Mr. and Mrs. Ye had to rush off to manage the family business again. They entrusted butler Liu to personally escort Ye Wen to her new residence near the school. Along the route, two SUVs flanked Liu’s sedan—the Ye patriarch’s bulletproof vehicle. By then, Ye Wen’s parents were already airborne, heading to another city for a gathering of overseas Chinese families.

The apartment sat right beside a bustling street. A straight walk followed by a single turn led directly to campus—all along main roads, no secluded alleyways required.

It was a spacious top-floor unit of over a hundred square meters, vacant for half a year and lingering unsold on the secondhand market.

The eight-story building was considered unusually tall for residential complexes back in 2004.

Butler Liu parked downstairs and guided Shuizishi and Ye Wen up to the eighth floor. Only two apartments occupied this level. The neighbor opposite was a young woman posing no threat, which reassured Mr. Ye enough to purchase the place.

In 2004, Qiu Yi’s family rented their home. Though they later bought an 80-square-meter unit, soaring property prices soon made homeownership impossible in this land-scarce metropolis. Ordinary citizens could barely afford a modest home even after a lifetime of labor.

The apartment had two doors. The outer one was a sturdy, brand-new security gate. Behind it lay a narrow two-meter passage lined with a shoe cabinet—neatly arranged footwear already in place. Past this corridor stood an ordinary wooden door.

Inside lay a two-bedroom layout with a small study, storage room, and a surprisingly spacious bathroom. Sunlight streamed through spotless windows, instantly lifting one’s spirits upon entry.

The bedrooms flanked the living room. A wooden door on the south side opened to a wide balcony fitted with windows and safety bars.

“Are you satisfied, Young Miss?” Butler Liu asked. “Call me anytime if anything’s missing. I’ll deliver it immediately.”

[Perfect score]

“Glad to hear it… I’ll take my leave now. You two get acquainted.” He turned to Shuizishi. “Xiao Shi, look after the Young Miss.”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry!” Shuizishi gently ushered him toward the door. “Uncle Liu, go on home already~”

“Very well. Goodbye, Young Miss.”

[Drive safely] Ye Wen held a notepad to her chest, giving a soft wave.

*Thud.* The door closed.

The vast apartment suddenly felt hollow. Thankfully, Ye Wen wasn’t alone—sometime recently, she’d begun fearing solitude.

Though Shuizishi’s enrollment at Wenlan Academy was processed, she wouldn’t start until next semester. She needed to review coursework beforehand; poor grades meant repeating a year there.

Luckily, Ye Wen—the reformed honor student—could guarantee Shuizishi’s passing grades.

Shuizishi was nearly eighteen, at least two years older than typical freshmen… though it hardly showed.

Both bedrooms were identical in size, but Ye Wen’s faced southeast—the better orientation.

Pure blue wallpaper covered the walls. Ripple-patterned paper adorned the ceiling. Blue calmed the mind. Blue echoed melancholy… Ye Wen cared little, so long as it wasn’t pink. Even after living as this girl for months, she still recoiled at the thought of everything around her being pink.

A plush spring mattress sat by the window. Ye Wen opened it to a view of grass behind the complex and a simple park where children gathered…

She looked up. Though only eight stories high, in this unpolluted era—in this city still breathing clean air—the soft clouds seemed within reach. A lark landed on her outstretched palm, pecked gently at her skin, then fluttered away.

For safety, iron bars covered Ye Wen’s window. But the gaps were wide—any stray cat or dog could slip through easily…

A plastic board rested on the iron frame, holding a potted mimosa plant. Ye Wen touched a leaf. It curled inward instantly.

How long had it been since she’d seen this plant? Once common by roadsides, nature’s breath faded bit by bit as cities expanded. Humanity’s innocence and beauty vanished with it… Trying to preserve that goodness only left memories behind…

How wonderful to return ten years ago… To regain the past at the cost of becoming a girl and losing her voice—what was there to resent?

Even if nothing could be held onto, how many craved the chance to relive lost joys once more?

A serene smile lifted Ye Wen’s lips. The clouds in her heart scattered completely, revealing a clear azure sky…

She glanced up. The sun was already setting. Had an entire afternoon slipped by while she daydreamed?

*Click—* The front door opened. Shuizishi’s bright voice rang out: “Young Miss! Sorry I’m late! Bought too much stuff! Couldn’t catch any buses!”

The maid in a pure white knee-length dress hurried to Ye Wen’s doorway. Peeking in, she gasped. “Young Miss… you’ve been staring out the window all afternoon?!”

Ye Wen coughed lightly. A faint flush colored her cheeks.

“Huh?! You actually showed an expression!” Shuizishi pinched Ye Wen’s cheek, delighted. “You’re recovering little by little!”

[Hungry]

Ye Wen pointed to the words on her notepad.

“Got it! Stir-fried shrimp, tomato-egg soup, greens, mashed potatoes—sound good?”

Ye Wen nodded vigorously. Her stomach had just growled audibly.

The dining table stood by the living room window. Ye Wen opened it. Cool breezes tousled her hair as she sipped warm milk, watching Shuizishi bustle in the kitchen. Life felt truly beautiful.