Chapter 137 is merely a matter of dependence.
But does she... like Sheng Tingzhou?
like?
Or is it just dependence?
Is it a flutter of the heart, or mistaking gentleness for infatuation?
She couldn't answer.
"It's alright, just a regular business trip."
She quickly changed the subject, deliberately keeping her voice calm.
"Are you feeling alright? Don't stay up all night drawing, and remember to eat on time."
Jiang Mengxi put down her paintbrush, sighed, and became serious.
"I went to the hospital again yesterday."
"What's wrong?!"
Song Zhiwei tensed up immediately and sat up straight.
"Didn't you say your test results were good last month? Did it relapse?"
"I've been feeling nauseous a lot lately, and Dr. Liang said to get checked again."
After learning of the misfortune that had befallen the Song family, the Fang family tried to offer them a helping hand to get through the crisis, only to discover that the Song family had already moved to another city.
Until the very end, after hearing from their father about Grandma Song's passing and Song Zhiwei's marriage into the Lu family, the Fang family, though eager to learn more about Song Zhiwei's current situation, worried that doing so might be misinterpreted as an attempt to curry favor for some purpose, and therefore did not take any action.
Fortunately, Grandpa Fang firmly believed that knowing Song Zhiwei was safe and sound was a great comfort, after all, it was not easy to be safe and sound in this complicated society.
During this time, the Fang family had been quietly paying attention to Song Zhiwei's life, especially after hearing the news that she had divorced her ex-husband, their concern became even more obvious and urgent.
However, they also understand that for a woman who has just gone through a failed marriage, a sudden surge of excessive care may bring her unnecessary pressure or even embarrassment.
Therefore, without a suitable opportunity, no one directly expressed this concern from within the family to Song Zhiwei.
At this very moment, the health of our respected patriarch, Grandpa Fang, suddenly showed signs of improvement.
After evaluation by medical experts, it was unanimously agreed that, following a period of effective treatment, the elderly person's physical condition now allows them to return home from the hospital for restorative recuperation.
To celebrate this important and joyful change, and also to approach Song Zhiwei in a more relaxed and comfortable way, and to ease any potential wariness she might have towards the Fang family, they decided to hold a small gathering.
At this specially arranged gathering, someone said, "I'm fine. I wonder how Grandpa Fang's health is lately?"
When she saw the elderly person sitting opposite her, Song Zhiwei took the initiative to walk over and pour the old man a cup of fragrant tea, while asking him in a gentle tone.
Taking the teacup and taking a small sip, a satisfied smile appeared on Fang Tianyou's face. He replied, "I'm so grateful. The doctor said his condition has been effectively controlled and is currently in a relatively stable state. He can even be discharged and go home to recuperate!"
Just as the two were having a lively conversation, Fang Tianyou took out a delicate little box from his pocket and slowly handed it to the woman in front of him.
"Qiqi, we are planning a banquet to celebrate Grandfather's successful discharge from the hospital. It will be tomorrow night, and we hope you can do us the honor of attending."
Upon hearing the invitation, Song Zhiwei immediately smiled knowingly and nodded gently in agreement.
"Okay, I will definitely go."
She answered softly.
Before she could finish speaking, her friend Lin Wanning, who had been sitting quietly to the side observing, seemed to have her curiosity piqued and couldn't help but interject, "Can someone like me who didn't receive a formal invitation also attend?"
Faced with such an unexpected question, Fang Tianyou showed no displeasure or embarrassment. Instead, he replied in an even more friendly and cordial manner: "Absolutely no problem. As Miss Qiqi's friend, you are always welcome to visit my humble abode, let alone on such a meaningful day!"
His words were full of sincerity and welcome.
"Look at their speaking skills, they're unmatched."
Upon hearing the other person's answer, the cheerful Lin Wanning couldn't help but praise them. She first gave Fang Tianyou a bright smile, then quickly shifted her gaze and winked playfully at her best friend, as if expressing her envy for her friend's recent frequent appearances of new suitors.
Noticing this, Song Zhiwei frowned slightly, then winked at her best friend, trying to remind her to be mindful of her words and actions in such a public place.
After receiving the message from her friend, Lin Wanning immediately made an OK sign to indicate that she understood.
But in the blink of an eye, she completely forgot her earlier instructions.
"Young man, I've never heard Qiqi mention you before. You've been by her side for so long, why haven't you two kept in touch?"
The girl from the Song family frowned slightly, looking at the young man in front of her with a puzzled expression, trying to get a reasonable explanation from him.
Fang Tianyou shifted his gaze to Song Zhiwei, his eyes filled with concern and worry for the Fang family. "Ever since learning of the misfortunes that befell the Song family, my father has been working tirelessly to find information about you. Finally, after a great deal of effort, he found your grandmother's residence and learned that the Lu family had taken the initiative to help resolve all the debt issues."
As he calmly recounted his experiences, his eyes remained tenderly fixed on her, as if to tell her that there would always be warm places in this world waiting for her to discover.
“We visited you many times during that period and very much hoped to invite your whole family to move to Jiangcheng to live together. However, it is regrettable that, despite our repeated expressions of sincerity and care, because Grandma Song insisted on not moving away from her hometown, the contact between us gradually became less and less as time went by.”
At this point, his voice carried a hint of helplessness and regret.
Listening to this information that she had never known before, Song Zhiwei felt as if she had traveled through time and space back to that distant yet familiar place.
The image of that stubborn yet loving old woman seemed to appear before her eyes—yes, in her memory, her grandmother was always so strong and unyielding, never giving up even in the face of many difficulties; on the other hand, there was the kind-hearted person who always secretly helped her—Grandma Lu, whose presence always warmed her heart and moved her deeply whenever she thought of her.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but recall her childhood, when she was young and didn't understand much about human relationships.
I remember that I couldn't hide my joy when I received pocket money; however, I would often be caught by adults and receive a severe scolding.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com