Gu Xiaoer at the door hadn't noticed Yang Xue's movement; she was like a battle-ready wildcat, her every hair bristling, keeping a vigilant watch over the man before her.
"What are you doing here?"
"Xiao Er, I… it's your birthday today, I came to see you." Lu Tianze had become somewhat haggard recently, his voice also somewhat hoarse.
"Thanks, now that you've seen me, please leave."
She made a motion to close the door.
"Xiao Er, today is also your aunt's memorial day, let me take you to Qingzhi Cemetery."
"Lu Tianze, you really have some nerve." Gu Xiaoer laughed sarcastically. When they were together, Lu Tianze could never bother to remember these dates; it's only after breaking up that he shows such attentiveness.
If she hadn't seen the dirtiest and most disgusting side of this man, she might have been fooled again.
"My mother doesn't want to see you, and neither do I. Save all your sympathy for Lin Kexin!"
With a bang, Gu Xiaoer shut the door.
Turning to look at Yang Xue, who stood at the doorway of her study, her gaze flickering.
"What were you just doing?"
Yang Xue shifted her eyes, "Just wanted to take a look in your study and then you caught me. Forget it, looks like your man really isn't here. I'm leaving."
Yang Xue waved her hand and left, this time rather decisively.
Gu Xiaoer was somewhat puzzled but didn't pursue the matter.
Back at her place, the first thing Yang Xue did was to switch on her computer. She had tampered with the bouquet of flowers by installing a tiny eavesdropping device; an ordinary person would not notice it.
But when she adjusted it, she heard nothing but rustling noises.
After listening for a long while, she threw down the headphones in anger. Damn Gu Xiaoer, for throwing the flowers into the trash can right away; just now she had heard the sound of sanitation workers collecting garbage.
How infuriating!
While she was fuming, her visit to Gu Xiaoer's place hadn't been entirely fruitless.
Such great news, she absolutely had to let Lin Kexin know first.
Gu Xiaoer arrived at Qingzhi Cemetery alone, meticulously cleaning the small piece of earth that belonged to her mother.
"Mom, did he come to see you? No, right... after all these years, your heart must have grown cold. Actually, I've gotten used to it too, although when I was bullied, I also hoped for dad's protection, and when I was sick, I wished for his company... Forget it, these things, I shouldn't have longed for anymore... It's not that I doubt your judgment, but I'm really puzzled, why did you fall for him back then?"
"Mom, I think I might be falling for a guy. His job isn't great, but he's handsome, sometimes he's nice to me, and other times quite domineering. I don't know if this is liking someone, it's just, I've never felt this way when I was with Lu Tianze... Yeah, that feeling of looking forward to meeting someone..."
As tears flowed, a handkerchief was offered.
Gu Xiaoer didn't refuse, wiping her tears and her nose before looking up to see the man standing there.
For once, Lu Tianze showed the gentleness of a young man, joking about her, "The habit of your nose running whenever you cry hasn't changed."
Gu Xiaoer couldn't figure out Lu Tianze's current situation, so she threw the handkerchief in the trash can before asking him coldly, "What's your purpose now, coming to mom's gravesite?"
Lu Tianze didn't respond to Gu Xiaoer's question but took her hand and stood in front of Shen Sizhuang's gravestone, "Auntie, I hurt Xiao Er in the past, I didn't treasure her enough. Please forgive me, from now on I will cherish Xiao Er, holding her dearly in the palm of my hand."