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墨書 Inktalez
After Cheng Qiuyi took Liu Shuhan away, Qin Jiang couldn't sleep all night. It wasn't until the butler returned at dawn that Qin Jiang asked him, "Did Qiu Yi go back? Did they have any issues?"
"Miss Liu sustained some minor injuries, nothing serious, but..." The butler hesitated.
"But what?"
"But when I saw them, Miss Qiu Yi seemed a bit off."
Qin Jiang slumped in his chair, and after a long time, he said, "Do you think I did something wrong to Qiu Yi?" Although Qin Jiang was strict with Cheng Qiuyi, he secretly regarded her as a daughter due to his relationship with Mother Cheng. To avoid suspicion, he maintained a distant relationship with Cheng Qiuyi on the surface. However, the butler had seen everything; he understood Qin Jiang's feelings for Cheng Qiuyi very well.
"Sir, you are doing this for Miss Qiu Yi's own good."
"If Qiu Yi brought a suitable partner to see me, I wouldn't object at all. But this rebellious disciple... she... she actually brought a woman to meet me. How can I face her mother?" The thought made Qin Jiang's blood boil. Cheng Qiuyi had always been humble and respectful; if today she told him she liked women like Ye Jing, he might have accepted it more easily. But it was Cheng Qiuyi—always so proper.
"Sir," the butler thought for a moment and bowed slightly. "If I may say something out of line, Miss Qiu Yi seems much more cheerful this time around and in a better mood than before."
"I know what you're saying. I raised Qiu Yi myself; I know her thoughts. I can see that she genuinely likes Liu Shuhan. It's just... sigh... let's not talk about it." Qin Jiang pressed his temples in frustration. After so many years away from home, his beloved disciple returned only to cause such turmoil; how could he not worry?
"Sir, there's one more thing," the butler continued. "It seems that Miss Qiu Yi has some history with Miss A Jing."
"I was just about to ask you to investigate that. A Jing has mentioned five years ago several times, both intentionally and unintentionally. Find out what happened five years ago—investigate thoroughly without missing any details!"
...
Cheng Qiuyi and Liu Shuhan had their hearts wounded yesterday, and when they finally woke up, it was already dark outside.
Liu Shuhan first opened her eyes and groggily looked outside, thinking it was still dark. She turned around to snuggle back into Cheng Qiuyi's arms to continue sleeping, but the phone rang. Cheng Qiuyi frowned restlessly in her sleep, and fearing she would disturb Cheng Qiuyi's rest, Liu Shuhan hurriedly hung up the call and tiptoed to the balcony to call back.
The caller was Liu Shuhan's mother, Xu Ruyun. "Daughter, are you asleep?"
Liu Shuhan yawned lazily and replied, "No, I just woke up."
"Just woke up? What time is it? Are you going to sleep at night?"
"Mom, what’s the matter?" Liu Shuhan asked. Xu Ruyun could ramble on; if Liu Shuhan didn't steer the conversation toward something serious, she could go on talking aimlessly all night.
"Nothing much. The Mid-Autumn Festival is next month. I wanted to ask if you're coming home for the holiday."
"I can't come back. The Mid-Autumn Festival is the busiest time for the company." Liu Shuhan thought about it; whether she could continue working at that company was still uncertain.
"Oh, is that so? Then your dad and I can go on a trip! Just don't cry by yourself when we're gone."
"Alright, alright. You two have fun and don’t worry about me."
After discussing the main topic, Xu Ruyun asked about Liu Shuhan's work situation and somehow brought up their uncle, leading to an endless conversation.
Cheng Qiuyi woke up feeling an empty space beside her and looked around in panic until she spotted Liu Shuhan on the balcony. She sighed in relief and barefoot walked over to hug Liu Shuhan from behind, asking softly in her ear, "Are you sleeping?"
Liu Shuhan jumped slightly and quickly covered the phone's microphone, mouthing to Cheng Qiuyi, "My mom."
Cheng Qiuyi understood and smiled apologetically, resting her chin on Liu Shuhan's shoulder without saying anything further.
Xu Ruyun had sharp ears and suspiciously asked, "Shu Han, who were you just talking to?"
"Yes... it's a friend of mine..." Liu Shuhan stammered.
Xu Ruyun's voice grew louder, "Liu Shuhan, I don't know about others, but you are my child. How could I not understand you? You start stuttering whenever you lie. Just tell me the truth!"
"It really is my friend!" Liu Shuhan was anxious, pacing around. If her mother found out, with her explosive temper, she would probably rush over through the phone line to give her a beating.
Cheng Qiuyi remained calm. She took the phone from Liu Shuhan and said to Xu Ruyun, "Hello, Auntie, I'm Shu Han's friend." Cheng Qiuyi's voice was gentle, possessing a strange magic that put people at ease. Just hearing her voice made Liu Shuhan's heart settle down.
Xu Ruyun was just trying to scare Liu Shuhan. She didn't expect that Liu Shuhan was really with a friend, which made her feel a bit embarrassed. "Oh, so you're Shu Han's friend. I thought that little rascal was trying to trick me again."
Cheng Qiuyi smiled and said, "Shu Han and I are roommates now."
"Oh, I see. Misunderstanding, misunderstanding. Shu Han usually has many bad habits; please bear with her, young lady."
"Auntie, you're joking." Cheng Qiuyi looked at Liu Shuhan and added, "Shu Han is the best girl I've ever met."
Liu Shuhan's face turned red as she pinched Cheng Qiuyi's arm. Was it appropriate to say such things at this moment? Didn't she fear her mother would catch on?
Xu Ruyun didn't sense anything wrong; she was just happy that someone praised her daughter. She laughed and said, "Of course! I'm not exaggerating; Shu Han has been outstanding since she was little. You see, the young men who want to date her are almost trampling our doorstep."
Cheng Qiuyi squinted as she scrutinized Liu Shuhan and said meaningfully, "Is that so..."
Liu Shuhan shivered under Cheng Qiuyi's dangerous gaze. She figured her unreliable mother must have said something inappropriate. She snatched the phone back and said, "Mom, it's getting late; you should rest now. I'll call you another day." Then she immediately hung up.
"Um... my mom tends to speak nonsense... don't mind what she says..." Liu Shuhan forced a laugh.
"She said the men pursuing you are almost trampling your doorstep," Cheng Qiuyi remarked softly.
Liu Shuhan was so angry that she almost spat out blood. "Oh my gosh! You really are my biological mother!"
"That's just nonsense! What man? I've never even seen one! Besides..." Liu Shuhan turned her face away awkwardly and said, "Besides, you know I only like you..."
Cheng Qiuyi chuckled and wrapped her arms around Liu Shuhan's waist. "What did you say? I didn't catch that."
Liu Shuhan, feeling stubborn, shouted into Cheng Qiuyi's ear, "I said I only like you! In this lifetime, I only want to live with you, Cheng Qiuyi! Is that clear?"
Cheng Qiuyi covered her ears and pretended to be pitiful. "Shu Han, if you make me deaf, then I'll only be able to live with a deaf person for the rest of my life."
Liu Shuhan fell silent. Cheng Qiuyi held her as they stood on the balcony for a while before Cheng Qiuyi sighed, "This kind of life is really nice."
After thinking it over several times, Liu Shuhan cautiously asked, "Are you... okay now?"
"What could possibly be wrong with me? That was an old issue from years ago; it's long gone."
If it truly had passed, Cheng Qiuyi wouldn't just be reminiscing and breaking down emotionally. Liu Shuhan had never experienced it and couldn't fully empathize with how Cheng Qiuyi felt back then. But whenever she thought about how Cheng Qiuyi looked last night, her heart ached.
Cheng Qiuyi wasn't invulnerable; she could get hurt and cry. She just had a greater capacity to endure and could keep everything bottled up inside without saying a word, pretending as if nothing had ever happened while teasing Liu Shuhan.
"Qiu Yi," Liu Shuhan said as she caressed Cheng Qiuyi's cheek, "from now on, I will protect you and never let anyone bully you."
Cheng Qiuyi kissed the palm of Liu Shuhan's hand, her eyes brimming with tenderness. "Okay."
Cheng Qiuyi didn't tell Liu Shuhan that she used to have nightmares every night. She also didn't mention that since returning to Liu Shuhan's side, the nightmares that had haunted her for years were gradually fading away.
No matter how cruel the nightmares were, there would always come a dawn. Liu Shuhan was Cheng Qiuyi's dawn.
"By the way, don't you want to know if she really bullied me?" Cheng Qiuyi raised an eyebrow and asked.
"..." Liu Shuhan was momentarily speechless.
How was she supposed to respond? If she said she wanted to know, it would seem like she didn't trust Cheng Qiuyi; if she said she didn't want to know, it would make her seem uncaring... But I swear, Liu Shuhan really hadn't thought about this at all! She was too busy worrying about Cheng Qiuyi to think about anything else!
"What... how do you want me to answer?" Liu Shuhan asked weakly.
Cheng Qiuyi shook her head and looked up at the moon.
So is there or isn't there? Liu Shuhan became anxious again. How could someone tease her like this and then not say anything?
"If I say no, will you believe me?"
"I will," Liu Shuhan replied naturally. After thinking for a moment, she honestly added, "I really haven't thought about this question, but Qiu Yi, I believe everything you say. I trust you."
Cheng Qiuyi sighed. "You may not think about it now, but you will eventually. It's better to resolve this issue sooner rather than later."
"Bah! Cheng Qiuyi, do you really think of me that way? I'm not sleeping with you tonight; you can go sleep on the sofa!"
Liu Shuhan meant what she said and indeed made Cheng Qiuyi sleep on the sofa. Unfortunately, Liu Shuhan had napped too long during the day, and at night, Cheng Qiuyi's eyes were too bright, keeping Liu Shuhan awake.
"Shu Han," Cheng Qiuyi called from the sofa.
"Don't even think about it. You said you'd sleep on the sofa, so sleep on the sofa. No leniency."
"Are you hungry?"
Liu Shuhan was certainly hungry; she hadn't eaten for a day and a night, and she felt like she was about to starve. However, she was still sulking at Cheng Qiuyi, unwilling to lose face. With her back turned to Cheng Qiuyi, she pulled the blanket over herself and said, "I'm not hungry!"
Cheng Qiuyi walked to the bedside, hugging both the blanket and Liu Shuhan tightly, pouting as she said, "I'm hungry."
"I'm hungry, I'm hungry... Shu Han, I'm starving! If you don't feed me, you'll be a widow..."
Liu Shuhan was annoyed by her persistence. She pulled the blanket off and got out of bed, grabbing some clothes to change into before heading to the bathroom. Cheng Qiuyi behind her wore a triumphant smile.
...
City Z wasn't as bustling as C City, nor did it have such a fast pace. Most of the citizens enjoyed leisure activities, and even close to midnight, the streets were still lively. Cheng Qiuyi didn't like the messy food at the night market, so Liu Shuhan specifically took her to the city center to eat at a famous local late-night snack place.
Liu Shuhan was so hungry that she ate quickly, eventually leaning back in her seat with a full belly, unable to move. It took her half an hour to recover, and Cheng Qiuyi, worried about her digestion, pulled her along the pedestrian street for a stroll.
The pedestrian street was crowded, and Cheng Qiuyi was afraid of losing Liu Shuhan, holding onto her tightly. Since City Z was Liu Shuhan's hometown, she was worried about being recognized and glanced around nervously. When she realized no one was paying attention to her, she finally relaxed and let Cheng Qiuyi lead her.
Having been alone for so many years and working hard, Liu Shuhan hadn't enjoyed such a leisurely shopping experience in a long time—especially with someone she loved. It felt indescribably pleasant. Her leg injury hadn't fully healed yet, so Cheng Qiuyi didn't dare let her walk too much. They found a dessert shop to rest in. Just as they sat down, Cheng Qiuyi's eyes fixed on a vendor outside.
"What's wrong?" Liu Shuhan followed Cheng Qiuyi's gaze.
The vendor was selling woven bracelets in various colors that attracted many young girls. Liu Shuhan teased Cheng Qiuyi, "Aren't you too old for these little trinkets?"
"Wait for me," Cheng Qiuyi said as she quickly walked out of the shop and stopped in front of the vendor. All Liu Shuhan saw was her picking out a simple-colored bracelet and paying for it before returning.
"Put your hand out," Cheng Qiuyi instructed Liu Shuhan.
"What for?" Liu Shuhan extended her hand toward Cheng Qiuyi.
Cheng Qiuyi solemnly placed the bracelet on Liu Shuhan's wrist. "My mother used to weave a bracelet like this for me every year when she was alive, saying it would ward off illness and disasters, ensuring I would be safe throughout the year. Shu Han, I don't want you to get hurt anymore, and I certainly don't want you to be hurt because of me."
"Getting hurt is sometimes unavoidable. A bracelet won't make much difference."
"I'm not expecting it to work miracles; I just hope that whenever you see this bracelet, it reminds you to be cautious and take good care of yourself."
Liu Shuhan bit her straw and said, "Don't just focus on me; you need to do the same. Be mindful and think of me when things happen, okay?"
"Yes." Cheng Qiuyi pretended to bow to Liu Shuhan. "I will definitely take good care of this little life of mine, ready to serve the adults."
Cheng Qiuyi stopped joking and continued, "This time I came back; everything else is secondary. I want to take you to meet my mother."
"But your mother, she isn't..."
"She is buried in City Z, in the Zhou family cemetery." Cheng Qiuyi scoffed. "She spent most of her life working for the Cheng Family and was cast out by them even in death."
As an outsider, Liu Shuhan felt it was inappropriate to comment on the matters of the Cheng Family and could only say, "Your mother must have been very sad to know you found someone to spend your life with."
Cheng Qiuyi shook his head. "What my mother worried about most back then was that I would grow old alone. Now that I've found someone to accompany me for life, she would surely be happy."
"Really?" Liu Shuhan widened her eyes. "Your mom was quite far-sighted. How old were you when she worried about that? My mom only said she'd break my legs if I dated anyone when I was a teenager!"
"I've always been a bit reclusive since childhood; it's not surprising she had such concerns."
"Your mother really was wise. But now she can rest easy; with me around, you won't end up lonely and pitiful." Liu Shuhan seriously patted Cheng Qiuyi's shoulder. "Don't cry, little one; your sister will take care of you from now on."
Cheng Qiuyi swatted her hand away and laughed, scolding, "That's enough."
The two wandered around for a while, and Cheng Qiuyi pulled Liu Shuhan to a stop in front of a movie theater.
"Shu Han, do you remember the movie we couldn't watch that time?"
Liu Shuhan certainly remembered; it was the day Cheng Qiuyi told her she wanted to be with her. Such an important day was something Liu Shuhan could never forget.
"Shu Han, let's go watch a movie?" Cheng Qiuyi said excitedly.
Liu Shuhan felt a bit moved as well. Not being able to see that movie with Cheng Qiuyi was indeed a regret.
There weren't many midnight screenings available. Since both Liu Shuhan and Cheng Qiuyi weren't particularly interested in celebrities, they casually picked a film and went inside. The screening room was sparsely populated, with only a few couples whispering sweet nothings in the back corner. Cheng Qiuyi and Liu Shuhan chose a secluded spot to sit down. With more than ten minutes until the movie started, Liu Shuhan had nothing to do, so she took out her phone to scroll through Weibo.
It had been a long time since she logged into her secondary Weibo account. She thought there would be plenty of private messages waiting for her from the user named "A Stone," but there were none—not even one.
As expected, online friends were unreliable! Liu Shuhan felt she had quite a rapport with A Stone, and she was slightly disappointed that he hadn't reached out. She remembered that he would only message her after she posted pictures of Cheng Qiuyi.
Thinking about this made her unhappy. How shameless! Knowing that Cheng Qiuyi is my girlfriend, how dare he covet her! So, Liu Shuhan held Cheng Qiuyi's hand and posed for a while before taking what she thought was the most ambiguous and beautiful photo to post.
"Watching a movie with Beautiful Sister, so excited ❤️ [image]"
Just as she finished posting, Cheng Qiuyi's phone buzzed with a notification. Cheng Qiuyi had set special alerts for Liu Shuhan to keep track of any updates in her life.
When Cheng Qiuyi saw Liu Shuhan's Weibo post, she couldn't help but smile. No wonder Liu Shuhan had been holding her hand and posing for so long; it was all for this post. Cheng Qiuyi quickly liked it and commented below:
"Wooden Head, showing off your love late at night is illegal."
Look! This was pure jealousy! Liu Shuhan confirmed her suspicions and became even more certain that A Stone had ulterior motives toward Cheng Qiuyi. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, and then… she blocked him.
Cheng Qiuyi waited for a response from A Log after leaving a comment, but after a long time with no reply, she thought Liu Shuhan must not have noticed. She considered leaving another comment, but then…
"I'm sorry, you cannot comment due to the other party's settings."
"..." Cheng Qiuyi looked at Liu Shuhan with a face full of grievance.
Blocked again? How many times has this happened? They were having a good conversation, and just like that, she gets blocked?
After blocking her, Liu Shuhan felt relieved and let out a deep breath as she relaxed into the soft chair, only to be startled by Cheng Qiuyi's gaze in the darkness. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing." Cheng Qiuyi turned her face expressionlessly. "Did you send out the photo you took earlier?"
"Of course!" Liu Shuhan said proudly. "Every day I see couples showing off their love; if I don't show them how happy I am, they'll really think I'm single!"
So you like to block people after showing off your love, huh?
"Did anyone respond to you?"
"Yes!" Liu Shuhan sat up excitedly. "There's someone I don't know who is particularly annoying. Every time I post your photo, she pops up. She definitely has intentions towards you! I blocked her; it felt great!"
Cheng Qiuyi nearly crushed her phone in her hand. Why do you always post my photos on Weibo? Is that my fault? Cheng Qiuyi really wanted to crack open Liu Shuhan's head to see how her brain works.
"Let's not talk about her anymore; the movie is starting. Let's watch the movie."
Cheng Qiuyi held back a belly full of words and had to give up.
The youth campus movie that has been popular in recent years had a clichéd plot, and the actors' performances were concerning. After half an hour, Cheng Qiuyi couldn't take it anymore and simply focused on watching Liu Shuhan illuminated by the screen's light.
Liu Shuhan watched intently, her eyes not blinking. Her expressions were vivid, mirroring the emotions of the characters in the movie. Just by looking at her face, one could almost guess the plot with great accuracy. In Cheng Qiuyi's social circle, aside from Liu Shuhan, who wasn't sharp-witted? Someone like Liu Shuhan, whose emotions were all written on her face, could easily be deemed out of the game. Only Liu Shuhan laid her heart bare in front of Cheng Qiuyi, foolishly unafraid of being deceived.
As the movie reached an emotional climax, with the two protagonists facing separation, tears welled up in Liu Shuhan's eyes. Cheng Qiuyi panicked; how could she really be crying?
"Shu Han? Shu Han, please don't cry." Cheng Qiuyi had no handkerchief or tissue, so she used her sleeve to wipe Liu Shuhan's tears. However, the more she wiped, the more uncontrollable it became. Cheng Qiuyi had no choice but to pull her into an embrace. "It's okay, it's just a movie; it's all fake. Don't cry, alright?"
Liu Shuhan sniffled and sobbed as she reproached Cheng Qiuyi, "How can you be so cold-hearted? They... they are about to part... it's so tragic... Qiu Yi, what if one day you and I have to separate... what will we do?"
"It won't happen; it won't happen. Wherever I go, I will take you with me. We will never be apart," Cheng Qiuyi began to regret coming to watch a movie at this late hour. Not only did they not enjoy it, but now she had also made someone cry.
"Really?" Liu Shuhan regained her composure and returned to her seat, still wiping her tears with the back of her hand, her nose red and looking pitiful.
"Really." Seeing Liu Shuhan with tears and snot running down her face made Cheng Qiuyi's heart ache. "Stop crying; if you keep crying, your throat will get hoarse. I'll go get you a bottle of water."
"You can't leave." Liu Shuhan stopped Cheng Qiuyi. "You just said you'd never leave me; now you want to run away... I knew it... you're not a good person..." Tears that had finally stopped began to flow again.
While comforting Liu Shuhan, Cheng Qiuyi realized a truth: when a woman is crying, never try to reason with her; just stay by her side.
Finally, the painful separation scene ended, and Liu Shuhan's mood gradually stabilized. She still had snot on her face but was engrossed in the movie. Cheng Qiuyi sighed and quietly slipped out to buy water and tissues.
"That's great, Qiu Yi! They finally got together!" Liu Shuhan witnessed the protagonists' happy ending and turned excitedly to share with Cheng Qiuyi, only to find that there was no one in her seat. As she was about to turn back to the screen for the final moments of the ending, Cheng Qiuyi's phone suddenly lit up.
It was a Weibo notification. Liu Shuhan didn't know that Cheng Qiuyi also used Weibo and curiously picked up Cheng Qiuyi's phone to see what her ID was, thinking they could follow each other later. Then she saw a familiar name.
A stone.
After all this time, it turned out that Cheng Qiuyi was this "stone"! Liu Shuhan had thought that this stone had some ulterior motive towards Cheng Qiuyi when in fact it was she who had intentions from the very beginning!
At that moment, Cheng Qiuyi had just returned from shopping and saw Liu Shuhan raising an eyebrow at her while holding her phone, looking as if she was ready to confess.
"I confess, I admit it," Cheng Qiuyi said, realizing she couldn't hide it any longer and spoke honestly.
The movie had already ended, and Liu Shuhan walked out without saying a word, while Cheng Qiuyi followed behind, feeling dejected.
It wasn't until they returned to the hotel and closed the door that Liu Shuhan sat on the sofa, crossed her legs, tilted her head slightly towards Cheng Qiuyi, and said with a queenly demeanor, "Go ahead, I'm listening."
Seeing Liu Shuhan's pretentious demeanor made Cheng Qiuyi want to give her a good talking-to. Cheng Qiuyi sat beside Liu Shuhan with a playful smile and reached out to hug her, but was startled by Liu Shuhan's sharp reprimand, "Who gave you permission to touch me? Be serious! Honestly explain yourself!"
Cheng Qiuyi was so frightened that she sat up straight with both hands resting on her abdomen, almost writing "I'm sorry" on her face.
"I didn't mean to hide it from you. At first, I wasn't sure if you liked me, so I thought of a way to get closer to you and find out..."
"So those countless little accounts that liked my posts before were also yours?"
Cheng Qiuyi fidgeted and didn't respond. Liu Shuhan snapped again, "Speak!"
"It was... it was me..." Cheng Qiuyi had never seen Liu Shuhan look so grim and guessed she was really angry. She hurriedly apologized, "Shu Han, I'm sorry. It was my fault; I shouldn't have lied to you. I promise this is the only time; from now on... no, no, absolutely no more! Can you forgive me just this once? Shu Han? Don't scare me, Shu Han..." She was almost begging on her knees.
Seeing Cheng Qiuyi looking like a frightened little wife made Liu Shuhan secretly pleased. Unable to hold back her laughter, she burst out laughing and fell back into the sofa, clutching her stomach.
"Oh my gosh, Cheng Qiuyi... Hahaha... You finally got what you deserved... Hahaha I can't take it anymore... I'm dying of laughter... My stomach hurts..."
Realizing she had been played, Cheng Qiuyi pressed down on Liu Shuhan and smirked oddly, "You’re quite bold; you really scared me."
"You deserve it!" Liu Shuhan playfully touched Cheng Qiuyi's smooth cheek. "Who told you to hide things from me? We're even now."
Cheng Qiuyi bit Liu Shuhan's nose tip and said, "You can't just say it's even. Where do I put my face? No way, I have to punish you properly today." With that, she reached into Liu Shuhan's clothes.
"Liu Shuhan."
"Yes?"
"You look really good when you're being mischievous."
Indeed, spending too much time with a rogue can be contagious.
...
The Zhou family was considered a prominent family in City Z, with their own private cemetery. In the past, there were people guarding the cemetery twenty-four hours a day. Since the Zhou family fell from grace, the cemetery had become increasingly desolate.
Liu Shuhan stood at the entrance of the cemetery, looking at the rusty iron gate. A chill ran down her spine, and she instinctively shrank her neck.
"Don't be afraid," Cheng Qiuyi comforted, holding Liu Shuhan's hand.
"Who, who is afraid?" Liu Shuhan tried to act tough.
Cheng Qiuyi smiled and led Liu Shuhan into the cemetery.
There was only an elderly man with graying hair guarding the cemetery. He used to be the Zhou family's steward, and they treated him well. After the Zhou family disbanded, he voluntarily came here to look after the place. In truth, it didn't matter whether he watched over it or not; such a gloomy place filled with tombstones had no valuables. Even thieves wouldn't want to come here; he simply wanted to do his part.
Cheng Qiuyi greeted the old man and took Liu Shuhan inside. Cheng Qiuyi had only been here once before and didn't remember where Mother Cheng's grave was located, so they had to search one by one according to their lineage until they finally found the stone-built tomb.
Other graves were overgrown with weeds, but Mother Cheng's grave was very clean, as if someone often came to tend to it. There were still a few bouquets of flowers placed there, slightly wilted but clearly put there not long ago. Cheng Qiuyi guessed that her grandfather must miss his daughter and often came to visit. She wasn't too surprised and placed the flowers she and Liu Shuhan brought on the grave as well.
A portrait of Mother Cheng was affixed to the tombstone, indicating that she had passed away at a young age. Liu Shuhan carefully examined Mother Cheng's photo and felt sorrow for Cheng Qiuyi, thinking that if Mother Cheng had not died so early, perhaps Cheng Qiuyi would not have had to live such a difficult life in the following years.
"Mother, I have come to see you," Cheng Qiuyi knelt before Mother Cheng's grave and sincerely bowed three times. Liu Shuhan followed her lead, kneeling and bowing as well, but she dared not speak much, fearing to anger the spirit of Mother Cheng.
"I only came to see you after so many years; please don't hold it against me," Cheng Qiuyi said with a self-deprecating smile. "It's a pity that after all these years, I haven't accomplished much. If you were still alive, I fear you would be driven to anger by my failures."
"But you need not worry about me living alone for the rest of my life; there is no son-in-law, but I have brought a daughter-in-law for you..." Cheng Qiuyi took Liu Shuhan's hand. "This is Liu Shuhan. Having her by my side for this lifetime is enough."
Liu Shuhan hesitantly added, "Auntie, I am Liu Shuhan... I have liked Qiu Yi since high school. Please rest assured, I will take good care of Qiu Yi, ensure she is well-fed and clothed, and provide her with a home. I will never let her suffer."
Cheng Qiuyi smiled faintly and continued, "As you can see, Shu Han is a woman. I know you probably can't believe that I could spend my life with another woman... Last time I told my master about it, he expelled me from the sect."
Liu Shuhan was shocked. "What? Qiu Yi, why didn't you tell me such a big thing?"
Cheng Qiuyi gently patted Liu Shuhan's hand and said, "But it's only with Shu Han that I can have a happy life. Mother, I've always obeyed you since I was little; this time, please allow me to be willful just once and find someone I truly love to spend my life with."
Just as Cheng Qiuyi finished speaking, a long sigh came from behind her. She turned alertly and found it was Qin Jiang.
"Master? When did you arrive?" Cheng Qiuyi asked.
Qin Jiang helped the kneeling Cheng Qiuyi and Liu Shuhan up and took the bouquet handed over by the butler to place it before Mother Cheng's tombstone before saying, "I've been here for a while."
"You... often come to visit my mother?" Cheng Qiuyi asked in surprise.
Qin Jiang stood with his hands clasped behind him in front of Mother Cheng's tombstone for several minutes before saying, "As one grows older and has nothing to do, one can only reminisce with your mother. For the past ten years, I've kept her company to avoid loneliness."
Cheng Qiuyi felt ashamed. "It is my unfilial behavior for not having visited my mother in so many years and not having shown filial piety in front of you."
"You have your own difficulties, and I don't blame you."
After a moment of silence, Qin Jiang continued, "Shu Han, I have taught you for a few years, so I can be considered your teacher. Today, in front of Qiu Yi's mother, I want to ask you a few questions, and you must answer truthfully."
Liu Shuhan did not expect to be called out and stood nervously, "Teacher, you are too kind. Please feel free to ask your questions."
"Qiu Yi says she truly wants to be with you. What about you? Do you want to spend your life with her?"
"My feelings are the same as Qiu Yi's. As long as she doesn't mind me, I am willing to stay by her side forever."
Qin Jiang scoffed, "Anyone can talk big. You young people throw around the word 'forever' without knowing how long a lifetime really is."
"You say you want to be with Qiu Yi. What about your family? Your parents? Do they agree?"
Liu Shuhan was stumped by the question; she still didn't dare to introduce Cheng Qiuyi to them, and she couldn't answer this.
"What if they try to separate you? If Qiu Yi and your parents could only choose one, who would you choose?"
"Enough!" Cheng Qiuyi interrupted Qin Jiang's aggressive questioning. "Master, these obstacles are something Shu Han and I will overcome gradually. You don't need to worry about it."
Qin Jiang had an expression that suggested he expected this response and shook his head with a smile. "You young people... never turn back until you hit a wall..."
Cheng Qiuyi was annoyed by Qin Jiang's probing and took Liu Shuhan away to say goodbye before leaving.
"Hui'er, look at Qiu Yi; her temperament is just like yours," Qin Jiang said as he sat down against Mother Cheng's tombstone and cleared his throat a few times. "Don't blame me for deliberately making things difficult for her. I know Qiu Yi likes that girl, but they are still too young. I'm afraid Qiu Yi will suffer."
"Qiu Yi is just like you were back then; when she loves someone, she loves deeply. I'm really afraid she'll make the same mistake as you did and fall for the wrong person."
"Hui'er, if you had followed me back then..."
Qin Jiang did not continue, as the butler helped him to his feet, and the two slowly walked out.
"Sir, your descendants will have their own fortunes. Miss Qiu Yi is naturally intelligent; you worry too much."
"I have no children in this life and raised Qiu Yi as my own daughter. She is Hui'er's only bloodline. If I don't worry about her, who should I worry about?" Qin Jiang smiled bitterly. "Life is all about worrying. If my concerns can help Qiu Yi find someone who will cherish her for the rest of her life, it would be worth it."
"What about Liu Shuhan..."
"Liu Shuhan is a flower bud grown in a greenhouse; she hasn't experienced any hardships. If Qiu Yi is with her, I'm afraid it's not someone who will cherish her, but rather that she will have to worry about caring for others. That's not right... that's not right..."
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