I Became the Mother of His Child-Chapter 524: Holding Her Hand

"Cheng Guang, Grandpa is so happy to see you get married... truly happy." As Father Song spoke, he was gasping for air. In fact, his eyesight had already dimmed, and he couldn't see many things clearly, but his mind was still lucid. Therefore, he held Song Chengguang's hand and mumbled the words in his heart.

Although the Song Family had more descendants than just Song Chengguang, Father Song definitely favored him the most. Even when Song Yuantao later had a son, Song Chengguang's position in Father Song's heart never changed.

Song Chengguang's wedding was different from those of Song Chenhao and Song Chenxi. Being the eldest son of Song Yuanhuan's family, he had to hold three separate wedding ceremonies: one at the bride's side, one in the Imperial Capital Military District, and another in his hometown, which was exhausting.

And Father Song had been looking forward to his marriage for many years. Although Song Family Village was still an ordinary little village, with the development of economic reform and opening up over the years, the villagers' economic conditions had gradually improved. The Song family's home was no longer the small yellow mud house it once was, but a small Western-style villa.

Even a few years ago, Xu Xiuxiu had contributed funds to help the village pave a cement road, which made things much more convenient for the villagers. Now that Song Chengguang was going to have his wedding here in his hometown, one could imagine the excitement—it was indeed the biggest event in Song Family Village, with banquets that lasted several days.

Song Chengguang and Hao Xingxing held a simple, traditional wedding in Song Family Village, dressed in cheongsams and other formal attire, while Hao Xingxing's family had a modern wedding with bridal gowns. In the Imperial Capital, it was a military wedding characteristic of the Military District. Each ceremony was exceptionally lively.

About half a year after Song Chengguang's wedding, Father Song's health declined severely, and he passed away a month later at the age of 86. When he left this world, although he was thin and gaunt, he didn't seem to suffer too much pain, and there was even a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, showing he had few regrets. However, even though Father Song closed his eyes, he was more worried about Mrs. Song than anyone else. In the vast sea of humanity, leaving one to journey alone is surely the cruellest of fates.

And Mrs. Song, perhaps due to Father Song's departure from this world, began to grow thinner and weaker after he left, her spirits also flagging. Xu Xiuxiu could somewhat understand Mrs. Song's feelings; after all, Mrs. Song and Father Song had cherished each other for over sixty years. From their youthful days to their white-haired years, they shared tears, hardships, joy, and laughter. In the long years they supported each other through all the ups and downs of life. To lose such an important figure in one's life is a natural cause for grief.

So, even though Xu Xiuxiu and others wanted to cheer Mrs. Song up, she still followed Father Song in death less than six months after his passing. What troubled Xu Xiuxiu more was that Mr. Xu also passed away right before or after the Song Family elders, meaning that within less than a year, Xu Xiuxiu had to say goodbye to three beloved elders in the family.

...

Song Chengguang's romantic affairs had been settled, and Song Yuanhuan had reached an age where he held power but didn't manage much. Now, he leisurely chose to stay at home to keep Xu Xiuxiu company, even taking her on outings to enjoy natural landscapes—the couple's first time traveling together without any children to make a fuss and no other issues to worry about.

On the beach under the setting sun, Song Yuanhuan gently wrapped his arm around Xu Xiuxiu's shoulders, letting her lean against him as they sat close together, watching the sunset ahead.

"Song Yuanhuan," Xu Xiuxiu called his name cheerfully.

"Sure!" he agreed with alacrity.

"Song Yuanhuan," Xu Xiuxiu playfully continued calling him. Although time had matured her, in front of Song Yuanhuan, she always seemed to be a little woman, playful and cute. Perhaps this is what makes love so touching, despite time flying by, in the eyes of the other person, it seems she never changed.

"Mhm, I'm here," Song Yuanhuan responded with deep affection to her call.

"Yuanhuan, it's so nice to have met you in this lifetime," Xu Xiuxiu turned her head slightly, looking at Song Yuanhuan's profile. Over thirty years had passed since she had been with him, watching him transform from a spirited young man into a middle-aged one, seeing his triumphs and his downfalls. In her memory, he always seemed so strong, bearing countless responsibilities on his shoulders. He was intelligent and capable, whether it was in Z city or the Imperial City, no matter what position he was placed in, he seemed to handle everything with ease.

How fortunate she felt to have met him, it must have been destined by the heavens, otherwise how could two people from different eras meet, fall in love, and providentially share more than thirty years together, then walk hand in hand under the setting sun?

Xu Xiuxiu's soft reflection made Song Yuanhuan turn his head, his profound gaze lingering on her for a moment, before he leaned in and pecked her lips lightly, like a shy first love.

"Meeting you is my fortune," Song Yuanhuan said, after kissing her lips, turning his head to gaze at the sun about to set in the distance. Watching the scenery above the sea level as the sun dipped down, he was filled with both melancholy and deep affection.

Perhaps Xu Xiuxiu didn't understand his words, but Song Yuanhuan himself was clear. Over the years, he had been constantly grateful, despising his own cold and mean nature, yet feeling lucky for his own depth of feeling and fidelity. He knew very well that the woman by his side, who bore hardly any traces of the years, was not the same woman who, after giving birth to Cheng Guang, had looked on him with disdain and complained bitterly.

Maybe everyone else thought she had simply grown up and became sensible, but he knew, from the moment he returned home on that dark rainy night and saw her, that she was different from her. It was a feeling, one that inexplicably confirmed his belief, yet also made the proud and arrogant him fear and waver.

To be honest, in his life after turning sixty, Song Yuanhuan had never been afraid or cowardly, not even in Z city where he enlisted at sixteen and steadily rose through the ranks to become a general by his own efforts. He had paid in blood, sweat, and tears, even braving bullets and near-death experiences, but he had never been afraid or timid, except with her. He had been afraid, and timid, and even many questions he dared not ask.

Because he was afraid, afraid that once the secrets were uncovered, she might leave. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Xiuxiu, if there is a next life, I will only wait for you," Song Yuanhuan spoke deeply, thinking that if there was truly a next life and if they were destined to meet, he would not settle. He would wait patiently, wait only for her.

"Okay, in the next life I'll meet you earlier, earlier than her," Xu Xiuxiu promised as she reached out her hand to interlace her fingers tightly with Song Yuanhuan's.

"Earlier than her," these four words were both heavy and complex, but Song Yuanhuan understood. Holding her hand, he nodded his head with tearful eyes.