The next day.
Qian Yu'an waited in vain for Song Yangmin, and she couldn't resist going to Heping Lane.
Song Yangmin once said that his family lived in Heping Lane.
It was a little past five o'clock, the time when people were getting off work and leaving school. Qian Yu'an asked the person on duty at the alley entrance.
Who are you looking for?
“I am Song Yangmin’s friend… I need to see him about something.”
"Song Lao Er's friend? Don't you know he's in trouble?"
Qian Yu'an felt as if her blood had stopped flowing. Her brows furrowed, and she didn't even realize that her voice was trembling.
"What's wrong?"
“He had an accident while on a mission a long time ago. He’s already buried. His house is at number 46 in the alley. Just look for it by the house number.”
Qian Yu'an didn't know how she found the Song family.
The fine snow buried Qian Yu'an's footprints.
She stood outside the Song family's house, gently pushed the door open, and a young woman's voice came from inside.
Who is it?
Song Yingying stepped forward and opened the door completely. When she saw the young woman standing outside, she was stunned: "Are you looking for my third brother or my fifth brother?"
Qian Yu'an burst into tears, her eyes turning red.
"I'm looking for Song Yangmin."
Song Yingying gripped the door frame, biting her lip as she looked at the person in front of her, "...Come in."
Only Song Yingying was at home, and she poured Qian Yu'an a cup of hot water.
"You...you're my second brother's friend? I've never heard him mention you. You can talk to me if you need anything. My aunt and uncle will be back soon, you can talk to them too."
Song Yingying looked at the person in front of her with a nervous expression.
Qian Yu'an looked at the black and white photo of Song Yangmin hanging on the wall and instantly covered her face and burst into tears.
Song Yingying immediately stood up and handed Qian Yu'an a piece of paper.
"Am I...are you my second brother's girlfriend?" Song Yingying guessed softly.
Qian Yu'an nodded, choking back tears, and said, "Yes, it is."
Song Yangmin clearly stated that he would wait for her to nod. She hasn't agreed yet, how can Song Yangmin die?
She still had many things she hadn't told Song Yangmin.
From the first moment she saw Song Yangmin, she fell in love with him at first sight, and she regretted not telling him sooner.
Why didn't she come sooner?
Qian Yu'an's voice was hoarse, "Where is your second brother buried?"
Song Yingying told them the location of Songjia Township in the countryside. She clenched her fingers and wiped away her tears. "My uncle and aunt searched for my second brother for a long time but couldn't find him. He was buried in a cenotaph."
Qian Yu'an stood up. "I'm going to find him. Could you give me a photo of him?"
Song Yingying bit her lip. "Wait for me."
Song Yingying has photos of herself with her second brother and solo photos. These were taken with a second-hand camera that her third brother bought a couple of years ago. There aren't many photos at home, but they can be reprinted.
"Sister, come out with me, I'll go print some copies for you."
Qian Yu'an kept crying, only repeating the word "thank you".
Song Yingying gave her an umbrella and held one up for herself. The two walked outside, and Song Yingying talked about Song Yangmin's past.
"Second brother is the best. Second brother loves us the most. He always saves the best food for us."
"My second brother is also a good cook. He used to be able to come home every day, and all the neighbors liked him."
...
Song Yingying printed several copies and gave the individual photos to Qian Yu'an.
"for you."
That was Song Yangmin two years ago. Qian Yu'an couldn't stop her tears from flowing. Regret and remorse filled her heart. She held onto her pride and hesitated to agree. That time became their last meeting.
Qian Yu'an is gone.
Song Yingying rushed over and gave her the umbrella.
"Sister, please hold the umbrella," Song Yingying said with difficulty. "If Second Brother is watching from heaven, he wouldn't want to see you so sad."
Qian Yu'an lowered her head, trying to curve her lips, but couldn't make any extra expression.
"Go home, it's cold outside."
Watching Qian Yu'an's retreating figure, Song Yingying wiped away her tears, then held up her umbrella and returned to the Song family home.
Xu Guiying had already gone home, and Song Yingying rushed up to her and told her about Qian Yu'an.
"Auntie, that lady's surname is Qian, and she sells clothes in a shop on Aiguo Street—"
Xu Guiying's eyes darkened. "Yu'an?"
After her second son's accident, Xu Guiying did not tell Qian Yu'an, firstly because she considered that their relationship was not yet that deep, and secondly because she did not want Qian Yu'an to be troubled again.
Xu Guiying sighed and told Song Yingying to stay at home while she went out.
Xu Guiying quickly grabbed her umbrella and went out again. She went to Qian Yu'an's house, but no one answered the door. After waiting for more than half an hour without any response, Xu Guiying had no choice but to return to Heping Lane.
Seeing her return home looking worried, Song Xinfu asked directly, "Who is this Qian Yu'an?"
Xu Guiying then explained the whole story, saying that Song Yangmin met a girl while buying brooches, and coincidentally, Xu Guiying also knew her.
After listening, Song Xinfu fell silent for a moment.
Xu Guiying blinked hard. "Go to sleep."
Life goes on.
The next day, Xu Guiying rested and went directly to the countryside. Sure enough, she saw Qian Yu'an at the second son's little mound.
Grandma Song wiped away her tears, "That girl arrived early this morning."
Xu Guiying's eyes were also extremely dry.
Xu Guiying invited Qian Yu'an to stay for lunch, and then the two of them returned to the city together.
Xu Guiying rode her bicycle, a heavy voice carried on the wind.
Xu Guiying said, "People should look forward. Your second son definitely wants you to be well too."
Qian Yu'an wept uncontrollably.
...
With the Lunar New Year and winter vacation fast approaching, Song Yingying has a heavy workload of studies every day at school.
She and Qin Zheng had a rushed lunch together.
Qin Zheng hasn't been pressuring her anymore. Knowing what happened to the Song family, Qin Zheng also went to the second son's funeral.
That afternoon after school, Qin Zheng said, "Song Yingying, get in the car, I'll take you home."
Song Yingying wanted to leave on her own. "Qin Zheng, you go ahead. I want to go back by myself."
Qin Zheng pulled the person directly into the car.
"Hurry up, it's snowing outside. If you go back at your snail's pace, it'll be so late."
Song Yingying let out a heavy sigh to show her dissatisfaction.
Qin Zheng ignored her and read a book in the car.
Song Yingying glanced at it; it was a textbook entirely in a foreign language. She scoffed and muttered, "Impressive."
Qin Zheng nodded: "Yes, that's impressive, after all, I'm going abroad."
Song Yingying's eyes widened instantly. "What? Qin Zheng, you're going abroad?"
Qin Zheng hummed in agreement, "Don't look so silly. Shocked about going abroad? If you want to go abroad, I can sponsor you in the future."
Song Yingying: "No way! I want to study abroad on a government scholarship!"
Is Qin Zheng the only one who's really that great?
She can get out on her own!
Apart from Song Xinfu and his wife, no one else in the Song family knew that Song Rongrong was going abroad.
The day Qin Zheng learned that Song Rongrong might be in a relationship, he asked Qin Baohua to inquire at Capital University. Song Rongrong was not in a relationship yet, but it was highly likely that she would go abroad.
Qin Zheng paused, his hand holding the book still. "Then you should study hard."
Song Yingying: "I study hard every day."
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