Chapter 4

June 13th was Uncle Zhou’s death anniversary.

I came back again, holding jasmine flowers to visit Uncle Zhou.

Looking at the gray-white photograph, I remembered that I had slowly carved this stone slab myself.

At that time, I had no money, so I could only find a full-service funeral company and bury him in a wild mountain.

Only after Mo Ji achieved success and fame did I save up money to buy a public cemetery plot.

“Uncle Zhou, I brought you jasmine flowers, and also jasmine tea, and I miss you so much...”

I sat beside the gravestone and chatted with Uncle Zhou.

During this time, I went to several places, and Uncle Zhou had wanted to see the sea, so I fulfilled that wish for him.

I saw white sneakers gradually walking toward me, with black leather shoes following closely behind.

I saw Lin Qing walking over with red eyes, while Mo Ji still guarded behind him like a knight, holding an umbrella.

“Where did you go!” He rushed toward me.

I remembered that our relationship was not that close, but I still smiled and greeted them.

Rather than leaving in sorrow, it was better to leave with a smile.

“I just went out to have some fun.”

Lin Qing stood in front of me with restraint, hesitating as he reached his hand toward me, his movements careful.

“Your phone never went through, and I sent you so many messages.”

I was confused by his appearance.

“You’re my younger brother!”

Lin Qing announced it loudly, trembling as he reached out, wanting to hug me.

I had once regarded Lin Qing as a love rival, and I had also learned before that the Zhang family had been spending a lot of money searching for their missing son all these years.

No wonder our brows and eyes were so similar.

I had never expected to solve the mystery of my birth before I died, and the news was like thunder.

“I know.” I stepped back, thinking that children from wealthy families would all fight over family property.

“Aunt Lin wants to see you.”

“Little brother, let’s go home.”

I poured the jasmine tea in front of the grave for Uncle Zhou to drink, and after calculating the time, I had less than a week, so it was time to prepare my grave.

“I only have one week.”

Lin Qing stood there in a daze, and the umbrella Mo Ji was holding fell down, hitting the ground with a somewhat piercing sound.

“Little brother, stop joking, because our family finally reunited after so much difficulty.” Lin Qing pulled the corners of his mouth into a smile, his eyes bright.

There was softness in his eyes, and he did not want me to die.

If I had not gotten lost, he probably would have been a good older brother... and growing up in the Zhang family, I probably would have been raised in a honey jar.

“I’m not joking, it’s the truth.”

“Zhou Nian, stop playing little tricks.”

Mo Ji’s face darkened, but his lips had turned pale, and out of consideration, I did not say the reason.

Even if I said it, he would only think I was trying to win sympathy.

I did not want to tell Lin Qing that Mo Ji and I had been each other’s first love.

“As for the Zhang family, I won’t be going back.”

I wiped the dust from the gravestone.

Holding Uncle Zhou’s gravestone, I felt as if he was responding to me, even patting my shoulder, caring for me as always.

“After I die, can you bury me beside Uncle Zhou?”

“During the Tomb-Sweeping Festival, please bring both of us a bunch of jasmine flowers.”

Lin Qing came forward and hugged me, and his tears fell onto my shoulder, burning hot.

Mo Ji turned his face away and also wiped the corners of his eyes.

“Little brother, let’s go home.”

“I can fulfill that request too.”

Lin Qing’s emotional moment was interrupted, and he glared at Mo Ji.

“I don’t need you to do it, because I have family, and Uncle Zhou liked jasmine flowers the most, fresh and elegant, and they can also be brewed into tea.”

Actually, it was because the old woman at the street corner planted jasmine flowers and gave us a big bag for free every year.

He held my hand tightly, “I promise you everything, and Mom and Dad have been waiting for you at home for twenty-one years.”

I pressed my lips together and did not know what to say, because if I went back and told them I only had one week left... they would be sad because of it too.

I did not want anyone to worry about me anymore.

“Our family has money, so we’ll leave for overseas treatment right away, and we can extend your life.”

His tone was excited, there were stars in his eyes, and his embrace was warm.

I could smell the faint scent of disinfectant on Lin Qing, but it was not unpleasant.

Gently, I leaned my head on his shoulder, because it had been so long since I received a warm embrace.

Mo Ji still stood one foot behind him.

Looking at those familiar brows and eyes, my heart could not help being moved by him.

He was like a knight in a fairy tale, unwaveringly protecting the princess.

Unfortunately, I was not the one being protected.

“Do you think this kind of joke is fun?”

“You just want money, don’t you?”

Mo Ji took out his card holder and sneered as he threw out a black card, his expression scornful and disdainful.

“Adults always playing this kind of trick is meaningless, and you only want to gain our sympathy to achieve your goal of getting money.”

I looked at him in shock, because in his heart, I was this kind of person.

My eyes stung, and I could not hold back my tears, so I quickly wiped them away, but Lin Qing still noticed.

“What money?”

“He’s my younger brother, and he doesn’t need you to give him money, so what is your relationship with him?!”

Lin Qing patted me comfortingly with one hand, then turned his head and angrily scolded Mo Ji for what he had just done.

“There is no relationship, and I don’t know him.”

I rushed to answer first and drew a clear line, because after Uncle Zhou left, I had no relatives anymore.

Mo Ji’s pupils widened, shocked and angry, “What do you mean!”

“What trick are you playing now!”

Yes, after he became successful in his career, he had wanted to draw a clear line between us.

I had also never asked him for money... but now that I denied our relationship, he was angry.

“Brother, this person is inexplicable and so fierce, so I’m a little scared.”

I resisted by shaking Lin Qing’s hand, revealing my vulnerability.

“Don’t be scared, don’t be scared, I’ll drive him away right now.”

After comforting me, Lin Qing hugged me tightly again and ordered him around arrogantly.

“Didn’t you hear him?”

“Don’t scare Niannian!”

“Heh, you’re really something, no relationship, right?”

“Then spit back out all the money you spent of mine before!”

Hearing this sentence, my numb heart throbbed painfully, and I wanted to laugh at how sarcastic those words were.