Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Zither

District C, Creek Garden Residential Area.

After taking the bus and escorting Nangong Kexin to the entrance of her neighborhood, Nangong Yuchen, holding his shirt, began walking away from the complex. He checked his phone and saw that it was already past eight o’clock. Realizing it was too late to go to work, he decided to head straight home.

Just then, Nangong Kexin, who had entered through the gate, suddenly turned back. She stared at her brother’s gradually receding figure, and for some reason, a wave of emotion surged in her chest, her nose tingling as if she might burst into tears.

He was clearly younger than her, her kid brother, and yet, ever since they were children, it was always he who took care of her, who protected her. Compared to him, she felt more like a little sister, always sheltered under his wing.

In the six months since their parents had been imprisoned, he had juggled both work and school to ensure she never lacked for anything. But what about him?

She had blamed him, scolded him, even raised her hand against him, yet Yuchen had never once complained. Month after month, she accepted her living expenses from him as if it were only natural.

During their parents’ absence, he had truly cared for her.

The more Nangong Kexin thought, the deeper her guilt grew. Unconsciously, tears wet her cheeks, falling silently. Perhaps, in the past, she would have never stopped to think about these things, but after what had happened two hours ago with Mu Ningxue, a trace of fear took root in her heart.

If, by chance, Yuchen really left with her—if he truly disappeared from her life—what would she do? Who would care for her? Who would protect her? Who…?

“No… I can’t let Yuchen leave!” Shaking her head, Nangong Kexin dared not imagine life without him. Without hesitation, she ran after him.

“Yuchen!” As her brother’s lonely figure came into focus, Nangong Kexin could no longer hold back her sobs and cried out, “Yuchen! Come back home, please!”

Nangong Yuchen, walking alone ahead, was startled by her voice. He froze, hardly daring to believe his ears. “Did Kexin just ask me to come home?”

Footsteps sounded behind him, and Nangong Kexin finally caught up. She threw her arms around him from behind, holding him tightly, and said, “Yuchen, let’s live together from now on!”

“Kexin…”

Nangong Yuchen turned to face his sister’s tear-streaked face, his heart trembling within him. He nodded vigorously, agreeing, “Alright!”

Half a year ago, he’d been driven out of the house by Kexin; now, at last, she had forgiven him.

Hearing his reply, Nangong Kexin let go. Standing before him, tears still glistening on her cheeks, she forced a trembling smile and choked out, “Well… now there’s someone to cook for me at home!”

“Yes, let’s go home together.”

This time, it was Nangong Kexin who clung tightly to Yuchen’s arm, leading him in a childish run toward their home.

They followed the familiar path, and after more than ten minutes, the two of them returned home together. As the living room lights flickered on, the familiar décor and rooms filled Yuchen’s eyes, and his heart quivered violently.

Finally, he was home! That was the only thought that resonated in his mind.

Sensing his mood, Nangong Kexin quietly left him alone. She knew he wasn’t simply moved by coming home; there was also Mu Ningxue weighing on his heart. So she slipped back into her room without a word.

Nangong Yuchen stood in silence, taking in every detail of the house.

After some time, he finally opened the first door on the left of the living room and stepped inside.

It was his own room.

Beneath the white light, everything was just as he’d left it. After tidying up a little, he lay down on his familiar bed.

For two whole hours he stared up at the white ceiling, realizing that after all this time, returning here did not bring the joy he had once envisioned.

How could it? The price for returning home was Mu Ningxue’s feelings. Tomorrow, she would become engaged to Lu Shijie—his nemesis. Not only had he failed to stop it, he had even rejected her. The pain in his chest twisted anew; he could only force himself not to think about it and burrowed under the covers, trying to sleep.

But even deep into the night, sleep would not come, and a sense of restlessness gnawed at him.

At last, in resignation, he sat up and pulled open the drawer at his bedside. If he remembered right, something he treasured above all else was still inside.

The drawer was in disarray. Yuchen rummaged through the clutter until he found a delicate little box. Opening it, he first saw an exquisite earring.

He gently cradled it in his palm, gazing at it in silence.

Without realizing it, sorrow welled up once more. This earring was the match to the one Mu Ningxue wore on her ear—the pair they had worn as lovers.

But now…

After a moment, he gloomily drew a necklace from the box.

It was an old, rough necklace with a heart-shaped pendant. It was neither elegant nor finely crafted; its only distinction was a single word, awkwardly carved into the surface.

“Qin.”

Yuchen rubbed his thumb over the inscription. The pendant was perfectly smooth, worn down by countless such gestures—he had no idea how many times he’d done this before.

He had little memory of the necklace itself, only knowing from his parents that when they brought him home at the age of six, it was already hanging around his neck. He had clung to it so tightly that it could not be removed, so they had let him keep it.

He placed the earring carefully back in the box and shut it in the drawer, but slipped the necklace over his own neck.

“Qin…”

Once again, Yuchen traced the character with his fingers, murmuring it softly.

Strangely enough, after uttering it a few times, the insomnia that had plagued him vanished. A heavy drowsiness swept over him, and he collapsed onto the bed, sinking into deep sleep.

He did not know how much time had passed, but in the depths of his dreams, a single tear slid from the corner of his eye.

“Qin…”

PS: The new book period is about to end—please recommend and add to your collection! By now, the story has reached nearly 100,000 words. Readers who have come this far will gradually discover what sets this novel apart!