LUO YAN put a bouquet of daffodil in front of the gravestone. It’s very unusual to use this flower to honor the dead. But he chose it nonetheless because of the meaning it held – new beginnings and rebirth. Which he thought was very apt for the situation.
He looked at the gravestone. It had his name, the date of his birth, as well as the date of his death. Then below that was an epitaph. It read; ‘To a new life filled with love and happiness.’
When Luo Yan read that, he suddenly felt like he was about to tear up.
To commemorate him this way showed just how much the director cared for him. The epitaph was almost like predicting his future. She probably made it with the thought of wanting him to live better in his next life.
Luo Yan bit his inner cheek to prevent himself from crying. This was more than what a director of an orphanage should do. Especially since he’d been out of the orphanage for already four years back then. Now he’s feeling a bit guilty for not visiting as often during all those years.
“Maybe there’s really some kind of fate between you.”
He heard Luo Ren saying. He turned to the other. Besides him, Luo Ren and Shen Ji Yun were there with him. Luo Jin didn’t go with them and decided to remain at the van.
“What do you mean, Brother?” he asked.
“The date he died, it’s the date of the accident,” Luo Ren answered.
When he saw the date of this person’s death, he was truly surprised. Not only did he share the same name and birthday as his brother, the day the other died was also something significant to his brother’s life. Maybe there’s really some kind of fate connecting them. He’s just not sure what kind.
Believing in such a thing was definitely unlike him. But with all of this in front of him, how could he not? Or maybe this was just a bit of a coincidence. He smiled to himself and shook his head.
Unlike Luo Ren, who finally attributed things to a mere coincidence, Luo Yan had a completely opposite feeling. He had no idea that the date of the accident was actually the same day that he died.
His initial guess that his soul entered this body because of the high compatibility just became stronger. He thought that his soul wondered for seven years before finally entering this body and waking up. But it seemed that that wasn’t the case.
His soul must have entered this body the moment the real Luo Yan completely left for this world. And the reason that he was in a coma for seven years was because his soul was trying to slowly acclimate with the body.
This was all just his guess though. But everything was just too much of a coincidence for it not to be fated.
Luo Yan closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm his nerves. When he opened his eyes, he glanced once again at the gravestone. No matter what kind of speculation he had, it wouldn’t change the fact that he was already in this body.
He touched the gravestone. “Goodbye.”
After making his last goodbye, he made the same wish he had been making for the past months since he woke up. For ‘Luo Yan’, the kid who died way too young, to be reborn in an equally happy and loving family.
And with that last goodbye, he finally made a step forward to a new chapter of his life.
—–
After leaving the cemetery, the four didn’t go to the city but instead went to Wulingyuan scenic area – the most famous tourist spot in Z City. But since they didn’t have much time to have the whole tour, they only chose to go to one of the four national parks that made up the scenic area.
Luo Yan looked around the mountainous area. It had been a while since he had last been here. But the scenery was still as magical as ever.
He took out a piece of chestnut from the paper bag he’s holding and ate it. Eating roasted chestnuts while walking at a park during winter was the best.
“Yan Yan, is everything alright?” Shen Ji Yun suddenly asked.
The two of them were walking side by side while Luo Jin and Luo Ren were walking behind. It’s actually quite a surprise that the two were willing to let him and Shen Ji Yun walked together like this.
No, Luo Jin was actually not fine with it. But their older brother told the other to just let them be. Although Luo Ren seemed to be very accommodating, he could literally feel his gaze on their backs. He had a feeling that if Shen Ji Yun as much as touched the tip of his finger, Luo Ren would not hesitate to beat the other.
Luo Yan turned to Shen Ji Yun. “Yes. Why do you ask, Brother Ji Yun?”
Shen Ji Yun observed the expression of the other. He was relieved to see that it was back to normal. Back at the cemetery, he noticed myriads of emotions flashing on Luo Yan’s face. It was brief but he saw it. How could he not when he had only been looking at Luo Yan’s face?
That kind of shift in expression definitely had a reason behind it. But after that, it seemed like a weight had been lifted off from Luo Yan’s shoulder. It made Shen Ji Yun curious, at the same time worried, as to the reason why. Now that they could finally be somewhat alone, he just couldn’t stop himself from asking.
But since Luo Yan said that everything was okay, there’s nothing more he could do. It’s not like he could force the other to tell him more. Anyway, he was just glad that Luo Yan was back to normal. That’s what’s more important.
He smiled at the other and responded to the other, “Nothing. Can I have chestnut?”
As an answer, Luo Yan put a piece of chestnut in his mouth and he happily accepted it.