Chapter 323 - 324: The Starry Sky in Memory, Sweet Torment
Xia Yangyang was momentarily stunned.
She stared wide-eyed at the handsome face before her.
But very soon, she was kissed by Gu Qichen into a daze.
His pleasant scent filled her nostrils. Gu Qichen shifted from being domineering at first, to gradually becoming gentle.
The two were kissing under the starry sky.
An infinite night sky hung above their heads, the stars like scattered shards of silver.
The evening breeze that blew was not cold.
In front of them was a fire, with the sound of corn popping in the blaze.
Not far off, from time to time, a lamb let out a bleat.
It seemed as though even the air carried a deliciously sweet scent.
That’s the starry sky in Xia Yangyang’s memory, the sweetest kiss in her memory.
So many years later, in a foreign land, as she overlooked the dazzling city from her apartment in Manhattan,
The image that surfaced before her eyes was the starry sky from that night, the jumping bonfire, as well as the taste of sweet potatoes…
Bittersweet torment that continued to haunt her…
*
The second day.
Xia Yangyang and Gu Qichen got up early.
Because today was the anniversary of her mother’s passing.
Her mother’s grave was in the most expensive graveyard in Feng City,
But it was also here.
Yangyang’s grandmother buried all of Yangyang’s mother’s belongings and erected a tombstone on a small hillock behind the house.
Every year, on the anniversary of her mother’s passing, Xia Yangyang would come here to pay her respects,
After preparing the offerings, they would go up the mountain together.
Grandmother was in a particularly bad mood today, presumably because she was reminded of her deceased daughter.
Actually, Yangyang felt sorrow tugging at her heart, but she didn’t let it show.
Once they arrived at Tan Zhen’s grave, Grandmother took out one item after another from the basket.
All of it was pastry that Grandmother had made early in the morning.
“Xiao Zhen, this is your favourite green bean cake, you must eat a lot, and there’s sesame brittle too. This year the sesame harvest was especially good, so the sesame brittle is especially fragrant. When you were young, you had such a craving for it…”
Grandmother rambled in front of the tombstone.
Xia Yangyang found it very hard to bear.
During the act of worship, Gu Qichen, in accordance with the rural custom, knelt on the ground and bowed three times.
Gu Qichen then called out sincerely towards the gravestone: “Mom.”
When Xia Yangyang heard this, tears mysteriously began to flow.
It had been so many years since she had last said this word.
Gu Qichen earnestly said: “Mom, don’t worry. I’ll take care of Yangyang from now on. I won’t let her suffer any grievances. I will bring all the goodness in this world to her. I hope you agree with us being together.”
After saying that, Gu Qichen once again bowed respectfully.
Grandmother also stood at the side, wiping her tears.
Then she said: “Alright, that’s enough worshiping. You two go back first. I will stay here and accompany your mother.”
Xia Yangyang said, “Grandmother, I’ll stay and keep you company.”
The old woman waved her off: “I have some private words to say to my daughter. You both go back first. Ah Chen, when you get back, help me tidy up the yard.”
Xia Yangyang shouted in protest: “Grandmother, why do you keep ordering Ah Chen around?”
Gu Qichen, however, readily agreed: “Alright, Grandmother.”
On their way back.
Xia Yangyang pouted: “The yard is perfectly clean, and Grandmother just likes bossing you around.”
Gu Qichen, however, seemed completely unconcerned: “Her bossing me around means she doesn’t see me as an outsider, I can feel it, Grandmother treats me rather well.”
Xia Yangyang was shocked.
Young Master Gu, you’re too good at comforting yourself.
They had been back for several days already, and Grandmother hadn’t shown him any good face yet, and was always finding ways for him to do manual labor.
Xia Yangyang didn’t feel at all that Grandmother treated him well anything.
Because of this, she felt quite guilty.. Why didn’t Grandmother like Gu Qichen?