SUPERSTAR ASPIRATION

Chapter 52 (Grave Sweeping)

A drizzle of rain sprinkled down. The sky was stretch of gray. Heavy clouds covered the Earth, and the air was dull and depressing. The hazy rain curtain made the suburban cemetery feel cold. Two black cars slowly slid to a stop in front of the cemetery gate.  

A group of brightly adorned, middle-aged couples alighted from the car in the front. The middle-aged man was still pretty resilient, sporting a black tux suit, and gloomily got off the car. But, the middle-aged woman next to him seemed to be only used to luxury, having a mouthful of complaints. When she got off the car, she exclaimed: “It’s so dirty, where has all the money been spent? Can’t they even repair this road ?!”  

Auntie[1] Wang nodded humbly and helped the Madame hold the umbrella.  

Just then, a pair of slender legs came out from the car behind. The youth’s fair-skinned hand gently stretched out to open the umbrella, and the sleek plain-black suit made him appear thinner than usual. He held the umbrella and passed by his aunt[2] who was still complaining, following his second uncle into the cemetery grounds.  

Today was Old Master Rong’s death anniversary.  

For the original owner, the death of his parents was a grievous memory in his childhood, but the departure of Old Master Rong became turning point in his life. Although the original owner become rebellious and strange because of the death of his parents, when the old man was still there, he didn’t dare to be so wild. Only until the death of the old man, when the last person who really cared about him was gone, did he become the way he was afterwards.  

So, it was imperative that Rong Xu came today. Every year, the original owner came secretly, not following his uncle. But, Rong Xu’s memory did not contain the location of the old man’s burial site, so could only follow his Uncle Rong.  

While the group entered the cemetery, Rong Heng walked in front gloomily, but Mrs. Rong was still complaining about this and that with Auntie Wang. Finally, even Rong Heng couldn’t continue to listen, and turned back to reprimand her. Who would have expected that Aunt Rong would glare back: “What, when your father died, I didn’t see you looking too sad, what are you getting angry at me for?”  

Rong Heng’s face changed a few times, but he didn’t refute.  

Rong Xu calmly listened to their arguments, walking for a while before finally reaching the Old Master’s grave site.  

Steward Duan placed flowers and offerings on the site. Aunt Rong no longer had the audacity to complain further, and honestly gave the Old Master a bow. At this point, this simple ceremony was over. Aunt Rong complained about leaving. Rong Heng had wanted to stay for a while more, but couldn’t stand his wife any longer.  

In front of the tombstone, there was only a youth left who was still standing tall and straight, holding an umbrella and staring at the picture in place.  

Aunt Rong walked for a bit before turning back around, saying in a strange tone: “Oh, the big-name star is still looking? What filial grandchild are you pretending to be, when the old man died back then, didn’t you spend a lot of time outside and not want to come back? It’s too late to be sad, the old man can’t see it.” After a pause, she seemed to think of something suddenly, and giggled: “No, the superstar’s acting is so good, I must have some sort of misunderstanding.”  

This sarcasm, Rong Xu didn’t take it to heart at all. He stared at Old Master Rong’s stern looking photo on the tombstone. After a while, he squatted down slowly and wiped the raindrops off the photo with his fingers.