The outskirts of the Tomb Garden felt noticeably cooler than the city districts, which were shielded by greenhouse effects.
Lush woods stretched out, distant mountains towered on the horizon, and right by the edge of the Tomb Garden lay a crystal-clear little lake.
Serene and elegant, with rolling hills layer upon layer.
All of the above…
—Applied only if one ignored the uniform rows of tombstones to the west.
The tombstones stretched out endlessly, far more imposing than any scenic beauty!
One glance in that direction shattered any mood to admire the view.
Turn eastward, and the place resembled a idyllic tourist spot.
But look west, and it screamed prime commercial real estate—every inch worth a fortune!
That said, to have such a peaceful and picturesque site as one’s final resting place filled Ye Zhibai with deep gratitude.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! What an inauspicious thing to say—scratch that!
To avoid disturbing the Tomb Garden’s tranquility, the access road had no vehicle lanes.
Thus, the Head Maid had parked the car in a nearby lot and led Ye Zhibai and the others on foot to the core tombstone district.
Ye Zhiyun and the Head Maid stopped outside the entrance.
—The Tomb Garden staff had explained that only two people were allowed inside during urn interments, to prevent chaos.
Ye Zhibai found that rule reasonable, a sensible management practice.
For unfortunates like her with no family or friends, it hardly mattered. But imagine a well-connected deceased drawing a massive funeral procession—that would shatter the site’s peace entirely!
Naturally, Chi Yuliang was one of the two.
The other was Ye Zhibai herself, who had come along for this purpose.
Guang Yu, being no ordinary person, moved freely without restriction.
Worthy of a deity indeed.
At the Tomb Garden’s entrance gate, Ye Zhibai turned back to instruct Ye Zhiyun.
“Yun’er, wait here for a bit. I’ve heard the interment is quick—I’ll be back in ten minutes.”
“Mm… All right, Sister. Be safe… If you’re not back in ten, I’ll come find you.”
“…”
What dangers lurk inside a cemetery—no dump trucks or anything!
Unbeknownst to her, Yun’er’s “be safe” came with a sidelong glare fixed firmly on Chi Yuliang.
No evidence, no overt signs.
Yet Ye Zhiyun’s intuition screamed that this woman posed a threat!
Sister, stay vigilant against shady types like her—don’t let her sweet-talk or whisk you away!
Far deadlier than any truck!
Fortunately, from the perimeter fence here, Yun’er could monitor every move inside the Tomb Garden.
Before Ye Zhibai followed Chi Yuliang deeper in, Ye Zhiyun waved a dignified, elegant farewell.
But the moment Ye Zhibai fully entered…
The Second Miss’s behavior left the Head Maid utterly speechless.
Ye Zhiyun abandoned all propriety, plastering herself against the fence to scrutinize Ye Zhibai’s every step!
Ye Zhiyun Special Edition—covert surveillance mode!
Ye Zhibai and Chi Yuliang walked side by side, a short gap between them, as they sought Plot 50, the urn’s designated resting spot.
At such close range, Ye Zhibai caught a subtly… intensely nerve-wracking sight.
Ahem… From afar or straight-on, it wasn’t obvious.
But up close beside her…
Sister Liang’s chest gave a gentle, cotton-candy-like jiggle with each step!
Impressive as that was, it wasn’t what made Ye Zhibai tense.
Sister Liang, please hold the cremation urn a bit farther from your chest.
I’m terrified the bounce will launch it flying!
If the ashes spill… I might just camp out here forever.
Wah, I couldn’t bear it!
Helpfully, Ye Zhibai took the osmanthus cake bag from Sister Liang, minimizing disaster risks.
The deeper they ventured into the Tomb Garden, the clearer Ye Zhibai’s feelings became.
As a fake little rich girl with two million in her bank card but too scared to spend it, she could only say…
This place reeked of money everywhere. Not disrespectful to the dead, but the uniform, orderly layout gave that vibe plainly.
Top-notch management cost a fortune.
Those tombstones and the steps before each plot looked like solid marble slabs. Never mind external pricing—just securing a spot here in this premium land had to set one back considerably!
Unfamiliar with such matters, Ye Zhibai’s curiosity prompted a question as they walked.
“Chi Yuliang, did you pay for Ye Zhibai’s plot yourself?”
“Yes, Miss Zhibai. I didn’t tell anyone else.”
“How much did it cost?”
“Not much… Just my four years of scholarships, monthly savings from living expenses, and wages from part-time internship work during classes. It covered it exactly.”
“…”
Good lord! Sister Liang, by your account, that’s basically your life savings wiped out!
Ye Zhibai knew Chi Yuliang excelled academically, snagging Capital University’s top scholarships.
Her foster parents treated her well, providing ample living expenses, and her thrifty nature let her save plenty.
Yet a single plot zeroed it all out!
Grateful as she was, Ye Zhibai muttered a complaint to Guang Yu.
“Hear that, Guang Yu? In modern times, folks can’t even afford to die. Scraping by alive is manageable, but death? That’s true bankruptcy.”
Sometimes, to save money, just keep on living well—Ye Zhibai.
“I don’t get it… Forget that, Ye Zhibai! Can we go catch butterflies? There are tons here, and they’re so colorful!”
“Go on then. Scram and catch them.”
A deity couldn’t grasp human struggles.
She deserved to crawl.
After about a hundred meters along the gravel path, Chi Yuliang located Plot 50, as directed by the entrance staff.
Two workers stood ready there to dig, fill, and erect the stone.
Pit, tombstone, steps, fresh flowers—all prepared.
“Miss Zhibai, that’s the spot. Once we place the urn… Xiao Bai can rest in peace.”
“Mm…”
You’re right.
Thanks, Sister Liang. I lived poorly, but this pricey plot for my afterlife…
How could she not be thankful?
Embracing gratitude and release, Ye Zhibai approached the front of Plot 50.
Her mood darkened instantly.
Damn it… the photo engraved on the tombstone.
It was her university student ID picture!
Why this one?
If only she’d taken more photos back then!
Ye Zhibai loathed her past self, who hated pictures beyond ID shots—no other likenesses left.
Under the staff’s guidance, Sister Liang knelt, lowering the cremation urn into the pit with steady hands.
Her movements were heavy… though the urn weighed little.
Once settled, Sister Liang smiled tenderly, caressing the cool surface.
Just like years ago in the Orphanage, stroking Xiao Bai’s head to comfort him—gentle, touching.
The process was simple, but for Chi Yuliang, it surely stirred countless memories.
As Sister Liang rose, the workers began filling the pit.
Her eyes reflected the urn vanishing into the earth.
She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, her voice trembling with a choked sob yet forcing a smile as she turned to Ye Zhibai.
“Miss Zhibai… Please place these osmanthus cakes before the tomb. They’re my final gift to Xiao Bai.”
Osmanthus cakes…
—”Look, Xiao Bai! Sister got two osmanthus cakes from Dean Grandma! Hehe… Sure, I’ll have to do chores for two days as punishment, but totally worth it!”
—”Huh? Sister didn’t steal them! The chores are just… just for breaking a bowl, yeah! Don’t ask. You said this was your favorite, right? Eat up! Hmph, both are for Xiao Bai—Sister doesn’t like them.”
Yeah, osmanthus cakes.
Ye Zhibai clutched the bag.
Why did her eyes sting so, while her mind brimmed with such happy memories?
