SFTD -Chapter 243 Farewell, My Love

Zhou Hai was startled and quickly stood up. He smoothed down his messy hair before walking over to Lu Zhengfei.

“Uncle, I’m doing everything I can to investigate this case. The truth will definitely come out—just give me a little more time…”

Lu Zhengfei raised a hand, stopping him.

“I didn’t come here today to pressure you about the case.”

Zhou Hai froze.

Not about the investigation?

Then what was it about? Luo Luo?

“I’ll finish up these next couple of days—no, tonight. I’ll go pick up Zhou Luoluo tonight. Is that alright?”

Lu Zhengfei smacked Zhou Hai hard on the shoulder. The force nearly knocked him back into his chair. Zhou Hai looked at him in confusion.

“Brat, listen before you interrupt!

Luo Luo can stay with the Lu family for now. Your aunt can’t bear to be without her, and that child is incredibly thoughtful. She keeps finding ways to cheer your aunt up. These past few days, her condition has improved a lot because of her.

The one I’m worried about is you. Other than family, you were the person Xixi cared about most. Your aunt, Luo Luo, and I—we don’t want you collapsing because of this.”

He paused, his voice steady.

“I believe you’ll solve this case eventually. It’s only a matter of time. But the way you are now, you’re completely trapped inside it. You’ve shut yourself off from everything else. If you can’t pull yourself out, how are you supposed to solve it?”

Though not an investigator himself, Lu Zhengfei’s words struck directly at the heart of the matter. Digging endlessly at dead ends would solve nothing. Sometimes stepping back wasn’t giving up.

Zhou Hai understood that.

But he simply couldn’t do it.

Slowly, he lifted his head and looked at Lu Zhengfei.

“Thank you… thank you and Auntie for understanding. I won’t give up on this case.”

Lu Zhengfei nodded.

“Put the case aside for now. Rest for a while. The Lu family is your home too. Even though you and Xixi never got married, in my heart, I’ve already treated you as my son-in-law. From now on, come home on weekends for dinner.”

Zhou Hai took a deep breath and nodded.

“Alright. I’ll listen to you. I’ll put the case aside for now.”

The expression on Lu Zhengfei’s face softened. He patted Zhou Hai on the shoulder.

“When you come home, I’ll make sure to feed you properly. Your health is terrible already—you can’t destroy yourself over Xixi.

Oh right, there’s something important I wanted to discuss with you. Luo Luo’s teacher recommended that she take the college entrance exam while still in her second year of high school.

At first she seemed unwilling, but later she heard some classmate had been recommended too, and suddenly she decided she wanted to take it.”

Zhou Hai blinked in surprise.

Just a few months ago, he’d still been worrying about whether she should even attend high school because of her age. Yet after only two or three months, she was already preparing to challenge the college entrance exams?

The speed of it all was hard to process.

“But… she’s only sixteen!”

Lu Zhengfei rolled his eyes.

“Do you even pay attention to her studies?

She’s only weak in Chinese. After two months of intensive tutoring, she’s already caught up. They’re just textbooks—with Luo Luo’s intelligence, she practically breezed through them while playing around. What’s the point of wasting time in high school?

Besides, she told me herself. Their homeroom teacher, Teacher Sun, suggested it first. She originally refused. But then she heard that some boy she can’t stand was recommended too, so she came back and discussed it with me.

Oh! I remember now. That classmate’s surname is Wa. His name’s Wa Te.”

Zhou Hai thought for a moment. Lu Xi had once mentioned the nicknames Luo Luo gave her classmates. “Wa Te” seemed to be the quiet deskmate she always teased.

That obviously wasn’t the boy’s real name, but Zhou Hai couldn’t recall it at the moment.

“I know who you mean. ‘Wa Te’ is just Luo Luo’s nickname for him. I don’t remember his real name, but if the two of you think she’s capable of giving it a shot, then let her try. Even if she fails, she can always take the exam again in her senior year.”

The moment he finished speaking, another slap landed on the back of his neck.

“Are you really her brother? Can’t you hope for something better for her?”

Zhou Hai let out a helpless laugh.

“Well… not biologically. But we’re both orphans. We depended on each other.”

Then he explained how Luo Luo had been abandoned in China by his former teacher, and how he had ended up taking responsibility for her.

This time it was Lu Zhengfei’s turn to stare in shock.

“But aside from her height, that child really resembles you. Intelligent, stubborn, full of personality, sweet-talking too—she’s unbelievably lovable. I never imagined her background would be so heartbreaking as well.

Enough. Don’t worry about this matter anymore. I’ll speak with their principal myself. Students taking the college entrance exam early need teacher recommendations.”

By now, Lu Zhengfei was sitting across from Zhou Hai.

Zhou Hai pulled out a bank card and handed it over.

“Please keep this. Since Luo Luo is staying with you, I can’t keep letting you spend money on her like this. Otherwise it feels less like I’m taking care of you all and more like you’re helping me solve my problems.”

Lu Zhengfei’s face instantly darkened.

“What, are you trying to hire a PhD advisor as a babysitter? How much money do you think would be enough?”

Zhou Hai shook his head. His mind finally caught up with the situation, and he forced out a smile uglier than crying.

“That’s not what I meant. Just think of it as living expenses. I’ll be coming over for meals on weekends too, and Luo Luo will need plenty of preparation before the exams. I’ll have to trouble you both.”

Lu Zhengfei waved him off impatiently.

“Stop calling me ‘you’ so formally. It sounds awkward. Why don’t you just call me ‘Dad Lu’ like Luo Luo does? You wouldn’t be losing out, would you?”

Zhou Hai stared into Lu Zhengfei’s eyes.

At that moment, he understood.

Lu Xi’s father had come today simply to give him a reason—a reason to keep coming back.

And truthfully, how badly had he wanted that? How badly had he wanted to call someone “Dad” again?

Zhou Hai nodded firmly.

“Alright. I’ll call you Dad Lu.”

Lu Zhengfei gripped his shoulders with both hands and patted them heavily. Yet in the end, no more words came out.

Faced with such an open-hearted father, all Zhou Hai felt was guilt—guilt buried deep into his bones.

If not for him… if not for the mastermind behind everything targeting him as the fifth victim… perhaps Xixi would never have died.

Every part of this tragedy felt like his fault.

“Good child,” Lu Zhengfei said softly. “Let go of this knot in your heart. Life still has to go on. And Xixi… it’s time for her to be buried.”

Zhou Hai’s expression stiffened. His hands clenched tightly around the back of the chair.

“When?”

“The day after tomorrow. At Xishan Cemetery.”

“…Can I ask for one request?”

Lu Zhengfei paused and narrowed his eyes.

“What request?”

…

May 12th, 2015. Xishan Cemetery.

Zhou Hai held Luo Luo’s hand as he walked toward Xixi’s gravestone. Behind them followed members of the Second Team and several close friends.

Lu Xi’s parents stood far away to one side.

According to local Dongnan customs, parents were not supposed to attend the funeral of a younger child. Yet in the end, unable to bear missing their daughter’s final farewell, they still came—only standing far away, watching silently.

One by one, everyone placed chrysanthemums gently upon the stone coffin before the gravestone. After bowing respectfully, they retreated into the distance.

A faint drizzle drifted through the breeze, settling softly upon everyone’s shoulders.

Zhou Hai and Luo Luo stepped closer to the gravestone.

Looking at Lu Xi’s photograph, Zhou Hai did not cry. Instead, he wore a faint smile as he gently traced the engraved words on the monument with his fingers:

Beloved Wife, Lu Xi.

Lu Zhengfei had agreed to this request.

By the Lu family’s traditions, they originally hadn’t intended to leave behind a gravestone at all. Xixi had never married—without descendants, who would maintain the grave in the future?

But Zhou Hai’s request had been simple:

He wanted the words “beloved wife” engraved there.

Because in Zhou Hai’s heart, Lu Xi had always been his wife.

Luo Luo looked quietly at Zhou Hai.

She could sense that although he shed no tears, the sorrow inside him was far deeper than crying could ever express.

At that moment, she knew her decision had been right. Participating in the college entrance exam and staying by Zhou Hai’s side… it was the correct choice.

Sister Xixi, don’t worry.

You can leave peacefully now.

I’ll take good care of Zhou Zhou for you.