Ye Zhibai had chosen a simple black dress for today, nothing flashy or ornate.
The rain pattered down softly, a chill wind whispering through the air as a fine mist cloaked everything.
A light drizzle had fallen that morning.
The air felt crisp and cool, filled with the scent of dampness, while the earthy aroma rose from the roadside.
And now, the rain had stopped.
But the little rain in Ye Zhibai’s heart…
It had started falling again!
Because at that very moment, the sedan carrying her, Ye Zhiyun, and the invisible Fox Girl Guang Yu finally pulled up at the gates of the East City Crematorium.
It was now nine-thirty in the morning.
The cremation was set to begin in half an hour.
They had made it just in time.
Ye Zhiyun, ever mindful of her sister’s feelings, had specifically instructed the maids before they left to prepare a low-key black sedan—something ordinary.
Not like the flashy sports coupe they’d taken to school the day before.
After all, this was a crematorium… not a vacation spot. It was only appropriate.
But while they were on the road, Ye Zhibai had looked up the car emblem on her phone.
Yun’er…
This seven-figure Maybach isn’t exactly what you’d call low-key, is it?
Sorry, Big Sis, but our family really doesn’t have anything cheaper.
Ye Zhibai held the still-yearning-for-AC Guang Yu in her arms and stepped slowly out of the back seat.
A gentle breeze lifted her silver hair slightly as she raised her head. Her pale purple eyes, cooler than the surrounding air, scanned the environment.
Verdant hills, lush greenery, clear waters, and boundless skies.
The “hills” were the artificial rockery at the crematorium’s entrance.
The “waters” were the nearly dried-up ditch nearby.
All in all, it wasn’t bad.
At least, from here, there was a stretch of lawn and vegetation in sight.
If not for the sign reading “East City Crematorium,” you might mistake it for the entrance to a botanical garden.
The dead were gone; perhaps the carefully landscaped entrance was the crematorium’s only solace for the bereaved.
Every corner of this world still brimmed with kindness.
But right now, Ye Zhibai only felt suffocated!
Look at that gate over there—families of other deceased coming and going in small clusters.
Fine, I have no family—that I can accept. But I’m here to watch my own cremation!
Where’s the justice in that?!
Oh, wait… I didn’t have family before, but now I do.
However…
Ye Zhibai glanced speechlessly at the “family” beside her.
Ye Zhiyun, dressed in an ink-black gown just like hers, clung to Ye Zhibai’s arm like a magnet, refusing to let go!
Though she tried to compose her face to match the somber atmosphere, the lingering glow of last night’s joy still shone through, impossible to hide.
Ye Zhibai heard a certain sound and kindly reminded her.
“Yun’er… you’re humming your song out loud.”
“Ah…! Sorry, Big Sis! We’re here to bid farewell to the person from your dream. I should be more serious! Though… ugh, give me a moment to adjust. I’m still too happy right now; I need to get my emotions in check!”
“It’s fine. No need to force it. Just be yourself.”
Just like that.
Yun’er had been preparing a loving breakfast just moments ago when she got dragged here. It was normal for her mood not to shift so quickly.
She’s humming a tune now—you hum it out first.
Just don’t hum during my cremation later.
Otherwise, I might end up crying on the inside.
On the other side, Guang Yu had been communicating with Ye Zhibai via mind transmission ever since they stepped out.
She was even more outrageous, firing off a string of questions!
“Hey…!! Ye Zhibai, what is this place? What do they do here? Is there a vending machine for drinks? When are we going home? It’s so hot and tiring; I’m sleepy. I wanna go home and have a drink!”
Get lost!!
Can’t you two show some respect to this solemn crematorium?!
What the hell did I bring out with me today?!
Ye Zhibai furrowed her brow slightly and steeled herself to start walking forward.
Dragging her whole “family” along to see herself off. Now, Ye Zhibai was truly a one-of-a-kind super jinx.
~~~
Ye Zhiyun and Ye Zhibai sat on a bench about a hundred meters from the Cremation Building, waiting.
Once Guang Yu learned what this place was for, she expressed deep sympathy as a deity.
And then she went off to chase butterflies in the nearby bushes.
The Head Maid who had accompanied the two young misses was currently discussing the entry time with the crematorium staff.
It wasn’t long before the Head Maid appeared gracefully from nearby and reported to Ye Zhiyun and Ye Zhibai.
“Eldest Miss, Second Miss, I’ve looked into it. The person who covered the cremation costs and the subsequent funeral is named Chi Yuliang, a fresh graduate from Capital University who just returned to Qihai City this year. She comes from a modestly well-off family. The deceased, Ye Zhibai, was an orphan from childhood. Chi Yuliang and he spent a few years together in the same orphanage, so I believe that’s why she’s footing the bill.”
!
Was this the Ye Family’s intelligence-gathering prowess?
So thorough!
But as expected…
Hearing Chi Yuliang’s name in the Head Maid’s report didn’t surprise Ye Zhibai in the slightest.
Process of elimination worked wonders.
Once you rule out Sister Liang, who else would handle my remains?!
“Got it.” Ye Zhiyun, still holding onto Ye Zhibai’s arm, paid no mind to the details of the intel.
She cared only about Ye Zhibai’s feelings.
“Big Sis, are you relieved now? The person from your dream—someone’s taking care of his affairs. I’ve never seen a cremation myself, but… Big Sis, at ten o’clock, why don’t we just wait here? We don’t have to go in and watch.”
Mainly, Yun’er didn’t want her sister exposed to anything heartbreaking.
The cremation site had to be depressing, and since someone had already taken charge, Ye Zhiyun wanted to persuade Ye Zhibai to stay away if possible.
Stay away?
No way.
Strictly speaking, anyone else could skip this, but she had to go!
The reason lay in her heart.
Besides, Ye Zhibai wanted to see what state Sister Liang was in now.
Come to think of it… it had been four whole years since she’d last seen her.
Not since Sister Liang left for Capital University— their final meeting was during Ye Zhibai’s senior year of high school.
Sorry, Sister Liang… You just graduated from Capital University and came back all excited, and here I am, throwing a wrench in it.
A wrench? Bought with my life!
I’m truly sorry!
So, Ye Zhibai first turned naturally.
And patted Guang Yu on the head!
Catch your butterflies if you want, but stop bumping into my waist!
Hard-headed, huh?!
Only then did Ye Zhibai tilt her head back slowly, gazing at the sky, switching her mindset in an instant.
“Yun’er, some things… it’s good to experience them firsthand. For the mentor and friend from my dream, seeing him off on his final journey will put my heart at ease.”
“If Big Sis insists… alright then. Sigh, this Ye Zhibai must’ve had blessings from eight lifetimes! To have you personally come see him off—rest in peace!”
Don’t grit your teeth when saying “rest in peace”! So rude!
And as for my past life’s experiences, it wasn’t blessings from eight lifetimes.
It was karma from eight lifetimes of sin!!
Ye Zhibai placed her small hands on her knees and settled in to wait for time to pass.
It was now nine forty-five. In ten minutes, they’d head into the Cremation Building.
Wonder if Sister Liang’s here yet?
That was what Ye Zhibai was thinking.
Her gaze inadvertently drifted toward the asphalt road to the west.
That road led to the Cremation Building.
And on it… was a person.
Walking slowly toward the Cremation Building.
Ye Zhibai focused her eyes.
That face—it was etched deeply into her memories.
Sister Liang?
