Chapter 867: His Friend
Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
He Xiyan rose early the next morning. Then, she walked over to the windows and drew the curtains. She saw that the area outside was covered in snow and it was still snowing.
It seemed even colder than the day before.
This hotel was in a remote area the building was surrounded by several resettlement areas and a mountainous range up ahead.
Chen Jiahang had also woken up and he placed a jacket over her shoulders and wrapped her scarf around her. He was also dressed very warmly in a black winter jacket and black boots.
“Does your friend live very far from here?” He Xiyan couldn’t help but ask after they left the hotel. They didn’t have a car and it would be extremely hard to get a car now that it was snowing.
Chen Jiahang didn’t respond but he suddenly frowned and sorrow flashed past his eyes. Unfortunately, He Xiyan missed the fleeting glimpse of sorrow in his eyes.
He walked to the roadside and hailed a taxi. Then, he told the driver to go to a place that left He Xiyan astonished.
“Sir, please head to Malan Cemetery. Thanks,” he said.
He Xiyan was stunned and the confusion on her face gave way to shock. She had made numerous guesses as to his friend’s identity but… she hadn’t expected that his friend had already passed away.
The car dropped them off at the foot of a mountain in the suburbs.
He Xiyan immediately saw a large rock with the words ‘Malan War Cemetery’ engraved on it.
She guessed that his friend was either a soldier or a policeman. Had his friend been slain in action? She wondered as hse walked behind Chen Jiahang.
She noticed Jiahang walk into a flower shop located at the entrance of the cemetery. The flower shop sold fresh flowers that would be used to remember the deceased, so there were a lot of chrysanthemums in the shop.
Chen Jiahang dug out several hundred dollars and bought eight bouquets of chrysanthemums. He handed two of the eight bouquets to He Xiyan while he carried six bouquets himself.
He Xiyan grew even more confused. She frowned but she didn’t probe further because she could tell that he seemed very upset and sorrowful today.
She guessed that he must be mourning the death of his friend and if she probed further at this point, she would only make him more upset.
They entered the cemetery after they left the flower shop. It kept snowing, so they walked very slowly. This was a war cemetery, so those who were buried here for martyrs who died while serving their country.
Jiahang didn’t seem to know where his friend was buried. He made his way from the first row of tombstones and read the names engraved on every single tombstone. Then, he moved on to the second and third row… and finally stopped in front of the third tombstone on the seventh row.
He Xiyan stood next to Jiahang and she glanced at the tombstone and noticed that these were the words on the tombstone, ‘Here lies the grave of Wang Yonghui (People’s Army of X Country, fifth Commando Unit). Died December, 2016.’
He Xiyan looked at the photo on the tombstone and saw that it was a young soldier in his early twenties.
Was this Jiahang’s friend?
She frowned and stole a glance at the man beside her and saw that his expression was solemn and he looked even paler than before.
He stood in front of the tombstone and allowed the cold wind to whip across his face. He remained silent with his head bowed as though he was in a contemplative mood or he was silently mourning his fallen friend.
He Xiyan could tell that Jiahang was overwhelmed with sorrow and so, she bowed her head and also grieved for this young fallen soldier.
Then, she saw Jiahang look up and took one bouquet of chrysanthemums from his bag, crouched down and gently placed it in front of the tombstone.
He then made his way to the next tombstone, the fourth tombstone in the seventh row.