Little Xuyan’s large eyes became red quickly. She felt grief as she tugged Xia Xiaofu’s hand and said, “Mummy, why is Grandma not coming back? I will miss Grandma.”
Xia Xiaofu kissed Little Xuyan’s cheek as she said, “Little Xuyan, Grandma went out travelling. Grandma had it hard taking care of Little Xuyan for all this time, so Grandma went by herself to a place with mountains and scenery to chill. After our Little Xuyan grows up and is filial towards Grandma, Grandma will come back.”
“Oh, okay then.” Little Xuyan nodded her head forcefully as she said, “But Mummy, what am I going to when I miss Grandma?”
“If Little Xuyan misses Grandma, you can come over here to visit Grandma. If you have anything that you want to say or if you have any present that you’ve prepared for Grandma, you can bring it all here. Grandma would know everything.”
Little Xuyan quickly broke out into a smile. She walked over to the gravestone as she gave the picture of Xia Xiaofu’s mother a kiss, and in her childish voice, she said, “Grandma, you must be very very happy when you go overseas travelling. I will be obedient and listen to whatever Mummy says. I will grow up quickly, and when that time comes, I will welcome Grandma back.”
Xia Xiaofu stood up, and she looked at the two gravestones. Dad, Mum, both of you can rest in peace now, she said softly in her heart.
“Little Xuyan, the rain is getting heavier. Let’s go home now.” Xia Xiaofu held Little Xuyan’s hand as she spoke.
“Okay.” Little Xuyan nodded her head.
Both of them walked forward, and they’d just taken a step when the umbrella in Xia Xiaofu’s right hand was blown away by a gust of autumn wind.
Her right wrist was injured and could not exert any strength, so she could only watch the umbrella fly away to a faraway place before her eyes.
The rain was very cold and very heavy, and it poured down on them. Xia Xiaofu parted her legs apart and went to pick the umbrella up.
At that moment, Ou Luoxi stood at a secluded turn. He was dressed in a black shirt as he held a black umbrella in his hand while he looked at the pair of mother and daughter. They were both soaked in the rain, and he was in a hurry and wanted to run over.
But suddenly, a handsome figure appeared, and a black umbrella was opened over Xia Xiaofu and Little Xuyan’s heads.
Xia Xiaofu raised her gaze up to look and quickly broke out into a smile as she said, “Sir, why are you here?”
It was Chen Jingyu.
Chen Jingyu looked at Xia Xiaofu’s small, exquisite face that’d gotten slimmer and had a gentle smile on his face as he said, “Over the past two months, I was working overseas, and the moment I came back, I heard about you two. I am here to send Aunty off.”
Chen Jingyu placed a white flower by the gravestone and bowed down.
“Sir, thank you for coming.”
“Xiaofu, birth and death are all natural signs of life. I believe that in Aunty’s opinion, as long as you and Little Xuyan are able to live happily, she would be comfortable.”
“Okay.” Xia Xiaofu nodded her head and said, “I understand.”
Chen Jingyu lowered his gaze down to look at Little Xuyan and said, “Little Xuyan, the rain is heavy now. There are puddles on the ground, and they would make your crystal shoes wet. I don’t know if Uncle has this honor to carry our little princess?”
Little Xuyan glanced at Xia Xiaofu, and opened her small arms out towards Chen Jingyu as she said, “Thank you, Uncle.”
Chen Jingyu bent over to carry Little Xuyan up in his arms. He used one arm to carry Little Xuyan steadily, and he used another hand to hold the umbrella up as he said, “Xiaodu, let’s go back now.”
“Okay.” The trio left the graveyard together.
Ou Luoxi looked at the trio that was disappearing before him slowly. Chen Jingyu said something softly, and Xia Xiaofu had a small smile on her face. Little Xuyan was nested in his embrace obediently, and the back profile of the trio was so peaceful and beautiful. They seemed just like a family…
The umbrella in Ou Luoxi’s hand fell to the ground without any strength, and the icy cold rain drenched him from top to toe entirely.
Xia Xiaofu recuperated in the hospital for an entire month, and her health got better as the days went by. Little Xuyan accompanied her Mummy for the entire day, and Chen Jingyu would come by everyday.
Ou Luoxi stood before the small window and could see what was happening inside. The sunshine from outside shone into the room, and the entire room was warm. Xia Xiaofu sat down on the bed, and Chen Jingyu took the fruit knife in his hand as he peeled an apple. Little Xuyan took a comic book in her hands as she asked Chen Jingyu a question —
“Uncle, the power line is drenched in the rain outside. It is so pitiful. Would it cry?”
“Little Xuyan, the power line would not cry. It is not a human. Humans aren’t constructed out of mud and cement; these items would not have any feelings and tear ducts.”
“Tear ducts?”
“Yeah, humans all have tear ducts, and when we are triggered or emotional, the tear ducts produce liquid, and we will tear up.”
“Then why would we shed tears?”
“Because we have feelings, just like…” Chen Jingyu handed a small piece of apple in his hands over to Xia Xiaofu’s lips as he said, “Uncle smiles when he sees your Mummy.”
Xia Xiaofu did not want him to feed her. She stretched her hand out to take the toothpick and took a bite of apple as she said, “Little Xuyan, don’t keep bothering Uncle. Uncle is very busy with his work.”
As she spoke, Xia Xiaofu looked at Chen Jingyu and said, “Sir, you cannot spoil her too much. Otherwise, she will cling to you in the future.”
Chen Jingyu placed the slice of apple into the fruit platter before he bent his waist down to carry Little Xuyan. He picked her up high as he turned a few rounds on the spot. “Uncle is good friends with Little Xuyan. If Little Xuyan likes Uncle, then come and stick with Uncle all you want.”
It was the first time that Little Xuyan was flying up so high. She opened her small hands up as she fluttered in the air. “Oh, I am flying, flying…”
Xia Xiaofu looked at both of them, and there was a sweet smile curling up on the corners of her lips.
After one month, Xia Xiaofu was discharged from the hospital. Chen Jingyu took a bag in one and used another hand to hold Little Xuyan as he said, “Xiaofu, I have already settled the hospital discharge documents. We can go home now.”
“Okay, sure.” Xia Xiaofu nodded her head.
After going out of the main lobby of the hospital, Chen Jingyu carried Little Xuyan into the backseat of a Land Rover. He turned back to have a look. Xia Xiaofu was lagging behind on her own, and she turned her gaze back to look at the hospital behind her.
Chen Jingyu stood up straight and gently called out to her, “Xiaofu…”
Xia Xiaofu turned around. Chen Jingyu was smiling at her gently, and she also curled the corners of her lips up.
The Land Rover started its engine. Little Xuyan lay down on her mother’s thighs and fell asleep. Xia Xiaofu caressed her soft black hair, Chen Jingyu looked back through the rear view mirror and said, “Xiaofu, I heard that Fourth Uncle retired officially a week ago. Ou Luoxi took over Green Door officially, and he has become the 13th leader of the Green Door.”
Xia Xiaofu’s hand froze before she regained normalcy as she hummed out, “Okay.”
“Xiaofu, I saw Ou Luoxi in the hospital. He stood outside the door for the entire time and did not come inside…”
Xia Xiaofu did not say anything.
Chen Jingyu noticed that she was unwilling to speak about this topic, and he also fell silent as he took mother and daughter back home.
Xia Xiaofu still lived in the same condominium unit. Her mother was not around anymore, and there were just the two of them left in the condominium unit. It was extremely silent, so it was a good thing that Little Xuyan liked to talk non stop as she trailed behind Mummy. She added much happiness and warmth to this empty condominium.
One day, Xia Xiaofu brought Little Xuyan over to the playground to play. She had not brought Little Xuyan out for a very long time already, and Chen Jingyu was the driver.