Luo Yunzhu shook her head again and said, “You already know the history of the Blue Flame Academy. I don’t know anything more than that. My dad never told me anything. Maybe if I’d inherited the Blue Flame Academy, I would have learned some of its secrets.”
Feng Tianlan frowned again and said, “We can only look for clues, then. We need to find out exactly what motivated them to track down the dean.”
“Tianlan, I am useless. I know nothing.” Luo Yunzhu lowered her head in extreme remorse, then continued, “Even if I did know something, just a little bit, then we would still have no leads. Right now, I have to rely on you even more.”
Feng Tianlan took Luo Yunzhu’s hand and said faintly, “There are no ‘what-ifs’ in this world. After something terrible happens, all you can do is face it with courage. You must become stronger instead of blaming yourself or feeling remorseful, self-indulgent, and helpless. Those are the most useless things you can do.”
Luo Yunzhu raised her eye-level and looked at Feng Tianlan. Although her voice was faint, she realized that the load Feng Tianlan bore was much heavier than hers.
“In the future, you will still have me. I am your family.”
Hearing Feng Tianlan’s faint but incredibly heart-warming words, Luo Yunzhu sniffled. She held back her tears and said in a choked voice, “Yes, I am also your family, and we will be together forever.”
She needed to be tough. She needed to be strong, just like Feng Tianlan.
“Let’s go search through the things that the dean left behind,” suggested Feng Tianlan. “Let’s see if we can find any clues.”
Luo Yunzhu nodded and led Feng Tianlan into the house. This evergreen garden was where her father used to spend his time. Once she became the dean, she too would stay here whenever she came to the academy. Many of the items were untouched.
After searching all over the garden, they couldn’t find a single clue. Then, they searched Luo Manor, Luo Yuanjie’s room, and the study. However, they still couldn’t find a thing.
“Tianlan, since you’ve just come back, you must be exhausted. Go get some rest,” said Luo Yunzhu. Looking at the messy study, Luo Yunzhu felt as if she could still see her father putting his hand behind his back and reprimanding her, forbidding her to hang around Tianlan.
“I am drained. I don’t feel like moving anymore, so I will be sleeping over tonight.” At times like this, Yunzhu needed company.
Hearing what Feng Tianlan had said, Luo Yunzhu felt an irresistible urge to hug her. “Tianlan, you really are too good.”
Feng Tianlan’s pupil converged. It was Yunzhu who was too good. In her previous life, Tianlan had been useless for ten years. However, Yunzhu had never given up on her.
It was late at night and the dead of winter. A cold wind blew outside, and stuttering noises could be heard.
Knock!
A small knock on the door woke up Feng Tianlan, who was lightly sleeping. She turned around and saw Luo Yunzhu sleeping soundly due to lethargy. She then glanced toward the door. Under the candlelight, she vaguely made out a figure outside.
Suddenly, Feng Tianlan’s heart clicked. She had an inkling that the person standing outside was Si Mobai.
Feng Tianlan looked at Luo Yunzhu. She then got up stealthily. As she opened the door slightly, a strong wind blew on her face. A chilly mint fragrance followed, blocking the cold wind.
The familiar scent made Feng Tianlan call out, “It really is you.”
Si Mobai lowered his head and gazed at Feng Tianlan in her underclothes. He quickly took off his cloak and put it on her shoulders, wrapping her up tightly. He then took her hand, and they walked a little bit. He asked, “Why are your hands so cold? You didn’t even have a cloak on.”
Feng Tianlan raised her head and looked at Si Mobai. “Why have you come?” she asked.
He had a thick layer of snow on top of his head. She then looked at the courtyard, which was covered in a thick layer of snow. It looked like it had been snowing for a while, which meant that Si Mobai had been here for some time too.