Unknown Intrusion

Chapter 102 Rose Garden
Blackshire
"Xiaoyu? Xiaoyu?" The voices of the people around him brought Su Yu back to her senses.

Su Maode said, "The sky is overcast, it might rain. Let's go home first, put our luggage down, let them know we're safe, I still need to go to the hospital."

"Okay." Su Yu looked up at the gathering dark clouds, then followed Su Maode out of the carriage in the wind, dragging the suitcase wheels towards the residential area.

Thirteen days have passed since the day the tomb was explored.

Since that day, everyone's curse has been gradually diminishing, and they can be restored with just one removal of the curse from the academy, hospital, or temple, and the courtyard has also returned to its original state.

Afterwards, he tried to find another opportunity to enter the underground tomb, but he couldn't find it.

Su Yu had a vague feeling that no matter how hard he searched, it would be difficult to find it.

Fortunately, the curse gradually disappeared, and the courtyard returned to normal. Not wanting to cause any further trouble, Su Yu followed the others and left by boat, returning to his hometown.

The journey back was uneventful; we didn't even encounter a storm, except for a brief rain shower near the port.

The rain was light and had stopped by the time the fleet reached the shore.

Su Yu and Su Maode hired a carriage and headed home, where they finally arrived.

When Su Yu entered, Cheng Qiaoqiao was bending over and patting the grass seeds off the hem of her skirt. Dried fruit rolled out of the wicker basket as she moved, and they could hear the sound of suitcase wheels rolling over the stone pavement in the distance.

She straightened up a beat slower than she remembered.

The pleats of the white cotton dress gathered at the waist, creating an arc, while strands of hair fell with gold, like a generous gift from the forest.

This was not an illusion. Su Yu tightened his grip on the suitcase. In his eyes, the girl in front of him was enveloped in a light of emerald green and gold, very faint, but there was something there.

"Qiaoqiao seems to have changed?"

"Qiaoqiao, you're a bit too charred from the sun." Su Yu stared at her, his gaze sweeping over her skin and landing on her hand holding the bamboo basket.

Cheng Qiaoqiao's hands were originally fair and delicate, but now they are a bit darker and seem to have thin calluses. Her nails are dyed a light blue color with herbal juice, like the tender buds of ferns that have not yet unfolded in early spring.

Just a month ago, Cheng Qiaoqiao was wearing boots and standing on the platform's stone piers, tilting her head and mocking her own taste. But now, she exudes a more forest-like aura.

"Really? You've changed quite a bit too!"

As she turned around, the hem of her skirt swayed, carrying a fragrance, and she looked over as well.

At this moment, he seemed to have grown taller. Most importantly, although he still had the naivety of a boy, he seemed to exude a resolute and determined air as he stood there.

This is the mature quality of a man.

“I went to the Tranquil Forest once and brought you dried fruit and matsutake mushrooms.” Cheng Qiaoqiao poked the bamboo basket with her fingertip: “I live not far from here. There is a fallen tree that grows matsutake mushrooms, and it is said that there are two more clusters than last year, so I picked half of them.”

Su Yu reached out to steady the crooked bamboo basket, and their fingertips touched, causing both of them to shudder.

At this moment, Su Maode coughed.

Cheng Qiaoqiao seemed to only then realize that someone else was there. She turned her face away, her ear tips flushing slightly: "Uncle Su, you're back!"

Cheng Qiaoqiao was very happy that Su Yu's father had returned safely.

"Qiaoqiao, is my mom home now?" Su Yu composed herself, and thinking about her previous sneaking away, she finally felt a little uneasy when she arrived at her doorstep.

Cheng Qiaoqiao gently scolded, "Auntie was at home and already told me how could you sneak onto the boat? Auntie was so worried and said she was going to discipline you..."

As they were talking, a woman came out to greet them. Upon seeing Su Yu, her eyebrows furrowed: "You dare come back..."

"Mom!" Su Yu immediately turned to Su Maode: "Dad, you must have a lot to say to Mom. Tell her you're safe and sound before you go to the hospital. Qiaoqiao and I also have things to do, so we won't be home for lunch and will be back a little later today."

Su Maode had no idea what his son was thinking. He wanted to see his wife immediately. He glanced at his son and Cheng Qiaoqiao, and not only agreed, but also considerately took out a wallet and handed it to Su Yu.

"Buy whatever you want to eat."

The island itself was none of their business on this voyage, but a certain percentage of the gold, silver and jewelry they collected was distributed. It is said that each person received an average of 300 gold sea dragons, which was considered a windfall.

If you're going to let your son spend that girl's money, that's just outrageous.

His son had also accomplished quite a bit this time, but he hadn't received his reward yet. Su Maode, unaware that Su Yu had money, handed over his entire wallet to him. Su Yu didn't stand on ceremony, smiling, "Thank you, Dad. We'll be going now!"

As she spoke, she gave Cheng Qiaoqiao a look, and ignoring her mother's scolding, the two of them ran out.

"Xiaoyu, let's go to my secret base again. I have something to show you," Cheng Qiaoqiao said mysteriously. The girl seemed very happy, walking with light steps.

The place Qiaoqiao was taking him to was obviously the villa from last time.

Just like last time, the exterior looked a bit dilapidated, and ordinary people wouldn't easily step inside. Qiaoqiao used her key to open the door and gestured for Su Yu to come in.

"A lot has changed here..."

Following Qiaoqiao in, I thought that since no one had taken care of it for a long time, the courtyard should be relatively desolate. But now, the fountain was gushing water, and there were many roses, a blend of deep purple and crimson, with petals that shimmered. The air was filled with a faint fragrance similar to aged red wine, mixed with a cold scent. This contradictory aroma seemed to divide the courtyard into two worlds.

"Qiaoqiao, your strength has improved?"

Restoring the Rose Garden to its former glory cannot be accomplished by human effort alone.

All the changes here are related to Cheng Qiaoqiao, who inherited the Rose Garden.

Cheng Qiaoqiao smiled brightly: "I went to the Tranquil Forest. There were many witches in the forest who taught me. I received a lot of feedback and am now a quasi-professional!"

"The mystery surrounding roses... The Rose Witch?"

A fog in his heart suddenly cleared up. Since returning from the island, Su Yu felt that his perception (spiritual sense) had improved a lot, and he looked up.

Fine white snowflakes drifted in front of me, passing over the courtyard and landing on the gray stone walls.

Inside and outside the courtyard, separated by a thick, tall black iron fence, a world of snow unfolds.

There was no fluctuation of elements, nor any spiritual power, yet strangely enough, not even a single snowflake fell into the courtyard.

Moreover, while there was a slight chill in the air outside, it was warm and cozy inside.

It's snowing again...

Su Yu pulled his hat down low and tightened his clothes, even though it wasn't cold around him.

Perhaps because the island is drifting and occasionally passes through areas where certain elements are active... the seasons here don't change so clearly.

Occasionally, like today, it suddenly starts snowing, which can be quite a headache.

Su Yu looked at the rose garden in front of him and fell into deep thought.

Cheng Qiaoqiao really likes roses.

Furthermore, it is said that her mother also loved growing roses.

Of all the flowers, she had a particular fondness for roses, and among roses, she preferred the black rose.

He hadn't paid much attention to it before, but seeing the garden full of roses and its unique features, Su Yu began to make connections...

Before his rebirth, Su Yu had never truly entered the realm of mystery, and he didn't even know Cheng Qiaoqiao's career path.

Of course, in the original situation, telling him wouldn't have made a difference.

"So this is the witch's breeding ground, the Rose Garden!"

"I've heard that every flower planted by a witch has a meaning."

"She asked me to bring flowers and plant them, is she hoping to remember me forever?"

I can't quite describe the emotions I feel.

He just felt a bit choked up.

(End of this chapter)