331 Reunion 26 (2/2)
Perhaps because he had yet to go upstairs even after some time, Gu Xiaoning walked towards the corridor and called out to him, ”Qingyan, come and get some rest.”
He looked up and said smilingly, ”Right away.”
Jin Qingyan closed the bedroom door and removed his jacket. Realizing that the rain seemed to be getting heavier, he proceeded to draw the curtains and laid on the bed. Gu Xiaoning snuggled up beside him and said, ”Qingyan, I can't sleep. Will you tell me a story?”
”Okay.”
An Xiaoning had never asked him to tell her stories again ever since she heard his twisted fairytales – he was simply ruining fairytales for her.
However, he was not quite keen on telling other stories. Thus, he decided to narrate the story of Snow White again.
”Once upon a time, there used to be an evil queen who asked the Magic Mirror, 'Who's the fairest of them all?' The Magic Mirror answered, 'You are. But Snow White is even fairer.' Thus, the evil queen was filled with hatred and jealousy and swore to kill Snow White, because only then will she become the most beautiful woman in the world…”
He paused and looked down at her. ”What do you think of the opening of my story?”
”Great, keep going. I want to hear the rest of the story. I've never heard it before,” Gu Xiaoning answered.
Jin Qingyan's eyes lit up as he recalled clearly how An Xiaoning was reluctant to hear the rest of the story after listening to his opening.
”Why did you stop? Continue the story, quick,” Gu Xiaoning urged him.
”Thus, the Queen then sent Snow White to the forest to be killed by an assassin. However, a hunter who passed by managed to save her…”
The bedroom was filled with silence. Jin Qingyan stopped narrating once he heard her rhythmic breathing.
He got down from the bed and tucked her underneath the blanket before turning off the night lamp. He then picked up his jacket and left the room.
He entered the master bedroom.
He pushed the door open and was greeted with the sight of An Xiaoning's photos plastered across all the walls as soon as the lights were switched on. He continued to gaze at the photos for a long, long while.
Even though he had her clone with him, he still missed her dearly.
He had never once visited her grave again ever since her burial.
He was living in denial and repeatedly told himself that she was not dead and still alive.
He wanted the clone to further prove his belief.
However, deep down, he knew clearly that he saw her die with his very own eyes.
Jin Qingyan was not sleepy at all.
He exited the master bedroom and headed downstairs.
”Young Sir, where are you going?” Fan Shixin asked.
”To the mountains.”
”Young Sir, it's pouring heavily and it's late at night now. Go tomorrow instead.”
”I miss her.” With a black umbrella in hand, he began walking towards the garage.
Fan Shixin quickly caught up and followed him to An Xiaoning's burial ground on the mountains.
They parked the car at the foot of the mountain and made their way up by foot.
After treading through the rain, the two arrived at the back of the temple.
There were three tombstones.
Standing by An Xiaoning's tomb, Jin Qingyan began to speak. ”Xiaoning, I'm here to see you. Do you hold it against me, taking this long to visit you?”