Chapter 98: Funeral (Part 2)

Time flew by, and most of the people who attended the funeral went back. Only some of my mother's friends were still talking to my mother in the living room below about the inauguration ceremony next month. The official inauguration will be tomorrow. There was no trace of concern for my father on my mother's face. With no nostalgia at all, she just smiled, like a queen enjoying the wine of victory. Surrounded by the knights around her, she was about to ascend the throne.

The cruel reality taught by her mother is correct, and the warm reality taught by her father is also correct, but Ji Qing's head is clearer at this moment, because Jean said that life is neither father's nor mother's. But my own.

Ji Qing tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. She was very tired today. Even if it was just a sentence, Ji Qing wanted to hear the truth from her mother. She was no longer a child, she had grown up, and she would be 18 the day after tomorrow.

Finally at 12 o'clock in the night, the guests left. Ji Qing ran down excitedly and wanted to talk to her mother. At this time, her mother was holding a wine glass with more than half of the wine in it. The wine glass was crystal clear under the warm yellow light. The wine inside was soft in color, and the smile on my mother's face was blooming, like a rose.

"Xiaoqing, why aren't you sleeping yet?"

"Mom, Dad's business"

Ivy turned around drunkenly, tilted her head, smiled drunkenly, and shook her head.

"Didn't I tell you not to mention it? Mom will be crowned king soon, and you should be happy for me."

Ji Qing sat over with gloomy eyes and took the wine glass from her mother's hand.

"Xiaoqing, this is what women are like. Over the long years, if your partner cannot be relied upon, and what I mean is spiritual reliance, then what should you do? Just enjoy life, be it rights or wealth, As long as you have a firm grip, you won’t need a man. Come with me to a party in a few days, and I will introduce you to a humble and polite boy. You should be fine.”

"mom"

Ivy chuckled, shaking her head constantly, tears overflowing from her eyes.

"Silly boy, the life you have is just the narrow and meaningless flower in the mirror that you see at this stage. Everything I said is for your own good. You will understand it when you grow up in a few years. Now, you can only rely on yourself in this world.”

Bata Bata

Ji Qing's tears rolled down like broken beads. Ivy hugged Ji Qing comfortingly and patted her back.

"My little princess, don't cry. You are right to listen to your mother. You will do it in the future."

In the breeze, a soft and sweet whistle floated. For a moment, Ji Qing's eyes widened. Ivy also noticed that Ji Qing was very familiar with this whistle song, which she often heard when she was very young. , men who coax themselves to sleep often blow it.

Click

Ji Qing opened the door, and all her emotions were released in an instant. She flew over and burst into tears.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Gene, I'm sorry."

Gene smiled softly, patted Ji Qing's back gently, looked at Ivy who was leaning drunkenly at the door, and gave a polite gesture.

"Sorry for disturbing you, Ms. Ivy."

Ivy shook her head, looking at Jean in confusion for a while, shaking her head constantly.

"A man like you should be able to hold a woman's heart firmly. It's a pity that there is only one Jean in Bright City."

Ivy's mind flashed back to the day her daughter was born. Both the couple were very excited. She had never felt such warmth. On a sunny morning, her daughter was born, but her husband, Ji Mo, was born. I was so panicked that I even hesitated to pick my daughter's name one by one.

"Let's just call it Ji Qing. The sun seems to be very warm this morning. In the past, such good weather would have been called Sunny Day."

At this time, a trace of warmth appeared on Ivy's face, and long-standing memories resurfaced again, but she still lowered her head and turned around and walked in.

"When I met you, Mr. Jean, a long time ago, I was just like Xiaoqing. It's a pity that time has taken its toll. I have grown old, but Mr. Jean, you haven't changed yet. Thank you, Mr. Jean, I'm going. Go to sleep."

Ji Qing was still crying, and all her unwillingness and sadness had turned into tears. She held onto Jean's chest tightly and kept saying sorry.

After a while, Ji Qing was still sobbing softly, and the two of them sat on the doorstep. As a child, Ji Qing often waited with Jean for his parents to come home at dusk.

A smell of smoke drifted by, Ji Qing's eyes turned red, and she looked at Jean, who raised his head and smiled.

"Xiaoqing, no matter what, he is your father, and as a daughter, you have the right to believe in your father. No matter what happens in the future, just believe in him."

Ji Qing raised her head slightly and looked at Jean.

"Uncle Gene, what about you?"

Gene blew out a puff of smoke softly, and then laughed.

"Not white or black, somewhere in between gray."

Gene said as he stood up and walked towards the tombstone. At this time, the flowers in front of the tombstone were scattered randomly. He bent down and picked up the flowers.

"Such beautiful flowers, this is quite ugly."

Jin started to fiddle with the flowers and put them in order. Ji Qing stood behind him with a smile on her face. From childhood to adulthood, Ji Qing had never heard Gene talk about work. Instead, she paid close attention to many small details in life. She liked to fiddle with flowers, like planting, like trying new cooking methods, and like talking about new things she saw in the city. She never talked about rights, economy and other things, nor did she talk about big principles, but equality. She never treated Ji Qing as a child and perfunctorily dealt with her.

"I'll help you, Uncle Gene."

After a while, the flowers were neatly arranged. Gene looked at the flowers that were trampled on the side of the courtyard wall, walked over, and casually found some things to support the flowers.

"Xiao Qing, take care of these flowers when you have time. It's very interesting because they are alive."

Ji Qing smiled and nodded. Her emotions had been released and she felt much better. Ji Qing looked up and felt the cool night breeze. She wanted to choose a free life, not arranged by her father or mother.

In the bedroom

Ji Qing had already lain down, and Gene was silently waiting for her to fall asleep. The familiar and comforting whistle sounded again. Ji Qing closed her eyes, smiled sweetly, and gradually fell asleep.

Late at night

Gene returned to the yard and was about to go out, but saw Ivy leaning against the door with her head down.

"Sorry, Ms. Ivy, congratulations."

Ivy raised her head, her smile was a little bitter, but the ice on her face had melted.

"No one can get into your heart, Mr. Gene."

Looking at Gene who had left, like a spring breeze that came and went freely, Ivy turned around and planned to close the door.

"No matter how many years it has been, you are still as beautiful as ever, Ms. Ivy, Xiaoqing has grown up, I will come often when I have time."