Tianyi acted as if he hadn't heard Su Su, speaking to himself, "It's all my fault. I knew Chen Ma was old and shouldn't have been doing household chores. I should have arranged for her to live in a nice place to spend her retirement, like Rong Ma, enjoying her twilight years. Then she wouldn't have had the accident."
"You can't blame yourself for this," Su Su comforted him. "We've suggested arranging a nice place for Chen Ma to retire more than once, but she just wanted to live with us and enjoy family time. She was never one to sit still, and no one could have predicted an accident like this..."
Tianyi clasped his head in his hands, unable to hold back any longer. The pent-up grief welled up from the depths of his heart.
Su Su couldn't see his face clearly at that moment; his whole body was trembling slightly.
Su Su didn't speak again, not wanting to disturb him, letting him release his suppressed sorrow.
A moment later, a staff member outside called out, "We have guests."
Su Su gently patted Tianyi's shoulder and said, "You rest here. I'll go see who it is."
She immediately turned and left the lounge. It was Xiao Anjing arriving with Lan Yu.
They were both dressed in black, and Lan Yu held a large bouquet of yellow and white chrysanthemums.
Su Su met them, saying, "Thank you for coming."
Xiao Anjing seemed a little surprised to see Su Su, "Su Su, you're alright?"
"Yes, I was released tonight. The police have no right to detain me any longer."
"That's good. Tianyi was very worried about you. I didn't help much," Xiao Anjing said.
Su Su replied, "I understand. It's alright."
Lan Yu gently squeezed her hand before walking to Chen Ma's portrait and placing the flowers.
Anjing then asked, "Where is Tianyi? He must be heartbroken, right?"
Su Su's eyes welled up again. She nodded, "He's in the lounge in the back. You can pay your respects first."
Anjing also shed tears as he bowed and offered incense before Chen Ma's portrait.
After returning from abroad with Tianyi, they had a brotherhood as close as wearing the same pants, and they had received much care from Chen Ma. It was unexpected that she would pass away like this, and it was naturally heartbreaking.
They stayed in the mourning hall for a while. Su Su was about to lead them to the lounge in the back to see Tianyi.
However, Tianyi himself walked out of the lounge. His hair was a bit messy, and his eyes were red, indicating he had been crying.
He glanced at Anjing and Lan Yu, then suppressed his grief, saying, "You've arrived."
Anjing, still tearful, rushed over and hugged Tianyi, regardless of whether he wanted it or not, patting his back forcefully and weeping, "Tianyi, I know you've suffered a great blow. It's good to cry it all out like me. How could Chen Ma have had such an accident? I'll never be able to eat her delicious cooking again. And during the time I was away from my mother, she took care of us and helped me adjust to life here..."
He couldn't continue speaking as he cried.
His loud crying seemed to help Tianyi cry, and Tianyi's emotions visibly eased. He pushed Anjing away, saying, "Alright, who is the most heartbroken here? Do you want me to comfort you now?"
Seeing that Tianyi was speaking normally, Anjing wiped his tears and said, "I wouldn't dare. If you need anything, just say the word."
"I actually have something I need to discuss with you," Tianyi said, turning to go back to the lounge.
Before following him, Anjing glanced at Lan Yu.
Su Su stood beside Lan Yu and said, "You comfort Tianyi a bit. I'll stay here with Lan Yu. It's fine."
Only then did Anjing go to the lounge with peace of mind.
Su Su fetched a white flower for Lan Yu to wear, then sat with Lan Yu at a small table beside the mourning hall, folding paper money and white flowers, chatting idly.
Lan Yu said sadly, "Although I only met Chen Ma a few times, I knew she was a kind and benevolent person. Her passing was so sudden, it must be difficult for those close to her to accept."
Su Su nodded. At this moment, the tears she had been holding back began to fall uncontrollably. She recalled a casual chat with Chen Ma not long ago, which turned out to be their last meeting.
What Chen Ma had said felt like her final instructions.
Chen Ma's last wish was simply for Tianyi to be well, and for their family to be well.
But she didn't know that she was also their family. Without her, their home had lost a dearly loved elder.
"Su Su, please accept my condolences," Lan Yu said, seeing that Su Su's hands hadn't stopped, her tears dripping onto the white flowers.
Memories of being with Chen Ma flooded her mind like a tide, leaving Su Su speechless for a moment.
Lan Yu also thought of her own mother's passing, saying, "After my mother passed away, it took me a long time to accept it. Even a small thing could trigger me to cry alone for a long time. But no matter how sad you are, you have to move on and let go. Those who are alive must continue."
"I understand. Thank you," Su Su said, looking at Lan Yu's swollen belly and asking, "How many months is it? Have you had your prenatal check-ups? Is the baby doing well?"
Lan Yu lowered her gaze, but her eyes held an uncontainable flicker of joy, and the happiness of an expectant mother. "It's four months. All the indicators are normal. Anjing is even more nervous than I am every day, afraid something might happen to the baby in my belly."
"I can see he's also very concerned about you," Su Su said, stopping her tears and taking a deep breath. "This is your first child, so it's right to be careful."
Lan Yu nodded and said, "Anjing is going to pick up that child named Xiao Xiao in a few days. You've spent time with her before; do you know what she likes to eat or play? I want to prepare everything she likes in advance so she can adapt to our home environment sooner."
Su Su recalled the time she spent with Xiao Xiao in the hospital and told Lan Yu everything Xiao Xiao liked then. Thinking that Anjing and Lan Yu would soon have two children, she felt happy for them even amidst the sorrowful atmosphere.
Tianyi insisted that Chen Ma's funeral be conducted entirely according to traditional rites, so the entire funeral was held with great fanfare and lasted for ten days.
When they returned to the house, they all knew they would never see Chen Ma's loving smile again, and no one would constantly remind them of this and that. Their hearts felt empty.
Upon returning to their rooms, they were all exhausted. Tianyi's handsome face was pale and weary. He didn't even want to shower, just collapsed onto the bed, as if he had no strength left.
Su Su sat beside him, stroking his hair, and said, "How many days has it been since you've slept? Get some good rest."
Tianyi turned to look at her, asking helplessly, "Why do all the people I love leave me?"
"Everyone has to die, it's just a matter of time. Some regrets are also inevitable in life..."
"When we're old, I want to die before you. I don't want to watch you leave me," Tianyi said, holding her hand, afraid she would leave too.
Su Su promised him, "Okay. I won't let you be this heartbroken again. Leave all the most painful things to me."