Chapter 823: 416: Awkward to the Extreme (Second Update)

Nick Zeller’s mouth formed an O shape and he couldn’t close it. The old Daoist gave him a sidelong glance, "Don’t be so surprised. There are plenty of talented people in this world who just choose not to show off."

Nick finally closed his mouth, puffed up his chest, and said with a smile, "I’m one of those talented people who like to show off!"

"Come on now, your little tricks aren’t even enough to teach Lawrence!" The old Daoist rolled his eyes at him, "Go pack your things, we’re heading back to the mountain together."

Talking about going back, Nick sheepishly asked in a low voice, "...Has the mountain got internet? I can’t live without the internet anymore!"

"Humph! This old Daoist lived over twenty years on the mountain without the internet just fine!" The old Daoist gave him a disdainful glance.

Nick chuckled, "I’m thinking of Gabrielle. She could watch some shows and shop online in her free time; she can’t spend all her time reading the Celestial Path Scripture like us, can she?"

"...Hmm, I know." The old Daoist understood that it wasn’t easy for Nick, who had finally won over the woman he loved at his age, so he waved his hand, "I’ve already told the young Daoists on the mountain, they’re contacting the relevant local departments, and soon a base station will be set up."

With a base station, they’ll be able to access the internet on the mountain.

Nick was very pleased and chatted with the old Daoist about a few other things, particularly asking about his health.

The old Daoist rubbed his leg, saying, "I’m recovering well. I definitely can’t go up and down stairs outside, but walking around the house is fine, which helps me recover quickly."

The person who performed the surgery was very skilled, and he was recovering better than expected.

...

Kenneth Osborne left the Civil Affairs Bureau feeling a surge of anger with no outlet.

He drove aimlessly on the road, not wanting to go back to the office or his own home, feeling that though the world was vast, there wasn’t a place for him to go.

He didn’t want to think or ponder; he just drove according to his instincts.

After wandering for over an hour, he realized he had driven out of the Capital City and into the suburbs.

In this direction, there seemed to be a cemetery, where Joyce Shaw was buried.

He suddenly remembered the day’s significance and was taken aback.

Today was the first anniversary of Joyce Shaw’s death!

Unknowingly, it had been a year since Joyce’s passing, so he might as well pay his respects.

He never deliberately remembered this date; on the contrary, he wanted to downplay it, not wanting to remember the day Joyce died.

Because it was utterly painful for him, just thinking about Joyce’s death gave him almost PTSD.

Yet today, he’d unknowingly driven here; it turned out that deep down, he still missed his friend a lot.

He decided to drive into the cemetery.

This cemetery was for the ordinary citizens of the Capital City.

It wasn’t Qingming nor New Year’s Eve, so there weren’t many people lighting lamps or visiting graves here.

Kenneth drove in, parked in the cemetery parking lot, then went to a shop here to buy a bouquet of purple-blue irises wrapped in white cellophane and a small bottle of Red Star Erguotou.

Red Star Erguotou was the cheapest drink they could afford as students.

After finishing a deal, they would buy some braised pig head meat, then sit in the dorm room, drinking and amusing themselves.

Those beautiful times were only memories of the campus.

Kenneth sighed deeply in his heart.

The purple-blue irises were elegant and quiet, symbolizing eternal friendship, perfect for Joyce.

Kenneth hugged the bouquet and found Joyce’s grave.

It was in a sunny spot, surrounded by a small, tidy plot, showing someone frequently cleaned and tended it.

Kenneth placed the bouquet in front, opened the small bottle of Red Star Erguotou, and poured it onto the grave.

Then he sat on the bluestone slab beside the grave, lit a cigarette, and smoked silently.

The cemetery was nearly empty, very quiet around.

Sunlight filtered through the evergreen pine and cypress, not too hot.

Kenneth blew out a smoke ring, smiled a bit, and looking at Joyce’s handsome and bright photo on the tombstone, said, "Joyce, I got divorced today."

"I originally wanted to bring Nora to visit you before the wedding."

"But before that day came, we got divorced."

"You knew best how I felt about her."

"I met her when I was six, we grew up together."

"I knew when she lost her teeth, when she got her period. I knew what she looked like when she was happy, and when she was sad, what her look and actions were like when she was lying, and how she acted when trying to please others."