He struggled to take the oxygen mask off his face.

"Grandfather..."

Xi Xiaye sniffled and held his hand while Mu Yuchen held his body up slightly.

"Don't mind me... I... I just want to... See you both again." Xi Jiyang's voice was weak. It seemed tough for him to even speak as his throat was dry.

Mu Yuchen took the glass of water by the table and carefully helped him to wet his lips. Xi Jiyang relaxed a little after that.

"Don't just stand around. Take a seat..."

Xi Xiaye got a warm wet towel and wiped Xi Jiyang's hand while he whispered, "I'm afraid I can't make it this time. Your father has been taking care of me for a long while..."

"No, Grandfather, you will live over a hundred years old. You haven't seen our wedding yet. How can you not make it? Mu Yuchen said he's going to West Park for an official proposal soon, Grandfather. Get well soon."

Xi Xiaye held onto Xi Jiyang's hand as she tried to suppress the bitterness in her throat. Her eyes started to tear up again.

Xi Mushan had drowned himself in work ever since his divorce with Shen Wenna, ignoring her. It was Xi Jiyang who guarded her whenever she was bullied. No matter what, she was grateful for her grandfather. She should have cared about him more, but she just felt grief in her chest whenever she stepped into West Park.

She felt like an outsider in West Park, which was why she did not bother to go back. She felt extremely terrible when she saw Xi Jiyang in his current state.

"I'm afraid I can't make it to your wedding. It's enough that... I see you two live happily... Ah Chen... Make her happy. She's a nice girl," Xi Jiyang looked at Mu Yuchen and said weakly.

"Don't worry, Grandfather. I will," Mu Yuchen closed in and told him with a serious tone.

Xi Jiyang gulped as his thin hands grabbed Xi Xiaye tightly. The light in his old eyes was slowly fading. He looked at Xi Xiaye as his lips moved a little. After a while, he said, "Xiaye... All these years... We Xi family have owed you and your mother a lot. Your mother is a good woman... I didn't expect that my greed at the moment back then would destroy your whole family... Don't hate your father... Throughout the years, he's lived more miserably than anyone..."

Xi Jiyang was quite out of himself, but he struggled to finish his sentence. After several hacking coughs, Mu Yuchen put the oxygen mask back on him.

"I get it, Grandfather. Don't talk anymore. I get it. I've never hated Father... You don't have to tell me. Rest well. You'll be fine in a few days." Tears rolled down Xi Xiaye's cheeks as she saw Xi Jiyang struggling to breathe. Her fat tears dropped on her own hands as she held his hands.

Xi Jiyang was on the verge of death, but he took the oxygen mask away again. "Don't be sad. Death is just part of the cycle of life... Your wedding... I don't think I can attend it, but I've left you a dowry... Ah Chen, the drawer... Inside the drawer..."

Xi Jiyang pointed at the drawer beside him with his trembling finger. Mu Yuchen opened it and saw a folder inside which he quickly took out and gave it to him.

Xi Jiyang took it while his hands were shaking, then he handed it to Xi Xiaye. "This is my dowry for you... I know that Yueying will eventually fall one day. I made you sign your name just to help your father find those evidence... Your grandmother is a smart woman... She tricked your father and took those pictures back then... If those are exposed, your father... I hope you can understand me as a father. That's why I advised your mother to divorce your father..."

Xi Xiaye was shocked! She could not believe it...

"I, I... hope you can apologize to your mother for me... I'm sorry. My selfishness caused all of this to happen... Xiaye, Ah Chen..."

"We're here, Grandfather..." Xi Xiaye wiped her tears away and then clenched Xi Jiyang's hands tightly.

"Promise me... one thing... Be well. Help your father get back to your mother's side... Okay...?" He started coughing again before he could finish his sentence. Soon, his eyes were starting to lose focus.

Xi Xiaye started crying again as she nodded vigorously. "Okay, okay, I promise you, Grandfather. I'll promise you anything if you can get well. Anything..."

Xi Jiyang had a smile on his face when he heard her. "Great... That's great..."

He then drew his last breath.

As Xi Xiaye was crying, she could feel Xi Jiyang's hand turn limp. She raised her head and saw Xi Jiyang close his eyes, so she quickly shouted, "Grandfather! Grandfather!"

"Doctor!" Mu Yuchen called the doctors as he put a hand on Xi Xiaye's shoulder.

Xi Mushan quickly rushed back inside when he heard their voices. Xi Jiyang had stopped breathing! The doctors and nurses rushed inside, but then they shook their head after a quick checkup.

"Mayor Xi, the Elder has left us," said the doctor in a grim tone.

Xi Mushan's eyes started to turn red with tears as he rubbed his eyes and turned around with a nod. He gave them a wave and the doctors left swiftly.

"Grandfather..." Xi Xiaye could not control herself anymore and started bawling her eyes out as she leaned into Mu Yuchen's arms.

Mu Yuchen did not say anything and just hugged her. His eyes darkened as he looked at the lifeless Xi Jiyang on the bed.

Xi Mushan was blinking his swollen eyes. He carefully put Xi Jiyang's exposed hand back under the blanket.

"Rest in peace, Father. Neither have I blamed you, nor have I hated you."

Xi Mushan rubbed his eyes again and Mu Yuchen noticed some tiny wet spots on his palm.

Mu Yuchen was still holding Xi Xiaye in his embrace when he spoke to Xi Mushan, "There's no pain on the other side. Grandfather will be able to rest in peace. Don't be too sad, Father. That's just how life works. We'll all remember him."

He then handed Xi Mushan a handkerchief.

Nodding quietly, Xi Mushan took the handkerchief and wiped his face. He suppressed the grief inside after several deep breaths. Eventually, he calmed down and barely managed the sorrow he was feeling.

"You must be exhausted. Take a good rest. I'll handle Grandfather's funeral arrangements. Mother might be a little worried about you since you haven't been there for a few days."

When Mu Yuchen was talking, Li Si, who stood by the door, walked in.

He nodded at Xi Jiyang before raising his head and speaking to Mu Yuchen, "Mayor Xi, Master, Missus, my condolences."

Mu Yuchen took a deep breath before he gave the document Xi Jiyang handed him earlier to Li Si. Then, he nodded and said, "Li Si, get someone to make the arrangements for Grandfather's funeral, but don't make the news public yet."

"Yes, Master!" Li Si gave a brief reply and left quietly after taking the document with him.

Just as Li Si left, the sound of several people's footsteps came from the corridor outside. Someone barged in.

"Grandfather!"

"Father!"

It was Xi Xinyi, Yue Lingsi, and Deng Wenwen with Han Yifeng behind them.

Xi Xinyi rushed in and started crying hysterically by the bed while tears welled up in Yue Lingsi and Deng Wenwen's eyes.

When they saw Mu Yuchen and Xi Xiaye in the room, Deng Wenwen had a complicated expression and Yue Lingsi looked at them blankly.

"Let's head out." As if he did not see them, Mu Yuchen dragged Xi Xiaye outside.

When they walked past Han Yifeng, he saw her swollen eyes and pale face. Although he wanted to say a few words of comfort, he did not get the chance to.

Mu Yuchen made her sit down on the long bench when they got out. They could still hear the crying from inside the room.

"Alright, stop crying now. Just pray that he's well on the other side. Don't forget what you promised him just now." He squatted down and wiped the tears from her cheeks. Although he wanted to comfort her, he had no idea how to.

That was just how life worked. Nothing lasted forever in the world. Perhaps, only death remained forever.

He thought he could get past it. While occasions like these saddened him, he could still accept it calmly. However, his heart was in anguish when he saw her cry in sorrow.

He felt hurt because of her sadness. Her emotions slowly caught up with him and seeped into him, gradually reaching his heart as well as becoming a part that controlled his emotions.

She would never see her grandfather anymore. That feeling gushed up into her throat as a huge lump.

She did not want to put any blame on him because what could be worse than not being able to see each other forever?

"Grandfather is gone..." After a long time of crying, she sniffled and looked at him. Her eyes were red and her voice had turned hoarse from all the weeping.

"I know. Calm down, Xiaye," he replied quietly with his eyes locked onto her.

"I'll never see him anymore... How am I supposed to calm down?" She then covered her face with both hands, unable to push down the sudden waves of sadness that ran over her.

He sighed helplessly, "Go on if this can help you feel better, but it's pretty cold here. You have to follow me home right now."

Without giving her a chance to say no, he lifted her up in his arms and walked towards the other end of the corridor.

"Master! Elder Xi..."

After taking several steps, he saw Ah Mo with some other people rushing over. Their expressions darkened when they saw Xi Xiaye in Mu Yuchen's arms.

"He's gone. Help Li Si out with the funeral arrangements, and please take care of Father as well. He doesn't seem like he's coping very well. Do what you should. Let the Elder rest in peace," Mu Yuchen sighed as he gave his orders.

"Yes, Master, I'm sorry for your loss." Ah Mo lowered his head.

Mu Yuchen nodded. "Your sister-in-law isn't feeling well, so I'm bringing her back now and will leave things here to you guys."

"Don't worry, Master!"

Mu Yuchen then went forward.

...

On the way back to Maple Residence, Xi Xiaye did not seem to be herself. Mu Yuchen made her take a shower. Afterward, she fell asleep from exhaustion without eating dinner.

Mu Yuchen did not bother her and just covered her with a blanket. He raised the temperature of the air conditioner slightly before leaving the room.

At the hospital, Xi Jiyang's body had been taken to the funeral parlor while Xi Xinyi and the others were packing his personal effects.

"Did your father say anything?" Deng Wenwen asked Xi Mushan with her eyes teary.

Xi Xinyi and Yue Lingsi turned over and looked at Xi Mushan when Deng Wenwen asked the question.

Xi Mushan looked at the women before him coldly. Then, he let out a bitter laugh. "What could he have said? He never mentioned any of you up until his death. What do you think he'd say?"

"Why was Xi Xiaye here?" Deng Wenwen was alert.

"Father wanted to see Xiaye and Ah Chen before he left. If you want to argue about it, wait until the funeral is over." Xi Mushan left the room after saying that.

"Mushan!"

"Father!"

Yue Lingsi and Xi Xinyi realized something was wrong, so they chased after him. Yue Lingsi grabbed Xi Mushan's sleeve, but he brushed her off!

"Let me go!"

Bang!

Yue Lingsi crashed into a nearby bed. Fortunately, Xi Xinyi was there to help her, so she did not fall.

"Ah Hui should've sent you our divorce papers. From now on, we're no longer related!"

"Mushan!"

Yue Lingsi was fearful when he mentioned it. Although she had burned all those photos, she was not sure if Xi Mushan still had leftovers of the evidence.

"Stop right there, Mushan!" Deng Wenwen called out to him.

However, Xi Mushan did not stop.

Deng Wenwen wanted to chase him, but she was stopped by Ah Mo and his people.

"Elder Madam Xi, let's respect the deceased. If there's anything, it can be discussed after the funeral," said Ah Mo, then he nodded to the black-clothed bodyguards beside him who followed Xi Mushan.

As she watched Xi Mushan move further away, Deng Wenwen looked particularly gloomy while Yue Lingsi's face was as white as a sheet. Xi Xinyi still had an inconsolably sorrowful expression, yet her eyes flickered with a dim light.

"Grandmother, Grandfather still called Sister over in the end!" Xi Xinyi suddenly cried with a sense of loss. "We didn't get to see Grandfather in the end... And Father..."

"He must've said something to that witch, Mother. Don't forget that the property rights to West Park and the land in the east of the city still belong to Father," Yue Lingsi spoke softly, pushing the panic in her heart down.

Deng Wenwen inhaled sharply. "We'll get a lawyer to make sense of all of it after your father's funeral. It should still be there," she said this before leaving the ward too.

...

For the next few days, Xi Xiaye was in a terrible mood. She seemed to have turned wan and sallow very quickly.

The funeral matters had been left to Li Si and Ah Mo. The service was held three days after Xi Jiyang's passing, and Xi Xiaye and Mu Yuchen attended it too.

Xi Jiyang held quite a high position in the government before his passing, so many people came for his wake. Even when Li Si and the rest had asked for everything to be handled in a low-profile manner, many of Xi Jiyang's comrades, friends, and colleagues came to pay their respects.

Mu Tangchuan was one of them.

...

When Shen Wenna found out about Xi Jiyang's passing, it was the day of Xi Jiyang's burial. Shen Yue had told her about it.

"Alright, he's already gone. There's nothing to be sad about. I already know about him making you divorce Xi Mushan years ago. If it weren't for your stubbornness, things wouldn't need to turn out this way." Shen Yue watched Shen Wenna, who sat on the sofa with her unfocused eyes, as he sighed.

"Right, Xi Mushan and that woman from the Yue family have divorced. The other day, Ah Chen talked to me. I know that all these years, you haven't been willing to accept a new man. It was actually because you've been missing this bastard, Wenna! Right now, I'm just resentful because I'm impatient to see things turn for the better. Do you know that?!

"Well, death can end all of Xi Jiyang'ss troubles, but how are they going to make up for all these years? I know that Ah Chen was still considerate about Xi Jiyang, but now that he's dead and Xi Mushan is divorced, there shouldn't be anything holding us back anymore. These women should be taught a lesson. I can't tolerate this anymore!"

Shen Yue looked at Shen Wenna's hollow eyes and felt his heart ache. Fury could not help but rise in his chest!

Shen Wenna did not say anything. Her beautiful face faintly twisted with bitter ridicule and disappointment. Naturally, Shen Yue took in this scene.

A while passed before Shen Wenna calmly asked, "How are Xiaye and Ah Chen?"

"That old man did treat Xiaye quite well before this. Obviously, Xiaye is devastated. I heard Zilang say that she's turned wan and sallow. She's in a terrible mood too. I hope that Ah Chen can accompany her out of this haze."

Shen Yue sighed. He could not help but lament, "Earlier, when I met him, he still looked quite healthy and energetic. He's gone just like that quite suddenly. I'm worried that Xiaye will be extremely depressed. In fact, they are supposed to have their wedding next month."

Shen Wenna fell silent for a moment, then she asked, "With Ah Chen around, she will be fine... Is Xi Jiyang's funeral today?"

"Mmm, it's today. Otherwise, I could've rushed over to see you sooner."

"Where is he buried?"

"You..."

When he heard Shen Wenna ask this, Shen Yue could not help but be surprised.

Shen Wenna sighed and lamented, "He's dead. Perhaps our grudges can be resolved once and for all. Reasonably, I think I should pay my respects. Father, get Zilang to prepare the car for me. I want to go see Xiaye too. I'm worried."

As Shen Wenna said this, she already gripped her walking stick and was slowly getting up.

Shen Yue groaned as he looked at Shen Wenna with a complicated expression. He understood his daughter too well. Apart from paying her respects and seeing Xiaye, it was very likely because she wanted to see that man.

She was already covered in black and blue. Why did she not give up and still wanted to get close?

...

Xi Jiyang was buried in West Hill Cemetery, on the day of the funeral, it was not raining heavily, but it was a pitter-patter kind of drizzle. If one did not have an umbrella, they would still get their shoulders soaked from standing in the rain for quite a while.

At the parking spot below the cemetery, Xi Xiaye and Mu Yuchen slowly got down from the car donned in black outfits. Li Si and another bodyguard in black immediately walked up to them with two huge black umbrellas.

"Master, Missus!"

Li Si handed Xi Xiaye a bouquet of daisies. She slowly took it while the sunglasses on her face concealed her faintly swollen eyes.

"Let's go."

Mu Yuchen held her and walked up the staircase. Behind them, Li Si and the bodyguards followed.

This was a huge cemetery, numerous departed spirits have been buried peacefully here.

No matter how honorable one was in life, in death, one would just be buried forever in the ground. Life was such.

They walked up along the tall staircase and passed through those gloomy black tombstones until the husband and wife reached Xi Jiyang's tombstone.

At that moment, Deng Wenwen, Yue Lingsi, and the rest were already standing before it. Of course, there was also the people from the Han family. Xi Xinyi cried her eyes out as she leaned against Han Yifeng while Yue Lingsi held Deng Wenwen.

When they saw Mu Yuchen, Xi Xiaye, and the others come, Deng Wenwen immediately turned to look subconsciously while Xi Xiaye and Mu Yuchen had already stopped before the tombstone.

Xi Xiaye silently looked at Xi Jiyang's ash-colored photograph on the tombstone. Underneath those sunglasses, her eyes started to well up with hot tears again. She stared at it for a long time before she sighed softly, and bent down to put those white daisies on the tombstone.

Yue Lingsi averted her gaze. She took one look at Xi Jiyang's photograph and saw that Deng Wenwen had turned pale. Then, she spoke up and held Deng Wenwen to turn around, "Mother, let's go home first."

Han Yifeng took a look at Xi Xiaye and Mu Yuchen from the side. Although his tightly pursed lips started, he did not say anything. He sighed and turned around to leave too. Secretary Wang, who held the umbrella behind him, quickly followed suit.

"Yifeng!" Xi Xinyi sniffed and wiped her tears. She could not care less and chased Han Yifeng too.