Cherishing You As Always - Chapter 1

Have you ever thought that one day, you might find someone to grow old with?

As for me—I never have.

When I’ve nothing to do, I sit up in the tree, swinging my legs, flipping idly through a book in my hand. Down below, the teacher shouts,
“Song Lanlou! Get down here and bring me back my book!”

I glance at the words on the page, lower my head, and smile down at him.
“Hey, old fossil! What’s so interesting about this? Love and romance, all this sentimental nonsense. At your age, are you still reading this kind of stuff?”

The teacher’s cheeks turn red with anger, and more and more students gather around. Seeing the crowd staring at me perched in the tree, I instantly scowl and shout,
“What are you looking at? Never seen anyone climb a tree before? Get lost, all of you!”

I hurl the book in my hand like a weapon. The crowd scatters immediately. Well, what can they do? I’m the little tyrant of this academy. Whoever dares cross me—I’ll make their life miserable!

The teacher clutches his precious book to his chest and roars at me, his beard trembling,
“Song Lanlou! You have no respect for your elders! You’ve mocked me again and again. Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell your father?”

I chuckle, pull a funny face at him, and squint as I tease,
“Teacher, don’t be so mad. If you keep getting this angry, you’ll keel over soon.”

Sliding down the trunk, I smooth my clothes and saunter over, patting him lightly on the shoulder in mock friendliness.
“Oh, and Teacher, I forgot to mention—my father’s not at home these days.”

With that, I swagger off in high spirits, laughing loudly.

No doubt he’s fuming behind me, probably stamping his feet in rage. I can just picture the expression on his face—ha!

Ever since I was young, I’ve hated poetry and books. But my family forced me into the academy.

It’s not a small school. There are both boys and girls here—unlike other private schools, which only admit boys. Here, as long as you want to learn and your family has money, anyone can enroll.

Naturally, I don’t want to stay in this place. Still, the academy can be amusing—if nothing else, I get to mess around with the teachers.

But after teasing the teacher, if I stroll through the streets, I’ll only have to face my father’s scolding when I get back. Not something I’m ever keen on!

But today… my father is away on a trip.

“When the tiger is away, the monkey rules the mountain.”

With Father gone, isn’t this world mine to command?

Synopsis:

To meet is fate. To stay together is destiny. Write down one bond, tell one grievance.

Who can truly understand the taste of it? From meeting to staying together—the path is unbearably hard.

How long does it take to love someone? How long does it take to forget someone?

When the one you love most becomes your sister-in-law,
When the brother dearest to you turns against you…

When everything has long slipped beyond your control,
How is this bond meant to continue?

Does caring for someone require an excuse?
Does waiting for someone require a reason?

One misstep, and she becomes another man’s wife.
Through cycles of reincarnation, all is only for you.

When life and death are placed before you,
When fate across three lifetimes has already run its course—

How could I ever bear to forget you,
and wander the ends of the world without you?