SYLM Chapter 121

Chapter 121: “Gu Wan Jun, how much do you know about Chen Qing Yu as a person?”

Chapter 121 “Gu Wan Jun, how much do you know about Chen Qing Yu as a person?”

After dinner, Gu’s mother pulled Chen Lu into the bedroom.

Seeing this, Gu Wan Jun was about to follow, but her wrist was gently held by her father.

“Let your mother talk to her alone for a while.” Gu’s father patted his daughter’s shoulder lovingly, his eyes full of understanding.

Looking at the closed bedroom door, Gu Wan Jun pursed her lips, she probably guessed what her mother was going to do.

When her older sister got married, her mother also called her into the room like this.

But perhaps because of years of anxiety, Gu Wan Jun couldn’t help but worry.

In the bedroom, Gu’s mother first pulled Chen Lu to sit on the edge of the bed, then took out a box from the bottom drawer of the mahogany wardrobe, opened the lid, and a small package wrapped in red silk cloth lay quietly in the box. The old woman carefully took out the cloth package and opened it, and a delicately crafted gold-inlaid jade bracelet came into view, emitting a warm luster under the light.

“Child, this is for you.”

Gu’s mother’s tone was gentle, and she was about to stuff it into Chen Lu’s hands. Chen Lu was so surprised by this sudden move that her pupils dilated slightly, and her hand subconsciously shrank back, shaking her head like a rattle drum:

“Auntie, this is too precious, I can’t accept it.”

Gu’s mother didn’t care about her refusal, and directly took her hand without explanation:

“Silly child, this was passed down to me by Wan Jun’s grandmother, and now I’m passing it on to you.”

The old woman moved quickly, brooking no refusal. The bracelet gently slid over Chen Lu’s slender wrist, fitting perfectly at the thin wrist bone.

“Tsk, it looks so good. People with beautiful hands look good in anything.”

“……”

Chen Lu looked down at the bracelet on her wrist that glowed with a moist luster, and her nose suddenly felt a little sour, unable to say anything.

This bracelet was more than just an expensive gift for Chen Lu; it represented complete acceptance, complete recognition, and that she had truly become a member of this family.

Chen Lu’s eyes were slightly hot, and her voice was hoarse: “Thank you, Auntie.”

Gu’s mother gently patted the back of her hand, tears shining in her eyes: “We’re family from now on. If you’re willing, call me Mom.”

Gu’s mother had heard her daughter talk about Chen Lu’s background. She knew that the child in front of her was very resistant to the concept of family, including the term “Mom.” She didn’t want to force her, but just wanted the other person to know that she, as a mother, had truly accepted her as her child.

How could Chen Lu not understand the old woman’s meaning?

Meeting Gu’s mother’s loving gaze, Chen Lu felt a sourness in her heart, and an unprecedented, dizzying sense of happiness tightly enveloped her.

“Mom…”

Chen Lu heard her own trembling voice.

“Hey, Mom’s here.” Gu’s mother smiled and wiped the corners of her eyes, holding Chen Lu’s hand tightly: “Good child, Wan Jun is stubborn, and sometimes gets stuck on things. Please be more tolerant of her.”

“I will.”

Chen Lu nodded solemnly, the originally cool bracelet on her wrist rubbed against her skin, gradually warming up.

When the two came out of the room, Gu Wan Jun, who had been waiting at the door, noticed Chen Lu’s red eyes at a glance. Her heart clenched, and she quickly walked to the little girl’s side, holding her wrist. When her thumb touched the warm bracelet, Gu Wan Jun froze for a moment, and the heart that had been in her throat eased a little.

Thank goodness. Thank goodness. She didn’t lose Chen Lu.

Gu Wan Jun breathed a sigh of relief, clutching Chen Lu’s hand tightly, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible: “Mom gave you the bracelet?”

Chen Lu nodded, a little embarrassed: “Yeah.”

Gu Wan Jun’s nose soured, and she couldn’t hold back any longer. In front of her parents, she embraced Chen Lu and whispered in her ear, “Baby, don’t cry.”

Even as she said that, Gu Wan Jun’s own face was wet.

It really wasn’t easy for them to get to where they were today.

Seeing that the two children had finally achieved a positive outcome, the old couple also secretly wiped away tears on the side. Duo Duo curiously looked up at her two favorite people crying together, and tugged at their clothes with some heartache:

“Mommy, Sister Chen Lu, why are you crying?”

Gu’s father rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand and picked up his granddaughter with a smile: “Because they’re too happy.”

“Really? Shouldn’t you smile when you’re happy? Why are you crying?”

“Because they’re too happy.”

Gu’s father repeated what he had just said again, and the little Duo Duo, whose comprehension ability was limited, was full of question marks. But since Grandpa said that Mommy and Sister Chen Lu were happy, then she was also happy.

That night, because Chen Lu had drunk a lot of wine, Gu’s mother insisted that they stay overnight. The old woman gave up the master bedroom, and the two wanted to decline, but were stopped by a look from their mother.

“You two get some rest.”

Gu’s mother’s tone was a little meaningful. After she finished speaking, she led Duo Duo, who originally wanted to sleep with the two of them, to the children’s room:

“Duo Duo is sleeping with Grandma tonight, okay?”

“……”

Back in the room, Chen Lu sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the bracelet on her wrist. Gu Wan Jun gently closed the door, walked up to her and squatted down, gently cupping her face with a gentle tone: “What’s wrong? Did you drink too much?”

Chen Lu shook her head and suddenly reached out to pull Gu Wan Jun into her arms. She buried her face in Gu Wan Jun’s neck, rubbing against her like a spoiled kitten.

“Sister…”

The little girl sniffed, her muffled voice carrying an intoxicating scent of wine and an unspeakable dependence:

“Thank you for giving me a home.”

As soon as the words fell, Gu Wan Jun felt like her heart was being squeezed tightly by an invisible big hand, both sour and soft. She gently stroked the back of the person in her arms, her tone gentle:

“I should be thanking you.”

If I didn’t have you…

Gu Wan Jun didn’t dare to continue. She couldn’t imagine what life would be like without Chen Lu.

These five years had been hard enough. She couldn’t imagine how she would get through the long second half of her life without Chen Lu.

Sometimes a hug is more moving than a kiss.

That night, they didn’t do anything, just slept in each other’s arms.

Afraid that all of this was just a beautiful dream after drinking, Chen Lu hugged Gu Wan Jun’s waist tightly, unwilling to relax even a little. Gu Wan Jun buried her face in Chen Lu’s hair, breathing in the familiar scent of shampoo, feeling an unprecedented sense of peace.

The next morning, just as the sky was getting light, Chen Lu got up quietly.

Before getting out of bed, she turned back to look at Gu Wan Jun, who was still sleeping soundly, and couldn’t help but curl her lips. Then, a gentle kiss landed on the other person’s forehead.

In the kitchen, Chen Lu put on an apron and started preparing breakfast. She first cooked Gu Wan Jun’s favorite millet porridge, then fried Duo Duo’s favorite heart-shaped fried egg, and finally made a few side dishes according to the tastes of Gu’s father and Gu’s mother. When Gu’s mother got up as usual and walked into the kitchen to start making breakfast, the porridge in the pot was already cooked soft, glutinous, and fragrant, and the whole house was filled with fragrance.

“Chen Lu?” Gu’s mother was a little surprised: “Why did you get up so early? Why didn’t you sleep a little longer?”

Chen Lu turned her head and smiled: “I’m used to getting up early.”

While responding to Gu’s mother’s words, the movements in her hands didn’t stop. Chen Lu skillfully flipped the fried eggs in the pot, looking like someone who often cooked.

“A… Uh… Mom, you go sit down first. Breakfast will be ready soon.”

Gu’s mother nodded with a smile, but didn’t leave. The old woman leaned against the door frame, quietly watching Chen Lu’s busy figure. She suddenly remembered many years ago, when her eldest daughter Gu Wan Rong first brought her boyfriend home, she also got up early to help prepare breakfast.

Thinking about it, her eyes suddenly felt a little sour.

She used to worry that her daughter’s choice would make her future life difficult, but now it seemed that Chen Lu cherished her daughter more than anyone else.

As a mother, what could be more important than seeing her child happy?

When the fried eggs came out of the pot, Chen Lu noticed Gu’s mother’s strangeness when she turned around to get the plate, and froze for a moment, obviously a little flustered: “Mom? Are you okay?”

Gu’s mother shook her head, wiped the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand, and smiled: “I’m fine, I’m just happy. Child, it’s Wan Jun’s blessing to have met you.”

“No.” Chen Lu shook her head, her eyes gentle: “It’s my blessing to have met her.”

……

At the breakfast table, Duo Duo excitedly pointed to the heart-shaped fried egg on her plate, smiling so much that her eyes disappeared:

“Grandma, look! Sister Chen Lu made me a love egg! It’s even prettier than the ones Mommy makes!”

Looking at the perfect “love” in her daughter’s plate, Gu Wan Jun quietly held Chen Lu’s hand under the table, her heart sweeter than honey.

They smiled at each other, understanding each other’s hearts without words.

After the meal, Duo Duo originally wanted to go home with the two of them, but Gu Wan Jun squatted down, looked directly into her daughter’s eyes, and said with a particularly serious tone:

“Duo Duo, Mommy and Sister Chen Lu have important things to do today. How about we pick you up in two days?”

Duo Duo pouted her little mouth: “How many days are ‘in two days’?”

Gu Wan Jun smiled and rubbed her daughter’s furry little head: “When Mommy is done, I’ll call Duo Duo, okay?”

Knowing that Mommy never lied to her, Duo Duo nodded obediently and held out her little pinky finger: “Then let’s make a pinky promise, don’t lie.”

Gu Wan Jun and Chen Lu stretched out their little pinky fingers at the same time and hooked them together with the little guy’s little fingers: “Pinky promise, a hundred years, never change.”

—-

On Sunday morning, the autumn was crisp and the air was refreshing. Gu Wan Jun drove Chen Lu to the cemetery in the suburbs.

The autumn wind rustled the dead leaves. The lifeless leaves swirled in the air before gently landing on the stone road, quietly waiting for the next cycle of life.

Gu Wan Jun held a bunch of white baby’s breath, which was her older sister Gu Wan Rong’s favorite flower. She walked in front, and Chen Lu followed silently behind. The two walked through rows of tombstones and finally stopped in front of a black marble tombstone.

In the photo on the tombstone, a woman with eyebrows and eyes nine-tenths similar to Gu Wan Jun’s was smiling gently. Gu Wan Jun squatted down, gently brushed the fallen leaves from the tombstone, and placed the bouquet in her arms in front of the tomb.

“Sister, I brought the person I love to see you. You’ve met before, do you remember?”

Gu Wan Jun’s voice was very soft, as if afraid of disturbing the sleeping person. She tried to hook up the corners of her lips, but the smile she squeezed out couldn’t hide the redness of her eyes:

“Sister, you said before that you hoped I could always be myself and bravely pursue the happiness I really wanted. Although Chen Lu is younger than me, she takes care of me more than anyone else, cares about me, and sincerely feels sorry for me at all times. Duo Duo also likes her very much. I’m very happy now. Can you see it?”

A gust of autumn wind blew past, stirring up a few fallen leaves on the ground before gently falling down again.

Chen Lu stood quietly to the side. The woman with a flowery smile on the tombstone overlapped with the gentle older sister in her memory who always smiled kindly at her. Chen Lu stepped forward, placed the white lilies in her arms next to the baby’s breath, and then bowed deeply to the tombstone.

“Sister Wan Rong, I’m Chen Lu. We’ve met before. You must remember.”

Chen Lu’s voice was very steady, but the fingertips hanging by her side were trembling slightly:

“Duo Duo is a very well-behaved and cute child, both smart and filial. Wan Jun taught her very well. I’m very honored to have such an opportunity to accompany her as she grows up.”

Chen Lu reached out and held Gu Wan Jun’s cold hand next to her, and continued to say to the tombstone:

“Uncle and Aunt are both in good health. No matter what happens in the future, I will be by Wan Jun’s side. Her family is my family. Wan Jun and I will accompany Duo Duo as she grows up. Sister Wan Rong, you can rest assured and take care of yourself.”

The cemetery was silent. The only thing that responded to the two of them was the gusts of autumn wind that brushed past.

—-

After leaving the cemetery, in the afternoon, the two drove back to Ningcheng and went to the old house where Chen Lu had lived in high school.

Five years had passed, and the old house still retained the appearance it had when Chen Lu left. The sunlight shone through the dusty windows, warm but not dazzling.

Chen Lu pushed open the door of one of the rooms. A black and white photo hung on the wall—an old woman with a kind face was smiling warmly.

Gu Wan Jun stood to the side, watching Chen Lu light three incense sticks. The hazy green smoke rose slowly, blurring the photo and the person in front of it.

“Grandma, I’m back. I… I brought the person I love to see you. Her name is Gu Wan Jun, and she’s a very, very good person…”

The calmness and maturity that had always far exceeded her peers suddenly broke down. Chen Lu couldn’t help but choke. Gu Wan Jun, who was listening on the side, felt her nose sour and gently stroked the little girl’s back with her palm. She looked up at the old woman in the photo, whose crescent-shaped eyes, identical to Chen Lu’s, were watching them warmly.

“Grandma, I’m Gu Wan Jun.” Gu Wan Jun took over, her voice soft but firm: “I’m sorry for calling you that without your permission…”

Chen Lu turned her head to look at her, her vision blurred by tears, but she could still see the rare seriousness and piety on Gu Wan Jun’s face.

“But please rest assured.” Gu Wan Jun continued, every word resounding: “I will treat Chen Lu well for the rest of my life. Even if one day I have to exchange my life for hers, I will—”

The words that were not finished were blocked by the cool fingertips that were stretched over. Chen Lu shook her head with red eyes: “Don’t say that. Grandma definitely hopes that both of us are well.”

Gu Wan Jun held her hand against her cheek, her voice also choked: “Chen Lu, I’m ten years older than you, so I’m likely to leave this world earlier than you. When that time comes—”

“There won’t be that day.” Chen Lu took her hand and kissed her fingertips, her tone firm: “In this world, you are the only person I can’t let go of. If you leave, I won’t be able to live either.”

“Chen Lu…”

Chen Lu gently wiped away the tears on her face with her thumb, and suddenly showed a faint smile: “Gu Wan Jun, I love you.”

Not “I like you”, not “I miss you”, but the most direct and naked “I love you”, the “I love you” in a sober state, the “I love you” at such an ordinary and solemn moment.

Large tears fell down, and Gu Wan Jun nodded, responding with a choked voice: “Chen Lu, I love you.”

Not “I love you too”, but “I love you”.

Because I love you in and of myself.

—-

When they left the old house, the sun had already set, coating the small county with a layer of golden light.

Both of them had calmed down a lot. When night fell, they came to the Ningcheng night market.

The colorful neon lights illuminated the street as bright as day. The sounds of vendors calling out and people talking and laughing rose and fell, and the aromas of various snacks intertwined in the air, making people couldn’t help but swallow.

The two of them hadn’t had dinner yet. Chen Lu chose in front, and Gu Wan Jun followed behind to pay. Chen Lu mostly only tasted the snacks they bought, and in the end, they all went into Gu Wan Jun’s stomach.

After swallowing the last bite of grilled squid, Gu Wan Jun gently pinched Chen Lu’s slender waist, her expression a little resentful: “You eat too little.”

In the end, she was the one who was getting fat.

“Our mom said last night that you were too thin and told me to nourish you well.”

“Nourish?”

Chen Lu raised her eyebrows, her gaze traveling downwards, finally stopping meaningfully below someone’s collarbone: “How will you nourish me?”

“Chen Lu!”

In less than two seconds, our Teacher Gu had a big red face.

After eating the snacks, the two held hands and strolled down the street, unconsciously walking to the entrance of Ningcheng No. 1 High School.

The changes over the past five years were too great. Many new shops that had never been seen before had appeared near Ningcheng No. 1 High School. At that time, it was just after the end of evening self-study, and students wearing school uniforms were coming out of the school gate one after another. The youthful faces showed the fatigue of the day, but even more so, they showed anticipation for the future.

They were young after all, seventeen or eighteen years old, the most beautiful years of their lives.

The two stood on the street opposite the school gate. Those familiar and unfamiliar scenes crashed into their eyes. Gu Wan Jun sighed softly, regretting:

“It’s too late. Senior high school students are out of school. I originally wanted to go in and take a look.”

Chen Lu hooked her palm, smiling gently: “It doesn’t matter. If you want to come, we’ll come again next time.”

Yes, they had a very, very long future ahead of them.

Gu Wan Jun turned to look at Chen Lu. Under the moonlight, the lines of her lover’s eyebrows and eyes were soft and firm. She suddenly remembered what Chen Lu had said in front of her grandmother’s portrait.

There won’t be that day.

They had agreed to walk together until the end of their lives.

Gu Wan Jun blinked and squeezed Chen Lu’s hand: “Let’s go home.”

Chen Lu nodded, interlocking her fingers with hers: “Okay, let’s go home.”

The streetlights stretched the two figures very, very long, eventually merging into one, and it was no longer possible to distinguish them from each other.

—-

The meeting with the parents was considered to be thoroughly implemented. After all, Gu Wan Jun still had to go to work, so the two drove back to Yunjiang City overnight.

Even after returning to Yunjiang City, Chen Lu didn’t mention her biological mother, Chen Qing Yu, to Gu Wan Jun.

Was their mother-daughter relationship still very stiff?

After all, she was her biological mother. Did she and Chen Lu really not need to tell Chen Qing Yu about their relationship?

Gu Wan Jun’s heart was pounding. Afraid of poking at the little girl’s sad feelings, she simply didn’t ask if Chen Lu didn’t take the initiative to speak.

Two days later, Duo Duo was brought home, and finally heard the bedtime stories told by Mommy and Sister Chen Lu together while sleeping at night.

The family of three lived a warm and happy life.

Apart from occasionally worrying about Chen Qing Yu recently, Gu Wan Jun always felt like she had forgotten something.

What exactly had she forgotten?

During a certain break a few days later, Gu Wan Jun, who had returned to the office, had just sat down when she saw the words [Tang Ying] on the caller ID. She finally remembered what she had forgotten.

Before pressing the answer button, Gu Wan Jun was still hesitating whether to apologize first for being so busy taking care of her own affairs during this period of time that she had completely forgotten about her friend’s affairs. However, as soon as the call was connected, before she could speak, Tang Ying on the other end of the receiver had already blurted out:

“Gu Wan Jun, how much do you know about Chen Qing Yu as a person?”

“……”

Chen Qing Yu…?

These unexpected words directly stunned Gu Wan Jun. She took the phone from her ear and looked at it, confirming that she was indeed talking to Tang Ying.

Strange, wasn’t this person going to find Fu Yi Wen? How come—

Wait a minute…

Gu Wan Jun’s pupils dilated slightly, as if she had thought of something.

Could it be that Fu Yi Wen’s whereabouts… are related to Chen Qing Yu…