Xie Lin walked out of the room with a letter in his hand.
He handed the letter to Ruan Xingyao and said, “This is Zhao Wanying’s suicide note. Take a look.”
Ruan Xingyao lifted her head, looking at Xie Lin with a face full of confusion.
Xie Lin continued, “Part of it is written to you, and part of it is for Baiyi. Once you’ve read it, I’ll need to submit it.”
Ruan Xingyao hesitated as she took it but did not open it right away.
She truly didn’t have the courage to read it.
Xie Lin said, “Read it, don’t carry the burden in your heart.”
Taking a deep breath, Ruan Xingyao finally opened the letter.
In the first half, Zhao Wanying wrote a disclaimer: it was her inability to endure the agony of withdrawal, and it had nothing to do with the rehab center. Everyone there had treated her well and had given so much effort to help her quit.
But sadly, she was too fragile.
She truly could not withstand the bone-gnawing, heart-devouring pain.
On the second page was what Xie Lin had mentioned—words written for Ruan Xingyao and Baiyi.
Zhao Wanying wrote:
“I have no family or friends left in this world. My only attachment is Baiyi. Fortunately, I met little sister Xingxing, and I now entrust Baiyi to her care. Over the years, I have saved a considerable sum; I leave it all to little sister Xingxing as Baiyi’s living expenses, only wishing she will treat him kindly and let him live out his natural life. As for the property under my name, Xingxing may handle it as she sees fit—whether to live in it or sell it. Lastly, please help me tell Baiyi: I am very lucky to have had his company in the final moments of my life. If there is a next life, I hope we can still be together. But in this life, Baiyi must live happily and healthily.”
When Ruan Xingyao finished reading the letter, her head fell forward, crashing heavily against Xie Lin’s chest.
She cried out, “Why must fate bully such a kind girl like this?”
Zhao Wanying was clearly such a kind and gentle girl, yet from everything Ruan Xingyao knew about her, so little happiness had ever come her way.
Xie Lin gently stroked the back of Ruan Xingyao’s head and, his voice hoarse, said, “Her parents were both heroes. Now… perhaps she has finally reunited with them.”
Ruan Xingyao lifted her head to look at him and asked, “From the very beginning, didn’t you already know that she could never truly succeed in quitting?”
Xie Lin fell silent for a long time before finally replying, “Yes. This new type of drug is stronger than any known before. Once it touches you, there’s basically no way back.”
In truth, Zhao Wanying’s condition had already exceeded everyone’s expectations—she had shown far more willpower than an ordinary person.
Ruan Xingyao stroked the letter for a long time before finally folding it back along its creases.
She handed the letter back to Xie Lin and said, “I’ll go in and check on Baiyi.”
Baiyi had been silent for a long while.
Since Zhao Wanying had entrusted Baiyi to her, she was determined to take good care of it.
Wiping away her tears, Ruan Xingyao stepped into the room.
Baiyi was lying across Zhao Wanying’s face, its whole body completely drained of spirit.
Ruan Xingyao walked over and crouched beside Baiyi.
She gently patted its head and said, “Baiyi, your mama entrusted you to me. Will you come with me?”
Baiyi ignored her.
Yet, its inner voice poured out.
【Liar! Dog will never believe you again!】
【You clearly said you’d only take dog home for a little while, then return dog once Mama got better. You’re all liars!】
【Dog has no mama anymore! Dog won’t go home with bad people!】
Ruan Xingyao stroked Baiyi’s back and said, “Baiyi, your mama wrote a letter. She wanted you to live well, to live healthy and happy. You won’t let her down, will you?”
Baiyi finally stirred.
It lifted its head and looked at Ruan Xingyao.
After a long pause, Baiyi began to whimper—“werwer.”
“erwer! erer!”
【Dog has no mama anymore. What’s the point of living? Dog wants to find Mama! Dog wants to be with Mama!】
Ruan Xingyao’s lips involuntarily pressed downward, her heart sinking even heavier.
She knew that many dogs, after their owner’s passing, would guard the place where they last were, and before long, would follow them into death.
Though Baiyi was still young, it was already a loyal dog.
Its devotion to Zhao Wanying was evident to the heavens.
Suppressing the fresh wave of tears that threatened to rise, Ruan Xingyao said to Baiyi, “Baiyi, living healthily and happily—that’s your mama’s last wish. Do you really not want to fulfill it for her?”
Baiyi seemed to be fighting a fierce battle in its little head.
Its heart-voice was a tangled mess, so chaotic that even Ruan Xingyao felt her own mind spinning into knots.
At last, Baiyi asked: “erwer? erer?”
【Then… can you take dog to see Mama? Can you let dog always remember Mama?】
Ruan Xingyao promised: “Don’t worry, Baiyi, I’ll often bring you to see your mama. I’ll never let you forget her.”
Baiyi: “erwer! ererwerwer!”
【Alright then! Human! Dog agrees! Dog will live well with you… and later, dog will go find Mama!】
Ruan Xingyao secretly let out a breath of relief.
At the very least, she had fulfilled the most important thing Zhao Wanying had entrusted to her.
She would take good care of Baiyi, letting him live safely, healthily, and happily—until the end of his life.
After letting Baiyi stay with Zhao Wanying for a while longer, Ruan Xingyao finally picked him up and said: “Baiyi, we need to send your mama off now.”
She called Xie Lin inside.
Because of the special nature of Zhao Wanying’s case, her funeral arrangements had to be handled by the police.
There was very little Ruan Xingyao could do for her.
Even so, she made sure Baiyi was there, step by step, following along until Zhao Wanying was cremated and laid to rest.
She made a necklace from Zhao Wanying’s ashes and hung it around Baiyi’s neck.
This way, it would feel as though Zhao Wanying was still with him.
Once Zhao Wanying’s affairs were handled, Ruan Xingyao brought Baiyi back to her house.
Baiyi had been listless during this whole time, but only upon returning here did he regain a little of his spirit.
He ran all over the house, as if searching for Zhao Wanying’s figure.
But after darting in and out of every room twice, he finally drooped and returned weakly to Ruan Xingyao’s side.
“erwer! erwer!”
【Dog forgot! Dog doesn’t have Mama anymore!】
Ruan Xingyao crouched down, patting Baiyi’s big head, and said: “Go see what you want to bring back with you.”
She didn’t plan to touch Zhao Wanying’s money or house, but the dog food, snacks, and toys she had bought for Baiyi—those she intended to bring.
On one hand, it would keep them from going to waste, and on the other, they would give Baiyi something to hold onto, a connection.
Baiyi quickly dragged over a pile of toys, then ran to the cabinet, pawing at the door.
“erwer! erer!”
【Here are all the yummy things Mama bought for dog, but Mama wouldn’t let dog eat too much.】
— The end of the Chapter–
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