Don't Say You're Heartless (Modern Edition)

112 Leaving the Mountain

"Could it be that we jumped to conclusions? Maybe Yang Qiu was always mad, and no one is trying to harm her?" Shen Qiuhua asked Yang Qiong on their way back.

"I don't know anymore. It's possible. Maybe we found the situation suspicious and started seeing everything connected to it as asuspicious too." Yang Qiong looked up at the scorching sun and sighed. "Even if that's not the case, Yang Qiu is still a victim... but what can we do?"

There are always things in life that are unfair. They weren't saviors, and even if they encountered such situations, it didn't mean they could help. It was frustrating, but it was the truth.

Even in their past lives, Shen Qiuhua, once the beloved Consort Kang, couldn't save everyone. Qianling's regrets weren't just Yang Qiong's, but Consort Kang's as well.

When they returned to the Yang family house, both of them felt a bit heavy-hearted. Whether Yang Qiu had been harmed or not, she had gone mad regardless. She was so young, so beautiful—it was truly a pity.

"I'm planning to leave with you tomorrow," Yang Qiong said.

"And what about Yang Qiu..." Shen Qiuhua sighed. "Are you afraid? Afraid something might happen to me?"

"I can protect you. But I don't want to take risks. Qiuhua, I can't save Yang Qiu, and I regret that. There are many things in the village I no longer understand, and I just want to get you out of here as soon as possible. You might think I'm being irresponsible toward Yang Qiu, but I'm just an ordinary person. All I want is for you to be safe." Yang Qiong felt helpless about Yang Qiu's situation, but that very helplessness made her determined to get Shen Qiuhua out quickly.

"I understand, because I want to leave just as much as you do. We've both become softer because we care more about each other." She wrapped her arms around Yang Qiong's neck.

"Auntie! Aunt Shen! Dinner's ready!" Erhong suddenly burst in. The two of them quickly separated, looking a bit embarrassed.

"Mom, Dad, Qiuhua, and I plan to head back tomorrow," Yang Qiong informed her parents after dinner.

Her father replied, "Then go to bed early tonight. You'll have a long trek on the mountain road tomorrow."

Yang Qiong nodded and went back to her room. She didn't know what she was hoping for—perhaps that her parents would ask her to stay a few more days, even just one word would do... but in the end, there was nothing.

Back in her room, Yang Qiong pulled herself together. Hadn't she long since grown used to this? Why feel sad? Now that she had Qiuhua by her side, nothing else could shake her.

"All done?" Shen Qiuhua was helping Erhong with her homework under the lamp.

Yang Qiong nodded and sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Thank goodness for you."

"I'll always be by your side."

Erhong looked up at them exchanging affectionate glances and couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

The next morning, they packed up, had breakfast, and started their journey back. Yang Qiong's second brother and Erhong were the ones to see them off. Besides sharing a meal on the first day, none of her other siblings or their spouses made an appearance. Her parents, busy with work, didn't come to say goodbye either.

"Be careful on the road," her second brother said, offering no other words of parting. Erhong, having grown attached to the two over the past few days, hugged Shen Qiuhua and said, "Aunt Shen, when are you coming back? I'll miss you."

Yang Qiong flicked her on the forehead. "What about me? You won't miss me?"

Erhong rubbed her forehead, scrunching her nose. "If Aunt Shen comes, won't you come too? I never said I wouldn't miss you."