailing.

"How could Shu Lan just... be gone?" Xue Jiao's voice trembled with disbelief and despair.

Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong didn't know how to comfort her—how could anyone be comforted in such a situation?

"Jiao Jiao..." They opened their mouths but could only say her name.

Then they looked at her with pained, worried eyes.

Lin Zhihua crouched before Xue Jiao, holding her hands and gazing at her swollen, tearful eyes before speaking softly—"Jiao Jiao, there's a saying—you never know whether tomorrow or an accident will come first."

Lin Zhihua pressed her hand against his cheek. "Accidents can happen to anyone—car crashes, terminal illnesses, natural disasters, even a hate-filled terrorist attacking on the street. There are too many possibilities. Anyone could meet with an accident, even me. Look at me now, perfectly fine, but who knows if I might suddenly die in a car crash tomorrow?"

Lin Zhihua said it lightly, but Xue Jiao was deeply shaken by his words.

"No—" Xue Jiao's vision blurred with tears as she covered his mouth, shaking her head desperately. "No, don't say that..."

In that moment, her already despairing heart sank even further.

A car crash?

Just the thought drained all color from Xue Jiao's face.

No! Lin Zhihua had already changed his fate—there wouldn't be a car crash!

She released her hand from his mouth and clung to him tightly, sobbing. "Don't die... don't die... You won't..."

She thought her heart had already numbed from the pain earlier, but hearing Lin Zhihua's words still made it ache unbearably.

He knelt before her, his face full of concern, while she sat, wrapped in his embrace.

They held each other close—one filled with worry, the other with fear.

"Alright," Lin Zhihua murmured, returning her embrace. "You see, accidents happen all the time. Shu Lan just happened to meet with one. We can't save her anymore, so we have to learn to let go. Maybe she's in another world now, living without pain or suffering. And we—we'll keep her memory alive in our hearts. The departed are gone, but the living must go on."

Xue Jiao buried her face in his shoulder and wept bitterly.

Her heart was in agony, filled with endless what-ifs.

If Yu Cheng hadn't tried to kill himself, if he had obeyed his parents and gone abroad, perhaps Shu Lan would have gradually moved on from their painful love and found someone who wouldn't hurt her.

If Yu Cheng hadn't rebelled so recklessly, if he had resisted his parents in a smarter way, maybe he and Shu Lan could have stayed together happily—or maybe they would have parted someday anyway.

If Shu Lan hadn't grabbed Yu Cheng today, maybe it would have been Yu Cheng who died. If she hadn't fallen after catching him, they both could have lived...

So many possibilities where Shu Lan might not have been lost.

But life is like this—full of terrifying, unpredictable turns. One twist might lead to happiness, another to despair.

The unknown future, the accidents that could strike at any moment—these are things we can never foresee.

At times like these, all we can do is cherish each day we have, every moment we still live under the sun.

Cherish ourselves, and cherish those around us.

"Shu Lan—" Xue Jiao bit down on Lin Zhihua's shoulder, her gaze fixed on the half-open door as she bid farewell to this young girl.

Shu Lan, may you, like me, find a new life in another world.

A world without tears, without obstacles.

A world with the love you longed for, and the future you dreamed of.

——

Shu Lan was gone.

It wasn't until after her burial that Xue Jiao slowly came to accept this truth.

That composed, smiling girl, the one who had hugged her in tears—she had truly left this world.

No matter how far Xue Jiao traveled in the years to come, no matter how many girls named Shu Lan she might meet—none of them would ever be her.She was no longer the timid girl who stood in the dormitory with a shy smile, asking if she needed help.

Lin Zhihua covered her eyes, so Xue Jiao didn't see the first scene. She was sad, she was in pain, but she wasn't frightened by the blood.

The school arranged psychological counseling for Mai Jiajia and Ding Qi for a period of time. Both of them had witnessed that scene, and the school was worried they might develop psychological trauma.

That sight was something they had never seen before—terrifyingly real.

Both parents and the school hoped psychological counseling could help them emerge from the shadows, with their hearts still bathed in sunlight.

As for Xue Jiao, she took a week off and stayed at home. Li Sitong accompanied her every day, even sleeping with her at night. Cheng Mingze was mostly at home, while Cheng Shuo and Lin Zhihua practically moved their offices home to be with her.

They hardly left her alone, never letting her suffer in solitude.

They talked to her, comforted her, cooked delicious meals for her, and coaxed her gently.

For the first few nights, Xue Jiao often woke up crying. She kept dreaming of Shu Lan—her voice, her smile, her talking to them, the times they chatted together in the dorm... Then, in the middle of the night, she would wake up in tears.

Li Sitong would hold her and soothe her, just like when Xue Jiao was little and hadn't grown up yet, when Li Sitong was still tender.

During the day, Xue Jiao sometimes zoned out, and Cheng Shuo, Cheng Mingze, and Lin Zhihua would always step in to cheer her up.

This was probably a rare moment of peaceful coexistence between Lin Zhihua and the Cheng father and son.

"Jiao Jiao," Lin Zhihua crouched beside her as she drifted off again.

After a while, Xue Jiao turned to look at him.

She bit her lip lightly. "She told me to go first, so I did. Why did I leave then? If I hadn't gone, would Shu Lan still—"

Lin Zhihua hugged her and said softly, "There are no 'what ifs.' Even if you had been in the dorm, you couldn't have stopped her from going to find Yu Cheng. She would have gone anyway."

He paused, then continued, "Even if she had known what would happen, she still would have gone."

It was just tragic—she saved Yu Cheng but accidentally lost herself in the process.

Xue Jiao bit her lower lip and said nothing. She had cried so much these past few days that she couldn't even shed tears anymore.

"Accidental deaths while saving others happen from time to time. Jiao Jiao, we're just ordinary people, not gods. We can't foresee the future, and we can't save everyone from accidents."

As he spoke, Lin Zhihua intertwined his fingers with hers, lifted her hand, and gently kissed the back of it. "I'm just an ordinary person. I'm not a god, and I don't have the compassion of one. I can only protect my Jiao Jiao, and I hope that whatever you do, you'll stay calm and prioritize your own life above all else. To me, no one's life is more important than yours."

"So, Jiao Jiao, no matter what happens, keeping yourself unharmed is what would make me happiest."

Lin Zhihua spoke softly. He had never been a saint—the only one he cared about was Jiao Jiao.

His voice was earnest, filled with love.

Xue Jiao leaned against his chest and, after a long silence, whispered, "Me too."

"Hmm?" Lin Zhihua froze, thinking he had misheard.

Xue Jiao said quietly, "Your life is also very important to me. I hope you'll always be well, stay with me until we're old, and die after me."

Lin Zhihua trembled all over, as if he had heard something unbelievable.After a moment, his voice trembling, he said, "Jiao Jiao... what did you say? Did I hear you right?"

Xue Jiao's lips twitched slightly—this could barely count as the first smile she had shown since Shu Lan left.

"You heard wrong..."

"No!" Lin Zhihua was overjoyed. He lowered his head and gently kissed the back of Xue Jiao's hand twice. "I heard it. You agreed! You promised to grow old with me!"

Xue Jiao looked at him and nodded slowly.

Those who had left were gone, but the living must continue to live.

Since we never know whether tomorrow or an accident will come first, all we can do is make the most of today.

Cherish everyone around us, cherish those we love, and those who love us.

Lin Zhihua was so happy he didn’t know what to do with his hands. He picked Xue Jiao up and spun her around joyfully—

"Jiao Jiao!!"

Xue Jiao's lips curved slightly. At this moment, she too felt happiness.

Life is full of all kinds of accidents, as well as all kinds of sorrow and pain. But in such times, there are also many unforgettable joys.

Whether sadness or happiness, they are all part of life, all fragments of memory that will one day be recalled.

Xue Jiao had been hesitant before, but when Lin Zhihua mentioned that he, too, could die... she became afraid.

Accidents are unpredictable—he might encounter one, and so might she.

She feared that words left unspoken might one day never be spoken, and deeds left undone might never be done.

So now, in this moment, is the time to do what we want to do and say what we want to say.

Sometimes, being a little braver is a very good thing.

Outside the door, Cheng Mingze pressed a hand against the doorframe, grinding his teeth—a clear sign of anger.

Beside him, Cheng Shuo gnashed his teeth. "That man took advantage of the situation!"

Li Sitong, however, smiled. "Jiao Jiao has finally stopped being stubborn. Haven’t you seen how devoted Zhihua has been to her these past few days?"

Cheng Shuo: "..."

Cheng Mingze: "..."

By lunchtime, Lin Zhihua emerged holding Xue Jiao’s hand, his expression barely restrained.

But his eyes were brimming with joy, and his steps were light.

Cheng Mingze couldn’t stand the sight of him like this and sneered, "So you two are together now?"

Lin Zhihua couldn’t suppress his happiness, but he didn’t dare go overboard. He simply gave a quiet "Mm."

Cheng Mingze grinned. "Brother-in-law, shouldn’t you call me 'big brother' now?"

Lin Zhihua: "..."

He stared at the young man in front of him, dressed in jeans and a hoodie, and felt...

A sharp pang in his heart.

——

Just as Xue Jiao mustered the courage to return to school, Mai Jiajia called.

"Jiajia," Xue Jiao said softly, her nose tingling slightly.

Shared acquaintances meant shared grief.

"Jiao Jiao, Ding Qi and I are going to the Yu family. Do you want to come?" Mai Jiajia’s voice was laced with anger.

Xue Jiao froze for a moment before gritting her teeth. "I’ll go!"

Of course she would go!

She wanted to ask Yu Cheng—did he truly love Shu Lan?

Did the Yu family still have any conscience left?!

After hanging up, Lin Zhihua asked, "Where are you going?"

"To find Yu Cheng!" Xue Jiao said through clenched teeth.

Though Shu Lan’s departure couldn’t be entirely blamed on Yu Cheng, it was still because of him. Yet this man hadn’t shown his face even once!

Lin Zhihua paused, then said after a moment, "I’ll drive you."

And so, Lin Zhihua drove Xue Jiao to meet Mai Jiajia and Ding Qi.The three of them froze for a moment when they met. Xue Jiao instinctively blurted out, "Why have you all lost so much weight?!"

Mai Jiajia forced a smile. "You've lost a lot too..."

Indeed, they had all grown thinner, but Xue Jiao's heart ached more for her friends. She stepped forward, gripping one hand of each tightly.

The three of them sat in the back seat, hands clasped, leaning against each other for comfort, while Lin Zhihua drove in front.

"Has Yu Cheng still not shown up?" Xue Jiao's voice was cold.

Mai Jiajia and Ding Qi's expressions darkened simultaneously. Ding Qi sneered, "The Yu family is truly something. They sent someone to give money to Shu Lan's parents, but Yu Cheng never appeared at all!"

Mai Jiajia sighed. "Shu Lan's parents initially refused the money, wanting to hold Yu Cheng accountable, but..."

She didn't finish, but all three knew—legally, Yu Cheng couldn't be held responsible for what happened.

The surveillance footage clearly showed Shu Lan entering the Yu residence on her own, reaching out herself...

"They got off too easily!" Ding Qi gritted her teeth.

"The teachers mediated privately, and the money was accepted as support for Shu Lan's parents in their old age," Mai Jiajia sighed. "Thankfully Shu Lan had a younger brother, otherwise what hope would Uncle and Auntie have left?"

Xue Jiao exhaled heavily. "It's just... so unfair..."

Ding Qi mocked bitterly, "Isn't it? People like Yu Cheng's parents get to live on unscathed, while Shu Lan..."

All three had reddened eyes. Mai Jiajia took a deep breath and changed the subject. "Did your school teachers tell you it's best not to mention Shu Lan's matter after returning to campus?"

Xue Jiao nodded. "They did."

Ding Qi also nodded. "Same here."

In such situations, all schools adopt a low-profile approach to avoid unnecessary emotional turmoil.

"Jiajia, are you still staying in the dorm? My mom won't let me board anymore," Ding Qi suddenly said, her gaze apologetic.

Mai Jiajia nodded softly. "It's fine. You don't have to stay. Jiao Jiao shouldn't either. I'm planning to move to a dorm downstairs—there's an empty bed there, and I know the girls."

Staying in their original dorm would only bring back painful memories of their lost friend.

"That's good."

Xue Jiao tightened her grip on their hands and whispered, "Shu Lan is gone, but we'll always remember her."

"Mm!" The other two responded, fingers interlaced tightly as they leaned together for warmth.

From the rearview mirror, Lin Zhihua glanced at the girl sitting between them—his Jiao Jiao—and said gently,

"Look ahead. What's past is past."

The three nodded.

This was their first experience of losing someone so close so suddenly. But no matter how profound the grief, life moves forward, and so must they.

Even if acceptance comes slowly, it must come eventually.

The car moved steadily onward until Ding Qi suddenly exclaimed, "This isn't the way to the Yu residence!"

Xue Jiao looked up in surprise at Lin Zhihua.

"Wrong turn?"

Lin Zhihua shook his head. "No mistake. Yu Zhengguo, Su Qing, and Yu Cheng no longer live there."

"What? Where did they go then!"

Lin Zhihua sighed softly. "You'll see when we arrive."

The car continued smoothly until it pulled over by the roadside. When they stepped out and looked up, they froze in shock.