An Nan remained mostly silent throughout the day; she maintained this silence for two days. It was on the third day, as she placed An Liyang's ashes in the niche beside her parents, that she finally lost control of her emotions and broke down crying.
Upon hearing Mom cry, Little Mumu, cradled in Aunt Fu's arms, also began to cry.
As the most important man in the lives of these two women, big and small, Lin Mubai found himself at a loss for whom to console. An Jiayou was more straightforward; he went directly to Grandma Fu's side, took his sister from her arms, and began to softly soothe her: "Little Mumu, be good, don't cry."
Witnessing this scene, Lin Mubai quickly went to An Nan's side. The few people beside her stepped aside, seeing him approach.
Lin Mubai crouched down and embraced her, his eyes red: "Nannan."
Other than calling her name, he didn't know what else to say.
