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People often say the greatest distance is that between life and death. At that moment, Nathaniel suddenly gained a new understanding of this phrase.

—She said, after her death, she would have nothing to do with him anymore.

The love he had poured in for many years, the marriage he had struggled to maintain, all ended forcibly on the day Suzanne Saunders died.

The car arrived at the school.

Before getting out of the car, Purple Summers said to Nathaniel, “You have to understand, whether you accept it or not, we can never return to the past. Even if I hadn’t died in the accident that day, it would’ve been impossible for me to accept the entanglements between you and Jade Carlson. Our separation was inevitable, and now I am no longer Suzanne Saunders. Nathaniel, if we both take a step back, we can live well. There’s really no need to keep tormenting each other, let’s… part on good terms.”

After she finished speaking, just like always, she picked up her bag and got off the car, her expression unchanged as she walked into the school with the other students, without a hint of hesitation in her step.

Purple Summers herself felt she was being cold-hearted, but she also believed that this lack of sentiment, whether for her or for Nathaniel, was for the best.

She needed a new life, and so did Nathaniel. Dwelling on the past was nothing less than self-torture.

She didn’t wish to condemn Nathaniel’s betrayal, nor did she deign to accept his deep affection.

After returning to school, Purple Summers focused on her classes, no longer thinking about Nathaniel.

…

The next day was Purple Summers’ seventeenth birthday.

Unluckily, Atra Blanc fell ill. She mustered the strength to get out of bed, wanting to make a bowl of longevity noodles for her daughter, but her hands lacked the energy.

Purple Summers noticed something was off with Atra Blanc and stared suspiciously at her flushed face, asking, “Mom, do you have a fever?”

“Ah? Do I?” Atra Blanc, feeling groggy, touched her forehead and got a face full of white flour, somewhat out of sorts.

Purple Summers then pulled Atra Blanc out of the kitchen and had her sit on the sofa, carefully taking her temperature.

“Mom, you do have a fever,” Purple Summers said, frowning at the electronic thermometer, “Why don’t I take the day off today and stay home to take care of you?”

“It’s okay, a piece of antipyretic and a nap should do the trick,” Atra Blanc felt it was a trivial matter and didn’t want to disrupt her daughter’s schooling. But she felt guilty about her daughter’s lack of birthday noodles and breakfast.

“How about this, I’ll ask someone from the big kitchen to send over some breakfast?” Atra Blanc suggested.

“We still have bread at home, I’ll just eat something simple,” Purple Summers said as she rummaged through the medicine box, found some antipyretic, and poured a glass of water for Atra Blanc.

Atra Blanc felt blessed and said with a smile, “Daughters are truly the caring little padded jackets of their parents.”

Purple Summers also smiled, finding Atra Blanc easily contented.

After Atra Blanc went upstairs to rest, Purple Summers made a call to Alexander Summers to inform him that Atra Blanc was sick.

“… She has taken an antipyretic, but I’m still a little worried. Can you come back now? I need to go to school soon, and I’m afraid there’s no one to take care of Mom.”

Alexander said he would come back immediately.

Purple Summers hung up and looked at the wall clock, silently calculating the time, thinking that missing morning self-study should be fine.

As she waited for Alexander to return, she got washed and changed clothes, refilled the water in the snake house, topped off the bird feeder, bustling around for a while.

Later, she heard footsteps at the entrance. Turning her head, she saw Alexander’s tall figure standing against the backlight. The golden morning light shone on his silhouette, making his handsome face appear exceptionally gentle.

Despite it being only a few days since they last saw each other, Purple Summers felt as if it were all a dream.

“You’re back,” she said with a smile that curved her brows and eyes, like a wife would.