Grandfather was already quite old—he was well into his eighties.
At his age, many people would tremble just walking, let alone carrying a strapping young man over six feet tall on his back.
"Grandfather, there's really no need!"
But Grandfather still insisted. Not only did he carry me on his back, he even said with a smile,
"It's fine. Grandfather can still carry you."
After Grandfather spoke, Black Emperor beside him chimed in as well,
"Alright, Ningzi. Just let the old man carry you!"
Seeing Black Emperor smiling and Grandfather so insistent, I stopped struggling.
With me on his back, Grandfather looked ahead and said with a smile,
"Let's go home!"
Looking at Grandfather's graying hair and thin frame carrying a young man in his twenties on his back, I was overwhelmed with emotion.
I felt both warm and heartbroken.
Grandfather was not merely carrying me now; he was carrying my entire life.
He had supported me, moving forward in silence. Even at his age, he had never stopped walking.
I had no way of knowing what Grandfather had secretly done for me.
But I knew very clearly that he must have given up so much for my sake...
At that moment, as I looked at Grandfather's graying hair, my eyes grew hot.
If fate had brought me into this world, then in this life, I had already shattered that damned fate.
I would truly live as myself, and let Grandfather, who had carried me forward all this way, enjoy his own life.
I would make sure all that bullshit about taboos would no longer trouble or cling to Grandfather...
In that instant, I silently swore an oath in my heart. Yet I also understood that what I carried on my shoulders was heavy, unbearably heavy. I could not stop.