The next day, when the old Daoist woke up, he found that Nick Zeller was no longer in the upper bunk.
After freshening up, he opened the door and saw only Lawrence Winters sitting in the living room watching TV.
"Master Grandpa, you’ve woken up. Breakfast is in the dining room. I’m waiting for you to eat together!" she said with a smile, feeling very joyful. The old Daoist nodded and also smiled, "Where’s your uncle? What about your mom and your cousin? Have they all left?"
"My uncle and my mom went out, saying they have a potential client to et. My cousin went to work. He’s in the startup phase now, so he’s very busy. It was a coincidence he ca back early yesterday; he often works late." Lawrence explained while getting up and walking towards the dining room.
The old Daoist followed along.
Last night, everyone had a grand feast, a veritable banquet for the taste buds, which left everyone feeling a bit sluggish about eating anything in the morning.
Lawrence only ate a bowl of plain porridge and didn’t even touch the little sausages.
The old Daoist, however, ate everything, not only drinking porridge but also enjoying at buns and a bowl of savory tofu pudding.
Lawrence pouted and said, "You can eat this stuff too? It’s all takeaway."
The old Daoist replied with a smile, "As long as you’re hungry, what can’t you eat? You know there was a year our harvest decreased in the mountains, and I ate sweet potatoes for six whole months!"
Lawrence said, "Sweet potatoes are delicious! I like them. They’re healthy food, and they can lower blood lipids. You should eat more."
"Even the most delicious food, if eaten continuously for six months, only fills you up." The old Daoist shook his head and said with emotion, "You haven’t faced hardships, so you don’t know how beautiful life is now..."
"I do know..." Lawrence nodded solemnly, "I may not have lived that kind of life, but I’ve read about it in books. More than a hundred years ago, the average life expectancy in our country was only thirty-four years. If everyone could eat and dress warmly, how could the average life expectancy be so low?"
The old Daoist chuckled, "You learn things best through practice, not just from books. Little Lawrence, it’s good that you have such an open heart. As Heavenly Masters, we must accumulate virtue to achieve more with less effort and avoid the five harms and three deficiencies."
Lawrence giggled and said, "My uncle told that to avoid the five harms and three deficiencies, you must have clear prices!"
The old Daoist laughed heartily, "Exactly! That’s one of the most important things! Nick has truly grasped my teachings!"
The grandfather and granddaughter finished their breakfast cheerfully. Lawrence put the bowls, plates, and spoons into the dishwasher, washed her hands, and ca out to ask the old Daoist, "Master Grandpa, what are we doing today?"
She had taken a week off just to accompany the old Daoist in touring the Capital City.
The old Daoist said without hesitation, "I’m taking you to et soone."
"Alright." Lawrence nodded quickly, thinking that the main purpose was to et this person, but who exactly is this person?
Feeling curious, she packed up her things, slung a small backpack over her shoulder, and left with the old Daoist.
Today, the old Daoist wasn’t wearing his Daoist robe but was dressed in a silk Tang suit. His hair was neatly combed, his mustache was grood, and he wore vintage sunglasses. Leaning on a cane, he wore a pair of brand-new white canvas shoes, exuding a mystic aura.
For convenience, Lawrence tied her hair at the back with a hairband and wore an oversized pea-green pullover hoodie.
After losing weight, her legs were long and slim, and she liked wearing mid-calf flat boots, which didn’t hurt her feet when walking.
As soon as she went downstairs with the old Daoist, Lawrence received a call from Edward Foster.
"Lawrence, are you going shopping today? I happen to be free and can be your driver, accompany you to eat, play, and shop all day!" Edward said enthusiastically.
Lawrence quickly declined, laughing, "No need, I’m going to et a friend with relatives today, not shopping. If you’re free, you can date so celebrity. You’ve been out of the tabloid lilight lately, and the company’s visibility has dropped significantly, which isn’t good!"
Edward: "..."
"So, to you, I’m just a tool for dating celebrities to boost the company’s reputation?" he joked, "Alright, since our spokesperson has spoken, I’ll reluctantly go and ask a celebrity out!"
"Go on, go on!" Lawrence waved as if Edward were in front of her, "It would be best if so paparazzi noticed you on the date and blackmailed you with a photo, so we can generate at least two trending topics: one rumor, one clarification."
Edward was speechless for a mont, then said, "How did you pick up Zoe Johnson’s routine?"
"Co on, is that Zoe Johnson’s patent? This is clearly the survival rule in the entertainnt circle." Lawrence laughed and retorted.
They chatted a bit more before hanging up.
In front of them, the ride they called had already arrived.
The old Daoist listened quietly beside her until the car arrived, then asked, "The person who just called you, is he your boss?"
"Yes, Mr. Edward. He’s a good guy." Lawrence said with a smile as she opened the car door and got in with the old Daoist.
The ride headed forward as per the address given by the old Daoist.
Since it was soone else’s car, Lawrence and the old Daoist didn’t say much.
Lawrence scrolled through her phone along the way, while the old Daoist watched the street scenery outside the window until the car stopped.
Lawrence looked up in surprise to find they had arrived in a relatively secluded area.
Everywhere was lush with pine and cypress, the ground was green, and the temperature dropped by five degrees as soon as they entered.
In front of her was an archway of wrought iron hidden by erald pine branches, with the words "Pine Cypress Cetery" on the arch.
Lawrence seldom ca to such places. She glanced at the old Daoist and asked in a low voice, "Master Grandpa, are you here to look at a burial site?"
Her uncle only looks at houses for the living, never burial sites, so she wasn’t sure if her great-grandmaster would look at burial sites.
The old Daoist, however, smiled and said, "I’m not here to look at Feng Shui. I’m here to see a person."
Lawrence: "..."
Can you not speak ambiguously?
Is there anyone in a place like this?
Lawrence Winters secretly mocked while asking, "...Are you here to pay respects to the deceased?"
The elderly Daoist glanced at her, smiled, and said, "...Yes, ordinary people are buried here. Don’t be afraid."
Lawrence Winters: "...".
Since the Heavenly Master had spoken, she had nothing to fear.
Curiously, she followed the old Daoist through the Pine Cypress Cetery, walking along the small winding blue stone paths, and finally stopped in front of a simple tombstone.
Behind the tombstone was a small grave. It was placed in a good location, with a tall tree nearby whose large canopy covered the grave extensively.
The grave was well-tended, with not a single weed, showing it was cared for diligently.
Lawrence Winters carefully examined the tombstone and saw an old black-and-white photograph on it.
The black-and-white photo was of an elegant woman dressed in old-fashioned clothing. At first glance, Lawrence Winters was nearly breathless with shock.
The woman’s beauty embodied the epito of old-fashioned grace, and upon closer look, her features bore seven or eight points of resemblance to the old Daoist!
Lawrence Winters could read a little about faces. After a few glances at the woman’s features, she deduced she was related by blood to the old Daoist.
"Grandmaster, is this... your relative?" Lawrence Winters quietly asked.
The old Daoist nodded, no longer smiling, and spoke with deep sadness: "...She was my sister, my only biological sister. Today is the anniversary of her death."
Lawrence Winters was about to comfort him when suddenly a charming little child rolled out from behind the nearby large tree, pointed at the tombstone, and curiously asked the old Daoist: "That’s my father’s grandmother. Are you my father’s grandmother’s brother? Then what are you to ?"
Lawrence Winters couldn’t help but laugh. Where did this magical little bundle co from? — This is a tricky question by a Daoist!
She was about to bend down to pick up the incredibly cute little boy when a couple followed from behind the large tree.
"Ashton, you’re being mischievous again." The man’s voice was steady and magnetic, carrying the authority of soone long accustod to a position of power.
Lawrence Winters felt a stir inside, straightened her back, and looked up to observe them closely.
At this glance, she not only found it difficult to breathe but felt as though all the blood in her veins had been drained.
Seeing stars, unable to breathe, her heart raced, and she trembled so much even her teeth chattered.
That was the Mason and Graham CP!
The living Mason and Graham CP stood right before her!
The legendary Christopher Mason, and his equally legendary wife Lydia Graham!
Lawrence Winters recalled that fleeting glimpse on the high-speed train; she didn’t dare raise her eyelids and felt imnsely satisfied just to breathe the sa air as them in that shared space.
She even felt a bit lancholy; the idolized couple she had admired for so long was standing in front of her.
Yet they remained unattainable.
They just stood there, but it was as if they were standing in the clouds, requiring one to look up to see them.
Lawrence Winters was so excited she almost felt her nose would turn sour.
She tried her best to remain calm, but her voice still carried a slight tremor: "Excuse , are you Mr. Mason and Mrs. Mason?"
Christopher Mason glanced at her, his gaze sharp, but lacking the natural pressure he exerted on subordinates, and said warmly: "Hello, do you know us?"
Lawrence Winters glanced at Lydia Graham beside him, stamring slightly with excitent: "...I... I do know you! But you probably don’t know — I... I am your Mason and Graham CP superfan ’One Promise Gold’!"
Christopher Mason: "..."
Lydia Graham, however, laughed, stepped forward, extended her hand, blinked playfully, and said: "So you’re One Promise Gold? I’ve even read your Mason and Graham CP fanfiction..."
Oh my! How embarrassing!
Lawrence Winters wanted to pull out of Lydia Graham’s hand and cover her face.
To have one’s fanfiction officially acknowledged by the real-life individuals, what kind of feeling was that?!
She just wanted to run three laps around the entire Pine Cypress Cetery and then shout to the sky: "No regrets in this life for entering the Mason and Graham fandom!"
Seeing her face turn as red as the blush on a peach, her whole deanor awkward, Lydia Graham stopped teasing her, smiled, and said: "Are you here to visit a grave too? Earlier, I heard this gentleman say this was his sister?"
She pointed to the simple tombstone ntioned earlier.
Christopher Mason calmly bent down and picked up his son, who was about to cause more mischief.
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This is the third update.
Just a reminder about the monthly ticket and recomndation ticket!
Much love to everyone!
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