Chapter 25#

“The Lord Jesus said: ‘What God has joined together, let no one separate.’”

The beautiful bride, her head adorned with floral accessories, her white wedding dress gently fluttering in the breeze, accompanied by the fresh scent of flowers.

The groom, in a white tailcoat and black bow tie, took the delicate hand from the bride’s father.

The priest read the vows and bore witness for them.

This love, for a lifetime, was made perfect by this day.

When that small ring was slipped onto the other’s ring finger, it meant entrusting one’s life into the other’s hands, to love and respect each other, until eternity.

After the funeral and all the trivial matters were handled, it was already more than a week later.

Bai Junrui had stayed in Singapore for nearly a season. Later, I heard that Uncle Shu was urging him relentlessly, insisting he had to return. Shu Yuan had already gone back to the US earlier. It was said she called many times, and when she learned that Wang Zheng had gone abroad to study, she made quite a fuss, giving Uncle Shu a big headache.

Perhaps due to too many recent events, with major exams approaching, Cheng Chen was locked up at home by General Cheng and couldn’t get out. In the end, only Old He, a few company representatives, and I went to the airport to see him off.

Before leaving, Bai Junrui said: “The villa’s flower garden is missing a gardener.”

Bai Junrui added: “I think, before they all wither away, I must reluctantly take care of them in the meantime.”

Just as I was about to discuss the rising unemployment rate with him, he set aside his usual slightly dismissive smile, composed himself, and said softly: “You’re not without choices. If you agree…”

He walked over, bent down discreetly, and whispered in my ear: “I can take you away right now.”

I turned to Old He, who was rubbing his eyes, and said seriously: “Report, someone is attempting to abduct a minor.”

Old He perked up immediately and scurried over to me.

Bai Junrui chuckled, shaking his head.

When I returned to the main residence, I walked in through the front door. The vast house was dark, not a single light on.

My eyesight isn’t great, especially in low light.

Old He was still parking the car, so I had to hobble along, feeling for the light switch.

“Young Master.”

A voice suddenly came from ahead.

My heart skipped a beat, and I spun around.

Ru Po stood at the top of the stairs, giving me a slight bow. “The Old Madam is waiting for you in her room on the second floor.”

I paused.

After the conflict between Old Madam Ren and Third Master Ren escalated, she had barely spoken a word to me. Usually, when we met, it was only me greeting her unilaterally.

Old Madam Ren also excused herself from my mother’s funeral, citing poor health.

I stood at the door, adjusted my breathing, then knocked. My hand trembled on the doorknob. I lowered my head and stepped inside.

Old Madam Ren sat at the desk, seemingly flipping through something, her expression focused. She wore the glasses she hadn’t used in a long time.

The room was a bit stuffy.

I glanced sideways at the sealed window, my fingers fidgeting with my pants, my throat dry as I called out: “Grandmother.”

She looked up, glanced at me, and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. “Riwa, come here.”

I looked at her. Old Madam Ren continued: “Why are you standing there in a daze? Come over to Grandmother.”

“Grandmother…”

Old Madam Ren took off her glasses, her murky eyes fixed on me. Then, she let out a heavy sigh, pinched the bridge of her nose, and said: “Well… I can’t blame you. It’s my fault for letting our grandparent-grandchild relationship become so distant.”

“No, no such thing… Grandmother.” I blurted out. After a moment of silence, I moved closer to her.

Old Madam Ren looked at me, nodding repeatedly, and pulled me to stand beside her. Following her gaze, I looked down at the photo album she held in her hands.

“Riwa, take a look—”

I looked at the photos.

Old Madam Ren pointed at one. “Riwa, look… This is when you were one month old. See, what a cute child.” I nodded.

“Look at this one, you see…” She pointed at each one, and I slowly looked down, my gaze stopping at the last photo.

Old Madam Ren put her arm around my shoulder and said: “Grandmother knows Riwa is a good child.”

In that photo, my mother was holding me, bowing her head, kissing my forehead with a smile.

“Good child, look how much you’ve suffered.” Old Madam Ren patted my hand and said softly: “I’ve been thinking clearly these past few days.”

Old Madam Ren closed the photo album, turned her head, and took out a stack of documents from the drawer.

I took them with both hands, lowered my head to glance through them, and couldn’t help but freeze.

Old Madam Ren patted my shoulder. “Take a look. These schools are all the best. Whichever one you like—”

“Third Master! Third Master, you can’t—Third Master—!”

Urgent calls came from outside, followed by Ru Po’s voice. As I looked over, the heavy door was suddenly shoved open with a loud “bang,” letting out a mournful creak.

Third Master Ren strode straight in.

“Third Master, oh! What is this, what is this…” Ru Po’s voice carried tears as she hurriedly followed him in. She looked awkwardly at Old Madam Ren, then cautiously said to Third Master Ren: “Third Master, please leave. Don’t argue with the Old Madam anymore…”

“Hmph.” Old Madam Ren snorted coldly, a far cry from her gentle, kind demeanor from moments ago. “Ru, leave.” Ru Po looked back at Old Madam Ren, her face pale. Then she reached up to wipe her tears, hunched her back, and walked out.

The door closed softly.

Tapping her fingers lightly on the desk, Old Madam Ren said slowly: “General Manager Ren, is there nothing at the company? Back so soon? Who tipped you off?”

Third Master Ren stood a few steps away from the desk, his gaze cold.

Old Madam Ren laughed softly, took my hand, and spoke to me, but her eyes were on him.

“Riwa, your Third Uncle is afraid this old woman will eat you. Quickly explain to him how pleasantly we were chatting just now, grandmother and grandson. Don’t let him constantly worry about this and that, neglecting real work.”

I listened blankly, then turned to look ahead.

Third Master Ren also looked over, his gaze sharp, as if trying to see through me.

Third Master Ren’s temper had always been hard to read. His face seemed to reveal absolutely no joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness. Especially back when he couldn’t speak well, almost no one knew what he was thinking.

In my previous life, even after I inherited the Ren family, in front of him—whether due to seniority or something else—I needed courage just to meet his eyes directly. Every word I spoke had to be carefully weighed, and even my breathing became cautious.

I pressed my lips together and said to him: “…Third Uncle.”

I forced my tone to soften, trying to make my expression appear natural and relaxed. “Grandmother and I—”

I watched as he slowly approached. He stopped only when I had to tilt my head high to meet his eyes.

Third Master Ren’s gaze fell on the stack of documents in my hands. Then, it slowly shifted to Old Madam Ren, as if asking a question, without blinking. The atmosphere was so heavy it was almost suffocating.

After all, they were mother and son.

Though Old Madam Ren looked a bit flustered, she still lifted the corners of her mouth and said in a cordial tone: “San’er, you’ve been busy lately. I’ll handle Riwa’s matters for you first, to save you the trouble.”

“You know… education in China is getting worse and worse. Riwa has good potential. Now is the time to focus on studying. I think—”

“…”

Third Master Ren suddenly snatched the documents from my hands and threw them all out.

As the papers scattered in the air, slowly floating down, Third Master Ren seemed to break into a smile, faintly radiating cruelty.

“How much do you want?”

“Fifty? Or sixty? Or all of it?”

He suddenly burst out laughing, a grating sound I had never heard before. Old Madam Ren’s face turned terribly pale, all color drained away, and her whole body trembled violently.

Third Master Ren picked up a file from the desk, flipped through it briefly, grabbed the pen on the table, swiftly and simply scribbled on it, and tossed it back onto the desk.

He said softly: “These are all yours. Every single one.”

“Unfilial son—!!”

Old Madam Ren grabbed the file and hurled it viciously at Third Master Ren’s face.

He simply sidestepped lightly, avoiding it without a scratch.

Old Madam Ren’s chest heaved violently. One hand propped herself on the desk, while the other pointed tremblingly: “You—you—you’ve truly rebelled! Rebelled!! Do you really not understand your mother’s good intentions, or have you gone mad!? You—”

Third Master Ren remained silent, his head slightly lowered.

Old Madam Ren’s voice faltered. Her eyes shifted and finally locked onto something. Following her gaze, I stared blankly.

Third Master Ren’s hand tightly grasped mine.

A chill slowly seeped into my bones.

“Huff…” Old Madam Ren let out a deep breath, collapsing back into her chair, covering her face with both hands.

Faintly, the sound of suppressed, desperate sobbing could be heard.

After a while, Old Madam Ren looked ahead, somewhat bewildered, and called out: “San’er…”

“Your mother is begging you.” Her face, covered in wrinkles, looked so aged: “You are your mother’s precious son, my only son… I know you resent me for being heartless, back then—”

She glanced at me, then at him: “But…”

“That was for you, for your sake, do you understand? If I hadn’t agreed to that plan, San’er… you…”

Third Master Ren suddenly interrupted, his tone hard.

“You’re tired. You need rest.”

Then, he pulled my hand and headed out. With my injured leg, I walked slowly, almost being dragged by him.

“You—you’re afraid I’ll say it, aren’t you! Huh! Ren Xiaoyun! Ren Xiaoyun!!”

Old Madam Ren suddenly took something else from the drawer and threw it, a flurry of papers filling the air.

But his arm tightened around me.

One piece landed at my feet.

It was drawing paper.

I looked down.

This time, I saw it very clearly.

Very clearly.

Though Third Master Ren had been frail since childhood, fate had been generous to him, giving him unparalleled talent in every way. I remembered that in my previous life, there was a charity auction where the highest-priced piece was a painting by Third Master Ren himself.

I hadn’t seen many of his paintings.

The floor was covered in drawing paper. Some were unfinished, only outlines visible. The one that drifted to my feet was a colored painting.

Each drawing had a different scenery.

Only the figure was the same.

Old Madam Ren sneered: “What do you think you can give him? Do you really think you can protect him forever? Ren Xiaoyun!”

“Don’t be too naive! Everyone with eyes can see what you feel for him! Such shameful behavior—if you’re not afraid of others knowing, I, this old woman, still have a face to preserve!”

“Look at these! Dwelling on memories? Huh? Look at what I’ve brought into this world!”

He pulled my hand and opened the door. I tried to struggle forcefully, but he only held on tighter.

At that moment, Old Madam Ren suddenly shrieked: “Riwa!”

I froze, turning back to look at her.

At that moment, her hair was disheveled, her face covered in tears, her eyes venomous.

“Riwa, come here.”

Come here.

Come here.

“Riwa…”

My heart trembled.

What I saw now was only a mother’s shattered heart.

Almost as if possessed, I took a step forward, ready to call out to her, but another voice spoke before I could.

“Stop using Qiqi.” His hand slowly pulled me into the darkness, enveloped in coldness.

The scent of sandalwood numbed my senses, creating an illusory feeling.

I looked up.

Something was about to slip out.

Something I felt I had wanted to say for a long time.

As for how long ago, I couldn’t remember.

My lips trembled.

Time seemed to stand still.

My other hand gently covered his.

“Let me go.”

Third Uncle, please let me go.

Slowly, I withdrew my hand from that cold…

Unclasped it.

No matter who you are to me…

Please, let me go.

Outside the airport, people came and went, but General Cheng’s group was unusually conspicuous.

Cheng Chen’s smile twitched at the corners of his mouth. General Cheng suddenly bellowed, and Cheng Chen immediately snapped to attention, shouting loudly: “Yes, sir!”

I couldn’t help him; I was currently suffering and enjoying the three-tiered bento Fang Sao had made for me.

“Young Master, oh, this Ah Fang who’s never seen the world is just…”

“Old fool, why are you blaming me? When I was packing, you said this wasn’t enough.” Fang Sao pinched Old He’s waist, and he let out a series of strange yelps.

Anyway—this was a mistake, a huge mistake.

How could I have forgotten to tell Old He and Fang Sao that outside food isn’t allowed on the plane? Truly, I forgot the lesson.

After finally finishing it, I went over to join Cheng Chen.

General Cheng stroked his beard, patted Cheng Chen on the shoulder, then glanced at me. His tone softened, as if afraid of scaring me, and he said: “Well, Xiao Qi, please look after this good-for-nothing son of mine.”

I responded with an “Ah,” quickly smiling and nodding to the old man.

Cheng Chen hugged me, laughing cheerfully. General Cheng shook his head, as if lamenting a piece of iron that wouldn’t turn into steel: “You barely scraped by! What’s there to be happy about! If you cause any trouble out there, see if I don’t—”

General Cheng raised his cane, and Cheng Chen, startled, hid behind me.

I glanced at my watch, turned to bid farewell to Old He and his wife. Cheng Chen happily pushed me along, ignoring General Cheng hopping with rage behind us.

Just then, Fang Sao suddenly cried out.

“Old fool, isn’t that Third Master?”

I paused, instinctively following her gaze.

Old He laughed: “Hey, Ah Fang’s eyes are playing tricks. Where’s the Third Master? He’s busy today, went to the company early.”

“Oh, old fool, just shut up, will you?”

I lifted the corners of my mouth, smiled at Old He and his wife, and said: “Well, Cheng Chen and I are off.”

Cheng Chen suddenly hugged me, pulling on the chain around my neck. “Still wearing this thing?”

“Tell me, tell me! I’ve wanted to ask for ages. Who gave it to you? You can’t bear to take it off.”

“Hey, is it your—”

I slapped his hand away, and he let out exaggerated cries of pain.

…I know.

Every step I take now will diverge from past memories.

Whether it’s me, Wang Zheng, or…

“Fatty, let’s go!”

“Big-boobed beauty, here I come—!”

I smiled bitterly and shook my head.

Then, I looked back behind me. Old He and his wife waved at me.

I smiled and raised my hand, but at that moment, my smile froze on my face.

Maybe it was my imagination.

I thought I saw him.

A car passed by on the road not far away.

Reflected in the sunset glow, it looked from a distance like a drop of blood-red tears.

I suddenly remembered a passage the priest read at my mother’s funeral:

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

“What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth? I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart.”

Yet the works of God—

Man can never fully comprehend.

Book Three