Chapter 14: Echoes of the Past

Nightfall quietly descends, and moonlight pours into Chen Shanyi's room, casting its glow through the gaps in the curtains onto the old book on her desk. Her gaze lingers on the blurred words: "The truth has already changed. You can never return to the past." Every time she looks at these words, her heart races. She feels an invisible force quietly drawing her toward an unpredictable abyss.

Today, she once again had a face-to-face conversation with Siska, but still did not receive the answers she sought. Every time she asked about the truth of the past, his eyes grew deeper, as though an invisible barrier between them was becoming thicker. Each time, she found herself trapped in an endless riddle, with anxiety and fear in her heart growing increasingly uncontrollable.

"You must face the truth," Siska's words echo in her ears, like a series of low thunderclaps, striking her nerves. "Have you ever considered the cost of knowing your past?"

These words seem to keep resonating in her mind, making her recall those vague memories. The fragments she cannot touch feel like pieces forgotten by time, no matter how hard she tries to piece them together, they never form a complete truth.

"A cost I cannot bear?" she murmurs, a trace of confusion flashing in her eyes. "What exactly have I lost?"

She walks to the window, her fingers gently brushing the cover of the book, her eyes flickering with a hint of determination. Today, she decides to no longer remain silent, no longer run away. No matter what unknown lies ahead, she must uncover everything to find the answers that belong to her.

"Shanyi, the moonlight tonight is especially bright," Siska's voice suddenly comes from behind, carrying a hint of warmth, yet making her heart tighten. "Why aren't you resting?"

She turns to look at him, and her doubts are momentarily suppressed. Siska's eyes are still gentle, tinged with a deep worry, but she feels the emotions in his gaze are no longer as simple as before. Every gesture, every word from him makes her feel elusive.

"I can't sleep," Chen Shanyi says softly, not taking her eyes off the book. "I've been thinking about some things—about our relationship, about my past."

Siska freezes for a moment, then walks over to her side and looks down at the book in her hands. His expression becomes more complicated, as if some emotion is intertwining within. "You shouldn't be thinking about these things," he says softly, with a tone that carries undeniable strength. "Some things, the more you know, the worse it is."

"You always say that," Chen Shanyi's voice is low and cold, with a trace of stubbornness in her eyes. "But I can't continue living in ignorance, Siska. You're making it harder and harder for me to understand you. I need answers."

Siska furrows his brow, as though considering her words. His gaze lingers on Chen Shanyi's face, and those deep eyes seem to see the inner struggle and pain within her. "I know you want to know more," he says slowly. "But some truths, the cost of knowing them is something you cannot imagine right now."

A strong sense of unease surges in Chen Shanyi's heart. She no longer wants to hear these vague answers; she must find out the truth, no matter what it may entail. "I've already made up my mind," she lifts her head, her eyes firm. "No matter how heavy the cost is, I need to know."

Siska does not speak again. He gazes at her deeply, and a complex emotion flickers in his eyes. After a moment, he turns and walks to the window, gently opening it, looking out at the calm night sky. The moonlight bathes his face, as if shrouding him in a mysterious glow.

"Alright," he finally speaks, his voice still low. "Are you ready to face your past?"

Chen Shanyi's heart trembles, and she feels a mix of inexplicable nervousness and excitement. At this moment, she realizes that she is standing at the threshold of the truth, and there seems to be no way to turn back.

She nods, her eyes unwavering. "I'm ready."

Siska takes a deep breath, turns to her with a faint smile, and his expression becomes unusually complicated. "Then, you must accept one thing: you and I are destined to never part."

These words strike like a bolt of lightning, breaking down all her inner defenses. Chen Shanyi's breathing becomes rapid, her heart feels as though it is tightly clenched, unable to catch a breath. She knows that Siska's "never part" doesn't mean it in a literal sense; the implications are far beyond her imagination.

She remains silent, as if bound by something, the intense mixture of impulse and fear swirling inside her. She doesn't know if she's truly ready to face the unavoidable fate.

Just then, Siska's voice sounds once more: "You need to understand, Chen Shanyi, the real challenge is only just beginning."