Chapter 58: Sweet Talks Under the Grape Arbor, Deep Feelings for My Brother's Journey
The Anglerburg winery boasts hundreds of acres of vineyards, and autumn is grape-picking season. Luo Guoyun and Xiao Xiangyue, wearing straw hats, stand in the furrows, carefully cutting bunches of ripe grapes and placing them carefully into the baskets.
The afternoon sun was warm and bright, gently casting its light radiance across the vineyards. Xiao Xiangyue's cheeks flushed slightly, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Luo Guyun sniffed his delicate fragrance, mingling with the sweet aroma of the surrounding grass and grapes. He couldn't help but feel a surge of affection. He leaned over, took hold of his earlobe, and nibbled on it teasingly, whispering in her ear: "Is the moon poisonous? Why does my heart flutter whenever I get close to you? What can I do..." His straw hat fell to the ground. One hand held him, the other reached down.
Xiao Xiangyue broke free from him and said unwillingly, "When Yue'er was unconscious, brother hugged me to sleep every day, without any impulse! I was wondering if Yue'er had lost her attraction to brother?" Luo Guyun felt very aggrieved: "How could it be... brother was reluctant to let her go! Yue'er was unconscious at that time, what if I hurt you? Besides, what's the point of me being happy alone? You don't know how hard it is for brother to endure!" He confessed frankly, "...However, I did secretly pull Yue'er's hand over and hold my little brother...The feeling of trembling all over my body is wonderful, which is a different taste than going in and out..."
Xiao Xiangyue leaned over and took his already hard penis into her mouth, thrusting it in and out of her mouth while looking at him seductively with charming and blurred eyes. Luo Guyun's breathing became rapid, and his big hands grabbed the swollen Xiaoyue'er. Xiao Xiangyue let out a "Woo" and increased the speed of thrusting. Luo Guyun felt like his soul was about to fly away, but he couldn't resist it anymore. His body twitched and he quickly retreated, spilling some thick white liquid on his face. He held her head, kissed and licked it, and rubbed it with his hands slightly. Xiao Xiangyue trembled and surrendered in his hands. A breeze blew, and the grape leaves rustled, mixed with the charming breathing of the two, as if playing a beautiful piece of music.
It was the rainy season, and a heavy downpour had fallen the previous night, leaving the ground damp. Luo Guyun, fearing Xiao Xiangyue's dampness might enter his body, lay on his back on the grass, letting the tired person rest on him. Gazing up at the blue sky and white clouds, he felt relaxed and refreshed, a state of immense comfort.
A burst of thunder rumbled, and it looked like it was going to rain again. Gan Deng's deaf-mute son Lucas came over and gave them an umbrella, but after just a few steps, the rain began to pour down. One umbrella couldn't cover the two of them. Luo Guyun held the umbrella with one hand and held Yue'er tightly with the other hand as they walked side by side. He only cared about covering the person beside him with the umbrella, but half of his shoulder was soaked in the rain. Xiao Xiangyue pushed the umbrella closer: "Ah, brother's shoulder is wet..."
Back inside, we were both soaked. We quickly filled the tub with hot water and took a bath. We hadn't brought any moisturizer with us from the wild, and now we were tangling in the tub, enjoying ourselves so much that our legs and feet were shaking, so we called it a day.
There was a knock on the door. "Uncle Sun is here..." Luo Guyun quickly pulled the limp man out of the bathtub, wrapped himself in a bathrobe, and hurried to open the door, wondering, "Isn't Big Brother in New York? Why did he come to France without even saying hello?"
Sun Mu walked into the room and saw the two of them acting like this. He chuckled to himself. They were so old, yet still so passionate... He thought back to the first two years of his marriage, when things were fresh. Then, work got busy, and there were more things to worry about. Then, after having a child, their relationship was good, but more like family. In recent years, they've basically stopped having sex. Unlike them, at their age, they're still like a young couple.
Sun Mu sat down and explained, "There's been a flu outbreak in Barcelona, and the Spanish government has invited me to help deal with the epidemic. Since I'm in Europe, I came to check on my third brother and Yue'er first. I'm leaving for Barcelona tomorrow... How's Yue'er?" He laughed again, "Brother, you're asking too much. Judging from the situation... Yue'er must be doing very well!"
"Brother, you've come all this way to see us. The moon couldn't be more beautiful! Why don't we bring all our relatives and friends to France for Spring Festival this year and celebrate at the winery?" Xiao Xiangyue was delighted. "This place is so remote. How did brother get here?" Luo Guyun asked as he wiped the water stains from his hair with a dry towel.
Sun Mu said, "My entourage and I flew to Bordeaux first. The Spanish side arranged a special car to bring us here. We plan to drive directly to Barcelona tomorrow morning."
"In that case, I'll let the guards take big brother and his entourage to rest first, and I'll have a couple of drinks with big brother tonight." Luo Guyun said.
Just as I changed my clothes, Daxue knocked on the door again: "Mr. Paul is here."
They were surprised. Wasn't Paul in London? Why did he come to this remote countryside?
After Xiao Xiangyue regained consciousness, he remained under close protection and recuperated. The outside world, only aware of his awakening but without further details, flocked to Paul. Paul had intended to wait for Xiao Xiangyue to recover before conducting an interview, but Luo Guyun had brought him to the French countryside, leaving him no choice but to pursue him.
Deep in the wine cellar, copper candlesticks cast flickering lights on the stone walls.
Luo Guoyun and Xiao Xiangyue always treated those around them with equal respect, never treating them as inferiors. Together with Sun Mu and his entourage, Paul and his assistant, the Gan Deng family, Wu Fang and several guards, Secretary Fang and his wife, Daxue and her daughter, A Kuan, and a few servants—more than twenty people—gathered around a long table covered in burlap, drinking and chatting. Their conversation ranged from grapevine pruning techniques to winemaking techniques, cultural history, and even Xiao Xiangyue's miraculous awakening...
Paul said, "The whole world is eagerly awaiting this! If Xiangyue can hold another concert, the spectacle will be unimaginable..."
Xiao Xiangyue looked at Luo Guyun and said firmly, "When brother left, Yue'er swore that she would never compose again, never hold any concerts again, and bid farewell to the stage completely! For the rest of my life, I will stay by your side and stay by your side..."
"This... has taken away the love of the whole world. Brother has committed a great sin!" Luo Guyun smiled with great relief.
Xiao Xiangyue swirled the crimson wine in her glass, the flickering candlelight illuminating her eyes, which seemed to sparkle with crystal light. She spoke softly, "Since we left the country, to fulfill Yue'er's musical dream, you've either lived with me in Mr. Charade's courtyard or traveled around the world with me... From now on, whatever you do, I'll do too! I'll also accompany and support you throughout your hobbies..."
Luo Guyun said without hesitation: "Brother's hobby is to satisfy all of Yue'er's hobbies!"
Sun Mu nearly spit out a mouthful of wine: "Third brother... your sweet talk and coaxing skills are getting even better..."
Wu Fang clinked his glasses with Sun Mu, took a swig, and said with a smile, "Others might say this to deceive, but coming from our general, it's the truth!"
Everyone clinked glasses. The homemade wine, though light in alcohol, was intoxicating. Sun Mu was a little tipsy, his tongue tangled. "I have... I have something to apologize to Third Brother for! The night Yue'er got into trouble, I lost my mind and called Third Brother a jerk. I take that back..."
Luo Guyun smiled cheerfully: "Big brother deserves to hit third brother a few times, not to mention scolding! From now on, if third brother does something naughty again, big brother will hit him and scold him! Don't be polite at all..."
Paul sighed, "It seems Xiangyue has decided to retire! I'll take a few photos of Xiangyue recuperating in the countryside and bring them back to comfort her fans. But you can't let anyone know where she is, otherwise people will flock to her and you won't have any peace..."
Xiao Xiangyue fulfilled his promise to do whatever his brother did. Luo Guoyun was a master of both calligraphy and painting, and his own handwriting was abysmal. When he wasn't working at the winery, he would take Luo Guoyun as his teacher and practice calligraphy. But Luo Guoyun wasn't a good teacher. While he was writing, his mind wandered, nibbling his earlobe or tickling his armpit. Remembering how Yue'er had teased him on his back when they were little, he'd get revenge, sometimes shoving his hand into his crotch, sometimes pressing his hard penis against someone. Often, after only a few words, they'd start playing and joking, leaving a mess of ink stains all over the room...
Christmas was approaching, and the two of them were playing out the same scene in the study. The phone next door rang, and Daxue came in to report that it was Uncle Sun calling.
Luo Guyun picked up the phone and asked, "How's your brother?" "When will your work in Barcelona end?" He told him that several new buildings had been built in the past two months to prepare for the Spring Festival holiday. Fortunately, wooden buildings are quick to build and don't affect the environment. Sun Mu agreed repeatedly and put Yue'er on the phone, saying he had something to tell him.
Xiao Xiangyue answered the phone, and Sun Mu said, "The Spanish flu is very serious and has the potential to spread throughout Europe. Yue'er must be careful." Xiao Xiangyue said cheerfully, "Don't worry, brother, Yue'er isn't going anywhere! Our winery is so remote, the flu can't reach here..." He added, "If your work in Spain ends late, you don't have to return to New York. You can just come directly to the winery to meet up with my sister-in-law and Xiaoxu and Xiaoxi." Sun Mu readily agreed, repeatedly urging him to take care of himself and be happy. He then asked Luo Guyun to answer the phone and told him to take good care of Yue'er.
Luo Guyun asked, "Why does your voice sound a little soft, brother? Is the signal weak?" Sun Mu said, "I'm in the countryside of Barcelona, and the connection may not be very good. Take care, third brother and Yue'er." He hung up the phone.
Two days later at dusk.
Xiao Xiangyue led the group in bottling the wine in the cellar. Luo Guoyun returned home early and was rolling out dough in the kitchen. Yue'er wanted to eat his shrimp wontons tonight. The phone rang, and after a long pause, she realized no one was in the room, so she picked up the phone herself.
On the other end came Sun Xu's panicked, tearful voice: "Third Uncle, Father contracted the flu virus in Barcelona, Spain! He passed away! His body has been cremated! I just received the news!"
A bolt from the blue! Luo Guyun was stunned on the spot.
Sun Mu contracted the flu shortly after arriving in Barcelona. He hadn't taken it seriously, believing himself strong and immune to the flu. Furthermore, the epidemic was spreading, and he was needed everywhere. He worked tirelessly, researching targeted drugs and developing anti-flu strategies. The workload was intense, leaving him with no time for rest. Over two months, his condition gradually worsened, until one day, he collapsed at a conference. His assistant wanted to notify his family, but he stopped them. He was worried that if his family and friends learned of his illness, his third brother and Yue'er, who were at the winery only a five-hour drive from Barcelona, would rush over immediately. With the flu so severe, he didn't want to risk their lives for him. He was especially worried about Yue'er; given her condition, the consequences of her accidentally contracting the virus could be unpredictable. So, he kept it a secret from his family, planning to hand over his work in two days and then return to New York for treatment. However, his condition took a turn for the worse the next day, and based on his experience, he knew he was incurable. Staff wanted to notify his family immediately, but he stopped them, fearing they would catch the virus while trying to see him off. He instructed those around him to cremate his body immediately after his death, and then notify his family... Just like that, Sun Mu, who had spent his life saving countless lives, died without a single relative by his side, quietly dying in a foreign country...
Before his death, he left a will that his ashes should not be buried. He wanted to wait for the day when he would return to Alsophila Valley and be buried next to his parents.
That phone call two days ago was a final farewell to Luo Guoyun and Xiao Xiangyue, knowing he would soon die, and not wanting them to know the truth...
Luo Guyun managed to calm himself. He quickly made several calls to Spain and found out everything. He paced anxiously around the room, wondering how to break the bad news to Yue'er.
Little Roy's crisp childish voice came from outside the house: "Uncle Yue'er, can we go to the terrace to watch the stars after dinner tonight?" Daxue scolded: "It's cold, and the temperature is low at night. Why do you always pester Ye'er to run outside..."
Luo Guoyun went out to greet them. Xiao Xiangyue shook the bottle of wine in her hand and said cheerfully, "Uncle Gan Deng found this bottle of grape white wine in the wine cellar, which is over a hundred years old. He said it was brewed by his great-grandfather. Let's open it and see if it's still drinkable... Hey? What's wrong with brother? Why do you look so grim?"
"Yue'er...we have to set off immediately for Barcelona..." Luo Guyun took the wine in his hand and put it aside, then pulled him to sit on the iron chair in the corridor and spoke with difficulty.
"Going to Barcelona? Why going to Barcelona?" Xiao Xiangyue seemed to have sensed something from his expression. She put away her smile and looked a little panicked.
"Brother, Brother Sun... has passed away! Let's go to Barcelona to pick up his remains..."
The winery was plunged into mourning. Wu Fang, Secretary Fang, and the others had all come to the United States with Sun Mu. For over twenty years, they had supported each other in a foreign land, and their bond was undeniably deep. Daxue collapsed on the ground, crying out in despair. Qionghua had suffered a difficult birth, and without Sun Mu, there would have been two deaths. Later, her mother held her and kowtowed, acknowledging her as her father. She had given birth to a daughter thanks to the meticulous care of Sun Mu and his wife... The Gan Dengs were also heartbroken. How could such a wonderful person be gone just like that? That day, Dr. Sun had told us that his friend was researching a device that, if plugged into Lucas's ears, would enable him to hear...
Xiao Xiangyue had been sitting quietly in the iron chair since he heard the news. Luo Guyun held his hand tightly and sat with him while he instructed the guards and secretaries to prepare for departure.
Three Ford SUVs and a GMC RV sped through the night toward Spain. This custom-built, latest model had only arrived last month; the couple had originally planned a camping vacation nearby and had never used it once. Simple meals could be cooked in the RV. Daxue had just loaded the wrapped shrimp wontons into the car and tried to persuade him, "Ye'er, you didn't eat... anything tonight. How about Daxue make some wontons for you?" Xiao Xiangyue leaned softly against Luo Guyun, silently shaking her head.
Luo Guyun was terribly worried. If only Yue'er could cry or shout, it would be better. He was afraid that if he kept it in, something bad would happen! Now that his eldest brother was gone, if anything happened, there would be no one to turn to for help...
Leaning back on the car's spacious sofa bed, he held the man tightly in his arms, talking to him all the way: "We should arrive in Barcelona around midnight tonight. The special plane from New York has already departed, and the flight will take eight hours, expected to arrive at three in the morning. When we get there, we'll first pick up Big Brother's remains, then go directly to the airport and fly back to New York... This was also Big Brother's last arrangement before he died, so we wouldn't stay in Barcelona for long... Big Sister-in-law fainted on the spot after hearing the terrible news, and is in the hospital for emergency treatment. Xiaoxi is accompanying her mother. Due to the haste of the matter, only Sun Xu and Qin Ling arrived on the special plane... Yi Shui is on her way to New York from Taiwan, and Yi Han from Hong Kong. Relatives and friends from all over the country have also been notified, and they'll be arriving in the next two days... Big brother's funeral is scheduled for three days from now. Before his death, Big brother had instructed that the funeral be simple, and his ashes not be buried. They'll be buried next to his parents in Alsophila Valley when he returns to the mainland... When the plane arrives in New York, Dr. Jefferson, Xiaoxin and his wife will be at the airport with staff from the hospital and the Moen Building to greet Big brother's remains... Yue'er, hold on. Once you're on the plane, eat something and get some shut-eye...
Then he slowly recounted to him the whole story of how Big Brother Sun contracted the disease in Barcelona, how he kept it a secret from everyone, how it dragged on until the end, and how he ultimately died...
Xiao Xiangyue remained silent all the way until she saw Sun Mu's ashes. She pressed her face against the urn, her body trembling, tears streaming from her tightly closed eyes. Luo Guyun also burst into tears, holding Xiao Xiangyue with one hand and holding the urn with the other: "Big brother... the last words that big brother and third brother said were that I take good care of Yue'er. Don't worry, big brother, they are watching over you from heaven... Big brother is also relieved about big sister-in-law and Xiaoxu and Xiaoxi, and they are all left to third brother..."
At three in the morning, the special plane from New York arrived at Barcelona Airport. Xiao Xiangyue handed the urn she had been holding tightly to Sun Xu's arms. She swayed, almost losing her balance. Startled, Luo Guyun quickly lifted him up and carried him aboard.
Qin Ling had been with Sun Mu since childhood and possessed a natural talent for medicine, which Sun Mu passed on to him. He then went on to further his studies at medical school, gaining a comprehensive understanding of both Chinese and Western medicine. Though still under twenty, he already possessed a highly skilled and experienced physician. He quickly felt Xiao Xiangyue's pulse and spoke with concern, "Uncle's pulse is thin and astringent, weak, slippery, and stringy. This is clearly due to excessive grief, leading to emotional distress and liver qi stagnation. If we don't find a way to alleviate this quickly, and continue to rely on a single breath, we will lose our vital energy and could become seriously ill!"
Luo Guyun was extremely worried: "Your uncle hasn't said a word since this afternoon, and hasn't eaten or drunk anything..." Qin Ling said hurriedly: "Uncle San, don't worry... Let me give your uncle a few injections and some nutritional injections to protect his heart first..."
Qin Ling took out a silver needle and quickly inserted it into Xiao Xiangyue's Neiguan and Tanzhong points, then placed a drip of glucose solution on his skin. Luo Guyun breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his face gradually regain some color.
The plane sailed smoothly at an altitude of ten thousand meters. Qin Ling shed tears and said, "It's Christmas break these days, and I'm interning at Dr. Jefferson's hospital. Two days ago, I received a call from my uncle, who told me to study medicine well and entrusted me with the responsibility of taking care of my uncle in the future... At the time, I didn't understand, and I replied that Qin Ling would definitely study medicine well. What about the future? I heard that the dengue fever virus has broken out in Africa again. Could my uncle be going to Africa in the future? Now I think about it, my uncle must have been worried about my uncle before he died... Before I boarded the plane, I was worried that my uncle might be too sad, so I made some temporary preparations... Don't worry, uncle, Qin Ling will take care of my uncle from now on..."
Luo Guyun was both sad and filled with admiration. Sun Mu's love for Yue'er transcended blood ties, transcended family ties; it was another kind of great love... Back in Washe, he had already realized that Yue'er's life was a miracle created by everyone in Washe, and until his last moment, he protected this miracle...
Sun Mu's funeral was held at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York.
The funeral was solemn and dignified. Barcelona awarded him the title of Honorary Citizen. The Spanish royal family and government held a public memorial service for him. Representatives from organizations around the world that he had supported and helped sent their condolences. Thousands of people attended the funeral. Sun Mu was only fifty-nine when he passed away, a prime age for a medical expert. The funeral was shrouded in an inextricable sorrow. No one could accept that a healthy person had been reduced to ashes in the blink of an eye... Countless patients he had treated came spontaneously to pay their respects, and flowers piled up outside St. Patrick's Cathedral...
Sun Mu's passing struck Xiao Xiangyue hard. For a long time, he refused to believe that Sun Mu was gone. His elder brother's voice and smile constantly surfaced in his mind. What troubled him most was that, from childhood to adulthood, his life had been on the line countless times, and his elder brother had saved him. Why did he pass away so easily? Furthermore, if his elder brother hadn't been afraid that he would learn of his illness and contract the virus, he wouldn't have kept it a secret from his family and friends, ultimately dying in a foreign land... His elder brother had worried about his health his entire life, leaving his hometown to care for him and accompanying him throughout his life's journeys: Anyang, Jincheng, Hanchang, Shanghai, Nanjing, New York, Stockholm... In his final moments, he was thinking about him, worried about him, and specifically instructed Luo Guoyun to take good care of him, even leaving him to the care of the nineteen-year-old Qin Ling...
Xiao Xiangyue was immersed in deep longing and sorrow every day, and quickly became thinner. She was even weaker than when she just woke up.
Seeing him so distressed, Luo Guyun felt nothing but heartache, yet there was nothing he could do to comfort him. Only time could heal all pain... He sighed that he always wanted to protect him, but fate was always unpredictable, and the world was ultimately unpredictable... He thought to himself that from now on, between the two of them, Yue'er must go first. If he went first, leaving him alone in this world of pain and sorrow, he would be so heartbroken that he would jump up and down in his coffin.
After Sun Mu's funeral, Xiao Xiangyue went to St. Patrick's Cathedral, where his ashes were stored, and sat quietly there all day long. On the seventh day, Luo Guyun skipped his morning exercises and pulled out a black suit, ready to accompany him to the church.
During this time, Luo Guoyun, witnessing his suffering, lost his appetite and sleep, and lost weight. Xiao Xiangyue sat up from the bed, stroked his thin face, and said with regret: "Yue'er has made brother worry again... Big brother often told me that what he hoped most was Yue'er's happiness, health and safety. His last words were also to make Yue'er happy... Big brother passed away suddenly, perhaps to warn us that we don't know which will come first, tomorrow or an accident, so we must cherish the people around us and cherish every day... Don't worry, brother, Yue'er will take care of herself..."
This was the first time Xiao Xiangyue had spoken so many words in one breath since Sun Mu's departure. Luo Guyun was delighted and held him in his arms, saying emotionally, "Although Big Brother is gone, he will always live in our hearts. Yue'er is right, things in this world are impermanent... The only thing we can do is cherish the present and live every day to the fullest..."
Xiao Xiangyue sighed: "Time flies so fast. The day after tomorrow is my brother's 55th birthday..."
Sun Mu left two days before Christmas, and now it was almost the Lantern Festival. With the Spring Festival approaching after the funeral, most of the relatives and friends stayed in New York. Luo Guoyun suggested, "New York is hosting the World's Fair these days, and they've created an international food street where top chefs from around the world are showcasing their culinary skills. I'd like to take Yue'er there to experience it. How about we invite these chefs over and have an international banquet?"
The luxurious restaurant on the 86th floor of the Moren Building amazed the guests with its novel and unique international banquet.
Before the meal began, Xiao Xiangyue, as usual, played a birthday song for Luo Guyun. This year, it was a violin piece. Even those unfamiliar with music could recognize the soulful, graceful melody, as if recalling the good times spent with loved ones, reminiscing about those warm moments and joyful scenes, and softly expressing the endless longing for those who have passed away... That deep longing and undying love lingered in her heart, never to fade...
In previous banquets, Xiao Xiangyue always sat between Luo Guoyun and Sun Mu. Today, Sun Mu's bowl and chopsticks were placed on the table, but no one was seated. Yi Han was very sad: "From now on, we brothers will be short of one person when we play mahjong..."
Xiao Xiangyue asked, "Who said there's one missing? Isn't Yue'er a human?"
Yi Shui winked at Luo Guyun and said, "If the moon is out, I'm afraid Third Brother won't dare to win the game, right?"
They did it right away. After dinner, they set up their positions and started playing mahjong.
When Sun Mu was in high spirits, he liked to lift one foot and prop it up on a chair. Xiao Xiangyue had also imitated him. This move was natural to Sun Mu, but it looked a little awkward on him. Everyone laughed: "We may be used to seeing Yue'er's noble and elegant appearance on the stage, but seeing him so down-to-earth is really a bit uncomfortable..."
Luo Guoyun covered his mouth and laughed: "Don't think Yue'er only knows highbrow things! I'm not surprised... When we were traveling around the world, he would jump into the mine to help people dig coal, making his face covered with black ash, leaving only his eyes, or run to the street to sell vegetables... How could he look noble and elegant? He was clearly a gangster..."
The three of them tacitly agreed and used their card-playing skills with their superiors, either betting on him or giving him a hand. After playing for a while, Xiao Xiangyue felt something was wrong. Why was he always winning? She shouted, "You are cheating! What's the point of playing like this?" and yelled, "Xu'er, come and help your uncle deal with them! From now on, the responsibility of playing cards with these three old guys will be handed over to you!"
Everyone laughed. After Sun Mu left, the atmosphere was finally cheerful again.
Yi Shui said as he played his cards, "What do you think, Third Brother?"
Luo Guyun said, "I'll personally write a letter and have Big Brother bring it to the Chairman when he returns. In the second half of the year... wait for Yue'er to recuperate... in the second half of the year, we'll go to Taiwan to visit him and reunite with our old brothers and colleagues."
Yi Shui brought a letter from the Chairman himself. The letter was heartfelt, explaining that he was getting old and fearing his days were numbered. He missed Luo Guoyun terribly and invited him to return to Taiwan for a reunion, preferably for a short stay.
A few days ago, Luo Guoyun was so worried about Yue'er that he had no time to think about this matter. Seeing that he was in a better mood these past two days, he discussed it with him. Xiao Xiangyue said, "Didn't Yue'er say that I would stay by your side for the rest of my life? Brother, you don't need to ask for my opinion! In short, wherever you go, Yue'er will go!"
While Xiao Xiangyue was in a coma, Luo Guoyun had vowed to trade his health, wealth, reputation, status, even his life... everything, in exchange for Xiao Xiangyue's awakening. Never one to believe in religion or supernatural powers, he would go to church to pray or burn incense, hoping for the gods' blessing and a miracle. Perhaps it was middle age that had mellowed his temperament... and Sun Mu's passing had only deepened his sense of the impermanence of life. His old colleagues and friends in Taiwan were inextricably linked to him. Now that the Chairman had reached his octogenarian years, the grudges he had shared seemed less important...
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