By the time he returned, Qin Gengxin had already carried some biscuits and side dishes in his hand and personally placed them on the bed. Xian Guiying almost fell asleep when she felt someone help her up. She opened her eyes and saw Qin Gengxin sitting on the bed, smiling at her.
She frowned and looked at him. "I'm dizzy and want to sleep for a while."
"Eat before you sleep."
She wanted to say that she didn't want to eat it, but seeing him being so insistent, she sat down and ate a few pieces of biscuits and then a few bites of the side dishes. After she finished drinking a glass of milk, she pulled the blanket over her head and fell asleep.
Seeing Xian Guiying, who was usually fit and healthy, was very lazy because of her fever, Qin Gengxin laughed and put the glass to the side. He reached out to pull the blanket that covered her face. "Alright, go to sleep, don't cover your head."
Xian Guiying did not move. She had already fallen asleep.
Qin Gengxin smiled, kissed the corner of her mouth, then touched her forehead. He then got up to get a thermometer to measure her temperature.
When his phone rang, he got up and went to answer it. Once he's done, he returned to the bedroom and saw Xian Guiying's calm sleeping face. Only then did his slightly restless heart calm down.
Xian Guiying opened her eyes and looked at him. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, go to sleep." Qin Gengxin pursed his lips and sat on the edge of the bed. He patted her lightly and said, "I just got a call."
Xian Guiying felt a headache coming on and didn't have the heart to study his expression. She turned around and continued to sleep.
• • • •
Early the next morning.
Since Xian Guiying still had a slight fever, she could not get up early. Qin Gengxin went downstairs to get a light breakfast, and he saw Qin Xiaowen standing in front of the French window, lost in thought.
"Dad?" Qin Gengxin walked over. "Why didn't you go to the cemetery?"
"Your mom took your grandmother there. Since you are here, she asked me to stay with you." Qin Xiaowen glanced at him. "I wasn't here yesterday afternoon, and it was already night when I came back. I heard that Old Man Xian was also staying here. Didn't the Old Man get up early? Why didn't I see him?"
Qin Gengxin paused for a moment. "I'll go to the guest room to take a look."
However, when he walked into the guest room where Old Man Xian stayed, he saw the Old Man was not inside.
There was a knot between his eyebrows.
Could it be …
• • • •
West Mountain Graveyard.
Mrs. Qin placed a basket of goods in front of the tombstone and sighed softly, "Dad's body was cremated by Xian Tingfeng that year. I wonder if he can accept a grave like this built for him, where we worship and burn paper every year."
The Old Woman did not say a word. She stood in front of the tombstone, dressed in black, and looked at the words engraved on it.
Mrs. Qin looked at her. From yesterday until now, the Old Woman did not say much and was quiet.
"Mom." Mrs. Qin gently held the Old Woman's arms. "It's been years, don't think too much. Just focus on taking care of yourself."
The Old Woman nodded. "That's right, after thinking about it for years, what's the point? I still can't imagine what he went through before committing suicide in prison."
"I guess it has something to do with Xian Tingfeng."
The Old Woman raised her eyes and looked at the row of tombstones in the distance. "Let's not talk about this. Meili, go find something to clean this grass."
Mrs. Qin was initially worried about the Old Woman, but after seeing she was okay, Mrs. Qin thought her mother wanted to talk to her father only, so she nodded, "Alright."
She then left, leaving the Old Woman alone.
Since it was still early in the morning and this cemetery was located on the mountain, it was exceptionally quiet.
The Old Woman stood in front of the tombstone and looked at the words engraved in it for a long time. It was as if she saw something through the tombstone.
Then she slowly squatted down and gently fiddled with the burnt paper money on the ground. Then, she raised her head to look at the tombstone. "Do you blame me?
After saying that, she gently caressed the tombstone. Her fingers caressed the name written on it, and her old eyes were filled with nostalgia.
"After so many years, every year when I come to visit you, I will tell you about our daughter and grandson. I will always tell you happy things, but today, I don't know how to be happy when I visit you. Old Wan, we've all offended people we shouldn't. I deeply regret it."
"Are you really so regretful?"
Suddenly, a faint voice came from behind her. It was the same old voice, but also a bit serious.
The Old Woman's hand became stiff. She turned around and saw Old Man Xian walking step by step with his cane. It was unknown when he arrived.
"Who told you to come?" The Old Woman frowned, her expression ice-cold.
"I came by myself." He stood a few meters away from her and did not come close. He kept looking at her and said, "I saw you two out in the morning, so I followed you. Coincidentally, I found a taxi, so I followed you all the way."
The Old Woman pursed her lip, her expression cold and tense.
Since he had already come, she could only tell him to leave immediately. But knowing Old Man Xian, how could he possibly leave?
Forget it, what should come will eventually come.
She sighed faintly and no longer looked at him. Instead, she turned to look at the tombstone in front of her.
Old Man Xian slowly walked forward, but the Old Woman didn't even look at him as she said coldly, "Don't come near us, don't dirty our place."
Old Man Xian stopped and looked at her for a while before sighing. "Xing Jia, we're already old. We still have a few years to complain and hate each other. Let's have a good chat, okay?"
"We have nothing to talk about. As you said, I am already old. I don't have any resentment and I only want to live my remaining years peacefully. It's better that you leave." The Old Woman's gaze was fixed on the tombstone as she spoke with a cold and detached voice.
Old Man Xian was quiet for a moment. He looked at the tombstone in front of him and then said hoarsely, "Actually, he is lucky."
The Old Woman looked at him coldly because of his words.
Old Man Xian squinted at the tombstone and said, "At the very least, you were truly together, married, had children, and had a family. Although his life was ruined because of my anger and confusion at that time, he has had dozens of years of longing and time with you."
"Xing Jia, I apologize for everything I did to you and your husband back then. I know I went overboard, but I still don't understand, why can't you wait for two years? If you had waited for me, it might not have ended like this."
"Of course, I'm not blaming you. I'm here to apologize and to repay for my sins. Even though I didn't kill him, he still died because of me. Today, even if you want me to die here, I'm willing. Just tell me, why is that?"
