Tu Hengsha noticed his expression was not pleasant and thought he might have overstepped, "What’s wrong?"
He shook his head, "It’s nothing to do with you. You’ve worked hard, so go ho first."
"Alright... then take care of Grandma. I’ll head back now and co visit her when I have ti."
He listened as Tu Hengsha’s footsteps faded away, and his expression gradually turned serious, as if finally finding answers to previously unclear questions.
Grandma slept for a long ti, drifting in and out of sleep, opening her eyes only to fall back asleep, until she finally woke up early the next morning. Seeing her grandson sitting by her side, she seed to still be in a dream, softly calling out, "Gugu."
Su Ronggui had been awake all along, imdiately holding Grandma’s hand, "Grandma, I’m here."
Only then did Grandma believe it wasn’t a dream, a fleeting joy appeared in her eyes, but it was just fleeting, as the light dimd quickly, "Gugu, why are you here? Hurry ho! Go ho!"
"Grandma..." Su Ronggui felt a mix of bitterness and pain in his heart, "Gugu is not good, Gugu made Grandma suffer!"
"You silly child! Grandma is just fine!" Grandma realized she was in the hospital, "It’s just a little cold; don’t worry. Go ho quickly! Grandma will go ho in a while!" Seeing his arm in a sling and knowing he was still caring for her, she felt even more heartache, "Gugu, you’re injured yourself! Grandma is really fine. If you don’t go back, I’ll go ho right now!"
As she spoke, she attempted to get up but couldn’t. Just sitting up made her feel dizzy.
Su Ronggui quickly supported her with one hand, "Grandma, please lie down first. I’ll leave in a while and head to work soon."
Grandma lay down for a while before feeling better and nodded slowly, "That’s better! You don’t need to visit Grandma; Grandma is fine! If you work hard, Grandma will be happy."
Su Ronggui held Grandma’s hand and rested his forehead on it, his voice muffled, "Grandma, don’t worry. Stay in the hospital with peace of mind. Gugu has grown up and knows what to do."
After a while, two won ca in, one in her forties and the other in her twenties, both looking tidy and kind.
"Grandma," Su Ronggui introduced while holding Grandma’s hand, "This is Xiao Guo, a special nurse who will take care of you during your hospital stay, and this is Sister Qian, also here to look after you."
Grandma instinctively wanted to refuse but was stopped by Su Ronggui, "Grandma, don’t you want to work without worry? I can’t be at ease if you’re not taken care of. Just do this for Gugu, okay?"
In the end, Grandma nodded in agreent without saying anything further, unwilling to let her grandson be delayed because of her, "Then you should hurry back!"
"Alright, I’m going back." He thought of how every ti he called Grandma, asking if she was well, she always said she was fine. Just the night before last, she had told him she was doing great and not to worry. Over all these years, how many of those "I’m fine" were true, and how many were not? It was his failure as a grandson, not taking better care of Grandma.
After carefully instructing Xiao Guo and Sister Qian, he went to work at the newspaper office as usual.
Tu Hengsha watched as he entered the office from afar, observing his approach. He had spent an entire day and night in the hospital with Grandma, looking a bit worn, with unchanged clothes and even stubble appearing on his face. The fresh and gentle person had unexpectedly gained a touch of ruggedness.
Suddenly, Su Rongxing’s figure interrupted her line of sight.
"Su Ronggui! How’s your Grandma?" Su Rongxing ca up to him and asked.
"Better." He replied to Su Rongxing’s question, but his gaze passed over Su Rongxing and landed on Tu Hengsha. Their eyes t in the air, and he gave a subtle smile.
Tu Hengsha inexplicably felt that his "better" was directed at her.
She smiled back; if things were better, that was good.
Throughout the entire day, Tu Hengsha was unable to speak with him, either because she was busy or because Su Rongxing was by his side. However, every ti she unintentionally glanced at him, he would look back, and then she would smile again before continuing with her work.
It was as if they suddenly shared a secret, a common world.
She didn’t know why she looked at him or why she smiled; she only knew that every ti she smiled, if he understood, she felt at peace.
After work in the afternoon, Su Ronggui went to the hospital to visit Grandma.
The doctor had already diagnosed myocarditis and instructed that Grandma needed complete rest in bed during her hospital stay and should avoid exertion for at least six months after being discharged.
He noted everything down, but Grandma, upon seeing him, worried again, repeatedly urging him to leave.
He understood why, and without further explanation to Grandma, he returned to the Su family.
By then, dinner was over, and the Su family had dispersed. Shang Qingi heard a noise and ca down, seeing him, she asked, "Ronggui, how’s Grandma?"
"Still okay," he replied, then passed by her and headed upstairs.
"Hey!"
Shang Qingi called out to him, but he ignored her and went directly to Su Zhen’s study upstairs.
Knocking on the door.
"Co in." Su Zhen’s voice ca from inside.
He opened the door; Su Zhen was sitting in a chair reading a book.
"Ronggui? You’re back?" Su Zhen put down his book.
"Yes." He walked in and stood in front of Su Zhen, "Dad, I have sothing I want to discuss."
"Oh? Go ahead," Su Zhen was rather surprised; this stepson had been with the family for so many years but had never actively discussed anything with him.
"Dad, I’ve been with the Su family for eighteen years. I’m very grateful for your treating as your own, raising , and giving the best education. Without you, I wouldn’t be who I am today."
Su Zhen smiled, "What’s the matter? Don’t you call Dad? A father is supposed to raise a son! The way you’re speaking makes it sound like you’re about to break ties."
"No, Dad," he responded calmly since he had already decided, "it’s because my Grandma is ill."
"Oh? What illness? Is she hospitalized? Do you need to find a familiar doctor?"
"No, thank you, Dad, that’s not necessary. It’s not a serious illness, but it makes feel that Grandma is getting older, and it’s worrying for her to live alone. I want to... move in with Grandma, but I won’t forget your kindness in raising ." After he finished speaking, he quietly waited for Su Zhen’s response.
"Is that so?" Su Zhen thought for a mont, "I don’t have any issues with that; filial piety is a basic virtue. I’m fine with you wanting this. Just talk to your Mom as well, so she won’t think I’m turning against you."
The last sentence was said in a joking manner, but it also reflected his principles. Throughout his life, Su Zhen cherished his reputation, did countless charitable acts, and had no prejudice against his stepson, demanding impeccable character. This was why Su Ronggui sought him out first, because he would surely agree.
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