Xiao Mubai nodded: "Auntie is a very farsighted person."
Shen Nian looked around again and felt there was nothing else to introduce: "That's it, nothing more."
"Okay." She took a breath: "It's been a long time since I came back to visit. Now that I've come back again to see my parents, my heart feels much more at ease."
She said to Xiao Mubai: "Let's go back."
Xiao Mubai responded, then asked: "Do you need to cover it again?"
"No need," Shen Nian said. "In a couple of days when I have time, I'll ask the housekeeper to come clean it up. Although it's covered with a dust cover, it's still dirty. We'll air out the bedding at that time, then re-cover it."
"Alright."
The two closed the door and left with the garbage. On the way, Xiao Mubai suddenly parked the car in a spot by the side of the road.
Shen Nian, who was looking outside, turned her head: "Hmm?"
Xiao Mubai unbuckled his seatbelt: "You wait here, I'll be right back."
"Okay." Shen Nian nodded without asking further.
After about ten minutes, Xiao Mubai hurried back, holding two bunches of flowers in his hands.
Shen Nian was puzzled: "What's this?"
"To pay respects to your uncle and aunt, I naturally need to buy flowers."
"But..." She hadn't said anything about going, but seeing that Xiao Mubai had already bought the flowers, she swallowed the rest of her words and nodded: "Thank you."
Thank you for his thoughtfulness.
Xiao Mubai put the flowers in the back and buckled up again, raising his eyebrows: "The address."
...............
Twenty minutes later, the two arrived at the cemetery.
Xiao Mubai carried one bunch, and Shen Nian carried the other. They walked into the cemetery and stopped in front of a tombstone.
There was only one tombstone; Shen Nian had them buried together.
Mom had said that Dad was a very responsible person and that she was very happy to have married him in this life, so she wanted to be together with him in the next life too.
In the last second before the car accident, Dad had tightly held Mom in his arms.
So Shen Nian had them buried together, hoping that they could be together in their next life.
"Has someone been here?" Xiao Mubai noticed the flowers in front of the tombstone and was a little surprised.
The petals hadn't withered yet, so someone must have come in the past couple of days.
He looked down at the bouquet and was even more puzzled: "Lychnis flowers?"
Who paid respects with lychnis flowers? Normally, it would be chrysanthemums, forget-me-nots, light-colored lilies, and so on.
When she heard Xiao Mubai say "lychnis flowers," Shen Nian's eyelashes trembled, and the conversation from those years echoed in her ears again.
["Just buy white chrysanthemums, why did you buy lychnis flowers?"]
["The clerk told me the meaning of lychnis flowers, and I thought it was nice, so I bought them."]
["What?"]
["Everlasting, unchanging love."]
["..."] Shen Nian was speechless. ["So, when did you fall in love with my parents?"]
["It's my everlasting, unchanging love for you." Lu Lingchuan tapped her head impatiently. "Your uncle and aunt haven't met me, so I can only tell them about my feelings for you this way - everlasting and unchanging. I hope they can be at ease."]
["This is also the symbol of the Shen family's future son-in-law. From now on, whenever they see lychnis flowers, they'll know it's their son-in-law who has come to visit them."]
"..."
Lu Lingchuan had been here.
"It must be one of Dad's colleagues," Shen Nian casually made up an excuse to brush it off. "Dad's old friends were pretty decent."
Xiao Mubai silently looked at her for a moment.
Friend...
What kind of friend would send flowers with that kind of meaning?
However, Xiao Mubai didn't expose Shen Nian's lie. Instead, he joined her in placing the flowers in front of the tombstone.
Earlier when they came, Shen Nian had also bought candles. She knelt in front of the tombstone and lit them.
Xiao Mubai stood to the side and respectfully bowed three times.
Then, he spoke softly:
"Hello, Uncle and Auntie. I'm Xiao Mubai, Niannian's... friend."
And then, he had no more words.
After a long while, he finally said softly: "I will take good care of her."
Shen Nian lowered her eyes in silence, not saying a word from beginning to end.
After returning from the cemetery to see her parents, Shen Nian rested at home for another day before going back to work.
As she came out of the elevator, Jiang Lingling was just discussing work matters with a colleague. Hearing the sound, she looked up, her eyes flashing with delight: "Nian-jie, you're here."
"Yeah." Shen Nian nodded at her with a slight smile: "Work hard."
After speaking, she headed towards her workstation.
"Wan-jie, let's settle it like this. I'll trouble you with the rest," Jiang Lingling hurriedly instructed, then quickly caught up with Shen Nian.
Shen Nian sat down at her desk, placed her bag beside her, and turned on her computer first.
There was a small mountain of file folders on the desk, all the work that had accumulated over the past two days.
Jiang Lingling helpfully separated the files according to urgency and gossiped: "The boss's wife is here today too!"
Shen Nian's hand paused as she sorted through the files, but then she resumed as normal: "Waiting for President Lu to go out for lunch together?"
Yes, they were together now, so it was normal for them to go out for a meal.
"Not exactly," Jiang Lingling thought for a moment, then said, "It seems to be for work. Previously, Miss Liang had a project that she was preparing to collaborate with us on."
"Oh." Shen Nian responded with a casual acknowledgment, not asking further.
"Assistant Shen." An employee came over with some documents: "These documents need President Lu's signature urgently."
Shen Nian glanced at the empty desk next to her: "Leave them there, I'll take them over later."
"Okay."
After sorting the files, Shen Nian carried the documents and headed towards Lu Lingchuan's office.
Three knocks on the door: "Knock, knock, knock." After hearing the cold voice of the man inside, she pushed the door open and entered.
"President Lu."
Shen Nian resumed her diligent and earnest demeanor from work, her delicate face displaying seriousness and dedication.
Lu Lingchuan and Liang Jinghe were sitting on the sofa discussing work. When Lu Lingchuan looked up, Liang Jinghe also turned her head upon hearing the sound and smiled at Shen Nian.
"Miss Liang." Shen Nian lowered her head slightly.
Liang Jinghe nodded, then asked with concern: "I came yesterday, but I didn't see you around. Lingchuan said you took a sick leave?"
"Yes." Shen Nian lowered her eyes: "The night before, the hot water ran out while I was showering, so I had to rinse with cold water. Then I turned on the air conditioning, and I got a fever."
"Assistant Shen needs to take care of herself."
"Thank you for your concern, Miss Liang."
Shen Nian took two steps forward and placed the documents in front of Lu Lingchuan, meticulously stating: "President Lu, these documents require your immediate signature."
Lu Lingchuan looked at her expressionlessly, not saying a word.
Shen Nian seemed not to notice, as she took a pen from the table, uncapped it, and then handed it to him: "Mr. Lu."
Lu Lingchuan was seated on the sofa, and Shen Nian bent over, bringing the two of them unusually close, allowing her to catch a glimpse of the weariness in his eyes.
It had only been two days since they last saw each other, but he looked much more haggard.
Afraid of Lu Lingchuan noticing, Shen Nian only glanced at him briefly before averting her gaze.
Lu Lingchuan did not make it difficult for her either, taking the pen from her hand, opening the file, and signing his name on the last page.
