Two hours later, Chi Yuliang received the cremation urn.
Sometimes, in the time it takes to go for a jog or catch a nap, some people have already turned to ash.
It happens so quickly.
Chi Yuliang cradled the cremation urn carefully in her arms as she stepped out of the oppressive atmosphere of the Cremation Building.
Even after breathing in the fresh air of the wide-open world outside, she felt no real sense of relief.
Traces of tears still lingered on her face, un-wiped.
Some pains cut deep into the bone.
They weren’t the sort that time could smooth away in a matter of days.
Chi Yuliang hugged the urn tighter and was just about to set off when she suddenly remembered the people she had encountered earlier.
She halted and turned back.
Sure enough, the two young women were still following her.
Ye Zhibai had brought Ye Zhiyun along, and they hadn’t left right away.
Ye Zhibai had a few things she wanted to say to Chi Yuliang.
Though Chi Yuliang had no idea who they were, she forced a pale, heartbreaking smile through her grief and nodded gratefully to Ye Zhibai.
“Thank you… Earlier inside, you supported me and kept me from falling. Ah… Were you here today to see off a loved one too? From the east side of District 11?”
Perhaps Ye Zhiyun instinctively didn’t want her sister talking alone with another woman.
Before Ye Zhibai could respond, Ye Zhiyun stepped forward and took the conversation in hand.
“Hello, Miss Chi. Just like you, we came to see off the one you’re holding in your arms.”
“……?”
Chi Yuliang blinked, momentarily at a loss.
You too… seeing off Xiao Bai?
But who were they?
With Xiao Bai’s personality, he shouldn’t have known many girls… let alone ones who’d come all the way to the crematorium to bid him farewell.
Ye Zhibai shot her a look: Are you being polite?!
Ye Zhiyun faltered a little, unsure how to proceed.
This was genuinely tricky to explain.
That her sister had met a dear mentor and friend in a dream? Saying something like that would just make them sound crazy!
If it was hard to explain, then there was no need to explain at all!
Ye Zhibai had been about to step up anyway, but Yun’er had jumped in first!
“Yun’er, why don’t you go find a spot to wait for me? I have some things I’d like to discuss privately with Miss Chi Yuliang here.”
“…?! But Sister!”
“It’s fine. You can watch from afar—I’m perfectly safe.”
“That’s not what I…! Sigh! Fine, but hurry up, Sister. We need to head home soon!”
“Mm.”
As Ye Zhiyun retreated reluctantly to a bench a short distance away,
she kept looking back every few steps!
Of course safety wasn’t an issue—the Maid Corps was on standby nearby, guarding her sister.
But the problem was, her sister wanted to be alone with another woman!!
Right under her nose!!
And she couldn’t even listen in!!
Truth be told, Ye Zhiyun was utterly reluctant, but considering her sister had just been crying her eyes out, she couldn’t bring herself to protest.
Perhaps she wanted to speak with this person connected to Xiao Bai about the arrangements for the funeral afterward?
She didn’t want Ye Zhiyun hearing any more heartbreaking talk?
Wuwu, Sister, you’re so kind!
Even as her possessiveness swelled to bursting, once she thought of it that way, Ye Zhiyun suddenly felt much more at ease!
Go ahead and talk, Sister. Then we can go home.
Hehe, Sister’s the best.
In her heart, she thanked
Yun’er’s Understanding People’s Intentions.
Now, finally alone with Sister Liang, Ye Zhibai could face her directly.
Oh… and Guang Yu circling nearby.
But they’d said it more than once—she wasn’t human, so she could be ignored. It was harmless.
Ye Zhibai looked up into Chi Yuliang’s gentle eyes, brimming with sorrow and confusion.
She hesitated, then pondered for a moment.
There was no way she could just blurt out the truth bluntly.
Only a fool would open their mouth and say, “The urn you’re holding has no soul in it! The real soul is standing right here—”
Words like that would land her straight in a psych ward!
Besides… It was precisely because Ye Zhibai respected this sister so much that she didn’t want to disrupt her quiet life any further.
The farewell was done. It was time to respect it.
Composing her already composed expression, Ye Zhibai spoke softly.
“Chi Yuliang, right?”
“Yes. And you…?”
“Mm… It’s like this. I’ve never actually met you or… cough, the person you’re holding in reality. We only crossed paths once in a dream, before he passed. So I’m here to pay my respects today. Just think of me as someone filling out the crowd.”
“Ha… Huh?”
Coming to the crematorium… to make up the numbers?
Okay.
Don’t look at me like I’m nuts. Hear me out.
Ye Zhibai skipped over the awkward fabrication and cut straight to the point.
That was the real reason she wanted a moment alone with Sister Liang.
“Please don’t grieve too much.”
Hearing this from the silver-haired girl before her, a flicker of gratitude appeared in Chi Yuliang’s gentle eyes.
But that gratitude couldn’t mask even a fraction of the grief within.
“You’re telling me to… take heart? Mm, thank you, little sister. That’s what I’m trying to do, but you might not understand… Sometimes, whether you’re sad or not isn’t up to you. Ahaha… I only just realized that feeling myself. Does saying it out loud sound arrogant? But you’re right—maybe when the time comes to feel better, I will.”
There was no conviction in Chi Yuliang’s words.
She clutched the urn tighter, holding it up before her.
Her impressively ample chest made Ye Zhibai’s eyes spin!
Of course Ye Zhibai couldn’t let it go!
It was exactly because she cherished those memories with Sister Liang that she wanted so badly to help her escape this whirlpool of sorrow!
In her anxiety, she spoke her mind without holding back.
“I know I have no right to say this, so take it as a suggestion. I heard what you said in the Cremation Building earlier. You bought some osmanthus cake, right? If you can’t eat it… you could wait until after the funeral and place it at his grave. That way, he’ll definitely receive it.”
It was a perfectly ordinary, perfectly heartfelt suggestion.
But it gave Chi Yuliang pause.
She suddenly furrowed her brow, staring intently into Ye Zhibai’s eyes as if scrutinizing something.
A complicated tangle shone in her own dark gaze.
Ye Zhibai felt a bit creeped out under that stare!
Huh?! I didn’t say anything wrong!
If you don’t want to put it on the grave, just shove the osmanthus cake in my mouth instead!
Same effect! And it’d warm Little Zhibai’s heart!
After staring for a long moment, Chi Yuliang slowly shook her head.
“Sorry… It’s nothing. It’s just, little sister, the way you talk reminded me of him. He used to comfort me the same way—relax, there’s always a solution. But he’s gone now… Sigh! Little sister, maybe it’s fate that brought you here today. Mm… I’ll do as you say. After this, I’ll bring the osmanthus cake to Xiao Bai’s grave so he can taste the flavor he loved most as a kid.”
Wuwu, thank you, Sister Liang!
With that said, out of politeness, Chi Yuliang had to ask.
“By the way, little sister, what’s your name? The reason you gave for knowing Xiao Bai is a bit odd… but I can tell you’re a good person.”
“Ye Zhibai.”
“……”
