Chapter 1310: FLOWER FIELD

LUO YAN tucked his grandfather into bed, pulling the covers up to his chest. The old man's eyes were already heavy, the long day finally catching up with him. Earlier, his brothers and cousins had filed in one by one to say good night.

He adjusted the blanket one last time and smoothed it over his grandfather's shoulder. He sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, watching the other's face in the dim light from the bedside lamp. His breathing was slow and even, already drifting toward sleep.

"Good night, Grandpa," Luo Yan said softly.

His grandfather's eyes opened just a crack. A faint smile touched his lips. "Good night, Xiao Yan." He paused, his voice soft and slow. "I'm glad. That I got to spend more time with you."

Luo Yan leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to his grandfather's forehead. "Me too, Grandpa. Sleep well."

He stood, walked to the door, and flicked off the light. Pausing at the threshold, he looked back at the dark shape in the bed. Something tugged at his chest, a feeling he couldn't name. He shook his head slightly, figuring he'd probably just eaten too much at dinner, and pulled the door closed behind him.

As Bai Zhen heard the door click shut, a peaceful smile settled on his lips. He closed his eyes. His thoughts grew soft and hazy, like clouds passing. His body felt light, drifting. And then, from somewhere close, he heard a voice. A voice he had missed for longer than he could measure.

"Ah Zhen."

When he opened his eyes, she was there. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Small and graceful, with long black hair falling past her shoulders. She stood before him in a silver cheongsam.

"Yingying."

His wife smiled and walked toward him. She raised her hand and gently stroked his cheek. "Ah Zhen, I missed you."

Bai Zhen felt tears fill his eyes. He couldn't hold back anymore. He reached for her and held on tight. "Yingying," he whispered into her shoulder. "Yingying."

Her soft arms wrapped around him. She patted his back gently. "I'm here now. I won't leave you again, my Ah Zhen."

Bai Zhen didn't know how long they stayed like that. He didn't care. He just wanted it to keep going. So he held his wife tighter, arms wrapped around her like he would never let go.

"Ah Zhen," she called softly. "Shall we go see Hua-er now?"

Bai Zhen looked at his wife, confusion clear on his face. "Is Hua-er here as well?"

As if in answer, a voice he knew better than almost any other called out to them.

"Mom! Dad!"

He turned toward the voice and saw a beautiful little girl waving at them from a short distance. In that same moment, the surrounding space changed. Suddenly they were standing in a wide field covered in flowers.

Yingying turned to him and held out her hand. "Let's go, Ah Zhen."

Bai Zhen reached for her hand, but he stopped, hesitating. As if sensing his thoughts, his wife spoke before he could.

"They will be fine, Ah Zhen. Our family will be fine."

Hearing that, he let go of his worries and took her hand. They smiled at each other, then walked together through the flowers toward their daughter waiting ahead.

***

Luo Yan got out of bed early. His father and brothers would head back to S City today. Luo Jin had wanted to stay a few more days, but he was a senior in high school now. He couldn't afford to miss class. Luo Yan figured his younger brother had been hoping to at least go on one proper date with Su Yuqi before leaving. But Su Yuqi had been busy last week, so that never happened. Now Luo Jin was about to go back home. Oh well. Nothing to be done about it now. Maybe they could meet up in Arcadia instead and have a date there.

After brushing his teeth, doing his morning skincare routine, and changing into fresh clothes, Luo Yan walked out of his room. He went straight to his grandfather's room first. At this hour, the other would still be asleep. But checking on him every morning had become a habit. Especially now, with his grandfather's nurse still away on vacation. He wanted to make sure everything was all right.

Luo Yan reached his grandfather's room and paused outside the door. He turned the handle slowly, pushing it open just enough to slip inside without making a sound. The room was dim, curtains drawn, the soft morning light barely seeping through the edges. He tiptoed to the side of the bed and looked down at his grandfather's sleeping face.

For a moment, he just stood there watching. He wished, more than anything, that his grandfather would wake up the same way he had yesterday. But he knew better than to hope for that. Days like yesterday were rare. They came without warning and left just as fast. Most mornings, his grandfather woke up lost, confused, reaching for a wife who was no longer there or a daughter who had been gone for years. Luo Yan had learned not to expect anything.

Luo Yan reached out and pulled the blanket higher, covering his grandfather's shoulders. As he did, his hand brushed the other's chest, and he felt nothing. No rise or fall. He waited a moment, his hand still resting there, but there was no movement.

He moved his hand, pressing two fingers under his grandfather's nose. No breath. Nothing. His stomach dropped. He pressed his palm flat against his grandfather's chest, searching for a heartbeat, but there was nothing. Grabbing his grandfather's wrist, he pressed down, feeling for a pulse. Nothing. His fingers shook so badly he could barely keep them in place. He pressed harder, searching, but still found nothing.

His own heart slammed against his rib at that moment.

He let go of the wrist and grabbed his grandfather's shoulder, shaking him. Nothing. He shook him harder until his grandfather's head lolled to the side.

"Grandpa?" His voice cracked. He shook him again. "Grandpa, wake up. Please."

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