Chapter 213 - 142: A Joyful Reunion
"Grandmaster, it’s been a long time. What do you plan to say when you see her?" Zhou Yan asked with a smile, genuinely curious.
Grandmaster Wang smiled and said, "Instead of saying how much you’ve missed them after a long separation, you say: ’Tonight, by the silver lamp’s glow, I still fear this reunion is a dream.’
Instead of saying you’re happy, you say: ’We meet with smiles, as if magnificent trees are leaning together, basking in the glow of a warm sun and radiant clouds.’
Instead of discussing the future, you say: ’Such are the meetings and partings in life; let us cherish this joyful reunion.’"
Zhou Yan was filled with respect. He silently took out a small notebook to jot it down.
’A Grandmaster is truly a Grandmaster. All those years of reading really paid off.’
They walked at a leisurely pace toward the large Banyan Tree by the bridge. As they got closer, they saw two figures already standing under it.
Qiu Qi was wearing a pale green qipao today, her silver hair coiled up high. She wore a pair of pearl earrings and was smiling gracefully at them.
Wang’s steps faltered. He stared at Qiu Qi, completely lost in a daze.
They were separated by ten meters, yet it felt like half a century.
Zhou Yan stopped as well and shifted to the side, preparing to see what the Grandmaster would do.
Meanwhile, Duan Yu Yan, who was standing beside Qiu Qi, was covering her mouth, staring at Wang with a look of utter shock and confusion.
’How could it be this man!’
’The same Wang who had dinner with me yesterday and even paid my bill!’
’He’s Wang Yu?’
Duan Yu Yan looked toward Zhou Yan, but he pretended not to notice, completely avoiding her gaze.
Qiu Qi walked toward him. She was smiling, but the rims of her eyes gradually turned red.
Wang Yu’s lips trembled slightly. He opened his mouth, but for a long time, not a single sound came out. It wasn’t until Qiu Qi was standing right in front of him that he managed to utter a single word: "Qiqi..."
"Long time no see, Yu." Qiu Qi said, looking at Wang Yu. Her eyes were brimming with tears, but her smile was exceptionally bright.
"Long time no see." Wang Yu smiled too, as if in that moment, he was finally at peace.
He looked at her, his eyes shining with immeasurable radiance.
In that moment, Zhou Yan finally understood the phrase: "To me, all others are merely grass and trees; only you are the verdant mountains."
"Yu, let’s go for a walk by the river," Qiu Qi suggested.
"Okay." Wang Yu nodded, and they began walking side by side.
Zhou Yan and Duan Yu Yan stood by the railing of the flood barrier, watching from afar as the two stepped onto the Stone Slab Bridge, talking and laughing just like old friends reuniting after a long time.
"Why didn’t you tell me that Wang Yu was Wang?" Duan Yu Yan demanded.
"If I told you, where would the surprise be?"
"This isn’t a surprise! It’s a shock!" Duan Yu Yan said through gritted teeth. She looked at the two figures walking away and then sighed softly. "I never imagined Wang’s life had been so difficult."
"’Such are the meetings and partings in life; let us cherish this joyful reunion.’ They are both open-minded people," Zhou Yan said with a smile, watching their retreating figures.
That memory fragment from the old woman... it felt as if some unseen force was compelling him to do this.
Zhou Yan and Duan Yu Yan stood at the head of the bridge for a long time. Neither of them spoke, simply watching quietly as the couple crossed the Stone Slab Bridge and then sat down to chat leisurely under a willow tree on the opposite bank.
Both of them were smiling, but a distance of half a meter remained between them.
Zhou Yan turned back to look at Duan Yu Yan and said, "If I don’t have enough money on hand, can I wait two months to pay you?"
"You’re that confident?" Duan Yu Yan asked, looking at him.
"Back then, Wang let her go to give her a better future and to protect her. Later, he didn’t contact her out of respect and a desire not to disturb her peace. He never had any possessive intentions; he just wanted her to live well. I don’t think that has changed," Zhou Yan said with a smile.
Hearing this, Duan Yu Yan smiled too. "My grandmother used to say, ’Choose a good man and grow old with him.’ And she did just that. I think they’ll become good friends."
"In that case, I’ll head back to the shop to prepare for the lunch rush," Zhou Yan said, raising his wrist to check his watch. "You can bring them over for lunch."
"Okay." Duan Yu Yan nodded. Seeing Zhou Yan about to leave with his bicycle, she took a step forward and said, "Zhou Yan, thank you. I’ve been in Jiazhou for half a year, and this is the first time I’ve seen my grandmother so happy."
"You’re welcome," Zhou Yan said with a smile. He hopped on his bike and rode away, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
Duan Yu Yan watched Zhou Yan’s retreating figure, a smile appearing on her face as well.
In the distance, standing beside a Toyota Crown, Yan Fei was anxiously scratching his head.
’Great! Just great!’
’Couldn’t fend off the guy with the buzz cut!’
’Couldn’t fend off the old guy either!’
’If the boss finds out, is he going to tear me to shreds?’
’Dammit...’
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