Emma finally turned to the man called Old Sun and softly asked, "Did you really know my father?"
"Emma, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Old Sun seemed to deflate all at once, his voice heavy with regret. "It's not Jason's fault, it's mine."
Then, Emma listened as he recounted the events from six years ago. At that time, Jason had just joined Hengya Group. The Middle East was always dangerous, and many companies were hesitant to cooperate with these countries due to the high risks involved.
Only Hengya Group, with its spirit of striving for excellence, had a presence even in war-torn areas. Jason had traveled to Israel for business negotiations, but encountered difficulties along the way. The financial staff member accompanying them fell ill and was unable to work, forcing them to find a temporary replacement.
Ni PingSen, though not a direct employee of Hengya Group, worked for a closely affiliated subcontracting company, a relationship unknown to outsiders. He was dispatched to work with them.
Until a strike broke out in Israel, followed by a bombing, forcing Jason to leave the country. Despite the haste of their departure, Jason instructed Old Sun to ensure Ni PingSen's safe return to his residence before rejoining him.
"Jason had only me as a security personnel at the time. I was too concerned about his safety amidst the chaos and the crowds. Your father understood and arranged for a familiar car to pick him up. I watched him get into the car and apologized, promising to treat him to a meal when we returned to Shanghai."
At that time, Jason's position in Hengya Group was not high, and he didn't have the constant security detail he has now. Old Sun was there because he was going to Israel, and Zhong Lan had insisted he bring someone along.
But no one expected that Ni PingSen would never return to his residence.
Emma listened to all of this with a blank expression. Was this the truth she had always sought? Yet, no one had been able to tell her.
She finally asked, "Does he know?"
Did he know about her father's disappearance?
Old Sun replied, "Yes, but he only found out two years ago, which is why Jason went back to Israel."
Two years ago...
That was when they met. She was looking for her father, and so was he.
Even now, she couldn't help but marvel at the cruel irony of fate.
Emma didn't know how she left, but she didn't drive. Instead, she calmly took a taxi to the club that Jason and his friends frequented.
Today, Han Zhao was off duty, and Xiao Yichen had invited him for drinks, even calling her from Jason's office to ask for leave.
She arrived at the club and walked straight to the courtyard.
The rain, far from stopping, seemed to be getting heavier, with the sound of raindrops hitting the ground all around, crackling and popping.
As Emma walked through the garden, she suddenly stopped.
Should she ask him?
And then what...
Emma was trembling all over, from her teeth to her fingertips, shaking uncontrollably.
It wasn't until Xiao Yichen glanced out the window and saw the scene in the garden, exclaiming, "Which girl is this, playing with emotions in the rain for fun?"
He wasn't mocking; he found it quite amusing.
But when he looked closer, the person next to him had already stood up abruptly and rushed out.
Jason grabbed an umbrella from the door and hurried to the garden, a mix of shock and anger on his face. As he held the umbrella over Emma and led her to the corridor, intending to pull her into the private room, Emma suddenly clutched his wrist.
Her fingers gripped his wrist tightly, with all her strength.
Jason felt an inexplicable emotion rise in his heart.
Emma looked up at him, her gaze serious and clinging, and whispered, "Shen Yan."
"I'm here," Jason replied in a hoarse voice.
Emma said, "Do you remember our wedding vows in that little church in Israel? We promised to be honest with each other. Can you answer me a question now?
"Did you marry me because you love me?"
For the first time, Jason's eyes showed despair and panic. He reached out to hold Emma's hand.
He didn't speak.
Emma let out a bitter smile and softly said, "Then let me ask another question."
"Did you know I was Ni PingSen's daughter before you married me?" Emma looked at him directly.
The rain outside the corridor continued to fall, the sound of rain seeming to drown out all other noises, leaving only silence between them.
Finally, he spoke, "I knew."
Emma blinked, and tears fell, hitting the back of her hand.
Suddenly, she thought of Israel.
The origin of all her pain and happiness.
That year, she went to that foreign country with all her trepidation, anticipation, and unease, hoping to find her father's whereabouts, and instead, she met the man she would love the most in her life.
The day at the car dealership, the moment she turned her head and saw him...
When she asked if she could get drunk and he told her she could, when he selflessly protected her with his own life, when she listened to him asking if she would marry him...
He was the Jason she had decided on.
Just this morning, before getting out of bed, he was still holding her, nuzzling her, unwilling to get up, this handsome and steady man showing a rare childlike side in front of her like a lazy big cat.
And in just a few days, it would be their wedding. She had fantasized about him standing at the end of the flower path, waiting for her to walk towards him step by step.
Even without her father to hold her hand, there was the man who loved her the most at the end.
She wouldn't be afraid.
What was she to do with such a Jason?
Finally, it felt like an eternity had passed.
She looked up at Jason and softly called out, "Shen Yan."
"We're over."
Under the corridor, the rainwater continuously slid down the eaves, and even though it was already May, there was still a piercing cold. When Emma blurted out those words, even she was stunned.
Jason looked at her, his gaze a bit unfocused, seeming to take a long time to regain his composure.
"Jing Xi." Jason gently called her name.
Suddenly, a jarring vibration from a phone rang out. It was Emma's phone, but she didn't reach for it, letting the ringtone continue to play.
If she could, she wished to be in a place with no one around, undisturbed, allowing her to think clearly about everything.
Jason lowered his eyes, staring at her, his eyes deep.
Until Xiao Yichen came out of the private room, looking anxious, "Shen Yan, Tang Mian's call has already come to me, he said..."
Xiao Yichen paused. He and Han Zhao had noticed the situation from the private room. Although they hadn't heard what was being said, it was clear that they were not discussing a pleasant topic. Otherwise, Emma wouldn't have come directly in the rain.
"He said Jing Xi's grandmother is being resuscitated in the hospital."
When Emma got into Jason's car, her mind was like rusted, devoid of any thoughts.
Since Jason had been drinking, a designated driver from the club was driving.
He gently hugged Emma and whispered, "It's okay, Jing Xi, don't be afraid, don't be afraid."
Emma's clothes were all soaked, and Jason draped his suit jacket, which was in the car, over her, holding her in his arms. But whether from the cold or fear, Emma was trembling.
She leaned against Jason, not uttering a word.
At this time, there were quite a few vehicles on the road, and with the rain making the roads slippery, everyone was driving cautiously.
When the car arrived at the hospital, it had been almost an hour.
Tang Mian had arrived at the hospital ahead of them and was waiting at the entrance for them.
When he saw Emma get out of the car, he was a bit stunned.
Emma's hair was all wet, and her face, which was already pale, now looked so white it was almost transparent, without a hint of blood color.
Emma stepped out of the car, and Jason intended to support her, but she slowly shook her head, "I'm fine."
She straightened her back and walked into the hospital slowly, with Jason walking quietly by her side. Tang Mian followed behind, looking at their backs with a sense of unease. Although they were still walking shoulder to shoulder, there seemed to be an intangible barrier between them, something he had never seen in Jason and Emma before.
Sometimes even Tang Mian couldn't help but feel envious. He had been with Jason for a long time and was used to seeing his calm and self-controlled demeanor, always maintaining a distant politeness, as if there was an invisible film between him and everyone else.
But everything changed when he met Emma. That transformation was something Tang Mian envied to witness; perhaps marrying the one you love brings such happiness.
When Emma arrived at the emergency room, she stood outside and quietly gazed at the door. Her grandmother's condition had never been good, and in the past six months, she had often stayed in this private hospital, where Jason had arranged an entire medical team for her.
At this moment, Emma leaned quietly against the wall, her gaze seemingly vacant. She recalled the last time she visited her grandmother, who was disappointed to see only Emma alone. Even while eating the cake she brought, her grandmother kept asking where Shen Yan was, how Shen Yan...
Her Shen Yan, so likable to everyone.
Emma abruptly closed her eyes, forcing back the tears. But her mind suddenly flashed back to the words she had spoken earlier. She had doubted him, said such things to him. Emma felt like she must have been mad. She trusted Jason as much as she trusted herself. How could she have spoken so recklessly?
Emma opened her eyes again. The emergency room was still tense, and Jason stood by her side, quietly accompanying her. She lowered her eyes, catching sight of his hand hanging quietly by his side.
Emma took a deep breath, her palm against the wall, inching closer to where he stood, moving bit by bit until she was almost next to him. Her palm stopped, waiting for a long, long time.
Until her pinky finger gently hooked his palm. Jason was quietly waiting when he felt a soft touch on his left hand, followed by a light tug on his pinky finger—gentle, almost imperceptible.
At first, he didn't react, but as realization dawned and he understood what was happening, something inside his chest seemed to explode. The heavy emotions that had been suppressed were shattered in an instant.
He reached out and firmly grasped her hand, as if clutching the last lifeline before sinking into the abyss. They continued to stand against the wall, but neither spoke, their hands never parting again.
After an indeterminate time, when the doctor emerged, Emma's body straightened as she left the wall, standing upright. She stared intently at the doctor, yet for some inexplicable reason, she hesitated to ask about the situation.
The doctor looked at Emma and said softly, "Family should be mentally prepared." When faced with life and death, even the most compassionate doctors cannot fight the cruelty of fate.
Emma's gaze scattered; she looked blankly ahead, unable to discern any faces clearly. "Jing Xi," Jason held her in his arms as soon as the doctor spoke, but even so, she remained in a daze.
After a while, Emma looked at him, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. When she and Jason entered the ward, aside from the faint sounds of various machines, the person lying in the hospital bed seemed lifeless.
Grandma lay there so peacefully. As Emma approached, she gently knelt by the bedside, looking at her grandmother who was wearing an oxygen mask. It was unclear how much time had passed, perhaps only a few seconds or maybe a very long time.
Grandma's eyelids fluttered and then opened, revealing her eyes that saw Emma kneeling by the bed and Jason behind her. She clearly wanted to smile, but she was too exhausted, even to the point of not being able to lift the corners of her mouth.
"Jingxi," her grandmother's voice was hoarse, as if it took a great deal of effort for her to speak.
Emma immediately nodded, "Grandma, I'm here."
She knelt forward so her grandmother could see her more clearly.
This time, a smile finally appeared on grandma's face. "Don't cry, grandma is not in pain," she said.
Emma obediently wiped her cheeks, ensuring there were no tears, and then said, "I'm not crying, I'm not."
"Grandma was most worried about you," her grandmother looked at her, her eyes filled with affection, until she looked up at Jason behind her. "But after you married Shen Yan, grandma felt relieved."
Although grandma couldn't live with them, every time they visited, she could see how well Jason treated Emma. The way he looked at her was the same way Ni PingSen used to look at Gu Mingzhu, her precious pearl.
When Gu Mingzhu first brought Ni PingSen home, grandma couldn't say she was satisfied. Ni PingSen's parents had passed away early, and as an outsider who came to Shanghai for university, no matter how good his character was, his family background was always a hindrance.
But that day, grandma noticed how he couldn't help but steal glances at Gu Mingzhu, even in front of her parents. His gaze, filled with young love and sweetness, almost moved grandma as well.
After that, grandma never opposed his relationship with Gu Mingzhu.
Listening to grandma's words that sounded like last words, Emma shook her head, her vision blurring again. She had promised herself not to cry, but the tears were like disobedient children, always escaping her control.
Grandma seemed too tired after speaking so much, pausing for a long while before continuing. "This time, grandma really misses your grandfather and your mother," the old lady's face showed a happy glow, having been separated from them for so long. "Our family of three can finally be reunited."
Emma held her grandmother's hand tightly, as if this could keep her here.
"The only regret is that grandma has waited for so long, and your father never came back."
Emma sniffled and choked out, "Please wait a little longer, he will come back, he will."
"Grandma is tired, and won't wait anymore."
At this moment, Jason, who had been standing behind, couldn't bear it any longer and slightly turned his head away.
But the next moment, grandma called out, "Shen Yan."
Jason heard and immediately stepped forward, bending over to look at grandma. Her voice was particularly weak as she said, "From now on, grandma leaves Jingxi to you."
"I will protect her for a lifetime, ensuring her safety and happiness."
Hearing his words, grandma's face revealed a happy smile.
Gradually, grandma's eyelids slowly closed as if she was truly tired. Emma gently held her grandmother's hand, which was a bit rough but still warm, and softly called out, "Grandma."
Suddenly, the machine next to them emitted a sharp sound. Emma looked up...
Within seconds, doctors and nurses rushed back into the ward. Emma was held by Jason and led out of the room. She clung to him, shaking her head desperately, "No, no."
Half an hour later, the doctor came out of the resuscitation room, his face slightly sorrowful as he said, "Please accept our condolences, family members of Sang Huanian..."
Emma didn't hear the rest of the sentence because her head felt like it was exploding, and her vision became blurry.
Until she collapsed into Jason's arms and fainted completely.
When Emma woke up, she opened her eyes to a world of white. After blinking and recognizing the man dozing in the chair next to her, his brows furrowed and his hair slightly disheveled, his thin lips still pressed into a straight line even in sleep.
Emma glanced at the IV bag hanging by her bed, and the thoughts in her mind seemed to come back completely.
Grandma.
She tried to sit up, but as soon as her hand touched the edge of the bed to support herself, and her movement also woke the man who was sleeping very lightly. Seeing Emma awake, he immediately said, "Jingxi, don't move."
Emma blinked and looked at him, asking softly, "My grandma..."
Jason, afraid that she would get too excited, leaned over and gently pressed her shoulders, his tone gentle, "Jingxi, you got sick from the rain yesterday, had a high fever. So the doctor said you must not get too excited."
His hand stroked her shoulder a few times before he continued, "I've arranged for someone to take care of grandma's funeral affairs."
Emma was stunned.
Indeed, it was not a dream. For a moment when she just woke up, she hoped that all of this was just a nightmare. After waking up from the nightmare, she would still be the happy bride-to-be, eagerly looking forward to her wedding.
"Is there anything you want to do for grandma at the end?" Jason knew she must be very sad now and after considering for a long time, he asked her.
After a long while, Emma looked into his eyes and suddenly smiled.
That desolate smile pained Jason's heart.
"Shen Yan, I have nothing left."
Her words were like a sharp sword, piercing his heart, stripping away the flesh and blood, causing him such pain that he couldn't say anything.
After a long while, Jason said in a low voice, "You still have me."
Emma suddenly reached out and hugged his neck, her tears falling from the corners of her eyes, dampening his cheek.
In the quiet ward, the tall man just bent over and let her hold him.
At this moment, it was their eternity.
Their wedding was indefinitely postponed, and Huo Zhenzhong and Zhong Lan personally called the guests to express their deep apologies. As for the reason, everyone understood; with the passing of Emma's grandmother, it was indeed not the right time to hold a wedding celebration.
The funeral arrangements were also handed over to professionals to handle. There is no wall that cannot be breached by wind, and although their wedding had not been officially announced to the public, the media was largely aware of it. When the news of the wedding cancellation broke, it immediately caused an uproar online.
While netizens were speculating, someone managed to capture the preparations for the grandmother's funeral.
"I know everyone is curious why our god of men and goddess of women had to cancel their wedding. I've received some insider information that it's because our goddess Emma's grandmother has passed away. Here, I'd like to offer my condolences to goddess Emma."
A minor live streamer, without a sense of propriety, broadcasted everything online.
"Damn it, this is so inhumane, filming someone's funeral."
"Come on, let's report this, it's too scummy."
"Do you live streamers even understand what respect means?"
When Tang Mian informed Jason about this, he was at home with Emma, who had been in low spirits since last night, and he hadn't gone to the office.
Emma had just fallen asleep, and he carefully got up and walked outside.
After hearing what Tang Mian had to say, he whispered, "I don't want to see any media coverage about grandma. She was not a public figure."
"Understood, President Jason," Tang Mian replied.
Before ending the call, Tang Mian softly said, "President Jason, please accept my condolences for you and your wife."
"Thank you," Jason whispered.
Emma didn't sleep for long, waking up about half an hour later.
She got up and found a black suit in the wardrobe. When she put on the shirt and suit pants, Jason entered from outside.
"Why are you up?" he asked.
Emma draped the suit over her shoulders. She was naturally slender, and had been working out to be in better shape for the wedding. Now, dressed in a black suit, her waist appeared even more delicate.
Emma whispered, "I want to keep vigil for grandma."
Jason didn't object but nodded, "I'll go with you."
He then found a full black suit in the wardrobe, even the shirt was black, and after changing, he drove Emma to the funeral site himself.
Everything was arranged very appropriately. Tang Mian had sought the most professional people in Shanghai to ensure the event was solemn and heavy-hearted.
Suddenly, Emma in the passenger seat said, "Grandma's grave..."
Jason immediately reassured her, "Don't worry, I've already had it taken care of."
Emma turned to look at him in surprise.
It was then that Emma found out that Jason had arranged for a burial plot half a year ago.
Families with elderly often prepare for such things in advance. Usually, the children take care of these matters, and Emma didn't understand them, but Jason, having experienced his grandmother's passing, knew that grave sites were significant matters that needed to be prepared for early.
Emma was silent for a while and then softly said, "Thank you."
Jason frowned, not liking to hear such polite words from her. He reached out and touched her head, saying in a deep voice, "Silly, what are you thanking me for?"
Emma had thought that not many people would attend grandma's funeral, but she was surprised to find that many sent wreaths, and even a few elderly people from the nursing home came.
Emma knew many people didn't know grandma; they were there for Jason.
But grandma had always loved a lively atmosphere. Now that she's gone, with so many people coming to see her off, it was a grand and dignified farewell.
After Tang Mi and Hua Zheng arrived, they each hugged Emma.
Tang Mi looked at Emma, whose face was calm and solemn. When she entered, she saw Emma bowing and thanking the guests one by one. She wasn't wailing or shedding tears; though still in grief, she had become particularly strong.
But seeing her like this made Tang Mi feel even more uncomfortable.
Because she knew better than anyone here the relationship between Emma and her grandmother, and how they had relied on each other to get through the years.
Tang Mi's offer was a gesture of support, and Hua Zheng's nod signified the same. Emma acknowledged their kindness with a slight nod, "Okay."
Jason had indeed done everything to perfection. The private cemetery he arranged for Grandma was nestled against the mountains and waters, a rare and beautiful spot. On the day of the burial, although it was Emma's first visit, she couldn't help but feel that this place was truly peaceful.
May was the season when spring blossoms, and although the weather was overcast with a light drizzle, the surroundings were still serene. The cemetery was surrounded by towering trees, and the steps leading up were long and seemingly endless. The bushes planted around were lush, with occasional buds blooming.
"I plan to move Grandpa's and your mother's graves here as well," Jason mentioned, indicating two empty tombstones nearby.
Emma quietly observed the three tombstones huddled together. Now, all her loved ones rested here, and the tears she thought had dried up still fell uncontrollably. She turned to Jason and whispered, "I'm sorry."
Jason was momentarily stunned.
Emma continued, "That night, I shouldn't have asked you if you married me because you loved me."
This apology had been on her mind, but she hadn't found the right opportunity to say it. Now, with no one else around, it was just the two of them.
"I believe you wanted to marry me because you love me, just as I know I married you only because I love you. I've always known that. I was the one who spoke out of turn that day, and I was wrong."
Jason discarded his umbrella and embraced her, saying softly, "I'm sorry, Xingxing. I should have told you personally."
In truth, this apology was one he should have given. He had always known she was Ni PingSen's daughter, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth. From the moment he learned she came to Israel to find her father, he found it impossible to reveal the truth.
As he fell in love with her and wanted to marry her, he retreated step by step. The happier he was, the less he could bear to speak, and even Jason, who had always been calm and composed enough to handle any situation, dared not face the potential consequences.
He couldn't afford to lose her.
"I know your disappearance has nothing to do with Dad, and it wasn't intentional, right?" Emma's umbrella slipped from her hand and fell to the ground as she reached back to hug him, trying to comfort him.
The more she spoke with such forgiveness, the more uneasy Jason felt inside.
The light rain continued to fall from the sky, dotting their shoulders.
She lay in his arms, her throat constricting, not speaking for a long while until she blinked and suddenly smiled, "That day I told you we were over. But then I kept thinking, I could never bear to say words like breakup or divorce to you."
"How could I live without Jason?"
Jason's heart felt as if it was being squeezed tightly, aching so much that even the tips of his fingers trembled. He said forcefully, "Then don't leave, stay by my side for a lifetime."
"Grandma entrusted you to me, and I promised her to protect you for life."
"It's a lifetime, not a day or two, but every single day that I, Jason, am alive."
He rested his chin on her forehead, holding her so tightly as if afraid that if he loosened his grip even slightly, she would vanish completely.
But Emma eventually lifted her head gently from his embrace.
Yet life is unpredictable and fate is capricious. One moment she was a blissful bride-to-be, and the next, she was plunged into an abyss. She thought meeting Jason was the sweetness after all the bitterness in her life, a reward from the heavens for her relentless efforts to live.
But in an instant, everything dissipated like dust and smoke.
She knew she should let go, and she understood that her father's disappearance was truly a twist of fate; even if Old Sun had chosen to protect Jason and not accompany him back to his dorm, her father might still have disappeared.
But she couldn't help but wonder, what if that day had never come.
Just as she always couldn't help but think, what if her father had returned safely to Shanghai that day.
"I've been thinking these days, if Dad had made it back to Shanghai safely, would we have never met?"
She wouldn't have gone to Israel in search of her father, and he wouldn't have returned there.
Then there would be no Jason and Emma meeting each other, falling in love, and getting married.