You Jin’s grandparents were both university professors who disliked city life and had lived in the countryside since retirement. The elderly couple had always been in good health, often traveling and enjoying the mountains and rivers.
Gone—was it a runaway, or…
“I’ll be at the community gate in twenty minutes. Pack me a few sets of clothes.”
This man had never spoken to her in such a low, dejected tone before.
If he had to bring her along back to his hometown, it definitely wasn’t something trivial.
“Okay.” Song Wanxi quickly hung up the phone and got out of bed to pack.
She changed clothes as fast as she could, grabbed a duffel bag, stuffed in a few outfits, then rushed into You Jin’s room.
She couldn’t find You Jin’s duffel bag. Time was tight, and she couldn’t care whether he’d mind or not—she shoved his clothes into her own bag.
A dozen or so minutes later.
She stood outside the security booth at the community entrance.
She’d forgotten to bring an umbrella. The drizzling rain grew heavier, and the cold wind carried a chill that made her shiver.
A familiar luxury car pulled over at the roadside.
Song Wanxi grabbed the duffel bag and ran over.
You Jin got out, walked around the front of the car, and strode toward her.
“I couldn’t find your duffel bag, so I put all your clothes…” Song Wanxi started to explain, but before she could finish, he took the bag from her hands and tossed it into the trunk.
He then slammed the trunk shut, pulled open the passenger door, and said, “Get in.”
Song Wanxi paused for two seconds. No time to overthink—she sat down in the passenger seat.
The car interior was fragrant and pleasant, the seats spacious and comfortable, but the air conditioning was a bit low, blowing cold air that made her feel chilled.
Her hair and clothes were damp.
The clean, tidy cabin had no clutter whatsoever, and she had no idea where the tissues were.
You Jin quickly got in, buckling his seatbelt as he started the engine. “Buckle up.”
Song Wanxi snapped back to attention and hurriedly pulled the seatbelt across herself.
The car sped along quickly. The low beams illuminated the fine rain outside, like countless white specks dancing in the darkness.
The windshield wipers slid slowly back and forth.
The cabin was exceptionally quiet. Song Wanxi leaned against the seat back, her hands unconsciously crossed and hugging her arms, gently rubbing them.
You Jin stared straight ahead, focused on driving.
Suddenly, he reached out and lightly pressed a button on the compartment in front of her.
A hidden drawer popped open, revealing tissues, masks, and hand sanitizer inside.
Song Wanxi was startled and turned her head to look at him.
The cabin was dim, and the man’s handsome profile looked especially deep and aloof.
Without even glancing sideways, he still knew she wanted tissues?
“Thank you.” Song Wanxi murmured softly, pulling out a tissue to wipe the rainwater from her hair and clothes.
She tucked the used tissue into her own pocket, closed the hidden drawer, and turned sideways to lean against the window.
You Jin pressed the temperature control button, and the warmth inside the car gradually rose.
In a moment, Song Wanxi felt her body grow warm.
Four hours of driving was quite suffocating for two people with nothing to talk about.
Song Wanxi was used to sleeping early, and she simply couldn’t fight off the drowsiness—she fell asleep without realizing it.
It wasn’t until her hand was gently nudged and You Jin’s voice came through, “We’re here.”
Song Wanxi immediately woke up.
Only then did she notice that her seat had been reclined at some point, in a semi-reclining position.
You Jin got out and closed the door.
Song Wanxi quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and followed him out.
Three o’clock in the morning.
The standalone countryside villa was brightly lit, with white lanterns hanging high at the entrance, and villagers sitting vigil filled the front yard.
Song Wanxi had never attended a funeral on her husband’s side before. Afraid she might make a mistake, she unconsciously moved closer to You Jin.
Just then, a slightly plump middle-aged woman ran out. “It’s the Yus’ eldest grandson and his wife, back home!”
“Sister Feng.” You Jin greeted her.
Song Wanxi followed his lead and nodded politely. “Hello, Sister Feng.”
Sister Feng was a next-door neighbor. She took out a strip of white cloth and tied it around You Jin’s arm, her voice choked with tears. “Ah Jin, it was so sudden. You missed seeing your grandfather one last time—come see him off now.”
After tying the band, Sister Feng came over to Song Wanxi and clipped a white flower pin into her hair, instructing, “Ah Jin’s wife, when you go inside, offer incense with your husband for grandfather, burn some paper money, and pour three cups of wine as a toast.”
“Grandfather, he…” Song Wanxi’s heart ached, and her voice caught in her throat.
She had been married into the You family for two years, and only her grandparents-in-law had liked her, treating her with care and affection.
Though she only came back with You Jin to visit them during holidays and festivals, she genuinely loved her grandparents-in-law.
“He passed suddenly—he was sitting in the living room watching the news, closed his eyes for a nap, and he was gone.” Sister Feng recounted sorrowfully, warmly taking Song Wanxi’s arm and leading her inside.
Song Wanxi’s heart felt heavy.
Inside the villa, funeral items of all kinds were arranged everywhere, with wreaths surrounding the space. The coffin sat in the center, its lid open, with Grandfather lying straight inside, covered in layers of white cloth, with copper coins and talisman papers stacked on top.
With the copper coins stacked on, the white cloth couldn’t be lifted to view the deceased, or it would affect their journey to reincarnation.
Below the coffin, an incense burner held lit candles and incense sticks, and a brazier burned gold and silver paper money, with smoke curling upward.
Master Nanmo, wearing a Taoist robe, sat nearby with his eyes closed, chanting scriptures.
Guided by Sister Feng, she and You Jin together burned incense for Grandfather, kowtowed, burned paper money, and offered wine.
All the proper rites were observed, but sadly, they could not lift the cloth to see Grandfather one last time.
Sister Feng pointed to the chairs nearby. “Ah Jin, Ah Jin’s wife, you two can sit over there and keep vigil. If you get tired, you may go back to your room to rest. Your grandfather cannot be buried until all your family members have returned.”
“Where’s Grandma?” Song Wanxi looked around but didn’t see her anywhere.
Sister Feng let out a long sigh. “According to our customs here, when a spouse passes away, the surviving partner cannot see them off. We’ve sent her to the hospital to rest for a few days. She can only come home after your grandfather’s funeral.”
Song Wanxi’s heart ached, and she couldn’t help but feel her eyes well up with tears.
Grandfather and Grandmother had loved each other their entire lives, yet after death, she couldn’t even see him off—how cruel was that?
Song Wanxi followed You Jin to sit on the chairs nearby, an empty chair between them.
The air was thick with the pungent smell of incense and burning paper money. Master Nanmo chanted sutras in a low murmur, while villagers keeping vigil at the door chatted softly about everyday matters.
The atmosphere was especially mournful.
Song Wanxi couldn’t help but turn her head to look at You Jin.
He sat leaning against the back of the chair, legs slightly apart, fingers interlaced and resting in front of him. His broad shoulders seemed weighed down like a mountain, giving off an air of deep sorrow and helplessness.
His gaze was fixed on Grandfather’s coffin, his eyes bloodshot and red.
They sat in silence.
There was nothing they could do. The women keeping vigil continued to burn paper money and light incense.
After dawn, villagers gradually came by to pay their respects, offer condolences, and give white envelopes of money.
For breakfast and lunch, Song Wanxi ate a little.
You Jin, however, didn’t touch a single bite.
By the afternoon, You Jin’s parents and his uncle’s family finally returned at a leisurely pace.
His cousin You Jenny held up her phone to livestream Grandfather’s funeral. Having grown up in a big city, she found the rural funeral customs utterly novel and was especially excited.
The villagers saw this and resented it in their hearts, thinking she was excessive and willful, yet no one dared to step in and stop her.
It wasn’t until her livestream was banned that she finally calmed down.