Attention Sir, I Have Your Heart Handcuffed!-Chapter 628 - 468. This may be, farewell (2nd update)

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At this time, a few elderly people were already seated in the shop. Leisurely sipping water, listening to the opera playing in the shop, tapping their fingers lightly on the table while humming along casually.

Jieyou then dashed in first, shouting towards the old man behind the counter in a black floral Chinese-style jacket: "Old Grandpa!"

The elderly man did not pay special attention when Shi Nian pushed the door open and walked in, not even lifting his eyelids. He sat behind the counter with his hands tucked away, his eyes downcast, as if he was focusing on listening to the opera, or perhaps dozing keenly.

But upon hearing Jieyou’s cheerful call, the old man seemed to be startled out of a dream, hesitated for a moment before slowly opening his eyes to look over.

Yet the instant his gaze met Jieyou’s, he suddenly stood up, the movement so abrupt that it caused the teapot and teacup on the counter to rattle clamorously.

No need for further explanation, just this moment alone was enough for Shi Nian to understand how deeply the old man loved Jieyou.

Jieyou dived into the old man’s embrace, sweetly said: "Old Grandpa said Youyou wouldn’t come back, but see? Youyou is back now!"

The old man hesitated again for a moment before slowly lifting his eyes to look in Shi Nian’s direction.

He froze for a moment, unable to hide the disappointment that flashed through his eyes.

Shi Nian’s heart ached quietly.

Perhaps at that moment, the person the old man hoped to see was his grandson?

The grandson he had ignored for years, who hadn’t been acknowledged by him for many years... 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Jieyou obediently introduced: "This is Mommy."

The old man froze at her words, couldn’t help but scrutinize Shi Nian for a long time.

Shi Nian promptly stepped forward to pay her respects, bowing deeply at a 90-degree angle: "Hello Grandpa, I’m Shi Nian."

The old man nodded: "Good, good." He pursed his aged lips, then slowly asked: "And he...?"

At this question, Shi Nian almost burst into tears.

She understood the old man’s surface reserve was trying hard to cover the concern beneath. But unfortunately, that person could no longer come...

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The old man took Shi Nian and Jieyou to the back residence and spoke many words.

Shi Nian watched the old and young together, observed Jieyou being spoiled in the elderly man’s arms, her heart felt bittersweet.

She came intending to bring Jieyou to visit the old man. Firstly, to thank him for taking care of Jieyou through the years, and secondly... to inform of Huangfu Huazhang’s death.

But witnessing the sweet whispering between the elder and the young, she couldn’t bring herself to say it, unsure how to speak out.

Not until afternoon, after accompanying the old man for a simple lunch. When Jieyou took a nap on the couch, the old man finally looked over: "Speak up, what’s happened to him?"

Shi Nian was startled: "Old man, why ask like this?"

The old man sighed softly: "Over the years, I am aware he’s busy. But anything concerning Jieyou, he would always do personally. Sometimes even if it’s just to deliver some new clothes or fresh fruits, no matter how busy he was, he would still come in person."

"So there’s no reason for Jieyou to be back and yet he isn’t here." The old man said as he frowned: "Is he sick? Or is it his leg again, unable to walk?"

Shi Nian felt sorrowful, bowed her head.

The old man was so perceptive, surely he had considered the worst possibility. But the old man refused to express it, choosing to ask about the relative simplicity of illness.

Shi Nian carefully held her breath: "He’s... passed away."

"Hmm?" The old man froze, staring blankly at Shi Nian for a long while.

Shi Nian feared the old man might faint and cautiously started to rise. But the old man only looked at her blankly for a while, then bowed his head, silently staring at the floor.

Shi Nian crouched down, cautiously asked: "Are you... okay?"

The old man sighed: "I’ve gotten used to waiting over these years. Ever since Xi An went to translate for those international conferences, the news I’ve awaited has been nothing but bad ones. Xi An had a child, Xi An couldn’t get married, Xi An fell ill... Then, that person passed away, and Xi An also passed away. Now... it is his turn."

The elderly man wearily lifted his eyes: "Alright, finally all have arrived. With these old bones, I don’t need to wait anymore..."

The old man’s dried eyes finally welled with tears, looking up at Shi Nian: "You have a bit of Xi An’s looks when she was little. Back then Xi An was happy... I feel assured leaving Youyou with you."

Shi Nian was slightly stunned too. As if suddenly, she understood why back then, just seeing her smile through a window would keep the gentleman thinking of her.

Hence her smile, in his eyes, was different from other women in the world.

From birth to growing up, perhaps in his memory he had seldom seen his mother’s smile like that?

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Shi Nian courteously expressed her hope to bring the old man to M Country to live together. Shi Nian persuaded him that even if just for Jieyou’s sake, she hoped to have the chance to properly care for him.

But the old man tiredly shook his head: "What would I do in that country? My good daughter was wronged there, then died there. And Jieyou’s dad went there and died too... It’s enough, enough, that place I will never go."

Shi Nian couldn’t forcefully insist, she could only leave in tears.

Exiting the ancient town, she looked back, seeing the old man standing alone in the white mist, supported by a cane in black. Shi Nian tearfully pressed Jieyou to bow to the elderly.

She knew, with the old man’s health, perhaps this meeting might be the last.

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They boarded a plane continuing southward.

Jieyou fiddled with a map, asked: "Grandma is at the place on the map above, but Mommy is taking me to the map below. Where are we going this time?"

Shi Nian smiled: "We’re going to Hong Kong, okay?"

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Hong Kong.

Shi Nian stood beneath the "Reverb Group" headquarters office building.

She certainly recognized this building, having searched for news photos many years ago. But back then this building was named "Tangsen Group", its chairman was Shen Wan.

She hesitated as she walked in, unsure what to say, only asked: "I would like to know if there’s any connection between this company and Mr. Huangfu Huazhang?"

The receptionist looked confused but stared at Shi Nian’s face for a long while, then peeked at Jieyou outside the counter, suddenly paused, and politely asked Shi Nian to wait while she quietly made a phone call.

Soon, a man of high-ranking appeared from the elevator, approached Shi Nian and Jieyou, and bowed respectfully: "Thanks for waiting, please follow me."

Shi Nian hurriedly grabbed the man: "Sir, how do you recognize me?"

The man took a deep breath and handed Shi Nian his name tag, showing her the company logo.

It was a profile of a woman. Serene with downcast eyes, beautiful like a lotus.

The man sighed softly: "Everyone in the company recognizes this face."

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Shi Nian followed the man to the top-floor office, where he led her to the entrance of a storeroom. There was a facial recognition system on the door, the man gestured invitingly, saying softly: "Besides the person who established this place, no one else has ever entered this door."

Shi Nian took a deep breath, approached the door, and positioned her face in front of the scanner...

A stream of light flashed, and with a ding, the door opened.

Shi Nian asked the man to take care of Jieyou, took a deep breath, and stepped in.

The design of this door strongly resembled the one that locked him in all those years ago. Yet who knows if upon finally pushing open this door and stepping in, she would see the person sitting by the rose trellis...