Dongfang Liuyun.
She was wearing a black mid-length trench coat like him with her long hair hanging over her shoulders and a pair of black combat boots that were slightly stained with dust. She put one hand in her pocket while holding a big black umbrella in the other as she walked towards Qi Lei. Finally, she stopped beside him.
She glanced at Qi Lei’s face before her eyes fell on Qi Feng’s tombstone.
“Why did you come?” Qi Lei asked in a hoarse voice as he looked at her quietly with his deep eyes.
“I heard about it as soon as I got home, so I came to visit,” Dongfang Liuyun responded calmly without offering any condolences to Qi Lei. She just stood beside him for a while.
“People say that death is pure and that there’s nothing to worry about anymore. All the grievances will end right here,” Qi Lei said after taking a deep breath.
Dongfang Liuyun’s eyes darkened after hearing this. She thought about it for a while and replied, “This is only for the dead, and the living would suffer.”
“He wasn’t a good brother, and I wasn’t either, but I’ve never thought that this would be our ending. Fate is sometimes ridiculous,” Qi Lei said hoarsely while his tone sounded helpless and desolate.
“Do you believe in fate?” she asked.
“I didn’t believe in it before, but now I’m starting to,” Qi Lei responded before bending down to carefully rearrange the white flowers that had been blown away by the cool breeze. At this time, the gloomy sky started drizzling, accompanied by thunder and cold wind.
Dongfang Liuyun’s eyes were as cold as the wind as she stared at the figure beside her that was drenched in the cold rain. After thinking about it, she offered him the umbrella in her hand.
“Well, since this is the end, then let it pass. Tomorrow you’ll have to begin again,” she said as she handed him the umbrella in her hand.
Qi Lei was in a daze. He glanced at Dongfang Liuyun who looked a little worn out, and then slowly reached out to take the umbrella.
She suddenly turned around, and before Qi Lei could react, she had already walked down the stairs slowly, leaving only her cold shadow behind…
He thought for a moment and turned his head to look at the two tombstones in front of him for a long time before leaving dejectedly.
It was just another chapter of his life. Qi Lei knew that he was only in his 30s and still had a long road ahead of him. When he felt lost, he soldiered on. When he was in pain, he soldiered on too, and soon it would pass. No matter what, this too shall pass, for this was life…
“Boss, my condolences,” Ah Yong comforted when he saw Gu Qiwu in a trance.
Gu Qiwu nodded. His stern face was grim as he held Qi Weier’s hand. Ah Mo had returned with him this time since it would be inconvenient for the pregnant Mu Lingshi to come along.
They were also waiting downstairs at the time. Ah Mo greeted them when Mu Yuchen and Xi Xiaye came down.
“Brother!”
“Ah Mo, why didn’t you tell us that you were coming back?” Mu Yuchen asked as he stepped forward and slowly let go of Xi Xiaye’s hand.
“It was a sudden decision though I’ll be heading back tomorrow…”
“If that’s the case, let’s go home for a visit. Grandpa, Father, and Mother have missed you. Mother’s been quite free these days, and I’ve asked Father to go home early. I also have something I want to tell you,” Mu Yuchen said and glanced at Gu Qiwu. He did not say anything further.
Ah Mo nodded. “Okay, I’m planning to go visit anyway.”
He then turned his head to look at Ah Yong and Gu Qiwu, and said, “You guys can go back to the hotel first. I’m going back for a visit and I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning.”
Gu Qiwu nodded while Ah Yong responded, “Okay, Uncle!”
“Mommy…” Qi Weier’s faint voice could be heard when Mu Yuchen held Xi Xiaye’s hand as they were about to leave.
Taken aback, Xi Xiaye’s gaze immediately followed the voice only to see Qi Weier’s meek and dazed expression.
The people around them were surprised as they watched in silence.
Xi Xiaye looked at Qi Weier for a while, but before she realized it, the little girl had already reached out to gently tug on the corner of her clothes and refused to let go…
After a long time, Xi Xiaye slowly bent down and reached out to touch her head, then tied her messy hair back. She tied a bow though she was not very good at it. She then took a deep breath before looking at her and said, “Don’t be sad. Your father and your mother are now stars in the sky. When the sky’s clear at night, you can look up and see them. They’ll be the brightest stars…”
She was never good at lying because as she said this, her eyes glistened with tears. After taking a few deep breaths, she blinked hard to hold her tears back.
“Why’re you crying? Stars are beautiful…” Qi Weier stretched out her thin hand and touched Xi Xiaye’s face.
Xi Xiaye calmed down and inhaled before holding her hand. “I’m okay. It’s okay.”
“Mommy…” Qi Weier seemed to be fixated on the word as she called out again timidly.
“Weier, I’m not your mother. You can call me Aunt Xiaye, okay?”
“Mommy…” Qi Weier held her tighter. She seemed soft and vulnerable, and it made Xi Xiaye feel sorry for her. After thinking about it, Xi Xiaye seemed to have some reservations. She then turned her head and looked at Mu Yuchen who was able to see right through her eyes.
“How’s Lingshi?” Mu Yuchen asked Ah Mo calmly.
Ah Mo certainly understood what he meant and quickly replied, “Lingshi’s definitely fine with it. She’s just a child. However, her autism symptoms are quite serious, and this is the first time I’ve ever heard her speak…”
“I looked it up, and she was actually doing well before, but because of Gu Lingsha, her condition took a turn for the worse again. Qi Feng was worried about her, so he always sent her to see a psychiatrist for treatment,” Ah Mo said and sighed lightly as he looked at Qi Weier in sympathy.
Aas an orphan himself, he could understand that feeling very well. Fortunately, he had met someone from the Mu family and did not live a miserable childhood.
“Then, is she close to Ah Shi?” Xi Xiaye asked.