Thunder
The next day, Li Fuqiang called Zhiwei and asked Lao Wu to pick her up and take her to Rong Mansion. When Zhiwei arrived at Rong Mansion, she discovered that Li Fuqiang had sent someone from Tiffany to bring some jewelry for her and Jiaqi to choose from.
There was a selection of diamond rings around two carats, as well as diamond necklaces and earrings. Zhiwei picked out a delicate diamond ring and didn't choose anything else. Li Jiaqi muttered, "The stones are so small." She only picked out a pair of diamond earrings.
That time, Li Fuqiang said he wanted to give her a smaller diamond ring for everyday use. It seems that a smaller diamond ring for a rich person is a completely different concept from a smaller one for an ordinary person. Zhiwei thought to herself, "It's hard on his employees to come to my door during the Chinese New Year. Money really can make the devil turn the millstone."
A couple of days later, Zhiwei told Li Fuqiang that her mother would soon have a six-month check-up, and she would be going back to Shanghai to accompany her.
After Zhiwei returned to Shanghai, Xu Anyi was still on winter vacation and was very happy to see her daughter back. Zhiwei also came back last year for Chinese New Year, but time was short and she had things on her mind, so she didn't get to have a proper time to relax.
This year, I feel much more at ease. Zhiwei even specially invited Aunt Mei to accompany my mother on a two- or three-day shopping trip. It was just a place we frequent, but when you're in a good mood, everything seems beautiful.
On the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, Zhiwei accompanied her mother to Huashan Hospital for a follow-up examination. Although Xu Anyi said that going for the follow-up examination by herself would be the same, having her daughter accompany her so thoughtfully made her feel comforted.
After the follow-up examination, Xu Anyi had to go to work. She asked Zhiwei why she wasn't in a hurry to go back to Beijing. Zhiwei said, "I'll open my shop after the 15th. I spent the Lantern Festival with my mother and saw the lanterns at the City God Temple before going back."
Xu Anyi gently tapped her daughter's forehead, "You should be grateful if you can even break even with this shop."
Zhiwei smiled and didn't seem surprised. "Anyway, your daughter isn't cut out to be a business tycoon."
But plans never keep up with changes. Just two days after the medical check-up, Zhiwei received a phone call. After the brief call, Zhiwei collapsed onto the sofa, her mind completely blank.
After a long pause, she dialed Li Fuqiang's number with trembling hands, "Mr. Li."
"Xiao Wei?" Li Fuqiang immediately sensed something was wrong. "What happened?"
"My mother went for a follow-up appointment... and the doctor said there were signs of a relapse."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone: "Don't panic, I'll have Dr. Li contact Huashan Hospital."
An hour later, Dr. Li called to provide details: "Ms. Shen, I just spoke with the doctors at Huashan Hospital and shared Ms. Xu's previous treatment and test results in Beijing with them. This recurrence isn't affecting the area around the previously removed lung, which is a less optimistic situation. Currently, the lung imaging doesn't show a particularly serious problem. However, I'm worried about potential spread to other areas."
“Currently, her lungs are not in a suitable condition for another resection, as that would have too great an impact on Ms. Xu’s respiratory function. My initial assessment is that chemotherapy should be the primary treatment. Fortunately, the Tomo2 2nd generation lung cancer vaccine that we inspected in New York last time has been introduced to 301 Hospital and is currently being tested. I suggest starting with chemotherapy and close monitoring, as we can make a better judgment based on the progression of her condition.”
"I understand. Dr. Li, please arrange it as soon as possible."
"Ms. Shen, don't worry. Mr. Li has repeatedly emphasized to me that we must use the best medical treatment plan, and we will do our best."
Zhiwei sat at home for half a day, and when it was almost time to get off work, she went to pick up her mother.
Xu Anyi works in a very nice office building in the city, downstairs from a very nice glass museum. Normally, Zhiwei would be very interested in observing and learning there, and might even strike up a conversation. But today, Zhiwei was in no mood for it; she sat in the lobby café waiting for her mother.
Seeing that it was almost time to get off work, she called her mother, "Ms. Xu, I'm downstairs. When do you get off work, you busy person?"
A moment later, Xu Anyi came downstairs with a beaming smile. Zhiwei saw her mother wearing a black turtleneck sweater, a well-fitting gray suit jacket, wide-leg pants, and carrying a large LV bag, looking very chic.
She went up to her mother and took her hand. Xu Anyi asked her, "Why did you decide to pick me up from work? What do you want to eat? Mom will treat you."
Zhiwei rested her head on her mother's shoulder. Xu Anyi was quite tall, but Zhiwei was even taller. "I've always loved watching my wise and capable mother in the office since I was little."
“When you were little, you would go to your mother’s company during summer vacation and sit quietly doing your homework. When you came home at night, you would imitate your mother by wearing a suit, putting on lipstick, and carrying her briefcase around the house. In the blink of an eye, you are now taller than your mother.”
Xu Anyi, seeing that her daughter had come to the city to visit her, called Meijuan to invite her to have a French dinner on the Bund. Only close friends and family would dare to invite someone so late, without prior notice, after work at six o'clock. Meijuan had originally planned to have dinner and a movie with her husband, but upon hearing Xu Anyi's invitation, she abandoned her husband and went off to enjoy herself alone.
Under the enormous, crystal-clear chandelier, a handsome waiter served the food with great friendliness. The dishes were exquisite, but Zhiwei didn't have much of an appetite.
Xu Anyi was a shrewd person, and Zhiwei wasn't particularly cunning. She naturally noticed that her daughter had something on her mind, but she didn't want to spoil the atmosphere, so she pretended not to know and at least enjoyed the evening first.
Back home, after washing up and dressing comfortably, she nestled on the sofa before hugging her daughter and asking, "Weiwei, is something the matter?"
Zhiwei was worried all day, but she didn't know how to tell her mother. She just hugged her and called her "Mom".
Xu Anyi paused for a moment, then asked, "Is the follow-up examination report out yet?"
Zhiwei stiffened for a moment, knowing she couldn't hide it from her mother, sighed, and simply hugged her mother even tighter.
"Dr. Li suggested returning to Beijing for treatment as soon as possible." When Zhiwei relayed this, she deliberately avoided using words like "late-stage metastasis."
Xu Anyi was watering the flowers on the balcony when she heard this. She put down the watering can and said, "Then let's go back."
His tone was so calm, as if he were explaining what to have for breakfast the next day.
The next morning, Zhiwei saw that Xu Anyi's expression was very calm, and she secretly admired her mother. If it were her, she probably wouldn't have such a good mindset. As for whether she was suffering inside, it was already remarkable that an adult could control their emotions. Who doesn't have a thousand wounds in their heart?
"I went to process my resignation today."
"Mother---"
"I took a six-month break last time, and I felt bad about always having my colleagues share the workload. I don't know how long this time will last, so I might as well retire. Anyway, my daughter is all grown up now."
Zhiwei's eyes welled up with tears. This was her mother—always composed, always dignified, even in the face of life and death.
The resignation process went exceptionally smoothly. Xu Anyi's boss granted her an additional three months of paid sick leave, but she insisted on completing the handover process.
"We have to make way for the younger generation." She smiled as she tidied her desk and gave her assistant a potted green ivy that she had kept for many years.
Before the Lantern Festival, Zhiwei, Xu Anyi, and Xiao Yang had already returned to Beijing. This time, they packed up most of Xu Anyi's usual belongings and took them with them, unlike last year when they left in a hurry and Zhiwei had to come back to pick them up.
On the flight back to Beijing, Xu Anyi kept gazing at the sea of clouds outside the window. Zhiwei pretended to be asleep, but secretly held her mother's hand tightly under the blanket.
Ya Garden remained exactly as it had been when she left. Xiao Yu had long since tidied the room to a spotless perfection, with newly arranged white magnolias adorning the coffee table. Xu Anyi's residence was also regularly maintained.
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