The sudden ringing of the phone successfully pulled Lin Xiang back to reality.

"Xiangzi, how's it going? Have you found your mother yet?"

"Found it. My mom is at the gate of the elementary school I used to attend. Please tell An'an and the others to go back first."

"I'll take my mom back in a bit."

"It's good that you found her. Is your mother alright?" Ninth Master's tone still held concern.

"Thankfully, no one is hurt."

"As long as everyone is alright, come back soon."

"Um."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Xiang glanced at his mother and spoke.

"Come on, I'll take you home."

“I’m not going home. I’m waiting for Xiangzi. I brought him an ice pop, but he hasn’t eaten it yet.” Granny Jiu shook her head like a rattle-drum.

"Mom, I am Xiangzi."

"When I was little, I once sneaked out to climb a mountain, but I accidentally fell and cut my foot when I bumped into something."

"I was afraid you'd scold me, so I didn't say anything, and as a result, I have a scar on my calf. Do you remember that?"

"How do you know?" Granny Jiu sneered.

"Look, is this the place?"

Lin Xiang pointed to the area exposed by his rolled-up trouser leg and showed it to Granny Jiu before continuing.

“I remember when I was five years old, I suddenly developed a high fever one night. My dad was out working and wasn’t home.”

"After you took my temperature, you immediately wiped my body with warm water to lower my temperature."

"But the temperature still wouldn't come down."

"You were afraid I would get brain damage from the fever, so you carried me on your back and walked through the night for at least forty minutes before we finally arrived at the clinic."

"The clinics were all closed, but you still managed to knock on the door and get a doctor to come out and give me a fever-reducing injection."

“When I was seven years old, it was raining heavily. When I went to school, I didn’t bring an umbrella or wear rubber boots. My dad was cooking for someone else that day and wasn’t home.”

“You were worried that I would get wet in the rain after school, so you rode your bicycle to pick me up.”

“Back then, the roads in the village were all muddy when it rained, but you wore a raincoat, carried me on your back, and gritted your teeth to ride home.”

"When you got back, your clothes were soaked with sweat, and your legs were so tired that they were trembling a little."

"Even though I was wearing a raincoat and carrying an umbrella, I was almost completely dry."

“When I caught chickenpox from someone in my class, you suffered for several days while taking care of me.”

"And I remember in fifth grade, I got ninth place in the whole school in an exam. The class called for a parent-teacher conference, but I didn't dare to tell you."

"Because before this, I had always been in the top three in the whole school in exams."

“I got ninth place in that exam, and I was afraid you would scold me, so I didn’t tell you about the meeting.”

"As a result, you learned about the parent-teacher meeting from Fengfeng, who was from the same village, and then you just let it go."

"That time, you went. You listened attentively the whole time and even told the teacher how well-behaved and sensible I was in private."

“The teacher said I have regressed. You said that a child’s academic performance is not the only standard for judging whether a child is a good student.”

"Not doing well on one test doesn't mean anything."

"When I got home, you didn't scold me. Instead, you patted my head and comforted me, saying, 'It's okay, just study hard. Grades aren't that important.'"

"That year in high school..."

The more Lin Xiang spoke, the more choked up he felt.

He knew just how deep his parents' love for him truly was.

However, after graduating, he still left home and went to develop his career in the distant city of Ancheng.

He told himself that he bought his parents all sorts of daily necessities, activated family payment for them, and would send them money and call them from time to time...

He has been trying his best to repay his parents.

But now I suddenly realize that he did far too little before.

What parents might want is simply to see him every now and then, have a meal with him, and talk to him.

“You are Xiangzi, you really are my Xiangzi.”

"Xiangzi, you've grown so much!"

"Here, have an ice pop."

When I took the popsicle out of my pocket, it was almost completely melted.

The plastic bag was full of melted popsicle water.

"Oh dear, it's all melted."

"Oh no, Xiangzi doesn't like these melted popsicles."

"Mom, this is what I like to eat."

After Lin Xiang took it, he tore open a hole in it and then tilted his head back to pour all the melted ice water into his mouth.

After finishing his drink, he took out a wad of toilet paper, wrapped the bag and the stick inside, stuffed it into his pocket, and prepared to take it home.

"Mom, let's go home."

"go home……"

Lin Xiang held Jiu Po's hand and slowly walked back.

When they passed the vines that could hurt people, he simply carried Granny Jiu on his back.

When I got home, Grandma Jiu was already asleep.

With Ninth Master's help, he carefully helped Ninth Granny lie down on the bed.

After getting iodine and cotton swabs and treating Grandma Jiu's hands, they closed the door and went out.

"Uncle, Aunt, An'an, thank you so much for your help this time."

"Don't be so polite, child. Now that Granny Jiu is alright, we'll head back now."

"I'll take you."

"No, no need."

On the way back from Lin Xiang's house, Lin's mother suddenly sighed.

"Sigh, how could such a perfectly healthy person suddenly... become like this?"

"Don't worry, the doctor said that Grandma Jiu's dementia is only temporary."

"Once the blood clot in her brain is completely removed, she will be able to recover," Mr. Lin comforted her.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!