If The Persona Is Wrong, Everything Else Is In Vain - Chapter 16

The “Uncle Zhao” they spoke of was a teacher at the Shuihe Village Primary School. Rumor had it that he had requested a transfer down to the countryside from a key school in Yunzhou on his own accord, and he had been doing it for ten years.

He lived in the school dormitory, which was about a ten minutes walk from Wei An’s house.

After Shuihe Village developed, the young people basically chose to leave. At the very least, they sent their children to study at schools in the town.

Therefore, although Shuihe Village Primary School was called a school, it was actually just the first old house at the entrance of the village, without even a signboard. There were no more than ten students in total, all of whom were left-behind children who hadn’t been taken out by their parents and lived with the elderly in the village.

Xiao Yang walked ahead to lead the way, remaining silent.

The former field paths had now been paved into concrete roads, they weren’t wide, but they would definitely never be like when he was studying as a child, where the road became slippery and difficult to walk as soon as it rained, leaving one covered in mud and resulting in a beating upon returning home.

Lin Luo had walked this road countless times. The fields on both sides were still familiar, vast and boundless. The sunlight spilled onto the rapeseed flowers that had not yet completely withered, golden and dazzling, making him feel for the first time that the journey was long.

Following behind Xiao Yang, he casually asked while tapping on his phone keyboard, “You’re not a local, are you?”

Xiao Yang’s figure froze for a moment, and he nodded. “I’m from Yunzhou.”

“Why come to Shuihe Village?” Lin Luo asked again.

“To travel, and then I fell in love with the local customs and folkways here,” Xiao Yang took a deep breath and exhaled heavily, “so I stayed.”

“I mainly help out at the school, and occasionally do some farm work for the villagers.”

Lin Luo glanced at him, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. “You have a pretty good relationship with Wei An?”

“When I first arrived in the village, he helped me.”

“Then you also know about his situation?” Lin Luo intentionally said with a serious expression, “As an Omega, he also likes Omegas. He broke a taboo.”

An puzzled Xiao Yang looked back. “So what? It turns out Mr. Lin also likes to gossip behind people’s backs?” Disgust arose in his eyes.

Lin Luo shrugged and said indifferently, “I’m just stating a fact.”

Xiao Yang bit his teeth and quickened his pace. “You should go back and rest first, I can go by myself.”

Lin Luo didn’t show any of his usual tactfulness at all, he also quickened his pace, deliberately pressing close to him, asking annoying questions left and right, “Do you like Wei An?”

Xiao Yang: “No. I have no obligation to report my private affairs to you.”

“True.” Lin Luo nodded and stopped where he was, watching his gradually receding back. His gaze grew cold, and his vision slowly moved downward, targeting a pile of fresh cow dung not far away.

He lowered his eyes to scan his phone screen, quickly replied to the last message on his phone, and then swiftly raised his eyes. Only when Xiao Yang got closer did he speak up.

“The matter you agreed with him on, why aren’t you doing it anymore?” His voice was neither light nor heavy, just enough to reach Xiao Yang’s ears.

“What did you say?” Xiao Yang turned around. Feeling guilty for a moment, his feet became unsteady, and he stepped right into the fresh cow dung. His expression turned ugly, and he subconsciously clenched his phone, hiding it behind his back.

Lin Luo didn’t even glance at it. He walked straight over and rather forcefully snatched the hidden phone, finding the plan he and Wei An had discussed to approach Zhou Wan on it, it wasn’t very clever.

Lin Luo shook the phone, displaying the screen directly in front of him. “Your purpose for doing this shouldn’t be as simple as just getting close to Zhou Wan, right?”

“It’s none of your business.” Xiao Yang raised his hand to grab the phone, but Lin Luo deftly dodged it.

Lin Luo had a very good personality and was usually gentle with others; almost no one who knew him had seen him truly angry, at most trading a few barbs with Gu Ning when they bickered.

But this time he was genuinely angry. With a gloomy face, he not only agilely dodged Xiao Yang’s “attack” but even went on the offensive, subduing him in two or three moves. He pinned those restless hands behind Xiao Yang’s back and said calmly, “But it concerns Zhou Wan.”

“So, then it naturally concerns me.”

Although Zhou Wan hadn’t said anything, when they were on the mountain, the shock to his injured leg must have hurt badly.

The breath that Lin Luo couldn’t let out at the time finally found a delayed outlet.

Xiao Yang struggled a few times, marvelling in his heart at Lin Luo’s strength. From his appearance, it was absolutely impossible for him to have such power.

In his opinion, Lin Luo could at most be considered a vase in the entertainment industry with a bit more sense of strength, just a little bit.

Lin Luo pulled back his right sleeve, and several dark purple red marks instantly revealed themselves, left from when he saved Lin Luo on the tea mountain just now.

Lin Luo’s gaze rested on those few bloody marks for a few seconds, and he sneered, “Is this also a step in your plan?”

He had long felt that Xiao Yang’s attitude toward him was a bit strange. To put it sinisterly, he didn’t think being nice to a stranger could reach the level of always keeping one’s eyes on them.

“Let me make a bold guess,” Lin Luo said. “Could this be to make me owe you a favor?”

“And then make it easier to persuade Zhou Wan to go up the mountain with you?”

Xiao Yang bit his teeth and remained silent, so Lin Luo continued to speak for him, “But in the end, your goal still wasn’t achieved. Wei An didn’t become disappointed in Zhou Wan.”

“Stop talking!” Xiao Yang shouted.

Lin Luo lowered his eyes, dropping some pity on his face. “Then you say it.” With that, he released Xiao Yang’s hand, crossed his arms over his chest, and looked at him expressionlessly.

“Xiao An asked me to help him approach Zhou Wan,” Xiao Yang rubbed his aching arms, paused, rubbed his face, and said, “He said as long as he could bring Zhou Wan to the mountain to satisfy his wish to look at the person he likes… up close, he would properly receive treatment afterward.”

“I knew his real thoughts, so I directly refused, but he threatened me with suicide. I had no choice…”

He raised his eyes to look at Lin Luo, his eyes bloodshot, looking exceptionally exhausted. “However, based on my observation of you guys yesterday, I didn’t think Zhou Wan would pay him any attention. I guessed that once he was completely disappointed, he would be able to cheer up.”

He gave a bitter smile, “But I seem to have underestimated Xiao An’s persistence. He probably really likes Zhou Wan.”

“For a mere guess, you disregarded human life?” Lin Luo grabbed him by the collar. “He almost killed you at that time.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve already decided not to indulge him anymore,” Xiao Yang gave up his inner struggle, looking as if all the strength had been drained from his body, and sincerely apologized to Lin Luo, “I’m sorry for the trouble caused to you before. It won’t happen again.”

Lin Luo was silent. Only after a long while did he say, “Are you sure?”

Xiao Yang frowned. “What do you mean?”

Lin Luo irritably ruffled his hair and pulled the guy out of the cow dung. “Go to the school first.” The notification ringtone buzzed in his pocket, making his fingertips go numb.

Today was Sunday, and only Uncle Zhao was holding the fort at the school, which was extraordinarily quiet. The two of them bypassed the three story old house from the front gate and came to the backyard.

“Uncle Zhao,” Xiao Yang called inside.

A tall, thin man came out of the kitchen, wearing a long gown that was washed greyish-white from ancient times. He was in his forties, with his hair almost completely white. He pushed his glasses to see the visitor clearly.

The soup bowl in his hand went into free fall, and the crisp sound shattered the green vegetable and radish soup, splashing a wet mess all over the floor.

Xiao Yang stepped forward to help clean up, while Zhao Wenying stood frozen in place, staring blankly at Lin Luo.

“Xiao Luo… you are Xiao Luo, right? It’s been many years since we last met, you’ve grown so big.” Zhao Wenying’s voice trembled.

Lin Luo froze, his mind going blank for an instant. Immediately, blood color dyed his memories and vision, and his old man Lin Shen’s bloody face appeared before his eyes again, his smile pale.

He had found relief, leaving all the sins to be atoned for and responsibilities to be borne to those who remained alive.

Zhao Wenying walked up to Lin Luo, wanting to pull his hand in joy, but didn’t dare to approach, withdrawing his hand awkwardly. He muttered for a long time, weighing his words, “How have you been these past few years? Your mother, she…”

Lin Luo abruptly rubbed his face and raised his hand to stop Zhao Wenying’s words and actions. “Wait a moment.”

The sudden appearance of Zhao Wenying seemed to rob the already thin oxygen, making even breathing difficult. Lin Luo squatted straight down, drawing in large gulps of oxygen, his fingers buried in his hair, pushing all the bothersome broken hair on his forehead upward.

After easing up for a while, he slightly raised his head and asked abruptly, “What is your name?”

He suddenly remembered that after resenting for so many years, he actually didn’t even know Zhao Wenying’s name.

In his memory, although this uncle was his father’s childhood friend, the two had very little contact after his father’s marriage, and they had never met together in any situation involving his mother. The few meetings were always on the way to pick up his mother from work.

Every time, he would always get an “exorbitantly expensive” ice cream or an exquisite toy in exchange for keeping this unspeakable secret meeting, and their meeting time was always very short, cutting off when Lin Luo’s mother finished work.

Despite this, his father always seemed to find an extraordinary smile that had been lost for many years from the brief encounters.

It turned out that there were clues early on.

Zhao Wenying didn’t know what was going on, standing there like a pole, his face full of sorrow, his thoughts chaotic. Quite possibly, Lin Luo’s words didn’t even register in his brain, and he didn’t manage to answer at all.

It was Xiao Yang, who came out after cleaning up and saw the wrong atmosphere between the two, who blurted out naturally, “Uncle Zhao’s real name is Zhao Wenying.”

“You know each other?” He pointed at the two of them.

“Zhao Wenying?” This name passed through Lin Luo’s mouth, and he suddenly smiled. “What a great name.”

Lin Luo remembered that when he was a child, his parents’ relationship had always been very good, belonging to a couple who respected each other like guests. Other people’s parents might occasionally argue, but since his memory began, he had never seen his parents blush with anger.

No matter how many years passed, they called each other by names unique to the other party. When he was ignorant, after hearing his mother’s explanation, Lin Luo even thought it was quite romantic.

Luo Wenying calling Lin Shen “A-Shen” was a call to the person she loved.

As for Lin Shen calling her “Wenying”, whether it was “Wenying” or the “Wenying” that haunted his dreams, only he himself knew in his heart. It was just that up until now, Luo Wenying thought it was “Wenying” and deeply hated the culprit who “killed” her loved one. Lin Luo.

Lin Luo stood up and said to Xiao Yang, “I’ll wait outside.”

After speaking, he lifted his foot and left, not daring to look at Zhao Wenying again. Zhao Wenying wanted to follow, but was dragged back by Xiao Yang.

A low wicker fence surrounded the outside of the school, and a set of woven bamboo tables and chairs sat at the entrance. Lin Luo leaned back against the chair and lit a cigarette, the smoke rings slowly puffing out and curling up into the air to dissipate.

Following the direction where the smoke dissolved, his gaze turned to the bushes outside the village. Looking closely, one could see a dirt mound hidden behind them, a grave left uncared for several years. Far from being overgrown with weeds, there were fresh offerings placed on the steps in front.

Lin Luo took another deep puff of smoke and turned his gaze back to this old house.

He took out his phone and found Lin Er-mao, the village “intermediary” who arranged for Lin Shen’s return to his roots. The message still stopped at Lin Luo asking him to make arrangements as soon as possible, while he tried every means to put it off and asked for more money in a disguised way.

Three months had passed since this conversation.

Lin Luo sent a message over. May I ask how long it will take to arrange it?

At the same time the message was sent out, an exclamation mark also appeared opportunely. Lin Luo sneered, “As expected.”

Into whose pocket the burial fees remitted on time every month went, and who was regularly taking care of the grave, everything was self-evident. He threw his phone onto the table and smoked several cigarettes in a row.

He didn’t care about the money spent at all.

No matter who it was given to, and whether that person actually did the work, he only needed the title of burying Lin Shen to bring temporary peace to his riddled heart.

After finishing the last puff of what he didn’t know was which cigarette, Zhao Wenying happened to appear in front of him.

Lin Luo glanced at him faintly, put out the cigarette, handed the phone over, and asked, “What is your relationship with Lin Er-mao?”

Hearing this, Zhao Wenying froze. “From, from the same village.”

Lin Luo nodded. “He took the money but didn’t do the work. Do you know about this?”

“He even took money from you?!” Zhao Wenying said in shock.

Lin Luo locked eyes with him. “How did you know what I was referring to?” His sharp gaze almost pierced through Zhao Wenying.

Zhao Wenying silently lowered his head, his head full of silver hair swaying with the movement. He had an aging appearance beyond his years. “I’m sorry, I was afraid you would avoid me if I appeared directly, so I could only help in the name of a third person.”

“Don’t worry, I will help you get the money back.”

“Lin Er-mao?” Xiao Yang muttered softly. “So you give that rogue money every month not because he’s extorting you?”

The originally very small voice was still heard by Lin Luo, who glared at him.

“How are you going to pursue it? Fight him with this life that is already shattered into pieces?” Lin Luo only found it inexplicably funny. He sneered, “You are truly a great philanthropist, not only not taking money, but even losing money to take on work.”

“How many years has Lin Shen been dead? Logically speaking, he owed you quite a bit too. Far from holding a grudge, you’ve been busy helping him manage his funeral affairs, and even threw in your own life.”

Lin Luo looked around, pointing at this school which bore traces of manual repairs everywhere bit by bit. “Is this the result of what you’ve strived for all your life?”

“Or is that one instead?” He turned his hand and pointed again to the location where Lin Shen was buried.

“Xiao Luo… I…” The spine that Zhao Wenying had held straight for a lifetime seemed to collapse in an instant, and thousands of words couldn’t break through the seal in his heart.

Lin Luo interrupted him, “In what capacity exactly did you give up a bright future overnight and decide to stay in a place like this where you can’t even see tomorrow? A Shuihe Village villager? Teacher Zhao?”

“Or rather, Lin Shen’s widow.”