Capítulo 832: Grand Finale (Part 9)

This breakfast was especially drawn out. Everyone ate slowly and deliberately, even Jiang Jingrui, who was usually quite brash, appeared refined. It was as if they hoped this meal could last forever, never to part.

But there is no feast that doesn’t come to an end, and this breakfast inevitably reached its conclusion. After the meal, Jiang Li was to accompany the Jiang family members to the city gate. In the carriage, Madam Jiang the Elder, breaking precedence, began reminiscing with Jiang Li about her childhood, of course referring to the time before Jiang Li was sent to Green City Mountain. Madam Jiang the Elder was filled with sentiment, but it was a pity that the Jiang Li of today wasn’t the true Miss Jiang the Second; she also lacked the memories of Miss Jiang the Second. Those bygone days didn’t belong to her. Upon hearing these stories, Jiang Li felt a pang of regret, wishing that the real Miss Jiang the Second was here. Unfortunately, those who left never returned, which is why it’s important to cherish the people before you.

When they arrived at the city gates, Jiang Li got down from the carriage. The Jiang family members followed suit, and Jiang Jingrui, still not giving up, said to Jiang Li, “Have you really thought this through? It’s not too late to change your mind. If you say you wish to go to Yongzhou with us, we’ll leave everything else behind. Staying alone in Yanjing City won’t be fun.”

Lady Lu looked hesitant, as if she also wanted to say something to persuade her, but given that Jiang Yuanping had likely discussed it with her beforehand, she ended up saying nothing.

“You have fun in Yongzhou,” Jiang Li said with a smile, “Perhaps one day, if I get the chance, I might also visit Yongzhou, and then it’ll be your turn to show me around.”

Jiang Jingrui snorted softly, murmuring, “So stubborn.”

Jiang Li simply smiled, remaining silent. She still remembered the first time she saw Jiang Jingrui. While the other Jiang family members were cold and hostile to Miss Jiang the Second, this youth was brash but did not look at her with the wary and strange eyes the others did. When she looked at Jiang Jingrui, her mind often wandered to Xue Zhao; Miss Jiang the Second and Jiang Jingrui were close in age, but Xue Fangfei was older than Jiang Jingrui.

Jiang Yuanbai looked at Jiang Li with a complex expression. In the end, he only patted Jiang Li on the shoulder and said, “Take good care of yourself.”

“Father, you too,” Jiang Li responded sincerely. “It’s getting cold, dress warmly, and don’t catch a chill.”

Jiang Yuanbai wasn’t a bad person, but when it came to matters regarding Miss Jiang the Second, he was too foolish. If not for his inability to distinguish right from wrong, Miss Jiang the Second would not have perished at such a young age. For this reason, Jiang Li found it difficult to be as close to Jiang Yuanbai as she was to the Ye Family. It felt as if by doing so, she would be betraying the prematurely deceased Miss Jiang the Second. But now, at the very end, she suddenly felt as if all grievances of the past were like smoke in the wind, erased with a single stroke.

That was just the way it was.

Jiang Yuanbai and Madam Jiang the Elder re-boarded the carriage, and Lady Lu and the others waved goodbye to Jiang Li from the carriage. Jiang Li stood at the city gates, watching as the line of carriages slowly moved away.

Tonger and Bai Xue stood behind her, both feeling a bit melancholy. Jiang Li suddenly also felt a sense of desolation. No matter what, the family she had in name was now parting ways with her. In this life, she didn’t know if there would ever be another opportunity to meet again.

Parting was always difficult, and at this moment, she understood how Jih Heng must have felt. Watching one family member after another leave, until he was the only one remaining.

Jiang Li turned around and was momentarily taken aback. In the snowy December day, amidst the wind and snow, not far away stood Xue Huaiyuan, with Situ Jiuyue pushing Xue Zhao under an umbrella; they looked at her with concern, just behind her, ready for her to see them the instant she turned.

Jiang Li was stunned at first but then slowly began to smile.

Perhaps, she was never alone. The feeling of having someone waiting for you in the background was so comforting that how could she let Jih Heng turn around to find himself without anyone behind him?

She too wished to be the person who waits in the background.