"You're responsible for cleaning the young masters' and young lady's rooms. But remember, don't touch anything you shouldn't. Though the master treats us well, if you get any funny ideas, we'll send you straight to the police."
The butler's tone was strict as he instructed the new maid.
The young maid, looking visibly nervous, nodded repeatedly. Her gaze wandered to a tightly shut door nearby. Although she knew there were many rooms here, a particular one was always closed, and no one seemed to clean it. Just moments ago, she had seen Madam Han enter.
"Sir, who stays in that room?" she asked curiously.
The butler froze for a moment, then shook his head with a resigned expression.
"Don't even think about going in there, or you'll be fired on the spot."
The maid quickly promised not to, but the mysterious resident of that room only piqued her curiosity further.
Sunlight filled the room, casting a familiar glow. Zhou WenLi stood in the middle, looking a little disheveled.
She walked to the desk and opened the diary she had read countless times before.
[You're not really a Han. That boy, Han ShuYi, is. All these years, you've been living someone else's life.]
[Han ShuYi seems so likable. Even the servants' attitudes have shifted, and even my sister's too.]
[Mom's attitude has changed dramatically too. I feel like a joke in this house.]
[But don't think too much. They've raised you for so long; you owe them a huge debt. Who knows what kind of person you'd be if you had grown up with Zhao Wei and his wife.]
[The engagement was publicly broken. Li Yue really does love Han ShuYi; let's just pretend it never happened.]
[The kids at the orphanage are as lively as ever. I hope Grandpa and Grandma are in good health.]
[Hard work pays off. My grades are improving, thanks to the president!]
[You should understand Mom's intentions. Everything here belongs to Han ShuYi. You must never think of taking anything from him.]
[Debts should be repaid. If my life could bring Han ShuYi back, wouldn't that be my way of repaying it?]
The entries stopped there, though there were other scattered memories in the diary that Zhou WenLi chose not to revisit.
They say you only cherish something after it's gone. If she had realized HuMing's feelings sooner... But when ShuYi returned, she poured all her love into him, overlooking HuMing entirely.
Now, it was too late. HuMing was gone.
Clutching the diary tightly, she broke into quiet sobs.
Han LiTian sat in the garden, smoking, staring blankly ahead, lost in thought.
He, too, had read that diary and knew HuMing had hidden so much in his heart, though he never realized just how deep it ran. Since ShuYi's return, HuMing has changed drastically, becoming calm and reserved.
But he would never see that old HuMing again; too much had happened recently.
Even though he had dealt with the Lee family himself and made sure everyone involved paid a price, what good did it do? In the end, HuMing traded his life to bring ShuYi back.
As for ShuYi, Han LiTian felt only disappointment. In the face of danger, ShuYi's actions paled in comparison to HuMing's. HuMing risked his life to save him, while ShuYi was willing to sacrifice HuMing to survive.
He couldn't blame ShuYi for choosing survival, yet the disappointment lingered.
With a deep sigh, he sank into self-reproach. As a father, he hadn't protected HuMing. He had failed him.
Han LiTian flicked away his cigarette, lighting another one.
The faint trail of smoke drifted through the air, quickly scattered by the wind.
"I wonder how Kang Xin is doing. I should find time to visit those children."
After HuMing disappeared, Kang Xin also left the Han family. Despite Han LiTian's repeated attempts to persuade her to stay, Kang Xin was resolute, leaving with a calm look in her eyes.
"Young Master instructed me that if he were no longer here, I'd be free---to do whatever I wanted. I know he worried about the children at the orphanage, so I'll go back to take care of them."
Han LiTian was left speechless. It was as if HuMing had foreseen this outcome and arranged everything for everyone.
The orphanage, now funded by the Han family, had been transformed with new facilities; the children ate well, slept comfortably, and even attended proper schools. The old director was able to enjoy a semi-retired life. Yet, none of them felt true happiness---the one they most wanted to see never returned.
The director slowly rose from his chair, his hunched form making its way toward the kitchen.
There, a young girl in a long dress stood with her back to him, cooking.
"Kang Xin, you've been busy all day. Take a break."
The girl turned slowly, her face strikingly beautiful, though her calm and detached expression likely deterred many would-be admirers. Silently, Kang Xin tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and replied,
"It's fine; I'll rest after I finish this."
Behind her, a pot simmered with a fragrant pear and rock sugar dessert. The director sighed helplessly, seeing HuMing's reflection in her.
Once, both she and HuMing had appeared before him and the children, bringing salvation during a time of hardship. But now... HuMing was gone.
Kang Xin looked at the director, recalling how he'd ended up in the hospital from the shock when she first told him of HuMing's disappearance. Even after regaining consciousness, he kept murmuring HuMing's name.
This old man had truly thought of HuMing as his own son.
"Grandpa Director, in a while, I'll be going to school too---Young Master's school."
Kang Xin explained her plans, and the director nodded approvingly.
"That's right, study well. Although Ah Ming isn't here, you have to work hard for your own future."
Kang Xin turned to the window, her gaze resting on a small sprout planted outside. It seemed to be starting to grow.
She blinked, then returned to her cooking, as if nothing had happened at all.