Rain poured from the heavens in torrents, fat droplets exploding like flowers against the asphalt before being crushed beneath the wheels of a speeding black sedan racing through the storm.
Unlike the pitch-black night outside, warm light bathed the car's interior, making the woman in the backseat appear even more porcelain-pale against the darkness.
"Sister Lin, what terrible timing," her assistant complained from the passenger seat. "Of all nights for it to rain, it had to be tonight—the Three Flowers Awards ceremony. You've worked so hard for this chance to finally win."
The woman in the backseat remained silent, one delicate hand supporting her chin as she stared expressionlessly out the window. Her dark eyes were unreadable pools that revealed nothing of her thoughts.
The weather was indeed dreadful, but she was likely to win the Three Flowers Award tonight. Her lifelong dream was finally within reach—so why wasn't she as happy as she'd imagined she'd be?
A beautiful, arrogant face flashed through her mind, and Lin Ruijiao unconsciously frowned, turning away from the window in what looked almost like petulance.
Her reflection appeared briefly in the rain-streaked glass—glamorously made up, diamond earrings swaying gently, catching the light and complementing the scattered crystals on her milk-white gown. The ensemble made her appear pure and ethereal, yet something about the storm seemed to cast a shadow over her beauty, leaving it dim and troubled.
The rain intensified, shrouding the black night in curtains of water. Wind-whipped droplets collided like jade beads, creating an otherworldly, mournful wail that drowned out even the car's irregular, harsh rumbling.
Suddenly, a truck emerged from the nearly empty road ahead.
"The brakes have failed!" came a terrified shout. Within seconds, the car lurched like a dying bird taking flight, emitting a sharp, piercing screech before slamming into the roadside barrier. Several desperate, anguished screams merged with the howling wind and rain.
Vivid red blood traced down the woman's pale face, mingling with the crimson flowing from her lips. She struggled to reach for the door handle, swaying unsteadily, her vision blurring. Her raised hand suddenly dropped as if drained of all strength. Blood spread in all directions, seeping into her dark hair and coating her pale hands...
"Where... am I?" Lin Ruijiao found herself surrounded by endless white, looking down at her outstretched hands with no sensation at all.
Meanwhile, at the Three Flowers Awards ceremony, everything proceeded according to schedule. Ye Ruihuan watched the bustling staff with a deepening frown, the relentless drumming of rain outside grating on her nerves. She'd only agreed to host the Three Flowers Awards for that disobedient little sparrow—but even now, Lin Ruijiao still hadn't arrived.
The ceremony was about to begin, and Ye Ruihuan reluctantly accepted the microphone from a waiting staff member. She'd always disliked these events.
"Sister Ye, something terrible has happened! Sister Lin was in a car accident!" Her assistant rushed over, whispering urgently in her ear while glancing around nervously.
"What?! Say that again!" Ye Ruihuan's brows knitted together as she shouted, flinging the microphone aside and grabbing her dress to rush outside.
"Sister Ye..." Her assistant hurried after her, leaving behind a circle of panicked staff members.
"Sister Ye, we still have work at the Three Flowers ceremony..." her assistant said, holding an umbrella over her in the pouring rain.
"Shut up. Where is Lin Ruijiao? Which hospital?" Ye Ruihuan dove into her car, her fingers trembling slightly as they gripped the steering wheel.
"City Central Hospital," her assistant replied tensely, having no idea what Ye Ruihuan might do next.
"How is she?" Ye Ruihuan's voice was unconsciously hoarse.
"Sister Lin... they say her condition isn't good..." The moment those words left her mouth, the assistant let out a startled cry as the car screeched to an emergency stop, nearly rear-ending the vehicle ahead.
"Sister... please drive safely," the assistant whispered, gripping the handle tightly as she watched Ye Ruihuan's driving become increasingly reckless.
The assistant glanced at Ye Ruihuan again, opening her mouth to speak but ultimately saying nothing. Ye Ruihuan's expression was terrible—her brows drawn tight, her eyes containing a frightening storm shot through with bloodshot threads, her entire demeanor dark and foreboding. She'd never seen Sister Ye like this... no, actually, she had—when Sister Ye and Sister Lin had their bitter breakup. This meant they were in for another period of chaos.
Sister Ye's opportunity to host the Three Flowers Awards had taken considerable company resources to secure. The plan had been perfect—present Lin Ruijiao with an award on stage, apologize publicly, and confess her feelings in hopes of reconciliation. Who could have predicted this tragedy? The assistant sighed heavily in her heart.
They reached the hospital quickly. Ye Ruihuan sat hunched in a corridor chair, her clasped hands trembling uncontrollably as tears fell like the urgent rain outside, forming an endless stream.
During the drive, she'd imagined countless scenarios: Lin Ruijiao sitting sullenly in a hospital bed, ignoring her completely; lying there, disgusted and demanding she leave; or perhaps sleeping peacefully with a pale face, allowing Ye Ruihuan to tease her... But she'd never imagined that Lin Ruijiao would simply be gone, completely lifeless...
Ye Ruihuan felt as if someone was squeezing her heart in a vice, the pain making it difficult to breathe, making her consciousness blur. Her numb fingertips continued their uncontrollable trembling—she could barely sense her own body anymore.
She'd designed the stage presentation, written her apology letter, even planned how to respond to Lin Ruijiao's every possible reaction. How could the leading lady of this scene simply not be there?
Tears continued streaming down Ye Ruihuan's face as her interlocked fingers turned white from the pressure of her grip.
"Sister Ye, Sister Ye Zhi is here," her assistant said hesitantly.
In just a short time away from watching her, such a disaster had occurred. Ye Zhi felt a genuine headache coming on. She'd worked so hard to secure that Three Flowers stage opportunity—front and back, countless efforts—and Ye Ruihuan had just abandoned it all, leaving her with a complete mess. She really didn't know what Ye Ruihuan was thinking. And Lin Ruijiao too... sigh...
Ye Zhi had braved the heavy rain and traveled a great distance, even canceling an important business dinner. She'd cursed Ye Ruihuan countless times in her mind, but seeing her sitting there crying so pitifully, Ye Zhi's anger immediately dissipated. "Ah, why did it have to come to this..."
Ye Zhi sat beside her quietly, saying nothing at first.
"Sister, she's gone..." Ye Ruihuan mumbled incoherently, clutching Ye Zhi's hands like a lifeline.
Ye Ruihuan's face was streaked with tears, her elaborate makeup ruined. Her sobbed words were so garbled they were barely comprehensible. She looked like an injured, dirty little dog—utterly pitiful.
Ye Zhi took her hands and sighed deeply. "It's okay, I'm here... Let's go see her."
With things having reached this point, Ye Zhi didn't know what else to say. When someone's alive, you don't know how to cherish them—you just throw tantrums. Now regret comes too late...
"Sister, I can't..." Ye Ruihuan cried, burrowing into Ye Zhi's embrace.
Each "sister" she called out made Ye Zhi's heart ache. When did she ever hear Ye Ruihuan call her "sister" so obediently? "Go on," Ye Zhi said, stroking her damp hair soothingly.
Ye Ruihuan sobbed for who knows how long before extracting herself from Ye Zhi's arms. Her eyes were completely red, tears still welling up, overflowing, sliding down her cheeks like pearls dropping to the ground in strings.
Ye Zhi couldn't bear to look and turned away, handing her tissues.
The hospital room door closed with a crisp "click," followed immediately by Ye Ruihuan's heart-wrenching wails.
"Sister Ye Zhi?" the assistant asked with concern.
"She's fine. She's just slow when it comes to emotions—can't see her own heart clearly. Too dense. Give her some time and she'll get through it." Ye Zhi glanced through the window at Ye Ruihuan kneeling on the floor, half-collapsed against the bed, sobbing loudly. Ye Zhi reached for her cigarettes, then stuffed them back in her pocket. "Sigh..."
Inside the room, Ye Ruihuan caressed Lin Ruijiao's pale cheek. The icy touch corroded her heart, leaving behind soul-deep pain. "Jiaojiao… Que'er…" No matter how she called out, the person on the bed showed no response. Ye Ruihuan collapsed to the floor. "Que'er wake up... Que'er, I'm sorry, I should have explained everything clearly... Que'er I love you..." She gripped Lin Ruijiao's frost-cold hand tightly, whispering tearfully as she bent her head close, tears flowing endlessly.
Outside, the rain continued its deluge. Thunder crashed, lightning split the sky, and fierce winds rose with one mournful howl after another, as if responding to Ye Ruihuan's heartbroken cries.
How could Ye Zhi have known that the Ye Ruihuan who was supposed to get better "in time" would take much, much longer to heal...
---
Mist-like white fog surrounded Lin Ruijiao completely. No matter how she struggled, she couldn't escape this world of endless white.
"I must be dead..." she finally stopped, raising her arm to examine it closely. Whether due to the white mist or something else, her body appeared semi-transparent.
"Yes," came a sudden voice that startled Lin Ruijiao.
"Do you have any unfulfilled wishes?" the clear, child-like voice asked again.
Lin Ruijiao hesitated briefly. "No."
"She doesn't count?"