Chapter 194 : Lift Me Up
"Ye Ye, Ye Ye! Time to wake up!"
Ling Ning looked helplessly at her daughter, who was still buried under the covers, fast asleep. Although it was a Tuesday, today was also Qingming Festival, so school had generously given them the day off.
Today, she planned to visit the graves of her parents. Or rather, of Ling Ning’s parents—because she now was Ling Ning.
When her daughter still didn’t stir, Ling Ning sighed and gave her one last warning. “If you don’t get up, I’m going to use my secret weapon!”
At her mom’s words, the bundle on the bed shifted, and Ling Ye’s sleepy little face poked out, greeting her with a mumbled, “Good morning, Mom…”
“Enough with the cuteness! Go wash up and have breakfast. We’re leaving soon!”
“Alright…”
Their destination was the cemetery on the outskirts of town, which was a nearly two-hour drive. Knowing this, Ling Ning had woken her daughter early.
Despite the saying "rain falls during Qingming," today was sunny and hot. Even in a light dress, the warmth was almost stifling.
Before heading to the cemetery, they stopped by a nearby flower shop to buy a bouquet. In her memories, Ling Ning’s parents had loved lilies, so she picked a simple bouquet of them. She’d also learned last night that this cemetery didn’t allow incense or paper offerings, so flowers would have to suffice.
After the two-hour journey by taxi, the mother and daughter finally arrived. The heavy traffic had left even Ling Ning, who rarely got carsick, feeling nauseated. As for Ling Ye, she looked completely drained, and they both had to rest at the entrance before moving on.
Following her memories, Ling Ning led her daughter to her parents’ gravesite. Looking at the photos of her parents on the headstone, she felt a complex mix of emotions.
“Mom, is this Grandpa and Grandma?” Ling Ye asked, looking curiously at the photos.
“Yes. Doesn’t Grandma look a lot like Mom?” Ling Ning replied, feeling a strange pang at hearing her daughter call her mother “Grandma.” Even though there was nothing wrong with it, it made her feel oddly old—despite still being a high schooler.
Ling Ye looked closely at the photo, realizing her mother was right. The resemblance was striking.
“Alright, let’s clear away these leaves.”
“Okay!”
The fallen leaves around the grave weren’t too many, so the two of them tidied up the area quickly. Once the gravesite was neat, Ling Ning looked at it with satisfaction.
“Mom, what were Grandpa and Grandma like?” Ling Ye asked curiously.
Ling Ning paused to gather her thoughts. In her memories, her parents had been the epitome of a model couple. Her mother had been warm, always smiling, and loved doting on her, hugging her and playing with her hair. In many ways, she was similar to how Ling Ning treated her own daughter now.
Her father, while usually quiet and reserved, would transform into a playful character whenever young Ling Ning was upset. She remembered how, as a child, she’d loved being lifted high into the air by him—a memory that now filled her with an odd mix of embarrassment and nostalgia.
“Well, let’s just say they were both wonderful people.” There was no way she was telling her daughter about her love for being lifted up as a kid; some things were just too embarrassing to admit.
“Aw, come on…”
Ling Ye pouted, clearly disappointed with the vague answer.
“Alright, alright. I’ll tell you more when we’re back home. If I start here, we’d be talking forever!” Ling Ning ruffled her daughter’s hair with a smile.
After pacifying her daughter, Ling Ning carefully placed the bouquet of lilies in front of the headstone. “I’ll come see you again next year… Mom, Dad.”
Taking a deep breath, she suppressed the ache in her chest and turned to Ling Ye. “Alright, let’s go.”
Just as they were about to leave, Ling Ning noticed a familiar figure nearby. Squinting, she recognized Ye Xuan in the distance.
“Ye Xuan!”
She waved as she walked over, but Ye Xuan, her head bowed, didn’t seem to hear.
As she got closer, she noticed something unusual. Ye Xuan’s shoulders were shaking slightly… was she crying?
Sensing someone behind her, Ye Xuan turned. Her gaze first fell on a pair of legs, and then she realized Ling Ning was standing right there.
“You’ve been crying.”
Without asking questions, Ling Ning pulled a pack of tissues from her bag and handed her one.
“Th-thank you.”
While Ye Xuan wiped her tears, Ling Ning glanced at the gravestone in front of them. The photo on it was of a beautiful woman who bore a striking resemblance to Ye Xuan.
“That’s my mom… a coward,” Ye Xuan murmured.
She seemed to have composed herself, her face returning to its usual impassive look. However, her red eyes betrayed her recent tears.
“A coward? W-… sorry.” Ling Ning had started to ask but quickly stopped, realizing it was probably not her place to pry into Ye Xuan’s family matters.
“It’s fine.”
⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱
Author’s Note:
This is the eleventh chapter. Time’s almost up, and yet this author’s heart feels nothing.