Si Yiheng took out the camera, turned it on, and scrolled through the recordings one by one.
There were recordings of him working and of him cooking.
He could almost picture Shu Yu holding the camera, recording all of this with a smile on her face.
The last one was from that day on the bed, when Shu Yu filmed him with the camera.
—Right now, I’m filming you, so when we get old, we can watch what we were like when we were young.
Shu Yu’s cheerful voice came through the camera.
So this wasn’t meant for them to watch together in their old age. It was for her to watch after she had already left him.
—Si Yiheng, I like you more than anything, more than anyone.
Staring at Shu Yu’s beaming face on the camera, a single scorching tear dripped onto the lens.
Liar.
She never really liked him.
She tricked him.
Shu Yu, you liar.
B City.
Si Jingwen had just finished his class when someone blocked his way.
The person said it was already arranged with his father.
Si Jingwen: “…”
How did he end up with a father who would sell his own son like this?
Si Jingwen was furious, but he still decided to go and explain himself.
Song Wenzhao’s assistant: “Please, go right in.”
Si Jingwen entered with a stiff face, but the moment he stepped inside, he was seduced by the feast spread across the table. The aroma of the food desperately wormed its way into his nose.
God knows how long it had been since he’d last eaten decent dishes.
Western food—even a dog wouldn’t touch it.
Song Wenzhao looked at Si Jingwen’s dumbstruck expression with some disdain.
The Si family really never seemed to produce anyone pleasing to the eye.
Oh well, since this kid liked to eat, he could send some packed food over to keep Baby Yu company as a meal buddy.
Song Wenzhao: “Sit.”
Si Jingwen forced himself to look away from the food and spoke with all the dignity he could muster, “Don’t think you can bribe me with this food, or threaten me with my dad.”
Song Wenzhao smiled faintly. “You go take care of my sister, and I can help your father’s company get listed on the stock exchange.”
Si Jingwen pressed his lips together and said nothing.
Clearly, he wasn’t the least bit tempted by the offer.
Song Wenzhao continued, “I’ll let you use the chef who made all this food for a whole year. You can order whatever you want. And if you can bring my sister back, you can follow her every day and eat like a king.”
Si Jingwen: “!!!”
The look on Si Jingwen’s face was barely contained excitement.
Song Wenzhao found it amusing.
This glutton from the Si family was truly easy to fool.
He’d always thought kids—boys or girls—should be raised with abundance, but Si Jingwen was practically selling himself off for a year of good food and drink.
Song Wenzhao was about to pull out a photo of Shu Yu to introduce her to Si Jingwen when the clearly starving kid suddenly spoke up.
“Your offer is tempting, but I won’t do it. I already have someone I like.”
“I’m not the kind to sell myself out.”
Song Wenzhao paused, leaned back in his chair, and set the photo down on the table.
He sneered at Si Jingwen and was about to order this glutton out.
But Si Jingwen’s gaze froze on the photo Song Wenzhao had placed on the table. His eyes lit up—brighter than when he’d seen the entire table of food.
Si Jingwen immediately sat down, sitting up straight and proper, looking almost nervous. “Big Brother, is your sister’s name Shu Yu?”
Song Wenzhao: “…”
Si Jingwen clenched his fists. “Your sister… she seems to be my cousin’s girlfriend.”
“Wouldn’t this be a bit immoral?”
Song Wenzhao: “…”
If it’s immoral, then get out.
Why are you sitting down?
Song Wenzhao eyed Si Jingwen critically. “Yeah, they’ve broken up for now.”
“Baby Yu is pretty upset right now. She’s having a hard time getting over it.”
Si Jingwen breathed a sigh of relief. They’d broken up—good.
That way he wouldn’t have too much of a moral burden.
Si Jingwen: “I’ll go keep Baby Yu company!”
Song Wenzhao: “…”
Song Wenzhao’s face turned cold as he warned, “‘Baby Yu’ is not for you to call. You’re getting too familiar.”
Si Jingwen gave an awkward smile. “Don’t be mad, Big Brother. I won’t call her that anymore.”
He was determined to leave a good impression on Song Wenzhao.
What if Song Wenzhao picked someone else instead?
Since the opportunity had landed in his lap, he had to fight for it.
Song Wenzhao slid a contract across the table to Si Jingwen. “Sign it. You go keep Baby Yu company for a while, and I’ll give you and your father what you want.”
Si Jingwen: “I won’t sign it. I don’t want your perks. I just want to go and be with Shu Yu.”
Song Wenzhao: “No. Sign it, or the deal’s off.”
Free things always had the highest cost.
When the contract expired, if Shu Yu didn’t like Si Jingwen, he wouldn’t be allowed to pester her anymore.
One Si Yiheng was already trying to steal his sister away. And Si Jingwen clearly looked like another clingy, lovesick fool.
If both of them latched onto Shu Yu, would he even get a word in with her?
Under pressure from Song Wenzhao, Si Jingwen had no choice but to reluctantly sign.
After signing, Si Jingwen asked eagerly, “Big Brother, when can I go see Shu Yu? I’m ready.”
Song Wenzhao: “…”
This one was an even more flamboyant, preening version.
For a moment, Song Wenzhao almost found Si Yiheng more tolerable in comparison.
That very day, Song Wenzhao sent Si Jingwen off on a plane.
Shu Yu was rummaging through her room, searching everywhere but unable to find her camera.
She was sure she had packed it in her bag.
After searching for ages without finding it, Shu Yu felt a wave of disappointment.
She had lost her camera—one of the few mementos she had with Si Yiheng.
Iron Egg: [Baby Yu, if you want to see Si Yiheng, you can use the Memory Recall Card.]
If Iron Egg hadn’t mentioned it, Shu Yu would have forgotten she still had that item card.
Before, Shu Yu had refused to use it, unwilling to recall what happened after she got drunk and kissed Si Yiheng.
But now, Shu Yu didn’t seem as resistant anymore.
All the memories she had been reluctant to revisit were now their shared memories.
Iron Egg urged, [Use it, Baby Yu. It’d be a waste not to. The Memory Recall Card makes you feel like you’re really there, immersing you in everything that once happened.]
During this time, as it stayed with Shu Yu, Iron Egg knew all too well
Shu Yu would see new things or eat something delicious, and her eyes would light up as she instinctively wanted to call Si Yiheng and share it with him.
But when she turned around and realized he wasn’t there, her bright eyes would suddenly lose their sparkle.
Si Yiheng had once occupied such a huge part of Shu Yu’s life.
Now, with him abruptly torn away, Shu Yu kept forgetting and remembering. It was like tiny, fine needles
pricking her heart when she least expected it.
It made Shu Yu feel a sudden ache.
Shu Yu made up her mind. “Let’s use it, Iron Egg.”
[Ding! The Memory Recall Card is now active. Please prepare, host. The card will last for three days, awakening the memories you have forgotten, as well as those from the past.]
When she opened her eyes again,
Shu Yu found herself looking up from a low angle. Her vision was blurry, but the sounds around her were loud, and she was cradled in something soft and warm.
“Baby Yu.”
“Baby Yu, I’m your mom.” A gentle female voice sounded by her ear, making Shu Yu instinctively follow the sound.
“Little treasure, I’m your dad. Look at Daddy.”
“And I’m your big brother.”
Her self-introduction had barely faded, from grandparents on both sides to Uncle Qin.
It turned out that from the moment she was born, she had already been surrounded by so much love.
The love captured in those photos slowly seeped into Shu Yu’s heart.
She was not unloved, nor was she despised by her parents.
Iron Egg: [Baby Yu, we’ve returned to the time when you were born.]
Shu Yu nodded firmly, “Mm, Egg, these are my mom, my dad, and my big brother.”
Shu Yu grew up slowly in Ji Fei’s arms—her first kiss on the cheek from her fragrant mother, her first time holding Ji Fei’s fingers, her first time calling out, “Mommy.”
Her father and Song Wenzhao hovered around her, trying to teach her to say “Daddy” and “Big Brother.”
But she would just turn around and burrow back into Ji Fei’s embrace.
Her father would sneakily pull her out again, “Baby Yu, little one, why do you like Mommy so much?”
“Am I not your wallet anymore?”
Song Wenzhao cradled her face in both hands, kissing her again and again, “Little sis, Big Brother is your future wallet. You’ve got to call me Big Brother!”
Iron Egg: [Priorities set.]
Shu Yu blinked slowly, the sadness in her heart gradually filled by the love woven through these memories.
The scene shifted to the day of Shu Yu’s first birthday.
Guests crowded the venue. Song Wenzhao carried Shu Yu, showing her off to everyone, “Hi, uncles and aunties! This is my adorable little baby sister, Baby Yu.”
Song Wenzhao lifted Shu Yu’s little hand, “Little one, wave to everyone.”
Shu Yu waved excitedly, letting out an occasional, “Mm.”
Through the crowd, Shu Yu’s gaze landed on a small boy sitting in the corner, staring at her intently. The boy was about four years old, but his face was cold and expressionless—a child seemingly aged beyond his years.
Shu Yu blinked slowly. “Iron Egg, it seems to be Si Yiheng.”
