Chapter 32 Pocket Watch

Winter break is almost over, and the first buds of spring are blooming on the weeping willows by the river. The ducks are the first to know when the water is warm, creating a scene of everything coming back to life.

Yu Bai hurried through the chilly spring streets, the wind blowing through her hair, making her look gentle and charming.

Turning the corner, a quiet and elegant coffee shop came into view. Yu Bai pushed open the door and entered, his cautious gaze sweeping over the seats.

Uncle Jiang, who was in the corner, saw Yu Bai and immediately got up to beckon her over.

"Hello, Uncle Jiang." Yu Bai sat down opposite Uncle Jiang.

Uncle Jiang's face looked somewhat weathered, and he gave a wry smile.

He was troubled by Jiang Jizhou. He had been blinded by the joy of Lin Yun's pregnancy and neglected Jiang Jizhou. Later, he believed Lin Yun's false accusations, which completely put himself and his biological son in a situation of turning against each other.

Now that Jiang Jizhou refuses to see him, he has no choice but to ask Yu Bai to mediate.

"Bai Bai, how are things between you and Ji Zhou lately?" Uncle Jiang asked Yu Bai.

"Don't worry, Uncle Jiang, it's all good. My brother can even cook now, and it's delicious." Yu Bai smiled.

Upon hearing this, Uncle Jiang couldn't help but laugh. Jiang Jizhou was spoiled and never went into the kitchen, but now he can cook. He thought about it carefully and realized that since Yu Bai came to the house, Jiang Jizhou had undergone some positive changes without him realizing it.

He smiled with satisfaction, "Bai Bai, seeing how well you two get along, Uncle Jiang is relieved."

When he smiled, the wrinkles on his face turned into deep furrows, showing signs of aging. Yu Bai felt a pang of heartache. At least, when Ms. Yu left her alone in the country, it was Uncle Jiang who adopted her and provided her with very good conditions. Whether objectively or subjectively, she should be grateful to Uncle Jiang.

"Uncle Jiang, thank you too." Yu Bai said earnestly.

Uncle Jiang stroked Yu Bai's head with his large, aged hand and said kindly, "Your mother and I were very close friends. She helped me a lot when she was young. Your father passed away early, so it's only right that I take on the responsibility of being your father."

Tears welled up in Yu Bai's eyes. She had never experienced fatherly love since she was a child, but she imagined it to be as heavy as a mountain. When she saw Uncle Jiang and Jiang Jizhou's interaction, she wondered why the father and son were so hostile to each other. Why was Uncle Jiang so cruel to his own son? Perhaps when Jiang Jizhou was a child, when his mother was still alive, they might have been a warm family. But later, everything changed because of Uncle Jiang's infidelity.

"Thank you, Uncle Jiang. I think my brother probably needs you, as his father, to take on the responsibility more than I do."

Yu Bai said calmly but firmly.

Uncle Jiang was stunned. His hand fell down as if he had lost all his strength, and he propped his head up with a muffled sigh.

“Ji Zhou and I have been enemies since his mother passed away.”

"That's because you cheated on me!" Yu Bai replied immediately, his voice filled with anger.

Uncle Jiang gave a wry smile, looked up at Yu Bai with a dark and unfathomable look in his eyes, and gently shook his head, "Things are not as simple as you think."

Yu Bai frowned and quickly asked, "What is that?"

Uncle Jiang shook his head and remained silent.

"Bai Bai, give this to Ji Zhou."

Uncle Jiang pushed a pocket watch in front of Yu Bai. Yu Bai picked it up and looked at it. The watch looked expensive and gorgeous, but it was quite old. Lifting the watch cover, Yu Bai saw a small photo. The photo showed Uncle Jiang's family many years ago. Uncle Jiang was very handsome when he was young, and the woman next to him was beautiful and gentle, but her eyes revealed a strong spirit. This must be Jiang Jizhou's mother. Yu Bai noticed that Lin Yun and Jiang Jizhou's mother looked about five points alike, but she did not have his mother's resolute and unyielding temperament. Jiang Jizhou was still a child, with red lips and white teeth, and a bright smile. He already had the makings of a handsome young man.

Uncle Jiang said to Yu Bai, "This watch was broken before. I searched for a long time before I found a master craftsman abroad to repair it."

"So that's how it is."

"I will definitely deliver him safely to my brother."

Yu Bai felt the old pocket watch in his palm becoming increasingly heavy.

Pushing open the glass door of the coffee shop, a refreshing gust of cold wind rushed into Yu Bai's arms, making him shiver. The two exchanged a few words at the door before parting ways.

"Goodbye, Uncle Jiang." Yu Bai nodded slightly and prepared to leave.

But across the street stood an undeniable figure, tall and handsome, standing out even in the bustling crowd. Some people were secretly watching him and whispering among themselves, but his gaze swept across the sea of ​​people, fixed on Yu Bai in front of the coffee shop, his eyes like ice in December, chilling to the bone.

Then Uncle Jiang saw Jiang Jizhou, smiled, and carefully greeted him.

Jiang Jizhou walked over from across the street. The wind blew in his face, and his open black trench coat blew to both sides, sharp and cold. Yu Bai had a bad feeling.

"Why did you see him?" Jiang Jizhou grabbed Yu Bai's wrist, lowered his brows, and exuded a low-pressure aura.

“Brother, it was Uncle Jiang who asked me to…” Yu Bai quickly explained.

“I’m afraid this kind of person will lead you astray.” As Jiang Jizhou said this, he glanced at Uncle Jiang with disdain. Uncle Jiang’s lips turned white, and he trembled but could not speak.

"Let's go." Jiang Jizhou pulled Yu Bai away.

Jiang Jizhou remained silent throughout the journey, and Yu Bai dared not speak either.

When Jiang Jizhou got home, he was a little angry. Yu Bai took his hand, nuzzled his shoulder, and said in a sweet voice like a kitten, "Don't be angry anymore."

Jiang Jizhou looked down and saw her almond-shaped eyes filled with tears, looking pitiful. All his anger vanished in an instant. He pinched her cheek and said, "You're not allowed to see him again."

Yu Bai immediately changed the subject, "Uncle Jiang wanted to see me about something. Look at this."

She showed the pocket watch to Jiang Jizhou, and saw his pupils dilate in surprise.

This pocket watch was bought by my mother. It had a photo of the three of them inside. Later, after my parents had an argument and the watch was broken, it disappeared. It turned out that it was with Jiang Feng.

"Uncle Jiang had someone repair this watch and asked me to give it to you."

Jiang Jizhou took the pocket watch somewhat blankly. Jiang Feng had repaired the watch, and the warmth of Yu Bai's palm lingered in his hand, making him feel at ease.

As if facing a deity, Jiang Jizhou reverently opened the watch case and saw a warm and happy family photo of the three of them.

I had only briefly possessed my mother's face, but it remains forever in the photograph, beautiful and dignified like a goddess.

Jiang Jizhou was so engrossed in watching that a tear rolled down his cheek.

This was the first time Yu Bai had seen Jiang Jizhou cry. She quietly stayed by his side, guarding the pocket watch.

After an unknown amount of time, Yu Bai slowly woke up and found herself in bed. She remembered that just a second ago she was on the sofa with Jiang Jizhou, and she didn't know when she had fallen asleep. It was Jiang Jizhou who carried her to the bedroom.

She got up and walked to the window. It was late at night, and the sky was pitch black.

Yu Bai pushed open the door and saw that Jiang Jizhou's bedroom was ajar. The room was pitch black except for a little light. Yu Bai frowned, gently pushed the door open, and saw Jiang Jizhou standing in front of the French window. He was tall and slender, with his head slightly tilted back. The cigarette between his fingers flickered, and the smoke he exhaled turned into wind and dispersed outside the window.

She was fiddling with the lighter Yu Bai had given her in her drooping hand.

Is Yu Bai holding his breath and concentrating? When did Jiang Jizhou learn to smoke?

She tiptoed over.

"Jiang Jizhou."

Jiang Jizhou turned around, saw Yu Bai, and immediately stubbed out his cigarette and threw it into the trash can.

"Feel sorry."

His drooping brows and eyes were tinged with a hint of loneliness.

"Let's go outside and let the smell dissipate."

He took Yu Bai's hand and led her out of the bedroom.

"When did you learn to smoke?" Yu Bai asked softly.

He didn't answer directly, but said softly, "I rarely smoke."

Yu Bai released his hand, put her arms around his shoulders, and said gently, "Smoking is bad."

Jiang Jizhou lowered his head and buried it in Yu Bai's soft, sweet hair. "Mmm."

Yu Bai sat on the sofa, and Jiang Jizhou lay down with his head on her legs, burying his face in her warm embrace. The two remained silent, keeping each other company in this long period of peace.

Jiang Jizhou felt more exhausted than ever before; the shadows cast by his childhood experiences still loomed over him to this day.

He learned to smoke in high school, and he would sometimes smoke a cigarette by himself when he was feeling irritable. Today was the first time he had smoked since Yu Bai came.

In fact, when his mother was seriously ill, besides telling Jiang Jizhou to take good care of himself, he only said, "Jiang Jizhou, don't hate your father."

How could he not hate?

Jiang Feng repaired the watch and gave it to him today. His mind was in a mess, and he didn't know what Jiang Feng wanted to do.

No matter what Jiang Feng wanted to do, he could never forgive him. He was the murderer who killed his mother, and also the kind of person who would send his own son to the police station without any investigation for the sake of a woman.

Jiang Jizhou was worried that Yu Bai's soft heart was the entry point for Jiang Feng to ease the tension between father and son, and he was afraid that Yu Bai would get hurt because of it.

Jiang Jizhou looked up at Yu Bai, "Bai Bai, don't go to see Jiang Feng alone anymore."

Yu Bai lowered his head, paused for a few seconds, and then nodded, "Okay."

"Good girl."

Her gentle and serene face could wash away all the dust of the world. Only when Jiang Jizhou was by Yu Bai's side did he feel at ease and his heart found a brief moment of peace.

Jiang Jizhou fell asleep with his head on Yu Bai's lap.

His peaceful sleeping face looked harmless, still handsome, with long eyelashes drooping slightly and furrowed every day. Yu Bai reached out, wanting to smooth them out.

The next day, the weather was sunny and bright.

Jiang Jizhou was in a much better mood than yesterday, and Yu Bai was also slightly relieved.

To help Jiang Jizhou forget yesterday's events and cheer him up, Yu Bai bought flower seedlings early in the morning and dragged Jiang Jizhou along to plant flowers.

Jiang Jizhou was in charge of digging the soil, while Yu Bai put the flower seedlings in.

After a busy morning, with the yard full of flowers, the two of them were both panting heavily.

Yu Bai wanted to sneak away to drink ice water to quench her thirst, but Jiang Jizhou brought her a cup of hot water and ordered her to drink it.

“When spring and summer come, the courtyard will be full of blooming flowers!” Yu Bai’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Jiang Jizhou.

Jiang Jizhou nodded, feeling hopeful for the future because of Yu Bai, and looked gently at Yu Bai's fair profile, "Mm."

That's enough, just him and her.