Shen Jingyao was in complete disarray. All she wanted to know was whether Zhou Muyan had also traveled through time like she had.
Her parents had passed away when she was very young, after which her father’s friend took her in and raised her.
That was also Zhou Muyan’s home. The two of them had grown up together since childhood, inseparable as close companions.
Zhou Muyan treated her exceptionally well. Whatever she needed in life, he would prepare it for her in advance.
Her daily necessities—clothing, food, shelter, and transportation—all relied on him. In private, his friends would tease him, saying he was raising his own little wife.
He would simply smile faintly and say he only saw Shen Jingyao as a younger sister. But later…
When their feelings first blossomed, they fell in love with each other, convinced that the other was their future partner.
They both tested into the same university, and that summer, Uncle Zhou and Aunt Li held an engagement ceremony for them.
In the eyes of their relatives and friends, they were a perfect golden couple, destined to marry after graduating from university.
During their third year of college, Shen Jingyao wanted to open her own shopping mall, and Zhou Muyan gave her the money he had earned from his part-time jobs.
He said it was part of the betrothal gifts, and he would supplement the rest when they got married.
But no one expected that a car accident would now separate them forever.
Could it be that they would never see each other again in this lifetime?
At this thought, Shen Jingyao couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with sorrow, tears of grief streaming from the corners of her eyes.
Zhao Yunxiu returned to the room carrying a lunchbox and saw her daughter’s tear-streaked face. She reached out to wipe the tears away.
With deep concern, she asked, “What’s wrong, Yaoyao? Are you still feeling unwell? Does your head hurt?”
Shen Jingyao suppressed her emotions and forced a weak smile. “Mom, I’m fine. I just feel a little dizzy.”
She was surprised at how naturally the word “Mom” had slipped out. It had been many years since she had used that term.
Even with Zhou Muyan’s parents, she addressed them as Uncle and Aunt.
“It’s good that you’re fine. Let me help you sit up.” Zhao Yunxiu supported her as she sat up, placing a pillow behind her back for support.
Zhao Yunxiu opened the lunchbox, scooped up some porridge with a spoon, blew on it gently, and said tenderly, “Here, this is freshly made millet porridge from the cafeteria. It’s very nourishing. Have some more.”
Shen Jingyao indeed felt hungry and opened her mouth to eat the porridge.
Seeing that her daughter could eat, Zhao Yunxiu felt relieved and continued feeding her eagerly.
After finishing most of the millet porridge, Shen Jingyao felt her strength returning slightly, and her stomach felt much more comfortable.
“I’m full. I don’t want any more,” Shen Jingyao said, raising her hand to stop Mother Shen from offering another spoonful.
“Alright, no more then,” Mother Shen said, putting down the lunchbox and taking out a handkerchief she carried with her. She gently wiped Shen Jingyao’s mouth.
Shen Jingyao stared intently at Mother Shen with her clear, bright eyes.
In her, she saw the shadow of her own mother.
She thought that if her mother hadn’t passed away, she would have taken care of her like this when she was sick.
After wiping her mouth, Mother Shen helped her lie down again and gently touched her cheek. “Yaoyao, get some more rest. Don’t worry about anything. Your father and I will handle everything else.”
“Okay,” Shen Jingyao replied obediently, lying down and closing her eyes.
She thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but to her surprise, she fell asleep quickly.
Hearing her even breathing, Mother Shen quietly tiptoed out of the hospital room.
After going downstairs to call Shen Guorong, she remembered he had been promoted to director, so his office was now equipped with a telephone.
“Hello, Guorong. Yaoyao has woken up.”
“The doctor just came by and said everything’s fine. She had some porridge and has gone back to sleep now.”
“Don’t worry about work, I’ll take good care of her.”
“Alright.”
After hanging up, Mother Su checked her watch. It was still early, and Yaoyao was sleeping.
She decided to go to the meat processing plant to see if she could buy some meat to nourish Yaoyao. She had already put the meat ration coupons in her pocket last night.
After informing the nurses’ station and asking them to keep an eye on things, she went out.
Upstairs, Shen Jingyao wasn’t sleeping peacefully—she was dreaming.
She dreamed she had returned to the day of the shopping mall’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, but unlike that day when it was packed with people, this time she stood alone in the empty mall wearing her patient gown. There were no staff, no customers, no friends.
Only cold storefronts, merchandise, decorations, and the still-operating escalators remained.
Suddenly, she spotted a familiar figure at the entrance. With a hint of uncertainty, she called out, “A Yan, is that you?”
As she approached, she saw Zhou Muyan still wearing that custom-tailored suit, his face adorned with the smile she knew so well.
His voice was gentle as he waved to her, “Yaoyao, come quickly. I’ve been looking for you.”
Shen Jingyao’s eyes shone with wild joy. She had known all along that A Yan couldn’t bear to leave her.
She rushed toward him in large strides, “A Yan, wait for me!”
But when she threw herself into his embrace, she discovered he was merely an illusion.
Shen Jingyao stared in disbelief at her own hands—she had just passed right through A Yan’s body.
At that moment, she realized everything had been false.
Tears welled up in her beautiful eyes and spilled over. She sat on the ground and wept bitterly.
An overwhelming aura of sorrow and loneliness emanated from her, as if she had been abandoned by the entire world.
When she finally cried herself out, a sigh echoed through the air, “Ah!”
Shen Jingyao immediately went on alert, looking around with a trembling voice, “Who’s there? Show yourself.”
The ethereal voice grew increasingly distant, “Go find him. You will meet again. Consider this place compensation for you both.”
With those words, the voice faded away.
Shen Jingyao jolted awake from her dream with a gasp, “Ah!”
The nurse outside heard her and hurried in, “Comrade Shen, are you alright?”
Shen Jingyao took two deep breaths to calm herself and shook her head, “I’m fine. I just had a nightmare.”
The nurse nodded understandingly, “Alright then, rest for a while.”
“Ms. Zhao has stepped out. She said she’ll be back soon.”
“Okay, thank you.” Only then did Shen Jingyao notice her mother Zhao Yunxiu wasn’t in the room.
“You’re welcome. Serving the people.” Seeing she was fine, the nurse turned and left.
Alone in the room, Shen Jingyao sat on the bed pondering the meaning of that voice.
What did it mean to go find him? Where should she go? And what was this compensation about?
Suddenly, an astonishing light dawned in Shen Jingyao’s eyes as she thought of a possibility she needed to verify.
She threw off the covers, got out of bed, and left the room. Meeting a nurse in the hallway, she asked, “Excuse me, could you tell me where the restroom is?”
Dressed in her patient gown with her dark, lustrous hair cascading over her shoulders, Shen Jingyao’s face appeared even more delicate and exquisite.
A pair of large, dewy eyes stared intently at the nurse.
The nurse glanced at her twice, snapped back to reality, and pointed ahead, “At the end of this corridor.”
“Alright, thank you.”
Shen Jingyao walked toward the end of the corridor, leaving the nurse standing in place watching her retreating figure and murmuring softly, “So beautiful.”