Chapter 157: Visiting the Graves

January 3rd was the day Shen Qing and Lu Xuanyou had agreed to visit the cemetery.

Shen Qing took a taxi to the graveyard alone. A light drizzle began to fall from the sky, and noticing she had no umbrella as she got out of the car, the driver called out, "Miss, I have an umbrella here that I don't need. Why don't you take it?"

Shen Qing glanced back at the driver, raised her hand to pull the hood of her trench coat up, and replied, "No thank you."

Seeing her refusal, the driver said nothing more, made a U-turn, and drove away.

Upon entering the cemetery, Shen Qing walked straight to the back, eventually stopping before a waist-high tombstone. Attached to it was a small photograph of an elderly person smiling joyfully; the name inscribed was Rees.

Shen Qing pursed her lips, her dark, ink-like eyes devoid of any glimmer of light.

She stood there for an unknown length of time before sinking to her knees and bowing her head three times before the tombstone.

"Qingqing." Lu Xuanyou approached holding a black umbrella, a bouquet of white chrysanthemums in his hand.

"It's easy to catch a cold in the rain." Lu Xuanyou shielded Shen Qing with the umbrella and placed the flowers in front of the grave.

Shen Qing did not respond; she knelt for a while longer before standing up.

Lu Xuanyou watched her for a moment, then pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket and offered it to her. "Wipe your face."

"That's alright." Shen Qing brushed her forehead; it was damp and smeared with tiny particles of grit from the ground.

Lu Xuanyou gazed at the tombstone, his eyes narrowing, deep and unfathomable as the sea.

"Qingqing, let's head back." He glanced at his watch.

"Okay." Shen Qing nodded and began to walk in front, with Lu Xuanyou following closely behind.

"Boss, Miss An Ning." The assistant, who had parked the car outside the cemetery, greeted them as he saw Lu Xuanyou and Shen Qing approaching.

Shen Qing lifted her eyes to look at him, offering a brief acknowledgment.

Lu Xuanyou handed her a bottle of mineral water. "Have some water."

"No, thank you." Shen Qing shook her head again.

Lu Xuanyou’s hand hovered in the air. He stared at her for several seconds before lowering the bottle.

"Here are the signed photos you asked for." He pulled a stack of pictures from a bag, taken from various angles. Some were private shots that could not be found online.

Shen Qing paused; she had only intended to ask for one.

"Alright, thank you." She took them all.

"Are you having lunch with me?"

"I'm sorry, I have to fly back home."

Lu Xuanyou was taken aback. "Leaving so soon?"

Usually, after visiting the grave, she would stay for another day.

"Yes, I'm in high school, and my studies are quite demanding," Shen Qing said, her expression unchanging.

The assistant, driving the car, couldn't help but glance into the rearview mirror. Miss An Ning was actually only in high school! That was truly impressive.

Lu Xuanyou lowered his gaze, then offered a gentle smile. "I see. Study hard, then."

When the van reached the hotel entrance, Lu Xuanyou stepped out first to hold the umbrella before helping Shen Qing down.

"Do you have the photos? Let me take you to the airport at noon."

"No need, I can go on my own."

Lu Xuanyou’s expression darkened. "Very well. Take care on your way. By the way, that man—are you two together?"

He was referring to the man who had provoked him a few days ago, who he assumed was the same "G" that Shen Qing had been video-calling. Could there really be such a teacher?

Shen Qing paused. "He is of no consequence."

"Oh." Lu Xuanyou smiled. "Go on in, don't miss your flight."

"Yes." Shen Qing showed no trace of reluctance or attachment as she turned and walked away.

Lu Xuanyou remained where he stood. "Junior sister."

"Is there something else?" Shen Qing looked back at him. The man just smiled and turned away.

Shen Qing frowned, dismissed the thought, and took the elevator upstairs.

As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw the man who had been waiting for a long time, leaning against the hallway wall.

"Why are your clothes wet?" Gu Ting hurried forward. Getting closer, he noticed the girl’s hair was damp and there was grit on her forehead that hadn't been wiped away.

"What happened?" Gu Ting asked with concern.

Shen Qing narrowed her eyes, feeling a wave of exhaustion. "I just went to visit a grave."

Gu Ting furrowed his brows, pulled her into his room, took off his own coat to put on her, and retrieved a wet towel.

This time, Shen Qing remained obediently still, closing her eyes and letting Gu Ting wipe her face.

Gu Ting paused for a moment, watching the girl for a second, then began to wipe her forehead with careful, earnest movements.