After Breaking the Ice-Beauty's Heart - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Everything about Song Yuli, She Didn’t Even Have The Right To Fantasize About.

Leading up to the Dragon Boat Festival, Zhou Nianzhi was saving every last penny, using her cup for water instead of buying a bottle, and bargaining for every price she could.

Her mom had been stable during these days, so Zhou Nianzhi was able to focus on her work, earning as much money as possible to rely less on her uncle.

Even though her uncle was her mom’s biological brother, Zhou Nianzhi no longer trusted any of her relatives. Because of that, using anyone else’s money made her extremely uneasy.

She worked hard, day and night, thinking that if she just pushed a little more, she could see her mom recover. She could meet her friends who she had been separated from for years. And she could… with Song Yuli…

Forget it.

Everything about Song Yuli, she didn’t even have the right to fantasize about.

She thought her hardships were about to end, that her life would eventually bloom.

That was until a downpour of fate came, destroying everything and extinguishing all her enthusiasm for chasing hope.

It was on her way to the hospital that Zhou Nianzhi realized—

Fate had never intended to be kind to her.

As she rushed to the hospital, Lin An happened to call, saying that both she and Qin Yunyun had a last-minute emergency and were afraid they wouldn’t be able to make it.

Zhou Nianzhi arrived at her mom’s bedside and could only squat on the floor, feeling helpless, gripping Sheng Ning’s hand tightly and refusing to let go.

She didn’t dare to close her eyes and stayed right by her side.

“How did it get worse…” Zhou Nianzhi’s voice was hoarse. Her swollen and aching eyes had no more tears to shed, and her voice was filled with a weak fragility.

“Zhizhi, I really want to see your dad,” Sheng Ning said with a bitter smile.

Zhou Nianzhi’s body trembled uncontrollably, and her heart ached with a sharp pain. Every inch of her skin felt like it was being pricked with needles, and her throat was so sore that she couldn’t say anything but a continuous, “Mom, Mom…”

Mom, can you hold on just a little longer?

“What are you thinking? I’m fine, just a little worse, don’t be afraid, sweetie…” Sheng Ning patted Zhou Nianzhi’s head softly and said with a smile, “Since you’re here, can you do something for me?”

Zhou Nianzhi nodded heavily.

Sheng Ning turned her head and looked out the window as if seeing an old friend. “I’ve been dreaming of Chenggang a lot lately. I really miss him. I want to look at our wedding photo from that year again…”

“Ever since we came here… no one has gone to see Chenggang… Is he too lonely by himself…” Sheng Ning’s voice grew quieter, and her words held a hint of guilt. “It’s all my fault for being too timid, that I could only choose to leave…”

“Mom, it’s not your fault,” Zhou Nianzhi comforted her. “That person was evil. You weren’t timid.”

Zhou Nianzhi was convinced that she could never, ever blame herself for an evil person’s wrongdoings.

Sheng Ning turned her head again to look at her daughter in front of her and said, “Zhizhi has grown up…”

Wasn’t she just a few days ago wearing a school uniform, staying up late to finish homework, and eating snacks? How did she grow so big all of a sudden and even become someone who could comfort her?

Oh, time.

It had turned her cute and lively little daughter into a cute and mature big daughter.

But no matter what, Zhizhi would always be her daughter.

Forever cute.

“So, what do you want me to do?” Zhou Nianzhi asked.

Sheng Ning said, “Go back to our old home and help me find our wedding photo from that year…”

Zhou Nianzhi gasped in surprise.

“It’s too much trouble, isn’t it?” Sheng Ning sounded a bit disappointed. “Maybe we shouldn’t bother…”

Zhou Nianzhi heard the disappointment in her mom’s voice and quickly waved her hands. “I didn’t mean that. I’m just afraid that if I leave, no one will come to see you. What if…”

“Even if there is a ‘what if,’ isn’t your uncle here? Oh, and your uncle just said that that person is away for work, not at home…” Every word Sheng Ning spoke was followed by several coughs. After a strenuous gasp for air, she continued, “You should go now. Just come back as soon as you can…”

Seeing that Sheng Ning was becoming weaker and needed to rest, Zhou Nianzhi didn’t dare to say anything more and agreed.

On her way out of the hospital, she remembered Sheng Ning’s nightly whispers in her sleep—

“Chenggang, don’t drive that car…”

“Chenggang, come back quickly—”

“Chenggang… why did you leave…”

She knew her mom loved her dad very much. Even before she was hospitalized, her mom would often wake up in the middle of the night looking for Chenggang.

Her mom often complained to herself that she had left in such a hurry that she hadn’t taken many important things. She hadn’t even taken her favorite wedding photo. Her phone had been broken, so she had to get a new one and could no longer find the old photos.

Her mom pretended to be fine on the surface, but she would secretly cry late at night.

Because even the only way she could see Chenggang was almost gone.

When Zhou Nianzhi found out, she felt a pang of regret. Why hadn’t she rushed back and taken one of her parents’ wedding photos?

She had thought that because of her illness, her mom had slowly forgotten about it.

But how could a love filled with regret be easily forgotten when it was so deeply ingrained in her heart?

So, Zhou Nianzhi had to fulfill her mom’s wish.

No matter what kind of demon it was, she wasn’t afraid anymore.

It was already afternoon when she walked out of the hospital. She had missed her part-time job at the bubble tea shop. Zhou Nianzhi pursed her lips and, with some trepidation, sent a message to the manager, asking for two days off.

The manager called her directly. “This is a busy time, and you want to leave. I’ll see if I can find a new person these two days. If I do, you don’t have to come back.”

Zhou Nianzhi replied flatly, “Okay.”

Well, no need to be so anxious anymore.

I guess I’ll just get fired.

She couldn’t afford to worry about her part-time job at the bubble tea shop. She also called the supermarket owner. Because she had worked there for a long time and the owner knew she was a hard worker who was good at sales, he granted her two days off.

Okay, the leave is settled.

Now, I need to go back home immediately.

Zhou Nianzhi sat in a shady spot near the hospital and opened a ticketing app. She looked at all the tickets for today and tomorrow, but they were all marked with a cold “Sold out.” It had been a long time since she had traveled far, and she had almost forgotten that she needed to buy tickets in advance.

She hesitantly clicked on the “waitlist” button, feeling the hope was slim. It was almost a holiday, and even tickets were hard to buy.

Zhou Nianzhi sighed, remembering her old self. Back then, she only had to worry about not getting concert tickets. Her school was close to home, and a one-hour bus ride would get her there. If she had a lot of luggage, all she had to do was make a phone call, and her dad would come to pick her up.

No one would be coming to pick her up anymore.

Zhou Nianzhi walked back dejectedly, her mind racing with thoughts on how to get home. If she took the bus from here, not only would she not be able to get a ticket for today, but the distance was so far that it would take an entire day.

She, who used to get carsick after a one-hour bus ride, would now have to take a bus for a whole day.

Because she wasn’t paying attention to the road, a distracted Zhou Nianzhi accidentally bumped into someone.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Zhou Nianzhi instinctively kept apologizing, but she didn’t hear a reply. The person in front of her didn’t move away, and she felt that something was wrong. She looked up.

It was Song Yuli again.

Song Yuli didn’t move. She met Zhou Nianzhi’s gaze and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing…” Zhou Nianzhi didn’t want to talk about her troubles with the tickets. She moved to the side and continued walking.

After taking two steps, Zhou Nianzhi stopped again.

Her mom’s matter was more important.

She turned her head, swallowed, and asked Song Yuli, “Do you know how to get home quickly?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Zhou Nianzhi regretted them. To get home, it was either by plane, high-speed rail, or bus. If she wanted to get there quickly, was she supposed to turn into a package and be sent back by express delivery?

“I also happen to be going back today,” Song Yuli said with almost no hesitation. “You’re going back, too?”

Zhou Nianzhi was so excited she almost jumped up, nodding her head repeatedly, her face unable to contain her surprise.

Song Yuli seemed to be thinking, her gaze still on Zhou Nianzhi. She said slowly, “There might not be enough room.”

A bucket of ice water was poured over Zhou Nianzhi’s head. The joy in her eyes disappeared instantly. She thought that Song Yuli must be taking her friends or… her lover back home. She lowered her eyes, unconsciously clutched the corner of her clothes, and said in a muffled voice, “Then forget it.”

Zhou Nianzhi thought she heard a laugh.

The sound was so soft that she assumed she had misheard.

“Because I’m riding my bike home.”

Song Yuli’s voice slowly drifted into Zhou Nianzhi’s ears, once again bringing back a memory.

When she first started university, Zhou Nianzhi bought a bicycle. She was so excited after watching a video of someone cycling that she thought she could ride her bike home, too. She could exercise and save money. But halfway through the ride, she realized she had gone in the wrong direction and ended up in a desolate area. Her body gave out, and she was so scared that she cried and called Song Yuli to come and find her.

Not only did she not save any money, but the round-trip taxi fare was several times more expensive than the bus ticket.

Her body was also exhausted from the exercise. She had been so excited to go home for the holiday, but after a day of cycling, her legs were so sore and weak that she could barely walk.

Zhou Nianzhi’s worries were blown away by the wind. She said, feigning anger, “Are you messing with me?”

Song Yuli didn’t deny it.

Zhou Nianzhi looked at the time. It was getting late, and she didn’t want to waste another moment. She looked up at Song Yuli and asked in a slightly serious tone, “Are you really going back? Answer me truthfully.”

Song Yuli nodded and replied, “I’m going back to see my grandma.”

“Will there be room?” Zhou Nianzhi asked anxiously, the image of Song Yuli and the other girl at the market flashing in her mind.

“It’s a four-wheeled vehicle. There will be room,” Song Yuli replied. After meeting Zhou Nianzhi’s gaze for a few seconds, she raised an eyebrow and added, “There’s no one else. Just you and me.”

“Well…” Zhou Nianzhi stopped herself from speaking. It was better not to concern herself with Song Yuli’s business.

Coincidentally, Song Yuli had guessed Zhou Nianzhi’s thoughts again, and she explained as if she were talking to herself, “That girl at the market ran after me to return the money because I overpaid.”

Zhou Nianzhi felt the same embarrassment of being read again. She muttered, “Who cares about that… and you’re really generous.”

Song Yuli said, “I guess so. I’m also giving someone a ride home.”

Zhou Nianzhi fell silent. She could only think to herself that Song Yuli had really changed, she had changed too much. She couldn’t even win an argument against her anymore.

But since Zhou Nianzhi was asking for a favor, she had to swallow her pride, keep smiling, and say pleasantly, “What time are you leaving, exactly?”

Song Yuli replied, “You go back and get ready. Wait for me for an hour.”

“Okay!” Zhou Nianzhi nodded her head like a pecking chick. “Thank you so much. I’ll pay for half the travel expenses.”

Song Yuli simply said, “Mhm,” without changing her expression and continued walking in the other direction.

Zhou Nianzhi watched Song Yuli’s back and then turned to run back quickly. She passed a convenience store, where she bought some snacks and instant noodles. After arriving home, she found a small bag, grabbed her ID, and packed a few important things. Then, she watched the clock quietly, waiting for the remaining time to pass.

She was so happy, her mind filled with how lucky she was. She had just happened to run into Song Yuli going home and wouldn’t have to wait for a waitlisted ticket.

In reality, there are two kinds of luck in this world.

One is a lucky break from heaven, and the other is a lucky break created by someone.

Zhou Nianzhi didn’t know that the “luck” she thought she had this time was the second kind.