Ye Li and Fu Yanci had just descended the stairs when Aunt Lan already had breakfast prepared.
Seeing Ye Li, as if knowing what she would ask, Aunt Lan said smilingly, "Don’t worry, the Lady is just fine."
She said they’d chat for a bit and then sleep, but one sentence led to another, and before they knew it, dawn was breaking outside the window, and the whole night had passed.
They talked about how sensible Ah Li had beco, words brimming with pride.
They talked about how she had discovered their well-aning concealnt and how she had sought confirmation.
Once the conversation turned to yesterday’s birthday party on the top floor of Yunjing, Li Xueqing’s words exuded even more pride.
"The Lady said that the banquet hall was full of beauties, plump or slender, but she spotted her Ah Li at first glance, as beautiful as Snow White."
Aunt Lan laughed, setting down a cup of black coffee for Fu Yanci and thrusting a cup of soy milk into Ye Li’s hands, "The Lady also said..."
"What else did she say?"
Li Xueqing’s voice ca from behind, "Sister Lan, you haven’t been saying bad things about to Ah Li, have you?"
"I’ve said quite a lot indeed."
Aunt Lan laughed.
Ye Li turned around, her gaze landing on her mother’s face.
Her eyes were a bit swollen, but her spirits seed good.
It didn’t look like she was just putting on a brave face to comfort her.
Li Xueqing’s gaze lingered for a mont.
It was Sunday, yet Ye Li was dressed in a formal little black dress, as if she were heading off to a eting in the studio.
Ye Li also noticed the dark-colored qipao that Li Xueqing was wearing.
The night before, at the banquet hall, her mother had worn a pearl necklace around her neck and had also pinned her hair up with a plain hairpin.
But today, she wore neither the necklace nor the hairpin, just a wedding ring on her finger.
Although they hadn’t said anything, mother and daughter knew tacitly that today they were going to visit Ye Mushen at the cetery.
"Mom, let’s go see Dad in a bit."
Spreading her arms for a big hug from Li Xueqing, Ye Li turned to look at Fu Yanci.
Just then, Fu Yanci nodded, "Ah Li, I’ll co with you!"
As he spoke, Fu Yanci looked at Li Xueqing, "Mom, you and Ah Li wait at ho for a bit. I’ll go change and then co back to pick you up."
"Okay!"
Li Xueqing nodded.
Fu Yanci stood up, ruffling Ye Li’s head, "I’ll be back very soon."
Without even having breakfast, Fu Yanci left.
Upon his return, dressed in a black suit and overcoat, with even the white shirt inside changed to black,
he projected an aura of calm solemnity, which lent him an air of cool detachnt.
It seed but a mont, and the gentle and composed Fu Yanci had transford into the stern and taciturn Uncle Fu seen by others.
The Maybach drove out of the Ye Family villa area, and shortly after, a motorcade converged from the intersection, lining up neatly behind the Maybach.
The procession was both high-profile and solemn.
Ye Mushen’s tombstone was located on the east side of the West Suburb Cetery.
In the black and white photo on the tombstone, the refined and composed middle-aged man’s gaze was steady, his smile serene.
Li Xueqing nearly burst into tears the mont she saw the photo.
They laid out his favorite lilies.
They placed his cherished osmanthus cakes.
Li Xueqing took out a plain white handkerchief and ticulously wiped down the already immaculate tombstone again.
After bowing to their father with Ye Li and Fu Yanci, expressing their love and rembrance, Li Xueqing looked at Fu Yanci, "Yanci, take Ah Li ho first."
"Ah Li..."
Li Xueqing turned to Ye Li, whose eyes were red from crying, "Mom will talk to Dad for a bit. You be a good girl and go ho with Yanci first, okay?"
Knowing that her mom had a lot to say to her dad, Ye Li nodded despite the aching in her heart, "Okay!"
They had walked quite a distance, yet the sound of sobbing still carried on the wind.
Ye Li only looked back once, and like beads off a string, her tears began to fall.
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