Unhappy, Happy

Luo Shuning chose not to open the wardrobe in front of Gu Luo.

When Gu Luo heard the news that Shu He had gone out to clear her mind, his emotions were complicated, but he said nothing.

Perhaps it was for the best that she took these two days to relax.

By the time she returned, everything would be different.

His current plan was simple—he wanted to confirm his relationship with Shuning first, then do the same with Shu He after she came back. For now, it would remain a secret affair, and they would discuss how to persuade Shuning together.

Once Shuning was convinced, the three of them would keep their relationship hidden until the last possible moment, only revealing it to their families when absolutely necessary. The likely outcome? His legs getting broken as the grand finale.

No matter what, Gu Luo had made up his mind. He was ready to embrace the role of a scoundrel who dared to pursue both sisters.

Once certain things became clear, fear simply vanished.

The two of them sat in Shu He’s room in silence for a long time, each lost in their own thoughts, until Luo Shuling—starving and dizzy—dragged them downstairs for dinner.

At the dining table.

"Big Sis He went out to have fun? Why didn’t she say anything? I would’ve gone too," Gu Ximan said between large mouthfuls of food, already back to her usual self.

Not a trace of ladylike manners in sight.

"Where do you want to go, Little Man? I’ll take you next week," Gu Luo offered eagerly, placing another piece of meat in her bowl.

"Hmph, ‘I’ll share an umbrella with Shuning~~~’" Gu Ximan made a face, mimicking his words in a teasing, exaggerated tone.

"Pfft."

Even Luo Shuning, weighed down by her thoughts, couldn’t help but laugh at her antics.

Gu Luo chuckled awkwardly along.

Both knew that if Gu Ximan was joking about it, she had already let go of her anger.

In Gu Luo’s eyes, while his little sister could be a bit spoiled at times, she was never unreasonable. A little patience and logic, and she’d always listen.

She was a good girl—no, a very, very good girl.

"Stupid Gu Luo, what are you laughing at? You should be ashamed!" Gu Ximan huffed, pressing her bare foot down on top of his under the table, grinding it back and forth.

"Me too, me too!" Luo Shuling joined in, placing her own foot on his other one and mimicking the motion.

Her foot was noticeably larger than Gu Ximan’s, but the pressure was much lighter.

Both felt… oddly pleasant.

Gu Luo had to admit—he was kind of enjoying it.

Ahem...

Luo Shuning watched the scene with an amused smile, but when her gaze landed on Shu He’s empty seat, her expression dimmed almost imperceptibly.

Dinner ended quickly.

To everyone’s surprise, Gu Ximan actually volunteered to do the dishes.

Gu Luo was so moved he nearly teared up, showering her with praise about how grown-up she’d become, how responsible, how she was finally contributing to the household.

This only made Gu Ximan blush furiously, pounding him with her tiny fists as if he’d accused her of being a spoiled princess who did nothing but eat.

Which… wasn’t entirely wrong.

And so, Gu Luo stayed behind to help Gu Ximan with the dishes, Luo Shuling curled up on the couch to binge dramas, and Luo Shuning quietly made her way to Shu He’s room.

After locking the door, she went straight to the wardrobe.

She opened it and began searching through its contents.

Soon, she found what she was looking for—an old black box tucked deep inside, exactly as Luo Shuling had described.

Hesitating for only a moment, Shuning carefully lifted the lid.

And froze.

The first thing she saw was a photograph placed on top.

A young girl clung affectionately to a boy’s arm, her smile radiant, joyful, brimming with happiness.

The girl in the photo looked exactly like her.

But it wasn’t her.

In all her years, Shuning had never once seen Shu He smile like that.

A smile from the depths of her heart.

Just how deeply had she loved him?

Biting her lip, Shuning picked up the photo and looked beneath it.

There were more—childhood pictures of Shu He and Gu Luo, letters filled with longing written over the years, neatly arranged train tickets.

And every single one bore fresh tear stains.

Shuning could almost see Shu He clutching this box, weeping in agony.

These were her most precious memories.

And she… had stolen them.

Tears rolled silently down her cheeks as she picked up one of the letters with trembling fingers.

"Baby, I miss you a little. I don’t want to stay in this house anymore. Stupid Jiejie keeps believing Dad’s lies, and Shuling is…"

Next one.

"The steak today was really good. I’ll take you here someday…"

Next.

"Baby, Shuling’s been eating more lately, but she’s getting thinner. How does she do it…?"

Next.

"I don’t need friends. I just need you…"

"..."

"Dad went too far this time. Luckily, I managed to bring Jiejie back. Baby, am I amazing or what…?"

Next.

"Jiejie slit her wrists. It’s the first time I’ve ever been so scared I cried. I’ll care for her more from now on, let her have her way…"

"I don’t need anyone else to understand me. As long as you do…"

"Where are you? Why didn’t you come home for the holidays…?"

"..."

"Guangya…"

"I finally found you…"

"..."

One after another.

Page after page.

Shuning read for a long, long time.

Every word, every line, absorbed with painful clarity.

Her eyes were swollen from crying.

And once again, her tears fell upon these fragile pages, these fragile memories.

......

After dinner, Shu He arrived at a small, long-abandoned park under the watch of her bodyguard.

Weeds grew unchecked, the dried-up pond now a graveyard of scattered trash.

Shu He observed it all silently, her gaze distant with nostalgia.

"Wait here," she said before walking deeper into the park alone.

The bodyguard didn’t respond, but his eyes never left her retreating figure.

Using her phone’s flashlight, Shu He navigated through the overgrowth until she reached a weathered artificial hill at the park’s heart.

She climbed it effortlessly, then bent down to examine a particular section of the stone surface.

Faint carvings were still visible.

At the very top:

"Are you happy?"

Below it, the first line read—

"Happy, happy, happy, happy."

Four times.

But further down, it changed.

"Not happy."

"Not happy."

"Not happy."

"Not happy."

"Not happy."

"..."

Countless repetitions.

Shu He stared at these remnants of the past for a long time.

Finally, she picked up a small rock and added three new characters to the stone.

"Not happy."

Then, after a pause, she suddenly smiled and scratched out the word "not."

Still happy.

As long as she could see him again.

That was enough.

......

......