Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
He then handed Xi Mushan a handkerchief.
Nodding quietly, Xi Mushan took the handkerchief and wiped his face. He suppressed the grief inside after several deep breaths. Eventually, he calmed down and barely managed the sorrow he was feeling.
"You must be exhausted. Take a good rest. I'll handle Grandfather's funeral arrangements. Mother might be a little worried about you since you haven't been there for a few days."
When Mu Yuchen was talking, Li Si, who stood by the door, walked in.
He nodded at Xi Jiyang before raising his head and speaking to Mu Yuchen, "Mayor Xi, Master, Missus, my condolences."
Mu Yuchen took a deep breath before he gave the document Xi Jiyang handed him earlier to Li Si. Then, he nodded and said, "Li Si, get someone to make the arrangements for Grandfather's funeral, but don't make the news public yet."
"Yes, Master!" Li Si gave a brief reply and left quietly after taking the document with him.
Just as Li Si left, the sound of several people's footsteps came from the corridor outside. Someone barged in.
"Grandfather!"
"Father!"
It was Xi Xinyi, Yue Lingsi, and Deng Wenwen with Han Yifeng behind them.
Xi Xinyi rushed in and started crying hysterically by the bed while tears welled up in Yue Lingsi and Deng Wenwen's eyes.
When they saw Mu Yuchen and Xi Xiaye in the room, Deng Wenwen had a complicated expression and Yue Lingsi looked at them blankly.
"Let's head out." As if he did not see them, Mu Yuchen dragged Xi Xiaye outside.
When they walked past Han Yifeng, he saw her swollen eyes and pale face. Although he wanted to say a few words of comfort, he did not get the chance to.
Mu Yuchen made her sit down on the long bench when they got out. They could still hear the crying from inside the room.
"Alright, stop crying now. Just pray that he's well on the other side. Don't forget what you promised him just now." He squatted down and wiped the tears from her cheeks. Although he wanted to comfort her, he had no idea how to.
That was just how life worked. Nothing lasted forever in the world. Perhaps, only death remained forever.
He thought he could get past it. While occasions like these saddened him, he could still accept it calmly. However, his heart was in anguish when he saw her cry in sorrow.
He felt hurt because of her sadness. Her emotions slowly caught up with him and seeped into him, gradually reaching his heart as well as becoming a part that controlled his emotions.
She would never see her grandfather anymore. That feeling gushed up into her throat as a huge lump.
She did not want to put any blame on him because what could be worse than not being able to see each other forever?
"Grandfather is gone..." After a long time of crying, she sniffled and looked at him. Her eyes were red and her voice had turned hoarse from all the weeping.
"I know. Calm down, Xiaye," he replied quietly with his eyes locked onto her.
"I'll never see him anymore... How am I supposed to calm down?" She then covered her face with both hands, unable to push down the sudden waves of sadness that ran over her.
He sighed helplessly, "Go on if this can help you feel better, but it's pretty cold here. You have to follow me home right now."
Without giving her a chance to say no, he lifted her up in his arms and walked towards the other end of the corridor.
"Master! Elder Xi..."
After taking several steps, he saw Ah Mo with some other people rushing over. Their expressions darkened when they saw Xi Xiaye in Mu Yuchen's arms.
"He's gone. Help Li Si out with the funeral arrangements, and please take care of Father as well. He doesn't seem like he's coping very well. Do what you should. Let the Elder rest in peace," Mu Yuchen sighed as he gave his orders.
"Yes, Master, I'm sorry for your loss." Ah Mo lowered his head.
Mu Yuchen nodded. "Your sister-in-law isn't feeling well, so I'm bringing her back now and will leave things here to you guys."
"Don't worry, Master!"
Mu Yuchen then went forward.
On the way back to Maple Residence, Xi Xiaye did not seem to be herself. Mu Yuchen made her take a shower. Afterward, she fell asleep from exhaustion without eating dinner.
Mu Yuchen did not bother her and just covered her with a blanket. He raised the temperature of the air conditioner slightly before leaving the room.
At the hospital, Xi Jiyang's body had been taken to the funeral parlor while Xi Xinyi and the others were packing his personal effects.
"Did your father say anything?" Deng Wenwen asked Xi Mushan with her eyes teary.
Xi Xinyi and Yue Lingsi turned over and looked at Xi Mushan when Deng Wenwen asked the question.
Xi Mushan looked at the women before him coldly. Then, he let out a bitter laugh. "What could he have said? He never mentioned any of you up until his death. What do you think he'd say?"
"Why was Xi Xiaye here?" Deng Wenwen was alert.
"Father wanted to see Xiaye and Ah Chen before he left. If you want to argue about it, wait until the funeral is over." Xi Mushan left the room after saying that.
"Mushan!"
"Father!"
Yue Lingsi and Xi Xinyi realized something was wrong, so they chased after him. Yue Lingsi grabbed Xi Mushan's sleeve, but he brushed her off!
"Let me go!"
Bang!
Yue Lingsi crashed into a nearby bed. Fortunately, Xi Xinyi was there to help her, so she did not fall.
"Ah Hui should've sent you our divorce papers. From now on, we're no longer related!"
"Mushan!"
Yue Lingsi was fearful when he mentioned it. Although she had burned all those photos, she was not sure if Xi Mushan still had leftovers of the evidence.
"Stop right there, Mushan!" Deng Wenwen called out to him.
However, Xi Mushan did not stop.
Deng Wenwen wanted to chase him, but she was stopped by Ah Mo and his people.
"Elder Madam Xi, let's respect the deceased. If there's anything, it can be discussed after the funeral," said Ah Mo, then he nodded to the black-clothed bodyguards beside him who followed Xi Mushan.
As she watched Xi Mushan move further away, Deng Wenwen looked particularly gloomy while Yue Lingsi's face was as white as a sheet. Xi Xinyi still had an inconsolably sorrowful expression, yet her eyes flickered with a dim light.
"Grandmother, Grandfather still called Sister over in the end!" Xi Xinyi suddenly cried with a sense of loss. "We didn't get to see Grandfather in the end... And Father..."
"He must've said something to that witch, Mother. Don't forget that the property rights to West Park and the land in the east of the city still belong to Father," Yue Lingsi spoke softly, pushing the panic in her heart down.
Deng Wenwen inhaled sharply. "We'll get a lawyer to make sense of all of it after your father's funeral. It should still be there," she said this before leaving the ward too.
For the next few days, Xi Xiaye was in a terrible mood. She seemed to have turned wan and sallow very quickly.
The funeral matters had been left to Li Si and Ah Mo. The service was held three days after Xi Jiyang's passing, and Xi Xiaye and Mu Yuchen attended it too.
Xi Jiyang held quite a high position in the government before his passing, so many people came for his wake. Even when Li Si and the rest had asked for everything to be handled in a low-profile manner, many of Xi Jiyang's comrades, friends, and colleagues came to pay their respects.
Mu Tangchuan was one of them.
When Shen Wenna found out about Xi Jiyang's passing, it was the day of Xi Jiyang's burial. Shen Yue had told her about it.
"Alright, he's already gone. There's nothing to be sad about. I already know about him making you divorce Xi Mushan years ago. If it weren't for your stubbornness, things wouldn't need to turn out this way." Shen Yue watched Shen Wenna, who sat on the sofa with her unfocused eyes, as he sighed.
"Right, Xi Mushan and that woman from the Yue family have divorced. The other day, Ah Chen talked to me. I know that all these years, you haven't been willing to accept a new man. It was actually because you've been missing this bastard, Wenna! Right now, I'm just resentful because I'm impatient to see things turn for the better. Do you know that?!
"Well, death can end all of Xi Jiyang'ss troubles, but how are they going to make up for all these years? I know that Ah Chen was still considerate about Xi Jiyang, but now that he's dead and Xi Mushan is divorced, there shouldn't be anything holding us back anymore. These women should be taught a lesson. I can't tolerate this anymore!"
Shen Yue looked at Shen Wenna's hollow eyes and felt his heart ache. Fury could not help but rise in his chest!
Shen Wenna did not say anything. Her beautiful face faintly twisted with bitter ridicule and disappointment. Naturally, Shen Yue took in this scene.
A while passed before Shen Wenna calmly asked, "How are Xiaye and Ah Chen?"
"That old man did treat Xiaye quite well before this. Obviously, Xiaye is devastated. I heard Zilang say that she's turned wan and sallow. She's in a terrible mood too. I hope that Ah Chen can accompany her out of this haze."
Shen Yue sighed. He could not help but lament, "Earlier, when I met him, he still looked quite healthy and energetic. He's gone just like that quite suddenly. I'm worried that Xiaye will be extremely depressed. In fact, they are supposed to have their wedding next month."
Shen Wenna fell silent for a moment, then she asked, "With Ah Chen around, she will be fine... Is Xi Jiyang's funeral today?"
"Mmm, it's today. Otherwise, I could've rushed over to see you sooner."
"Where is he buried?"
"You..."
When he heard Shen Wenna ask this, Shen Yue could not help but be surprised.
Shen Wenna sighed and lamented, "He's dead. Perhaps our grudges can be resolved once and for all. Reasonably, I think I should pay my respects. Father, get Zilang to prepare the car for me. I want to go see Xiaye too. I'm worried."
As Shen Wenna said this, she already gripped her walking stick and was slowly getting up.
Shen Yue groaned as he looked at Shen Wenna with a complicated expression. He understood his daughter too well. Apart from paying her respects and seeing Xiaye, it was very likely because she wanted to see that man.
She was already covered in black and blue. Why did she not give up and still wanted to get close?
Xi Jiyang was buried in West Hill Cemetery, on the day of the funeral, it was not raining heavily, but it was a pitter-patter kind of drizzle. If one did not have an umbrella, they would still get their shoulders soaked from standing in the rain for quite a while.
At the parking spot below the cemetery, Xi Xiaye and Mu Yuchen slowly got down from the car donned in black outfits. Li Si and another bodyguard in black immediately walked up to them with two huge black umbrellas.
"Master, Missus!"
Li Si handed Xi Xiaye a bouquet of daisies. She slowly took it while the sunglasses on her face concealed her faintly swollen eyes.
"Let's go."
Mu Yuchen held her and walked up the staircase. Behind them, Li Si and the bodyguards followed.
This was a huge cemetery, numerous departed spirits have been buried peacefully here.
No matter how honorable one was in life, in death, one would just be buried forever in the ground. Life was such.
They walked up along the tall staircase and passed through those gloomy black tombstones until the husband and wife reached Xi Jiyang's tombstone.
At that moment, Deng Wenwen, Yue Lingsi, and the rest were already standing before it. Of course, there was also the people from the Han family. Xi Xinyi cried her eyes out as she leaned against Han Yifeng while Yue Lingsi held Deng Wenwen.
When they saw Mu Yuchen, Xi Xiaye, and the others come, Deng Wenwen immediately turned to look subconsciously while Xi Xiaye and Mu Yuchen had already stopped before the tombstone.
Xi Xiaye silently looked at Xi Jiyang's ash-colored photograph on the tombstone. Underneath those sunglasses, her eyes started to well up with hot tears again. She stared at it for a long time before she sighed softly, and bent down to put those white daisies on the tombstone.
Yue Lingsi averted her gaze. She took one look at Xi Jiyang's photograph and saw that Deng Wenwen had turned pale. Then, she spoke up and held Deng Wenwen to turn around, "Mother, let's go home first."
Han Yifeng took a look at Xi Xiaye and Mu Yuchen from the side. Although his tightly pursed lips started, he did not say anything. He sighed and turned around to leave too. Secretary Wang, who held the umbrella behind him, quickly followed suit.
"Yifeng!" Xi Xinyi sniffed and wiped her tears. She could not care less and chased Han Yifeng too.
After a while, apart from Mu Yuchen, Xi Xiaye, and their people, only Xi Mushan and Ah Hui, who held the umbrella for him, were left.
"Grandfather, rest in peace. I pray that you will feel no pain on the other side and that you'll live happily."
Xi Xiaye slowly stood up and reached out to wipe away the rainwater on the tombstone photograph, yet as she was wiping it, she suddenly stopped.
"Xiaye, Father, Grandfather will rest in peace. Don't grieve too much now. He is gone now, but the living must continue going on," Mu Yuchen sighed and said a few words before going up to help Xi Xiaye up. With a sad sigh, she slowly took her sunglasses off, revealing faintly swollen and misty eyes. She shut her eyes and after easing for a while, she opened them.
"When I was younger, I'd always go out to play with Grandfather when he was still very healthy and young then. He loved horseriding. One time, he brought me to the ranch, but because he had something on at the last minute, we had to go back. I was reluctant and cried for the whole afternoon. Later on, Grandfather had to pretend to be a horse for me and even sprained his waist..."
Her slightly hoarse voice was softly heard while her hazy eyes were still fixed on the photograph on the tombstone.
"When I was three years old, the very first numbers that I learned were also taught by Grandfather. When I went to kindergarten and learned how to write, I'd always sit with bad posture. To correct me, Grandfather would watch me do my homework almost every night. Even Mother says that Grandfather was more like a strict teacher..."
When Xi Xiaye brought these up, Xi Mushan suddenly sighed, "Your grandfather... has always treated you as the Xi family's little princess."
"I always knew that... Now that Grandfather's left just like that, my heart feels empty, but now that I think about it, perhaps it's for the best. At least, for Grandfather, it's a form of release. Now that he's left, everything's become simpler. We no longer have to worry about those concerning matters."
As she said this, Xi Xiaye looked up at the sky that continued to drizzle. "Grandfather has told us all about the past... All these years, because he felt sorry towards Mother and I, you didn't dare to come looking for us, and you were even more afraid of seeing Mother, weren't you?"
When Xi Xiaye said this, she suddenly turned to look at Xi Mushan whose expression looked bleak and sad. He did not hide it and nodded. "Yes."
When she heard this, Xi Xiaye suddenly laughed bitterly. She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "If the curtains can be closed for all of these grudges with Grandfather's passing, what are your plans after this?"
Xi Mushan's resignation had been concluded. Mu Yuchen also told her that Xi Mushan had already divorced Yue Lingsi. In fact, Shen Wenna still could not see. All of these were somewhat a closing of a chapter, yet what they were about to face was another terrible situation.
Xi Mushan did not know how he should answer this because his mind was empty at the moment.
All these problems had come one after another recently, overwhelming him immensely.
Unfortunately, Shen Wenna had lost her sight and he had firmly resigned. Then, there was Yue Lingsi's cheating, the divorce, and now Xi Jiyang's sudden passing. With all of these stacked together, he felt quite worn out from holding on.
Seeing that he did not answer and that the weariness was clear between his brows, she suddenly felt a bitterness rise in her heart. She thought about it, then reached into her pocket and took out a bunch of keys before handing it to Xi Mushan.
"These are my keys to my Linjiang apartment. I've just tidied it up, so it's quite clean. If you're unhappy staying in West Park, you can go there and stay for a while."
Xi Mushan looked down at the keys Xi Xiaye handed him and there was gladness in his still eyes, yet he did not accept it. "There's no need for that. I've already arranged an apartment for myself."
Startled, Xi Xiaye hesitated for a moment, then quietly put the keys away.
"Let's not harp on the past anymore. Mu Yuchen has already told me about your divorce from Yue Lingsi. Grandfather also said before he passed that he hopes you can get Mother back. Now that she's been discharged and has returned to the Shen residence..."
As Xi Xiaye spoke, Xi Mushan's expression darkened.
Xi Xiaye and Mu Yuchen took all of this in, exchanging a look. Then, seeing Mu Yuchen nod gently, Xi Xiaye sighed and took a card out from her pocket before tossing it to Xi Mushan.
Xi Mushan subconsciously caught it and looked down at the key card in his hand before peering up puzzledly at Xi Xiaye.
"This is the Shen residence key card. Grandpa usually reaches home in the evening past 6 p.m. If I don't go back, he usually won't go back at noon either. This month, because of Fuhua's new project discussion with Glory World on the South River project, Mu Yuchen and I will be going over to Fuhua quite frequently. Grandpa has left Mother in the hands of Aunty Wu. I've told Aunty Wu to let you in, so I'll leave Mother's lunch to you in this period of time," Xi Xiaye spoke with a calm expression.
Deep in her heart, she wished that Shen Wenna could reconcile with Xi Mushan. Their hearts were tied to each other, and it had been delayed for so many years now. If he did not fight for it now, there would not be any more chances in the future.
If a single mistake in the past trapped two people, who clearly loved each other, in their own lonely castle of sadness, licking their own wounds while living in loneliness and passing away with regret, then she would much rather do her best to bring them both together and break that wall of barrier between them.
The reason there were so many tragedies in this world was that many people were unwilling to give in, forgive, and feel relieved due to their ego and pride, so they put up a wall and trapped themselves.
The reasoning could be understood, but not many could do it.
She once heard that happiness was like water sometimes. The tighter you held on it, the less you would get, yet if you opened up your hands, you would receive gentleness and abundance.
Xi Mushan quietly watched Xi Xiaye.
She looked quite like her mother. Watching her would always remind him of Shen Wenna, so sometimes he would rather not see her.
Yet, he suddenly realized that even though she was similar in personality to her mother, they had widely different frames of mind. This daughter of his seemed to be even more optimistic and genuine in expressing herself.
Xi Mushan looked down at the key card in hand and asked softly, "Why do you still help me?"
Xi Xiaye let out a sigh of relief and fixed her gaze onto the tombstone before her. After a while, she looked up at him. "Why shouldn't I help you? You're my father... Besides, I've also promised Grandfather, even though there was a time when I really didn't like you, but just as you said, we are father and daughter, and that's a fact."