Yan Qingsi leaned against the tombstone as she slowly got onto her feet. The blazing sun had beaten her head into a dizzying swirl, and she almost keeled over when her vision turned black for a second. She shook her body and head, stabilizing her limbs and only peeling her hand off the tombstone when she felt a little more clear-headed.

Consider this a token of generosity on my part to fulfill your wish of seeing my mother, she told You Yi. Now you will go back. Go back to Hai city and continue to be the Mr. You. Slowly, go back and forget that Nie Qiuping ever existed.

Yan Qingsi did not want to torture You Yi any further, seeing the fathomless depth of his feelings for her mother. She took him here as an old friend of her mothers.

Mom, I have to go, Yan Qingsi said, Ill see you again soon.

Yan Qingsi strode off, only to be stopped by You Yis guttural voice. Then what about you? You continue to seek revenge?

Yan Qingsi smiled. Of course. Should I let those who killed her, live?

It seemed that You Yi had investigated or deduced whatever that she had done.

You Yi walked up from behind Yan Qingsi and planted himself before her.

Tear stains still streaked along his cheeks, and his eyes were blood red, but they were quiet, calmhopeless in the aftermath of despair. They also promised darkness.

He had searched for her for 17 years. All these years, he believed that the person he loved was still alive.

When he met Yan Qingsi, a surge of hope arose in him. He had thought that he could finally find the person he had always been searching for.

Instead of fulfilling that hope, reality gave him a brutal punch to the gut.

The thought of her had sustained him for so many years. Now she is dead. The person he held dearest to his heart was deadand she had died miserably.

Everything beautiful in You Yis heart was abruptly shattered with the final confirmation of her death.

Yan Qingsi had spoken of her demise so calmly, but it was a thousand piercing daggers straight into You Yis ears.

He closed his eyes, the image of Nie Qiuping flashing in his mind. He had not been able to be by her side while she raised a child alone. No one had been there to help her, and she had been murdered by some of the worlds cruelest people. To rubs salt into the wound, nobody spoke of good about her even after her death.

All these thoughts made You Yi felt that all these years had been for nothing.

Yan Qingsi was right. He had missed out on so many things all these years.

He was not late by a year or twohe was 17 years too late.

During these 17 years, he had no idea of the tragedy that had befallen her, or of her death.

Yet he still dreamed of meeting her once again.

You Yi looked at Yan Qingsi. She looked so similar to Nie Qiuping. They were mother and daughter, after all. It was right for them to have similar features, but they had such contrasting personalities.

He could imagine how Yan Qingsi struggled and fought all these years for her own life after the death of Nie Qiuping.

This was her daughter. Perhaps her greatest wish, when she died, was for her daughter to lead a happy life.

Youre not going to do anything anymore, You Yi said, What you should do is to live happily. Give her peace.

Yan Qingsi smiled. Sweat dripped into her eyes, blurring her vision. She gestured toward the photograph on the tombstone. Thats my mother. Im her daughter. Of course, Ill live happily, she said. But I will continue to do what I need to do.

You Yi looked at this stubborn, headstrong girl before him, and thought that if she was alive, her biggest headache would stem from this daughter of hers.

He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and raised it to Yan Qingsis face, who stood there stupefied.

You Yi gently scrubbed at the streaky mascara and eyeliner around her eyes. Listen to me, he said, This isnt something you should be doing.