At that moment, tears welled up in Zong Qifeng’s eyes as he was reluctant to leave his grandchildren behind.
They were undeniably adorable but he had run out of time to watch them grow up.
“Grandpa, it’s the Mid-Autumn festival today. Grandma Yu and Grandma have prepared a feast. My teacher says that we should be having mooncakes as a family during this festival. So, do you want to have some?” Zong Yanxi leaned towards Grandpa’s ear and asked.
Zong Qifeng inquired, “What flavors are there?”
“Erm… on the box, I see there’s salted egg, mixed nuts, ham…”
After rambling on a while, Zong Yanxi finally asked, “So Grandpa, which one would you like?”
Zong Qifeng suddenly recalled that today was Mid-Autumn’s festival and it was to be celebrated.
How can one not have mooncakes today?
He chose mixed nuts.
When Lin Xinyan said she would get it, Zong Yanxi stopped her and wanted to fetch it herself. After which, she ambled out and returned with a piece of mooncake. Laying on the bed, she remarked, “This is too big for you to chew. Let me make it smaller.”
Zong Yanxi broke the mooncake in half and exposed the fillings inside. There were walnuts, almonds, sesame seeds, melon seeds…
Pinching a small portion, she put it into Grandpa’s mouth. She said, “Grandpa, try this…”
Zong Qifeng opened his mouth and took a bite.
“Is it good?” Zong Yanxi inquired gleefully. When she smiled, her eyebrows would be all curled up. Zong Qifeng nodded and replied, “It’s delicious.”
Zong Yanchen helped him to some water as he was worried Zong Qifeng’s throat would be dry from the mooncake.
Zong Qifeng stopped after taking two sips…
His face grew increasingly pale while his eyes had turned so cloudy that they had lost their shine.
Meanwhile, the baby who was just sleeping awoke and was crying incessantly. Failing to coax him back to sleep, Zhuang Zijin handed him to Lin Xinyan. The moment Lin Xinyan took over, the baby stopped crying. However, there were still residual tears in his eyes.
Zong Qifeng waved at the baby as he wanted to take a closer look. However, he realized that he was too weak to speak.
Lin Xinyan sensed Zong Qifeng’s intention and handed the baby to him. As the baby opened his big round eyes, he fixated his gaze on Zong Qifeng. However, everyone wasn’t sure if he could see it.
Soon, everyone else came in and surrounded Zong Qifeng to bid him farewell for the last time.
Gazing into the baby’s eyes, Zong Qifeng let out a faint smile before his eyelids gradually shut.
“Grandpa!” Zong Yanxi hugged Zong Qifeng tightly. “Grandpa, don’t sleep. Talk to me a while longer…”
Zong Yanchen’s tears started to roll down his cheeks. He understood better than his sister that Grandpa may have left them for good. He won’t be able to talk to them, send them to school, teach them homework…
“Grandpa…”
When Dr. Jiang heard the commotion in the house, he came in to check on Zong Qifeng. After taking his pulse, he raised his head to look at the time before shaking his head at Zong Jinghao.
It was obvious from his movements that Zong Qifeng had passed on.
Putting his hands behind his back, Zong Jinghao nodded at Dr. Jiang to acknowledge him.
“The time is about twelve-fifteen.” The festival was just over.
Dr. Jiang sighed. “My condolences.”
Clenching his fists behind his back, Zong Jinghao forcefully suppressed his emotions. “Peichuan, please see Dr. Jiang out on my behalf.”
As Shen Peichuan approached, Dr. Jiang replied, “There’s no need, I’ll walk myself out. You are needed here.”
The funeral arrangements likely needed more help.
“In that case, I’ll walk you to the door,” Shen Peichuan suggested.
Dr. Jiang nodded.
When Zong Yanxi couldn’t wake Grandpa, she looked at Lin Xinyan. “Mommy, why isn’t Grandpa talking to me? When will he wake up?”
“Grandpa won’t be waking up anymore.” Zong Yanchen choked.
“You’re lying!” Zong Yanxi screamed in disbelief but her eyes were already red and tears were welling up in them. “Yanchen, you’re a bad boy. How can you say that Grandpa won’t wake up?”
Just as she spoke, tears began to stream down.
Lin Xinyan passed the baby to Zhuang Zijin who wiped off her tears before taking over.
After that, Lin Xinyan helped her daughter to wipe hers.
Zong Yanxi threw herself at Lin Xinyan and buried her head in her chest. “Mommy, has Grandpa really left us?”
Lin Xinyan’s nose was burning so much that she could barely reply.
After getting a hold of herself, she told her daughter, “Grandpa is going to another place…”
The house was filled with sadness.
Soft sniffles were heard throughout as farewells were always sad.
It was a fact no one could change.
Wiping off her tears, Lin Xinyan gestured at Sang Yu. “Please take the kids to their room.”
Despite the sadness, someone had to take charge.
Sang Yu approached them with her lips pursed and she carried Zong Yanxi. However, Zong Yanxi hung on to the blanket and wasn’t willing to go with her. “I don’t want to leave Grandpa, boohoo…”
She bawled in sadness.
As for Zong Yanchen, he was also holding to the blanket while whimpering. ‘I don’t want to leave. I want to stay with Grandpa. I won’t be able to see him again, ever.”
Lin Xinyan who was trying her best to hold back her tears couldn’t help it anymore as they began to streak down her cheeks.
Watching the two children cry was too heartbreaking for her.
Meanwhile, Cheng Yuwen almost collapsed by the bed but Lin Xinyan quickly supported him. “Uncle.”
Shen Peichuan had returned after walking Dr. Jiang out. When he saw Lin Xinyan struggling to support Cheng Yuwen, he rushed over to help her.
“Take him to his room to rest.” Lin Xinyan instructed softly.
Shen Peichuan nodded. Noticing Zong Jinghao wasn’t around, he asked softly, “Where’s Jinghao?”
Only then did Lin Xinyan realize he wasn’t in the room.
“Why don’t you go look for him. He must be feeling depressed,” Shen Peichuan suggested.
Lin Xinyan nodded in acknowledgment. After helping Cheng Yuwen back to his room, she requested, “Help me watch over him.”
Cheng Yuwen was already old, hence she was worried about how he was going to handle the grief.
Shen Peichuan reassured her that he will manage and that she should look for Zong Jinghao.
After Lin Xinyan left the room, she saw that the study room’s light was on. Hence, she headed over.
At the door, she gently pushed it open.
