(Foreword)

The deepest face full of darkness, hidden behind the chaos, under the mask of a man.

(Text)

January 5, 2025 at 15:52

I ordered a cup of coffee, and Li Rena ordered a cappuccino. She bowed her head and said nothing, just slowly stirred the coffee vigorously with a small coffee spoon.

How has she been doing in the past few years? Is the matter of Jack and Nanny Zhang still lingering in her heart, and is she still fighting against Yitzhak to this day...... There were so many questions I wanted to ask, but I swallowed them back when they came to my lips. I was afraid to touch her heart, but I wanted to know if she was happy now.

In the end, a thousand words were collected into just one sentence: "Look, the sun outside is just right." ”

"yes, the sun outside, just right." She smiled comfortably, as if she hadn't seen the sun shining in a long time, and looked up at the window.

"Actually, I've always missed you...... You just don't know how to face all this, after all, things are wrong, and there are many things that many people can't go back to. When Li Ruina said this, the sadness in her eyes flashed. I knew that for her, the past was still in front of her, like a dark fog that was difficult to get out of easily.

"Oh, actually, everyone misses you a lot, but I don't know how to contact you, and I can't contact you."

"Everyone, everyone has already flown apart, right? You're the only one left here, so what about you? Have you missed me? When Li Ruina said this, she stared straight into my eyes, and there was a fiery fire in her eyes, as if she was expecting something.

In fact, I vaguely sensed her thoughts, but I couldn't respond to her, so I deliberately opened the topic: "Eh, by the way, do you know, even Hu Zaide has been promoted to a professor, and this world has really changed a lot." ”

"Really? Even he can be promoted to professor like that? It seems that there is really no one at HKUST. Li Ruina shook her head helplessly, took a sip of coffee.

"Yes, I didn't expect Hu Zaide to be promoted to professor, but he saved me a few days ago, and I should visit him out of gratitude and greet him."

"Well, I haven't seen him for a long time, otherwise, I'll go with you, right?" From her words, it seemed that she really wanted to go with me to visit Hu Zaide.

"Okay, anyway, Hu Zaide shouldn't have seen you for a long time, so it's good for you to visit him with me."

"Hmm." Li Ruina smiled and nodded, and took a large sip of cappuccino.

January 5, 2025 at 16:23

After coming out of the café, Li Ruina and I each picked out some condolences for Hu Zaide and carried them to Hu Zaide's home.

Although I had never been to Hu Zaide's house once, during the period of doing chores for Professor Meng, I had a very good relationship with the Academic Affairs Office, so I easily asked for Hu Zaide's address from them.

Speaking of Hu Zaide's home, it really made me a little afraid to compliment, and even a little scalp tingling. I never thought that Hu Zaide, who usually seems timid and can't even speak clearly, would actually live in such a small duplex building that is deserted and only a few hundred meters away from the goal.

I looked around, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and then pressed the doorbell of Hu Zaide's house.

"Come on...... Who is coming...... Who is it. Hu Zaide hurriedly ran out, pushed open the door, and stared at us with two big eyes.

"Oh, it turned out to be ...... It's you. You...... How do you ...... What's the pull? Hu Zaide looked at us suspiciously.

"Professor Hu, you were injured for me last time, and I came to visit you this time." I smiled and brought the condolences to Hu Zaide, and Li Ruina also greeted Hu Zaide politely.

"That's right, then you ...... You guys...... Please come in. "Hu Zaidra opened the gate and welcomed us in.

"You...... Sit with me...... I'm ...... You're welcome, I'll go...... I'll go...... To you...... Infuse...... Tea. Hu Zaide stammered, turned and walked to the kitchen.

In a few moments, he came from the kitchen, tea sets in both hands, one of which was still tied with gauze.

Seeing this, I hurriedly stepped forward and tried to take the tea set from Hu Zaide's hand.

"No...... No need...... Cheng Yin, this is ...... This little thing, I ...... I can do it. ”

"Professor Hu, I'll do these things."

I pumped hard, although I pulled the whole tea set, but I also used too much force, and a few drops of hot water in the teapot spilled on Li Ruina's hands.

"Ah!!h Li Ruina hugged her arms in pain, and her face suddenly turned pale.

"Are you alright?! Li Ruina! ”

I hurriedly put down the tea set, and just wanted to roll up my sleeves for her, but she directly refused: "Cheng Yin, how can a girl's arm be looked at casually by you?" Isn't it just a few drops of hot water? I'm not that squeamish yet. Li Ruina squeezed out a smile vigorously.

But there was a trace of doubt in my heart: she hadn't worn a sleeveless dress before, why did she say something like "how can a girl's arm be seen casually by you" this time. And the cry in front of her didn't sound as simple as being splashed with a few drops of hot water.

I sat down slowly, and Professor Hu lifted the teapot and poured three cups of tea into the teacup, two cups were brought to us and one cup was placed in front of him.

I took a sip of it, but Li Rena politely declined.

"This ...... This tea ...... Very good, I ...... I soaked a ...... Not at all...... Not hot. ”

Hu Zaide raised the teacup and took a sip as he spoke, Li Ruina glanced at Hu Zaide but still refused.

He put the refreshments he had just opened in front of us, and warmly advised, "Come...... You...... You're welcome, eat...... Eat it. ”

Professor Hu said, pushing the refreshments a little more. I took a piece, but Li Ruina still politely refused.

"Professor Hu, are you the only one living in this duplex house? What about your wife and children? "I took a cursory glance at Hu Zaide's home, and I barely noticed any trace of anyone else's life.

"I ...... I didn't...... No wife...... and children. Hu replied.

"No wife and children? Are you not going to get married? Or don't have someone you like? ”

Hu Zaide suddenly fell silent, and after a pause for a few seconds, he slowly said, "No...... It's her...... She died, suffering from a depressive episode, out of ...... Died in a car accident. ”

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