"What was she like originally?" Hu Tao asked, her curiosity piqued.
Teacher paused, considering how to summarize it simply.
"She was similar to how she acts now, but clingier, more prone to tears, and a bit mischievous. She'd occasionally say odd things, but for the most part, she was very considerate, observing others' expressions and with a generally positive outlook... but after that incident, everything changed."
"That incident? What incident?" Hu Tao couldn't help but ask.
Now that Qin Yu had finally understood her, Hu Tao wanted to understand Qin Yu as well.
Teacher sighed deeply.
"When they were little, she and Keqing were very close. They even made toy rings together and exchanged them. But one day, someone stole her toy ring."
"There was something like that?" Hu Tao exclaimed, surprised.
Teacher was reluctant to recall that time, but this was her last moment in this world. Knowing Qin Yu's stubborn nature, if she remembered it herself, she'd probably bottle it up and never mention it.
Keqing was equally stubborn about the matter. It's no wonder they became childhood friends.
Since Qin Yu wouldn't speak, her mother had to.
"Yes, even though she and Keqing were inseparable, she still occasionally got bullied by other kids. Keqing would usually step in, but that day, Keqing wasn't around."
"While Qin Yu was being bullied, the ring happened to catch the bullies' eyes, and they snatched it away."
"Later, they taunted, 'We threw the ring into the cave. If you're so tough, go get it back!' "
Teacher's voice bristled with displeasure. "Honestly, what kind of parenting did those kids receive?! I still get angry just thinking about it..."
Hu Tao listened, her own heart aching, and shook her head repeatedly.
"And then?" she asked.
"Then Keqing found out about it and flew into a rage. After scolding them severely, she insisted on retrieving the ring alone. Qin Yu, worried about her, stubbornly followed."
Teacher lowered her gaze. "In the end, Qin Yu nearly died protecting Keqing in that cave. I don't know the exact details—Keqing avoids talking about it. All I know is that Qin Yu was trapped inside and nearly lost her life. Thankfully, the Adeptus Clan intervened, or she wouldn't have survived."
"But the price of her survival was losing all her shared memories with Keqing. They had been inseparable since meeting, like sisters, or even halves of each other..."
"Without that other half, her personality changed. She even developed a deep fear of the dark."
Teacher said, her voice heavy with mixed emotions, "What infuriates me most is that those children never actually threw the ring into the cave. They were lying. Though they eventually returned it, Qin Yu could never be the same."
Hu Tao grew angrier with each word, her eyebrows rising sharply. "This is absolutely outrageous!"
"Yes, I couldn't help but scold those children. Then I stormed into their homes and berated their parents, even getting into several fights. But none of that could bring Qin Yu back to who she was."
Wow, she's fierce! Hu Tao thought to herself, secretly impressed.
Teacher shook her head.
"Fortunately, her health remained good afterward, and she suffered no lasting harm."
At this point, a hint of guilt flickered across her face. "I've always wrestled with whether to tell her the whole truth, but... I simply couldn't bear to. Thankfully, they've reconciled now. Qin Yu seems to be doing quite well."
Hu Tao exhaled slowly, trying to calm her restless heart.
"Fishy Treasure is living quite comfortably. Her boss is a good boss, and she's made plenty of good friends. But... well..." Hu Tao trailed off.
A mother would definitely notice.
As expected, Teacher nodded gently. "Qin Yu lost her other half, and then, when she came of age, I had to leave her too. She must have been terrified."
"Terrified..." Hu Tao murmured, lost in thought.
"Even if her conscious mind doesn't remember, her heart and body will never forget. Keqing chose to leave her, I was forced to leave her, and long before that, her biological parents abandoned her."
Teacher, well aware of Qin Yu's temperament, remarked, "But she's not the kind of child who enjoys being alone all the time. I doubt she's ever truly considered any place her home. After all, people matter most to her, not material possessions."
"Is that so? I wouldn't have guessed," Hu Tao said, surprised.
"That's just how she is. She's easily satisfied, but the real challenge lies in her unwillingness to let others satisfy her so easily. Oh, don't you dare repeat any of this to her! She's been quite the little firebrand since she was a child."
Hu Tao chuckled. "I wouldn't dare say a word."
She had a feeling Qin Yu's anger would be terrifying.
Teacher laughed a few times.
"Ha ha ha... Anyway, I've told you all this in the hope that you'll take good care of my troublesome daughter."
Take good care of...
Hu Tao chewed on the phrase, smiling as she asked, "Is this a quest, then?"
"Consider it one, but I can't offer any payment."
"No need, no need! Your daughter has already taken care of the payment."
Hu Tao adjusted her hat and said earnestly, "At Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, we offer exceptional service! We ensure you depart comfortably in life and peacefully in death! Whether the client is living or deceased, we always strive for excellence! So, rest assured, your daughter will be well cared for under my watch as Director."
"I never expected such thorough service. I'll definitely give you a five-star review!"
"Hehe, thank you, thank you!" Hu Tao grinned cheerfully.
"However..."
Hu Tao tilted her head slightly, puzzled by teacher's sudden change in tone. "However?"
Teacher hesitated, as if struggling to find the right words.
"Ahem... You wouldn't happen to be... you know... in that kind of relationship with my daughter?"
"What kind?"
Teacher awkwardly averted her gaze. "I overheard you say to her, 'I thought you wanted to kiss me,' and I've been wondering if that's the case."
"Ah—"
Oh no.
Hu Tao hadn't expected Qin Yu's mother to overhear that remark. A blush crept across her cheeks.
"What if I said yes?" Though it wasn't true, curiosity compelled her to ask.
"Well then..."
Teacher pressed a hand to her forehead, lost in thought. When she was alive, she never could have imagined things would turn out this way.
My own daughter... likes women?
"Well, as long as she's happy. I just never expected her to turn out this way. Could it be that her close bond with Keqing as a child was already a sign? And Keqing..." teacher muttered.
She understood and accepted it, but a subtle unease lingered.
Still, the thought of some random guy marrying Qin Yu and having children with her filled the teacher with far greater displeasure. By comparison, Qin Yu liking women seemed almost reassuring.
Besides, being with Keqing would guarantee a stable future for her daughter. Not a bad outcome, all things considered.
Wait a minute... if this Hu Tao girl and Qin Yu are a couple, what about Keqing? They've exchanged bracelets—their relationship must have deepened significantly...
Just as the teacher was fretting over her daughter's romantic life, Hu Tao chuckled.
"No, no, I was just teasing."
"Then why did you want to kiss my daughter?" teacher demanded, narrowing her eyes.
This is getting more complicated and worse.If I say it was just curiosity... would her overprotective maternal instincts ignite in fury? Ouch...
Hu Tao guiltily averted her gaze. "Well..."
"Hmm? Why is that?"
"Because I like her, of course!" Hu Tao replied with a smile, a genuine sentiment, though not in a romantic sense.
"So, you're not together yet? Hmm... Never mind. As long as you make Qin Yu happy, I won't complain. But if you ever betray her trust, you understand the consequences, right? Ah?"
"Of course, of course!" Hu Tao nodded repeatedly.
Teacher's smile shifted like a Sichuan opera mask. "That's good."
Qin Yu truly resembled her mother in every way.
"Alright, that's all I wanted to discuss. Go back now. I'll return to where the spirits dwell."
Hu Tao smiled faintly. "Take care."
"Hmm... Being able to see my daughter one last time is more than enough for me."
People become ghosts because of lingering regrets. Conversely, once those regrets are resolved, they cease to exist as spirits.
Now that Qin Yu's mother had fulfilled her final wish, only true departure awaited her.
"Safe travels," Hu Tao waved goodbye.
"Remember, don't tell Qin Yu any of this."
"I know, I know! And I'll complete your quest too, don't worry! Hu Tao always keeps her word!" Hu Tao said with a confident smile.
"Thank you."
Teacher turned and walked toward the "Boundary." The Boundary was the dividing line between life and death. Those who died with regrets would manifest as spirits at the Boundary. Those who fulfilled the wishes of the departed would also pass through the Boundary, traveling to their final resting place and vanishing into the distant horizon.
Yet generation after generation of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Directors never lingered at the Boundary. Each Director lived openly and honestly, departing without remorse, their lives and work free from dissatisfaction. Hu Tao had understood this long ago.
Now, watching Qin Yu's mother's retreating figure and recalling the quest she had entrusted to her, Hu Tao felt it again—she had definitely made the right choice in becoming the Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
This must be what it means to have a clear mind, she thought.
Hu Tao hurried to catch up with Qin Yu, who had already started walking ahead. Spotting Qin Yu's silhouette standing by a road sign, Hu Tao pounced on her in a hug.
"Sorry for the wait! Miss me?"
Whoa!? Qin Yu jumped in surprise, feeling Hu Tao's weight and warmth pressing against her back. She instantly felt annoyed.
Yet, inexplicably, a sliver of reassurance also stirred within her.
This must be because I haven't fully snapped out of that moment, Qin Yu thought. Despite her annoyance, she forced a smile to maintain her persona and replied, "It wasn't that long. What did you two talk about?"
"Hmm~ She asked me to take good care of you and told me lots of stories about your childhood."
Ha? Did she just spill all my embarrassing childhood secrets? Ugh... Qin Yu felt mortified and awkward.
Oh well...
"It's getting late. Let's head back? I've already explained to that man that the Adeptus he was looking for doesn't exist, and he's gone back."
Hu Tao slid off Qin Yu's back and fixed her gaze on her.
"W-what is it?" Qin Yu asked, embarrassed.
"Your mother... she's incredible."
"...Yes, she is."
Qin Yu turned her face away. "She's also a liar."
She knew it all too well.
"My dying wish is to see the world," "I'm not looking for a husband because I fear marriage"—these were all lies.
How could she tell? Because she was her daughter. Just as her mother could see through her act, she could see through her mother's lies.
As her teacher, her mother would say things that irritated her;
But as her mother, she would never say anything to upset her.
Qin Yu's eyes grew slightly warm, her throat tightening with a painful lump. She took a deep breath, suppressing the rising tide of emotion.
She said the strength of human relationships depends on how we perceive them... So if I believe it, our connection will become unbreakable?
They shared no blood ties. The only proof of their mother-daughter relationship was the adoption certificate and the bond in their hearts.
And the adoption certificate was just a few sheets of paper.
What truly mattered were thoughts, the heart, and other intangible things like that.
As long as I believe she's my mother and I'm her daughter, then we are mother and daughter.
This bond will remain unchanged as long as my heart remains steadfast.
Thinking about it this way, the Teacher was right. The strength of human relationships depends on one's beliefs... even across the divide between life and death. Qin Yu understood the meaning behind the Teacher's words, yet a deep sorrow welled within her.
Even so, she still longed for a tangible presence—someone she could see and touch. Qin Yu sighed inwardly.
The thought of returning to a house that wasn't home filled Qin Yu with anguish.
My only family has left me again.
Just me. Alone.
As these thoughts swirled, Hu Tao grasped Qin Yu's hand.
"Let's go? It's getting late. If we don't hurry, we'll have to camp out here."
Qin Yu gazed at Hu Tao for a moment, then, unable to bear the ache of melancholy, leaned in slightly closer.
Evaluation: A+
Hu Tao's voice softened considerably. "It's okay to get even closer, you know? This Director doesn't mind at all."
If I get any closer, we won't be able to walk.
What am I doing? I shouldn't let anyone see me like this. Qin Yu felt ashamed, her body flushing slightly.
Yet even as her temperature rose, she could still distinctly feel Hu Tao's warmth.
And she wanted to feel more.
Evaluation: S
Reuniting with her Teacher had given her a glimpse into the enduring strength of human bonds, yet left her with an unsettling emptiness. The warmth from Hu Tao's palm was as sweet as honey, but it was merely a drop in the ocean when it came to filling this void.
She craved more.
Evaluation: S+
Hesitating for a moment, Qin Yu shifted her grip, threading her fingers between Hu Tao's. Their palms pressed together, locking their hands tightly.
Hu Tao blinked, smiled, and returned the grip.
Ten fingers intertwined.
"Fishy Treasure, you're so proactive," Hu Tao teased.
Evaluation: SS-
Enough chatter.
Just this once.
I'll get myself back on track tomorrow.
I have to.
After all, I have no right to keep demanding like this.