Volume One, Chapter 116: Renewed Bonds

As soon as she got home, Song Qingyu fell into a deep, restless sleep. She drifted in and out of consciousness, plagued by nightmares.

“Qingbao, your birthday is just a few days away. How about Mom makes hotpot for you at home?”

“Great! I also want to set off fireworks with Mom.”

“Of course.”

She eagerly awaited the arrival of her birthday, but what greeted her was not the burst of fireworks, but flowers stained with blood flowing from Xie Qingya’s wrist.

Startled awake, she saw snow falling outside the window and then drifted back into a drowsy haze.

It was another winter when Chu Xingzhi, under the pretense of tutoring him for pay, brought her to the Chu family. She was wearing a thin sweater and her winter school uniform, shivering from the cold.

The elderly lady saw her and quickly pulled her inside, warming her hands, “Why are you dressed so lightly? Aunt Liu, bring a blanket quickly.”

After her mother’s passing, this was the first time Song Qingyu felt the care and warmth of an elder.

Chu Xingzhi spoke too quickly, revealing her situation to the old lady. From then on, the lady often invited Song Qingyu to meals at the Chu residence and personally bought her clothes.

Song Qingyu could hardly bear such kindness and didn’t know how to repay it.

“Grandma likes you. You don’t need to repay anything. As long as you live well, Grandma will be happy.”

“If Xingzhi ever bullies you, tell Grandma. She’ll help you deal with him.”

“Xiaoyu, no matter what, always remember that you are the most important.”

The snow fell heavier and heavier; Grandma’s figure grew more distant.

“Xiaoyu, Grandma has to go now. Take good care of yourself.”

“No—”

“Grandma, don’t go—”

Song Qingyu tried to reach out and hold her, but she was just out of reach.

Suddenly, the phone rang sharply, jolting Song Qingyu awake with her heart pounding fast.

The ringing continued relentlessly, but she dared not answer; she couldn’t explain why, she just didn’t dare.

Pei Jingmo heard the noise and came in.

“Qingqing—”

Song Qingyu was sweating from the nightmare. He walked over swiftly, pulled her into his arms, wiped her sweat, then glanced at the phone. “Why aren’t you answering?”

Finally, Song Qingyu picked up. “Hello—”

Hearing the voice on the other end, tears streamed down her face instantly.

Wu Wanqing had ultimately passed away.

People grow old and sometimes cannot endure any longer.

The Chu family held a grand funeral for her. Song Qingyu, dressed in black, went with Pei Jingmo to pay respects.

Looking at the portrait of the elderly lady, Song Qingyu could no longer hold back her tears. Her eyes were swollen and her whole figure looked exhausted and frail.

“Xiaoyu—”

Chu Xingzhi looked even worse, visibly thinner all around.

Song Qingyu was deeply saddened, her emotions tangled. “Please accept my condolences.”

Chu Xingzhi wept uncontrollably; with Grandma gone, his Xiaoyu was gone too.

Sheng Yuru and Wu Yijun entered together. Song Qingyu didn’t want to cause conflict with Sheng Yuru at the funeral, so after casting a lingering glance at the elderly lady, she left with Pei Jingmo.

Chu Xingzhi felt like he was losing Song Qingyu completely. He tried to follow but was held back by Wu Yijun. “Yuru is here. Where are you going?”

Sheng Yuru looked at Chu Xingzhi with sympathy. “Xingzhi, I brought the family’s condolences on behalf of my uncle. Please accept my sympathy.”

She was also representing the Gu family.

Chu Xingzhi clenched his fists but could only watch helplessly as Pei Jingmo held Song Qingyu’s shoulder and walked away.

The death of the elderly lady dealt a heavy blow to Song Qingyu.

It even affected her ability to live normally.

Pei Jingmo noticed this every day at work, watching her condition.

After work, he would buy her flowers, accompany her to meals, chat with her.

At night, Song Qingyu stood on the balcony, gazing at the misty sky, her eyes filled with melancholy.

Pei Jingmo put his coat around her and drew her into his embrace. “What are you looking at?”

Song Qingyu sighed. “The stars. But it’s been a week, and I haven’t seen any.”

“Want to see the stars?”

“Yes, I want to see the Milky Way, but there’s no Milky Way in Beijing.”

Pei Jingmo’s thoughts turned in a thousand directions. “Then let’s promise to go see the Milky Way together someday, okay?”

“Okay.”

Song Qingyu smiled, but it slowly faded. “They say when people pass away, they become stars in the sky. Do you think Grandma will become a star too? Will she meet Mom? Will they become good friends?”

Pei Jingmo comforted her gently, “Yes. Maybe they’re watching over you right now. So you have to be happy, don’t make them worry.”

Song Qingyu knew she hadn’t been well lately. She turned to Pei Jingmo. “Jingmo, thank you—”

If it weren’t for him staying by her side, she didn’t know how she would have endured.

“We’re husband and wife; no need to thank me.”

Song Qingyu smiled.

“Oh, I want to show you something.”

Pei Jingmo took out his phone. Song Qingyu leaned in and saw a photo of a golden retriever puppy.

“A while ago, I ran into Young Master Chu. He said their family’s golden retriever had puppies and they’re looking for someone to adopt one. Do you want to have one?”

“I—”

Song Qingyu glanced at a picture of a little orange cat and her expression darkened.

“I know Xiaojv means a lot to you, but it’s gone now. I want this puppy to keep you company and bring you happiness again.”

Suddenly, she recalled something Grandma said.

People must look forward.

Yes, she couldn’t forever live in the past and memories.

Change! Starting now—

“Alright, I’ll take it!”

“Good.”

Pei Jingmo acted swiftly and brought the golden retriever puppy home the next day.

“Let’s name it.”

Song Qingyu thought for a while. “How about Dingding? It sounds powerful—‘The Great Ding’.”

Pei Jingmo looked at her with affection. “Okay.”

Thanks to Dingding’s companionship, Song Qingyu gradually emerged from the shadow cast by the elderly lady’s death.

However, on a Saturday a month later, as Song Qingyu and Pei Jingmo were about to take Dingding for a walk, she received a call from Chu Xingzhi.

“Got it, I’m coming right away.”

She hung up, handed Dingding to Pei Jingmo. “Chu Xingzhi said Grandma left me some belongings. I have to go see.”

Pei Jingmo grabbed her arm, his face dark and grim.

Her recent moodiness had built up his frustration and jealousy, all bottled up inside. Now, this call unleashed it all at once.

“Don’t go.”

His tone was firm—Song Qingyu rarely saw him so forceful. She gently explained, “You take Dingding for a walk first. I’ll be back before lunch.”

“Will you really be back before lunch?”

His voice was as cold as ice. Song Qingyu was taken aback. “What?”

“Do you really want to see the belongings Grandma left, or do you want to see Chu Xingzhi?”

Song Qingyu frowned deeply. “What are you saying?”

“You’ll see Chu Xingzhi, see how pitiful he looks, and because of Grandma’s memory, you’ll stay to have a meal with him, won’t you?”

The nurse’s words at the hospital, that string of Buddhist beads, and now this phone call—it all made Pei Jingmo furious and jealous.

“Others might not know, but I do. You married me just to spite him, and you still like him, don’t you? You used to never answer his calls. Now that you answer one, you rush to see him. Is Grandma’s death making you remember the past and want to rekindle what you had with him?”