020
The day of the family dinner was a lovely sunny day.
The Meng family's old house is very large, with a traditional Chinese courtyard. Although it is located in the city center, it is not noisy at all.
Passing through the long corridor, you'll find ponds on both sides, their waters shimmering, teeming with many kinds of precious fish.
Jiang Huali, arm in arm with Meng Zhiling, arrived at the restaurant, where most people were already there.
Meng Zhiling's grandmother sat in the main seat, her parents sat beside her, and the other younger relatives sat down in order.
Among those who came were Meng Zhiling's uncles and aunts, his aunt and uncle, and their children.
There were also some unfamiliar faces that Jiang Huali didn't recognize, probably some elders.
Almost all of them were from the main branch of the Meng family.
Meng Chu saw Jiang Huali and winked at her.
After exchanging greetings, the dishes were served.
Meng Zhiling sat to Jiang Huali's right and served her food several times during the meal, but Jiang Huali focused on eating.
The Meng family didn't have a rule about not speaking while eating, but not many people spoke at the table, only occasionally uttering a word or two.
The atmosphere at lunch was fairly harmonious. After lunch, Meng Zhiling's grandmother went to rest, while the rest of the family stayed in the living room.
Meng Zhiling's grandfather passed away early, and her grandmother's health has been poor in recent years, so many servants have been hired to live in the old house.
Jiang Huali was sitting on the sofa listening to Meng Zhiling talk when she suddenly heard Meng Zhiling's aunt ask, "Xiaoli, when are you and Zhiling planning to get married?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Huali pondered in her heart how to respond.
She and Meng Zhiling had been dating for several years after they started dating, and their relationship was stable. Meng Zhiling was not young anymore, and in the eyes of their elders, it was time to consider marriage.
However, Jiang Huali had told Meng Zhiling that she wouldn't consider marriage so soon.
Meng Zhiling, who was standing next to him, suddenly spoke up: "We're not considering it now."
My aunt frowned and said, "Why haven't you started thinking about this yet? People your age already have kids who can run errands, and in a few years, their kids will be in elementary school."
Meng Zhiling: "She's still young."
The aunt's lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to say something but stopped herself. Others may be young, but you are not young anymore.
Meng Chu coughed and handed a handful of sunflower seeds to her aunt, saying, "Auntie, have some sunflower seeds."
The aunt's attention was diverted. She took the sunflower seeds and said, "Xiao Chu, you shouldn't eat so many sunflower seeds if you have a cough."
Meng Chu nodded quickly, "Okay, okay."
Meng Zhiling's parents went to accompany their grandmother back to her room to rest, and happened to overhear this conversation when they returned.
Wen Qing didn't say anything, but just glanced at her son who was intently peeling an orange with his head down.
Meng Zhiling saw them and said, "Dad, Mom."
Wenqing sat down and said, "Grandma misses you a lot. Come back and spend more time with her when you have time."
Meng Zhiling nodded.
They left the old house in the afternoon. Before leaving, Meng Zhiling chatted with his grandmother for a while, and Jiang Huali accompanied him.
Grandma took out an exquisite box and handed it to Jiang Huali. Jiang Huali couldn't refuse, so she accepted it.
Inside the box was a gemstone necklace, exquisitely and intricately crafted.
Grandma held Jiang Huali's hand, looked at her and Meng Zhiling, and said with a smile, "Zhiling is a quiet child, and sometimes he can be stubborn. I hope you can be more tolerant of him."
Meng Zhiling, standing to the side, spoke up: "Grandma."
"Okay, sure." Jiang Huali nodded.
The elderly man was not very energetic, so they left after talking for a while.
Jiang Huali carefully stored away the gemstone necklace.
Time passed day by day, and soon it was the beginning of spring.
Jiang Huali began to experience noticeable stomach discomfort, and Meng Zhiling accompanied her to the hospital for a check-up.
The spring chill lingered in the air. On the night the test results came out, Meng Zhiling sat quietly alone for a long time after Jiang Huali fell asleep.
This year was not easy; Jiang Huali was hospitalized for treatment, but her condition gradually began to deteriorate.
Meng Zhiling turned down all his work. Jiang Huali was the one who fell ill, but he also seemed to have lost all his vitality.
Jiang Huali has no relatives in this world, but she has many friends, including Meng Zhiling's relatives, who all come to visit her.
When Yun Xin arrived, she went to the restroom while chatting with Jiang Huali. When she came back, her eyes were red, but she still smiled and said:
"The doctor said the treatment is going well. Get well soon. I haven't tried the new cake from the dessert shop yet."
Meng Chu is going abroad to pursue a master's degree. She doesn't know why things have suddenly taken an unexpected turn. She heard from her college roommate that there is a temple that is very effective, so she went there to ask for a peace charm for Jiang Huali.
Late-stage stomach cancer is indeed very painful.
The system shielded Jiang Huali from most of the pain, but even so, she was still not in good condition these days.
At this moment, the sense of detachment that often surrounded Jiang Huali became even clearer. She watched as many people grieved for her, comforting her that she would get better, and she thought to herself—
What will it be like on the day I leave?
Perhaps it will be another cold winter.
The system knew that Jiang Huali was in a bad mood, which was a common situation for many employees when they did their first mission. The people in the mission world were not just flat characters from "novels," but flesh-and-blood human beings who could cry and laugh.
It is no different from the host.
The original owner's condition deteriorated more rapidly because she was living in poverty at the time, had no relatives or friends, and could not afford the long treatment on her own.
Jiang Huali's condition continued to deteriorate, repeatedly worsening just as each treatment seemed to show initial improvement.
This is fate.
"destiny?"
Meng Zhiling's expression was indifferent, as always, as he carefully considered the word.
Wen Qing sighed, changed the subject, and advised, "You also need to rest. You can't just collapse too. New experts will be coming in a few days to discuss a new treatment plan, and they'll need you."
She looked at her child with pity. After all, he was her own flesh and blood. How could she not understand what her child was thinking?
Meng Zhiling lowered her eyes and replied, "I will."
He stood up. "I'll go check if she's awake. You should go back first."
Wenqing stood up as well. "I'm here too. I can't just leave like this."
When Jiang Huali woke up, she saw Wen Qing sitting by her hospital bed. When Wen Qing saw that she was awake, she chatted with her for a while.
Jiang Huali has lost a lot of weight, and her hospital gown sleeves look loose.
Wen Qing didn't stay long; soon only Jiang Huali and Meng Zhiling remained in the ward.
Now in his thirties, Meng Zhiling is more mature and composed than when Jiang Huali first met him. His broad shoulders always bring a sense of security to people.
Meng Zhiling asked her, "Do you remember the question you asked me before?"
Jiang Huali didn't know what problem he was referring to for a moment.
Meng Zhiling continued speaking to himself, "What will I do if you die one day?"
"I've said it before, wherever you are, I'll be there."
His usual calm demeanor shattered completely at this moment, his eyes reddening. "You won't leave me, will you?"
Jiang Huali turned her head away, unable to bear looking at him.
The mission takers cannot reveal mission information. Jiang Huali wanted to say something, but found that she had nothing to say.
Jiang Huali took a deep breath, but ultimately couldn't bear it: "Mmm."
Jiang Huali looked at Meng Zhiling, reached out and touched his face, and said, "Let's go to the snow mountain to watch the sunrise in winter?"
Meng Zhiling did not answer at first.
As Jiang Huali spoke, she began to feel drowsy again, and only then did she vaguely hear Meng Zhiling say softly—
"good."
The cicadas' chirping in summer disappears with the falling leaves in autumn, only to be remembered again by a sudden drop in temperature.
Winter is coming.
Jiang Huali couldn't eat anything and felt weak and powerless.
Meng Zhiling stayed by his side the whole time, sometimes lying down by the bedside to take a short nap.
He no longer asked Jiang Huali if she would leave, and occasionally on sunny mornings, he would go out with her to bask in the sun.
One day, while vomiting, she suddenly vomited blood clots.
Meng Zhiling remained silent, only gently patting Jiang Huali's thin back.
Jiang Huali raised her head, then quickly lowered it again, feeling a pang of sadness. She thought that the few times Meng Zhiling shed tears seemed to be because of her.
Perhaps they won't be able to go to the snow-capped mountains to watch the sunrise.
It's been raining continuously lately, and the air is damp and chilly.
The day Jiang Huali left was a rare sunny day, without wind or rain.
[Beep—World is breaking away, countdown 20, 19...]
Jiang Huali grasped Meng Zhiling's hand and said something silently.
Wenqing, who was standing nearby, quickly called for a doctor, "Doctor—"
After the commotion subsided, all was quiet.
When Meng Chu came in, the doctor said "condolences" to them. Her brother stood beside her and bent down to hold her cold hand on the hospital bed.
Meng Chu followed Meng Zhiling's movements and tears welled up in her eyes.
...On the ring fingers of their tightly clasped hands were two identical rings.
-
[Data generation in progress—Dimensional mission completion 100%, points earned: 1000.]
[Next mission in progress]
Jiang Huali woke up in a pure white space and looked around. This must be her system space.
After the system changed the appearance of the system space, Jiang Huali sat up from the newly created bed.
[Does the host need to rest for a few days?]
The system asked.
"Mm." Jiang Huali nodded.
Jiang Huali spent a few days in the system space and learned about some matters related to the Time and Space Bureau.
Jiang Huali held a book in her hand and gently turned a page.
"Host, we can go out and have some fun," the system suggested.
The Time and Space Bureau is located in a separate, self-contained area, which also features many recreational facilities for its employees to relax.
"Let's talk about it next time," Jiang Huali said.
The system seemed somewhat disappointed, transforming into a small ball of light and flying to Jiang Huali's side. [Shall we begin the next mission?]
Jiang Huali put down her book. "Let's teleport."
[Mission world docking in progress, docking successful, teleporting in—]
-
When Meng Chu returned to the old house, she saw Wen Qing and greeted her.
When Wenqing saw her, she put down the vase she was wiping and asked with a smile, "When did you get back?"
Meng Chu said, "I came back the night before last."
She turned her head and looked around, asking, "Where's my brother?"
"Let's do it in the yard."
Meng Chu went out and met someone by the pond.
"Cousin!"
The man standing by the pond turned his head, revealing a handsome face. He was holding a handful of fish feed, and a group of fish were waiting to be fed in the water.
Meng Yuan is the son of Meng Chu's uncle. Since Meng Zhiling passed away, the Meng family's business has been mainly managed by Meng Chu and Meng Yuan.
"I'll ride in your car with you to see my brother later," Meng Chu said.
Meng Yuan scattered all the fish feed in his hand, and the fish scrambled to eat it. He clapped his hands and asked, "Where's your car?"
"My driver is off today. Everyone is going to pay respects to their relatives during the Qingming Festival."
"My driver won't get a day off?" Meng Yuan asked.
"Isn't it great that you're the driver?"
After Meng Chu finished speaking, she looked at the water and sighed.
"So many years have passed, things have really changed."
Meng Chu rubbed her eyes. "I miss Sprite, I miss Xiao Li, I miss my brother."
Meng Yuan remained silent for a while before offering a dry word of comfort: "You'll see them all soon."
Meng Chu: ...
Wen Qing sat in the living room, next to a display cabinet with a photo of Jiang Huali and Meng Zhiling. The photo frame was clean and dust-free, and looked like it was often carefully wiped.
Next to the photo is a smiling Samoyed statue, which is Sprite.
Sprite was found as a stray when she was a child, had a home, and lived a peaceful old age before passing away a few years ago.
Dogs only live for a short period of a dozen years. After Sprite passed away, Meng Zhiling ended his own life one night at the Yuanshan Villa.
That place held many memories that he would cherish for a lifetime, and it was there that he finally met his end.
It was also a cold winter then.
Wenqing never makes excessive demands on her child, because he has been sensible and obedient since childhood, has excellent grades, and has amazing perseverance. He is the "other people's child" in the eyes of others.
The night before he left, Meng Zhiling returned to the old house and had a meal with his parents.
That night, Wen Qing suddenly woke up from her sleep and went out of her room to see Meng Zhiling sitting alone in the yard.
She went over to him and asked why he wasn't sleeping in the middle of the night.
Meng Zhiling said he had a familiar dream.
That dream, after many years, reappears in every unbearably quiet night.
What kind of dream was it?
In his dream, he saw a familiar figure walking behind him, their feet sinking into deep snow.
The person suddenly turned around and said, "I'm sorry."
Meng Zhiling was plunged into another wave of phantom pain, and hallucinations began to appear in his ears, as if he were back in the hospital, where Jiang Huali had said her last words to him—
"sorry."
At that time, there was a vase next to the hospital bed, filled with roses that had just been placed there that morning, full of vitality.
How long does it take to nurture a rose in your heart?
Bury its seeds in the most fertile soil, water it with the most abundant love, and one day it will grow into the most beautiful and delicate flower.
Even though it might hurt you.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com