Only after everyone had left did Lu Jiayu dare to approach Sang Yu’s grave.
The girl in the black-and-white photo looked aloof, her gaze indifferent and cold.
This photo was taken when Sang Yu was selected as an outstanding young teacher. That day, Lu Jiayu was out of town, and only Shen Yiqiu had gone to give her flowers.
Lu Jiayu placed a bouquet of roses before the tombstone, carefully tracing the contours of Sang Yu’s eyes and brows.
He wanted to remember every expression, every look of hers.
“Xiao Yu, the roses at home haven’t bloomed yet. These are the ones I picked from the flower shop. They’re not as beautiful as the ones you grew, but please don’t dislike them.”
“When the flowers at home bloom, I’ll bring you a bouquet every day.”
“I’ll take good care of your parents. If they don’t want me to appear before them, then I won’t.”
“I’ll buy a house near them and keep them company from afar. What do you think?”
Sang Yu turned her gaze away. It was nothing more than self-indulgent sentimentality.
Qiuqiu would take good care of her parents; there was no need for Lu Jiayu to worry.
Otherwise, one day he might find his true love again, and her parents would become obstacles once more.
Let it be.
Part ways and find joy separately.
Lu Jiayu rambled on before Sang Yu’s grave, reminiscing about everything they had experienced together since childhood.
Sang Yu’s parents were middle school teachers, and so were Lu Jiayu’s.
The two of them had known each other since they were in the womb.
Twenty-five years—it was too long.
They had so many memories, yet now only he remained as the protagonist of the story.
A sense of loneliness washed over him.
Lu Jiayu felt that life now was truly meaningless.
He missed Sang Yu.
He missed her like a madman.
“We were supposed to get married in just one more month. No, not even a month—only twenty-five days left.”
“At this time, we should have been choosing wedding dresses, buying rings, and preparing wedding candies.”
Hearing Lu Jiayu say so much, Sang Yu couldn’t help but reply, “You already chose to break up. The wedding no longer exists. If I hadn’t met with an accident, would you feel so guilty? No, you wouldn’t.”
“You would only feel relieved, finally free from the shackles that bound you. You could finally be with Ye Fei.”
“No need to exhaust yourself deceiving me, no need to bear the condemnation of your conscience anymore.”
Lu Jiayu continued on his own, “Didn’t you say you wanted to go somewhere with the sea for our honeymoon? How about Tahiti? I’ll plan everything before we go. I know you hate these trivial things the most.”
“Don’t you think it’s ridiculous to say these things now?”
“Then we’ll have two children. Whether they’re boys or girls, I’ll love them as long as they’re yours. I’ll work hard to be a good husband and a good father.”
“You will have your own children, but they have nothing to do with me.”
“If you don’t want to have children, that’s fine too. We can be in love for a lifetime, living in a world of just the two of us.”
“Lu Jiayu, wake up! All of this is gone! Gone!”
“…”
Even as he described the most beautiful future, Lu Jiayu couldn’t help but redden his eyes.
The little finger wearing the plain ring trembled slightly.
So, Xiao Yu had truly been by his side all along.
Never leaving.
“Xiao Yu, if I come to find you now, will you forgive me?” Lu Jiayu’s eyes held hope, longing for a positive answer.
“No, don’t come looking for me. I don’t want to see you again.”
“Xiao Yu, I love you.”
“Sorry, I don’t love you anymore.”
At this moment, Lu Jiayu’s world completely lost its color; he could no longer deceive himself.
He had forever lost Sang Yu’s love.