His sister’s eyes turned red, and she wailed loudly: "I’ve had my heart broken! Elena is my sister-in-law now! I’ll never meet someone as good as her again! Boo-hoo...!"

Arthur’s smile remained unchanged as he gave her a swat, and his sister immediately quieted down.

"Sorry, Brother, I was wrong."

Chapter 40

It wasn't until Julian had fully recovered and was discharged from the hospital that I appeared before him again.

The difference was that this time, I appeared hand-in-hand with Arthur. He held his head high, a look of unmistakable pride in his eyes as he looked at Julian.

Julian lowered his gaze, suppressing the bitterness in his heart.

"Let me reintroduce myself. I am Elena’s partner. Thank you very much for saving my future wife during the car accident a while back. If you have any demands, feel free to make them."

"However, having said that, we’ve gotten to the bottom of the whole situation, and this matter is not unrelated to you. So, you’d better not push your luck."

Julian let out a light laugh and looked up again. He looked at me, his eyes red and his lips trembling, as he said only one sentence—

"Elena, please be happy."

Such a sentimental atmosphere was bound to be broken by Arthur.

"Look at how you put that. This matter falls under my jurisdiction, no need for you to worry. As for you, you’d better take care of yourself, and don't end up creating a few more Xus, only to get yourself killed."

I nudged Arthur’s waist with my elbow, and he immediately shut his sharp mouth.

This display of intimacy didn't escape Julian’s eyes. A bitter smile tugged at his lips.

"Elena, in the future, no matter what difficulties you encounter, you can always come find me, I..."

I once again took out the little notebook from my bag that recorded every expense I had ever made. This time, I had saved up the full amount.

One thousand three hundred and fifty-six yuan, exactly.

Julian looked at the stack of bills handed to him, his gaze trembling.

He asked in a choked voice: "Elena, do we really have to be like this?"

I remained silent, offering no response.

Julian raised a hand to wipe away the tears on his face, took the stack of bills from my hand, and turned to leave.

As you wish, we are clear of each other.

...

Spring blossomed.

I received my admission letter from Nancheng University.

Evelyn had already been discharged. The family sat together, full of laughter and joy.

I held the notice and looked at it over and over again, tears of gratification shimmering in my eyes, though my voice was a bit choked: "Your father’s greatest wish in life was to go to college. Now, it can be considered a fulfilled dream."

"Sister Evelyn, don't be sad. Elena is so excellent; Brother Gu’s spirit in heaven will surely be gratified."

I held Arthur’s hand and said after a moment of silence: "Uncle, Auntie, I plan to wait until Mom’s health recovers a bit more and the weather gets better to take Mom to the Martyrs' Cemetery in the capital."

Arthur’s father slapped his thigh: "Let's go, we’ll all go. I should go see Brother Gu as well."

The family decided on it just like that.

...

June, near the capital.

Evelyn kept staring out the window, and suddenly, she said: "Arthur, can you stop the car here?"

Arthur didn't ask any questions and pulled the car steadily to the side of the road. I looked at the loquat trees by the road, laden with fruit, and suddenly understood something. My eyes immediately reddened.

Arthur reached out to pull me into his arms, briefly connecting the dots and realizing the meaning.

He squeezed my shoulder slightly.

Evelyn picked many large, yellow wild loquats and carefully wrapped them in a cloth pouch.

Arthur’s father, who had also stopped his car behind them, saw this and was immediately overcome with tears, choking out: "Brother Gu loved wild loquats from the mountains the most."

His mother held back tears, helping her husband steady his breathing.

Inside the Martyrs' Cemetery.

Evelyn could finally place the wild loquats she had picked herself in front of Gu Anguo’s tombstone, even though she was three years late.

Looking at the still-young Gu Anguo in the photograph, Evelyn smiled genuinely, though tears continued to slide down her cheeks.

She looked at the person in the photo with tenderness, murmuring: "Anguo, our daughter has grown up. She’s a college student now. Both your wish and hers have been fulfilled."

Arthur’s father couldn't hold back his tears anymore. Leaning on the tombstone, he sobbed uncontrollably.

"Brother Gu, don't you worry. I will definitely take good care of your wife and Elena. You must protect them both in heaven so they live in peace!"

His mother supported him: "Brother Gu, rest assured, our whole family will be good to Elena."

I held Arthur’s hand and looked at the person in the photo, revealing a smile.

"Dad, this is my partner, Arthur, Uncle Arthur's son. Take a look, is he okay?"

A breeze blew by. Arthur immediately gave a standard military salute toward the tombstone, his body trembling slightly from tension.

Arthur’s sister chimed in from the side: "Uncle Gu, don't mind him, my brother is just... he gets nervous easily. Rest assured, he is definitely okay! If he’s not good enough, you have me!"

In the next second, two slaps landed on the back of her head simultaneously.

She held her head, looking aggrieved, on the verge of tears.

"No, why are you doing this? I meant I can also take care of sister Elena!"

As the group left the cemetery, Julian’s figure slowly appeared.

He placed a bouquet of white chrysanthemums in front of the tombstone and said solemnly, with his head bowed—

"Uncle Gu, I am sorry."

...

At the photo studio.

Arthur’s father wore a crisp military uniform. His mother stood in the middle, arm-in-arm with Evelyn. On the other side, his sister stood straight, her hair neatly combed and a bowtie in place.

I sat in the middle in a red qipao with exquisite makeup, arm-in-arm with Arthur, who was also in his military uniform.

When everyone looked at the camera, their faces held genuine smiles.

"Come, newlyweds, a bit closer. Good, perfect. Look at the camera... beautiful!"

Click.

The moment the shutter pressed, Arthur tilted his head and kissed me.

Happiness was frozen in this moment.

—[The End]