The two elders were unaware of the specific reasons for their breakup. Jiang Jianhuan never mentioned Shen Zaixi as the catalyst, and they openly expressed their close relationship with Shen Zaixi in front of Su Mo.
After dinner, Jiang Jianhuan and Yi Qingxue went to the kitchen to clean up, leaving only the two of them. She then subtly brought it up.
"Mom, you should mention Xi Ge less often in front of Su Mo in the future."
"What's wrong?" Yi Qingxue stopped what she was doing in surprise and looked at her.
“There were some misunderstandings before, and the two of them didn’t get along very well,” Jiang Jianhuan said vaguely. Yi Qingxue frowned thoughtfully, but still nodded.
"Okay, then Mom will be more careful from now on."
Before leaving, Yi Qingxue packed the chicken soup into a thermos, and Jiang Xin was also tidying up in the inner room. Jiang Jianhuan looked at Su Mo and hesitated before speaking.
Are you going too?
"Is there a problem?" Su Mo asked.
"No, I was just asking."
Jiang Jianhuan lowered his eyes, thinking to himself, "Isn't it because I'm afraid you'll start fighting when you meet?"
Finally, Su Mo drove, Jiang Jianhuan sat in the passenger seat, and the two elders were in the back seat, carrying large and small bags, and drove all the way to the hospital.
Once inside the city, everything was still unobstructed. The roads were empty, and people were constantly coming and going from the hospital entrance. Based on the information provided by Shen Zaixi, Jiang Jianhuan went directly through the main building to the inpatient department.
He had an appendectomy, which I heard happened suddenly while he was at work. He was rushed to the hospital and had to cancel his return flight. A short business trip was forced to turn into spending the Chinese New Year in a hospital ward in China.
When the group went up, Shen Zaixi was in the ward, and there was another patient in the bed next to him, a thin little boy.
Upon seeing them enter, the quiet ward immediately became lively. Shen Zaixi got up to greet them and even tried to lift the covers to get out of bed, but Jiang Xin immediately grabbed her arm and refused.
"You can just sit here."
Jiang Jianhuan smiled at him and called him "Brother happy". Apart from being a little pale, he looked quite energetic, which reassured Jiang Jianhuan slightly.
Shen Zaixi nodded to her and smiled slightly. "There's a stool over there."
He gestured, then shifted his gaze from her to Su Mo beside him, nodding with a smile.
"haven't seen you for a long time."
"Long time no see." Su Mo responded in a relatively mild manner, and Jiang Jianhuan looked at him with considerable surprise.
Unexpectedly, their reunion after so many years was so peaceful and calm. Jiang Jianhuan's memory of their last meeting was one of fierce battle; it was a shadow she could never forget, and even now, thinking about it still filled her with dread.
There were a few empty chairs in the ward. Yi Qingxue and Jiang Xin had already sat down and opened the insulated box they had brought with them. As soon as the lid was unscrewed, the aroma of hot chicken soup wafted out.
Su Mo sat down beside her, while Jiang Jianhuan sat a little closer, near the bed.
"Ah happy, this is chicken soup that Auntie has been simmering all morning. The oil has all been strained out, so it's very light." Yi Qingxue held the bowl up to him, and Shen Zaixi quickly took it.
"Thank you, Auntie."
"How much longer until you can be discharged? You silly child, you didn't even tell your uncle and aunt about something so important." She pretended to scold him and gently patted him. Shen Zai smiled and explained very obediently.
"I can be discharged from the hospital the day after tomorrow. My uncle and aunt are getting old, and I don't want them to worry about me."
"How could that be! It's you who's making us worry so much." Yi Qingxue said with a pained expression, and Shen Zaixi repeatedly apologized.
"I'm sorry, Auntie, I promise it won't happen again."
They watched him finish the bowl of chicken soup, and their pale lips softened somewhat. Only then did they relax a little and chat with him about everyday things, such as recent events and their parents' health.
Jiang Jianhuan and Su Mo stayed by their side, listening to their casual conversation and occasionally chiming in with a few words. The atmosphere was quite pleasant throughout.
They chatted for quite a while, and seeing that Shen Zaixi wasn't in as much spirits, the two elders reluctantly ended their conversation and said goodbye.
"We'll be going now. We'll come to pick you up the day after tomorrow so you can rest here for a while before going back."
"Then I'll trouble you, Uncle and Aunt," Shen Zaixi said, looking up.
After putting away the empty insulated boxes and returning the chairs to their places, the group prepared to leave. Jiang Jianhuan lagged behind, and just before leaving, she turned back for one last look.
Shen Zaixi leaned against the hospital bed, her skin pale and her eyes dark. Dressed in a loose hospital gown, she was watching them. When their eyes met, she gave a faint smile.
"Be careful on the road." He mouthed silently, and Jiang Jianhuan waved to him again.
"Take good care of yourself and call us if you need anything," she said, causing the three people in front of her to turn around and look at her.
"Okay." Shen Zaixi nodded.
"I'm leaving." Jiang Jianhuan said this last sentence to him, then turned and left, her figure gradually disappearing from sight.
The ward returned to its original quiet. After the noise subsided, the stillness carried a hint of lonely desolation.
"Brother, is that the person you like?" the child on the next bed suddenly asked in a childish voice. Shen Zaixi turned his head, his gaze falling on him, his expression gentle.
Why do you ask that?
"I think the way you looked at her just now was like how Mom looks at Dad when he goes on a business trip."
"Little friend, you'll understand when you grow up," Shen Zaixi said kindly, his smile deepening. The little boy looked somewhat unconvinced.
"Uncle, I'll be six years old after the New Year!"
"Hmm... he's a big kid now."
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