Chapter 340: Echoes of the Past

Han Wenwen studied the woman’s expression with deep meaning.

Perhaps her emotions weren’t as extreme as when she first arrived.

Lin Zheng Ran and Han Wenwen sat on the empty bed nearby while the mother and daughter chatted about a few more things.

They talked about their experiences over the years, getting a rough sense of each other’s lives.

The woman lay flat on the hospital bed: “I heard from your uncle that you’ve gotten into Qingbei University? That’s impressive—it’s one of the top universities in the country.”

Han Wenwen smiled: “Actually, I’m not that great at studying.” She glanced at Lin Zheng Ran and gripped his hand: “I was just lucky.”

Glancing at the time, it was already quite late.

Han Wenwen said: “Alright, we’ve seen you now, so we won’t disturb your rest. Brother Zheng Ran and I should go. I hope… I hope in your next life, you won’t be so selfish and will learn from this lesson.”

The woman laughed self-mockingly: “Thank you. Getting advice from my own daughter is a good thing. I’ll remember it.”

After that, she suddenly coughed a few times in a row.

Lin Zheng Ran, who had been mostly silent, asked: “Aunt, do you have any unfinished wishes?”

The woman looked at Lin Zheng Ran and immediately shook her head.

She originally wanted to say she had none, that seeing Han Wenwen one last time was enough.

But gazing into Lin Zheng Ran’s eyes, perhaps it was the intense sense of déjà vu from nearing the end of her life.

Or maybe from her years of experience with so many men, in that moment she suddenly felt this young man was no ordinary person.

In fact, he seemed even more extraordinary than those unreachable people she’d pursued before.

Her eyes flickered for a second, and she glanced at Han Wenwen again: “There’s one more… just…”

From the way she looked at Han Wenwen, Lin Zheng Ran seemed to understand what that wish was.

Han Wenwen watched her slightly moved expression.

The clever little fox seemed to realize it too.

As they parted, Han Wenwen’s fingers clenched tight, but for the sake of those brief happy moments from her childhood, she fulfilled the woman’s wish and softly called out: “Mom, I hope you’re happy in your next life.”

The woman’s beautiful yet weary eyes widened, brimming with tears, and she closed them with her wish fulfilled: “Thank you, thank you, Wen Wen.”

As Lin Zheng Ran and Han Wenwen stood up, he secretly slipped something from his hand into the woman’s water.

It was dregs infused with a bit of spiritual energy—though it had no special effects, it would greatly reduce the pain when she left the world.

Perhaps she truly had no regrets left.

The woman passed away peacefully just a few days later.

A week after, Han Wenwen and Lin Zheng Ran placed flowers on the woman’s gravestone.

Han Wenwen’s uncle and aunt stood nearby watching.

After setting down the flowers, Han Wenwen stared at the photo on the gravestone, her eyes red but smiling: “For Mom, this is a good ending.”

Lin Zheng Ran gently stroked the little fox’s head in comfort.

She turned to her uncle and aunt: “Uncle, Aunt, Brother Zheng Ran and I are heading back north today.”

The uncle nodded: “You’re living with Lin Zheng Ran now, right?”

Han Wenwen nodded: “Yes, we’re moving in together soon. Probably by the time I graduate university, we’ll get married. Right, Brother Zheng Ran?”

Lin Zheng Ran agreed: “Yes, I’ll invite you both then.”

They always supported Han Wenwen’s choices; now that she had no one else’s help, her uncle’s family knew they had no say in what she did.

Still, the uncle added: “Just make sure you’re good to Wen Wen.”

“Don’t worry, Uncle. We’re off now.”

They waved goodbye, but as they turned to leave,

three figures suddenly approached from a distance.

Han Wenwen was surprised to see Heqing, Lily, and Jiang Jingshi.

She exclaimed: “Heqing, Lily, and Jiang Jie, what are you doing here?!”

The three came closer, and Heqing’s voice was cute and concerned: “We heard on the phone that your mom passed away, and we were worried you might not handle it well, so we came to check on you.”

Lily said proudly: “You’ve been away with Zheng Ran for so long, and even though you told us not to come, we couldn’t stand staying in the north anymore, so here we are.”

Jiang Jingshi looked at Han Wenwen’s slightly red eyes with gentle concern: “Wen Wen, are you okay?”

Han Wenwen’s lips curved up as she linked arms with Lin Zheng Ran, smiling: “Of course! I’m not as fragile as you think. Besides, Mom didn’t suffer when she went; everything turned out fine.”

The three women exchanged glances; they didn’t quite understand this tangled feeling toward a mother.

Such backgrounds were rare, after all.

As the head of the group, Lin Zheng Ran said: “Alright, even though you three just arrived, we need to head back soon. Let’s grab a meal somewhere and then catch the train north together. There’s still a lot to do this year; it’s going to be busy.”

Everyone shared a simple smile.

Then Heqing, Lily, and Jiang Jingshi placed their flowers on the aunt’s gravestone.

The five of them left together.

The uncle and aunt stood there without moving.

Only after everyone left did the aunt remark: “Wen Wen has so many friends now. It’s like she’s a completely different person from when I first met her.”

The uncle gazed at Han Wenwen disappearing in the distance: “She’s always had her own life, after all.”

The high-speed train back north sped along the tracks.

Han Wenwen still held Lin Zheng Ran’s hand and leaned on his shoulder, falling asleep again.

It was one of many dreams.

In the dream, young Han Wenwen stood at that familiar yet terrifying intersection, still waiting for her mom in the darkness.

But from long ago, she was no longer alone.

Young Lin Zheng Ran was always by her side.

Young Lin Zheng Ran said: “It’s finally over.”

“Huh?” Young Han Wenwen didn’t understand: “What’s over?”

He pointed her toward the distance, and this time she saw her mom’s figure far away, standing up.

But her mom didn’t come closer; instead, she waved from afar: “Wen Wen, Mom’s leaving. Goodbye.” Her figure vanished completely into the distance, and the road—and all the surrounding roads—brightened up.

“Mom… goodbye.”

Young Lin Zheng Ran said: “You’ve finally gotten her goodbye. Shall we leave this place too?”

Young Han Wenwen looked at him eagerly: “Leave? Where to?”

Young Lin Zheng Ran took Han Wenwen’s hand and walked toward the light:

“Just follow me. Even though I’m here with you so you won’t be scared, we can’t stay in this dark place forever. There are so many new things to do.”

Han Wenwen let him lead her, glancing back at the once-dark intersection that was now bright.

A smile appeared on her face as she suddenly said to young Lin Zheng Ran: “Brother Zheng Ran, I want fried chicken.”

“Fried chicken first thing in the morning? Alright, I’ll get you some.”

Together, they headed toward the light.