“Uncle Fang is gone, when did that happen?”
The old man, stooped, led the way. “I was notified after the kitchen finished breakfast and discovered Master hadn’t come downstairs to eat. I went to Master’s bedroom and found he had already been gone for a long time.”
“Don’t worry, Wen Ye, we haven’t told An An about this. An An is currently eating breakfast in the dining room.”
“Have you notified Fang Zhihuan?”
“I’ve already notified the eldest young master. He didn’t say anything after hearing it and just hung up the phone.”
Wen Zhiyan frowned slightly. “Fang Zhihuan won’t come back.”
The old man shook his head and led the two into the living room.
“Mom, Dad.”
Wen Yan’an, who had already finished breakfast and was playing in the living room, saw them and his eyes lit up. He instantly put down his book and rushed towards them.
He bypassed Wen Zhiyan and ran into Fang Miaomiao’s arms, the movement seamless.
“Mom.”
“Good boy, An An,” Fang Miaomiao ruffled Wen Yan’an’s hair.
“Wen Ye, could you come upstairs with me for a moment?”
Wen Zhiyan looked at Fang Miaomiao, and seeing her nod, said, “Certainly.”
They took the elevator up to the third floor.
Entering the bedroom.
Wen Zhiyan looked at the old man lying peacefully on the bed, his hair white, his eyes closed, as if he were asleep.
The old man rummaged through things in the bedside cabinet. “These are things Master handed to An An, to be inherited when An An turns eighteen.”
“An An cannot accept these things,” Wen Zhiyan said, looking at the document bag in the old man’s hand, shaking his head.
“Master knew you would say this,” the old man wiped the tears from his eyes and took out his phone from the bedside cabinet. “Therefore, Master left you some words.”
With that, the old man turned on the recording.
“Young man Zhiyan, I never expected our last meeting to be under these circumstances. You must not have expected it. But don’t worry, this old man had already thought of it. Having lived so long, I’ve had my fill. Don’t be sad either. Oh, I just remembered your emotional resonance isn’t very high, perhaps you won’t be sad.”
“It’s alright, this old man is long past the age of being sentimental and doesn’t care anymore. I know you definitely won’t accept my things, but my things aren’t for you, they are for An An. I want to thank An An for taking the time to accompany this old man every week. An An is my disciple, but you know, in my heart, he’s no different from a cherished grandson. How dare you forbid me from leaving things for my grandson An An, or do you think the things are too little and you don’t care for them?”
Listening to the voice, the old man fought back his tears and left.
“Young man Zhiyan, can this old man ask you for one thing? After I die, please don’t hold a memorial service. This old man hates those flashy things the most. Also, don’t place my ashes next to Zhiqing. I’ve already erected a cenotaph for myself there. So, please cremate this old body of mine. As for the ashes, scatter them in the sea. Don’t laugh, this old man misses Zhihuan. Perhaps my ashes can float with the sea water to Zhihuan, and I can see him a few more times.”
“Back then, forget it, forget it. Talking so much, you must be tired of it. The things in the document bag must be for An An. If An An asks, tell him the old man has gone on a long journey. That sentimental little guy, if you tell him I’m gone, who knows how much he’ll cry.”
“Alright, you can go, I’m tired.”
The recording was neither long nor short.
Wen Zhiyan pushed the wheelchair and came to the bedside. “Uncle Fang.”
But his Uncle Fang would never again brandish his cane and pretend to hit him.
“Uncle Fang, go well.”
He took the document bag. Inside were the property deed for Imperial Garden, a rare edition erhu, and a letter. He did not open it.
These, Uncle Fang said, were to be given to An An when he turned eighteen.
Exiting the bedroom.
Looking at the old man curled up on the ground, weeping, Wen Zhiyan was silent for a moment. “Why don’t you come to my place?”
The old man wiped his tears, shook his head, and smiled. “Thank you, Wen Ye. But Wen Ye, please rest assured, Master had already arranged my destination.”
However, he didn’t want to go. He had served Master for most of his life, but he couldn’t bear to leave him.
“You really don’t have to.”
“It’s alright. I’m doing this willingly. Master was very kind to me. If it weren’t for Master, I might have died more than sixty years ago. If I don’t go with him, Master will be lonely with no one to talk to.”
Wen Zhiyan said nothing. “When you have made your arrangements, find me.”
“No need, I’m all alone and don’t need any arrangements. As for the servants below, I’ll trouble you to help dismiss them.”
Saying that, the old man got up from the ground and walked towards the bedroom.
Wen Zhiyan left only after the door was closed.
“Dad, why hasn’t Grandpa Fang come down for breakfast yet?”
“Because Grandpa Fang wants to sleep in a bit longer too.” Fang Miaomiao ruffled Wen Yan’an’s hair. “Look at your mom, isn’t she sleeping in every day?”
“Mom doesn’t sleep in, she’s sleeping a beauty sleep.”
“What a sweet mouth you have.”
Wen Zhiyan picked up his phone.
It was a text message.
It had no sender name.
He knew who it was from.
“He is your son’s master, you are rightfully responsible for his funeral. Tell the Fang family to stop calling me, it’s annoying, do you understand?”
“Dad, what are you thinking about? You can’t hear us talking to you.”
Wen Zhiyan closed his phone. “Sorry, Dad was thinking about something. Can An An say it again?”
“I was just talking about the dream I had last night.”
“What dream?”
“Last night I dreamed Grandpa Fang was smiling at me and waving. I thought Grandpa Fang was playing a game with me, so I kept chasing, kept chasing, but I couldn’t catch up.” Wen Yan’an looked a little confused.
“Children’s dreams, what’s there to think about.”
Wen Yan’an didn’t answer, he hugged Fang Miaomiao. “Mom, let me tell you, even on that day when it was thundering and I ran to sleep in your bed, I had a dream.”
“What dream?”
“I dreamed you said goodbye to me and said someone would come to like me in the future.” Wen Zhiyan clung to Fang Miaomiao stubbornly. “I don’t want anyone else’s affection, I only want Mom.”
Fang Miaomiao’s body stiffened. Could it be that the original host had also left An An with a dream when she left? This person really caused trouble everywhere.
“Then when I opened my eyes, I saw Mom.” Wen Yan’an looked up at Fang Miaomiao. “Mommy loves me the most, right?”
“Yes, Mommy loves An An the most.”
Wen Zhiyan’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He stopped Wen Yan’an. “An An, Dad is going to ask you something very seriously now.”
“Mhm,” Wen Yan’an responded perfunctorily.
“An An, are you sure you want to raise a puppy?”
Wen Yan’an nodded vigorously. “I’m very sure, it’s not a three-day fishing and two-day drying net.”
Wen Zhiyan looked at the sparkling eyes and still relented. “Okay, later you and Miaomiao can go pick out a dog you like.”
He thought that children, of course, would like cute little dogs. A puppy was just a puppy, he could get used to it.