Chapter 278 - 271
Song Shujing clutched the memorial portrait and looked at Jiang Li. She had so, so much she wanted to say, but in the end, she said nothing at all.
’But tonight, I saw she has so many people around who are good to her.’
Jiang Li’s body stiffened. Tears began to stream uncontrollably down her face as she hugged Song Shujing tightly.
"I don’t blame you, I don’t blame you..." ’Why couldn’t you stay with me a little longer?’
A pang of anguish seized Jiang Li’s heart, coming in waves...
Wu Ming and Yu Huannian were upstairs, quietly observing the situation.
"Something doesn’t seem right about this," Wu Ming murmured to herself, watching the two of them below.
’Shouldn’t they be reconciling and weeping with joy?’
’What happened back then wasn’t Auntie’s fault, and Jiang Li isn’t the type to hold a grudge. Besides, I can tell they both still care deeply for each other.’
Wu Ming’s eyes darted back and forth as a terrible premonition washed over her.
She pushed past Yu Huannian and Miao Anji and ran downstairs.
"Jiang Li! Jiang Li, wake up! Don’t scare me!"
Only when Wu Ming got closer did she realize neither of them was moving. She rushed forward and worriedly helped Jiang Li up. Without support, Song Shujing slumped to the floor beside them.
Wu Ming froze, her mind going completely blank.
’How is Jiang Li going to bear this?’
"Xiao Nian, hurry, drive to the hospital!" Yu Huannian and Miao Anji had just come downstairs when they heard Wu Ming shout.
"But... but she was fine just a moment ago." Yu Zhen Guo was also startled and quickly ordered someone to get a car.
The two of them were taken to the hospital late that night.
When Ji Qinghe and Lu Xingye heard the news, they couldn’t quite process it. Just a moment ago, they were celebrating for Jiang Li. Not even half an hour had passed—how could something have happened?
Lu Xingye rushed to the hospital, walked up to Wu Ming, and asked anxiously, "Wu Ming, what on earth happened?"
"Auntie... she’s gone. I just thought this would be a chance for them to reconnect. I never thought... I..."
"It’s okay, it’s okay. Don’t panic." Ji Qinghe stepped forward to comfort the distraught Wu Ming.
"Why?" Wu Ming’s voice was hoarse from crying. "On such a happy day... why?"
Ji Qinghe opened her mouth but couldn’t say a word.
The group waited in the hallway until a doctor told them Jiang Li’s life wasn’t in danger; she had just passed out from extreme emotional distress.
They fell silent. What they were worried about was what would happen when Jiang Li woke up.
When Jiang Li opened her eyes, she was met with a familiar scene: several worried faces leaning over her.
"Jiang Li, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" Wu Ming asked, her eyes red and swollen as she clutched Jiang Li’s hand.
"I’m fine. Sorry for making you worry." Jiang Li managed a faint smile and looked around at everyone.
She threw back the covers to get out of bed. She still had to handle her mother’s funeral arrangements.
"Jiang Li, why don’t you rest a little longer?"
Wu Ming held onto her hand, worried. She was too calm—frighteningly calm.
"It’s fine. I’ve been mentally prepared for this for a long time." Jiang Li licked her dry lips and looked at Ji Qinghe and the others. "Sister Qinghe, don’t worry about me. You all should go back to your own business."
Ji Qinghe glanced at Wu Ming. "Alright. Wu Ming, we’ll head back for now. Call us anytime if you need anything."
After persuading them to leave, Jiang Li went to the morgue.
Song Shujing was dressed in new clothes, her hair was neatly combed, and she had makeup on her face. It was clear that Wu Ming had helped prepare her.
"Wu Ming, thank you."
Her friends, still worried, followed behind her, helping her handle Song Shujing’s funeral arrangements.
Jiang Li contacted the crematorium and had Song Shujing’s ashes interred in the plot next to Shao Zhenhua’s. Afterward, she went to Jingshan Temple to light memorial lamps.
Looking at the three lamps before her, she thought, ’In their next lives, I don’t ask for great wealth or fortune. I just hope they can live in peace and safety.’
Jiang Li turned and left Jingshan Temple, the scent of incense filling the air.
Seeing her come out, Wu Ming hurried over. "Jiang Li, don’t worry. Your father and mother were good people. They’ll definitely have a good reincarnation."
Jiang Li’s eyes flickered. "Luo Jingheng is so powerful... do you think he could..."
"AHEM, AHEM AHEM! No matter how powerful he is, he can’t interfere with reincarnation. Jiang Li, you can rest assured. They will definitely have a good one."
Wu Ming had nearly choked on her own saliva at Jiang Li’s question.
Jiang Li nodded. "I see." ’In that case, I’ll just have to do more good deeds and accumulate merit.’
As Jiang Li was heading down the mountain, the little kid ghost at her side suddenly turned and started following a woman walking nearby.
’Huh?’
Jiang Li looked back. The little kid was waving its arms around wildly.
"Get back here!"
The kid’s eyes instantly cleared, and it came scampering back.
"I don’t know what happened! I just started following her all of a sudden," the little kid said, hugging her leg and looking up at her with pleading eyes.
Jiang Li pulled her gaze away from the woman. "We’ll talk about it when we get back."
Wu Ming was startled by her words. Then, as if realizing something, she swallowed hard. "Jiang Li, how many of them are clinging to you?"
"A dozen or so, I guess."
Wu Ming scratched her head. "That’s not good. If this goes on for too long, it’ll be bad for your health."
"It’s fine. It can’t get much worse than it already is."
Jiang Li looked around. ’It’s really strange. I can’t see any other ghosts besides these ones. I haven’t even seen Mom’s.’
Jiang Li got in the car and looked at the little kid next to her. "How did you die?"
"I don’t know."
An older-looking ghost beside her spoke up. "None of us remember our past lives. We don’t know how we died."
Jiang Li nodded. ’Could this be the lingering attachment Luo Jingheng was talking about?’
"It’s okay, being a ghost is pretty good. Watching you humans live looks so painful."
"Yeah, yeah!"
The whole car full of ghosts chimed in. Having followed Jiang Li for so long, they had watched her break down time and time again, and even they found it unbearable to witness.
’It’s better now, not having to worry about anything.’
Jiang Li nodded in agreement. ’They have a point.’
After returning home, Jiang Li went to her room, collapsed onto the bed, and fell asleep.
Wu Ming, who had just reached the doorway, was startled. She ran in and checked if Jiang Li was still breathing.
"Thank goodness, thank goodness. She’s just asleep."
Wu Ming backed out, closed the door, and turned around only to see Yu Huannian and Miao Anji staring at her, which made her jump.
"How is Sister?"
Miao Anji glanced at Jiang Li’s door, extremely worried.
"It’s hard to tell for now. But Jiang Li probably isn’t as fragile as you think. Of course she’s sad, but you have to look forward, right?"
As she spoke, Wu Ming walked over to the sofa, sat down, and stroked her chin. "The other day, I overheard Jiang Li and Luo Jingheng talking. There’s this guy named He Shaohui, and he’s a bad one too."
"We need to find a way to find this person first and take care of him."
The two men’s gazes hardened. "Is there a photo?"
"Oh, please. Kun Sha had plastic surgery. This He guy has definitely disguised himself too. Besides, Luo Jingheng said that with Kun Sha out of the picture, He Shaohui will only be more vigilant. Jiang Li’s plan is to wait."
"He’s bound to show his face eventually."
Miao Anji caressed the Bone Flute in his hand. ’Wait?’
’I’m not the patient type.’
In her room, Jiang Li dreamed she was a little girl again. Shao Zhenhua was lifting her high up to ride on his shoulders like a horse, while Song Shujing watched them with a gentle smile.
"Be careful, don’t let her fall."
Jiang Li hugged Shao Zhenhua’s neck tightly.
It was a beautiful dream. When she woke up and opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the wall of dolls that Song Shujing had made for her.
Jiang Li got up, had a meal, and collected her emotions. It was time to move on to the next step: finding He Shaohui.
After rearranging one of the walls, she looked at the photos there and added a new target.
"Hey, this should be the place."
Jiang Li heard the voice by her ear, opened her eyes, and watched what was happening in front of her with exceptional calm.
Two men had their backs to her, digging with shovels.
’Dumping a body again?’
"Old Yang, is your information correct?"
"How could it be wrong? I paid a high price for this tip. Buried down there is a local ’emperor,’ and all his wealth was buried with him when he died."
Jiang Li narrowed her eyes. ’Grave robbers?’
The men started digging with their shovels when a beam of light suddenly shone on them.
"Who’s there?!"