Jiang Cheng returned the next morning.
The weather in Yulin City was great; the cemetery was bathed in sunshine, and the sky was a clear blue.
As they climbed the steps past the neatly arranged tombstones, Pei Zhi and Pei Ruoyun walked in front, with Pei Xi and Jiang Cheng following behind. She held Jiang Cheng's hand the whole time and noticed that he was slightly sweaty and his fingertips were a little cold.
"Are you nervous?" Pei Xi asked him quietly.
Jiang Cheng gave a very low "hmm".
In fact, he had started to get nervous ever since she told him about it yesterday.
Pei Xi took his arm reassuringly, "My dad has a very good temper. He has never lost his temper with anyone. He is very kind to everyone. He is the best-tempered person in our family."
"Besides, he treats me very well. If he knew how good you are to me, he would definitely like you even more."
"So, Cheng, don't be nervous."
Pei Xi winked at him.
“Hmm…” Jiang Cheng nodded.
“This is a happy thing,” Pei Xi said again.
Every year they come to visit their father together, and the atmosphere is always very relaxed.
Her father didn't like a serious atmosphere. When she and Pei Zhi did something wrong when they were little, he would not scold them with a stern face, but would hold them in his arms and patiently and gently persuade them.
So when they come to see their father, they never look gloomy.
Instead, it's as if he were still alive, looking at his photo and speaking to him in a relaxed tone.
Before they knew it, they had arrived at Xu Lanzhi's grave. The man on the tombstone was wearing glasses, had a handsome face, and was smiling at them with a gentle and tolerant gaze.
Pei Ruoyun squatted down first, placed the flowers in her hand in front of the tombstone, then took out a handkerchief to gently wipe the photo, saying softly as she did so, "Old Xu, I've come to see you."
She smiled and said, "There's one more person visiting you today. I brought my child to let you recognize me."
The three of them stood quietly to one side. Pei Xi looked at Jiang Cheng and asked him, "Do you want to talk to my father?"
Jiang Cheng paused, "Is that alright?"
Pei Xi smiled and said, "Of course."
She took a half step forward, grabbed Jiang Cheng's wrist, and said to Xu Lanzhi's photo, "Dad, this is my boyfriend, his name is Jiang Cheng."
After she finished speaking, she looked up at Jiang Cheng, her eyes sparkling with gentle encouragement.
Jiang Cheng's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, then he spoke softly, "Hello, Uncle."
He paused, his fingers hanging at his sides curling unconsciously, and then said, "...I am Xixi's boyfriend, I...I like her very much."
Pei Xi couldn't help but burst out laughing.
He's too serious.
Just then, Pei Zhi suddenly stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and casually said, "Dad, don't worry, even though you're not here, I've already put him through the wringer. This kid is a good person, just a little less capable than me..."
Pei Ruoyun chuckled and nudged his arm, "Speak properly."
Pei Zhi coughed and continued, "...Although he is a little less skilled than me, he is incredibly good to my sister, and she really likes him. So, for my sister's sake, you must also pray for his safety. Otherwise, even a minor injury to him would make my sister cry."
Pei Xi laughed as she listened to his joking remarks, and nudged his arm, saying, "Brother, don't talk nonsense."
Pei Zhi didn't dodge, nor did he make a sound. He just silently thought to himself that he wasn't lying.
I don't know who was the person who cried because Jiang was hurt before.
Pei Zhi chuckled, "Well, anyway, Dad, please take the trouble and also bless Mom with abundant wealth, and that Pei Xi and I get all the exam results right."
Pei Ruoyun glanced at him. "Are you making a wish here?"
Pei Zhi grunted and raised an eyebrow, saying, "My dad must be doing quite well over there. Otherwise, how come our family is doing so well, and getting better and better? My dad must have heard all of this."
Upon hearing this, Pei Ruoyun suddenly smiled.
Pei Xi held Jiang Cheng's hand and smiled at him.
The photo of Dad on the tombstone is also smiling; he looks at them with loving eyes, as if he is truly listening.
Pei Xi felt that her father had probably been protecting them from the unseen world all along.
The clouds on the horizon paused, a gentle breeze rustled the petals, and warm sunlight fell on her, like the tender embrace of her father when she was a child.
Her hair moved slightly, as if her father's dry hands were gently stroking the top of her head.
"Dad, the people on TV all have boyfriends. What is a boyfriend?"
“A boyfriend is someone who can take care of Xixi along with her parents and brother.”
"When can I get a boyfriend?"
"When Xixi grows up."
When will Xixi grow up?
"When Dad gets old."
"No, I don't want Dad to get old."
"Haha, but Xixi's opinion doesn't count. Everyone gets old, and Daddy will get old too."
"Can I grow up and get a boyfriend sooner so that Dad won't get old?"
"Hahaha... Don't worry, Xixi, Dad will work hard to exercise and try to get old slowly. When Xixi has a boyfriend in the future, Dad will also help Xixi choose the right one."
What is gatekeeping?
"Supporting him means...seeing whether he will treat Xixi well or bully her."
"What if he bullies Xixi?"
"Then Dad will take my brother and go beat him up. No one can bully my precious Xixi."
"What if he treats Xixi well?"
"That's normal. No one would dislike my Xixi baby."
"Hehe...Does Daddy like Xixi?"
"Of course I love it! I love it so much, I'm practically bursting with joy!"
"Dad, I'll tell you a secret, my brother said the same thing yesterday... He said that Xixi is his favorite person in the whole world..."
"Yes, we all love Xixi. Mom, Dad, brother, everyone loves Xixi. Xixi is our little princess."
"Hehehe... Will Xixi's future boyfriend like her as much as her parents and brother do?"
"Of course."
Her father stroked her hair and said with a smile.
"Because Xixi deserves it."
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