Right on ti, as if tid perfectly, I arrived at my father’s room just as he had seated himself in the wheelchair. He wore a cotton coat over his hospital gown, which made him look especially thin.
"I’ll do it," Ji Anning quickly intervened, squeezing past the mother who was pushing the wheelchair, and took over the pushing.
The mother led the way.
The family of three left the room. Today, there were noticeably fewer people moving around outside than usual, probably because they had all gone to attend the singing event.
It was likely a rare opportunity for most of the elderly to see their children.
"Mom, do you and dad know how to sing?" Ji Anning asked her mother.
The mother shook her head, "No, we just listen to others sing."
As soon as she finished speaking, she imdiately turned to Ji Anning and said, "You should sing a song later, Jiajia."
Ji Anning was even more resistant, "I really can’t sing."
She had listened to many songs and humd along softly, but she had never actually sung. In the Ji Family, the rules were very strict, especially for her, so she had never been to places like KTV. Even if she had the chance during the day, she wouldn’t dare to enter.
"You used to sing so well when you were little."
Her father suddenly chipped in, his tone and spirit unexpectedly normal.
Ji Anning imdiately chatted with him in a childlike tone, "I used to sing nursery rhys as a child, but surely I can’t still be singing those now."
Her father chuckled, "Jiajia can sing ’The Little Horn.’
’The little horn goes tweet, tweet, dad hears it and hurries back...’
Those familiar lyrics tumbled through her mind, stirring up her childhood mories. Ji Anning’s eyes beca involuntarily misty. She turned her face away to adjust herself, then rejoined the rare lively atmosphere.
The singing event was arranged quite formally and ceremoniously, complete with a karaoke system, several microphones, and various cheering props—sothing you’d find in a KTV.
The venue was already filled with many people, with almost every elderly person accompanied by a younger person. There were also young patients here for treatnt, making the place buzz with excitent, more like a senior club than a nursing ho.
Everyone was chatting about commonplace things and gossiping.
"Li Fen, what a rare visitor today."
Like the father, the mother’s surna was Li. Having been in this nursing ho for many years, they were well-acquainted with everyone here.
Seeing them approaching, many greeted them.
"Li Fen, how is this young lady related to you?"
"I... my..." As the words reached her lips, Li Fen thought about Ji Anning’s current status and quickly corrected herself, "My friend’s daughter, Anning."
After a brief introduction of Ji Anning, Li Fen tried to change the subject.
But soone in the crowd spoke up first, "This young lady is quite beautiful. How old is she this year? Does she have a boyfriend?"
An old man scrutinized Ji Anning as if he was taking inventory.
Then, soone in the crowd joked with a laugh, "Are you matchmaking for your grandson again, old man?"
The atmosphere grew even more jovial and lively.
At six o’clock, the event officially began, and only then did Ji Anning learn the rules: the family closest to the door would start, and those who didn’t want to sing could pass to the next family.
The Ji family was seated in the middle.
Those in front of them accompanied the elderly in singing old songs from their era. It was clear that, more or less, so effort had been put into their performance.
"It’s your turn now."
Song after song played, so sounded like heavenly music, while others were completely tone-deaf. However, the mood kept escalating.
Before they knew it, it was their turn.
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