Just as everyone was immersed in the fact that I hadn't returned to the Su family, Su Ning'an, who was standing nearby, suddenly started crying.
"Grandma, you haven't liked me since the day I came back. You think I stole the attention from sister. No matter what I do, in your eyes, it's always calculated. It's my fault for letting sister down, for letting the Su family down. I shouldn't have come back. I'm an unfilial granddaughter…"
After saying this, she quickly rushed headfirst towards the wall.
"Sister!"
The eldest brother, who had just entered, moved swiftly and blocked the wall. Su Ning'an crashed headlong into his stomach. The whole family gathered around, looking at Su Ning'an with worried faces. "An'an, are you okay? Why would you be so foolish?"
"Dad, I just don't want Grandma to be unhappy because of me, affecting her mood. I also don't want sister to argue with brother because of me after she comes back. If I had known the Su family would become like this because of me, I would rather never have come back."
Su Ning'an's appearance was naturally delicate and pretty. Every time she shed tears, she looked pitiful and evoked sympathy. The crowd, who had just been focused on me not returning to the Su family, immediately turned their criticism towards Grandma. Even my usually quiet father spoke up with dissatisfaction:
"Mom, An'an and Su Wan are both your biological granddaughters. How can you favor one so blatantly over the other? It's clearly Su Wan who's being willful, making the family worry sick about her. Instead of blaming Su Wan, you're even hitting people? You're simply going too far!"
Grandma was already very angry, and now, at her age, being scolded by her own son... She trembled as she pointed her finger at Father, "Are you blind? She—"
Su Ning'an pulled at Father and continued, "Dad, don't talk back to Grandma. It's my fault to begin with. If you and Grandma become estranged because of me, then I would become a terribly unfilial person. Grandma, if you want to blame anyone, blame me. Don't blame Dad."
The old lady was infuriated by her manipulative, 'tea-like' words. She finally understood how I had felt all along.
Clearly, Su Ning'an hadn't done anything, yet with just a few words, she could easily stir up the family's hatred towards me.
Soft knives cut deep, hurting the most. Over two or three years, she had worn me down until I was covered in wounds.
"You shut your mouth."
"Grandma, it's your birthday today. Don't be angry, it's not worth damaging your health over."
"Mom, you're old enough, why are you picking on a young girl?"
"Zhang Ma, take good care of my mother. Bring her to the banquet later."
The group簇拥着 Su Ning'an and left, enraging the old lady so much that she prepared to get out of bed, pick up her cane, and hit them with it. "Get out! All of you, get out!"
"Old lady, please don't get agitated."
Zhang Ma had been with the old lady for decades. Her heart ached for her as she helped her back to bed and brought her a cup of ginseng tea to calm her down.
I looked at Grandma, reluctant to leave. Her hair was all silver, her face full of wrinkles, tears glistening in the corners of her eyes. She held Zhang Ma's hand and said, "Go see, has my Wan girl come back yet?"
"Alright, I'll go check right now. Old lady, you lie down first. If Miss Wan saw you like this, she would be heartbroken again."
"Okay, I won't cry. She already has depression, I can't let her see me like this."
Watching Grandma hurriedly wipe her tears, I wanted to go to her side. Even if I could do nothing, I just wanted to be with her.
But Lu Shiyan was wearing the prayer beads. I couldn't go too far from him, and could only watch as the old woman sitting on the bed, wiping her tears alone, grew farther and farther away.
I had thought I was completely disillusioned with my family and my lover, that there was no one left in this world I cared about.
Now I realized there was still someone I couldn't let go of: Grandma.
Following beside Lu Shiyan, I murmured, "Grandma, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
I didn't even dare to imagine how sad Grandma would be when she learned the news of my death one day. Could her health, in such a state, withstand such a blow?
After the family comforted Su Ning'an a few words, they all left, leaving only Su Ning'an and Lu Shiyan.
Lu Shiyan's eyes and heart were now completely filled with Su Ning'an. How could he still remember my disappearance?
"An'an, Grandma is old. Don't take what she says to heart."
"Brother, I know. But Grandma hates me so much, she probably won't accept my gift either."
She took out that human-skin book. "Brother, please give this book to Grandma for me. She's always been a vegetarian and prays to Buddha. This sutra has also been blessed by a high monk. It will surely protect Grandma, keep her safe and smooth-sailing, bringing her long-lasting blessings and favor."
"An'an, you are truly too kind. Grandma will understand your good intentions one day. Give it to me."
Lu Shiyan took the human-skin book. Originally, he was somewhat wary of such things, but as he took it, his fingers unconsciously stroked the cover.
It felt very smooth, like a woman's skin, which actually made his thoughts wander.
When he became aware of his own thoughts, Lu Shiyan quickly pushed the notion to the back of his mind. How bizarre.
"Oh, and brother, Grandma hates me so much, you mustn't tell her it's from me. And don't say it's made of human skin. I'm afraid she won't be able to accept it."
"I understand."
Lu Shiyan patted her head. "You must never think of doing something like that again. We were so worried about you."
"Brother, you're so good."
The two of them, so affectionate and lovey-dovey, were nauseating to watch.
After Lu Shiyan parted from her, he took the book and his own gift and entered the room. Grandma had just finished her ginseng soup, and her mood had gradually calmed down.
Hearing footsteps enter, she instinctively called out, "Has my Wan girl come back? Let Grandma see quickly..." Her gaze fell on Lu Shiyan's face, and she instantly turned cold. "Why is it you? What are you doing here again?"
Lu Shiyan knew Grandma was still angry, so he adopted a humble posture, took a footstool, and sat down by the bed.
"Grandma, it was indeed my fault regarding the elopement. I've been with Wan Wan for so many years, she's the only woman in my heart. An'an is just my sister. I can swear in front of you, I will treat Wan Wan well from now on, and I will never hurt her again."
Grandma narrowed her eyes slightly, a fierce light on her face. "Let me tell you, the gods are watching from above. If you want to swear an oath, go to the Buddhist shrine and swear it in front of the Bodhisattva Guanyin. If you dare wrong Wan Wan, if you dare betray her, may you meet a bad end, and die without descendants!"
Hearing this, Lu Shiyan's heart wavered. Although he had made up his mind to completely draw the line with Su Ning'an, there was that one night before...
"What? You don't dare? Then don't pretend to be sincere and devoted in front of me. This old woman isn't fooled by your act!"
Provoked by Grandma like this, Lu Shiyan said, "Grandma, every word I say is true. There's nothing I don't dare to do." With that, he walked to the adjacent prayer room, a place Grandma had specially dedicated to enshrining the Buddhas.
As soon as he entered, there was a faint scent of sandalwood. The deities on the shrine had gentle, compassionate expressions, gazing upon the mortal world. Lu Shiyan knelt on the prayer cushion. Looking up into the Bodhisattva's kind, benevolent eyes, he felt inexplicably nervous.
Grandma stood to the side, leaning on her cane. "Swear then. Do you dare not?"
Lu Shiyan raised his hand and swore: "I, Lu Shiyan, will love only Su Wan in this life. Henceforth, I will never betray her. I will wholeheartedly protect her, dote on her, love her. If I break this oath, may I meet a bad end, and die... die without descendants."
As soon as the words left his mouth, a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky outside.
BOOM!