Any disease, with the word "cancer" attached, becomes filled with despair.
Old Master Ji sat in a daze for a long time before speaking slowly, "Old Yu, when Mei Wan comes tomorrow, make a pot of her favorite flower tea. Oh, and she likes sweet pastries. The younger generation in the Mei family won't let her have them, afraid of diabetes... She didn't get diabetes, but ended up with brain cancer instead. Let her eat and drink what she wants, so she won't be longing for those sweets after she's buried."
Steward Yu noted down each point.
Rong Yu comforted her old son, practiced piano with Duoduo until nine o'clock, took a stroll to Ji Zhouye's room to explain a few physics problems, and only then returned to her own room to rest.
She was sleeping fitfully, unsure of the time, when she suddenly heard noises from downstairs.
She threw off the covers and hurried down. Pushing the door open, she saw her old son sitting by the bed, continuously wiping his tears.
"Yingbao, what's wrong? What happened?"
Seeing his mother, Old Master Ji threw himself into her arms, his tears flowing even more uncontrollably.
Rong Yu looked down and saw the message on the phone screen. It was an obituary notice sent by the head of the Mei family a few minutes ago: "Our beloved mother, Mei Wan, passed away unfortunately at 3 a.m., at the age of 78. The memorial service will be held on..."
"If I had known she wouldn't make it through tonight, I would have insisted she stay for a meal," her old son said, his voice choked. "If it weren't for her pushing me to study back then, I never would have gotten into university. I've always been grateful to her... but I never thanked her to her face..."
He wiped his tears fiercely, but more overflowed, tracing the wrinkles on his face, gathering into droplets at his chin, and falling onto Rong Yu.
She patted his back gently. "When it's light, Mom will go with you to see Madame Mei off on her final journey."
Old Master Ji couldn't sleep. He sat on the balcony, his voice hoarse, telling Rong Yu amusing stories from his school days.
The sky gradually brightened.
Ji Zhiyuan arranged for a car to accompany the two elders to the Mei residence.
At the entrance of the Mei family home, they met Old Hai and Old Si who had also come. These two were also classmates of Mei Wan.
The portrait was placed at the front. The person in the photo wore a bright, radiant smile. This was probably Mei Wan over thirty years ago, in her early forties, a woman's most mature and beautiful age.
A member of the Mei family said, "Our mother passed away peacefully. After she was diagnosed with brain cancer, she said she hoped to leave this world beautifully, and for everyone to send her off to the next life with happiness."
Old Master Ji spoke softly, "Mei Wan, thank you. Rest in peace."
Old Hai said optimistically, "I heard the late stages of brain cancer are particularly painful. For her to pass in her sleep is quite a blessing. Let's get a share of that good fortune."
Old Si wiped a tear. "A few days ago, on Valentine's Day, I even sent Mei Wan a bouquet of flowers. She didn't pay me any mind. Hopefully, in our next life, fate will let us be husband and wife."
Old Hai's eyes widened. "You had a crush on Mei Wan?"
Old Si, deeply saddened, remained silent.
After Rong Yu had offered incense, the group left.
Seeing the three old fellows in low spirits, she thought for a moment and said, "I think there's a concert in Haicheng this afternoon. How about going to listen and clear your minds?"
The three had no objections.
Ji Zhiyuan drove the group of elders to the concert venue. As they came on short notice, VIP boxes were unavailable, and they could only get seats in the back row. The four of them had to squeeze into a row with the rest of the audience.
Old Hai complained, "Old Ji, your eldest grandson isn't very capable. He actually made us old folks sit in such cramped seats."
Old Si frowned. "What worries me most is hygiene. Who knows how many people have sat in these ordinary section seats?"
Old Master Ji said, "If you don't want to listen, then get lost."
Old Hai and Old Si fell quiet.
The concert began.
Rong Yu was someone who loved music, but in past years, she hadn't had much time to indulge in her passions.
She was looking forward to this unexpected concert.
The lights dimmed, the conductor raised the baton, and they all unconsciously straightened their postures.
It turned out to be a piece about mothers. The melody gradually unfolded like a slowly opened letter. The violin notes were as gentle as a breeze, then the clarinet joined in with a warm tone. Suddenly, when the cello solo began, the mood sank, turning melancholic and sorrowful. One could tell immediately the composer was mourning a departed mother...
Rong Yu's heart skipped a beat.
She turned to look.
Goodness, the three old fellows, each with tears welling in their eyes, were all beginning to think of departed loved ones.
They had come here to comfort them, but instead, it seemed to have made them sadder.
"Mom..." Old Master Ji leaned on Rong Yu's shoulder, sobbing. "When you passed away so suddenly back then, my world collapsed. I don't even know how I got through it! Mom, you don't understand how painful it is for an eight-year-old child to lose his mother. Mom..."
Old Si, who had been secretly wiping tears, froze. "Old Hai, I think I heard Old Ji call Miss Rong 'Mom'."
Old Hai said in a muffled voice, "If your ears are playing tricks, go see a doctor. Don't spout such nonsense."
He turned to look.
He got a huge fright.
That shameless Old Ji was actually crying on Miss Rong's shoulder and wiping his tears and snot all over her clothes.
The key point was, Miss Rong had a look of... benevolence? Wait, benevolence?
A high school girl, showing a benevolent expression?
But thinking about it carefully, whenever they faced Miss Rong, he and Old Si always felt inexplicably diminished... Could it really be?
Old Si: "Old Ji's birth mother was named Rong Yu. Same name. Could it be Aunt Rong reincarnated?"
Old Hai: "That doesn't make sense."
Old Si: "Look at Miss Rong's demeanor. It's completely different from an eighteen-year-old girl. At such a young age, she's already in the aerospace institute. Aunt Rong was a professor back then. It must be the same person!"
Old Hai: "I don't think so."
Old Si: "Old Ji has become less and less steady, acting like a brash young punk. I knew there had to be a reason..."
Someone in front turned around and snapped, "Will you two be quiet? You're disturbing everyone."
The two successfully shut their mouths, but their eyes remained restless, constantly stealing glances at Rong Yu.
When the concert ended and they walked out,
Old Hai spoke up: "By the way, Aunt Rong... ahem, I mean, Miss Rong."
Believe in science! He had to believe in science! He couldn't be influenced by that fool Old Si!
Old Si pulled Old Master Ji aside and asked in a low voice, "Miss Rong is Aunt Rong, isn't she?"
Old Master Ji acted as if his tail had been stepped on. "Of course not!"
He said with a serious expression, "Old Si, philosophically speaking, matter determines consciousness. My mom passed away long ago, so her consciousness no longer exists. Don't entertain such wild thoughts. If people found out that you, the head of the Si family, are engaging in feudal superstition, your family's stocks would plummet!"
Old Si felt something wasn't quite right, but couldn't put his finger on it.
Forget it. Among the three of them, he was the dumbest. Dumb people should listen to the smart ones.
Rong Yu, standing nearby, couldn't help but laugh softly.
Old Hai stood there dumbfounded.
That laugh, it really was... very much like Aunt Rong.
