Around three in the afternoon, even the waiters in the teachers’ cafeteria couldn’t help but doze off.
Su Ziceng stared at the Rose Handbook, hundreds of pages of which she had already read through most of the book. Sweat dampened her palms, making the pages stick together and turning them became increasingly difficult.
"’I can’t believe Mussen’s Blessing is so burdensome, I can’t handle such love, nor do I want this cursed set of jewelry to stay near Little Perro. I finally kissed my beloved Little Perro, he is now six years old, with a nose as high as Mussen’s and deep eyes, in a few years, he will grow into a dashing young man. I could only choose to say goodbye to him. Just recently, he started to learn to write, holding in his hands the Green Love, the only item from Mussen’s Blessing that Mussen allowed him to touch, a fountain pen made with natural green diamonds. I wanted to take Green Love from his hands, but he wouldn’t let go, I know, like Mussen, he too was captivated by the brilliance of the color diamonds. Goodbye, my dear lover and son, my trip to Paris, it turns out to be just a dream, now that I’ve awoken, my heart is also shattered..." The diary ended abruptly on the last page, Ye Taina’s words like a kite with its string snapped by its master, hurrying to a close.
"Just like that, it’s over," Su Ziceng’s heart at its highest point, suddenly faltered, Ye Taina did not reveal what Su Qing told her. She also didn’t write about what followed, including her return to her country, her reunion with Qiao Chu, and her mysterious disappearance. And her lover? Could it be Su Qing?
"Because she died, died on the African Continent, died on the land where the colorful diamonds were found, she never returned to the Z country, nor did she get to finish this diary. Her diary was found by her father in her luggage at the hotel where she stayed," Pello said with a drained smile, his tone casual as he announced the news of Ye Taina. In his memory, there was no lingering expression of a kiss left by his mother, only Mussen’s wrath upon learning of Ye Taina’s departure, and the sudden aging he showed when news of Ye Taina came.
"At that time, did they discover anything else over in Africa?" Pello’s expression was indifferent, but Su Ziceng still felt the overwhelming despair leaking from his depths. Strangely, she felt he knew. That six-year-old boy, upon learning of his mother’s death, had buried his own sorrow. Pello at this moment was the same, under his perfect facade, he hid an impenetrable sadness.
"Mussen’s Blessing disappeared, along with your father." Pello felt warmth on his hand as Su Ziceng took the initiative to hold it. Pello disliked pitying glances, had always detested it since childhood. Upon hearing the news of Ye Taina’s death, everyone looked at them father and son with such gazes. Including the later relatives who took care of him, every one of them had that look. Behind those looks were hidden filthy disgust.
He didn’t push away Su Ziceng’s hand, her gaze was somewhat different from others, it held sadness yet seemed vibrant, like sunshine breaking through a long overcast sky, as if it could travel through time and space, continuing to comfort the six-year-old Pello. Pello wanted to laugh out loud. At that time, Su Ziceng was still in Qiao Chu’s womb, an unconscious entity, what could she understand.
Su Ziceng’s fingers were soft and delicate, with a woman’s unique gentleness. No matter what changes transpired in Pello’s eyes, she just persisted, softly holding his hand, stubborn and firm, she didn’t let go due to his cold scornful gaze, but just held onto his hand.
"I’m very sorry," Su Ziceng felt it was her obligation to say this apology, if it weren’t for her mother and her father, Ye Taina wouldn’t have left Paris. Although she didn’t know what happened, Su Qing or the departure from Africa, then the Su Family started accumulating astounding wealth, even if she didn’t want to believe it, she could guess the foul play involved.
"Sorry for what," Pello’s eyes changed, from an angry green to a tender light blue, he lightly touched his nose against Su Ziceng. This time, she didn’t back away. Their chairs touched each other, Su Ziceng knew what would happen next, a moment of panic flashed by, she chose to close her eyes.