Zhou Lingxing felt a shock in his heart. Ever since he learned of the girl’s illness, he had a vague idea of why she wasn’t attending school. However, what concerned him more was what she said about her mother leaving.

With a frown between his brows, he hesitated and asked, “Did your mother leave after you got sick?”

Because he didn’t know the exact meaning of “left,” he deliberately kept his words ambiguous. From the moment she began sharing her past, Zhou Lingxing couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of bitterness, and now, he was even more reluctant to cause her additional pain through a careless question.

Su Heng dipped her slender, fair fingers into the plum wine and began writing on the table, stroke by stroke. Before long, a neat and elegant character—“Ling”—appeared on the surface. The dim light of the restaurant reflected off the watermarks, giving them a translucent beauty.

The girl spoke slowly, “Her name is Sun Ling. Have you heard of her?”

Zhou Lingxing thought for a moment but shook his head.

However, Sun He, sitting beside him, found the name oddly familiar.

“Isn’t that… Isn’t that the name of Du Ruo’s stepmother?”

Sun He quickly dismissed the idea. It was a common name, after all—there were surely many people named Sun Ling across the country. How could it be such a coincidence that Su Heng’s mother was connected to them?

Su Heng noticed Sun He’s subtle reaction and gave a slight smile. “If I remember correctly, she later married someone named Mr. Du, who seems to have gained quite a reputation in the esports world.”

Sun He’s head shot up in surprise, his voice rising involuntarily, “Are you talking about Du Qifeng? Is your mom really Du Ruo’s stepmother?”

Zhou Lingxing was stunned. The information was overwhelming, and it took him a moment to process it.

So, her mother was doing just fine—after abandoning her, she had climbed to greater heights.

Su Heng showed no surprise at Sun He’s reaction. She had first learned about the esports industry because of Du Qifeng. He had been one of the earliest investors in the field, and the FHL team was part of the club owned by his company. Three years ago, his wedding had become the talk of the media, with grand and lavish coverage.

Suddenly, the image of that person’s face flashed through her mind, and long-buried memories resurfaced.

She could almost hear that familiar voice:

“Hengheng, go to bed first. I need to talk with your father.”
“Didn’t I tell you to sleep? Do you not understand what I say?”
“Su Heng, look at your sister and then look at yourself. Can’t you let me have one peaceful day?”
“Hengheng, I’m human too. I’m tired. Please, go to bed.”
“You’ve disappointed me.”
“Your father and I have decided to get a divorce.”
“He locks himself up in this tiny world every day, but I don’t want that for myself.”
“My life isn’t supposed to be like this—do you understand, Su Heng?”
“I’m sorry, Hengheng. I can only take one of you with me.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to take you, but it’s already hard for a woman to raise a child alone, and with your illness…”
“I have my own difficulties too. Don’t blame me, okay?”

Even though she had spoken at length with seeming affection when she left, Su Heng couldn’t detect the slightest trace of reluctance on her face.

It was as if… she had never wanted her to exist in the first place.

Su Heng’s strongest memory of that person was the endless fights between her and Su Yuanjun, and the way she was always forced to go to sleep.

At that time, she never overslept. From a young age, when she began to show extraordinary intelligence, her life became filled with various competitions. She slept less and less but could always maintain a high level of concentration for long periods.

Since Sun Ling learned about this situation, the most common thing she said to Su Heng was to go to sleep. Over time, she developed a habit due to her mother’s insistence; even if she wasn’t tired, she would take a nap on time and go to bed at a set hour at night.

Su Heng gradually found that she was sleeping more, and there were even times when she would fall asleep unconsciously. Later, she began to struggle to control her sleepiness anytime and anywhere, with a chance of dozing off in any situation.

The divorce had a significant impact on Su Yuanjun, and with Su Heng’s illness, he had to step out of his small internet café. Reality is cruel; even when unexpected changes occur in life, they still have to move forward without hesitation.

Su Yuanjun always believed that Su Heng’s illness was his fault, feeling that he owed her a great deal. He had heard from somewhere that a research institute in the United States had begun developing a drug that could stimulate the secretion of hypothalamic hormone cells, but the price was exorbitant—an astronomical figure he could never earn even if he ran the internet café for a lifetime.

To cure Su Heng’s illness, Su Yuanjun began to expand his business, running around in search of new opportunities. He optimistically thought that by the time he earned enough money, the medication that could treat Su Heng’s condition would also be entering the market.

He was busy for three years, leading to less time spent with Su Heng. His business grew larger, but he had less time.

As dusk fell, the streetlights outside gradually lit up. The moonlight spilled onto the ground, merging with the yellowish light.

The slightly tipsy girl spoke softly in a rare gentle voice, yet her expression was calm as if she were about to fall asleep. It was as if the story she was telling was not hers but someone else’s. But deep in her heart, whether it was turbulent or tranquil at this moment remained unknown.

Today, fueled by the alcohol, she suddenly wanted to pour her heart out. Not for any other reason, but because they had become the people she trusted the most, the ones she felt she could rely on.

The two listened quietly, unable to find words for a long time. Sun He’s thoughts were still immersed in the fact that Su Heng’s mother was Du Ruo’s stepmother. He glanced at the silent Zhou Lingxing and decided to give them space.

“I’ll step outside for some air; wake them when you’re done. It’s getting late.” Zhou Lingxing smiled at Sun He to express his gratitude.

Sun He chuckled lightly and walked outside. In Zhou Lingxing’s understanding, this should have been a complex story full of twists and turns, but under the girl’s straightforward narration, it appeared unexpectedly simple.

There were no earth-shattering love-hate entanglements, yet it was enough to evoke a sigh. The man’s gaze deepened, filled with compassion.

After a long time, he stood up and walked towards the girl, leaning down to wrap his strong arms around her slender shoulders. His voice was low and intoxicating. “Now you still have me,” he paused, “us.”

Zhou Lingxing felt irritated, nearly blurting out what he wanted to say. In the end, he restrained himself and just patted the girl. “Let’s go, it’s time to head back.”

From the moment the man approached, Su Heng could no longer suppress her rapidly racing heart. At this moment, feeling the man’s large hand about to leave her shoulder, she instinctively reached out to grab him without thinking.

Though her face showed no sign, the slight movement of her pupils revealed her panic. Zhou Lingxing looked at Su Heng, struggling to suppress the impulse to pull her into his arms, trying to make his tone as gentle as possible.

“What’s wrong?”

the 3rd part missing