"I'm not..."
"Save your excuses!"
Fu Hanjiang couldn't be bothered to listen to her argue, "Today, not a day, an hour, or even a minute later! Do you think I'm as free as you? That I can spare any time?"
With that, he hung up.
Sheng Xiangsi held her phone, smiling wryly.
How could she make him believe that her clinging to him like he was some treasure was a thing of the past?
Alright then, today it is.
Though, it might be a bit tough for her.
Rubbing her palm on her abdomen, she noted the pain was particularly severe today...
Jiu Xian Bridge in the west of the city.
Her grandmother was buried here.
The weather was average today, not much sunlight, with large clouds floating in the sky.
The cemetery was on a hill. Enduring the abdominal pain, Sheng Xiangsi climbed up slowly, step by step, carrying the bouquet she had bought.
Finally, she arrived.
Exhausted and in pain, she was drenched in cold sweat on her forehead, temples, and back. She wiped it off casually.
Standing before her grandmother's tombstone, Sheng Xiangsi knelt down, placing the bouquet.
She smiled at her grandmother's photo on the tombstone.
"Grandma, Xiangsi is here to see you."
As soon as she spoke, her eyes became misty, tears flowing uncontrollably.
"I'm sorry, Grandma. I haven't come to see you for years... It's my fault for being incapable. The plane ticket back home was too expensive."
Meeting Yu Huanxi had made her life better in many ways.
However, it was only enough to live on. Thinking of returning to Jiangcheng was impossible.
If not for the money from the Fu family this time, she wouldn't have been able to return either.
"Grandma."
Sheng Xiangsi sniffled, "I'm not leaving this time. No matter who tries to chase me away, I won't leave. I'm from Jiangcheng, I have the right to stay here. Grandma, Xiangsi will come to see you often from now on. Hehe..."
She smiled through her tears, taking out her wallet from her bag.
"Oh, Grandma hasn't seen Junjun yet. I've got everything ready."
Saying this, she pulled out a photo from her wallet, "Grandma, look, isn't he adorable?"
She talked to herself, "Grandma can't see, can she? Don't worry, I'll burn the photo for you. Then you can see it from below."
A bronze basin stood in front of the tombstone, meant for burning offerings.
Sheng Xiangsi lit the photo and placed it in the basin.
Then, she took out a towel and carefully cleaned the tombstone.
Murmuring, "Grandma, I'm sorry, I couldn't buy you a house or a car. Even the bouquet is a cheap one from the market. Please wait a bit longer. Once I earn some money, I'll buy you better ones."
Once the tombstone was clean, Sheng Xiangsi knelt down again, silently praying.
"Grandma, please bless me with the chance to earn big money. Also, bless Junjun... with health and safety as he grows up."
While praying, she closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling, her throat choked with emotion.
"Grandma, things will get better. Xiangsi is strong, don't worry."
When she opened her eyes, her lashes were still wet, but her eyes were dry, though slightly red.
"Grandma, Xiangsi is leaving now. I'll come to see you next time."
Sheng Xiangsi stood up, reluctantly leaving her grandmother's photo, and turned to leave.
On her way down, she encountered a few people coming up.
Sheng Xiangsi paused, quickly taking a mask from her bag and putting it on.
The group got closer, and soon, they passed by her...
Sheng Xiangsi's heart pounded uncontrollably... thump, thump, thump. It was them!
Hah.
She turned abruptly, silently sneering at the backs of those people. They had the audacity to visit her grandmother's grave?
To disturb her grandmother's peace?
If her grandmother knew, she would be furious enough to overturn her urn!
Sheng Xiangsi clenched her fists. She didn't want to confront them—they were many, and besides, she was unwell today.
She decided to wait until they left.
About half an hour later, they came down.
Sheng Xiangsi still wore her mask. As they descended, she went up, passing them again...
Suddenly, the middle-aged man among them turned around, looking thoughtfully at Sheng Xiangsi's back.
"What are you looking at?"
"...Nothing."
The middle-aged man snapped out of it, smiling awkwardly, "Nothing, let's go."
And Sheng Xiangsi hurried back to her grandmother's grave.
Next to her bouquet, there was a larger, more exquisite, and fresher bouquet.
The bronze basin had more ashes too.
It seemed they had burned quite a few offerings.
Hmph!
Sheng Xiangsi sneered, picking up the bouquet, "Grandma, they burned you some things. Don't be mad. Just don't use them. I'll take this bouquet away so it doesn't dirty your place."
She wanted to throw it away but hesitated, not wanting to disturb her grandmother's neighbors. Enduring her disgust, she carried the bouquet out of the cemetery.
Then, she threw it into a trash can.
Feeling relieved, she was ready to go back.
Walking towards the bus stop, she checked the time—it was eleven o'clock, she could make it.
Due to the cemetery's location, Jiu Xian Bridge was quite remote. The nearest bus stop was a ten-minute walk away.
Walking, she looked up at the sky. It seemed to be getting darker. Was it going to rain?
A few minutes later, before she reached the stop, it started to rain.
"Ah!"
Sheng Xiangsi exclaimed, quickly raising her bag over her head. She hadn't brought an umbrella and couldn't afford to get wet today.
She ran to the bus stop.
Luckily, the bus stop had a shelter, though the rain poured down harder and harder.
No matter, she thought, once on the bus, it might stop.
The bus arrived. Sheng Xiangsi, covering herself with her bag, got on and found a seat. The ride from Jiu Xian Bridge to the city took about an hour.
Her abdomen ached faintly. She leaned against the window, enduring the pain.
Having woken up too early, she gradually grew drowsy and dozed off.
Suddenly, a commotion woke her.
Opening her eyes, the bus was in chaos, passengers standing, craning their necks to see outside. The driver was gone from his seat.
What happened?
Sheng Xiangsi looked out the window. It seemed there was a traffic jam?
She turned to ask the passenger behind her, "What happened?"
"Oh dear! There's been an accident!"
"Let me explain, a section of the overpass collapsed up ahead!"
"Listen to that, it's terrifying. Who knows how many people were hurt!"
Such a thing?
Sheng Xiangsi frowned, a sense of foreboding creeping in. Would she... not make it to the civil affairs bureau?
"How long will it take to clear?"
"Hard to say. Clearing the overpass debris could take a while."
She cursed inwardly. Just her luck.
The driver returned, got on the bus, and explained to the passengers.
"Please be patient. They're rescuing the injured and clearing the road ahead. It will take some time, so let's wait."
Complaints arose immediately.
"How is that possible?"
"No definite time? I have things to do!"
"Well, there's no choice."
"Just wait."
Sheng Xiangsi was equally anxious.
She could wait, but someone else couldn't. She hoped the road would be cleared quickly.
But things didn't go as hoped.
Time ticked by, and by 1:30, Sheng Xiangsi, in anxious prayer, was still waiting.
With only an hour and a half left, she needed to leave now to make it.
She had no choice but to pick up her phone, take a deep breath, and dial Fu Hanjiang's number.