A pond full of blooming flowers, an ultimate addiction.

"I'm sorry, please accept my condolences to the family."

The hospital pronounced Grandpa Jiang dead; he suffered a sudden heart attack and passed away despite all efforts to save him.

"grandfather."

A heart-wrenching scream echoed through the empty corridor, as if squeezed from the depths of one's heart, a sound that evoked despair.

The moment Jiang Yang received the call, his phone slipped from his hand and crashed heavily to the floor, waking Wang Ruozhi from her light sleep.

Jiang Yang's eyes widened, his pupils dilated slightly, and his expression froze. Doubt, horror, and shock welled up in his heart, and tears swirled in his eyes before finally streaming down his face uncontrollably.

"Husband, what's wrong?"

Wang Ruozhi rubbed her eyes; his expression frightened her. She shook his arm, and he quietly dispersed into the night.

Upon hearing the devastating news, Jiang Yang was the first to arrive at the hospital. Jiang Yi sat on the ground, while You Jun stood silently to the side with his head down.

Grandpa Jiang lay quietly on the white bed, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, his face serene.

With reddened eyes, Jiang Yang checked her grandfather's breath with her hand. When she was sure, she turned away, closed her eyes, and shed a single tear.

When Jiang Weiqing and his wife, along with Jiang Chen, arrived, the body was already covered with a white sheet, and they knelt down on the ground with a thud.

"Dad—" A man doesn't easily shed tears, unless he's truly heartbroken.

"Let's take Grandpa home!"

Jiang Weiqing patted Jiang Yang's shoulder gently, his left hand, clenched into a fist hidden in his sleeve, trying to conceal his inner grief.

Second Aunt Ruan He walked over and tenderly took Jiang Yi's hand, gently stroking her hair and calling her name.

"Xiaoyi."

She knew that the child had been well protected since childhood, and with her sister-in-law's sudden death and the old man's unexpected passing, she was afraid that the child would not be able to bear it.

Jiang Yang squatted down and said, "Xiao Yi, Grandpa will be watching over us from heaven."

Jiang Yang's hand trembled as he held Jiang Yi's. His breathing was heavy and complicated as he tried to say something to comfort his sister, holding her and trying to soothe her.

Jiang Yi stared blankly at Jiang Yang, as if grasping at a straw, her dim eyes filled with tears as she pleaded.

"Che, can you call Grandpa for me? He must be sleeping too soundly. He was holding my hand and having dinner with me this afternoon."

"How could this be? How could this be?"

Jiang Yang froze, then grabbed Jiang Yi's arm. "Xiao Yi, look who I am!"

"Che, please help me."

Jiang Yi could no longer support herself, and her knees buckled, causing her to kneel on the ground. Her heart felt as if it were being gripped and twisted by an invisible hand, aching terribly.

Her thoughts began to become chaotic, her eyes lost focus, and she stared ahead, but there was nothing in her vision.

Jiang Yang was completely bewildered, his voice trembling. He held back his tears and hugged Jiang Yi, trying to comfort her. She looked exactly the same as the one he had seen in New Zealand four years ago.

"Brother Yang, something's not right with Xiao Yi."

Jiang Chen also noticed something was wrong. Jiang Yi's eyes were filled with confusion and dullness, as if he were lost in a fog, revealing a kind of emptiness.

Jiang Yi couldn't take it anymore. Her body felt as if it had been drained of all its energy, and she collapsed into Jiang Yang's arms.

Jiang Weiqing notified his relatives and friends, and everyone was caught off guard. No one expected that Grandpa Jiang, who was in good health, would pass away so suddenly.

Grandpa Chi rushed over as soon as he heard the news. "Gu Zhi, why did you leave?"

Grandpa Chi leaned against the ice coffin, watching his old friend pass away, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

"Wei Qing, handle this well."

Grandpa Chi turned and left, his usually straight back now slightly hunched, his steps slow, his face heavy with grief as he mourned his lost friend.

Since waking up from her fainting spell, Jiang Yi has shown no emotional fluctuations. She ignores everyone who speaks to her, neither crying nor making a fuss, and mechanically follows Jiang Yang.

At Grandpa Jiang's funeral, his former comrades-in-arms, their families, and students all came to bid him farewell.

On a day when the sky was overcast, the leaden clouds resembled heavy stone slabs. White silk mourning banners fluttered in the cold wind, and the bronze bell in the hall tolled softly. Silence condensed into a huge mass of sorrow, pressing down on everyone's chest.

Officer Zhang, dressed in his police uniform, rushed from another city to the funeral hall. He covered his face and sighed, holding his police hat and solemnly observed a minute of silence.

"May you rest in peace, Mr. Jiang."

Grandpa Jiang's funeral was kept simple according to his wishes, and he was buried with Grandma Jiang. He had already handed over all his shares, and after discussion, they decided to give his only property to Jiang Yi, who was the most suitable candidate.