Dark Clouds

It was the weekend.

Ye Shuang woke up early. He didn’t plan on going to the office today, and neither did Chen Qin. Since it was the start of a new year, he intended to visit his parents.

The moment a loved one passes away, your mind goes completely blank. That isn't actually the most painful part. The true agony comes later, rushing in like a tide whenever you remember them or encounter something related to them.

"Phew." Ye Shuang leaned back against the headboard. A sliver of sunlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, falling across his bangs in shimmering patches. He squinted slightly and reached out, trying to grasp the light.

"I must be half-asleep, actually trying to keep the light in my hand..."

With a rustle, Ye Shuang pulled the curtains open. The sunlight was a bit blinding, forcing him to look away. He couldn't help but marvel at the beautiful weather.

"Oh?"

A furry sensation brushed against his foot, and Ye Shuang realized he had stepped on something. He looked down and saw Yi Wan lying on its back, exposing its belly. Its fur was white, and although it hadn't had a bath in a while, it was still snowy and clean.

"Did you sleep with me last night?" Ye Shuang glanced at the closed door nearby. "You didn't decide to use my room as a litter box because you couldn't get out, did you?"

He sniffed the air, but everything seemed fine.

Yi Wan gave him a look of utter disdain, then rolled over and went back to sleep on the floor.

"Well..."

Ye Shuang opened the door and checked the wall clock. It was not even seven o'clock yet—too early. Neither Bai Yuyou nor Chen Qin were up.

"I'll get breakfast ready," Ye Shuang thought as he headed downstairs.

By nearly eight o'clock, Ye Shuang had finished preparing three servings of breakfast and brewed coffee for himself and Chen Qin. Whether it was coffee or strong tea, both were excellent for a morning pick-me-up, though he usually chose coffee on workdays.

It was simply more convenient and kicked in faster.

"We'll head to the cemetery after breakfast. I need to buy flowers, but there should be a shop at the cemetery entrance." Ye Shuang leaned back in his chair, sipping his coffee. His heart felt heavy. Chen Qin had told him the truth about his parents' death to help him correct his memories.

Although Chen Qin had repeatedly insisted that it wasn't his fault and that Zhao Mengyao was to blame, Ye Shuang still felt responsible after learning the truth.

"If only..."

"There are no 'if onlys' in life." Ye Shuang tasted the bitterness in his mouth and looked out the window. The sky, which had been clear when he woke up, was now veiled by a thin layer of clouds. The living room felt much dimmer.

"Is it going to rain?"

"Probably not... just cloudy?" Ye Shuang walked to the balcony to look out. He felt like his heart was mirroring the sky—heavy, stifled, and unable to clear.

Click.

Ye Shuang turned on the living room lights, instantly brightening the space. Considering that Chen Qin usually took a long time to get ready, he went up to the second floor to wake her.

Knock, knock. Ye Shuang tapped on the door and then pushed it open gently.

He walked in to find Chen Qin in the middle of changing her underwear. Her long hair draped down, and one hand was covering her full curves as she stared at him in a daze. She had probably been about to answer him, but she hadn't expected him to just walk in.

"Ye, close the door first," Chen Qin said, her face flushing red. "Wait for me a moment."

"Cough, I'll head out. I thought you were sleeping in," Ye Shuang said, not expecting to see such a sight.

"No need to go out, Ye... Here, help me with the clasp. This feels a bit small, I can't reach it." Chen Qin turned her back to him, sweeping her long hair over her shoulder. Her face was tinged with a rosy glow, her eyes shimmering like water, exposing her smooth, elegant back.

"..."

"Want to go a round? I have some Durex."

"Uh..."

In the end, Ye Shuang didn't take her up on the offer. After all, "playing games" took too much time. When Chen Qin finished washing up and came out, she hadn't even put on makeup. She went for a completely natural look, her clear, beautiful face still dotted with a few stray droplets of water.

"Not going to wear makeup?" Ye Shuang asked. Chen Qin almost always wore makeup when going out because her busy work schedule often left her looking a bit tired.

"No. It’s better to look simple when visiting your parents," Chen Qin said with a smile as she pinned her hair up. Having had plenty of sleep the night before, she looked to be in excellent spirits.

"Alright."

Sensing that Ye Shuang’s expression was a bit off, Chen Qin asked, "Ye, are you... alright?"

"Hmm? What could be wrong?" Ye Shuang smiled.

"I see." Though she knew what was on his mind, Chen Qin didn't press him. Instead, she said softly, "Should we wake Yuyou?"

"Yeah."

After Chen Qin went downstairs to eat, Ye Shuang arrived at Bai Yuyou's door. Taking a lesson from a moment ago, he knocked firmly.

There was no response from inside.

After a few seconds, Ye Shuang knocked again. "Yuyou, time to get up."

It remained quiet; there was still no reaction.

Seeing this, Ye Shuang decided he didn't need to be so formal and pushed the door open.

The room was dim, likely because the girl had drawn the curtains tight. On the desk nearby, piles of sketches and papers were stacked high.

On the bed, the girl was hugging a pillow, sleeping soundly. Perhaps because the heater was on, she was currently wearing nothing but a pair of white stockings, not even covered by a blanket as she slept on her side.

"..."

Ye Shuang stood there for a few seconds, his lip twitching. Why did this girl sleep in stockings but no underwear?

"Yuyou, wake up, Yuyou."

Ye Shuang sat on the edge of the bed and gently pinched the girl’s cheek.

But Bai Yuyou remained dead to the world. He wondered if she had pulled an all-nighter.

"Maybe I should just go with Chen Qin and let you sleep a bit longer?" Ye Shuang asked.

Only then did Bai Yuyou blearily open her eyes. "I want to go."

As she spoke, she clung to Ye Shuang like a piece of limp dough.

Left with no choice, Ye Shuang had to help the girl into her clothes before finally hoisting her over his shoulder to carry her downstairs.

"Hmm?" Chen Qin was sitting in the dining area, scrolling through her tablet. She looked surprised when she saw Bai Yuyou dangling limply over Ye Shuang’s shoulder.

"Baa?"

"She probably didn't get enough sleep. She's like this sometimes."

"Uh... maybe just the two of us should go?"

"I'm going," Bai Yuyou suddenly lifted her head, though her voice remained incredibly sluggish.

She certainly was persistent.