Xu Milu thought she needed to prepare herself mentally, but when she actually stood in front of the ward door, she was surprisingly calm.

The hospital is always filled with the smell of disinfectant. Most of the patients walking in the corridors in their hospital gowns have a faint worry on their faces. Busy doctors shuttle through the corridors, their footsteps creating gusts of wind. Family members of patients on the benches are on the phone, and their expressions are all somewhat similar: they are trying to force a smile to reassure their patients.

【Hello? What's wrong, Rice?】

Liu Hongmei's voice came from the other end of the phone:

[I was just about to call you. I've told you so many times, don't secretly give Xiaomi money. I just saw his WeChat Moments, you bought him that new camera, right? It's not good for boys to be so extravagant. I never skimp on his allowance; he has plenty of money in his little stash—three of a kind!]

“The boy is growing up, and he has things he wants to buy. Computers and cameras aren’t cheap, so if he’s going to buy something, he should buy something expensive that will last longer. Besides, he should have some money on hand in case of an emergency when he’s out and about.”

Xu Milu glanced at the closed hospital room door and smiled: "Who are you playing mahjong with?"

[Your Uncle Sun, Aunt Ma, and your auntie... I said, no way, but they all insisted I play a few rounds of mahjong with them. I don't know how to play mahjong at all; I haven't touched it in years! —Hey, hey, hey, just passing through, don't try to cheat —Are you coming home for dinner tonight? Your master's been out fishing every day these past few days, and every time he has leftover fish, he brings it to our house. Mom's making you fish soup today; it's the best for your brain.]

Xu Milu agreed and then added:

"Okay, I'll go back as soon as I'm done with my work. Mom, you and Uncle Sun take good care of yourselves and go out and have fun whenever you have time. Remember to use the massage chair I bought for the house the other day, don't try to save electricity."

The sound of mahjong tiles on the other end of the phone quieted down a bit, and a minute later, the sound of Liu Hongmei closing the door rang out.

[Dami, what's wrong? Did something go wrong at work? You sound strange. Where are you now? Should Mom come over to find you?]

Xu Milu choked up slightly, then composed herself and hid it:

"No, I just watched a really touching movie and it reminded me of you. I think my mom is amazing and so kind, really. It's nothing, I'm going home for dinner tonight. I don't want fish soup, my mouth has been feeling bland lately. How about we have hot pot tonight?"

【Oh dear, if we're having hot pot, I'll go out to buy groceries later. Let me tell you, the vegetables in the yard are growing really well, and the big mushrooms and radishes are ready to eat. It'll definitely be great for hot pot tonight. Don't you like lamb rolls? I'll go buy some fresh lamb later, and we can barbecue the leftovers. Your cousin is coming over for dinner tonight too…】

Liu Hongmei became cheerful as she spoke:

Alright, that's enough. You go ahead and do your thing. I need to go buy some more prawns; isn't that your favorite? Oh, and I also need to steam some buns and dumplings for you. You can freeze them in the freezer; just take them out and steam them whenever you want...

Xu Milu didn't say anything, but patiently agreed.

"Squeak—"

The ward door opened, and a nurse in a pink uniform whispered a reminder:

"This is Mr. Xu's ward. His condition is a bit special, so we arranged a single room for him. Just call me if you need anything."

"Okay, thank you for your help."

Xu Milu smiled slightly and slowly walked into the ward, her gaze falling on the man sitting on the hospital bed.

He looked to be in his early fifties, with some gray hair, a dark complexion, and a slightly overweight build. He was clearly a middle-aged man who had gained weight, and his face was loose, showing signs of recent weight loss. To be fair, this man gave off a very upright impression, and his eyes revealed a gentle and polite demeanor, just as Xu Milu remembered him.

The single-occupancy ward was quite deserted. Two boxes of unopened yogurt were piled up against the wall, along with a fruit basket commonly found in gift shops, with some "Wishing you good health" messages pasted on it. A kettle was placed on the cabinet next to the bed, the water inside long since cooled down. Several unfinished takeout boxes were piled together, and two or three pairs of chopsticks were casually tossed on the floor, making the room look somewhat messy.

There wasn't a single caregiver in the ward, and it did seem rather deserted at first glance.

The man slowly turned around, a smile spreading across his face as if he had been certain Xu Milu would come.

"You're here? I didn't expect Daddy's rice to have grown so tall after all these years!"

—If this were a melodrama, it would be time for Xu Milu to cover her face and cry her heart out. But life isn't a TV drama; it doesn't have that many comedic effects, and some things can't be simply brushed aside with a single sentence.

Xu Milu didn't move, but stood at the door looking the man on the hospital bed up and down, her scrutiny undisguised, until the smile on his face began to turn awkward.

"Rice..."

Xu Haifeng seemed to want to reach out and beckon Xu Milu, but just as his hand was extended, Xu Milu suddenly spoke:

"I'm so curious, do you think this is what they call karma, or that retribution is inevitable?"

Xu Milu paused for a moment and continued:

"Do you think I'm easy to fool, which is why you were so confident in putting my phone number in your emergency contact list?"

Xu Haifeng was somewhat taken aback, clearly not expecting that her first words would be this.

“I was sixteen back then, not six. I still remember you swearing that you had found true love and would help raise your true love’s son. Your daughter and son were both obstacles in your pursuit of true love. Now that you’re like this, where has your true love gone? Why are you still writing the names of those obstacles in your emergency contacts?”

Xu Milu forced a strange smile, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

"That's not how it is, Da Mi. Listen to your father. I did make a mistake back then, but I know I was wrong. I've been doing business outside all these years and have made a lot of money. I've saved it all for you and your brother. Really, you believe me, okay?"

Seemingly afraid that she would turn around and leave, Xu Haifeng hurriedly got up to explain, bumping into an IV stand. The metal stand crashed to the ground with a loud bang.

“Dami, Dad knows you hate Dad, but I was really forced into this situation back then. I admit that Dad did some wrong things that hurt your mother, but Dad’s love for you and your brother has never changed. In the matter between your mother and me, it wasn’t just my fault…”

Ignoring the pain, Xu Haifeng sighed deeply. The shadow fell on his face, making him look rather pathetic and dejected.