2 Will You Marry Me? Part 2 (2/2)

However, a few months later, their happiness was shattered. Jiu Lan was sick, very sick. She admitted herself that there was no cure. She could only live until Yao Ling was 15 years old – right the day her hairpin ceremony.

Jiu Lan admitted that she was actually sick for a long time. ”Yao Ling, Mother is very weak. That day when I found you, I wasn't going to wash my clothes. I tried to kill myself by jumping to the river. If I didn't hear your crying voice and found you, I probably wouldn't find this happiness. I love you, my beautiful daughter.”

Yao Ling cried softly and shook her head, ”No, Mother. I'm the lucky one. Without you, there will be no me. Don't leave all alone, please. Without you, what can I do?”

Jiu Lan smiled softly. ”You will be okay. You are a strong girl. Mother isn't going to die now. I have to put your hairpin on in a few days. Your hairpin ceremony is important for me. My little daughter has grown up.”

After their talk, Yao Ling went out and ran out of her house. She hid behind a tree and cried. That's where Yao Ying found her. He hugged her and let her cry until she was asleep. He couldn't bear to see their pain, without knowing a few drops of tears flew down from his eyes. An emotion that he never knew - Pain.

A few days passed in a blink of time, it was her hairpin ceremony day. For a commoner, people rarely did it. However, Jiu Lan knew her daughter wasn't from a simple background, Her hairpin was enough evidence and it would be her job as a mother to put it on her.

There was no grand ceremony, only the three of them. Slowly… slowly… Jiu Lan combed Yao Ling's hair. She looked at the silky black hair and smiled softly. ”Look how beautiful your hair! Your future husband would certainly happy touching it,” she teased.

There was no mirror in their house, so Yao Ling couldn't see her mother's expression. Jiu Lan was crying without a sound. She felt sad… she couldn't watch her daughter grow anymore. She tried all her might for this day – she had no energy left.

”Ling-er, Mother has last wishes. Without mother, you are all alone. I can only leave in peace if you get married to Yao Ying. He can protect you and you can find your own real family with him.” Jiu Lan's tears were flowing down like a river, she couldn't even contain her sob anymore.

Yao Ling wanted to turn around and hugged her mother, but she was held by Jiu Lan – preventing her from looking at her. ”Don't… let me finish what I want to say first.”

Yao Ling could only nod. ”After Mother dies, just burn my body and throw my ashes to the ocean. I know you are filial, but I don't want you to hold yourself back and stay near my grave. Wherever both of you go, I can watch you and Yao Ying from the ocean. After that, please get married. No need to mourn for me.”

”But Mother…”

”No, but! If you don't fulfill my last wishes, that's called unfilial. Do you promise me?”

Slightly choked with her tears, Yao Ling stuttered, ”I… I … promise.”

”After the ceremony, Mother will also talk to Yao Ying.” Yao Ying was kicked out because they wanted to share mother-daughter time. Besides, most hairpin ceremony participators were women.

After combing, Jiu Lan gathered Yao Ling's hair and tied them into a knot. Jiu Lan gasped in pain, her body was trembling. She tried to bear the pain, sweating a lot because of it. 'Please… please… my body… please bear with me. I only have to do one thing for he daughter, just one thing…' Jiu Lan chanted to herself.

Just let me put on the hairpin. Please…