He stepped forward and patted Su Jinning on the shoulder, looking at him firmly: "Don't forget our promise to take the A-class exam together, and don't forget your aunt and uncle's instructions."
Chen Hang's words touched Su Jinning, who lowered his eyes and held back his tears.
Because of his situation, everyone was anxious and upset, and he genuinely felt that he had been a terrible person.
But faced with his mother's departure and his father's years of deception, he truly didn't know how to get up and let go. Sometimes he would ask himself, "Whom have I done right by?"
"Are you done talking?"
"Hmm." Chen Hang breathed a sigh of relief, as if he had been put to rest.
Shen Moyu nodded, patted his shoulder, and turned around to hand them the backpacks on the chair: "You two go back first. You've been busy with me all day. I'll stay here."
Chen Hang was so tired he could barely keep his eyes open, and he leaned against Song Wenmiao.
Watching the two people walk away, Shen Moyu took out a white envelope from his pocket, pushed open the door of the ward, and went inside.
Upon hearing the noise, Su Jinning immediately wiped away his tears, as if afraid that others would see and laugh at him.
But Shen Moyu had already seen it. "Don't cry." He took out a tissue and handed it to Su Jinning, then pulled up a chair and sat down beside her.
Watching Su Jinning constantly caress the jade pendant, his heart trembled.
"Are you still feeling dizzy?" Shen Moyu asked.
"I'm not dizzy anymore."
Su Jinning sniffed, and after a long while, as if she were having a battle with her own heart, she turned to look at him: "Where's my dad?"
Shen Moyu seemed surprised by his question, and after a moment of bewilderment, she finally said, "I'm going home to make you chicken soup. I'll come over later."
Su Jinning glanced subconsciously at the dark night sky outside and said incredulously, "It's so late."
"What can we do?" Shen Moyu blurted out, as if answering prematurely, "Because you're his son."
Shen Moyu's words always struck a chord with Su Jinning. He gave a self-deprecating laugh, his eyes filled with guilt: "I'm sorry... I've disappointed you..."
Shen Moyu clenched her fist and stared at him blankly.
Su Jinning took a breath, but felt a pain in her respiratory tract: "I've been acting up and making a scene these past few days, my parents must be very, very disappointed..."
His voice was so soft that he didn't have the courage to make himself hear it clearly.
He didn't listen to his mother and study hard. Now he hasn't kept his promise to Shen Moyu either.
He keeps breaking his promises... He's a complete and utter liar.
"Brother Ning," Shen Moyu leaned closer, his gaze softening, "Disappointment is understandable, but we're all doing this because we care about you and don't want to see you give up. Your uncle and aunt understand how you feel even more."
He gently placed the white envelope in Su Jinning's hand, as if coaxing him, and said, "This is what your uncle asked me to give you. It's the last letter your mother left for you. I originally planned to give it to you after you went to university, but unexpectedly... everything happened sooner than expected."
Su Jinning touched the envelope as if it were a precious treasure. Although it was just a letter, it felt incredibly heavy to him.
Upon opening the envelope, my mother's elegant handwriting came into view.
Seeing this letter is like meeting you in person:
My dear son, how have you been lately? If I'm not mistaken, you're probably in college by now, right?
Mom is so happy for you. Although it's been a few years, Mom can guess that Xiao Ning must be a tall and handsome man now.
I'm sorry to say goodbye to you in this way.
Please forgive your mother for leaving without saying goodbye. For so many years, I've kept something from you.
I know you've been waiting for Mom to come home, and you must miss the scallion fish she used to make for you.
But son, Mom really can't wait any longer. I won't be able to wait until the day I come home, nor will I be able to see you get into university, get married, and start a career.
Mom used to think how wonderful it would be if letters could convey voices; Mom really wants to hear your voice.
Unfortunately, it can't, and I don't dare to.
Mom is afraid that hearing your voice will make her cry, and she's afraid you'll ask her when she can come back. I'm so sorry, Mom is a timid person.
This may be a big blow to you, but Mom still hopes that you won't give up your future or everyone's expectations because of my departure.
Mom loves you very much, so I hope that even after I'm gone, you can still grow up well and become a person who contributes to society. Move forward, have a good relationship, go to the university you like, strive to live the life you want, and make Mom proud.
Baby, don't be sad for me, don't blame yourself. And don't blame your dad either.
It was Mom who wanted to give up treatment; it was Mom who abandoned you first; it was Mom who wanted to leave first.
Perhaps to you, he is your father, your support, your pillar, and an existence that will never collapse.
But Mom knows that your dad also cries, and he gets upset because I keep losing hair and can't eat.
He was also a coward, terrified of his mother leaving.
So, could you do Mom a favor? If you see her looking down one day, especially if she's lost in thought, could you go up and hug her and tell her that we love her very much?
My dearest baby, don't be sad. You must know that everyone leaves eventually, no matter who it is.
I know my baby will miss Mommy, but if you are too busy to come see me, look up at the stars. The brightest one is Mommy.
Joy and sorrow, separation and reunion are all part of life's journey, but remember, I will always be with you. I love you. —Mother Yu Wanqing, August 20, 2020
Shen Moyu stepped forward and hugged him tightly. Perhaps a thousand words could not compare to a reassuring embrace.
Su Jinning buried her face in Shen Moyu's shoulder and cried uncontrollably.
He held the paper with the lightest of touches, as if afraid of accidentally crushing it.
It crushed my mother's countless words and unspoken longing.
"I miss her so much..." Su Jinning sobbed, like a child begging for candy.
He gripped the jade pendant tightly in his hand, its patterns imprinted on his palm. Yet, he felt no pain; instead, it was a kind of solace, a release, and a manifestation of his resentment.
He could accept many things, but he couldn't accept the loss of his loved ones. Separated by death, he would never be able to see his mother one last time in this lifetime.
He had so much longing and reluctance to part; to whom could he tell?
He didn't know, but he knew that he couldn't forget or disobey his mother's words and instructions.
After crying for an unknown amount of time, Su Jinning finally fell asleep. Shen Moyu stayed with him for a while before hearing a knock on the door. He got up, put the letter away, gently placed it by the bedside, opened the door, and went out.
Su Yi, carrying a freshly made chicken soup, asked, sweating profusely, "How's Xiao Ning? Is she awake?"
Shen Moyu nodded. "He's awake." He breathed a sigh of relief and took the chicken soup from Su Yi's hand. "Don't worry, he'll be fine."
Su Yi nodded, looking at the slightly ajar door of the ward: "That's good, that's good."
Shen Moyu pondered for a moment before solemnly saying, "Uncle, you can take the chicken soup in yourself later."
"Huh?" Su Yi waved his hand. "Xiao Ning definitely doesn't want to see me."
He glanced briefly at the crack in the door, then sighed, "You should deliver it."
Shen Moyu persisted, "Uncle...that letter..."
"Click." The door opened.
Su Jinning stood at the door, quietly gazing at her father. The dim light of the corridor fell on Su Yi, who tried to avoid Su Jinning's gaze, but the weariness and age on his face were etched into Su Jinning's eyes.