Wen Tingyan’s phone rang, interrupting the music.
Caller: Cheng Bao Bei.
This name also made Jian Zhi’s tears stop.
Wen Tingyan turned off the Bluetooth and pulled over to answer the call.
Jian Zhi couldn’t hear what was being said on the other end, but she could see Wen Tingyan’s expression gradually turning serious.
“I’ll be right there.” Wen Tingyan put down his phone and looked at her. “Jian Zhi, let me take you home first. Cheng Cheng is sick, I need to go check on her.”
As expected.
She opened the car door. “No need, I’ll go back by myself.”
“Jian Zhi…”
The rest of Wen Tingyan’s words were cut off by the slam of the car door behind her.
But Wen Tingyan didn’t linger either. He turned the car around and sped away without the slightest hesitation.
Watching the car disappear into the distance, Jian Zhi felt completely numb, as if a sharp claw had brutally torn through her heart. After the bleeding stopped, even the pain was gone…
She was about to call a ride when her phone rang.
It was a delivery call.
“Hello, there are two boxes of fruit here. Are you home?”
Fruit? She hadn’t ordered any fruit. “Where are they from?”
“Within the city. They’re grapes, sent by someone with the surname Jian.”
Jian Zhi understood.
It was Grandma…
Grandma lived in the countryside and grew grapes in her yard. She had sent some for Jian Zhi to eat…
Standing on the street, watching the sky gradually turn gray, she suddenly missed Grandma terribly.
“Someone’s home. Please deliver them there and ask them to put the grapes in the refrigerator.” She missed Grandma and wanted to go see her immediately, not wanting to delay even a moment!
She hailed a taxi and headed straight for Grandma’s house.
If there was anyone in this world who truly loved her, it could only be Grandma.
Grandma was a teacher who had retired to her old countryside home, living alone in the old house where she grew flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
The only person she truly wanted to care for and repay was Grandma.
However, no matter how many times she invited Grandma to live with her in the city or offered to buy a small house for her, Grandma always refused, saying she couldn’t bear to leave her flowers in the countryside.
But Jian Zhi knew this was just an excuse. Grandma was simply afraid of being a burden to her. Even when sending fresh fruits and vegetables, Grandma never came to the city to disturb her, only using delivery services.
Yet what Jian Zhi wished for most was for Grandma to come and “bother” her.
When she was young, she loved dancing, but her parents didn’t support her because it required extra money. It was Grandma who insisted on sending her to training classes and paid the fees.
From that time on, not only did Grandma support her dancing, but she also paid for her high school education.
Starting from high school when she boarded at school, her parents never gave her a single cent for tuition or living expenses. In their eyes, educating a girl was useless since she would eventually marry into another family—why spend so much money?
Moreover, she was beautiful and had learned dancing. Her mother couldn’t wait for her to turn eighteen so she could be set up on blind dates to marry a wealthy man and get a bride price for her brother.
Later, when she was admitted to university, her parents wanted her to enroll in a local free teacher training program so she could become a dance teacher after graduation, earn money by teaching students, and take care of the family.
Her father said bluntly, “We don’t have money for you to go to a university far away! Either enroll in the free teacher training program or don’t continue studying!”
It wasn’t that she had anything against teaching, but she had achieved first place in the entrance exams for the best dance academy!
It was Grandma who supported her in filling out her college applications according to her own wishes, allowing her to achieve her dreams.
When her leg was injured, her parents could only stomp their feet and sigh: “How could a cripple ever find a wealthy husband?” Then, they immediately started calculating how much compensation they could demand from Wen Tingyan.
Again, it was Grandma who took care of her day and night in the hospital…
Scene after scene from the past replayed in her mind, until she remembered when Wen Tingyan proposed to marry her.
Her parents were overjoyed—their daughter, now with a crippled leg, had landed a golden bachelor out of the blue. Apart from scheming about the bride price, they didn’t consider anything else.
Only Grandma held her hand and said, “Zhi Zhi, no matter what happens, always remember to love yourself the most…”
Had Grandma seen it back then?
Known that this wasn’t a good match, but couldn’t stop her.
She gazed out the window, her eyes stinging painfully: “Grandma, I’m sorry, I didn’t love myself well enough…”
By the time the car reached Grandma’s house, it was completely dark. The lights were on inside, the warm orange glow like a lamp lit in her heart.
Tears welled up in her eyes despite herself.
She got out of the car, entered the yard, and knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” Grandma called from inside while coming to open the door.
When the door opened and Grandma saw her standing outside, her eyes lit up with surprise. “Zhi Zhi! What brings you here?”
Jian Zhi’s eyes burned with pain again. Afraid of crying and startling Grandma, she hugged her and whispered coquettishly in her ear, “Grandma, I saw the grapes you sent me, and I missed you…”
“You silly child…” Grandma was delighted but glanced behind her and noticed Wen Tingyan hadn’t come. “Did you come alone?”
“Yes! Wen Tingyan is busy, but I can manage on my own.” Jian Zhi led Grandma inside. “Grandma, I’m hungry. Is there anything to eat?”
Grandma shot her an affectionate, scolding look. “What would you like to eat?”
“I just want the pickled mustard greens and shredded pork noodles you make.” It seemed that in all her over twenty years of life, only in front of Grandma could she speak so freely and without restraint.
“Wait here!” Grandma cheerfully went to the kitchen to cook the noodles.
Jian Zhi noticed the photos on the TV cabinet—four in total.
One was a family portrait of her family: Grandma, Grandpa, and her parents with her. Another was from her childhood when she won a dance competition. The third was of her late Aunt. The last one was a photo of her, Wen Tingyan, and Grandma together…
That group photo was taken four years ago.
Back then, the Village Chief had called to tell her Grandma had taken a fall.
Panicked, she grabbed her card and cash and rushed off. It was Wen Tingyan who accompanied her back to the village and helped her take Grandma to the hospital.
When had she decided that no matter how cold Wen Tingyan was, she would spend her life with him?
It was during that time.
Later, she found out that the Village Chief had first called her father, who was at the gambling table and didn’t care at all, telling the chief to just send Grandma to the clinic.
As for Wen Tingyan, even if he wanted to help, he could have simply sent someone to assist or transferred money for the medical fees. Yet, he went with her to the countryside and even carried Grandma on his back, up and down.
After Grandma was discharged and returned to the village, the three of them took this photo.
It was taken with a phone. After she sent it to Grandma, Grandma had it printed and framed.
“Alright, time for preserved vegetable noodles!” Grandma said with a beaming smile as she brought out a bowl of noodles, adding, “How old are you now, yet you still crave preserved vegetable noodles just like when you were little.”
Jian Zhi chuckled, inhaling the aroma of shredded pork with preserved vegetables before digging in heartily.
She was truly famished.
Earlier at her parents’ home, she had barely taken three bites during the meal. In no time, she finished the entire bowl of preserved vegetable noodles, soup and all.
Only after she put down the empty bowl did Grandma ask, “Did you have an argument?”