The Reborn Sidekick Rejected The Male Lead-Chapter 38 - Death from Illness

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Death from Illness

Chapter 38 -38: Death from Illness

“Mom, don’t worry, I will definitely find you an exceptionally outstanding son-in-law in this life, and your daughter will surely lead a happy life.”

Zhou Lanping, upon hearing this, lifted her weak hand and touched her daughter’s head, “My Jingqiu is so sensible now, I believe she will find a husband even better than Gao Shu. Jingqiu, actually, what I’m most worried about is your dad.”

“Mom, don’t worry about it, Dad has me, and I will take good care of him.”

Zhou Lanping shook her head, “I know your dad too well; I can tell what’s on his mind by just a gesture, an expression. Jingqiu, promise Mom, after I’m gone, if your dad… finds someone suitable, you must not stand in the way. I don’t want to see your dad living alone.”

“Mom…” Dad has been alone in his previous life.

“Zhou Lanping, what are you telling your daughter?”

Jingqiu didn’t know when her dad had returned, how long he had been standing there, and when she turned, she saw her dad’s face, ablaze with anger.

Caught being overheard, Zhou Lanping didn’t offer an explanation and instead said to her daughter, “Jingqiu, Mom wants to eat the hand-pulled noodles you make.”

Jingqiu quickly wiped away her tears, put down the cat, and stood up, “Okay, I’ll go make them now.”

She also knew that her mother was intentionally sending her away.

Jingqiu, not knowing what her parents wanted to talk about, took the vegetables her father had brought back and went into the kitchen. She guessed that her mother had a premonition, as she had recently been saying things that made people sad.

While washing the vegetables, Jingqiu thought of her mother’s demeanor over the past few days and suddenly realized something. She turned to look at her parents’ bedroom, unsure of what to do next. Even if she knew in advance, no matter how hard she tried, a miracle just hadn’t happened.

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As Jingqiu washed the vegetables, the tears streaming from her eyes, mingled with sorrow, silently fell into the washing basin, and she couldn’t dry the tears on her face.

The weather that day was rather gloomy, the wind had picked up outside, and in the end, her mother didn’t get to eat the hand-pulled noodles she made.

She passed away quietly, with a smile still on her face.

The funeral was managed by her uncle and second cousin; her eldest cousin also managed to return on the final day.

Both she and her little aunt fainted from crying multiple times. Her father was like a man who had lost his soul, not crying, not making a fuss, eerily calm, too calm to be normal.

“She is no longer tormented by illness, it’s better that she has passed,” he consoled the relatives and friends who came to bid farewell on the day of the funeral, as if he didn’t realize that he was the one who needed comfort the most. Jingqiu watched, her heart aching for him.

It was half a month later when everything finally settled down.

After her mother was buried, her father fell ill.

Jingqiu locked herself upstairs, drowning in regret and pain.

She felt that her second chance at life was meaningless; her mother still couldn’t be saved. The Lu family had shut themselves in for several days, causing everyone to fear the worst.

Her little aunt came by from time to time to bring food and comfort her and her father.

Aunt Liu, who lived nearby, came over to offer consolation, as did Grandma Zhang, Grandpa Wang, Aunt Cuihua, as well as Uncle Gao and Aunt Gao.

Even Uncle Zheng and Uncle Yang came over to persuade her father to move on and recover from his grief.

The family members were especially attentive, bringing things over to encourage her. After half a month, Jingqiu’s spirits weren’t as oppressed.

Lu Xianrun slowly recovered from his illness and, persuaded by everyone, decided not to waste away in depression. He left to participate in military drills, which was fortunate, as there was a military exercise out of town.

He left Jingqiu alone to look after the empty house. This time, she once again missed the opportunity for the college entrance exam. The announcement for the restoration of the college entrance exams came the day after her mother passed away. She was so engulfed in grief at the time that she had no thoughts for anything else and missed the registration period.

She didn’t regret it, though; nothing in this world is more important than her mother.

So while others were anxiously preparing for the exams, she was immersed in the days without her mother.

She had figured it out: her mother was not coming back, and continuing to grieve wouldn’t change anything. Without her mother, she couldn’t afford to lose her father too. Knowing that he had lost a lot of weight these days, she had to nourish him properly.

The fire was lit at home again and life slowly got back on track. Missing the college entrance exam wasn’t a big deal; if she didn’t catch up this year, there was always next year. She was determined to go to college in this lifetime.

It wasn’t until the first snow of winter that the first day of the college entrance exam arrived.

Zhang Miao brought her good news on this day, braving the snow to visit her home, “The picture book about the young war hero sold very well. Our publisher believes that we can’t let such a talent like you slip through our fingers. Look, they are willing to accept you as an educated youth. From now on, you’ll be a member of our illustration department at the publishing house.”

Jingqiu was taken aback, not expecting her wait to pay off, “Really? The publisher really wants me?”

“Of course, we produced seven or eight picture books this year, and the two that you were involved in had the best sales. The publisher says you might have a ‘lucky carp’ physique and could bring wealth to our publishing house, though for now, you’ll be an external staff member and your salary will be lower than the others.”

Hearing this, Lu Jingqiu laughed. She knew whether she was lucky or not, but receiving recognition from the publishing house was a delightful surprise, “No worries, as long as you are willing to accept me, that’s enough. When can I start work?”

“Tomorrow. There’s still over half a month of holidays left. Get familiar with the environment before the year ends, you’ll be busy after.”

“Okay, I’ll come over tomorrow.”

After sending Zhang Miao away, Lu Jingqiu jumped up excitedly on the spot and spun around several times while holding Hua Hua.

She didn’t care about the snow outside and ran to the military base to find her father.

This was the first time Lu Xianrun saw his daughter smile so happily since his wife passed away. While pulling him into the office, he said, “What good thing happened that has made you so happy?”

“Dad, Juvenile Children’s Publishing House has accepted me. I’m going to be an art editor for the publishing house. Look.” Lu Jingqiu took out her acceptance letter and showed it to her father.

Lu Xianrun looked at the name and the workplace on the letter, and patted his daughter’s head with a sense of pride, “Heh heh, this indeed is good news. My Qiuqiu finally has a job.”

“Yeah, Dad, I have to go to work tomorrow. Let’s eat something nice today.”

Lu Xianrun’s brows raised slightly as he said, “The canteen slaughtered a pig today, and I know you love pork intestines the most.” Glancing at his watch and seeing the time was about right, he pulled her along, “Come on, grab your lunchbox, let’s go to the canteen.”

“Alright.”

The father and daughter each carried a lunchbox and stepped out when they immediately encountered Political Commissar Yang and Chief of Staff Zheng, who were also holding lunchboxes. Upon seeing Lu Jingqiu, they asked, “Jingqiu, did your dad tell you about the good food in the canteen today?”

“Uncle Zheng, my dad isn’t like that. If I hadn’t come over, I wouldn’t have even known there was good food in the canteen today.”

Political Commissar Yang asked, “Jingqiu rarely comes here. What brings you today?”

“Uncle Yang, I found a job and couldn’t wait to come and share the news with my dad.”

Political Commissar Yang asked, “A job, with which organization?”

“Juvenile Children’s Publishing House.”

Staff Officer Zheng clapped Lu Xianrun on the shoulder and said, “Old Lu, your Jingqiu is capable. She didn’t care for the workplace you found for her—look, she found a job on her own… Jingqiu, we’ve heard about your love for painting from your dad, it’s incredible.”

“Thank you for your praise, Uncle Zheng.”

“Come on, come on, your uncles will take you with them.”

Lu Xianrun said with a smile, “Qiuqiu, follow these two leaders, and you’re sure to get even better food.”

Political Commissar Yang said, “Look, Old Zheng, Old Lu that sly fox is openly scheming us.”

“Haha, we’ve never beaten him anyway. Openly scheming is for the best.”

Seeing her dad’s smiling face, Lu Jingqiu felt happy inside; she was afraid that her father had not yet come out of the sadness of her mother’s passing.

Just as in her previous life, after her mother was gone, her father became less inclined to smile and didn’t like to socialize as much.

It was rare for her father to bring her to the canteen to eat. There, she saw all the soldiers, and their righteousness really could lift one’s spirits.

On the way home with her father, Lu Xianrun talked to her a lot about how to conduct oneself, how to get along with colleagues at work, advice that she had never heard from her father in her previous life.

In this life, she listened patiently to her father’s guidance, and promised time and again, committing it all to her heart.

Seeing how sensible his daughter was, Lu Xianrun sighed with regret, “If your mother were still here, seeing Qiuqiu like this, she would be so happy she couldn’t close her mouth.”

Lu Jingqiu replied, “Mom in heaven will surely see it too. She said she would protect me from there, and I also promised Mom that I would find her a fine son-in-law. Dad, Mom would definitely like to see us happy.”

Lu Xianrun understood his daughter’s meaning well enough and managed a smile, saying to avoid worrying her, “I feel sorry to your mother for not having been able to properly take care of her. She loved it when I held her hand and we’d walk slowly together, just walking non-stop—back then in Ten-miles Village, she was particularly happy.

But… I will gradually get used to life without your mother. From now on, it will just be the two of us left.” Despite the smile, Lu Jingqiu could see nothing but sorrow.

“Yes, just the two of us left.” In her previous life, after losing her mother, it took her a long time to recover. Although in this life she tried hard to keep her mother with her, fate still led to her loss. Despite having only a few short months with her mother, she already felt content; her approach to the days ahead would still be to strive forward optimistically.

In the winter, amidst the bone-chilling snowy night, father and daughter nestled close to each other, enveloped in a mutual warmth.

…