Chapter 138 - The Lullaby (1)

The car came to a stop, and Xiong Jingfei opened the car door from the back seat. Xu Suying got out with her and closed the doors. 

Both of them stared up at the tall stone steps waiting for them. Xu Suying was used to it, but it was Xiong Jingfei's first time seeing it, and she was going to be climbing them. She braced herself mentally to climb more than one hundred steps. 

Xiong Jingfei didn't want to show that she was tired! How could she when Xu Suying's parents appeared to be just fine... She really has to start working out more!

When they finally got to the top, what welcomed them were five tall red pillars. They were of equal distance apart and had writing on each post. There was a stone pathway leading them to an area with one big shrine and two small ones. All three of them looked like it came straight out from those ancient dramas. Old, sturdy, and filled with rich history! 

"Feifei, did you want to come in or wait for us out here?" Xu Suying asked, giving her water bottle over to Xiong Jingfei. How can she not know her best friend's stamina was equal to a pig.

Xiong Jingfei shook her head and made a hand sign that she'll stay outside. She was hesitating to enter the shrine holding Xu Suying's ritual. The place was giving her a vibe that she didn't want to experience or be reminded of. 

"Are you sure? It might take a while…" Xu Suying's mother said, not wanting to leave Xiong Jingfei outside by herself.

Once the ritual inside the shrine begins. The doors will be closed, not allowing anyone inside to leave or anyone outside to enter. So it wouldn't be convenient for Xu Suying's parents to check on Xiong Jingfei on the outside. Nevertheless, they didn't want to force her inside if she didn't want to go. 

Xiong Jingfei smiled and nodded her head. She will be okay on her own, and it's not like it was her first time doing it. 

"Okay." Xu Suying's mother said hesitantly. It wasn't like the shrine was located in an unsafe area. She was only afraid because Xiong Jingfei wouldn't be able to scream for help if she was in danger. 

Xiong Jingfei still insisted on staying outside. Xu Suying's mother had no choice but to respect her decision. She watched as the shrine doors closed with Xu Suying and her parents on the other side. 

She sat down on the stone steps up to the shrine and played with the tiny pebbles on the ground. She brought her knees to her chest and hugged them as she laid her head on them. 

Closing her eyes, she listened to the nature surrounding her body. Inhaling, she took in the freshly cleaned air that can't be found in Sinwang City. 

After making a bet with Wu Yuan and returning back to Yang Zheyan's house. Everything went back to normal for Xiong Jingfei except with Yang Zheyan. He was always around! 

Well, he should be since the house did belong to him. Still, she wasn't used to the change because it wasn't a "he'll show up more often" type of situation. He was home when she got off from school. They eat and share a meal together every time. They're in the same place most of the time, and the only place that separated them was their bedroom. 

Xiong Jingfei has this feeling that the locks on the door were preventing him from "entering" whenever he wanted. It just felt off because she had been living alone for a while now. Having someone else living with her was something she can't get used to within a month. 

So that's why she was on this short trip with Xu Suying and her parents. Taking a break away from Yang Zheyan might be a good thing for her. It'll give her time to clear out her head.

Their trip was to a shrine located almost three hours away from Sinwang City. It was that time again for Xu Suying to renew her two-year ritual. Also, a while back, Xu Suying did invite Xiong Jingfei to accompany her, but she wasn't sure at the time yet. 

Even without anyone telling Xiong Jingfei. Anyone living out here was mostly farmers, as there wasn't a single building within sight that screamed "city" life. 

Xiong Jingfei can't remember the last time she just sat outside and enjoyed mother nature. She can hear the birds chirping near and far from her. The wind is taking its course around the mountains. Everything surrounding her out here relaxed her chaotic brain. 

Then one thing that stood out to her was the sound of rushing water. Coming down at a fast-paced as it hit the rocks below it. She can only imagine what it looked like from the sound of it. 

Xiong Jingfei stood up, why imagine it when she can actually go see it? It wasn't like her eyesights were missing! She might as well explore the place while she waited for them to be done. 

She followed the sound of the waterfall, it was coming from the west side of the shrine area. She went through a pathway that didn't seem to be used often. She walked until the sound of the water became louder and louder. That's how Xiong Jingfei knew she was getting closer to it. 

When she got there, it was more breathtaking than she ever imagined! She was right to have followed her heart and come see it for herself. The waterfall was magnificent! It was a rather big one that you had to squint to fight the sun to see the top of it. 

Xiong Jingfei got as close as she could to the rushing waterfall. She extended out her arm and touched the clear cold water. She suddenly had a thought that she wished Yang Zheyan was here to see this too. 

She splashed the cold water on her face. Why is she thinking of Yang Zheyan? Didn't she come all this way to forget about him! It must be because she was used to him around all the time. That's right! That's what it is! 

"Young lady!" Someone shouted, tugging on Xiong Jingfei's shirt from behind. "Hello! Young lady!"

Xiong Jingfei turned around and found an elderly grandma with a silly grin on her face. She somehow reminded her of Yang Jinhai. She nodded her head to let the elderly grandma know she heard her. 

"I knew I would find you here!" The elderly grandma laughed, grabbing Xiong Jingfei's hand that touched the waterfall. 

Then she jumped down the unbalanced rocks like it was nothing, while Xiong Jingfei was staggering to not trip! 

When both of them were on solid ground. The elderly grandma was still brimming with energy, but Xiong Jingfei's face paled like she just saw a ghost. 

How can she not look like that? She was close to cracking her head on the rocks many times! 

"Young lady, it's not nice to make an old... No! A young woman like me to keep waiting for you!" The elderly grandma giggled and pointed her finger at Xiong Jingfei. She clicked her tongue impatiently and waved her finger, "Do you know how long I have been waiting for you?" 

Me? Xiong Jingfei pointed to herself. 

"Of course you! Do you see anyone else around here?" The elderly grandma crossed her arm like a pouting child. "You finally decided to show up, huh?" 

Well, no... No one seemed to be at the waterfall area beside the elder grandma and her. Does this elderly grandma know her? What does she mean she has been waiting for a long time for her? They never made any sort of appointment, and she doesn't know this person. 

Have they met in the city by chance, and she just can't recall, is that it? It was possible with her awful memory of remembering people's faces. Although, she really doesn't have any recollections of interacting with an elderly grandma.

All of a sudden, the elderly grandma took hold of both Xiong Jingfei's hands and began dancing. She was humming a song while slowly swinging their arms back and forth. 

Xiong Jingfei was having a hard time keeping up with the elderly grandma's change of actions. One moment, they were practically running down a bunch of rocks. Then she was scolded for not showing up till now, and now they're dancing? 

Is this grandma crazy?

Xiong Jingfei went along with the elderly grandma's action. It was then she started listening to the song of the elderly grandma's humming. 

This song... Xiong Jingfei listened, trying to place a finger to where she heard of it from before. Where was it from? 

"Waaah!"

Xiong Jingfei instantly let go of the elderly grandma's hands and looked around the surrounded waterfall. It sounded like a baby's cry! It was louder than the waterfall itself, but there wasn't any baby around. It was a one time cry, and the sound of the waterfall returned. 

A smile appeared on the elderly grandma's face. What seemed like fragile arms were able to force Xiong Jingfei to make a twirl.