chapter 13

Xu Xiaoran had thought about saving Wu Lan.

She was a Time Reverser, and Ji Zhao was a Soul Sealer-one could turn back time, the other could seal a Soul.

But it was useless.

A Soul Sealer could only seal a complete Soul, and Wu Lan’s Soul had already been shattered after blocking Meng Lier’s attack.

Like brittle, aged paper, it would dissipate at the slightest touch.

So they could only watch her disappear before their eyes.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

At the final moment, Wu Lan’s face was adorned with a gentle smile.

“Every choice was my own.

“No need to feel sad for me, and of course, don’t tell Ruanruan my secret.

“Being able to protect her makes me happy.”

In the last moment before fading away, Wu Lan looked up at the sky and whispered,

“Such bright stars.”

Xu Xiaoran and Ji Zhao looked up together.

There was nothing in the sky.

When they lowered their heads again, Wu Lan was gone.

Her Soul drifted away with the wind, vanishing beneath the sky that was about to dawn.

15. Wu Lan Side Story

Wu Lan was born in a tiny mountain village.

Her mother died early, her father remarried, and she gained a younger sister.

Her family was poor. The year she graduated middle school, she scored first in the county, and a provincial high school was willing to admit her into the rocket class.

But her stepmother refused on her behalf.

Her stepmother said, “We’re poor, we can’t afford the tuition.”

She even arranged a marriage for Wu Lan-with an old bachelor from the neighboring village, whose previous three wives had died. He was ready to pay for a fourth.

Wu Lan knew her father and stepmother wanted to save all the money for her younger sister.

So she couldn’t go to school, could only marry the old bachelor early, and die young.

Her sister actually knew nothing. She was still young, spoiled as she grew up, and even during summer break, she was restless, dragging Wu Lan to swim at the reservoir.

The accident happened suddenly.

Her sister’s leg cramped, and she flailed her arms, struggling in the reservoir.

She cried out, “Sister, save me!”

Wu Lan wanted to save her sister.

She quickly took off her clothes and dove into the water.

Yet, at that moment, a dark seed suddenly sprouted in a corner of her body.

If her sister was gone, she wouldn’t be sold off.

Wu Lan started swimming slower.

ƭũ̂ₛ…

Her sister drowned.

That reservoir claimed several wild swimmers every year. Families grieved deeply, but outsiders, aside from sighing and warning their own children, didn’t really remember.

Her parents rushed to the county hospital upon hearing the news, but drove too fast and got into an accident.

Her father died on the spot, her stepmother was rescued for three days in the hospital, but didn’t make it.

Just like that, Wu Lan became an orphan.

She handled all the funerals alone. In the dark, Wu Lan looked at the three memorial photos and silently said in her heart,

“I am a murderer.”

…

Wu Lan got all the family’s money.

Not much, but enough to get her through college.

So Wu Lan, with top grades all the way, finished high school and went to university.

Going to college was her first time leaving home.

Her Roommates were all from big cities, and she didn’t understand the things they talked about.

Nobody liked her, so she kept to herself, withdrawn and solitary.

Luckily, she was used to it. She’d never been loved since childhood, so living like this was still living.

The Dorm Room relationships weren’t good. Everyone was friendly on the surface, but gossiped behind each other’s backs.

Only that fool Ruanruan thought the Dormitory relationships were harmonious.

She was the complete opposite of Wu Lan-outgoing, kind, timid, simple-minded to the extreme, always cheerful after dolling herself up each day.

When she encountered cockroaches, Ruanruan would cry loudly and hide behind Wu Lan.

…That look reminded Wu Lan of her sister.

Wu Lan had no choice but to kill the cockroach for Ruanruan.

This trivial act actually earned Ruanruan’s admiration.

She heard Ruanruan arguing passionately in front of Meng Lier and Qin Xiao: “Sister Lan is really nice, don’t be prejudiced against her.”

So foolish.

Wu Lan shook her head, feeling a mix of sourness and warmth inside.

That feeling controlled her, so that when Ruanruan was crying alone, she couldn’t just ignore it.

She asked Ruanruan, “What’s wrong?”

Ruanruan cried so hard snot bubbles came out, and poured out the story of being cheated out of money and love by the Student Council President.

So boring.

There really is never a shortage of foolish women in this world.

Wu Lan didn’t want to get involved at all.

But inexplicably, when she saw the Student Council President walking alone in the Alley…
She was drawn up as if by some mysterious force.

…

Getting the money back was really a simple matter.

This kind of ordinary male college student, no matter how much of a halo he might have, was really just a hollow shell, fierce on the outside but weak within.

Wu Lan was different. She was someone who had truly carried three lives on her back.

Wu Lan threw the money she had reclaimed to Ruanruan.

Ruanruan was delighted; her reaction was to try to give the money back to Wu Lan.

…How could there be someone so foolish in this world?

Wu Lan was speechless. She didn’t want it, so Ruanruan dragged her to the counter.

Ruanruan used the money she had gotten back to buy Wu Lan a set of clothes.

A White Dress, White Shoes-the price tag made Wu Lan want to throw them away at a glance.

So expensive, so expensive.

She tried to stop Ruanruan from paying, but Ruanruan broke free.

“Sister Lan, you have no idea how beautiful you look in this. I declare you the Liu Yifei of A University.

“Anyway, your birthday is coming up! This is my birthday present for you!”

…

Before this, Wu Lan had never thought of herself as beautiful.

Her parents only ever called her a money-loser.

She had never celebrated her birthday.

This was the first birthday gift she had ever received in her life.

…

But the suffering in this world is endless; it doesn’t get better just because there’s a little bit of brightness.

For example, her Mentor, who, when she went to beg him for an internship certificate for the umpteenth time, would show a lecherous smile.

He pointed to his thigh: “Want to graduate? Then sit here.”

And then, Ruanruan’s birthday was coming up, and Wu Lan wanted to give her a birthday gift too.

She had no money, so she went to the Bar to work part-time, only to run into the Student Council President again.

He was drunk, and for the first time wasn’t afraid of her. After her shift, he blocked her in a deserted Alley.

“So disgusting, Wu Lan. On the surface you’re a top student, but behind the scenes you’re working here.

“What do you think Ruanruan would do if she found out? Her best friend is actually a hostess!”

The man staggered closer to Wu Lan.

“God, why do you look so pale?”

Suddenly, he burst out laughing.

“I get it-you don’t like Ruanruan, do you?

“So disgusting, so disgusting. I’m going to tell her about this disgusting thing as soon as I get back…”

Bang.

When Wu Lan came to her senses, the Wine Bottle in her hand had already shattered against the back of the Student Council President’s head.

The man collapsed, like a broken sack.

Wu Lan stared blankly.

This is the fourth life I’ve carried on my back.

…

The surveillance in that Alley had long since broken.

Wu Lan disposed of the Student Council President’s body.

She was a medical student; she had some advantages in this area.

But before she could get rid of the blood-stained Protective Suit, Meng Lier saw it.

So be it, Wu Lan thought.

She knew she would be found sooner or later.

Before that, it was enough to do what she wanted to do.

…

Wu Lan sent a text to her Mentor, asking to meet him by the river.

When the Mentor arrived, full of excitement, Wu Lan, who was already prepared, turned him into a floating corpse in the river.

Hmm, number five.

When she returned to School, Wu Lan saw Police Cars.

The police were searching the School, questioning people. They were already investigating the Student Council President’s case.

Back in the Dorm Room, Ruanruan ran over and handed Wu Lan a heavy Bag.

“Sister Lan, take this and go.”

The Bag was heavy; Ruanruan had withdrawn all the cash she could.

Wu Lan was a little surprised.

“What do you know?”

Ruanruan shook her head, her eyes red: “I don’t know anything. Sister Lan, just go.”

…

Actually, Wu Lan had thought about leaving.

That night, lying in bed, she thought about many things.

The police would find her; they would ask about her motive, and sooner or later, they might uncover Ruanruan’s story.

Those old wounds would be reopened, and the photos taken of Ruanruan would be brought out again as case evidence.

Wu Lan didn’t want that.

She had promised to protect her.

Besides, where could she go? No matter how far, she would be found eventually.

So, in the early hours of that day, Wu Lan slipped out quietly.

Ruanruan was awakened by her.

Half-asleep, she asked, “Sister Lan, what’s wrong?”

Wu Lan replied softly, “Nothing, go back to sleep.”

This was the final farewell.

Wu Lan went to the Rooftop.

Let everything end here, with her.

So, that day, Wu Lan wore the White Dress that Ruanruan gave her, and fell like a wounded white bird from the sky.