chapter 16
But that night.
I actually didn’t get a good look at Gu Lin’s house.
Blood loss and the chill brought on a low fever before I even got out of the car.
When I arrived, I could only curl up weakly in the cozy bed.
I watched Gu Lin sit at the bedside, carefully unwrapping the gauze and changing my dressing.
“I think I forgot to ask.”
I sniffled, my voice slightly stuffy:
“Why did you buy a grave?”
He didn’t look like someone who was sick at all.
Gu Lin raised his brows and glanced at me, his expression calm: “Planning ahead.”
“Is that all?” I didn’t really get it.
The agent at the cemetery had clearly said during the day that Gu Lin needed that grave even more than I did.
If it were just planning ahead, he wouldn’t be this persistent, would he?
“Did you also like its feng shui?”
The feng shui of that grave was something I had a master calculate, specifically matched to my date and time of birth.
It shouldn’t suit just anyone.
“No,” Gu Lin gently finished wrapping the gauze, his voice soft. “Next to that grave, my parents are buried.”
My expression froze; I was caught completely off guard.
I opened my mouth several times, but had no idea what to say.
Gu Lin was amused by my reaction and curved his lips in a smile.
His tone was light, with no trace of sadness:
“Seven years ago, during that arson case at the mall that shocked the whole city, both of them were inside.”
“They were there… picking out a gift for me for becoming a firefighter.”
“Not long ago, I almost died in a fire during a mission too.”
“At the time, I thought, if I made it out alive, I’d buy a grave next to my parents.”
“That way, if something ever happened, there wouldn’t be a last-minute scramble.”
“And then, I ran into you.”
After he finished, Gu Lin stood up and took a few stuffed animals from the cabinet.
He lined them up, one by one, beside my bed.
“The Imperial Guards are all in position.”
“Sleep tight.”
The last rabbit plush was set next to my pillow.
Gu Lin patted its head: “You’re now appointed as the Imperial Guard (Honorary Guard) at the bedside.”
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
His long, fair, well-defined hand then landed softly on my head.
He gently ruffled my hair.
Gu Lin gazed into my eyes, his expression focused and gentle:
“A wild Lu Siyuan plucked from the sea.”
“Do your best and keep living, okay?”
A surge of bittersweet emotion welled up in my eyes.
My eyes turned red.
I quickly turned my head away and looked at the silly rabbit by my pillow.
I forced a lighthearted smile:
“See you tomorrow, my Imperial Guard (Honorary Guard).”