Rain Bell (Part Two)

After dinner, Grandma wanted An to stay here for the night so she could keep her company again tomorrow.

In her grandmother's eyes, An was already a grown woman, and regardless of whether she and Ji Qingzhou were boyfriend and girlfriend, she arranged a bedroom for her on the first floor. An sat down to rest for a while, then tidied up her clothes and went to the bathroom.

Ji Qingzhou knocked on the door and came in, saying, "I came to check on you because I was worried."

An laughed, "What's there to worry about in your house?"

"Why don't you come to my room?" Ji Qingzhou paused. "I mean, it would be more convenient."

She carried her things and walked slowly towards the bathroom. "No need, it's fine here."

Ji Qingzhou was quick; Fu An had already sat down on the stool by the bed. "Wait for me."

He took the things from An Yi's hands and placed them in the bathroom, in the place closest to An Yi when she took a shower. He also placed the shampoo, shower gel, and other items in the nearest place.

I adjusted the water temperature to just right, laid out a non-slip mat, and moved a small stool over.

While he was tidying up, An had already moved to the bathroom.

As Ji Qingzhou bustled about, An recalled the first twenty-odd years of her life.

I wonder if my brain automatically forgets whether my parents treated me this way during my first three years. An lowered her head, like a docile lamb recalling those times when she was not treated well.

She walked into the bathroom, holding onto the door frame.

Ji Qingzhou turned around. "Didn't you say you'd wait for me?"

He picked An up by the waist and placed her on a small stool.

An had to emphasize again, "I'm almost better."

He looked down at An and patted his head, which was already looking up at him.

After checking that nothing was missed, he said, "I'll be right outside. Call me if you need anything."

Ji Qingzhou closed the door and waited outside.

The sound of dripping water began, followed by a loud thud, "Thump—"

Ji Qingzhou immediately went into the bathroom.

An hadn't even realized she'd touched shampoo yet.

She stared blankly into Qingzhou's eyes. He quickly looked away after confirming An was alright, saying, "I'm sorry."

The steam from the bathroom filled the air, and the unspoken glances between them added an air of ambiguity to the place.

Ji Qingzhou stepped back and closed the door.

“Ji Qingzhou,” An called out to him, saying helplessly, “why don’t you help me wash?”

Ji Qingzhou's movements were a little unnatural, perhaps because of the heat, or perhaps because she was too anxious.

He didn't speak as fluently as usual, "I'll wait for you outside."

He speaks incoherently and without a clear beginning or end.

An had finished washing and didn't call him.

Ji Qingzhou guessed that An had already gotten dressed before coming in and carrying her to the bed.

Ji Qingzhou placed a glass of water by An Yi's bedside and put her slippers next to the bed.

He looked around the room repeatedly.

An felt someone swaying back and forth in front of her, which chased away any sleepiness she might have felt.

"Why don't you just sleep here?"

She was afraid she wouldn't be able to sleep all night, and even more afraid that if she finally fell asleep, someone would come in and ask her if she was sleeping safely.

"good."

He answered very quickly.

Before falling asleep, she heard the person next to her say, "I've always been by your side."

Upon waking up in the morning, An naturally went through a meticulous process, to the point that she praised herself for her patience.

While brushing her teeth, she spaced out the differences between the old house and her own home.

Actually, he seems to be like this at home too, but he just hasn't paid attention to it in his own area. In an unfamiliar place, Ji Qingzhou and his behavior become particularly striking.

Ji Qingzhou in the mirror was using the same toothbrush and toothpaste as him, brushing his teeth at the same frequency.

The bathroom scene is also reflected in the mirror, and the understated decor still exudes luxury.

For the first time, An Yi thought that Ji Qingzhou was really making things difficult for him by staying in her rented apartment with her.

Ji Qingzhou's exit from An Yi's bedroom naturally did not escape her grandmother's notice.

Grandma glared at him, "Such a big boy, doesn't he have any stamina?"

He silently accepted his grandmother's scolding, lowered his head, smiled, and said nothing.

After breakfast, Ji Qingzhou went to his study to work.

He and Ji Yang held the same position in the company, but because he was pursuing a doctorate, he didn't have as much work as Ji Yang.

We can deal with it together when we have time.

Grandma took An to the pond to feed the fish.

Grandma asked her, "How did you sleep last night?"

"It's fine." Except that there are always people within three meters of her.

Grandma patted An Yi's hand, "Is the bed comfortable? How's the blanket? Does the room feel stuffy?"

It was unclear whether Grandma was supporting An Yi or An Yi was supporting Grandma.

She replied with a smile, "Everything is fine, Grandma."

Her parents divorced early, and their kinship was weak, so she rarely had the opportunity to experience the care of her grandparents.

Although she only received her grandmother's care because of Ji Qingzhou, she was still very grateful to her grandmother.

Grandma said, "That's good."

As soon as Grandma walked to the edge of the pond, a group of koi carp surrounded her. The rockery, the small pond, the flowing water, the pavilion, and the green trees were all there.

The grandmother and granddaughter sat down under the pavilion, and An Yi gave the fish food she had brought to her grandmother.

Grandma tossed a handful of fish food and said, "When I was young, my family was poor. We sewed and sewed our quilts so many times that they were drafty in winter, but there was nothing we could do."

She brought up things from the past with An Yi.

At that time, Grandma had only given birth to Qingzhou's father, Ji Lin, for a little over two years when Grandpa passed away due to illness. The entire burden of the family fell on her shoulders.

Fortunately, my grandmother had a skill in making oiled paper umbrellas, which allowed her to make a living.

Grandma's oil-paper umbrellas were of good quality, lasted a long time, and were made of solid materials. Back then, information was not as readily available as it is now, and word of mouth among neighbors was the best way to spread them.

Grandma's reputation gradually spread.

Under Grandma's care, life gradually became more prosperous, and she founded an oil-paper umbrella factory called "Zheyun".

Over time, Zheyun umbrellas have had to face the advancements in technology. The widespread use of nylon umbrellas and folding umbrellas has greatly impacted the oil-paper umbrella industry.

Modern umbrellas are lighter and more durable, and the practicality of oil-paper umbrellas has gradually been replaced. The workers in Grandma's factory were not optimistic about the future of oil-paper umbrellas and left one after another.

Even the oil-paper umbrellas made from chickens and ducks couldn't be sold.

Grandma realized that she either had to give up the oil-paper umbrella or change its direction.

She traveled to Fenshui to learn the craft of making oil-paper umbrellas from a master craftsman, hoping to transform them from everyday items into handicrafts.

But when she arrived at the master's house, she learned that he had already passed away.

Fortunately, he had a daughter who inherited his skills.

So the grandmother learned the more advanced and professional oil-paper umbrella craft from this girl.

After completing her training, Grandma returned with the skills and began the transformation of the oil-paper umbrella business.

Later, taking advantage of favorable policies, the company expanded into the materials industry, which led to the current Zheyun Group.

Grandma recalled the person who hadn't appeared in her memory for a long time.

"Speaking of which, she was also my mentor," Grandma squinted as she recalled. "She was about my age back then, and she must be as old and frail as I am now."

Grandma smiled as she thought of this, as if she were smiling at the girl from that time.

Grandma finished feeding the fish, and the fish scattered.

An Yi said, "Grandma, you're in good health; you don't fit the description of being old and frail at all."

Grandma smiled and said, "She just knows how to make me happy."

Grandma swatted away the fish food in her hand. "When you and Qingzhou go to Fenshui in the future, please help me find that family. They're easy to find. I call that girl A-Yun. Just ask A-Yun's grandma which house she lives in in the village."

An Yi helped shake the fish food off her grandmother, "Okay, I'll definitely go."

Su Xi didn't see Ji Qingzhou in the study, but ran into him on the way to the koi pond. He greeted Su Xi.

Su Xi smiled broadly and asked about his recent situation, which he answered one by one.

When she talked about her relationship, she said, "Xiaoya asked me to apologize to you. She has realized her mistake about that matter, so please don't ignore her."

Ji Qingzhou glanced back for a moment and realized that Su Xi was referring to Fan Xiya.

He nodded and said he understood.

His gaze pierced through the bamboo grove and fell upon An and her grandmother.

Su Xi grabbed him, "Reply to her message, have a meal with her, for the sake of her apology."

Ji Qingzhou stopped and said to Su Xi, "She should apologize to me, not me."

An was leaning on the railing, her eyes crinkling as she chatted and laughed with her grandmother.

Seeing this, Ji Qingzhou pulled back the leg he had stepped out of, turned to Su Xi earnestly, and said, "Mom, I already have a girlfriend. Grandma likes her very much, and if nothing unexpected happens—"

"I will marry her."

marry?

Su Xi was shocked; she never expected those two words to come out of Ji Qingzhou's mouth.

Ji Qingzhou went to An Yi and her grandmother's side.

An had caught sight of Ji Qingzhou and pointed to a yellow and white koi in the pond, saying to him, "Look how fat he is!"

Her tone was unusually lively and excited.

Ji Qingzhou chimed in, "Grandma must be biased; she only feeds that fish."

Grandma pretended to be angry after hearing this, "Nonsense! Ask An'an if I just fed her the same amount!"

An has raised her hand, "I testify that Grandma didn't show favoritism!"

The grandfather and grandson had ill intentions.

An had already spoken up for her grandmother, saying, "Grandma is going to blame you for feeding his fish so fat!"

Ji Qingzhou smiled, and her grandmother laughed out loud as well.

"What's wrong, Grandma? Why are you smiling so happily?"

A loud male voice rang out behind everyone, and Ji Yang came over from the other side.

Grandma beckoned him over.

Grandma was very happy to see Ji Yang.

"Brother." Ji Qingzhou greeted Ji Yang.

Ji Yang patted Ji Qingzhou on the shoulder, responded cheerfully, and greeted Su Xi.

An has already met Ji Yang and Su Xi, so there's no need to say more.

Ji Yang helped his grandmother sit down and said to her, "Grandma, seeing how happy you are, let me tell you some more good news, wouldn't that be double the joy!"

Grandma followed up on her grandson's words: "What good news?"

Ji Yang said, "I expanded the oil-paper umbrella production line. 'Zheyun' has partnered with a foreign trade company, and this year the market share of oil-paper umbrellas will at least double!"

Grandma has always opposed substituting quantity for quality, but Ji Yang firmly believes that the market results will satisfy her.

Grandma didn't go into details, she just nodded and said, "Thank you for your hard work."

The smile faded from her eyes, but her mouth remained smiling as she asked Ji Qingzhou, "Was this also your idea?"

Su Xi knew her grandmother somewhat and knew that her grandmother was not actually very happy about this; she wore a forced smile on her face.

Ji Qingzhou and Ji Yang exchanged a glance for a second. "Let's try it out first."

Ji Yang was full of confidence, saying that he would see results in just one year. Ji Qingzhou thought, then give him a year. The facts of a year should be more effective than his original opposition.

Grandma waved and laughed heartily.

With Su Xi's help, she got up, and her grandmother stepped forward and said, "An'an, take me home."