“It’s not too serious, but it was quite sudden…”
Wen Ying could not mention her previous life to Xie Qian. She simply felt that Grandma Wen’s illness had come very abruptly.
Apart from her aunt Wen Hongyan’s family, everyone in the Wen family was doing better than in her previous life. Her eldest uncle and youngest uncle’s families had settled in Rongcheng. The hidden danger of her youngest uncle’s stock trading had been resolved some time ago. What could have shocked the old lady?
Xie Qian was about to speak when Wen Ying’s phone rang.
“Huh, it’s Uncle Xie.”
“You answer first.”
Xie Qian noticed Wen Ying seemed a little embarrassed.
She had met Xie Yuping before, and back then Wen Ying had been completely at ease.
Yes, at that time she was Xie Qian’s good friend. Now… she was Xie Qian’s girlfriend.
Compared to Xie Jinghu, Xie Yuping was more like Xie Qian’s father. Speaking to Xie Yuping again as Xie Qian’s girlfriend inevitably made her a bit nervous.
“Uncle Xie.”
Xie Yuping asked kindly about the recent media criticism towards Wen Ying and asked directly, “If they go too far, do you need my help?”
Wen Ying could not help smiling. “The help you mention wouldn’t happen to involve finding people to ‘greet’ those media outlets and make them go easy on me, would it?”
It was not impossible.
Xie Yuping said he had friends in the media industry. If the younger generation at home needed it, he could ask those friends for a favour. Though he had never asked for help for the younger ones before, that was because Xie Qian and the others never needed it.
Wen Ying did not dwell on what kind of figures Xie Yuping’s “friends” might be. She refused straightforwardly. “I know you mean well, but it really isn’t necessary. Uncle Xie, this is my own choice. My thoughts are not so pure and noble. I’m just an ordinary person. But I plan to develop in this industry for a long time. Do I want all journalists to selectively turn blind and deaf when reporting on me?”
If Xie Yuping helped, the voices criticising Wen Ying for being greedy would quiet down, but whispers about her “having a background” would grow louder in the dark!
Criticism was unpleasant to hear, but at least it was those people’s true thoughts.
Without criticism, Wen Ying’s ears would be clear, but she would probably never hear the truth again.
Just like Ran Keqing.
President Ran had built a massive entertainment empire. In this circle, President Ran covered the sky with one hand. Ran Keqing enjoyed this protection and grew accustomed to it. No one dared speak the truth to her.
Over time, Ran Keqing took such treatment for granted and acted particularly wilfully.
Wen Ying did not want to become a second Ran Keqing. She was truly afraid of becoming one!
Xie Yuping was instead taught a lesson by Wen Ying, which made him value her even more. “I was meddling. It’s not easy to stick to your own ideas and stay clear-headed.”
Learning that Xie Qian was beside her, Xie Yuping asked Wen Ying to pass the phone to Xie Qian and carefully instructed him a few more words before hanging up.
“Uncle praised you lavishly and told me to care for you more and support your writing career.”
Young people being affectionate in love was normal, but they could not be affectionate all day!
Also, the Xie family respected Wen Ying’s personal wishes and could refrain from making calls, but Xie Qian, as her boyfriend, must give her sufficient care and support.
These were the “instructions” Xie Yuping conveyed to Xie Qian.
Xie Qian pretended to be jealous. “I’m starting to suspect that’s not my uncle anymore. Maybe I’ve been mistaken all along, and he’s actually your uncle?”
Wen Ying glared at him. “What nonsense are you spouting? If not for you, Uncle Xie wouldn’t even know me!”
She glared, then laughed.
If the Xie family looked down on Wen Ying, she would not break up with Xie Qian over it, but she would inevitably feel uncomfortable.
Wen Ying was not born a contrarian. When the Xie family treated her kindly, she felt truly fortunate and wanted to cherish that luck!
About to go through security, Xie Qian accompanied Wen Ying to the security checkpoint entrance.
“Bend your head down.”
“What?”
Wen Ying leaned slightly forward, bringing her head closer to Xie Qian.
For a moment, the little deer in Wen Ying’s heart thumped wildly, nearly overloading her heartbeat.
She thought Xie Qian was going to kiss her.
With so many travellers in the airport, was Xie Qian really going to… thump, thump, thump.
A slight coolness brushed across Wen Ying’s forehead and cheeks.
It turned out Xie Qian was helping her tidy her hair.
“There. Go through security. If there’s any change in Grandma’s condition, contact me immediately.”
Wen Ying glared at him fiercely. Xie Qian pretended not to understand her embarrassment.
After Wen Ying entered security and waved goodbye to Xie Qian, he could not resist lightly sniffing his right hand near his nose.
A faint fragrance lingered on his hand, like the shampoo Wen Ying often used, yet somehow different.
Gong Sheng arrived precisely on time to push the boss’s wheelchair.
Xie Qian seamlessly switched back to “Young Mr Xie”.
“Is the old house matter settled?”
“Almost. All procedures are fine. Waiting for you to view it on site.”
Gong Sheng had mobilised all his connections for so long. Only one old house met Xie Qian’s requirements and had an owner willing to sell.
Whether to buy it or not was not Gong Sheng’s decision. Xie Qian had to see it personally.
The house had been found for over half a month. Xie Qian had been busy until today, when Wen Ying returned to Rongcheng early!
“Then let’s go see it. I have time now.”
If the house was suitable, Xie Qian planned to buy it.
He had originally thought to casually “give” one of the riverside properties to Wen Ying, but unexpectedly she did not take the bait.
Did Wen Ying no longer like riverside houses?
Xie Qian felt he needed to make other plans soon.
…
While Xie Qian went with Gong Sheng to view the old house, Wen Ying got off the plane and headed straight to the hospital.
Grandma Wen had been most critical yesterday. Today her condition was much better than yesterday.
Chen Ru did not explain the reason for Grandma Wen’s hospitalisation in detail, only saying Wen Ying would understand once she arrived at the hospital.
Wen Ying had a vague guess.
Dragging her luggage to the hospital, Wen Ying spotted two familiar figures.
One was the stout Wen Hongyan.
Wen Hongyan had been having a hard time these past couple of years, especially the last six months deeply involved in a pyramid scheme. Her build had not changed much, but her face looked sallow. On closer look, her former stoutness seemed more like oedema.
Wen Hongyan must be having a very hard time.
This thought flashed through Wen Ying’s mind.
The person with Wen Hongyan was not Shu Guobing but Shu Lu, who had “run away after leaving a letter”!
Shu Lu was back… which surely meant no good.
No wonder Grandma Wen was hospitalised.
Some things changed, some did not.
Wen Ying did not yet know the details but firmly believed Grandma Wen’s hospitalisation was inseparable from Shu Lu’s family.
Wen Ying withdrew her gaze and walked inside expressionlessly, dragging her suitcase. Shu Lu had already seen Wen Ying and timidly called out, “Sister Xiao Ying, I want to say sorry to you…”
Wen Ying acted as if she heard nothing.
Wen Hongyan suddenly broke down crying. “You’re all cold-hearted! Do you really want to force Lu Lu to death?”
Wen Hongyan’s face was sallow, her eye sockets sunken, showing an aged appearance unfit for her years.
In the hospital corridor, medical staff and patients all turned to look.
Wen Ying could not be bothered entangling with this mother-daughter pair. Just as she was about to drag her suitcase around them, a steady voice came from behind.
“Who could force her to death? All along, hasn’t it been you forcing the whole family? Aunt, one can lack conscience, but one cannot treat the entire family as fools!”
The voice belonged to Wen Kai.
Wen Kai, carrying a backpack, strode over. Before Wen Hongyan could wail and splash, he unleashed a barrage at her. “Whether to study or not is Shu Lu’s business. Being a good person or a bad one is also her choice. She treats the whole family as enemies. We have no intention of claiming kinship with her. In future, no matter how successful she becomes, I won’t take advantage. But the moment she returns, she disrupts the family. Why did Grandma suddenly fall ill? Aunt, don’t say it has nothing to do with Shu Lu! I haven’t settled accounts with you, yet you dare block me. Do you think I’m made of clay?”
Wen Hongyan’s impression of Wen Kai remained in the past. The old Wen Kai had a gentle temperament and never talked back to elders.
The current Wen Kai’s words were sharp, hitting vital points, making Wen Hongyan feel utterly unfamiliar. She even subconsciously stepped back twice.
I-Is this still Wen Kai?
By appearance, definitely Wen Kai. Yet his entire aura had changed dramatically.
Wen Kai seemed to be transforming into one of those “elite figures” from TV dramas.
Not to mention Wen Ying.
She was completely different from the past, with not a trace of former inferiority. Her overall image had transformed greatly!
If not for seeing Wen Ying’s latest photos in newspapers, Wen Hongyan might not even have recognised her just now.
Is this what university students are like?
Wen Hongyan’s eyes filled with thick jealousy. Lu Lu should have this kind of life too. Lu Lu should go to university too!
Wen Kai questioned relentlessly. Wen Hongyan had no retort. Shu Lu was already covering her face, sobbing.
Wen Kai showed no softness. He reached out to take Wen Ying’s suitcase. “Ignore them. Let’s go see Grandma first.”
Wen Ying was both surprised and delighted. She whispered, “Brother Kai, you’re amazing!”
After walking some distance with Wen Ying, Wen Kai shed his earlier sternness and returned to the kind older cousin Wen Ying knew. “Impressive, right? I learned it from a friend. I’ve seen him speak like this. It’s very intimidating. I just deliberately imitated it.”
“Mhm, mhm. Brother Kai, your learning ability is really strong!”
Wen Ying’s eyes sparkled with amusement.
Imitation?
Not necessarily.
Cousin Wen Kai truly had a sharpness he lacked before. This sharpness overlaying his gentleness was not bad. It was the confidence one gained only with ability and assurance!
In her previous life, the Wen Kai who exhausted all his strength just to barely establish himself in Beijing had no such sharpness.
The siblings chatted as they walked to the ward.
Outside the ward were only Chen Ru, Zhu Meiqun, and Wen Changlin.
“Mum, where’s Dad? How’s Grandma?”
“Your grandma is in the room. Your dad and your eldest uncle went to talk with the attending physician. Did you two run into Shu Lu and them outside?”
Mentioning Shu Lu and Wen Hongyan, disdain filled Chen Ru’s eyes and brows.
Through the ward’s glass window, Wen Kai saw the old lady lying in bed, wearing an oxygen mask, her silver hair dishevelled, an IV drip in her hand.
Wen Kai had been raised by Grandma. His eyes immediately reddened.
“Why did Grandma suddenly fall ill?”
Though Wen Ying was not as close to Grandma as Wen Kai, seeing the elder suffer made her heart ache too.
It was not Chen Ru’s bias against the mother-daughter pair. Wen Changlin mentioned them with gritted teeth. “Shu Lu has been gone a long time. Don’t know why she came back. Don’t know what nonsense she spouted in front of your grandma. No one was home at the time. By the time your mum got back, your grandma had been unconscious for who knows how long!”
Usually, Zhu Meiqun opened the shop first. Grandma Wen would buy some vegetables at the market and slowly stroll to the shop.
The old lady never idled at the shop. She helped Zhu Meiqun sort fruits or handed plastic bags to customers. Doing these small tasks made her very happy.
That day, Zhu Meiqun opened the shop first. Wen Ying’s eldest uncle was delivering to major clients. By nearly noon, Grandma had not strolled over. Zhu Meiqun felt uneasy.
Leaving the fruit shop to the clerk, Zhu Meiqun hurried home. Recalling the scene, Zhu Meiqun still felt lingering fear.
“The door was ajar. Your grandma was lying on the floor. I immediately called 120 for emergency. While waiting for the ambulance, a neighbour told me a young girl had followed your grandma home, calling ‘Granny’ and crying pitifully… It must have been Shu Lu!”
