Chapter 35.2
Grandma Lu closed her eyes while holding Grandpa Lu’s hand, remaining silent for a long time.
Grandpa Lu looked deeply worried, and Lu Qin was at a loss with his stubborn grandmother. Lu Yao’s expression was serious as he considered feasible solutions, while Yu Le didn’t dare speak, afraid of interrupting him.
The room, with five people standing in it, was silent enough to hear a pin drop.
At that moment, Grandma Lu opened her eyes again and looked at Grandpa Lu, “A Xi, when will you marry me?”
The sudden question stunned everyone by the bedside.
Yu Le quickly looked at Lu Yao with wide eyes, his expression bright as if he had just seen a treat.
Lu Yao rubbed his head.
Grandpa Lu’s hand visibly trembled as he asked, “Qiao Qiao, what… what did you say?”
Grandma Lu repeated, “When will A Xi marry me?”
Even though Grandpa Lu was already on the verge of death, he was at a loss, like a child, due to Grandma Lu’s words, “Qiao Qiao, I… I…”
Too many words were stuck in his throat, and only a few could be spoken.
Grandma Lu reached out with her other hand to cover Grandpa Lu’s hand. Her cloudy eyes were filled with longing, “Do you remember that white dress I wore in the garden?”
“It was a wedding dress made specially for me by the tailor, and I wanted to wear it to marry you.”
“But later, I don’t know how, that dress disappeared. I searched for a long time… a long time, but couldn’t find it.”
“A Xi, I really want to wear that dress again for you. Please help me find it. Before I go to the hospital, I want to wear it for you one more time.”
…
“Your grandmother’s mother passed away in the hospital.”
In the corridor outside the room, Grandpa Lu’s eyes were red as he recounted the past with a hoarse voice, “At that time, your grandmother was only eight years old. The lady was still with her in the afternoon, playing the piano in the living room and had planned a spring outing for the next day. But that night, she was sent to the hospital.”
“She stayed in the hospital for five days, watching the lady’s condition deteriorate rapidly, from youthful and beautiful to withered and dying.”
“Since we escaped, she has often been delirious. In her view, entering a hospital meant death, that one could never come out again, never reunite with family. So, she has always been very resistant to going to hospitals.”
“I thought she would be most reluctant to part with A Qin, but unexpectedly…”
Pure and sincere love never fades due to a long wait. It is only entrusted to a sweet and enduring patience, always burning hot, never cooling down, and never fading.
Grandpa Lu handed them a yellowed old photo, his eyes filled with nostalgia, “This is a photo of Qiao Qiao in the garden that day. She secretly gave it to me, and I’ve kept it until today. But the dress… I don’t know, I couldn’t bring it out.”
The photo was so old that it had many spots, and Grandma Lu’s face was indistinguishable. Only he could be seen holding a bouquet, elegantly seated in a chair, the white dress simple and graceful, its hem spread out like a lace flower on the ground.
Lu Yao might not know, but Yu Le could recognize at a glance that this was a classic style from that era, now almost impossible to find in bridal or dress shops. Perhaps some nostalgic photography studios or collectors might still have it.
But the distance from Xuan City made it uncertain when such a dress could be found and delivered.
Lu Yao thought for a moment. “Grandpa Lu, I’ll take the photo back with me first—”
“Let me try.”
Yu Le volunteered. “I brought some fabric, and the sewing machine is ready. The style of this dress isn’t difficult; a day should be enough. It’s just that some lace and decorations might…”
“Don’t worry.” Lu Yao gave a reassuring answer, “I’ll look for it.”
Back at the inn, Yu Le immediately began working on the dress in the room.
Lu Yao didn’t go up; he glanced at the kitchen where only Zhao Xiaosong was eating.
“Little Song.” He asked Zhao Xiaosong, “Have the two guests from your inn come by?”
Zhao Xiaosong replied, “Yes, only the man came. He asked where you and Le Le were. I said I didn’t know. He sat for a while and then left. Boss, are you going out?”
Lu Yao nodded. “I’ll be back soon. If that guy comes again, just tell him that Le Le and I are not back yet.”
Zhao Xiaosong: “Got it. I’ll make sure to handle it!”
Lu Yao went out and returned with a white plastic bag.
He went upstairs, knocked on Yu Le’s door, and entered. Yu Le was struggling with the paper patterns and asked, “Do you have a ruler? Any kind will do, wooden or soft.”
“I do. Wait a moment.” Lu Yao placed the plastic bag on the table, “Inside are two lace scarves. See if you can use them.”
After Lu Yao left, Yu Le opened the plastic bag and took out the scarves. They were obviously used, not new, probably borrowed or bought from a neighbor by Lu Yao. The fabric was large enough; two scarves together would be more than enough for the hem.
Lu Yao quickly brought a yellow wooden ruler. The size was a bit small, but under the circumstances, it was quite good.
“Lu Yao, help me press down some parts,” Yu Le said as he spread out the paper. The paper was large, and it was challenging to handle alone due to space constraints.
Lu Yao helped clear the table of other items, trying to leave the maximum amount of space for Yu Le to work.
Yu Le quickly immersed himself in his work, meticulously measuring the paper, cutting the fabric, stitching, and assembling. Each complex step felt as natural as drinking water to him.
Since Yu Le was deeply engrossed in his work, Lu Yao could only assist minimally, staying close by.
However, this proximity allowed Lu Yao to understand Yu Le’s usual feelings of admiration for someone proficient in their field.
When someone was exposed to top-tier professional skills up close, the admiration felt was uncontrollable.
And Lu Yao’s admiration might be even greater because at this moment, Yu Le seemed like an unattainable star to him, shining brightly.
From morning until night, aside from meal times, Yu Le hardly stepped out of the room.
The basic shape of the dress was almost complete, and it was at least 90% similar to the photo.
Adding the lace to the hem and making a few adjustments would complete the dress.
But Yu Le still felt something was off. He examined the blurry photo under the light, and noticed something around the waist of the dress, “Ah, there are pleats here, and the fixed part seems to have a floral shape.”
Lu Yao asked, “Can you recreate it with fabric?”
“I can,” Yu Le said, looking at the leftover scraps, “But I’ve run out of white fabric. These pieces are too small and might not be sufficient.”
Lu Yao didn’t have any white clothing. Looking at the time, it was almost midnight, and people in the mountains went to bed early, usually by eight or nine. Finding fabric at this hour would be difficult.
Yu Le searched through his suitcase and found only a white T-shirt, but the fabric was clearly unsuitable and would look awkward if used.
He rubbed his face, thought for a moment, and suddenly asked Lu Yao, “Do you think Wang Wenyin might have a white dress?”
Lu Yao put down the ruler. “I’ll ask.”
“No need, you wouldn’t recognize the fabric,” Yu Le said, standing up. “I’ll go.”
Two minutes later, Yu Le stood at Wang Wenyin’s door, mentally preparing himself.
The room was very quiet, suggesting… she wasn’t busy.
Anyway, he only needed to stand at the door and not go inside.
He raised his hand to knock, but the door was opened from the inside first. Wang Wenyin, leaning against the doorframe lazily, looked at him. “You’ve been standing here for a while. Do you need something?”
Yu Le: “…”
Wang Wenyin picked at her fingernails. “Don’t worry, I broke up with Chen Fa. The room is just me now, so there’s nothing inappropriate.”
A breakup?
Yu Le was surprised, but there was no time for idle talk. He had a serious matter to discuss.
He briefly explained Grandma Lu’s situation, focusing on the end. “Now we just need white fabric for the flowers, or if you have any white tulle flowers, that would work too—”
“Oh, got it.” Wang Wenyin interrupted him, turning back into the room. When she came out again, she tossed a satin camisole dress to Yu Le. “Is this okay? Take it, no need to thank me~”
Yu Le didn’t expect it to be so easy and was even more surprised that the dress Wang Wenyin gave him still had… the tags attached?
“This is new?” Yu Le hesitated. “Is it okay?”
Wang Wenyin raised an eyebrow, casually pulling the dress back from Yu Le, taking a pair of scissors from the dresser, and making a few random cuts at the neckline. She then threw it back to him, indifferent, “There, now it’s used.”
Yu Le: “…”
Yu Le: “I’m very grateful. How much is it? I’ll transfer the money to you.”
“Forget it, it’s not worth much.”
Wang Wenyin put her arm down and turned back into her room, her tone rising. “Just show me the dress when it’s done. I’m curious about what a former landlord’s daughter would wear~”
The white satin fabric was very similar to the fabric Yu Le used for the dress. When arranged and sewn into flowers, the effect was seamless. The remaining fabric even allowed him to recreate the two layers of ruffled lace on the sleeves.
After midnight, the dress was finally finished.
Yu Le carefully checked the dress to ensure there were no issues. With his tense nerves finally relaxing, he felt dizzy and collapsed into Lu Yao’s arms. “I’m so tired.”
Lu Yao held him and gently massaged the back of his neck, “Is it done?”
“Yes.” Yu Le buried his head, his voice muffled but relaxed. “It’s done. Grandpa Lu and Grandma Lu won’t have any regrets now.”
Throughout his growth, Yu Le had heard many stories, of reunions and separations, joy and sorrow.
He was very emotional and easily empathized. A tragedy often lingered in his mind for a long time, not as a source of endless reminiscence or profound reflection, but simply as discomfort, regret, and an unshakable sense of unease.
“Lu Yao, I have to tell you something that might seem laughable.” He closed his eyes and said softly, “I really wish there were no tragedies in this world, that all stories and people were complete…”
“It’s not laughable.”
Lu Yao embraced him, whispering as if comforting, “Grandpa Lu and Grandma Lu are not a tragedy, they are complete.”
“Even though they haven’t spoken about it for decades, they have always been together. At least in this long lifetime, from meeting each other to today, they have never been absent from each other’s lives.”
“Not everything is perfect and clear-cut, but the enduring love that time cannot dull will never be obscured. They have walked through a century together, which is beyond what many people can wish for.”
“They have always been together, without regrets.”
