Winter Time Rendering

Chapter 140: Chapter 58: Dumped Lu Qinglian?

The woman’s name was already on the tip of his tongue.

It was Lu Qinglian.

But how could it still be her?

Zhang Shutong froze on the spot. The shock of the moment made him forget to even notice who was behind him. There had been countless things he couldn’t figure out since his return to 2020, but the one that baffled him the most was—

’Why did Lu Qinglian still have to die?’

He quickly recalled the information from his original timeline. The twenty-four-year-old Du Kang had told him that Lu Qinglian had spent all those years on this small island, guarding that Temple. She had called him the night before she died, and her body was later discovered in the waters of an area known as the "Forbidden Zone." The investigation concluded that she had accidentally fallen in and drowned...

But Du Kang refused to believe any of it. He was adamant that someone had murdered Lu Qinglian. His reason: eight years earlier, on December 10th, Gu Qiuyan’s body had also been discovered in the Forbidden Zone.

The two of them had died in the same place, on the same day of the year, eight years apart.

Because of this, that phone call was interpreted as a call for help.

Back then, while he hadn’t completely dismissed it, he hadn’t taken it too seriously either. Eight years was just too long a gap. The circumstances of their deaths weren’t identical, and a "murderer’s" motive was impossible to deduce... But why was Lu Qinglian still dead?

Zhang Shutong wasn’t saying she had to have committed suicide or something, but... if he had relived the last eight years, even if he couldn’t solve everything perfectly, he should have at least provided the necessary warnings, right?

It was like the missed call that had vanished from his phone. If it had been there, that would have confirmed something was wrong. He couldn’t possibly have known what was going to happen and just stood by.

And yet, Lu Qinglian was still dead.

’Why?’

Besides, she had called him in the original timeline, which meant she must have needed him for something.

But he’d combed through his current call logs; it looked like the two of them hadn’t been in touch for a very long time.

Zhang Shutong’s thoughts raced. Since the funeral was still being held on December 12th, according to the island’s customs, didn’t that mean even the date of her death hadn’t changed?

A sudden sense of helplessness washed over him, all because something that should have been different in this timeline wasn’t.

Just then, the person behind him sighed again.

"Let’s go, Shutong. Come outside and have a smoke with me."

Zhang Shutong finally remembered to look at the man. Anyone who called him Shutong had to be an acquaintance. The man was middle-aged, dressed in a white shirt and a black suit, his hair combed meticulously.

He wore a pair of glasses, and if not for the unshaven stubble on his chin, he would have looked very much like an intellectual.

What was most striking was his height—over six feet tall. In his heeled leather shoes, he was a fraction taller than Zhang Shutong. He had a hooked nose and a square jaw... Wait. Zhang Shutong suddenly realized who it was.

"Teacher Song?"

he asked, astonished.

This refined-looking man in glasses and a suit was actually Song Nanshan? Their gruff, unkempt homeroom teacher?

Song Nanshan heard him and managed a smile.

"It’s been years, no need to be so shocked. Come on. Let’s you and I go outside for a chat."

There was a hint of his old self in the way he spoke. Zhang Shutong subconsciously fell into step behind him. Noticing the man’s neatly pressed suit trousers, he thought, ’In the original timeline, Song was supposed to have resigned in disgrace over the Gu Qiuyan incident. But now, he seems to be in high spirits. This must be the butterfly effect of that change.’

He felt a small measure of comfort.

The two of them left the funeral home, walked a short distance, and leaned against the railing of the road that circled the lake.

Song handed him a cigarette. He lit it and took a drag. There was no coughing, no discomfort, not even the slightest buzz. This wasn’t a good sign. ’It means I’m a heavy smoker now.’

He didn’t know what to say. He watched as Song took several harsh drags, burning through nearly half the cigarette in silence before finally speaking.

"No one saw this coming with Qinglian. Don’t blame yourself too much."

Zhang Shutong had been about to ask what exactly had happened to Lu Qinglian, but he suddenly latched onto a strange choice of words.

’Wait, blame myself?’

’What does he mean, "blame myself"?’

It wasn’t that he was numb to Lu Qinglian’s death; it was just that his shock currently outweighed his grief. As someone who knew the backstory, it would make sense for *him* to feel guilty. But why was Song Nanshan saying it?

It made him think back to the first thing the man had said to him.

My condolences.

’My condolences?’

When he attended the funeral in the original timeline, no one had ever said those two words to him.

Instead, the fact that Lu Qinglian had called him had gotten out, and plenty of gossips claimed her boyfriend had just broken up with her. He’d become the "heartless bastard" everyone loved to hate.

But now that missed call had vanished. So what did "my condolences" mean?

’Or am I just overthinking this? Is it just Teacher Song’s habit to comfort his students?’

"She and I..." The words reached his lips, but Zhang Shutong didn’t know how to phrase the question.

But Song didn’t offer any more explanation, simply patting him on the shoulder.

"I’m going to go help out. When you see your old classmates in a bit... sit down and talk. You haven’t seen them in eight years, after all. There can’t be anything that can’t be smoothed over after all this time."

"Oh, by the way, Ruoping just called. She said she’s almost here. You can wait for her if you’d like."

Song Nanshan waved and walked away. Zhang Shutong stubbed out his cigarette, wondering what Song meant by "smoothed over."

And he had just caught another new piece of information:

—*Eight years.*

’Does that mean I still haven’t been back once in all these eight years?’

’I’ll have to ask Ruoping. She was the only one I kept in contact with over these eight years.’

It was cold outside, but he didn’t feel like going back in. Just the sight of Lu Qinglian’s memorial portrait made his chest tighten. He decided to wait where he was.

A short while later, a white SUV pulled up beside the funeral home. A young woman with a delicate, pretty face got out. She had short hair, and what used to be neat bangs were now styled into a wispier look, making her seem sharp and capable.

Perhaps because of the somber occasion, she wore a slim-fitting black down jacket. Compared to her old, fiery personality, she now had an air of cool glamour. The girl named Feng Ruoping had grown up.

Despite this, seeing her still brought a slight sense of reassurance. Zhang Shutong was about to force a smile and say hello, but when the woman saw him, her brow furrowed. Her attitude was lukewarm as she spoke in a complicated tone.

"So you actually showed up."

Zhang Shutong’s smile froze on his face.

He didn’t understand her distant tone. He had been prepared for a few teasing remarks, but it seemed... she wasn’t happy to see him at all. ’Does she not want me here?’

He heard Ruoping continue.

"Since you’re here, don’t just stand around outside. Du Kang is here today, too. When you two see each other, just... try not to..." She sighed, trailing off as if she didn’t want to say more.

"Where’s Qingyi?"

"He’s too far away. He couldn’t get back in time."

Zhang Shutong nodded. ’Qingyi is the most consistent one, at least. He didn’t come back last time, either.’

He wanted to ask more, but Ruoping clearly wasn’t in the mood to talk. She had already slung her purse over her shoulder and headed into the funeral home. It was then that Zhang Shutong realized something else was off—the way they addressed each other.

He addressed them by their given names, as he always had, saying "Qingyi" and "Ruoping" just now. By rights, Ruoping should have called him "Shutong," but this time she had just called him "you."

’What the hell was going on? Wasn’t it just yesterday we were all on that rooftop, giving him a hard time? "You two get to watch a movie while we freeze our butts off in the wind! How are you gonna make it up to us?" we joked, before trying to decide where to go for a late-night snack. Why are they suddenly acting like we’re strangers?’

Ah, that’s right. For him, it was yesterday. For them, it had been eight entire years.

But the Ruoping from the original timeline wasn’t like this. She had even been in the mood to joke around, teasing him about the rumors.

"Well, well, little boyfriend. Long time no see."

Now, though, she was silent. Zhang Shutong watched her walk quickly, lips pressed together, not stopping until she reached the memorial altar. She bowed deeply three times to the portrait. When she straightened up, her eyes were red-rimmed.

Zhang Shutong had a sudden realization. It wasn’t just his relationship with Lu Qinglian that was different. *They* were different, too.

Because of that night they caught the poachers, Ruoping had started affectionately calling her "Qinglian." While they might not have become bosom buddies, their relationship had certainly taken a huge leap forward.

That being the case, it wasn’t surprising that she was so upset over Lu Qinglian’s death.

So, he also said softly to Ruoping:

"My condolences."

Ruoping was silent for a moment. She only glanced at him, not replying.

"Anyone in the world can say that, but you! You shouldn’t be the one saying it!"

A man’s voice, thick with suppressed rage, suddenly erupted from behind him. Zhang Shutong turned. The newcomer was a young man with a buzz cut and a baby face. Who else could it be but Du Kang?

It took Zhang Shutong a moment to realize the words were directed at him. He heard Du Kang continue furiously:

"Is this how you protected her? Zhang Shutong, you don’t seem to feel a thing, do you? ’My condolences’...? You..."

Dozens of eyes turned their way. Ruoping jumped between the two of them, her own voice rising.

"That’s enough! What are you two fighting about now? If you’re both so keen on being heroes, where were you when it mattered?"

She grew more agitated as she spoke:

"Now you decide to throw a fit, at Qinglian’s funeral? If you have the guts, then take it outside and have a proper fight! Don’t just stand here being an eyesore! You’re making a spectacle of yourselves! If you’re not ashamed, I am!"

Du Kang fell silent. He let out a long, slow breath, then turned and walked away.

Zhang Shutong sensed that the atmosphere was off. No, it was more than that—his relationship with them was completely broken. He asked Ruoping in a low voice:

"What’s gotten into Du Kang?"

Ruoping’s expression grew even stranger, tinged with an indescribable disappointment.

"Are you seriously asking me that?"

"I’m just a little... confused."

"Zhang Shutong, you’re just as cold-blooded as ever." Ruoping’s words were like a dagger.

"...Sorry." Zhang Shutong was taken aback.

His apology seemed to soften Ruoping’s attitude slightly. She stopped looking at him, instead dropping her gaze to stare silently at Lu Qinglian’s portrait. After a long moment, she said:

"What’s the use of apologizing to me? It’s been so many years. I know what you’re like. I don’t expect anything from you. But back then... you shouldn’t have treated Qinglian that way."

Zhang Shutong was completely baffled. ’When did I ever treat Lu Qinglian that way?’

"Let’s talk outside," Ruoping said curtly.

His mind was a bigger mess than ever. He had just gone outside with Song, and now, not long after coming back in, he was heading out again. The two of them returned to the guardrail by the road. Zhang Shutong was about to ask what was going on, but Ruoping abruptly changed the subject.

"Are you still with your girlfriend from high school?"

"Who?"

"That senior. Or were there others?" Ruoping sneered.

This was the first Zhang Shutong was hearing about having a girlfriend. He listened as Ruoping continued, speaking as if to herself.

"You can’t have forgotten. First semester of our freshman year, we all went into the city to hang out with you. We didn’t tell you because we wanted it to be a surprise. But we ended up running right into you and that senior of yours out shopping. When we all bumped into each other, Du Kang just... froze."

Zhang Shutong froze, too. This was too different. He decided to stop passively trying to gather intel and just ask directly. ’It’s been so many years, I’ve forgotten everything. What exactly happened back then?’

As expected, the look in Ruoping’s eyes grew even more disappointed.

"It hadn’t even been six months since you dumped Qinglian. Turning your back on us was one thing, but then you immediately got together with someone else. And now you have the audacity to ask me ’what happened’?"

"Oh, sure, you can say that you two never officially confirmed you were a couple, so technically it wasn’t ’dumping’ her. But we all thought it was real! Especially Du Kang!"

Zhang Shutong’s mouth fell open.

’Wait... what does she mean, I dumped Lu Qinglian?!’

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