"Understood." Shen Zhi Qiu calmly took a sip of hot tea, then placed the cup heavily on the table.
Lu Jia moved the side table aside to make it easier for Shen Zhi Qiu to come out.
Shen Zhi Qiu looked down and, not seeing her high heels, frowned.
“Wearing high heels is tiring, so I brought you slippers. Wear slippers at home.” Lu Jia smiled and bent down to place the slippers at Shen Zhi Qiu’s feet.
“Okay,” Shen Zhi Qiu obediently got down, put on her slippers, and suddenly remembered something. She turned to look at Lu Jia, “Is Grandma awake?”
"Okay, I'm waiting for you in the room." Lu Jia gently took her hand and led her outside.
It felt like an eternity before Shen Zhi Qiu finally saw her grandmother again.
Shen Zhi Qiu took a deep breath at the door and then gently pushed the door open.
As soon as she stepped inside, she smelled a faint sandalwood scent permeating the room. Further in, she saw a bunch of fresh gardenias on the table and couldn't help but smile. It was her grandmother's favorite scent.
She saw her grandmother sitting by the window, her back to her, sunlight streaming through the window and falling on her grandmother, warm and peaceful.
Grandma was wearing a light blue cheongsam embroidered with exquisite patterns. Her hair was neatly combed, and a silk hair clip was tucked behind her ear. On her exposed right hand was a jade bracelet that shimmered with a warm luster.
Shen Zhi Qiu walked slowly behind her grandmother with heavy steps and softly called out, "Grandma."
Grandma seemed not to hear, and continued looking out the window.
Shen Zhi Qiu called out again.
Grandma then turned her head and looked at her with a somewhat confused expression. She tilted her head and looked at her with some curiosity, as if she didn't recognize her.
Shen Zhi Qiu felt a pang of sadness; she knew her grandmother's condition might have worsened. She stepped forward, gently took her grandmother's hand, and said, "Grandma, it's me, Zhi Qiu, your granddaughter."
Grandma tilted her head back a little, her brows furrowed, her eyes narrowed to slits, as if she were trying hard to remember something. Her lips moved slightly, but no sound came out.
Shen Zhi Qiu felt a pang of heartache; she knew her grandmother truly couldn't remember her anymore.
"Grandma, do you remember me? I'm Zhi Qiu, your most beloved granddaughter." Shen Zhi Qiu said again, her voice choked with emotion, but after a moment she raised her head, trying to awaken her grandmother's memory with her voice and expression.
Grandma's face remained expressionless; she simply stared at Shen Zhi Qiu as if she were a stranger. Shen Zhi Qiu felt her eyes welling up with tears; she didn't know how to make her grandmother recognize her.
Lu Xiaoyu, standing at the door, looked distressed. He was about to go in to help, but Lu Jia stopped him and shook her head at him. "Give them some time alone. Maybe Grandma will remember."
"Grandma, let me tell you a story." Shen Zhi Qiu calmed herself down and decided to try a different approach to awaken her grandmother's memories.
She began to recount the wonderful times she spent with her grandmother when she was a child.
As Shen Zhi Qiu's voice gently narrated, her grandmother's eyes softened, and a smile appeared on her face. Shen Zhi Qiu felt that her efforts had finally paid off, and she continued to tell the stories, hoping to help her grandmother remember more things.
"Grandma, do you remember? When I was little, you always took me to the park, bought me delicious ice cream, and taught me to sing and dance. Back then, I thought you were the most amazing person in the world, that you could do everything." Shen Zhi Qiu said, gently holding her grandmother's hand.
Grandma's hands were a little cold, but Shen Zhi Qiu felt warm inside.
Although her grandmother hadn't recognized her yet, she inexplicably began to feel a sense of familiarity. So she listened quietly as Shen Zhi Qiu recounted her childhood stories, occasionally showing a puzzled expression. Shen Zhi Qiu would then patiently explain to her.
Gradually, Grandma also lowered her guard and quietly watched Shen Zhi Qiu...
"Another time, I was bullied by a classmate at school. When you found out, you went to the classmate's parents without saying a word and told them to discipline their child properly. At that moment, I knew that no matter what happened, you would protect me." As Shen Zhi Qiu spoke, her eyes became a little moist.
A hint of sadness flashed in Grandma's eyes. She suddenly lowered her head, stroked Chen Zhi Qiu's hair, and said gently, "Silly child, how could Grandma let others bully you?"
Shen Zhi Qiu's tears streamed down her face. She couldn't help but grip her grandmother's hand even tighter as she continued speaking:
"Grandma, do you remember? Once I was being naughty at home and broke your favorite vase. Everyone in the family was terrified because you always treasured that vase; it was said to be quite valuable. I was so anxious on your way home, afraid you would hit me or even stop liking me. But you didn't. The first thing you did when you got home was check if I had cut my fingers..."
As Shen Zhi Qiu spoke, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
Grandma gently wiped away the tears from the corners of Shen Zhi Qiu's eyes and said, "Silly child, how could Grandma bear to hit you? The vase is broken, so be it, as long as you are not hurt."
"Grandma, you remember me, don't you?" Shen Zhi Qiu looked up expectantly, tears still on her face.
Grandma's lips twitched, as if she were trying hard to remember something. Shen Zhi Qiu felt her heart race; she hoped her grandmother would say her name.
"Zhiqiu?" Grandma finally spoke, her voice very soft, seemingly filled with great uncertainty.
Overjoyed, Shen Zhi Qiu hugged her grandmother's hand and cried even louder. She knew that her grandmother had finally remembered some things. "Yes, Grandma, it's me, it's me!"
Grandma's eyes brightened as she looked at her. She gently patted Chen Zhi Qiu's head and murmured, "Zhi Qiu, is that you back?"
Shen Zhi Qiu could no longer hold back. She threw herself into her grandmother's arms and burst into tears. "Grandma, I missed you so much. Please don't forget me again. You must get better soon."
Grandma gently patted Shen Zhi Qiu's back. Her voice was weak, but full of love. "Good child, Grandma is thinking of you too. You must take good care of yourself."
Shen Zhi Qiu buried her head in her grandmother's body, her face pressed tightly against her grandmother's clothes, not daring to let go at all, for fear that if she let go, her grandmother would forget her again.
She silently made a decision in her heart: she must bring her grandmother to live with her and take care of her, and she would never let her grandmother suffer any more grievances.
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