The cool moonlight slowly poured onto the curtain, then seeped through a small gap, finally resting on Xiao Yufan’s body…
Opening the yellow package, what appeared before Xiao Yufan’s eyes was a letter, a card, and a very exquisite jade pendant…
Pulling out the letter, Xiao Yufan could almost smell the familiar scent of his grandfather. Yet, that longed-for embrace from childhood was gone forever. All he could do now was reminisce.
“When you open this letter, I must have already passed on to heaven, watching over you. Don’t be sad or heartbroken. This is a path everyone must go through—it cannot be escaped or avoided. Why not face it calmly?”
Lines of slightly distorted handwriting came into view. Xiao Yufan vaguely saw his grandfather writing with trembling hands, pouring all his reluctance and expectations into the letter.
“You must know a lot by now. Forgive our selfishness—we never dared to tell you everything. This jade pendant was left to you by your father, and the card contains money your father deposited for you every year. I’ve kept it all for you. Take these and return to your own life. You’re already twenty-five years old. The hidden misfortune of being born under an extremely yin birth date is gradually fading. I believe my grandson will definitely be extraordinary…”
Tears blurred his vision. Xiao Yufan had lost count of how many times he had cried. Each word in his grandfather’s letter pierced the softest part of his heart like needles.
Without even glancing at the jade pendant and the bank card, Xiao Yufan considered them far less important than the letter his grandfather had left him. This place was his home, and he had never thought of leaving. Other lives simply did not belong to him!
Perhaps he was truly exhausted. In a daze, Xiao Yufan slowly fell asleep. His body had long been overwhelmed after two consecutive days of travel; he had merely been forcing himself to stay upright.
The night deepened, so deep that no one could discern its mood. Therefore, many people were willing to entrust all their sorrows to it, at least knowing that everything would vanish by the next morning.
Xiao Yufan slept very soundly. He finally believed what his grandfather had said—that death was merely living in another way. He firmly believed that in another world, his grandfather would definitely live even better.
…
When Xiao Yufan opened his weary eyes again, it was almost noon. The letter was still tightly clutched in his hand, as if it had become his sole emotional support.
In a daze, Xiao Yufan thought deeply about many things. He understood his grandfather’s expectations and knew he could never afford to disappoint them. He believed that somewhere in another world, his grandfather was surely watching over him.
“Yufan, have something to eat. Otherwise, your body won’t hold up…”
A gentle voice came from outside the door. Xiao Yufan knew it was his mother bringing him food. A warm current surged through his heart. No matter what his true identity was, in his eyes, his parents were the only ones he recognized.
Feeling the hunger in his stomach, Xiao Yufan did not refuse. After all, flesh is weak, and food is steel. Even if he felt sorrow and pain, he couldn’t keep torturing himself.
“You…when are you planning to return to Beijing?”
Seeing Xiao Yufan devouring his food, his mother smiled, though her smile seemed somewhat strained.
“I plan to stay here for a few more days to watch over my grandfather’s spirit before considering going back to Beijing!”
Without noticing the fleeting sadness in his mother’s eyes, Xiao Yufan spoke on his own accord, his hands never stopping their movement.
“Your grandfather said not to set up a memorial hall at home. This was his firm request. Perhaps he didn’t want this matter to interfere with your work, and we had already promised him that.”
Xiao Yufan’s chopsticks hovered in midair for quite a while. A sudden wave of bitterness surged within him—his grandfather had even refused to set up a memorial hall at home just so as not to interfere with his affairs.
“Then I’ll still stay home for a while. It’s been three years since I last came back. I also want to spend more time with you two elders!”
Although Xiao Yufan had come to accept that he wasn’t his parents’ biological child, he deeply understood that the kindness of raising him was heavier than mountains. How could he not know this?
His mother nodded with some satisfaction. How could she not miss Xiao Yufan dearly after 25 years? To her, he had long been her closest and dearest family.
“Did your grandfather tell you everything?”
Seeing his mother hesitating before speaking, Xiao Yufan noticed her hesitation, but she finally managed to ask, clearly uncertain or perhaps unwilling to confirm certain things.
Wanting to hide nothing, after a moment’s thought, Xiao Yufan still nodded. He understood what his mother was thinking. Even if he knew the truth, what difference would it make? He would always remain a member of the Xiao family…
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage