Chapter 220: Just Waiting for Someone

Ma Chulong’s brow was furrowed into a knot. Looking at Mother Liu’s ferocious expression, he truly felt that it was not worth it for Zhou Luoluo.

If it weren't for Zhou Luoluo, the Liu family would likely have all died out long ago, leaving only Liu Zhenxing.

But he was not Zhou Luoluo, after all, and he could not change any of her decisions.

At this moment, even though Zhou Luoluo was being subjected to such great humiliation, she still stood her ground stubbornly, forcibly suppressing the sob in her voice.

"Auntie, I promised Brother Zhenxing that I would take care of you all until he returns. I will not break my word."

Mother Liu was incensed. "We don't need you to take care of us! Get lost, right now! A money-losing brat like you—even if you offered yourself to the Liu family, we wouldn't want you! You brought death upon your own parents, and you weren't satisfied with bringing death to my husband, do you intend to bring death to me as well?"

Her deceased parents were Zhou Luoluo's bottom line; this time, she was truly hurt.

She could no longer restrain her tears as they flowed down in grievance.

"Fine, I'll go. I will never set foot in the Liu house again!"

Her heart was bleeding. She had thought that over these past years, even without Liu Zhenxing, she should have developed a deep bond with Father Liu and Mother Liu.

She had even been naively deceiving herself, thinking that as long as she kept her promise to Liu Zhenxing, he would return to her sooner or later.

But now she finally understood just how absurdly wrong she had been.

Zhou Luoluo burst out of the door.

Ma Chulong let out a long sigh of relief, feeling much more relaxed.

Even though they were merely onlookers, they had unconsciously become emotionally invested.

"Su Yan, I think Zhou Luoluo should have done this a long time ago. This Mother Liu is truly heartless."

Looking at Mother Liu, who was slumped on the kang with tears streaming down her face, Su Yan’s expression actually grew even more grim.

"No."

"What do you mean 'no'? Liu Zhenxing has already failed Zhou Luoluo; is she supposed to hope that Zhou Luoluo will support his entire family?" Ma Chulong spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Su Yan’s gaze remained fixed on Mother Liu. "Her state is not right."

Ma Chulong frowned, only then turning his gaze toward Mother Liu.

However, he still didn't quite understand what Su Yan was trying to say.

Su Yan did not explain, merely saying, "Let's keep watching."

Ma Chulong had originally thought that without the burden of Mother Liu and the two Liu children, Zhou Luoluo would live a more relaxed life.

But to his surprise, after returning from the Liu house, Zhou Luoluo fell ill and could not get out of bed.

The enthusiastic neighbors had called a doctor for her. After the diagnosis, it was determined she was suffering from excessive worry and chronic illness caused by overwork.

Zhou Luoluo lay there for ten whole days. Ten days later, someone rushed into her courtyard.

"Luoluo, something happened to the Liu family! Go and see, quickly!"

When the sickly Zhou Luoluo heard this news, it was like a final burst of energy before death; she rushed out of her house with great speed.

The biting wind was freezing.

Yet, she did not feel even a hint of the cold.

In the dilapidated courtyard of the Liu family, three corpses lay side by side. Even though they were covered with white cloth, Zhou Luoluo immediately recognized them as Mother Liu and the two children.

"How could this happen?"

Zhou Luoluo was soul-stricken, unable to accept the reality before her.

Almost simultaneously, Ma Chulong let out a similar murmur.

"Su Yan, how could this happen?"

He could understand Mother Liu's death—after all, that old woman was already on the verge of death—but those two children...

Soon, someone answered them.

"Luoluo, you must hold on. Auntie Liu took her two children with her."

Mother Liu had committed suicide by drinking pesticide.

By the time the neighbors noticed something was wrong in her house, the three of them were already cold.

There were three bowls on the floor in the room; one bowl still contained a small amount of noodle soup, which had a very strong scent of pesticide.

With stiff steps, Zhou Luoluo walked to Mother Liu's side and tremblingly lifted the white cloth.

She had clearly died from drinking pesticide, which should have been a painful death, yet there was a trace of peace upon her face.

Someone in the courtyard couldn't help but sigh. "It's better this way. That scoundrel Liu Zhenxing is out enjoying himself, while the widow and orphans left behind would have only suffered living."

Zhou Luoluo reached out to stroke Mother Liu's cold cheek. "Auntie, you drove me away on purpose, didn't you? You didn't want to be a burden to me anymore, did you? I was so foolish... how could I be so foolish?"

Tears burst from her eyes.

It was all because of her that Auntie had made such a choice.

The two children were still so young; they hadn't even experienced anything yet.

She clearly could have worked harder. If she had just worked a little harder, perhaps they wouldn't have died!

Finally, she could no longer control the grief in her heart, and she wailed loudly while clutching Mother Liu's corpse.

Su Yan's heart was heavy; she didn't know how to judge Mother Liu.

And more importantly, she didn't know who was actually responsible for causing this tragedy!

"Sigh." Ma Chulong was now unable to say a single word.

With the help of the villagers, Mother Liu and the two children were buried next to Father Liu's grave by Zhou Luoluo.

Zhou Luoluo didn't even have the status to wear the traditional mourning clothes for them.

In her world, she was finally left all alone.

While the neighbors were clearing out Mother Liu's belongings, they found the letter that Liu Zhenxing had entrusted to Wang Ping to bring back, and they handed it to Zhou Luoluo.

Zhou Luoluo stared blankly at the envelope.

Back then, Mother Liu had not allowed her to see this letter, saying only that Liu Zhenxing had abandoned them all to go abroad with a wealthy young lady.

Now that she held the letter, she no longer intended to read it.

No matter what was written inside, it could not change the fact that she had lost her loved ones time and time again.

Her eldest uncle would not return.

Her aunt would not return.

Her two younger brothers would not return.

As long as she didn't look, perhaps one day Liu Zhenxing might still come back.

When that time came, she would tell him that she had fulfilled everything she promised him, and from that day forward, she would never love him again.

Days passed one by one, and Zhou Luoluo's illness grew increasingly severe.

Every day, she would go to the graves of Father Liu and Mother Liu to wait.

This waiting lasted for countless days and nights.

More than one doctor had said her condition was terminal, yet she endured, day after day, year after year.

Until one day, a young Taoist priest came to the town. Having accidentally heard Zhou Luoluo's story, he wanted to see her with his own eyes.

Following the villagers' directions, the young Taoist easily found the gray-haired Zhou Luoluo in front of the four mounds.

Zhou Luoluo was sitting by Mother Liu's grave, murmuring something low, not even noticing the young Taoist standing beside her.

"Zhou Luoluo?" The young Taoist called her name.

Zhou Luoluo struggled to lift her eyelids, looking at the unfamiliar face before her.

"Zhou Luoluo, I already know your story. Wouldn't it be better to let go of your obsession and embark on a new life?" To her, the young Taoist's voice sounded somewhat ethereal and distant.

"I am just waiting for someone." Zhou Luoluo's voice was already hoarse and aged.

(End of Chapter)