Qin Ningyi ultimately did not go to the place she mentioned. The land the Jiang family wanted had been successfully bid for, and he had to fulfill his promise.
Huo Rou had suggested it in a moment of impulse, but upon realizing Qin Ningyi was still busy, she gracefully retreated.
Why would she want him to meet her parents at such a crucial time? She didn't even know if she had a future.
Huo Rou left the driver Qin Ningyi had given her waiting in the parking lot at the foot of the mountain. She, along with An'an, cleared security and entered with flowers.
Xiao Chen, looking at the Martyrs' Cemetery before him, was puzzled. It wasn't the Qingming Festival, so why were President Qin's woman and child going to pay respects?
Huo Rou led An'an around the monument to a more secluded area, stopping before two tombstones.
"Dad, Mom, I've brought your son to see you," Huo Rou said, placing the flowers in her arms in front of the tombstones. An'an, imitating her, also placed his bouquet down.
He looked at the photos of a man and a woman on the tombstones. Hearing Huo Rou's address, he glanced at her, then at the photos, and with his inherent intelligence, tilted his head and pointed to the woman's photo, asking, "Mom, is this your mom?"
"Yes, An'an, this is your maternal grandmother, and next to her is your maternal grandfather," Huo Rou introduced the two people on the tombstone to him.
After speaking, she sat down on the ground and carefully wiped the photos and inscriptions on the tombstone.
"Mom, I originally wanted to bring the person I like to show you today, but..."
Perhaps it's no longer necessary. Huo Rou added silently in her heart.
"Grandma, don't blame Daddy. He had a very urgent matter to attend to. We'll definitely bring him to see you next time," An'an said, still favoring Qin Ningyi after their rift was mended.
Huo Rou looked at the woman in the photo, who was smiling with extreme gentleness. An'an's words were unspoken in her heart:
"Mom, perhaps there won't be a next time. If my luck remains poor, there's no need to involve him too much in my life. Living this long, having helped so many people and contributed to the country, is enough.
If I'm lucky enough to survive, I'll bring him to see you and Dad, and you can give me your approval..."
"An'an, you've grown up too. From now on, every autumn and winter, come and see your maternal grandparents," she said, stroking An'an's soft hair.
"Okay, Mom will bring me," An'an replied, his dark eyes fixed on Huo Rou, with a captivating intensity that mirrored Qin Ningyi's.
Perhaps it was because she had deceived An'an, but she felt a sense of guilt whenever she met his gaze.
Fortunately, An'an changed the subject, "Mom, tell me about Grandma and Grandpa. Why are they in the Martyrs' Cemetery?"
"They... are heroes."
"An'an's maternal grandfather stopped the villains' plan. Later, the villains and an inside informant conspired to harm many people, including An'an's maternal grandfather. Of course, he was very capable; he not only completed his mission under those circumstances but also saved people." Huo Rou's fingers rested on her maternal grandfather's photo. The man in the picture smiled gently, his expression kind.
There was no trace of the hardened warrior.
This was the photo she had chosen. She had hidden behind the photographer, smiling as she waited for him to pose, which resulted in this warm, smiling picture.
"Dad, you still look so handsome in the photo," Huo Rou said with a bright smile, tears gently tracing her cheeks. Sunlight reflected in her eyes. "I just want to see you both happy every time I visit, just like you always smiled when I came home."
An'an looked at his maternal grandfather with admiration. Noticing Huo Rou's tears, he rushed to wipe them away and asked, "Grandma looks so much like Mom. What did Grandma do?"
"Grandma was a very brilliant scientist. She saved people all over the country, but her own illness was too advanced to treat, so she stayed here to be with Grandpa." Huo Rou did not delve into the deeper aspects; the cause and effect were far more tragic than she described.
Perhaps it was precisely because she had experienced their deaths that Huo Rou was so selfish in wanting to spend her last month with Qin Ningyi.
She didn't want any regrets. She had too many regrets.
She talked to her parents at length with An'an. As they were leaving, they encountered Chen Guochao, who had also come to pay respects.
"Brother," Huo Rou greeted him with a smile.
"Little sister, you were actually found in Taichuan City?" Chen Guochao was surprised. He had only guessed back then, never expecting to actually meet her in Taichuan City.
Over the years, she only contacted him during the New Year. His father had told him not to look for Huo Rou, saying she might have important things to accomplish, which was why he hadn't returned home for several years.
As he broke into a wide grin, a small head peeked out from behind Huo Rou. "Hello, Uncle."
It was the first time An'an had heard Huo Rou call someone "brother," and that person actually called her "sister."
This greeting completely bewildered Chen Guochao.
He had interacted with the Qin siblings quite a bit when he was younger. With just one glance, he was certain of An'an's identity. The usually honest man was taken aback for a moment. "Your son? With... that kid from the Qin family?"
"Mhm." Huo Rou no longer intended to hide it. Perhaps An'an would have to be entrusted to them later.
She pulled An'an forward and introduced him, "My son, An'an."
"You! My dad said you've become more mature these past few years and were likely in a special forces unit. Turns out you've really surprised me! Aren't you afraid my dad will come to drag you back like he did when you were in M country?"
Hearing him mention the past, Huo Rou laughed. "I am very mature now. Uncle Chen, you can rest assured about me."
Chen Guochao couldn't help but pat her head. "You're a mother now and you don't even say anything. Still so mature? You're treating me like an outsider."
He expected Huo Rou to retort, but instead, she seized the opportunity, "Then in the future, you can help me raise my son. That way, I won't be treating you like an outsider."
"Sure," Chen Guochao replied, then walked to Huo Jinyi's tomb and bowed respectfully. "Uncle, I won't chat much with you today. I'm going back with Sister A'Rou."
On the way, Chen Guochao kept An'an very happy, but no matter how he tried, An'an refused to be held by him.
"How is Stossnos?" Since the Martyrs' Cemetery was rarely visited, Huo Rou asked about it.
"Sent him back," Chen Guochao said, holding An'an's small hand. "The protective wearable device they developed was successful. He was sent back with it fully secured. However, we managed to obtain a lot of crucial information..."
"I know." Huo Rou was one of the users of some of that information. She advised, "Next time, don't be so reckless, or you'll get hit by Uncle Chen again."
"I..." Chen Guochao wanted to say more, but Huo Rou interrupted him. "Brother, don't be stubborn. Don't make Uncle Chen worry so much in the future. I can't always mediate for you guys."