Chapter 1136: Chapter 1136: Extra—Retirement Arc
Nian Shutong, with a heart full of gossip, stood at the flower shop’s entrance, staring in one direction.
Fu Yunhe approached from behind and stood beside her, mimicking her actions and looking in the same direction.
"So, is the reality show finally concluding?"
"Just about."
Fu Yunhe decided to stay and watch with Nian Shutong.
A man carrying a bouquet of lilies limped to the woman’s door. Just as he bent over, with the flowers in hand, the door suddenly swung open with a bang.
The woman stood there, the man was bent over, and their motions seemed frozen in an instant.
Nian Shutong, ever curious, took a few steps forward, pretending to tidy up the flower garden at the entrance.
Fu Yunhe chuckled from behind and eventually handed Nian Shutong a small trowel, making her act look somewhat plausible.
On the other side, the woman stared at the man for over a minute—no shouting, no anger, not even a hint of emotion.
She was unusually calm as she spoke to the man.
"Please take your flowers and leave."
The man, finally standing upright, hesitated, unsure of what to say. He didn’t want to leave now that he’d finally seen her.
"The lilies you love smell wonderful."
He handed the bouquet to the woman, but she didn’t even glance at it as she spoke again.
"There’s no room between us. In your memories, there’s only the old me, but I ceased to be the person in your memory long ago. Don’t waste your time here; you’ll only add some irritation to my current life."
The woman’s unusual calmness was something the man found hard to accept. She shouldn’t be like this; before, she’d be overjoyed each time she received flowers from him.
"I... I want to see the child."
The mention of the child changed the woman’s gaze, making it a mix of determination and fierceness.
"According to interstellar law, if a parent fails their responsibilities for over three years, they lose custody. You have no right to see the child, and I won’t agree."
The woman’s words stirred emotions in the man, even causing him to lose control slightly.
"I was wrong, truly wrong. Please forgive me. I’ve found a job now; I can support the family."
"I’m begging you."
The man knelt on the ground, attempting to wrap his arms around the woman’s legs, but she quickly dodged with agility.
Watching from afar, Nian Shutong let out a surprised sound. She knew kung fu, or rather, she was a cultivator.
That wasn’t the surprising part—the surprising part was that she hadn’t noticed it before.
For the first time, Nian Shutong began to doubt herself a little.
The woman turned to the man and said her final words: "The past isn’t something you can change with just an apology, and your mistakes cannot be undone. This is the last time I’m telling you to leave; otherwise, I’ll personally see to it that you leave."
She turned around and shut the door with a loud bang, leaving the man sitting on the ground, eyes vacant.
After an unknown amount of time, the man finally got up and left.
Nian Shutong, who had been watching the commotion, felt she hadn’t seen the ending, but could make a rough guess.
"Come on, let’s go prepare for the Day of the Dead. I hear we need to prepare lots of delicious food to exchange with neighbors."
The two returned to the small two-story building to prepare some food and drinks, so they’d have something to offer when others came with food.
"Osmanthus cake is nice, and other flowers can be turned into treats too."
"Fried snacks are great too."
In the kitchen, the two began concocting dishes while discussing recipes.
By the afternoon, many families had already brought delicious food over, and Nian Shutong returned the gesture to each one.
By evening, Nian Shutong and Fu Yunhe each carried a large box out of the courtyard and onto the street outside.
The street, usually lit by only a few lampposts, was particularly bright tonight.
Starting tonight, continuous lights will be lit for half a month, illuminating the way home for those who have passed.
Every house’s door was adorned with a variety of small colorful lights. Moreover, neighboring houses to the north and south would drape strings of colorful lights across the street, creating little canopy overhead.
At a glance, this road was brilliantly lit—a true path illuminating the way home.
Underneath the colorful lights were tables and chairs from each household, pieced together with an assortment of each family’s prepared food on top.
"So lively."
"Indeed."
Nian Shutong took the box from Fu Yunhe’s hands and turned to him, saying, "Go home and get the tables and chairs."
"Alright, I’ll go right now."
Nian Shutong waited for a while, then joined Fu Yunhe, who had returned carrying tables and chairs, and they set up the table together.
"Ah, here come you two lovebirds."
"Your first Day of the Dead with us."
"It’s quite the bustle."
Everyone laughed; according to them, their laughter is a celebration intended for the deceased to see that they’re doing well.
The food was arranged on the table, and everyone took their seats, raising their glasses.
In the cups was a type of rice wine, milky white, with the fragrance of rice—a drink specific to the Day of the Dead.
Nian Shutong learned from the conversations that starting tonight, everyone would dine outside each night, bringing their own food. With so much food around, there would surely be leftovers.
That’s precisely what everyone wanted; each night, the leftovers, or rather the specially prepared surplus, were meant for the ancestors.
The next day, these leftover foods would be replaced, and fresh ones would take their place.
Perplexed, Nian Shutong asked why they dined outside.
The answer she got was that only at night could they dine and celebrate with the ancestors.
Holding a respect for culture, Nian Shutong participated each day, preparing food even if they had no ancestors here.
Each day, the girl who bought Sunflowers continued to come until the eighth day.
That morning, Nian Shutong opened the flower shop as usual and saw the young girl, drenched in water vapor, sitting dazedly at the door.
"Let me get you some flowers."
"No need, sister."
Her words of refusal gave Nian Shutong a bad feeling. She sat on the steps beside the young girl, asking no questions, merely sitting with her for a while.
They sat for an unknown amount of time until the young girl began to speak.
"Sister, mom says I don’t know what liking is, and I don’t know if I know either. I only know I like seeing him smile, seeing him furrow his brow while thinking over problems, and when he solves them, watch his brow relax. I like seeing him ride his bicycle, turning back to ask if I want a ride, and I like his smiles directed at me."
"Sister, he’s gone, and I feel a bit sad."
Nian Shutong extended a hand to the girl’s shoulder, letting her lean against her leg.
"It’s okay to feel sad, no need to hide it."
"Your Sunflower Boy, in your memory, is something that no one can take away."
