The Ren family's gate was already shut tight. With Hong Jie's help, they managed to contact Aunt Chen, who worked as a maid for the Ren family.
It was on that very night that Ou Yunchen learned about Ren Jiaqi's personality and how he acted around his sister from Aunt Chen.
Aunt Chen: "Mr. Ou, you really look so much like young master Jiaqi. It's just that he wasn't as tall as you and seemed thinner."
Ou Yunchen: "What was he like when he was with Ren Xiaoguang?"
Aunt Chen: "He'd cling to his sister like a child, always wanting to hold her arm. Oh, and he liked to rest his head on her shoulder."
As Aunt Chen described the past events, Ou Yunchen took notes of what Ren Jiaqi might have done. He even had Aunt Chen check if his expressions were similar...
It wasn't until dawn that Ou Yunchen finished hearing the stories of Ren Jiaqi and Ren Xiaoguang's childhood.
Aunt Chen: "Mr. Ou, young master Jiaqi's death has always been a thorn in miss's heart. Although she is very strong, we all hope she can finally let go..."
Ou Yunchen: "I'm just afraid that seeing my face will make her even sadder..."
Aunt Chen: "She's sad because she broke her promise. She deeply regrets not accompanying him to the place he wanted to go on his eighteenth birthday..."
Aunt Chen sighed and continued, "Mr. Ou, I'm entrusting this to you. I hope you can untangle the knot in miss's heart. We haven't seen her truly smile in a long time..."
Ou Yunchen nodded, left the Ren residence, and hurried home to shower before heading to the airport.
***
As fate would have it, on the same flight as Ou Yunchen was Shu Yi, Ren Jiaqi's favorite idol.
Ou Yunchen encountered him in the restroom. To Shu Yi's surprise, Ou Yunchen excitedly grabbed his hand and wouldn't let go. Shu Yi roared, summoning the flight attendant.
Ren Xiaoguang, groggy, thought she heard an argument. She quickly looked over and indeed, Ou Yunchen wasn't in his seat.
When Ren Xiaoguang went to check, she saw Ou Yunchen squatting on the ground, holding his head. Terrified, Ren Xiaoguang immediately thought of her brother's autism and rushed to embrace "Ren Jiaqi."
Ren Xiaoguang: "Don't be scared, little brother. Sister is here."
Flight Attendant: "Miss Ren, our passenger has reported you for harassment."
Ren Xiaoguang: "I'm sorry, my brother is..."
Ou Yunchen looked up at Ren Xiaoguang with teary eyes, as if Ren Jiaqi were truly crying in his sister's arms.
Ren Xiaoguang: "I apologize on behalf of my brother."
Ren Xiaoguang escorted "Ren Jiaqi" back to his seat. She then approached Shu Yi, bowing repeatedly and apologizing. She handed him her business card, hoping he wouldn't press charges against "Ren Jiaqi."
Shu Yi took the card, glanced at Ou Yunchen sitting nearby, then turned away, acting as if he had forgiven him.
Ren Xiaoguang: "My brother really likes you, that's why he got so excited when he saw you."
Shu Yi opened his mouth as if to say something, then paused, but ultimately said nothing.
Ren Xiaoguang continued to apologize as she retreated to her own seat.
Ren Xiaoguang looked at "Ren Jiaqi," who had buried himself in a blanket and was sobbing. Her heart ached. She knew it wasn't her brother, yet Ou Yunchen's portrayal was so convincing.
She thought to herself, if this was a second chance at healing, then she would let it unfold. At least she had found the world's only antidote for regret.
Ou Yunchen continued to play the role of the talented yet helpless Ren Jiaqi, sometimes forgetting that he was the calculating adopted son.
Ren Xiaoguang: "Shall we go back home tomorrow?"
Ou Yunchen: "No!"
Ren Xiaoguang: "Be good, little brother. We've been out secretly for three days. If I don't go back soon, the company will be in chaos."
Ou Yunchen: "I won't!"
Ren Xiaoguang: "How about this? We'll go to Universal Studios again today, and then go home tomorrow, okay?"
Ou Yunchen pushed Ren Xiaoguang away, dropping his ice cream.
Ren Xiaoguang chased after him for a while, but Ou Yunchen disappeared. Distressed, Ren Xiaoguang called out, shouting "Ren Jiaqi's" name, but received no response.
Ren Xiaoguang stood anxiously on the street. She searched for a long time, but Ou Yunchen—no, "Ren Jiaqi"—was truly lost.
Time ticked by. Ren Xiaoguang, desperate, went to the police station, but they wouldn't even consider a missing person case that hadn't reached even a full day.
After waiting at the police station for a long time, Ren Xiaoguang suddenly received a text message.
Ou Yunchen sent Ren Xiaoguang an address, where a music festival was taking place.
By the time Ren Xiaoguang arrived, it was already dark. The venue was teeming with enthusiastic music festival fans.
Ren Xiaoguang kept calling, trying to locate Ou Yunchen, but his phone seemed to be unanswered again.
Tears streamed down Ren Xiaoguang's face as she silently prayed. She wished "Ren Jiaqi" would be safe and that Ou Yunchen would appear before her quickly.
With a bang, tonight's special guest made their appearance, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Amidst a shower of fireworks, Shu Yi appeared on stage. His fans screamed, and Ren Xiaoguang's calls for Ou Yunchen were lost in the din.
Shu Yi: "Thank you very much to the organizers for the invitation. Today, a special friend has also come here..."
Shu Yi began to sing a ballad he had released many years ago, the song that propelled him to the top of the Billboard charts for three consecutive weeks.
Shu Yi: "Actually, this song was inspired by a special fan who shared his story with me, and I wrote it for him..."
Shu Yi: "I thought I would never see him again because he broke his promise years ago and didn't come to my concert."
"Some said he was dead, that he was gone, but I believed in miracles. I said I would see him, and I would! Look, a miracle has happened, and I've seen him again!!!"
At this moment, another figure emerged on stage. He had silver hair, exaggerated piercings, dressed in the trendiest hip-hop style, and a tattoo on his arm matching Shu Yi's.
As Ren Jiaqi's overwhelmingly handsome face appeared on the giant screen, Ren Xiaoguang covered her mouth and screamed. She felt like she was seeing her real brother, sharing the stage with his favorite singer!!!
"Ren Jiaqi": "Shu Yi's fans never break their promises."
After the two bumped fists, the song began to play, but it was drowned out by the thousands singing along; Ren Jiaqi's voice was inaudible.
Ren Xiaoguang, tears streaming, jumped up, hoping her brother on stage could see her. She screamed Ren Jiaqi's name until she was hoarse.
Happiness often came so suddenly. Ou Yunchen's appearance was like a crack of light in her endless darkness, someone from beyond the crack telling her everything would be alright...
At this point, a photo was sent to Ren Xiaoguang's phone. The "Ren Jiaqi" on stage and Shu Yi had taken a photo together. This was the birthday gift he had most desired.
— "Ren Jiaqi's" Text Message —
"Sister, thank you for taking me to Shu Yi's concert on my eighteenth birthday."
"Sister, today is the happiest day of my life. I have no regrets."
"Sister, I hope you don't have regrets either."
— End of "Ren Jiaqi's" Text Message —
Ren Xiaoguang cried so hard she couldn't see the words on her phone. Everyone was cheering excitedly, but only she was weeping desperately in the crowd.
Perhaps this was the best farewell to Ren Jiaqi. The promise of that birthday had only been delayed for many years, not broken...
***
On the flight back home, Ren Xiaoguang was silent and didn't resume her work, instead staring blankly out the window.
Ou Yunchen had intended to return with her, but Ren Xiaoguang refused.
— Before Boarding —
Ou Yunchen: "Why isn't my ticket for the same day as yours?"
Ren Xiaoguang: "I want to go back alone."
Ou Yunchen: "Why?"
Ren Xiaoguang: "You've helped me resolve my inner conflict. You don't need to pretend to be Ren Jiaqi anymore."
Ou Yunchen: "But..."
Ren Xiaoguang: "Thank you for giving me such a wonderful surprise."
Ren Xiaoguang looked at Ou Yunchen, his black hair and formal attire restored, and noticed that the tattoo on his arm was gone. She smiled with relief.
Ren Xiaoguang: "You look better like this. I thought you actually got a tattoo."
Ou Yunchen: "That was temporary spray paint, it washes off with water."
There was no trace of Ren Jiaqi left on Ou Yunchen. His mission was complete.
Ren Xiaoguang: "I will cherish the memories you've given me forever."
Ren Xiaoguang patted Ou Yunchen's arm and boarded the return flight alone.
Just before the plane took off, a cooperation intention from Bixiu Garden arrived on Ou Yunchen's phone.
The project to develop the area below Baiyun Mountain into a beauty, medical, and leisure resort is expected to commence soon.
— End of Before Boarding —