The attic is still the same as it was two years ago. The tables and chairs inside are all used for daily use, but they are slightly covered with dust. It seems that they have not been cleaned for some days.
Bai Yu'an stood on the corridor on the second floor and looked out. What he saw was an entire bamboo forest stretching endlessly. The chirping of birds in the forest could occasionally be heard. The mood he felt when he was standing here studying. It was as if he was back in his chest again.
She used to take Ah Tao to stay here every early spring, watching the decadence of winter gradually pass, watching the spring breeze bring wisps of warmth, and the flowers and trees she planted blooming.
She is full of expectations for the future and has never backed down or doubted herself.
But now it seems she failed.
The road ahead is obscure, and it was her fault.
Gu Yiyi walked up to Bai Yu'an at this time and followed her gaze. The smoke was endless, and across the clouds and mountains, the end could not be seen in the distance.
She whispered: "How long will you let me live here?"
Bai Yu'an put his fingers on the fence, leaned up and looked downstairs, and whispered: "You can stay as long as you want."
"Anyway, this is the village my father gave me. When I go back, I will tell my family not to let anyone come here again."
Gu Yiyi lowered her head: "The money you gave me is quite a lot. If I save enough money in the future, I won't live here anymore."
Bai Yu'an turned to look at Gu Yiyi and smiled: "It's up to you."
Then he said: "It's getting dark, I need to go back quickly."
"You and Brother Zhang should also pack up and rest. I'll come and see you in a few days."
Bai Yu'an said, patting the dust on his body and walking downstairs with A Tao.
Gu Yiyi followed down and stood beside Bai Yu'an's carriage, looking at her without saying a word.
Bai Yu'an stood still and glanced at Zhang Yan, who was standing behind Gu Yiyi: "No need to send me off."
With that said, he got on the carriage.
Gu Yiyi watched Bai Yu'an's carriage gradually go away. Zhang Yan came over and put a hand on Gu Yiyi's shoulder, whispering: "Master Bai is a good man. Let's live a new life from now on."
Tears appeared in Gu Yiyi's eyes and she was buried in Zhang Yan's arms.
When Bai Yu'an returned to Bai Mansion, Uncle Zhang who was guarding the door almost didn't recognize Bai Yu'an. He looked hard at Bai Yu'an with his presbyopic eyes. After looking at Bai Yu'an for a long time, his turbid eyes were filled with water: "Fourth Young Master is back. Got it!"
A Tao smiled beside him and said, "Uncle Zhang's eyes have become dizzy in the past two years."
Uncle Zhang smiled, and quickly took Bai Yu'an's hand and asked the child at the door to come in quickly to deliver the message, and then led Bai Yu'an inside.
The boy was quick on his feet. Bai Yu'an had just stepped across the threshold and before he reached the main room, Mrs. Li who was not far away hurried over with several nuns.
Although Li was over sixty years old, her body was strong and her eyesight was good. She could see Bai Yu'an from a distance.
While there was still some distance between the two, Mrs. Li threw away the servant behind her and cried, "Silang."
As soon as she met Bai Yu'an, she squeezed Bai Yu'an's hand tightly and asked worriedly: "Silang, my son, why did you come back suddenly? Why didn't you send a letter back in advance?"
Bai Yu'an looked at the white hair on her mother's hair, her eyes were red, and she whispered: "Mom, don't worry about me. It's just that I haven't been home for two years. The Holy Spirit specially approved me to come back for a visit."
"And because I left in such a hurry, I didn't have time to write a letter back."
Mrs. Li lit her tears with her handkerchief and choked with sobs: "It's a good idea to come back and have a look. Your father is not in good health these days."
"I told him to just go to the Yamen in the morning and leave other matters to your brother-in-law, but he just doesn't want to and does everything himself. When your father comes back, you can persuade him."
Bai Yu'an nodded silently and asked in a low voice: "How has everything been going well at home these past two years?"
Mrs. Li looked at Bai Yu'an up and down, nodded and said, "Okay, okay."
She held Bai Yu'an's hand tightly and said to the mother-in-law beside her: "Silang is back, go and ask the kitchen to prepare more dishes."
"If Shiro is jealous, he must have one."
Mrs. Li said and then said to another woman: "Go quickly and ask someone to call Silang's eldest sister and second sister's house, and also ask someone to inform the master quickly."
"I must have a good time today."
When her mother gave instructions, Bai Yu'an saw the third sister standing aside. She quickly walked up to Bai Luozhu and called out: "Third sister."
Bai Luozhu burst into tears and hugged Bai Yu'an in two steps: "Fourth brother..."
"Fourth brother, you are finally back. Sister, I have always missed you these past two years."
Bai Yu'an was hugged tightly by Bai Luozhu. She was not as tall as Bai Luozhu and could hardly breathe.
She patted Bai Luozhu's back gently and said with a smile: "I have always thought about my sisters in the past two years."
When Bai Luozhu heard this, she let Bai Yu'an go, wiping her tears and said, "What you say is false, I don't think we'll come back early to take a look."
Bai Luozhu is not too young. She is already a thirty-five-year-old woman. She is wearing a high-collared dress with sapphire blue and white flowers. However, her facial expressions are much more tired than in the past two years. Her back is even slightly hunched, and her eyes are Red and swollen, it was obvious that he had cried before seeing Bai Yu'an.
She saw that Third Sister's cheeks were red again, and she quickly asked: "Third Sister, what's wrong with your face?"
Bai Luozhu covered her face with a handkerchief and choked slightly: "It's okay, I'm just happy to see you back suddenly."
As she spoke, Bai Luozhu pulled Bai Yu'an forward: "You are tired just after you came back. Come and sit with me."
The group of people walked into the front hall. As soon as Bai Yuan sat down, Bai Luozhu poured tea for Bai Yuan and asked, "Did your journey back go smoothly?"
Bai Yu'an took the tea cup and took a sip. His tired body relaxed slightly, and a smile appeared in his eyes: "Everything went well."
Bai Luozhu sat next to her and nodded: "That's good."
Bai Yu'an looked around the room again and asked Bai Luozhu, "Where is my little nephew?"
"She must be almost two years old now."
Only then did a smile appear on Bai Luozhu's face: "I came in a hurry, so I didn't bring him here."
As she said this, Bai Luozhu turned to the girl behind her and said, "Go and call Mingli and Gu Qing over. Tell them that their uncle is here."
The girl couldn't help but glance at Bai Yu'an secretly, and left with a smile on her face.
Mrs. Li from above called Bai Yu'an to come over to her: "Silang, please sit next to me and let me take a look."
Bai Yu'an smiled and walked over and sat next to her mother.
Mrs. Li held Bai Yu'an's hand tightly, tears rolling down her eyes. Looking at Bai Yu'an with a smile in front of her, there were even more tears in her eyes.
Her fingers were trembling slightly, and her wrinkled hands touched Bai Yu'an's smooth jade cheek, and asked her with a choked sob: "What has happened outside in the past two years?"
"If you have any grievances, just tell your mother."
Bai Yu'an raised his sleeves to wipe his mother's tears, showed his white teeth and smiled: "Everything is fine, my colleagues are also very good to me."
"I also made a few good friends in the capital, and they took good care of me."
"Don't worry, mother, I've already gotten used to it and nothing will happen to me."
