Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
She had planted this tree many years ago, when she was still a beautiful young lady. She had once thought that that place would be her home forever. The dream house she had in mind had a cypress tree planted in front of it, a cypress tree that would never grow old and protect the place forever.
It had happened many years ago, and she had forgotten everything except that place, that courtyard, and…
A man.
His name was Mo Shitian. She seemed to have a good relationship with him, judging from the pieces of memories she remembered. In her memory, she saw scenes of him watering the plant while she planted it, him holding an umbrella for her when it was raining, him practicing sword while she practiced boxing, and the moments she had behaved coquettishly in front of him.
The girl in her blurry memories looked like her, but she wasn’t sure. In her memory, she had never smiled or had any facial expressions. However, in front of that man, she could smile, shout, throw a temper, behave coquettishly and shamelessly, quarrel…
Memories that were strange yet familiar rushed through her mind.
It was the only memory she remembered amongst the other sealed memories. Perhaps, that was one of the rare times she had truly felt happy. Hence, it was an unforgettable memory that had lodged in her heart deeply.
She stood hesitantly in front of the courtyard. ‘Is there anyone inside?’
“Ruyu, if we are separated someday, don’t forget the way back home. I’ll always be waiting for you here.”
Someone’s words rang in her ears. In his harsh tone, such tender words and such burdensome love seemed so weird but familiar. ‘Is he still waiting for me here?’
What exactly happened all these years?
She pushed the door open. It was strange that the door wasn’t locked. It could be opened easily.
The exterior of the courtyard looked elegant but small, but it was actually big inside. It was full of Camellias with all kinds of colors—pink, white, yellow…
They were planted all over the yard beautifully, leaving a cobblestone path in the middle, which led to a room…
Her expressionless eyes were full of surprises.
It was her favorite flower.
What a beautiful courtyard.
The fragrance of flowers lingered in her heart.
She walked slowly along the path. The blue and white two-story villa with an ancient Greek style was exceptionally unique and elegant, surrounded by the Camellias. There were two incense towers hanging on the back porch, but they hadn’t been lit. There seemed to be words on it.
‘Su Ruyu, Mo Shitian’
She frowned and exerted force on her fingertips suddenly, almost breaking the line holding the incense towers. The incense towers swayed from left to right when the wind blew, and the two names that were faintly discernible pierced her heart like needles.
Twenty years ago…
An expressionless young man hung up the incense towers and wrote their names down on them carefully. The young lady asked, “Do you believe in this?”
“No!” the young man answered firmly.
According to the legend, as long as their names are written in the incense towers, their relationship would be long and lasting, and they would never be separated. It was a Greek myth that the young man had come across in a book. He bought the incense towers and hung their names on it the next day.
The young lady raised her eyebrows. “Then, why are you hanging them?”
“I’ll do whatever I like!”
“Okay, I’ll leave you alone then!” The young lady waved her hands and pretended to leave.
“Su Ruyu!” He shouted. The young lady raised her eyebrows and looked back with her arms akimbo. The young man looked sinister and domineering. “You! Hang this!”
He shook the incense tower that had his name on it.
“I don’t believe it!”
“Me neither!”
“Then, why are we hanging them up?”
“Just hang it. Why do you have so much to say!”
“Say it again if you dare!”
“Just to prove that I dare.” The young man frowned. “Just hang it. Why do you have so much to say!”
The young lady broke into laughter and hung the incense tower up carefully with her utmost sincerity. ‘Pharaoh, although I don’t quite believe in you, please give us your blessings.’
The young man was long done with hanging the incense tower and he waited for her to do so. Once the incense tower had been hung up, he trapped her between him and the white pillar beside. He leaned over and kissed her aggressively.
The golden incense towers swayed from left to right in the wind.
The scene ended and Su Ruhua came back to her senses. The memory was so vivid as if it had just happened in front of her eyes. That seventeen-year-old girl had a bright smile, and she looked sweet and happy, obviously in love.
She smiled. After twenty years, people have changed despite things remaining the same.
The incense towers… were still there.
She wiped her finger on one of the stones, but it wasn’t dusty. It seemed that someone had been living there. ‘Is he still there? If he is, what should I say to him?’ She had forgotten everything, including how they started or ended, except for the sweet and happy times they had together.
‘I shouldn’t make judgments about that person based on this memory.’ She thought.
She pushed the door open. The weird thing was, the door wasn’t locked either. She turned back curiously. ‘Both doors aren’t locked. Isn’t he afraid that someone would destroy the peace and beauty here?’
She was puzzled. The living room on the first floor had a simple design, and the light-colored carpet gave the living room a feeling of calmness and peacefulness. There were two white sofas and a stone sculpture of a beautiful lady in the corner that looked like it was carved by a skillful person.
Without inspecting, she knew that there was only a room on the first floor. The storeroom, kitchen, master bedroom, and study room were located on the second floor up the spiral staircase.
It felt like someone had been living there!
She could feel that someone was living there, but that person was not at home. She frowned coldly and went up the spiral staircase to the second floor. There was a spacious balcony that faced the Camellias in the courtyard. On the balcony, there was a wind chime, two chairs made of bamboo, and a mahogany table with a precious tea set placed on it.
She swiped her fingertips on the table. It was squeaky clean, no dust at all. She opened the lid and the hot tea was fuming. The fragrance of tea filled the air, and it was the type of tea she liked the most.
The Junshan Yinzhen tea.
She heaved a sigh of relief slowly. The house was full of her memories, her preferences, and her.