translated_Chapter 75

75: Qiu Shi’s Death

Qiu Shi raised her head: “I became like this not because of her, but because of you. Why are you always going against me?”

“Me, going against you? Then you asking me to give up my school in China to go to France doesn’t count as going against me? Can you say that sentence with a clear conscience?”

Qiu Shi got up and picked up a nearly used tube of paint from the table: “What’s in here? Brother, tell me what’s in here? Besides me, only you have the key to the studio.”

Qiu Ci said hoarsely: “Back then, you were pressuring Tsukimi Rin while also suppressing Qin Yishan. It wasn’t that we were going against you, but that we had our own thoughts. Later, after you got sick, everyone lived very well. You like painting, so just paint quietly. You say the paint is poisonous, but besides daring to put in this little bit of poison, what else did I do? I even thought you wouldn’t use it again after you asked Doctor Wang to confirm it. I even breathed a sigh of relief at the time.”

“But you already did it. Why did it have to become this life-or-death situation? Do you hate me that much?”

“Life or death? What happened when I was sixteen? Why did I get into Qin Yishan’s car? If I don’t say it, will you just forget?”

It was this question again. Every time it was brought up, Qiu Shi felt so sick she wanted to vomit. In the toolbox on the small stool, there was a shining blade, a tool she usually used for opening boxes and sharpening pencils.

“Don’t say that Qin Yishan did it and you didn’t know anything. Why was Qin Yishan ostracized by his sisters? That year, after his second sister was accidentally injured, he ignored it and missed the best time. He’s just a bad seed. You couldn’t know that?” The smile on Qiu Ci’s lips was somewhat unfamiliar: “He won’t be happy for long either.”

Qiu Shi frowned tightly: “Then you’re still with him?”

“Because I have no one else to use. I’m not you. You’re a proper heir, the hope of everyone. How can I compare to you? The loneliness of being sixteen and the mediocrity of being twenty-five, a flick of the finger decides our future? I don’t want to live that kind of life.” Qiu Ci backed away, trying to calm down.

“Let’s not argue anymore. It’s meaningless. Give me the phone. Besides Tsukimi Rin, you can do whatever you want.”

Qiu Ci felt like he also had Tsukimi Rin’s problem. The sound of the phone ringing was driving him crazy.

How could it be so noisy, so unpleasant to hear.

Of course, even more unpleasant than that was Qiu Shi’s crying.

The air was filled with the sour smell of vomit. Qiu Shi really needed someone, anyone, the sixteen-year-old Qiu Ci, or Tsukimi Rin.

Qiu Ci couldn’t come back. Tsukimi Rin, please answer the phone.

Detective, don’t you really want me anymore?

I miss you so much.

Are you doing well?

Are you getting treatment?

Qiu Ci became like this because she didn’t become a painter.

Detective, I have really been supporting you all along. Why can’t you even answer a phone call?

The stench covered the hint of blood.

Qiu Ci watched helplessly as a pool of blood continued to spread outwards.

The last time he saw this scene, he was in a car that had been wrecked.

The driver’s brains splattered on the corner of his mouth.

Qiu Shi’s blood stuck to the bottom of his shoes.

He suddenly realized he should call an ambulance now.

“Hang up the phone.” Qiu Ci had a trace of unbearable feeling.

His original plan was to send Qiu Shi on her way himself.

At least Tsukimi Rin could be completely free in the future, and time would lead her out of Qiu Shi’s shadow.

Jing Yueming was even younger and would probably talk about this underage love affair at a class reunion many years later.

Qiu Ci didn’t care. He could guard Qiu Shi’s tombstone for the rest of his life or spend the rest of his life in prison.

After solving everything, he could go find Qiu Shi too.

Being alone was too lonely.

Hanging up the phone, sister, let’s be like we were a few days ago, okay?

“Hang up. I’ll call an ambulance for you,” Qiu Ci persuaded her.

Qiu Shi ignored him. If Tsukimi Rin never paid attention to her for the rest of her life, then it would be better to make Tsukimi Rin never forget her for the rest of her life.

Forget it, it’s over, Detective.

Qiu Ci was still standing there.

Actually, no one was waiting for her to get better. She was so uncomfortable, this year, these ten years, have been so uncomfortable.

No one was waiting for her to recover, no one was waiting for her to return, no one wanted to save her.

“Rin Rin, Rin Rin, I miss you so much.”

……

In the hospital room, Tsukimi Rin suddenly opened her eyes. She had dreamed of Qiu Shi again.

Dreamed of that phone that never stopped ringing.

Her illness started because of that phone.

And worsened because the phone didn’t ring.

“Awake?” A magnetic male voice pulled her back to reality.

Qiu Ci was sitting next to her: “Had a nightmare?”

Tsukimi Rin was very surprised: “Why are you here?”

“I thought you should want to see me, or rather, this face of mine.”

It would have been better if he hadn’t said it. As soon as he did, Tsukimi Rin immediately thought of Qiu Shi’s pleading face in her dream. It was as if the person standing in front of her wasn’t Qiu Ci, but Qiu Shi.

“How could you just watch your sister…” For a moment, Tsukimi Rin couldn’t think of the word.

Qiu Ci himself couldn’t believe it. He quietly waited until evening, waiting for Qiu Shi’s body to cool down.

Standing alone under the neon lights.

He couldn’t contact Qin Yishan and could only ask Su Yuyang for help.

Cremation, a hasty funeral and memorial service.

News release, will transfer.

After a series of events.

That woman who brought gloom to everyone became a tombstone, only able to block the sunlight for a small grass.

The tombstone was just erected when it happened to run into a spring rain.

In the rain, a small sprout grew on the shaded side of the tombstone, with raindrops on the tips of its leaves, like a child with a runny nose.

Qiu Ci pulled out the small grass.

Don’t be in the shadows, grow in the sun.

The company stabilized, and news of Tsukimi Rin slowly faded.

This woman has since left Qiu Ci’s life circle.

Besides work, Su Yuyang became his only friend.

Better than when his sister abandoned him at the age of sixteen.

This time Qiu Ci wasn’t so idle. He had work, he had friends.

His assistant got married and even sent him wedding candy.

Sweet.

The red candy wrapper also became the only color in the office.

Home was the place he went to the least. Bars and cemeteries were where he stayed.

“It’s a pity you can’t drown your sorrows in one drink.” Su Yuyang drank the Budweiser beer in his hand in one gulp and threw it aside.

Qiu Ci just sipped his vodka, not answering.

Qiu Ci had been too taciturn recently. Su Yuyang was worried that he would become depressed like Qiu Shi and always wanted to bring up some topics.

“You know Ai La’s little lover, right? He’s also an old acquaintance of ours.”

“Jing Yueming?” Qiu Ci asked.

“That’s right. I checked and he’s the kid we met when we were running the class. He was too young at the time and probably forgot about us.” Su Yuyang ordered a fruit plate. Should he order a model?

“Is that so? What a coincidence.”

“That’s not the point. That kid hasn’t been doing well lately. Have you paid attention to him?”

Qiu Ci paused with the whiskey glass in his hand: “Haven’t paid attention. Not doing well?”