Chapter 1534: Chapter 1534: Everything Is Still the Same
Those days later, at Xu Chaomu’s request, Shen Chi accompanied her on a trip to Qing City.
Xu Chaomu was much calmer than Shen Chi had imagined—neither sorrowful nor joyful, her expression remained placid.
She had matured a lot compared to before, he knew that.
When she learned that her mother had wanted to donate her organs before her passing, she felt a bit sad. Actually, her mother had always been so kind…
It was just that she had misunderstood Zhou Ran for so many years.
They sat for a while in front of the gravestone in Qing City, with Xu Chaomu leaning against Shen Chi as she gazed at the gravestone.
Beneath the willow tree, they leaned on each other, the sunlight streaming through the canopy of leaves.
Xu Chaomu remembered how, years ago, she had once cried in front of Xu Mengxi’s gravestone. Back then, she was utterly heartbroken; she thought the Shen Family didn’t want her anymore, thought Shen Chi didn’t want her anymore.
That year, she had spoken at length in front of the gravestone.
But unexpectedly, this time in Qing City, it felt real.
“Mom… have you seen fourth brother? He’s the one I used to tell you about, the one I loved the most, the one I’ve loved for so many years now,” Xu Chaomu said with a calm tone, even with a faint smile at the corners of her mouth.
“Mom, so much has happened between us. I believe it must be you, watching over us from the heavens, who helped us come together.”
“By the way, I also have two adorable sons. One is named Shen Yun, the other Shen Ke. Next time, I’ll bring them to meet you. They’re really, really cute…”
As Xu Chaomu spoke on, Shen Chi stayed silent, quietly listening to her.
The wind stirred, gently rippling the willow boughs, while the leaves carried with them a faint fragrance.
“Mom, I’m really happy now, so don’t worry. Shen Chi would never dare treat me poorly,” Xu Chaomu said.
The state of her heart now was completely different from what it had been back then. Back then, she’d cried uncontrollably. Now, she was so calm, so incredibly calm…
“Mom, I’ve never resented you. I love you. I’ve always loved you. Thank you for blessing me, for letting me meet the love of my life. I have such a happy family now, I truly am happy. And I miss you so much, too…”
With her eyes half-closed, Xu Chaomu softly chattered to Xu Mengxi, as if she were sitting right across from her.
Shen Chi pulled her into his arms to shield her from the sun.
She talked for a long, long time, seemingly tireless.
At last, she looked at Shen Chi and said, “Husband, do you want to say a few words to your mother-in-law?”
Shen Chi smiled, nodded, and gazed earnestly at the photo of Xu Mengxi on the gravestone. “Mom, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Chaomu, for a lifetime.”
Xu Chaomu smiled. Her man had never let her down—she trusted him completely.
When he said “a lifetime,” it truly meant “a lifetime.”
A few hours passed, and Xu Chaomu hadn’t expected Zhou Ran, Shen Cexian, and Bai Xuan to show up.
Zhou Ran carried a large bouquet of flowers, dressed in black, and walked quietly to the gravestone.
She placed the flowers down, bowed solemnly, and stepped aside.
Bai Xuan and Shen Cexian also approached and each bowed before the gravestone in turn.
Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu rose from the ground to stand alongside them.
Xu Chaomu sniffled and softly said, “Dad, Uncle, Auntie, you all came.”
“I came to see Mengxi…” Bai Xuan started to speak, but tears already flowed uncontrollably.
Over fifty years old, he wept now like a child.
The image of Xu Mengxi in his mind was forever frozen in her youth. He had never expected that the truth would turn out this way…
He had imagined countless times whether, had he left C City with Xu Mengxi back then, fled to some remote place to live anonymously, things would be entirely different today.
Xu Chaomu patted him on the shoulder. “Dad, don’t be sad. Mom wouldn’t want to see us cry.”
“Mengxi, I’m sorry… I’m sorry… after all these years, this is the first time I’ve come to see you…”
Zhou Ran and Shen Cexian were also moved, lowering their heads without saying a word.
“Mengxi, I let you down. I let our daughter down. Mengxi…” Bai Xuan choked on his sobs, endlessly repeating the phrase “I’m sorry,” his heart full of regret.
Xu Chaomu didn’t comfort him again. She knew that sometimes, crying could bring a bit of relief to the heart.
The sun gradually moved westward, nearing the horizon.
A golden halo spilled across the land, painting everything yellow. Though tinged with sorrow, everything eventually settled into stillness.
Not far away lay a small pond, filled with lotus flowers.
It was the height of the lotus season—red blossoms swayed, and their leaves fluttered with the breeze.
The ripples on the pond created folds in the water, emanating tranquility and peace.
The wind swept across the vast fields, carrying with it a low, mournful hum. Everything was serene, everything was still…
As the evening approached, the family finally left together.
Xu Chaomu arranged for Bai Xuan to drive and ride with Shen Cexian in one car, while she sat in another with Shen Chi and Zhou Ran.
Shen Chi drove, with Xu Chaomu and Zhou Ran sitting side by side in the backseat.
At first, there was silence, but after the car rounded a hillside, Xu Chaomu quietly spoke. “Aunt Zhou, I’m sorry. All these years, I’ve always misunderstood you.”
Zhou Ran was slightly taken aback; she hadn’t expected Xu Chaomu to apologize so straightforwardly.
Shen Chi remained silent and focused on driving.
“It’s alright. I’ve done things in the past I’m ashamed of, too. Don’t take it to heart,” Zhou Ran replied.
“The past is the past, Aunt Zhou. I was also immature back then and spoke out against you so many times.”
“As the elder, my faults were greater.”
“Thank you for taking me in from the orphanage.” Xu Chaomu meant her gratitude sincerely.
Zhou Ran could have easily ignored that promise, could have refused to take care of her. But she hadn’t.
She had brought her back, had the servants call her “Miss,” and even gave her a room right next to Shen Chi’s in the Shen Family home.
“Didn’t you say the past is behind us? No need to dwell on it, and no need to thank me. I was simply fulfilling a promise.”
“Aunt Zhou…”
Shen Chi interrupted her. “Why are you still calling her Aunt Zhou?”
He had heard her call her that far too many times today, and it was starting to annoy him.
Xu Chaomu blushed, only now realizing she should have changed how she addressed her long ago.
“Mom…” Xu Chaomu called out softly.
Zhou Ran smiled, her lips curving up.
Thankfully, the car was dark, and no one could see her expression. In truth, her eyes glimmered with unshed tears.
Everything was as it should be.
Xu Chaomu clutched her sleeve. Over the years, she and Zhou Ran had experienced so much discord. Yet, once she had learned the truth, Aunt Zhou remained as she had always been, seemingly unchanged.
She remembered the first time she ever saw Zhou Ran—she had seemed like a fairy who had descended to earth.
It was the first time she had seen someone so beautiful, so regal, so glamorous, exuding an air of nobility from head to toe.
She carried a clean, cool fragrance, like orchids or gardenias…
The memories floated back to that distant winter, seventeen years ago. Seventeen years later, everything seemed just as it had been.
Now, as Zhou Ran sat beside her, she could still sense her beauty, undiminished.