Chapter 8

Translator: Larbre Studio

Editor: Larbre Studio

Shen Qinglan did not stay very long. After lunch, she went to the hospital with Grandpa Shen. Shen Xitong wanted to come, but she got a call from the orchestra leader at the last minute: she was needed at the orchestra’s temporary accommodation.

Grandma Shen had just woken up by the time they got to the hospital.

“Dear, we’re here,” Grandpa Shen spoke gently to his wife on the bed.

“Grandma,” Shen Qinglan approached her. She helped Grandma Shen adjust her sitting posture so that she could sit more comfortably.

“Lan Lan, didn’t I tell you not to come here so often?” Grandma Shen held her granddaughter’s hand.

Shen Qinglan smiled faintly, “It’s the weekend. I don’t have any classes. I have to come see you, otherwise I won’t feel good.”

Grandma Shen looked at her lovingly, “I’m fine. I’ll have a long life. I still want to see my little Qinglan get married and have children.”

Shen Qinglan placed her cheek against Grandma Shen’s palm, a rare intimate gesture, “Yes, Grandma, you will have a long, healthy life.”

Grandpa Shen sat on one side of the sofa, looking at his wife who got paler by the day. His eyes glistened with tears. He knew the fateful day would eventually come but, when it really did, the pain in his heart would fail to diminish.

They say married couples stick with each other to the very end. He and Grandma Shen had gone through thick and thin together for several decades and never once had they quarreled or thrown tantrums. That was partly because Grandma Shen was a truly respectable woman and would not do with arguments. For another, the couple always had a wonderful relationship—they would communicate whenever disagreements arose.

Grandma Shen touched her granddaughter’s long, black hair and whispered, “Lan Lan, I’d like some osmanthus cake from Zhang Ji on East Street today. Can you get some for me?”

There was a pause before Shen Qinglan replied, “Sure.” Then she got up and left the ward.

It was only when the footsteps faded that Grandma Shen looked away from the door and sighed deeply.

Suddenly, she covered her mouth and coughed violently. Upon seeing this, Master Shen stepped forward and patted her on the back. “What’s wrong, dear? Are you unwell? I’ll call the doctor for you.”

He was about to press the bedside button when Grandma Shen held his arm. She shook her head and said, “I’m fine.”

She had indeed stopped coughing, so Grandpa Shen let the matter go. He gave her some water to drink.

Grandma Shen breathed out, “Dear, my days are numbered.”

“Nonsense,” Grandpa Shen muttered somewhat angrily. He did not want his wife to say such upsetting words.

Grandma Shen, however, had resigned to her fate. She held onto Grandpa Shen’s hand. She had gotten quite frail, as the disease had drastically changed her form, leaving her as skinny as a twig.

“I know my body’s condition more than you do. To have a loving husband, two wonderful sons, obedient grandchildren, and a largely trouble-free life at this age, I am quite content. But, darling, there’s still one thing that worries me.”

With tears in his eyes, Grandpa Shen held his wife’s hand tightly, “What is it? Tell me.”

“It’s Lan Lan. That girl’s rather cold and distant, having left home at a young age. Life must have been hard for her. She has suffered so much because we failed to provide her with proper care. It’s our sin to bear.”

“I know, my dear. I’ll take good care of her, and make up for all that she has lost.”

Grandma Shen shook her head, “That’s not what worries me the most. Lan Lan’s relationship with her mother has been rocky. Yunrong doesn’t have it easy either, I can’t deny that. But Lan Lan’s innocent after all. I don’t feel right seeing her like this.”

With her other hand on her chest, Grandma Shen’s eyes reflected the pain she felt. 

“My beautiful and brilliant granddaughter should have been treasured like a princess, but she had been away from us for so many years. I don’t have much time left. I just want my granddaughter to be happy. I want her to find someone who truly loves her and will protect her for all eternity.”

Tears rolled down Grandma Shen’s pale cheeks and dripped onto the couple’s hands that were stacked together. Their warmth lit a fire in Grandpa Shen’s heart.

“Dear, rest assured. I’ll find a good match for Lan Lan, someone who’ll love her and protect her. Leave that to me,” Grandpa Shen looked at his old wife and made a solemn promise.

Footsteps echoed outside the ward. As they gradually went away, the old couple in the ward didn’t even notice.

When Shen Qinglan got back, she could not find her grandparents in the ward. She asked the nurse, who told her that Grandpa Shen had taken his wife downstairs.

She found them in the garden.

Grandpa Shen was pushing his wife on the wheelchair as they went on a stroll. The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on them, expanding their shadows.

Grandpa Shen was smiling. He said something to Grandma Shen, who looked to be immersed in nostalgia.

Shen Qinglan chose not to disturb them. She stood still, quietly observing the old couple.

Grow old with me, the best is yet to be. Easier said than done.

Misunderstandings, temptations, and death… 

There were far too many factors in this world that could force a pair of lovers who should have stayed together to break apart, like birds flying in different directions. For the first time ever, she felt a deep appreciation for that saying, as demonstrated by Grandpa and Grandma Shen.

Soon after, Grandpa Shen could not hold on to the wheelchair anymore and sat down on the bench. He held his wife’s hand and said, “Dear, I’ve gotten old and useless. See, I can’t even push your wheelchair.”

Grandma Shen grinned warmly, “Your head’s full of gray hair now, isn’t that obvious? I still remember the first time I lay eyes on you. You were just a brazen young man then. Now, look at us. We’ve both aged.”

At the mention of the good old days, Grandpa Shen’s usual seriousness faded and he smiled, “Enough about me, you were a mischievous little lady back then, too. All I did was pick a few peaches from your tree, and you had to take matters into your own hands and climb the tree just to catch me. Guess who couldn’t get back down after.”

Grandma Shen felt embarrassed when Grandpa Shen mentioned the past. She gave him a cheeky glare. It was not exactly a pretty sight for a wrinkled face to make an expression like that, but Grandpa Shen seemed to have revisited his wife’s adorable look from their younger days.

“Alright, old man, take me home. I don’t want to stay in the hospital anymore,” Grandma Shen suddenly spoke.

Stunned, Grandpa Shen quickly managed to read between the lines.

“I know my body very well. I want to spend my last days with my family. The hospital’s too chilly. I don’t want to stay here.”

For a long while, Grandpa Shen stayed silent, before he finally nodded under his wife’s hopeful gaze.

“There you are, Grandma and Grandpa. I’ve been looking for you,” Shen Qinglan picked the right moment to approach them.

Grandpa Shen told her about Grandma Shen’s decision. Shen Qinglan merely glanced silently at the two and agreed. If this was her grandmother’s last wish, she chose to respect it.