Wealth and Honor

Fugui gave Ye Shuang no reply. Ye Shuang did not know whether he had come to understand anything, but there was little else he could do. Fugui had been trapped in this knot in his heart for far too long; all Ye Shuang could do was offer him a little guidance.

He lowered his head and looked at the bookmark in his hand. The yellowed bookmark bore the marks of time, and in a daze, Ye Shuang seemed able to see what it had originally looked like. Yes—he had accepted the gift the girl had given him, and he had understood her feelings.

It was just that perhaps… he was no longer able to return them.

Seeing Ye Shuang staring at the bookmark, Fugui had no idea what was going through his mind. He slowly stood up. “All right, I’m going back to the ward to take a look.”

“Okay.”

…

It had only been a week when Ye Shuang received the news that Auntie Qiao had passed away during the night. It was not exactly unexpected. Given her condition at the time, it had indeed been difficult for her to hold on much longer.

For a patient in the final stages of cancer, death was almost a form of release. The day after Auntie Qiao passed away, Fugui held a funeral for his only mother and closest family member.

Ye Shuang brought Chen Qin to the funeral home to attend the memorial service. There were many people there—far too many, in fact—and the already cramped funeral home was packed.

Besides Fugui’s employees, there were also some of his relatives. The moment Ye Shuang and the others arrived, Peach, dressed all in white, came over to greet them. Even in such a solemn setting, she still seemed to be the one managing everything.

“Brother Ye, Sister Qin, you’re here.”

“Is there anything you need us to help with?” Since Ye Shuang could not see Fugui anywhere, he asked Little Peach.

“Not for now. The two of you can find a seat…” As she spoke, Peach pointed toward the seats in the front row. Ye Shuang and Chen Qin then took their places.

Auntie Qiao’s coffin was nearby, and Chen Qin’s eyes had already reddened. Perhaps she had never expected a familiar elder to leave this world so soon.

Seeing that Chen Qin was about to lose control of her emotions, Ye Shuang took a tissue from his pocket and handed it to her. “Here.”

“Mm…” After blowing her nose, Chen Qin finally managed to calm down a little.

A while later, Chen Hai arrived on his own. When he saw where Ye Shuang and Chen Qin were sitting, he came straight over and took the seat beside them.

“Where’s Fugui?”

“I don’t know. He wasn’t here when I arrived.” Ye Shuang shook his head. Fugui must have been held up by something.

As time passed, more and more people took their seats. Even so, the room remained quiet, filled only with the faint murmur of conversation.

Peach stood not far away, helping welcome those who had come to attend the memorial service.

Before long, the service began. Peach delivered the eulogy clearly and fluently, without even needing to look at a script. After speaking at length, she began the flower-laying ceremony. It was at that moment that Ye Shuang finally saw the familiar figure arrive.

“Fugui… huh?” Chen Hai froze when he saw him. He was not the only one left dumbfounded—Ye Shuang and Chen Qin were also staring in surprise.

Fugui, who had always dressed in a feminine style, was no longer wearing a long dress. Instead, he wore a simple white shirt with white jeans. His long hair had been cut short, ending just above his ears. His former flamboyance had transformed into something almost eerie, while his pale, indifferent face carried a hint of coldness and world-weariness.

Holding a bouquet of flowers, he walked to his mother’s coffin. Then he slowly knelt down and placed the flowers in front of it.

Perhaps he noticed Ye Shuang and the others watching him. After setting down the flowers, Fugui gave them a meaningful look.

“I just feel like Fugui is… somehow…” Chen Qin could not put her feelings into words, so she looked at Ye Shuang.

“…” Ye Shuang seemed to understand. He slowly let out a sigh.

“Yeah. Perhaps, starting today, Fugui is finally Fugui in the truest sense of the word.”

…

After the memorial service ended, everyone gradually left to go eat. Only Fugui remained seated, seemingly lost in thought. Ye Shuang and the others walked over to him.

“Damn, Fugui, what are you doing? I know you’re upset, but this… have you become even more twisted?” Seeing Fugui dressed this way, Chen Hai found it almost unbelievable—perhaps because Fugui looked so normal.

Fugui only smiled faintly. “Do I?”

“Yeah. And the way you’re talking is weird too,” Chen Hai said. After all, he had not heard Fugui speak in such a serious tone in over ten years.

Fugui ignored Chen Hai’s overreaction and instead turned his attention to Ye Shuang.

“Was my mother in much pain when she passed?” Ye Shuang asked.

“She was given medication. And she regained consciousness for a while,” Fugui replied with a shake of his head.

“She woke up?”

“Yeah. She said a few things on her own, things like, ‘I’ve been a burden to you all these years,’ and ‘Good boy…’” Fugui suddenly smiled. “The most important thing was that she suddenly called me by my name.”

“Although it was only for a few short minutes, it was the first time in all those years…”

“She called me Fugui…”

Fugui smiled, but the smile was filled with sorrow.

Ye Shuang said nothing more. Although Fu Yao and Auntie Qiao’s time had remained in the past, Fugui’s time had finally begun to move forward.

Perhaps he no longer needed to pretend to be his sister. Perhaps he could finally live as himself and do what he truly wanted.

“So, you don’t have to wear women’s clothes anymore?” Chen Qin asked.

“That’s right.”

“I used to think of you as my best girlfriend… So what am I supposed to call you now?” As Chen Qin spoke, Fugui grabbed Ye Shuang by the arm.

“It’s fine. We can still be good brothers. And from now on, you can tell all your little secrets to your husband.”

“Pfft, all right…”

Just then, Peach came over. The funeral home’s arrangements had all been completed, and the cremation could take place a little later.

“Father, everyone has already gone to eat. Shall we leave?” Little Peach asked.

“Little Peach, you’ve changed what you call me too?”

“Yes. Father said I should. But to me… he’s still the person I respect most.”

Peach did not care about the change in title. She knew why Fugui had dressed as a woman for all those years: he had simply wanted to make his mother a little happier.

After pretending for so long, Fugui had even begun to split himself in two, wondering whether he was really Fugui or Fu Yao.

But now, without a doubt, Fugui had finally broken free.

“Fugui, what do you want to do from now on?” Ye Shuang asked.