Chapter 903 - 903 889 Old Master An passed away (3)

Chapter 903: 889, Old Master An passed away (3) Chapter 903: 889, Old Master An passed away (3) “Zhou Qi, have you had enough trouble? So many things have happened, don’t you think it’s time to reflect on your actions?” An Zhonghui looked at her with disappointment and said in a low voice.

With a sneer of mockery, Zhou Qi quickly walked up to him, snatched the toy car from his hands, “How dare you bring this back and then hide it, a child’s toy car? Heh, have you also been swayed by Jian Qing and the others?”

An Zhonghui’s face turned cold, “Zhou Qi, no matter what you say or think, I’ve made my decision about Jian Qing and Jian Luo. All these years, I’ve never fulfilled my responsibilities as a grandfather, and I don’t want to wait until I can’t walk anymore, dying alone without anyone by my side. Look at this house, does it even resemble a home anymore? It’s deathly quiet; even Dad and Azhe refuse to live here now.”

“An Zhonghui, after so many years of marriage, in the end you’d rather choose Jian Qing and the others over me?” Zhou Qi, who usually feared An Zhonghui, was now completely irrational with rage, uncontrollably shouting at him.

“Think whatever you want.” An Zhonghui snatched the toy car back from her hands, his face ashen as he said, “I’ve also allowed Jian Qing and the others to call me ‘Grandpa.’ I want her child to call me ‘Great Grandpa,’ and I don’t want to lose the father-son relationship with Azhe.”

After speaking, he bypassed her and marched upstairs, ignoring Zhou Qi’s relentless arguing.

“An Zhonghui, you’re going too far. How can you treat me like this?”

“Mom, don’t get worked up. Watch out for your blood pressure rising again,” An Rong gently stroked her back, helping her to catch her breath.

“Arong, I only have you now, your dad doesn’t want me anymore.” Zhou Qi sobbed in her embrace, “How can he treat me this way? It’s all Jian Qing’s fault.”

“Mom, don’t be like this. Dad is just angry right now, don’t take it to heart,” An Rong looked upstairs, her brow furrowed.

Zhou Qi leaned on her, crying bitterly, cursing Jian Qing non-stop.

The normally quiet mansion was suddenly in turmoil once again, and the passing servants, minding their own business, tried to make themselves less noticeable and drifted away.

…

After more than a week of peace, the very thing Jian Qing and the others feared most finally happened. Early one morning, Old Master An suddenly fainted, turning Mo Xiao and the others pale with fear.

In the empty hallway, Jian Luo and the others stood at the door. The rest of the An Family had also come to Shijin Haoting, seemingly sensing the heavy atmosphere; the two little treasures quietly cuddled in Quan Jingwu and Jian Qing’s arms, sucking on their bottles.

After what seemed like a long time, the door opened, and Bai Jue came out.

“Bai Jue, how is it?” Jian Luo, standing at the forefront, asked anxiously.

Bai Jue’s face was unusually somber, “You should go in and be with him.”

“Bai Jue, is there really nothing that can be done?” Jian Qing’s eyes paused, and she asked in a very soft voice.

Bai Jue shook his head, “Go in. The old master doesn’t have much time left.”

With that, Jian Luo and Mo Xiao rushed in first, followed closely by the other members of the An Family.

“Darling, let’s go in,” Quan Jingwu, holding Seventeen in one arm and her hand in the other, gave her strength.

Jian Qing looked up at him and nodded.

“Great Grandpa, you promised to see Seventeen and Nineteen grow up. I want to take you to our manor in M Country; you can’t break your word,” Jian Luo knelt beside the bed, gripping Old Master An’s hand, her voice choked with sobs.

“Seventeen and Nineteen came first thing this morning. Aren’t you going to play with them?”

Old Master An’s face was pale, his lips cracked and dry, already at the end of his strength, struggling to speak without gasping for air.

“Luoluo, I’m sorry. In the end, Great Grandpa will have to break his promise. Don’t be sad. I have no regrets left in this life.”

“Grandpa!” Mo Xiao knelt beside Jian Luo, his expression filled with grief.

“Azhe, for my sake, don’t abandon the An Family. Forgive your father and the others, and don’t let the An Family self-destruct,” Old Master An grasped his hand and urged in a hoarse voice, “Also, after I’m gone, help me settle Aqiu, find a place where he can live out his years comfortably.”

Beside him, An Zhonghui’s eyes gradually moistened, clutching Old Master An’s hand tightly, while Uncle Qiu lowered his head and wiped away tears.

Mo Xiao’s voice was hoarse, “Okay, I promise you.”

Old Master An smiled contentedly, his gaze urgently sweeping around, continuously calling out, “Jian Qing, Jian Qing…”

“Great-Grandpa, I’m here.” Jian Qing, holding child nineteen, walked over, Jian Luo and Mo Xiao stood up, giving up their seats to her.

“Look, I’ve brought both seventeen and nineteen with me, and nineteen is still waiting for you to buy him a lollipop.” She put child nineteen on the bed, then picked up child seventeen, letting both little treasures lean against him.

“Heh heh!”

Old Master An chuckled and reached out to hold the hands of the two little treasures.

“Seventeen, nineteen, I’m afraid I won’t hear you call me great-grandfather, you must grow up healthy and strong.”

“Yah yah… ah…” Child seventeen grabbed Old Master An’s finger, wanting him to get up and play with them.

“Jian Qing, being able to see you married and with children, and hearing you call me great-grandpa, I am more than satisfied. With Quan Jingwu taking care of you, I’m at ease. If he ever dares to bully you, go tell Azhe to sort him out.”

“Great-grandpa, I understand. Don’t you want to hear seventeen and nineteen call you ‘Great Grandfather’? They’ll be talking soon. Please wait a little longer. Don’t leave us,” Jian Qing’s eyes reddened, grasping the hand he extended.

“Cough cough, I, too, wish to hear them call me ‘Great Grandfather’, but heaven’s will is not ours to command. Don’t cry, my Xiaonou is the strongest,” Old Master An coughed a few times, his voice growing even weaker.

He withdrew his hand, reaching under the pillow, pulling out a box of chocolates. Jian Qing recognized the familiar packaging, and suddenly her eyes clouded with mist.

“This is great-grandpa’s last time buying Xiaonou chocolates. Take it.”

Jian Qing took the chocolates, along with his hand, unwilling to let go, her nose reddening, “Great-grandpa, please don’t go, don’t.”

“Silly child, what’s there to cry about? Great-grandpa’s Xiaonuo looks prettiest when she smiles.” Old Master An patted her head, lifting his eyes toward Jian Luo, “Luoluo, be happy. Great-grandpa will be watching over your happiness from heaven.”

Jian Luo held back tears and nodded emphatically.

Having arranged everything, Old Master An suddenly felt very tired, his gaze turning to seventeen and nineteen, filled with reluctance, “Seventeen, nineteen, be well…”

His eyelids uncontrollably closed, his hands holding the two little treasures gradually slipped away, his breath fading until it was completely gone.

“Great-grandpa!”

“Dad!”

“Grandpa!”

The crowd called out in sorrow; Mo Xiao knelt by the bed, a single teardrop falling from the corner of his eye.

Jian Qing clenched his hand tight, holding onto that box of chocolates.

Great-grandpa, may you be well on your journey!

Quan Jingwu crouched down, wrapping his arm around her, whispering in her ear, “Dear treasure, you still have me!”