Li Chen had not slept the entire night, arriving at his villa in the morning. Exhaustion weighed heavily on him, evident in the weariness etched across his face. As he stepped into his villa, he found Zhang i engaged in conversation with a nurse. Li Chen patiently waited until they concluded their discussion.
"Hey, Zhang i," he greeted, managing a faint smile. Zhang i reciprocated with a warm smile and introduced the nurse, "This is a nurse hired by Aunt Lixia to take full care of Mom."
Li Chen nodded in acknowledgnt and greeted the nurse with a polite smile. Once the nurse left, Zhang i turned her attention back to Li Chen. "You’re not going to the office today?" he inquired.
"I had to show the staff around," Zhang i explained. Li Chen raised an eyebrow, and she clarified, "The maids hired to take care of the house, of course. Now I won’t have to cook when I co back from work. I have to thank Aunt Lixia."
Li Chen, captivated by Zhang i’s beauty, found himself montarily lost in her smile. Zhang i playfully brought him back to reality, saying, "Hey, Li Chen, I’m talking to you. Co back to earth."
"Sorry, just tired," Li Chen admitted. "Had a long night."
"Then you need to rest," Zhang i insisted. "You can’t be walking around like a zombie like this." Li Chen playfully saluted, saying, "Yes, ma’am."
"Don’t call that; I’m not married," Zhang i retorted. Li Chen chuckled and walked upstairs with the intention to rest. Zhang i watched him disappear from view before muttering sothing inaudible and heading towards her mother’s room. The events of the night had left Li Chen drained, both physically and emotionally, and the need for rest was undeniable.
Mu Lingling found her daughter, Zhang i, blushing as she entered the room. Playfully, Mu Lingling asked, "Why are you blushing like that?" Zhang i, trying to deny it, replied, "I am not blushing, Mom." Mu Lingling, with a knowing smile, said, "You are my daughter; I know you. Tell , is it Li Chen?"
Zhang i hesitated but eventually admitted, "Mom..." Mu Lingling encouraged her to speak her mind. "What? You two would make a perfect match, and his mother and I are friends. I would die in peace knowing I left you in her care," Mu Lingling remarked. Zhang i pleaded, "Mom, please don’t talk like that."
Mu Lingling, grappling with the reality of her illness, spoke earnestly, "Honey, we can’t shy away from the truth. This cancer can take anyti, and I need you to be strong." Zhang i, struggling with her emotions, acknowledged, "I know, but I can’t easily accept losing you."
Understanding her daughter’s pain, Mu Lingling continued, "I understand, baby. That is why I need to see you happy. If you like that boy, you should show him." Zhang i sighed and asked, "How, Mom? He is always busy lately." Trying to lighten the mood, Mu Lingling attempted to laugh but ended up coughing. Zhang i quickly got her a glass of water, and after drinking, Mu Lingling said, "Oh, so you do like him."
Zhang i, realizing her mother had tricked her, also laughed, "Why did you have to trick like that?" Mu Lingling smiled and replied, "Because you don’t want to admit the truth and face your feelings." The mother-daughter bond held a mixture of love, understanding, and the bittersweet acknowledgnt of the challenges they faced.
Mu Lingling insisted, "You are not going to work today." Zhang i nodded, "No, not much is going on right now. We will be busy when the ga launches." Mu Lingling understood and replied, "I see."
The mother and daughter spent so ti chatting, sharing the little monts that ant the world to them. When Zhang i noticed her mom growing tired, she gently tucked her in and said, "Mom, you have to rest. I will check on you later." Mu Lingling smiled weakly, "Okay."
Zhang i watched her mother slowly close her eyes to sleep. Sighing, she closed the door quietly on her way out. The weight of her mother’s sickness lingered heavily on her heart. Despite hoping for a miracle, Zhang i now realized that nothing could be done. The inevitable loss of her mother lood, and she found herself unprepared. She knew she would never be ready for such a heart-wrenching ordeal.
In his room, Li Chen had showered, letting the water cascade over him, washing away the fatigue that clung to his body. After finishing, he headed straight to bed, recognizing the importance of getting as much rest as possible amidst the chaos surrounding him. As he drifted into sleep, he found himself imrsed in a strange and vivid dream.
In this dream, Li Chen walked through a dark, ethereal space, surrounded by an emptiness that seed to stretch into infinity. The only sound echoing through the void was a deep, haunting voice repeatedly whispering his na. The atmosphere was eerie, and a subtle sense of unease settled over him as he moved forward.
In the distance, he noticed a figure standing with its back turned to him. Li Chen attempted to speak, to break the silence, but his voice failed him. All that resonated in the dream was the haunting voice, continuing to call his na with a resonance that sent shivers down his spine.
The dream left Li Chen in a state of disorientation and confusion when he abruptly woke up. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and he found himself unable to comprehend the aning behind the enigmatic dream. The lingering sensation of the dream’s intensity stayed with him, and Li Chen couldn’t shake off the feeling that there might be more to it than initially t the eye.
Li Chen, unable to find solace in sleep, decided to take a stroll in the garden for so fresh air. The remnants of his mysterious dream lingered in his mind as he settled onto a bench. As he inhaled the invigorating air, a soft tap on his shoulder drew his attention.
Turning around, he discovered Zhang i standing there, holding a glass of juice. With a warm smile, she offered him the refreshing drink.
Zhang i: "I brought you this."
Li Chen: "Thank you."
Zhang i joined him on the bench, and they engaged in light-hearted conversations, sharing laughter amidst the serene ambiance. The casual topics gradually shifted to a more personal one – kids.
"Would you like kids?" Zhang i asked in hidden anticipation.
"Of course, a boy and a girl. What about you?"
"I would love a son, but I have to be married to have kids."
"You would make a great mother and wife; any man would be lucky to marry you." There was a flash in Li Chen’s eyes as he said this that Zhang i didn’t notice.
"Oh well, I don’t think I will find the one."
"Why not? There is soone for everyone." Li Chen said the words staring straight at Zhang i as if he wanted to make sure she took in his words.
"Well, I guess I have to wait."
"Yeah, we both have to wait." Li Chen said with a smile.
The two sat in silence before Zhang i ntioned she needed to check on her mom.
"How is she?", Li Chen asked.
"No difference."
"I will co with you, haven’t seen her in a while." Li Chen suggested realising that despite being under the sa roof, he hadn’t seen Zhang i’s mother in a while.
Their conversation reflected a growing connection between them, marked by genuine concern and shared monts in the peaceful garden.
Mu Lingling, weak but welcoming, opened her eyes upon sensing Li Chen’s presence in her room.
"Li Chen, haven’t seen you in days."
"Sorry, aunty, I’ve been busy."
"You don’t have to explain." Mu Lingling said with a smile.
"Li Chen, please help sit her up."
Li Chen approached, gently holding Mu Lingling’s arm to assist her in sitting up. In that mont, a realization struck him—the knowledge of herbs that he had acquired recently. The nas and properties flooded his mind, a ntal list that he couldn’t ignore.
Zhang i, noticing Li Chen’s distant expression, urged him to focus on the task at hand.
"Li Chen, help here."
Li Chen, coughing slightly, apologized and joined them in helping Mu Lingling sit up. As they worked, Li Chen ntally recited the nas of the herbs, determined not to forget a single one. Though uncertain if the herbs could cure Mu Lingling’s cancer, he felt a surge of determination.
In that mont, a small but hopeful smile graced Li Chen’s face. The possibility of helping soone he cared about fueled his resolve to explore the mysterious depths of his newfound knowledge.
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