"Dear Xue’er?"

Nangong Ruihui stood before the dejected Long Xue’er, voice playful.

Long Xue’er lifted her head. Seeing it was Ruihui, she threw herself into her arms.

"Sister~"

Nangong Ruihui smiled gently. "Xue’er, don’t be sad. Xia Xi is gone, but you still have Xiao Yan. Let her keep you company."

Hearing the hidden meaning, Long Xue’er stopped nuzzling her and grew uneasy.

"Sister, what are you saying? Don’t I still have you? I like you the most!"

"Ten years parted by life and death, vast and lonely; though I try not to think of you, I never forget. Xue’er… Sister is leaving you. Take care of yourself. Stay happy." Nangong Ruihui spoke softly, her calm tone masking a storm of emotions.

Long Xue’er let go, gazing at her. Sorrow seeped back into her voice: "Sister… are you leaving me too? You promised to stay with me… What happened? Why are you doing this?"

Nangong Ruihui’s voice trembled despite her efforts—soft, choked sobs barely held back.

Unspoken reluctance. Unvoiced gratitude. Locked deep inside. Then parting arrived, quiet as a shadowed dream.

Dark clouds rolled in. The clear morning sky vanished. Rain poured down—as if even the heavens couldn’t bear to watch.

Nangong Ruihui opened her azure Totoro-patterned umbrella, holding it firmly over Long Xue’er.

"Hehehe… I’m leaving now," she said.

Who? Who’s leaving?

"Xue’er, being your friend was my greatest honor~"

Why… why?

"Promise me—you’ll live happily ever after!"

No. I don’t want this!

"Hehehe~ Goodbye~"

Wait! Don’t leave me!

Hey! Don’t abandon me alone! Aaaaaah!

The scene replayed before my eyes like a flickering projector…

No!

Don’t!

This isn’t real. Sister would never leave me!

"Xue’er? Xue’er?"

Sister—no, Nangong Ruihui—was calling me. I snapped back.

Rain dampened her beautiful hair. She looked at me with tender eyes, reflecting only my face and glistening tears.

"Ruihui… please don’t go. Okay?"

It was the first time I’d used her given name. Surprise flickered across her face. "Xue’er’s getting bolder~ But I’m happy." She dodged the question—cherishing every last second.

"Don’t." I whispered again.

She stroked my head, then kissed my lips—a gentle, comforting warmth.

"Xue’er, the butler’s car is here. Ruihui has to go. I love you… it’s always been you~"

She hid the reason, but I felt it—this time, she might vanish forever.

Cold sweat broke out.

I clung to her. Time mocked me—the car already waited at the gate.

A horn honked. She smiled softly. "Xue’er, let go. Ruihui really must leave."

She was crying. Letting rain wash her face… to hide the tears?

I held tighter, silent.

"Xue’er, release me. Ruihui has something to show you."

I let go—blind to the lie.

Just as feared, she pushed me away and ran. I froze. Stood dumb. Didn’t chase.

By the time I moved, the car sped off—too fast. Too far.

"Nangong Ruihui! Come back! Aaaaaah!"

I screamed, sprinting with all I had. Useless. I couldn’t catch up.

My heart sank into despair. I chased that uncatchable four-wheeled car. *Who invented cars? So cruel… If I knew, I’d curse them!*

Is it over? Is everything over?

Then—a miracle.

The stretched Lincoln halted. The door opened. She ran to me. Joy flooded me—I was the happiest person alive.

"Xue’er, Ruihui isn’t leaving. Ruihui will stay with you forever. Okay?"

She embraced me. Warmth. Soft pressure. Real. *This is real.*

Later, I learned she’d told her parents: "I’ll obey… but my heart is dead now. You’ll only get a daughter who never smiles. Are you satisfied?"

I kissed her. I love her. She loves me.

Campus cherry blossoms bloomed beautifully—but none compared to her.

"Oh my~ Falling for a cute boy really is wonderful~" Long Yue murmured, watching with a self-satisfied smile.

…Elsewhere

"It’s that pendant, you silly child."

But Long Yue would never tell Long Xue’er. Let the pendant remain her sweetest catalyst. After all, fairy tales are beautiful *because* they aren’t real.

Years ago, the cherry tree Long Yue transplanted to Yingshengya Academy refused to bloom. Just as she nearly gave up—it blossomed in mid-March. Pink petals, star-dusted stamens adorned every corner of campus… as if blooming solely for Long Xue’er. Miraculous.

Spring break began today. As students left, Long Xue’er sat alone beneath the sakura tree, knees hugged, head bowed—a quiet picture of sorrow.

From the principal’s office doorway, Long Yue sighed. "Sigh… What will become of this child? To suffer this… so cruel."

Beside her sat a small box. Inside: the tiny turtles Nangong Ruihui once bought her. They’d grown, lively and well-kept. Once, Zhou Yuan tried teasing them—only to be chased off by Long Xue’er’s tiny pink fists. How could Zhou Yuan grasp their meaning?

To Long Xue’er, they held every memory of Ruihui. On lonely days, she’d watch them—imagining laughter, play, togetherness.

Zhou Yuan, rough as she was, could never understand such delicate longing.

But Long Xue’er believed: Xia Xi and Mu Yan would stay close too.

Even… *even if someone leaves for a while—it won’t be forever.* She held that truth tight.

Maybe… just walking hand in hand with the most important person is enough…