After I Was Gone, Mr. Song Said He Loved Me - Chapter 24 - Moved

The fact that I like men is something I can’t change, but it’s still not a mainstream orientation, and naturally, my father, with his old-fashioned views, cannot accept it.

Especially since I am the only boy in the family, it’s normal for him to feel this way.

“Dad, I know you are angry with me, but please let me speak to grandpa for a moment, then I’ll leave for good, far away, and I won’t trouble you anymore, okay?” I crawled to my father, looked up at him with tears, and pleaded.

My father stood rigidly before me, showing no signs of relenting.

At that moment, two of my father’s friends returned to the scene and started to persuade him.

They appealed to his emotions and reasoned with him, speaking a lot of good words on my behalf.

“Mr. Bai, the old man has just passed. It really isn’t right to be making a fuss now. Whatever it is, let’s talk about it later.”

“That’s right, Bai Yu hasn’t been home for so long, any anger should have subsided by now. Once things have settled, you two should sit down and have a proper talk, especially with so many people around today, it really doesn’t look good to argue here.”

“…”

“…”

I was stunned by their words; ever since they found out I was homosexual, these two uncles had never looked at me favorably, avoiding me like the plague whenever they visited.

What changed now?

After they spoke, a few other relatives I wasn’t close with also came forward to persuade my father.

Confused by their words, and with more relatives chipping in, my father grunted and stepped aside.

I hurriedly crawled to my grandfather, kneeling beside him, holding his cold hand against my face, “Grandpa, your grandson has come to see you, please open your eyes and look at me.”

“Grandpa, look at me, Grandpa, your grandson is here, look at me…”

“Grandpa, I can make money now, I can take you to the big city… Why didn’t you wait for me?”

“Grandpa… Grandpa…”

I called out to him repeatedly, already crying inconsolably.

But that kind and simple old man never indulged me by calling me Bai again.

I knew Grandpa really was gone.

Crying, I kowtowed three times to express all my grief.

Gradually, more relatives came to see Grandpa for the last time. My mother pulled me aside. Although she looked upset, her tone was somewhat gentler than before.

“Where have you been all this year? Not even coming back to visit? Your father is stubborn, and you’re even more so. Were you planning to die out there?”

Tears in my eyes, I stayed silent, feeling both wronged and sad.

How could I not want to come home? It’s just that I hadn’t made anything of myself, and I had no face to return.

“Apologize to your father later, tell him you’re not that…” My mother hesitated when it came to the word ‘homosexual,’ as if the word burned her mouth, “I’ve heard there are places that can treat that condition. Listen to me, get cured, and come back to live a normal life, okay?”

I knew she was talking about the conversion therapy center, but sexual orientation is innate, not something that can be changed through artificial means.

I had tried watching movies, even tried to be intimate with women in bars.

But when it came to the final step, both my body and mind strongly rejected it.

How could someone like me, who can’t satisfy a woman and doesn’t wish to be with a man, be of any use?

“Mom, I’m sorry!” I softly expressed my feelings.

My father, pretending not to care, was actually all ears. Hearing my apology, his anger flared up again.

This time, no one could calm him down, and soon I was thrown out of the house like a little chick, my collar gripped tightly by my father. If it weren’t for Song Yu protecting me, I surely would have fallen flat.

“Are you okay?” Song Yu helped me up.

I wiped my face, forcing a smile, “It’s okay, I’m used to it.”

Song Yu gently ruffled my hair, sighing softly, “Give them some time, they will eventually try to accept you.”

I let out a long sigh and nodded.

Suddenly I asked, “About those two uncles… was it you, President Song?”

“Money talks,” Song Yu casually remarked.

I knew it! I had guessed that they wouldn’t have come back to plead for me without reason.

“Thank you, President Song, for seeing this,” I said, head bowed, shamefully wishing I could disappear into the ground.

Song Yu said nothing, probably to spare me further embarrassment.

“Your parents must be very open-minded, unlike mine…” I said, admiring Song Yu as if he stood at the pinnacle of a pyramid, looking down at everyone else. His life surely never had moments as terrible as mine.

“I don’t have parents,” Song Yu stated simply.

I was taken aback, momentarily stunned. Everyone has parents, how could Song Yu not?

Seeing my confusion and misunderstanding, Song Yu added lightly, “I grew up in an orphanage.”

I immediately felt a pang of guilt, apologizing, “I’m sorry, President Song, I… didn’t know…”

Song Yu curved his lips slightly, echoing my earlier words, “It’s okay, I’m used to it.”

At that moment, the funeral home’s van arrived outside, and the staff came to take the body.

As Grandpa’s body, covered with a white cloth, was loaded into the van, I couldn’t stand by his side, only watching from the outskirts, my heart burning with urgency.

Suddenly, Song Yu pulled me out of the crowd, and before I knew it, he was helping me follow the last journey of my grandfather.

At that moment, apart from gratitude, I didn’t know how to describe my feelings.

Following the van, we headed back to the town’s funeral home.

My parents got out of the car, and as people started to unload the stretcher, I rushed to help but was stopped by my father’s stern “Get away.”

I could only watch helplessly as the stretcher was pushed into the funeral home, stopping at the door.

Even so, I was content.

I stood at the entrance, waiting to speak a few more words to my parents. There were too many people at home earlier, and I hadn’t had the chance to explain much, but I waited in vain for them to come out.

Suddenly, I heard my father’s angry shout, “What do you mean? People from our fishing village are always buried by Deer Skull Cliff, why is it not allowed now?”

Deer Skull Cliff was behind the mountain of the fishing village, a wild sea with deep waters and steep cliffs, not suitable for tourism. It had become the traditional burial ground for generations of villagers.