Chapter 384: Chapter 384: Love and Maintenance Without Reason
Lu Sheng lifted her eyes and saw her biological grandfather, Shi Mingxiu.
The Shi Family rose to prominence in the pharmaceutical industry during the last century. Chenshi Pharmaceutical beca a dominant force under Shi Mingxiu’s leadership, turning into the leading pharmaceutical company in China.
In the early years when the internet was not well-developed, and even later when it flourished, Shi Mingxiu rarely gave interviews to the dia.
However, the industry has always held Shi laoyezi in high regard, praising him for his noble character and integrity. Throughout his life, he devoted himself to charitable endeavors and was considered the most upright and kind-hearted entrepreneur.
Before coming here, Lu Sheng had searched for reports on Shi Mingxiu. The published photos showed him at about thirty years old.
In the photo, the man was dressed in the refined, proper shirts of that era, standing tall with bright eyes and thick brows, exuding a spirited enthusiasm for life and high hopes for the future.
But the Shi laoyezi Lu Sheng saw today looked more like… a withered tree deeply eroded from the core by ants and worms.
Once standing at over 170 centiters tall, he now hunched over and bent, appearing just above 160 centiters. After speaking a brief sentence to her earlier, he was already gasping heavily for air.
He was painfully thin, so much so that his limbs seed devoid of flesh, and the pant legs hung loosely around him. His wrists, exposed through his sleeves as he clutched his cane, were covered by sagging skin wrapped tightly around the bones, fragile as if they might snap at the slightest force.
His hair was completely white, his face deeply lined with wrinkles, the crevices etched like dried-up riverbeds. It felt as though the moisture and nutrients had been drained from his body, leaving behind the aura of soone nearing their final breath.
Perhaps that is the wonder of blood ties.
Although it was Lu Sheng’s first ti eting her grandfather, seeing him like this invoked an inexplicable pain in her heart.
“Dad! Why did you co out? Didn’t the doctor tell you not to move around unnecessarily?”
As soon as Shi laoyezi erged, the first person to rush over nervously was Shi Erya, who had just been chastised monts earlier.
After her, Shi Suxin hurried over to support him. Then Shi Chengyun walked over as well, although his legs moved, his eyes held a trace of impatience.
Excluding the youngest uncle currently abroad, Lu Sheng could now clearly see through the Shi Family and discern who truly cared for Shi laoyezi from their hearts.
“Cough…” Shi laoyezi took a deep, labored breath, leaning heavily on his cane before speaking with difficulty, “If I didn’t co out, my granddaughter, whom I’ve worked so hard to find, would be bullied to death by her uncle and aunt.”
Shi Suxin wasn’t pleased upon hearing this. “Dad, what are you talking about? Who bullied that girl? Bully her to death?”
Though Shi Mingxiu’s face was aged and his voice feeble, his expression still showed glimpses of the resolve he had in his youth: “…Suxin, I heard everything you said earlier.”
“This child only stood up because she didn’t want her aunt to suffer, claiming she discovered her mother’s forr na and contacted Erya herself. But in truth, it was who asked Erya to investigate and reach out to her, hoping to bring her back.”
“I know that I won’t last much longer. I’ve been hanging on by a thread, only because Erya told last night that Xinlan still had a child in Jiang City. If Erya hadn’t told she’d agree to co see … I might not have made it through last night.”
“And about what you said—that Xinlan committed sins back then.” Shi Mingxiu’s tone turned deeply sorrowful, “The tragedy of the past originated from , not Xinlan. If Chengyun wants to resent or bla soone, let it all fall on . None of it has anything to do with this innocent child.”
“Dad…”
Shi Suxin had been preparing to use past events to confront Lu Sheng, but she hadn’t expected Shi laoyezi to stand up and speak like this, taking all responsibility upon himself and shielding Lu Sheng completely.
If she continued to harp on the past, wouldn’t it appear as though she was causing trouble for her father? That would surely earn her the reputation of being unfilial.
Seeing this, Shi Suxin could only glare at Lu Sheng, swallowing the words she wanted to say.
Shi Chengyun was the sa. At least in front of the old man, he’d have to mind his words and actions. He simply snorted coldly and kept quiet.
Once the two remained silent, Shi Mingxiu turned his gaze to Lu Sheng, who stood beside Li Muchen.
He slowly and shakily raised his arm, beckoning, “Child… co over and let Grandfather take a closer look at you, alright?”
Tears shimred in Shi laoyezi’s eyes, his voice trembling.
His words were not an order but a heartfelt plea.
Lu Sheng took a deep breath, then walked over to grasp Shi Mingxiu’s hand the next second. The warmth of the old man’s palm passed into her own, stirring a surge of indescribable emotion within her.
It was truly different.
Back when Lu Sheng was in the Lu Family—Lu Chengye was worthless, that goes without saying. Jiang Ting was her stepmother, and her five brothers were only half-siblings who shared her father’s blood; none of them loved her simply because of familial bonds.
But now, Shi laoyezi was her true blood relative, her legitimate grandfather.
Shi laoyezi had heard she was in trouble and forced himself to stand despite his frail body, even though he had never seen her before, even though she was not particularly sensible nor outstanding.
Yet her re existence was enough to warrant his love and protection without any need for justification.
“…Grandfather.” Lu Sheng squeezed Shi Mingxiu’s hand.
“Good child… good child.” Shi Mingxiu was visibly moved, holding Lu Sheng’s hand, unable to utter anything more.
Tears finally slid down from his eyes, soaking into the deep lines of his face.
But Lu Sheng broke the silence and said, “Grandfather, I didn’t co to the Shi Family just to see you once. Let examine your illness.”
When Lu Sheng spoke these words, the people around her were stunned for a mont, then filled with disbelief.
Shi Suxin exclaid in shock, “What nonsense are you talking about, girl? Are you out of your mind??”
Shi Chengyun was equally baffled, “What are you saying? You’re a high schooler, claiming to treat the old man’s illness? Do you even know how to practice dicine??”
Shi Muchuan frowned slightly. Shi Yuwei and Lin Fangling exchanged glances, though Lu Sheng couldn’t see the expression in their eyes.
“I’m not speaking nonsense, nor am I crazy. I do know how to treat illnesses.”
Lu Sheng had already anticipated the Shi Family’s reactions.
She ca to the Shi Family this ti solely to treat Shi laoyezi.
Her grandfather was critically ill; those two demons could wait for now as figuring out Shi laoyezi’s condition was more urgent.
After her experience saving Old Mr. Fu and being questioned, Lu Sheng didn’t want to waste any more ti. She decided to reveal her identity directly.
“Feng Guolin, the Chief Traditional dicine Practitioner in China, is my ntor. My ntor told you’ve been trying to invite him to treat Grandfather’s illness recently, but he is currently abroad and cannot return.”
“When I called him, he was about to call , hoping I could co in his stead.”
“My dical skills are no less than my ntor’s. If you don’t believe , you can call him now and confirm it yourselves.”
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