Sheng Tang’s grandmother, her ashes buried in a picturesque countryside cemetery.
The cemetery is located on a small hill, with roughly a hundred stone steps. Every year, when tomb sweeping, as soon as she stepped on the first stone step, Mom would start to cry.
This year, during the Qingming Festival, Mom finally didn’t cry.
Looking at grandmother’s portrait, Mom only held Sheng Tang’s hand and said, "Your Aunt Jiang’s mother was sick for three years. Later, she developed bedsores, couldn’t lie down or sit up, it was truly painful.
Your grandmother was fortunate, she didn’t suffer the long years of illness. If we talk about enjoying life, after we started working, she did get to enjoy a good life."
Aunt Jiang also works at the library and has a very good relationship with Mom.
Over the years, Aunt Jiang has always comforted Mom. Especially after Aunt Jiang’s own mother fell ill, she always told Sheng Tang’s mom that it’s a blessing for the elderly to pass away peacefully and quickly.
When grandmother passed away, it was tragic, but it was really just half a minute. She left very quickly.
Mom also came to terms with it a lot.
At that time, Sheng Tang didn’t say anything; she just felt that her mom no longer resented her.
Now Sheng Tang can dare to reminisce about grandmother with her mother, and even invited her to sweep the tomb together today.
She parked the car, picked up the umbrella and the small chrysanthemums from the front passenger seat, and walked slowly up the steps.
On a rainy day, the steps were still somewhat slippery, and Sheng Tang walked very slowly.
It wasn’t Qingming, so there weren’t many people sweeping tombs.
Across the entire cemetery, there was only a silhouette kneeling before grandmother’s tomb.
The person wore black clothes and black pants, a large black umbrella covering the entire upper body, obscuring gender or age.
Sheng Tang approached slowly.
The person stood up.
He was tall and carried a heavy aura, which immediately bore down on Sheng Tang, making her step back slightly.
The umbrella still covered his face; she only saw his chin and his slightly pursed lips.
She recognized him.
The man’s gaze fell on the hem of the woman’s white dress across from him and slightly raised the umbrella.
His eyes landed on Sheng Tang, he stood there, motionless.
Gu Shiting didn’t know Sheng Tang would come. Today, he suddenly recalled some moments from living with the Sheng Family and couldn’t sit still in the office, so he came here to sweep grandmother’s tomb.
Neither of them spoke.
After a long silence, Sheng Tang walked over, half-crouched, and gently placed the small white chrysanthemums in her hand.
Raindrops hit the white chrysanthemums, making them appear crystal clear.
Gu Shiting stood behind her and suddenly spoke, "Tangtang, why have you lost so much weight?"
Sheng Tang half-crouched, listened to his question, and after a moment stood up, "I’m dieting, it looks better on camera."
Gu Shiting responded softly.
Sheng Tang came to see grandmother, simply to sweep the tomb, not to express grief.
After placing the small white chrysanthemums, she found that grandmother’s tombstone had been wiped clean by Gu Shiting with rainwater, and she didn’t plan to stay longer.
As she was about to leave, Gu Shiting also followed her.
Going down, the stone steps were even more slippery.
Gu Shiting was extremely tall, with an unsteady lower body. Perhaps due to his mood, he accidentally slipped.
Sheng Tang instinctively grabbed his arm and steadied him.
Gu Shiting’s body stiffened; he immediately wanted to reach out and hold her tightly in his arms, feeling her presence. In his dreams, she had no warmth, always feeling unreal.
However, he restrained his impulse.
He steadied himself.
Later, Sheng Tang also slipped a little; the rainy steps were indeed difficult to walk.
Seizing the opportunity, Gu Shiting held her arm, "Take it slow."
Sheng Tang didn’t push him away.
The warmth of his palm slowly seeped through her thin clothes, resting on her skin, making her a bit dazed.
It seemed he was still the same as before, and she hadn’t changed much either.