Around ten o'clock in the evening, a red car drove back to the underground garage of the apartment.
Carrying large and small bags of things, Naruse returned home and threw himself on the sofa. He couldn't get up for a long time.
too tired……
They said they were going shopping in the evening, but around five o'clock, Song Qianqiu took them out and they have been shopping until now.
He only got a short break during dinner, and the rest of the time was either in the store or on the way to the next store.
"tired……"
Shangzi also lay down next to him, and Haixing had to sit on the other side.
"Why are you lying down? Have you packed your things? You will go back tomorrow morning." Song Qianqiu said with her hands on her hips.
"I'll clean it up later..."
"Young people's physical strength is really not good enough."
Song Qianqiu shook his head, hummed a song and went to take a shower first.
Haixing looked at the direction she was leaving: "Auntie is so energetic..."
Naruse closed his eyes, "As long as she's not filming, whatever she does is considered a break."
"...The artist is really amazing."
After a while, Matsu Chiaki came out from the bath, and Miss Sato went in next, followed by Haixing, and then Naoko.
By the time Naruse came out of the bath, it was already half past eleven at night.
The traces of last night had long been cleaned up, and Miss Sato returned to her room to rest. Since she had to get up early tomorrow, Naoko and Haixing had also gone back to their room to sleep.
Only Song Qianqiu was still sitting on the sofa, watching TV and applying a facial mask in front of the small mirror.
Naruse also sat on the sofa.
"Do you want to sleep on the sofa tonight too?"
He ignored her and continued to wipe his hair.
Song Qianqiu pressed his forehead in front of the mirror, "Have everything been packed?"
"Yeah." Before going to take a shower, he packed his luggage.
"Have you packed all the souvenirs you brought for Hikari and Kazuyo?" Matsu Chiaki continued to ask.
"Um."
"Here are the clothes I picked out for Chunhai tonight."
"I brought it too."
"Thinking about it this way, Chunhai will bring quite a lot of things tomorrow."
"So I took out the travel bag I used when I was in Form Three."
Song Qianqiu smiled and said, "Have you packed away all the happy memories of the past few days?"
"...I don't have any happy memories. I'm exhausted from walking around all the time."
She laughed again, put on the facial mask, got up and walked around the living room, then opened the floor-to-ceiling windows and walked to the balcony.
Naruse wiped his hair, looked at her for a while, and then came to the balcony.
It was late at night, but compared to the inside of the house, there was a distinct chill outside.
"Time flies so fast... In the blink of an eye, Harumi is about to enter the second grade."
He leaned next to her and looked into the living room.
"In the blink of an eye, your new drama is finished filming, right?"
"Yes."
Song Qianqiu gently patted the mask on her face.
"I originally wanted to go back to the countryside to spend some time with Chunhai after the filming...but I can't spare the time for the time being."
Naruse pressed the towel on his head, "Just go about your business."
Song Qianqiu turned to look at his son, and then looked at the park opposite.
"But when I stop, I still miss Harumi."
"..."
He pursed his lips, not knowing what to say.
Both mother and son were silent for a while, but Matsu Qianqiu spoke first.
"However, seeing the changes in Chunhai in the past six months, my mother is relieved a lot."
"Nothing has changed."
"Hmm... Are you more smiling than before?"
"I didn't smile a lot either."
"He is also more gentle than before. When I stayed with Naoko, Harumi was so gentle that it almost bubbled."
"..."
There was no response again.
She turned her head, saw the red ears under the white towel, and smiled silently.
"Be gentle with the starfish."
"...It's gentle enough."
Song Qianqiu also turned around, leaning against the guardrail, looking into the living room.
Both girls had gone to bed, and the bedroom door was closed.
"I really have to thank Naoko for taking care of Harumi." She said softly.
"Um."
"Ah, Harumi is willing to admit this, which is also one of the great changes in the past six months."
"……うるさい."
(u ru sai i)
Song Qianqiu smiled, took a deep breath, and said slowly:
"Besides... Harumi seems to be willing to consider longer-term things."
Naruse was silent for a while.
"Have it."
"You can see it, although it's only in certain aspects now... But take your time. Life is very interesting."
"What are you talking about suddenly? It's not like I don't want to live anymore."
Song Qianqiu raised his hand and rubbed his son's head, "I hope Chunhai's life can become more interesting."
Naruse was rubbed so hard that he shook his head, but did not break away.
And she quickly let go, moved closer, and held his arm.
"Whether it's filming or anything else, it's all part of life. Life is so beautiful, and my mother enjoys it very much."
"I know."
"Really? I thought Chunhai had closed himself up and couldn't see anything."
"You have remarried three times. I can't even pretend not to see you."
"..."
Song Qianqiu was stunned for a moment.
This is the first time he has expressed his attitude so frankly about her multiple marriages.
She turned her head and stared at her son's profile for a while.
"Is Harumi complaining about mother?"
"I guess so."
"'Probably'? Really, Harumi can't even be sure of his own thoughts."
Naruse tilted his head and looked to the other side.
"I want to complain, but I feel like you didn't do anything wrong... As you just said, you were just enjoying life. The real problem may be with me."
Song Qianqiu pursed her lips tightly and was silent for a long time.
"Does Chunhai think you are dragging me down?"
He took a deep breath.
"No."
"Not to mention now, I must have thought this way before."
He didn't speak.
"You must also feel that I am dragging you down."
He pursed his lower lip.
"It's better to separate early..."
"--No."
Seeing that he only denied this, Song Qianqiu felt relieved and smiled again.
She exhaled slowly and hugged his arm tightly.
"Although it is irresponsible to say this, families have to drag each other down."
"How can this be true?"
"So it's irresponsible."
She smiled and quickly stopped.
"But...since Chunhai has spoken, my mother also has to apologize to Chunhai: I'm sorry for bringing Chunhai into strange families one after another. Please forgive me."
He was silent for a while and turned away.
"As I said, you didn't do anything wrong."
"It's so awkward. Can't you just say, 'Okay~ I forgive mom'."
"you are annoying."
"Ah, rebellious period!"
Song Qianqiu knew in his heart that at this point, his willingness to speak could already explain a lot.
She slowly leaned on his shoulder again.
"Then, Harumi, please forgive yourself for being just uneasy and not doing anything wrong."
"..."
In the long silence, he did not speak, but his shoulders trembled slightly.
Song Qianqiu held his hand tightly.
"Let go of the past and look forward.
Let go of your scruples, start boldly, and experience the unknown life.
Don't be afraid of change, because nothing is permanent.
And don’t be afraid of failure—even if you fail, it’s better than never starting.”
After squeezing his hand, she slowly let go, peeled off the mask on her face, and kneaded it into a ball.
"The important thing is the process, not the result. Life is so long, isn't it meant to be wasted?"
"..."
Naruse sniffed, leaned back, raised his head as high as possible, and looked at the night sky outside the balcony.
The city lights are reflected, and the stars are fairly clear.
"Nonsense."
"It's too much rebellion."
The next morning, Naruse woke up before the alarm clock rang.
Lying on the bed in his room for the last time, he stretched his body and took a long stretch.
"Well--"
Probably because he was too tired from shopping in Ginza last night, this was the most peaceful sleep he had ever had.
After getting up and changing clothes, he checked his luggage one last time to make sure that he had everything he should bring, and then he was ready to wash up.
After walking out of the room, everyone else woke up.
Shangzi is preparing breakfast in the kitchen.
"Good morning. I'm going back today."
"Hmm. Have you packed everything?"
"It's packed."
When I went to the bathroom, Haixing was combing her hair in front of the mirror, and she saw him for the first time.
"Good morning……"
"Good morning."
"I'll be fine soon."
"It's okay, just take your time."
Naruse looked at everything in the bathroom, and found some unfamiliar things among the familiar ones - the hair dryer seemed to have been replaced with a new one, and there were a lot of Miss Sato's things on the sink.
He didn't notice these details until he was about to leave.
After scanning around, his gaze returned to its original point. The girl in the mirror stopped combing her hair and looked at him without blinking.
"Just wait and see."
"You just said to take your time!"
"Be gentle to the starfish." Matsu Qianqiu and Miss Sato have also gotten up. They are still resting at home today. They got up early to see them off.
After washing up, Shangzi's breakfast was almost ready.
"It would be great if I could have breakfast like this every day..."
Song Qianqiu glanced at the assistant who was pretending to be deaf and mute, and then looked at the black-haired girl sitting opposite.
"Shangzi, please stay."
She smiled slightly and said, "Okay."
"Chunhai, please refund Naoko's ticket."
Without raising his head, Naruse picked up the soup bowl and took a sip.
"You can just drive her back."
"What are you talking about? Shangzi promised to stay."
"What else could she say?"
After finishing breakfast first, Naruse went back to his room to take out his luggage, then went to the master bedroom and took out Naoko and Haixing's belongings.
"Have you got everything?"
"Um."
"lets go."
Leaving the spare key behind, Naruse looked at his home one last time. When he looked back, several people were waiting for him quietly at the door.
"Let's go."
Snap, he closed the door with his own hands.
They went downstairs to the garage and got in the car. Just like when they arrived, Ms. Sato sent them directly to Tokyo Station to take the Shinkansen.
Song Qianqiu squeezed in the back and sat with the two girls.
As he drove out of the underground garage, his vision suddenly lit up, and Haixing squinted his eyes.
"I heard from Chunhai that Haixing is considering becoming a makeup artist?"
"..."
Haixing glanced at Naruse in front of him, and he turned back and was looking at them.
[I told you not to tell her...]
She stared, not knowing whether she could convey this meaning to him. But his expression did not change, as if the person who "snitched" was not herself.
"I have this plan...but I'm still considering it..."
Song Qianqiu smiled slightly.
“I think it’s great because Haixing’s makeup skills and aesthetics are very good.
But there’s no need to worry, Haixing can think about it slowly. If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask Chunhai.”
Haixing looked at Naruse again.
His expression finally changed a little.
"...ask me what I'm doing, I don't know how to put on makeup."
"Who wants Chunhai to know how to put on makeup? All you have to do is point the way for Haixing when she is confused. Haixing used to be your sister. Isn't it Chunhai's responsibility to help her solve the problems in her life?"
"That's the parents' responsibility."
"I'm not in the country, so I've given this responsibility to Chunhai now."
"..."
There were still many things that could be refuted, but Naruse just curled his lips, said nothing, and turned back.
After continuing to chat with Haixing about makeup artists for a while, Matsu Qianqiu turned to the silent Naoko on the other side.
"While I'm not at home, I have to ask Naoko to continue to take care of Chunhai... After all, Naoko is the person closest to Chunhai... If you encounter any trouble, you can always tell me."
"Eh...ok."
Looking in the rearview mirror, she glanced at Naoko who sat up straight, and then glanced at the impartial boss sitting in the middle. Ms. Sato looked forward and continued driving.
After a while, several people arrived at the parking lot near Tokyo Station.
Song Qianqiu expertly put on a mask and sunglasses and got out of the car.
"Just send it here."
"No, at least it has to be sent to the ticket gate."
Naruse didn't say much and walked to the station with his luggage, Naoko and Haixing following closely.
After squeezing through the bustling crowd and reaching the Shinkansen ticket gate, he stopped.
"That's it."
Song Qianqiu hugged him.
"Take care of yourself and them."
"Um."
After she let go, the assistant gave him a hug.
"To be honest, my ideal type is a gentle and handsome boy like the young master."
Naruse was unmoved, "Even if you praise me like this, you won't get a salary increase."
"It should be a little higher..."
Miss Sato looked at Matsu Chiaki, who was hugging two other girls goodbye.
"So be it."
Song Qianqiu let go of Shangzi and Haixing, and touched their faces with both hands.
"Next time I have time, let's come to Tokyo again."
"Uh-huh."
Didi——
After passing through the ticket gate, the three of them turned back and waved.
It wasn't until they were out of sight that Matsu Qianqiu and his assistant turned around and left.
There was still some time before the next train departed. After the three Naruses entered the station, they first picked out a few Tokyo Station specialty bento boxes to eat on the way.
"It will be around three or four in the afternoon when we get home."
"It's not that late. We'll be home at almost half past one."
After getting on the Shinkansen train and looking out the window, both Naoko and Haixing felt a little emotional.
"It feels like a few days have passed by in the blink of an eye..."
"yes."
"Spring break is indeed too short."
"Yes."
Naruse didn't speak, just listened.
After a while, the train started and headed north.
Shortly before eleven o'clock, the train arrived at Sendai Station and stopped temporarily.
Looking at the platform outside, Haixing posted a position in the group.
Moon: Starfish is coming.
Yue: Wait at the station. I'll be right away.
Starfish: Ahhhhh
Haixing looked at Naruse: "Ahhhh——"
"...Let you send random messages."
Just when Naruse was about to explain, Takigawa Yue's next message had already been sent.
Yue: Haha.
"Kidding……"
Starfish breathed a sigh of relief.
Morimi and Hikaru Takigawa soon appeared in the group.
Light: Finally coming back.
Yiye: I thought you wouldn't come back.
Guang: School starts tomorrow.
Yiye: Are you ready?
"..."
Naruse: You are talking about manga.
After a burst of electric bells, the train restarted and soon left Sendai Station and continued northward.
At 12:30 noon, the train arrived at Shin-Aomori Station.
At around one o'clock in the afternoon, the three of them returned to Jinqian smoothly.
As soon as they left Tsumae Station, the three of them dragged their luggage and ran non-stop to the bus stop, and finally arrived one minute before the bus arrived.
"ha……"
Panting heavily, I got on the bus and Haixing slumped on the seat.
"When will Aoliu be connected to the train..."
Naruse gasped and lowered his head to adjust the travel bag.
"There should be hope within a hundred years... just wait."
After swaying for more than half an hour, the three of them returned to Qingliu.
After getting out of the car and coming to the intersection, the three of us, who had been together for more than a week, finally came to separate.
Taking his luggage from Naruse, Haixing looked at the two of them and said:
"I'll come over after I go back and put my things away."
"Um."
When he got home, Naruse opened the door, Naoko went in with her luggage, sat on the sofa and packed it up.
"They won't be here for a while, so don't worry."
After not seeing each other for more than a week, Takigawa Hikaru and Morimi made an appointment in the group to come to his house. By the way, the latter brought the souvenirs he brought back from Hokkaido to his monk - and then brought them to her.
Take back the souvenirs.
"There are a lot of things." Shangzi said.
Naruse lay on the sofa for a while, then sat up, pulled his luggage over, and began to sort and sort it.
"Only after sorting it out did I realize that I actually bought so many things... all the money was spent on souvenirs."
"Yes." Shangzi smiled.
"Ah, right."
She suddenly remembered something again, "Did Chunhai send a message to auntie to tell her that we have arrived home?"
"Well, not yet..."
"I'll send it."
"Um."
Buzz——
The phone vibrated, and Song Qianqiu picked it up and took a look.
Naoko: [Worrying you]
Naoko: Harumi and I have arrived home safely.
She smiled, exhaled slowly, replied quickly, and put down the phone.
"Has the young master arrived home?" Miss Sato sitting aside asked.
"Well, it's been four or five hours, so it's almost time."
Song Qianqiu got up from the sofa and stretched.
"Well - speaking of which, do I have a date tonight?"
"Yes. At six o'clock in the evening, there is a party at Miss Hanada's villa in Chiba."
"Really... I just took a day or two off."
"Do you want to reject it?" the assistant asked.
Song Qianqiu thought for a moment and said, "Let's talk about it after I wake up."
"OK."
She walked into the bedroom and prepared to take a late nap.
Putting down her phone, she found the photo frame on the bedside was upside down. She picked it up, was startled again, and then laughed.
"when……"
The photo in the frame has been replaced by the photo taken in the park yesterday.
Under the cherry blossom tree with flying petals, her child looked at the camera with a smile, showing a completely new look from the past.