Chapter 5 — The One Who Once Was My Light

He reached into his pocket, drew out a small leather case, and extended it toward me.

What is this?

Open it and see.

I lifted the lid. Inside lay a prosthetic hand, crafted with haunting realism down to every single knuckle and crease, mirroring my original right hand with terrifying precision.

This is...

I had the finest prosthetics specialists in the world craft this for you. It connects directly to your nervous system, allowing for the same fluid dexterity as a living limb.

He looked up at me, his eyes webbed with a dense network of crimson blood vessels. Shen Ning, I know I am deeply indebted to you. I have never stopped searching for a way to make amends.

I stared at the artificial hand, remaining entirely silent.

For the past two years, I have not returned to the capital. I dismantled every single illegal loan shark ring in that town and sent them all to prison, including your father's creditors.

Your father was convicted of intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm and illegal gambling, and sentenced to fifteen years.

Nguyen Tich Nguyet... for forging poverty certificates to fraudulently secure university admission quotas, she was expelled from her school. Right now, she makes a living washing dishes in a greasy little diner.

His voice remained unnervingly calm as he listed these things.

I know none of this can give back your hand, nor restore what you have lost. But I truly did everything within my power.

Shen Ning, could you... could you possibly give me another chance?

He looked at me with an expression bordering on desperate supplication. I simply snapped the case shut and handed it back to him.

I do not need this.

Why? His voice trembled violently.

My hand has already healed. I raised my right arm, flexing it before his eyes. It is not quite what it used to be, but it is enough.

But...

Lu Yan, everything you have done was to ease your own conscience, not for my sake. You only wanted to make yourself feel a little less guilty.

I looked straight into his eyes, enunciating every word with deliberate clarity:

You do not need to do any of this anymore. I do not hate you, nor do I blame you. I simply never wish to see you again.

With that, I turned on my heel and walked away. The snow was falling thicker now, but I refused to look back. Behind me, a stifled, broken cry tore from his throat. The preparations for studying abroad were completed swiftly. Before my departure, I made one final journey back to that small town. It had transformed beyond recognition. The old repair shop had been replaced by a modern bubble tea kiosk, and many of the dilapidated houses had been demolished to make way for new apartment blocks. I walked up to my mother's grave. The headstone was impeccably clean, clearly tended by someone recently. A fresh bouquet of white lilies rested against the stone. I could only guess it was Lu Yan. I stood before the resting place for a long time.

Mother, I have come to visit you.

I am leaving soon to study in a faraway place. You do not need to worry about me; I am living a good life now.

I have secured a scholarship, and one day I will carve out a career of my own. I will become someone you can be proud of.

A sudden gust of wind swept through the pines, rustling the needles into a soft, whispering cadence that felt very much like a reply. As I left the cemetery, I caught sight of Lu Yan standing beneath the sprawling branches of a distant tree, watching me in quiet solitude. He did not approach me. Nor did I walk over to him. We remained separated by that vast expanse, gazing at one another across the distance. After a long moment, I gave him a slight nod in silent farewell, then turned away for the final time. As the airplane soared into the clouds, I watched the sprawling city below shrink into nothingness. A profound sense of release settled deep within my chest. Farewell, my hometown. Farewell, my heavy past.

Seven years later, I was still living abroad. I completed my master's degree and went straight on to earn my doctorate. My advisor often told me I was the most gifted researcher he had ever encountered. Upon graduation, I received countless prestigious offers from the world's leading technology firms, yet I declined them all. I chose to return home. I wanted to establish my own research laboratory on native soil. The day my plane landed, Phuong Ky was waiting at the arrivals gate to meet me. She threw her arms around me in a crushing embrace.

You are finally back! I have missed you to pieces!

She was just as boisterous and lively as she had always been.

Look at you now, a brilliant scientist! You will have to protect me from now on!

I laughed softly.

And how have you been? Are you married?

Married with a two-year-old child! Her face beamed with unadulterated happiness. My husband is that bespectacled bookworm from our university days, do you remember him?

I remember.

Oh, by the way, guess who I ran into a few days ago?

Who?

Lu Yan.

My heart skipped a single, involuntary beat.

How is he?

He is doing remarkably well now. He started his own technology firm called Nianning Tech. It is about to go public, making him one of the most eligible bachelors in our entire social circle.

Phuong Ky clicked her tongue in amusement.

Yet he remains stubbornly single. Countless wealthy socialites throw themselves at him, but he does not give any of them a second glance. Everyone says he is keeping himself pure and waiting for you.

I remained silent.

Ning Ning, tell me honestly, do you still hate him?

I shook my head.

Not anymore.

Then...

I do not love him either.

Phuong Ky looked at me for a long moment before letting out a soft sigh.

I understand.

My laboratory was established within the country's premier technology park, backed by extensive government grants and preferential policies. I recruited a team of brilliant, like-minded young minds, and we officially launched our endeavor. The work was grueling and relentless, but I relished every single minute of it. Watching abstract concepts transform into tangible reality day after day provided a sense of fulfillment nothing else could match. One afternoon, my assistant informed me that a major corporation had formally requested a strategic partnership. The name of the company was Nianning Tech. I sat in silence for a few seconds.

Have them send over their proposal.

The proposal was meticulously crafted, demonstrating absolute sincerity and exceptional vision.