The vast Xie Mansion was now shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere.
Old Master Xie was lying pale in the bed, his eyelids so heavy that he could hardly lift them.
All the Xie family members were gathered around the bed, each with a look of extreme grief on their faces.
Ruan Jiu bit her lips tightly, desperately holding back her sobs.
Since the passing of Old Lady Xie, Old Master Xie's health had started to decline.
He had been holding up the entire Xie family all this time.
But later, with a series of upheavals in the Xie family, his body could no longer hold on.
"Why are you all so sad?" Old Master Xie smiled faintly.
But his voice was no longer deep and powerful.
At this moment, Xie Jing could no longer hold back. A man in his thirties, he instantly burst into tears like a child.
He knelt in front of Old Master Xie and tightly grasped his hand. "Father, don't worry. I will surely find a good doctor to cure you!"
Old Master Xie twitched the corners of his lips. "I know my own body very well."
Everyone has to die someday, earlier or later.
It was already a great blessing that his body had held on until this day.
Old Master Xie then continued, "Now that I see you brothers getting along well, I can finally go and see Yi'er in peace."
Xie Jingchu's eyes were red. He said with difficulty, "Father, don't leave us..."
"Lao Si, I've wronged you... From now on, the Xie family will rely entirely on you..." Old Master Xie's breathing grew weaker.
His lips were completely bloodless, but he was still struggling to breathe.
At this moment, Ruan Jiu felt as if every bone in her body had been frozen. It was bone - chillingly cold and heart - wrenchingly painful.
Wasn't the scariest thing in the world knowing that death was approaching but being completely powerless?
"Ajiu, come here..." Old Master Xie glanced at Ruan Jiu.
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu immediately stepped forward and knelt in front of Old Master Xie. She tightly grasped his hand, and her tears could no longer be stopped.
"You all go out first. I have something to say to Ajiu alone." Old Master Xie said slowly.
Old Master Xie tried to lift his hand and gently wiped the tears from Ruan Jiu's face with a kind look. "Ajiu, don't cry."
But Ruan Jiu just couldn't help it. She sobbed continuously. "Grandfather, Ajiu can't bear to part with you..."
This was the only grandfather she had!
One of the few people in the world who truly treated her well!
Old Master Xie smiled. "Silly girl, your grandmother has been waiting for me for too long. Now that I've become so old, I don't even know if she'll still recognize me."
Mentioning Jiang Yi, the corners of Old Master Xie's lips curled up a bit more.
"Grandfather, stop talking..." Ruan Jiu couldn't bear to listen anymore.
Every word from Old Master Xie seemed to be announcing his impending departure to her.
"Ajiu, grandfather knows that you and Lao Si are in love with each other. From now on, you'll be the only one by his side."
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu's eyes widened slightly. She shyly lowered her eyelids. "Grandfather, I'm sorry..."
"There's no need to be sorry. I was too narrow - minded before. I thought self - righteously that he should marry a woman of equal social status, forgetting what he really wanted.
Actually, I've known for a long time that he has feelings for you. That's why I was in such a hurry to arrange your engagement with Yan'er to break his heart."
Old Master Xie let out a long sigh and then continued, "Back then, he protected you and sent you to my courtyard.
On the surface, he was cold to you, but in fact, he personally selected all your tutors. Even every book you read was carefully chosen by him.
He has been cold - natured since childhood, and only you can warm his heart."
Only then did Ruan Jiu realize that over the years, Xie Jingchu had been silently doing so many things for her.
She had reached where she was today entirely because of Xie Jingchu's support.
"Ajiu, don't blame grandfather."
Ruan Jiu shook her head, and big tears rolled down her eyes.
"Ajiu, you've always been the most obedient. Grandfather has something to ask of you."
Saying this, Old Master Xie's breathing became more rapid.
He coughed several times in a row.
"You're as quick - witted as Lao Si. I suppose after those things, you must have suspected his background, right?"
Ruan Jiu frowned and nodded.
"You're right. He's not a child of the Xie family."
Actually, Old Master Xie's words didn't shock Ruan Jiu too much.
After all, she had already had a hunch from all the previous events.
Old Master Xie tightened his grip on Ruan Jiu's hand. "Ajiu, grandfather hopes you can promise me that if one day he finds out his own background, you must stop him from taking revenge!"
What?
Revenge!
Ruan Jiu's eyes were full of shock, and she stood there stunned.
Seeing Ruan Jiu in a daze, Old Master Xie continued, "Don't let him live with hatred!"
Ruan Jiu pursed her lips. "Then who is he exactly..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Old Master Xie immediately interrupted her. "Ajiu, will you promise me?"
Since he knew that people from the capital had come to investigate Xie Jingchu's background, he knew that some secrets were about to be revealed.
If that day really came, perhaps only Ruan Jiu could stop Xie Jingchu.
Seeing that Old Master Xie avoided talking about Xie Jingchu's background, Ruan Jiu felt an uneasiness in her heart.
There must be a huge secret hidden behind Xie Jingchu's background.
If it could be described as revenge, could it be a deep - seated hatred?
If so, how could she make decisions for Xie Jingchu?
Ruan Jiu bit her lip and remained silent.
Seeing this, Old Master Xie said more urgently, "Ajiu, this is grandfather's only wish. Won't you even agree to it?"
After saying that, his heart tightened, and a stream of blood rushed up his throat.
The rapid coughing made Old Master Xie cover his mouth involuntarily.
The next second, blood oozed out from between his fingers.
Ruan Jiu was so anxious that her body trembled. She immediately cried out, "I promise you! Grandfather, I promise you!"
After hearing the satisfactory answer, Old Master Xie's brows finally relaxed.
Lying in the bed, his eyes were empty.
He murmured, "Yi'er, I can finally come to see you..."
He had fulfilled all the entrustments that Jiang Yi had given him back then.
After a while, no matter how reluctant everyone was, no matter how hoarsely they cried.
Old Master Xie still closed his eyes peacefully.
He passed away.
At the funeral, Xie Jingchu was kneeling in the mourning hall of Old Master Xie.
He hung his head and sobbed continuously, but he didn't dare to cry out loudly.
Seeing Xie Jingchu like this, Ruan Jiu felt even more heart - broken.
She wanted to hug him and comfort him that grandfather had just gone to another world.
But she couldn't utter a single word.
Everyone knew that death meant they would never see each other again in this lifetime.
Whether turning into a star in the sky or a wisp of soul.
They would never see each other again.
How could it not make people sad?