Lin Chen and Lin Jing too handed their gifts to Su Wan, one after the other. Lin Chen's gift was very similar to him, it was a crudely made breakfast, the egg roll had too many broken eggshells and the stir-fried cabbage and pork had too much salt, though the meal was completely unappetising, Su Wan finished everything that Lin Chen cooked for her. She even gave him a peck as a reward for his efforts.
As for Lin Jing, he has carved an exquisite picture of their family on a wooden square piece, even if the frame wasn't painted—— the expressions, clothes and stature and everything else was captured in very minute details. And what was more Lin Jing didn't forget to carve Su Wan's uncles and aunts, he even left a space for third aunt and uncle as well as Su Wan's grandma… even little meow got a spot in the family picture.
This gift was something that became an instant hit among everyone in the family —— even Shen Junxi and Shen Zizhen had a hard time hiding just how much they liked it. As for the aunts they didn't stop gushing and praising Lin Jing who turned a rare shade of red after being praised so much, of course, his reward was just as exquisite.
Su Wan kissed him fully on his lips causing him to go even more red.
Shen Junxi and Shen Zizhen gave their gifts after the Lin brothers were done and after them were her aunts…even little meow who was specially trained by Shen Zizhen brought Su Wan a flower clutched in his mouth as a gift.
Everyone gave their gifts, all except Lin Yan who simply smiled and said that he would give his gift at dinner time. In the end, no matter how much everyone asked what it was, Lin Yan didn't tell anyone what exactly he was going to give to Su Wan…even Su Wan who was the birthday girl couldn't get it out of his mouth and had to give it up.
Lin Yan's mouth was sealed more tightly than a baby's fist after all.
After everyone was done eating their breakfast and the gift-giving ceremony was finished, they all dressed in plain clothes and headed to the front entrance where Shen Junxi and Shen Zizhen have parked the carriages.
Before everyone boarded the carriages, Shen Zizhen turned to look at them and smiled ruefully. " My sister was a bit wilful, but she loved sincerity and truth. As long as you have these feelings in your heart, you will be honouring her… so, if you have any secrets—- just bare them in front of her, and she will understand… she might have been stubborn but she was a really kind woman." He took a deep breath and broke off what he was going to say and Shen Junxi had to pat his shoulder, only then did Shen Zizhen smile and nod at others before getting in the carriage.
Honesty and Sincerity—— both of these things, Su Wan was assured that she wouldn't be able to give to Shen Shui.
Her being trembled instinctively but then her hand was clasped by Lin Yan who was standing by her side, who dipped his head and whispered, " You will be fine, and if you don't feel good…just tell me, I will take you away from there, alright?"
Su Wan nodded her head before she raised her skirt with her hands and stepped inside the carriage.
———
" Are you looking at this?" asked Su Bai as he pointed at himself, his footing was unstable as he pointed the broken edge of his wine jar at Shen Shui's gave. " Look at this! Your good daughter made me like this! My son doesn't have money to study at the academy and my daughter doesn't have the money to get married—— Shen Shui, you really gave birth to a good daughter! She ruined her father and his entire generation, even if I was a bit harsh, wasn't I, her father? How can she be this cruel to me?"
The headstone remained silent and Su Bai stumbled before he raised his hand and smashed the jar of alcohol on the headstone until it was completely drenched. " Who am I talking to? Weren't you the one who cursed me that I will die a death worse than yours? Humph, I bet that you are really happy now that you are looking at me like this but guess what?" He snidely smiled as he spat on the headstone. " Your daughter is not in a good condition either, I sold her as the wife of five men." Jutting out five fingers, he sneered again. " Five. Men… now she is nothing but a degraded slut, are you angry?"
A harsh wind ruffled his hair and Su Bai cracked up, laughing like he was an evil villain. " Angry? So what? What can you do to me?" He smiled arrogantly as he kicked the headstone of Shen Shui's grave again and again. " This is what you get after looking down at me, what did you think that I will fall in love with you after your brother chased me down like I was a mad dog? The day they chased me down, I swore that I will make you beg… look at this now… didn't you beg me to save you when you were dying? You died begging me…HAHAHAHA, YOU DIED BEGGING THE DOG, YOU SPAT ON——what the hell?"
He staggered back when something came hurtling at him and smacked him right across his face, startled Su Bai looked in front of him and what he saw made all the alcohol that was riding on his head go down. " S—-Shen J…unxi?"
However, Shen Junxi didn't reply to him. He simply clutched the front of Su Bai's shirt and growled, " What did you say? Did you just say that my sister died begging you?"
When Su Bai didn't reply, he raised Su Bai high up in the air and shook his entire being. " I asked you a question! Did my sister die begging you, Su Bai? You better give me an answer or you will be very sorry!"