Chapter 345
“Where are we going, Nathan?” Zinnia asked.
Zinnia had changed into a simple, unadorned outfit—a white blouse with a black skirt. Her long, soft hair was pulled up into a neat bun, giving her a quiet, graceful look befitting the occasion.
Nathan also changed into a simple outfit—a white shirt and black slacks. In his hands, he carried two bouquets. One was roses, and the other was jasmine.
Nathan handed Zinnia one of the rose bouquets. “We’re going to visit two people.”
Since Zinnia and Nathan were heading out alone, Jackson and the others didn’t feel it was appropriate to tag along. “Be careful on the road, and give us a call if you need anything,” Jackson reminded them.
“Go ahead,” said Yannis.
“Are we going up the mountain, Nathan?” Zinnia asked.
Zinnia and Nathan left the courtyard, following a narrow path up the mountainside behind the house. This whole mountain belonged to just the two of them.
“Yes,” Nathan murmured, walking ahead with Zinnia following behind.
The narrow path was steep, paved with flagstones still slick from last night’s rain. Zinnia and Nathan walked cautiously, watching their steps.
“Need me to hold your hand, Zinnia?” Nathan stopped in his tracks and reached back toward her.
Zinnia shook her head. “I’m fine, Nathan.”
Nathan lowered his eyes, his voice tinged with gentle mockery. “What, Zinnia? Are you saying I can’t even hold your hand anymore?”
Zinnia shook her head. “No, it’s not that, Nathan. It’s just slippery. I’m worried that if I lose my footing, I might end up pulling you down with me.”
The path was barely wide enough for one person, still slick from last night’s rain. Zinnia hesitated, afraid she might lose her balance and take Nathan down with her.
Seeing the calm, downcast expression on Nathan’s face, Zinnia gently placed her hand in his and said softly, “Let’s walk slowly. I don’t want us to fall.”
Nathan took her hand and led her forward at a gentle pace. “Alright, let’s take it slow,” he said softly.
Zinnia followed Nathan step by step up the steep mountainside, a place she’d never ventured before. She had no idea what lay up there. Nathan had never mentioned it to her.
Zinnia looked around curiously and asked, “Nathan, does anyone actually live on this mountain? How come I never knew about it?”
Nathan said he was taking her to see two people, and Zinnia instinctively assumed someone still lived on the mountain.
Nathan said quietly, “You’ll see when we get there.”
The two walked slowly along the narrow path, flanked by a riot of vibrant, blooming flowers that seemed to embrace them. It was as if they were treading a living corridor of blossoms.
Zinnia had no idea how long they’d been walking, chatting idly with Nathan about everything and nothing. When they finally reached the top of the mountain, two gravestones stood solemn and prominent at the very center.
Zinnia’s voice trailed off. She froze, stunned. On the gravestones were two faces she recognized. She’d seen them before on Jackson’s phone.
Zinnia felt a lump in her throat. “Nathan…”
These were Nathan’s parents’ gravestones. Zinnia suddenly realized that ever since she could remember, Nathan would always spend a few days each year climbing this mountain, but he had never told her his parents were buried here.
Nathan gently took her hand and led her forward, saying softly, “These are my parents.”
Zinnia instinctively started to speak, but Nathan gently interrupted her. “Zinnia,” he said softly, “you always say you’re my student, but to me, you’re family. If you don’t mind, you can call them Mom and Dad, too.”
Zinnia blinked playfully and said, “So, Nathan, you won’t be an only child anymore!”
In Zinnia’s heart, Nathan’s parents weren’t just his family. They felt like her own, too.
Nathan chuckled lightly. “If they knew they had such a beautiful daughter like you, Zinnia, they’d be over the moon down there.”
“Really? Would they like me?” Zinnia couldn’t help but laugh at Nathan’s description, her eyes crinkling into crescents.
“Mom and Dad,” Zinnia said softly, bowing her head slightly. “I’m Zinnia. I’m so sorry that Nathan never told me about you. I would’ve come sooner if I’d known. Please don’t be upset with me. I promise I’ll visit you often from now on.”
Zinnia bent down and gently placed the bouquet of roses in front of the gravestone. Roses were Hannah’s favorite flowers.
Zinnia gazed at the photos on the gravestones. The man had striking, refined features, with gentle brows and eyes that seemed to hold a quiet smile. The woman was graceful and elegant, with beautiful features. Her soft eyes held a tender, gentle smile.
She studied the photos closely, thinking, ‘Nathan’s facial structure is just like his dad’s, but his features are all from his mom. He inherited his mother’s beauty, yet kept the best traits of his father. Honestly, he’s a perfect blend of both parents’ finest qualities.’
Listening to Zinnia, Nathan bent down and gently placed the white jasmine he held. White jasmine had always been Richard’s favorite. While Hannah loved vibrant colors, Richard preferred softer, more subtle shades.
Nathan thought, ‘Mom, Dad, can you hear a sweet daughter, the one you always wished for, calling you Mom and Dad? If you were here, I know you’d absolutely adore Zinnia.’
Zinnia knelt on the ground, carefully clearing the fallen leaves from the base of the gravestone. “Nathan, if you’d told me earlier we were coming to pay respects to Mom and Dad, I would have brought more offerings for them,” she said.
Nathan hadn’t visited in some time, and fallen leaves had accumulated. He said gently, “Mom and Dad won’t blame you, Zinnia. Just seeing you here would make them happy.”
Hearing Zinnia call them “Mom and Dad” so unreservedly, Nathan lowered his gaze, shielding the emotions flickering beneath.
He crouched beside her, gently brushing away the fallen leaves with his fingers. As he looked at the gentle, tolerant smiles on the gravestones, his lashes trembled slightly.
Nathan thought to himself, ‘Mom, Dad. I did something selfish and dishonorable. You always taught me not to be dishonorable, but this time, I just couldn’t help myself. When we meet again, I hope you won’t scold me.’
“Nathan, didn’t Jackson say he buried Mom and Dad overseas? When did you bring them back?” Zinnia asked curiously.
“The following year,” Nathan said softly, “I moved them back.”
The following year, once things had settled down a bit, Nathan had his parents’ graves moved back.
Zinnia glanced at Nathan, a sudden thought crossing her mind. “Wait, does Jackson even know you moved Mom and Dad back here? I think he still goes abroad every year to pay his respects.”
Zinnia suddenly realized something and glanced at Jackson. If he didn’t know their parents’ remains had been moved back, then all those years he’d been paying his respects abroad... It was all for nothing.
Zinnia couldn’t even begin to imagine how livid Jackson would look when he found out about this.
Nathan fell silent for a moment. It seemed he really had forgotten to tell Jackson. The heavy atmosphere was abruptly lit up by Zinnia’s innocent remark.
“Mom and Dad, please don’t worry,” Zinnia said softly. “I promise I’ll take good care of Nathan.” With that, she lowered her head before the gravestones and bowed three times with deep reverence.
She thought, ‘Mom, Dad, if you can really hear me, I have one small request. If you’re truly listening, please let Nathan recover. I’d give anything for that.’
Nathan watched her gesture and did the same. He thought, ‘Mom, Dad, forgive me. I may not get another chance to visit you. If your spirits are watching over us, please bless Zinnia and keep her safe in the days to come.’
After completing the three bows, the two of them rose to their feet in perfect unison.
Nathan gazed at the gentle smiles of his parents in the photograph. With Zinnia, who had stood by his side for eighteen years, he felt no fear of death at all.