Chapter 87 – Passing Away

Chapter 87 - Passing Away

During Yun He's class, his phone was on silent and left in his office. It wasn't until after class that he discovered a message from Gu Jiabei.

"Big Brother Jiabei," it read, "Grandma has passed away. I'm on my way back."

More than two hours had already passed since the message was sent. Filled with worry, Yun He frantically called Gu Jiabei back, but the call went unanswered.

Gu Jiabei, upon landing, rushed to the funeral parlor. At the entrance, he saw Gu Wei dressed in black formal attire, accompanied by a teenage boy, Gu Wei's younger son—Gu Xiyang.

Gu Wei handed the black armband to Gu Jiabei. "Your grandmother hasn't been able to eat for a week now. We thought she could still hold on for a few more days, but her departure was so sudden. You were what she worried about the most before she left."

Gu Jiabei slipped the black armband onto his left arm, his gaze cold as he looked at Gu Wei. "You should have informed me earlier then."

"I didn't expect it either…" Gu Wei's eyes were reddened, as if he had just cried. "After your grandfather passed away, your grandmother's health deteriorated significantly…"

"Brother..." Gu Xiyang was aware that Gu Jiabei had never been fond of him. Hence, his voice trembled slightly as he spoke, "Grandma said not to tell you. She was afraid that it would upset you and distract you from your work..."

Gu Jiabei cast a fleeting glance at the father and son before indifferently striding straight into the funeral parlor.

The Gu family's business had been thriving in recent years, and Gu Wei's business associates came to pay their respects, forming a steady stream of visitors.

As the eldest grandson, Gu Jiabei stood in the mourning hall with Gu Wei, acknowledging each guest with a weary yet composed demeanor, suppressing his exhaustion and grief over the loss.

After midnight, the hall quieted down, and Gu Wei took a moment to rest, holding Gu Xiyang.

Throughout the entire time, Gu Jiabei didn't spot the woman – Gu Xiyang's mother and Gu Wei's mistress.

Perhaps Gu Wei had deliberately kept them apart, but Gu Jiabei didn't mind. He had long regarded Gu Wei and his family as strangers.

Gu Jiabei spent the whole night awake, solemnly guarding the mourning hall.

As dawn approached, Lu Angyu arrived at the funeral parlor to pick up Gu Jiabei's mother, Zhang Xunmei.

Lu Angyu patted Gu Jiabei on the shoulder, "Take care, buddy."

"Thanks," replied Gu Jiabei, knowing that words were unnecessary between him and Lu Angyu.

Zhang Xunmei, filled with sorrow, offered incense to the elderly relative before turning to her son, "Jiabei, you've lost weight."

"No worries, Mom," Gu Jiabei reassured her. "I'll come home after this busy period, and you can cook me plenty of delicious food to make up for it then."

"Alright," Zhang Xunmei nodded. Then, addressing Lu Angyu, she said, "Little Yu, Auntie will take a taxi to the airport later. There's no need for you to send me; you're quite busy too."

"I'm just blindly occupied, but picking you up and sending you off is a more important task," Lu Angyu joked.

"Mom, I'll bring someone home with me in a while," Gu Jiabei mentioned.

Zhang Xunmei's eyes brightened. "A girlfriend?"

Lu Angyu didn't dare to respond, instead looking around restlessly.

"It's my partner," Gu Jiabei clarified.

"You should've told me earlier if you were dating someone. Your grandmother was always worried about your life's major events… Oh…" Zhang Xunmei felt a mix of joy and concern.

Thoughts raced through Lu Angyu's mind—this was something he couldn't share with Grandma. If she knew that her beloved eldest grandson had fallen for a man, she might faint on the spot.

"Tell me, what kind of person is this?" Zhang Xunmei asked out of curiosity.

"We'll know when we meet," Gu Jiabei acknowledged, aware that it was not the right time to come out.

"Alright then, I'll head back first. Remember to call me if you need anything," Zhang Xunmei said, insisting on not having Lu Angyu escort her.

So Lu Angyu stayed behind to accompany Gu Jiabei.

"Tell me if there's anything I can do," Lu Angyu offered.

"There's no need for your help. The funeral parlor takes care of everything, it's very convenient," Gu Jiabei replied.

"Okay..." Lu Angyu paused, as if he wanted to say something more.

Gu Jiabei frowned. "Speak."

"Didn't your little neighbor come?"

"No." Gu Jiabei recalled his phone being out of battery and hadn't had a chance to contact Yun He since returning. "Can I use your phone?"

"Sure." Lu Angyu handed his phone over to Gu Jiabei.

Gu Jiabei, holding his phone, stepped outside and dialed Yun He's number. As soon as the call connected, Yun He's breathless voice came through the line.

"I'm here, at the entrance of the funeral parlor. Where do I go from here, Lu Angyu?"

Gu Jiabei was slightly taken aback, then quickened his pace to reach the door. It hadn't been raining when he had just seen Zhang Xunmei off in a taxi, but now it was pouring cats and dogs. Amidst the downpour, a "Public Welfare Home" branded umbrella had been raised, sheltering Yun He's anxious face.

As their eyes met, Gu Jiabei felt his heart momentarily stop, only to pound back with a thousandfold force, burning and aching his chest. All the pent-up pain and sorrow found an outlet in this moment upon seeing Yun He.

Gu Jiabei rushed forward and embraced Yun He, burying his head on Yun He's shoulder. "Why are you here?"

"My baby Gu is upset, so of course I'm here," Yun He replied softly, stroking Gu Jiabei's back. "If you want to cry, go ahead. I'll hold the umbrella for you, and you can stay in my arms as long as you need."

"How come you still have this umbrella?" Gu Jiabei's muffled voice echoed.

"I couldn't bear to part with it, just like I kept your sketchbook," Yun He said.

"You're quite proud, aren't you?" Gu Jiabei whispered.

Yun He gently caressed Gu Jiabei's back, stroke by stroke, as if trying to soothe his pain.

"In truth, I was prepared for it, but I'm just sad that I didn't get to see her one last time," Gu Jiabei lifted his head, his eyes glistening with tears.

"Don't worry, Grandma won't blame you because she loves you," Yun He said, reaching up to caress Gu Jiabei's face.

"My mother came earlier. I told her I was bringing someone home to meet her."

"Mm, every daughter-in-law has to meet their in-laws sooner or later."

There was no need for further words between the two; they understood each other with just a glance.

The rain continued to relentlessly wash over the world.

A parting beneath an umbrella years ago, an embrace beneath the same umbrella years later.

The same umbrella, the same people.

Once they were separated, now they were reunited.

Gu Jiabei stayed in his hometown for three days until his grandmother's remains were cremated, and Yun He accompanied him the entire time.

As he left, Gu Wei's gaze at Yun He was filled with deep and complicated emotions. In the end, he only said, "I didn't expect that after all these years, you two could still be together. I underestimated the feelings of you young people."

"Me, understand emotions?" Gu Jiabei said disdainfully before taking Yun He away.

Yun He had driven to the meeting because when he set off, the airport announced flight cancellations due to bad weather. It took him over ten hours to finally see Gu Jiabei.

"Are you tired? Let me drive?" Gu Jiabei, sitting in the passenger seat of Yun He's car, looked somewhat weary.

Yun He glanced at the pale Gu Jiabei. "It's okay, get some rest. You haven't had a proper sleep these past two days."

"I can't sleep."

"Then keep me company and chat?"

"Sure," Gu Jiabei replied, looking at Yun He. "You've been taking a lot of time off lately, right? Has the school given you any trouble?"

"The school is definitely not happy with me. If I get fired, you'll have to support me," Yun He joked, trying to lift Gu Jiabei's spirits.

"Okay," Gu Jiabei responded.

"How about I quit my job then?"

"Quit? Why?"

"Are we really going to have a long-distance relationship in the future?"

"Are you willing to leave with me?" Gu Jiabei asked.

"I won't ever let us be separated again. I—"

The ringtone of Yun He's phone echoed in the car. He checked the caller ID and saw it was Cai Mingzhi calling.

Yun He answered the call and put it on speaker.

"Mum, where are you?" Cai Mingzhi sounded downcast.

"We're on our way back, Mum. What's wrong?"

"Oh, just be careful on your way back... It's just that... Just that..." Cai Mingzhi's voice trembled. "Little Baiyun can't hold on much longer..."

Yun He and Gu Jiabei rushed to Cai Mingzhi's home, only to find their parents squatting before the sofa with red-rimmed eyes, surrounding the lifeless Baiyun on the couch.

"Baiyun," Yun He's voice choked with emotion as he softly called out to the pet, gently stroking its weak head.

Baiyun, upon hearing Yun He's voice, mustered a feeble lift of its eyelids, attempting to lick him with its tongue, but could only manage a weak opening and closing of its mouth.

"Our little Baiyun didn't have much strength last night..." Mom said, her voice filled with sorrow. "Who would've thought it would leave us so soon..."

Yun Qingtian comfortingly patted his spouse's back. "We all knew this day would come eventually. Don't be too hard on yourself."

"I swear we'll never keep another pet again... How can anyone bear this pain?" Cai Mingzhi cried out in distress.

Gu Jiabei also reached out to touch Baiyun's head, whispering, "You've been through so much, little Baiyun. Rest in peace. From now on, I'll be here for Yun He, your father."

As if understanding Gu Jiabei's words, Baiyun nudged its head into his hand before slowly closing its eyes.

Cai Mingzhi, overcome with grief, collapsed into Yun Qingtian's arms, sobbing. Yun He extended his arms for one final embrace with Baiyun.

Gu Jiabei arranged for a pet funeral service to cremate Baiyun's body.

Exiting the funeral parlor, Yun He clung to Gu Jiabei and said, "We met it on your sixteenth birthday. In the years you weren't by my side, it was there with me. I traveled all around the country for work, and it accompanied me every step of the way. When I was drunk and called out your name, it would jump onto my bedside and cry with me... But now, it's gone."

"Gu Jiabei, we can't hold onto anything forever. People depart, and pets leave too."

"That's why we should cherish the present even more," Gu Jiabei caressed Yun He's head. "I regret not coming back sooner."

"I regret not looking for you earlier as well," Yun He replied, lifting his tear-stained gaze to meet Gu Jiabei's.