53 I Donst Want to Be Tied Down by You and Our Child (2/2)
Since she was already going to make her way home anyway, she decided not to call him back.
Just as she was driving out of the house, she received a call from Gu Beicheng. ”Where are you?” he said, sounding extremely anxious.
”What's the matter?”
”Wherever you are, make your way here now. Grandpa is not going to make it.”
”What?! I'll be there at once,” An Xiaoning answered hurriedly.
She sped along the roads and managed to arrive at the Gu family mansion in 10 minutes, as opposed to the usual 15-minute journey.
She quickly alighted from the car and zoomed towards the mansion.
The butler had intentionally gone outside to wait for her. An Xiaoning picked up her tracks and eventually began running.
All the members of the Gu family had gathered in the old Mr. Gu's bedroom.
Upon the sight of An Xiaoning's arrival, they began to part like the Red Sea, one after another, and made way for her to enter.
Walking forward, An Xiaoning noticed the paleness of the old Mr. Gu's face and asked for his birth characters.
She then gained a clearer picture and proceeded outside the room to brief Mr. and Mrs. Gu on what they should do.
”Go and prepare a coffin right away. He's going to pass away in seven minutes.”
Mr. Gu checked the time on his watch instinctively and ordered for someone to bring a coffin, as instructed by An Xiaoning.
”Grandpa, I'm Xiaoning,” she said after she returned to the room and sat by his bed.
With glazed eyes, he gave a nod and struggled to speak as he tried to voice his thoughts.
He kept his eyes fixed on An Xiaoning, seemingly having something to request of her.
”Grandpa, what would you like to tell me? Go ahead and say it. No worries, don't rush it, you can tell me slowly,” An Xiaoning said gently.
”The Gu… Gu… Family…”
An Xiaoning understood right away what he wanted to say. ”I'll definitely lend a helping hand should the Gu family face any crisis or difficulty in the future, as long as it's within my means, for they're my maiden home from now on. Rest assured, Grandpa,” An Xiaoning reassured comfortingly.
The old Mr. Gu could finally rest in peace after having her reassurance. A single teardrop streamed down his face as he closed his eyes after thanking her. He had not made another sound since.
An Xiaoning reached out to grasp his dry and coarse hand tightly, remaining silent as time crawled by.
An Xiaoning knew at the instant she felt his once-weak grip loosen completely that he had passed on, there and then.
”Dad!”
”Dad!”
”Grandpa!”
”…”
A somber mood filled the air, as everyone in the room cried and wailed in agony.
With the exception of An Xiaoning, who remained unperturbed and stood rooted calmly, without saying a single word.
Mr. Gu immediately checked the time again. It was exactly seven minutes later, like she had mentioned.
After helping the late old Mr. Gu change into a fresh set of clothes, they lowered him into the coffin and set up an altar. Word about his death had also spread quickly to tabloids and news broadcasters.
All the members of the Gu family, apart from those who were still abroad, were present in the living room of their home at that moment.
While they began discussing the burial matters, An Xiaoning was surprised to hear that the old Mr. Gu's death wish was to be buried next to Nun Jingxin.
In the ordinary course of events, members of wealthy families were usually subjected to the customs of being buried together with their spouses.