Lu Ran clutched the hem of her clothes with both small hands, rubbing them back and forth. She lowered her head, and Jiang Mianmian couldn't see the expression on her face, but she sensed that Lu Ran had something difficult to say.
After a long while, Lu Ran raised her head and forced a smile, "My mother needs someone to take care of her."
"That's it?"
Jiang Mianmian sighed, "Ranran, you need to think this through... Taking care of Mom is important, but you can't sacrifice your career just to take care of her!"
“Sister, that’s my mom.” Lu Ran looked at her, a hint of sadness flashing in her big eyes. “Ever since her surgery, her health has been very poor. She can’t be separated from me for a moment. I have to take care of her!”
"Is she... in poor health?"
Lu Ran shook her head.
Jiang Mianmian became suspicious.
She clearly remembered that when Pei Nian talked about Cheng Suyue that day, didn't he sneer that this person was "very healthy and didn't look sick at all"?
How come when it comes to Lu Ran, it's because she's in poor health?
Jiang Mianmian frowned. Perhaps this difference is due to the different understandings of the severity of illness among different people.
She composed herself and continued to persuade her, "Ranran, don't we have nurses and caregivers at home? They can take care of Aunt Cheng without any problem. If you're not satisfied, we can find a few more."
“Sister, it’s not a problem with the nurses or caregivers at all.” Lu Ran sighed. “My mom just can’t be without me for a moment. I don’t know what’s wrong with her now, she makes all sorts of demands on me, and if I can’t meet them, she… she throws a tantrum.”
"I had no choice but to let her be."
"Sister, your adoptive mother also has cancer and is in poor health... If she asked you to give up everything to be with her, would you refuse?"
Jiang Mianmian was taken aback, then shook her head.
She wouldn't refuse, but that's not the key issue. The key issue is that the assumption itself is flawed; Su Aiqian would never ask her to give up everything to be with her!
However, people are different, and Su Aiqian's thoughts may not represent the thoughts of all mothers.
"Okay." Jiang Mianmian finally nodded in agreement. "If you want to resign, then resign. I just feel it's a pity. I have several projects that are in the construction phase, and I'm looking forward to working alongside you!"
"It's okay, sis," Lu Ran smiled. "There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Maybe if I take care of my mom for a while, she'll come to her senses and let me come back?"
"Yes!" Jiang Mianmian smiled too, "You will definitely come back!"
"Ranran, I'll keep the position for you. If you change your mind, just come find me anytime!"
As she spoke, she raised her hand and gave Lu Ran a big hug.
However, Lu Ran let out a soft "ouch".
Jiang Mianmian asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Where did I touch you?"
"No……"
Lu Ran subconsciously covered her forearm.
Jiang Mianmian took her hand, but Lu Ran kept avoiding her. Jiang Mianmian suddenly realized something was wrong...
"Ranran!" She grabbed Lu Ran and, without saying a word, rolled up her sleeve, only to find several bruises on her arm!
"What's wrong?"
"I hurt myself by accident, it's okay." Lu Ran hurriedly pulled down her sleeve.
"real?"
"real!"
Lu Ran smiled and gestured to her, "That day I was pushing my mom's wheelchair for a walk, and there was a small pebble on the road that made her bump. I was afraid she would fall, so I stood in front of her to shield her..."
"The injury on my arm was caused by this bump."
Jiang Mianmian was skeptical, but seeing how convincingly she spoke, she forced herself to dispel her doubts.
“Alright, since you have an injury on your arm, don’t move your things yourself,” she said softly. “Pack your personal belongings in your office and see if there’s anything you want to take with you. I’ll have someone send it home for you.”
“Hmm.” Lu Ran sincerely took her hand. “Sister, I’m so sorry… I should have worked on these new projects with you.”
Why are you being so polite with me?
Jiang Mianmian smiled. She originally wanted to say that the engineering drawings were already completed and asked Ranran to help calculate the cost.
However, she swallowed the words back.
Ranran has resigned and is no longer a member of the Lu family. The Lu family's engineering drawings and cost accounting are internal company secrets.
Even if you trust Ranran a lot, it's still best to draw a clear line in this matter.
*
When Lu Ran returned home, she immediately saw Cheng Suyue sitting motionless on the sofa.
She felt a little sad.
Ever since Cheng Suyue returned home from the hospital, she has liked to sit like this for long periods of time, and most of the time she wears a wide-brimmed sun hat.
If she doesn't have a sun hat, she'll wear a sweatshirt and pull the hood up.
Lu Ran didn't understand what was going on.
Even if she tried to get close to her mother, she would be scolded by her mother.
She found it very strange. Her mother used to love holding her, and even though she had grown up, the bond between mother and daughter was still very strong.
After being hospitalized and undergoing surgery, her mother was completely different from the Cheng Suyue she used to be.
"Mom, I'm back." Lu Ran composed herself and smiled broadly. "Mom, I've already resigned."
"Oh?" Cheng Suyue's eyes flickered. "So you really listened to me and resigned?"
"yes."
Cheng Suyue sneered inwardly.
Resigning was merely a process of taming Lu Ran, with the aim of seeing if Lu Ran would listen to her.
Now it seems that they not only listen, but they listen very well.
"Ranran, I'm so sorry..." Cheng Suyue said with a face full of sorrow, "If it weren't for me, you could have flown higher and farther."
"Mom, don't say that. Staying at home to take care of you is something I do willingly."
"Hmm, that's good." Cheng Suyue smiled enigmatically. "Did your cousin give you anything today?"
Lu Ran shook her head and sat down next to her.
But to everyone's surprise, Cheng Suyue seemed to be electrocuted and almost jumped to sit on another sofa.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Lu Ran asked, puzzled. "I just wanted to hug you, why are you...dodging me?"
Cheng Suyue said seriously, "Ranran, you're a grown-up now. You can't keep asking me to carry you like you did when you were little."
"But……"
But ever since Mom was discharged from the hospital, she has become a different person.
Does her mother not like her anymore?
Lu Ran recalled that day when she simply hugged Cheng Suyue from behind, wanting to act cute with her mother, but Cheng Suyue pinched her arm hard several times.
So she had several bruises on her arms that wouldn't go away for days.
On another occasion, she accidentally touched Cheng Suyue's hand, only to be ruthlessly shoved away by Cheng Suyue.
Lu Ran has been feeling very depressed these days. She doesn't understand what she did wrong to annoy her mother so much.
"Mom..." Lu Ran asked in a trembling voice, "What's wrong with you? Why are you so resistant to me touching you now?"
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