Chapter 066…

Jing Li glared at Jing Ran and said, “Don’t tell others what happened between the two of us. Believe it or not, I will ignore you from now on.”

Jing Ran apologized, “I got it.”

In the afternoon, Jing Li and Jing Ran went to visit Grandpa Guo in the nursing home. As usual, Jing Ran would bring many pastries to give to the elderly there. Jing Li and Jing Ran chatted with the elderly in the courtyard and then went upstairs to Grandpa Guo’s room.

Doctors, nurses, and the head nurse Auntie Cui gathered in Grandpa Guo’s room. Jing Ran entered and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Seeing Jing Ran, Auntie Cui looked solemn and said, “Ranran, you’re here?” Then she introduced him to the doctor, “This is the patient’s guardian.”

The doctor had just finished examining Grandpa Guo’s body, took off his mask, and said to Jing Ran, “The old man’s physical functions are deteriorating. He may not make it through the next few days. Be prepared mentally.”

Jing Ran’s mind went blank, unable to react, as if he had just heard a hallucination.

The nurse in the room packed up the doctor’s examination tools and said to the doctor, “Dr. Huang, everything is packed up.”

Dr. Huang patted Jing Ran on the shoulder and said, “My condolences,” then walked out with a solemn expression.

After seeing Jing Ran, Grandpa Guo who lay on the bed, reached out his hand, and with a slightly trembling voice said, “Ah Rong, you’ve finally come? You haven’t visited me in a long time.”

Jing Ran had been busy lately with his love life, dealing with various matters, meeting each other’s parents, having disagreements, and celebrating the 520 and birthdays. He hadn’t found the time to visit Grandpa Guo.

Grandpa Guo’s declining health has been a long-standing issue. At the beginning of the year, the doctor said he might not make it to the end of the year. Just didn’t expect this day to come so soon, not even halfway through the year…

“Ranran…” Jing Li lightly shook his arm and said, “Ranran, Grandpa Guo is calling you.”

Jing Ran came back to his senses, walked to the bedside, sat on a stool by the window, held Grandpa Guo’s hand, and his eyes became moist.

“Ah Rong, have you been going out with Ah Xin recently and forgotten about me?” Grandpa Guo managed to squeeze out a smile.

Jing Ran had promised to visit him at the nursing home every two weeks, but this time he missed it. “I’m sorry.”

“Haha… it’s okay, Ranran. Ah Xin is so beautiful, you must have been captivated by her and forgotten about me. Enjoy your time with Ah Xin, I won’t be a burden to you.” Grandpa Guo reached out his other hand and patted Jing Ran’s hand.

Jing Ran choked up, “Grandpa Guo, Grandfather said you haven’t been a burden to him, you’ve been his good friend for a lifetime.”

When Grandpa Guo was young, he had a hidden illness, so as not to burden girls from a good family, he chose to remain single. Jing Ran’s Grandpa and Grandpa Guo were good brothers and friends since childhood. Seeing that Grandpa Guo was living a difficult life, Jing Ran’s Grandpa often helped him. At that time, even ordinary families struggled with food and clothing. Jing Ran’s Grandma often blamed Jing Ran’s Grandpa. Once, because of Grandpa Guo, Jing Ran’s Grandma was so angry that she took her newborn daughter back to her mother’s house for six months. Grandpa Guo felt embarrassed and asked Jing Ran’s Grandpa not to take care of him, but Jing Ran’s Grandpa didn’t listen.

Jing Ran’s Grandpa was originally a pastry chef in a large restaurant. During the six months when Jing Ran’s Grandma went back to her mother’s house, he made some money by making pastries at home and selling them in the alleys of the city with a small cart. As Grandpa Guo was not in good health and couldn’t work long hours, he helped Jing Ran’s Grandpa by doing some simple work.

After about six months, they earned some money, and Jing Ran’s Grandpa brought his wife and daughter back to the provincial capital to live. When Jing Ran’s Grandma saw the two brothers working together and earning a lot of money, she didn’t say anything. Later, Jing Ran’s Grandpa and Grandpa Guo opened a pastry shop, originally named “Guorong Pastry Shop”. Grandpa Guo felt that it wasn’t easy for his sister-in-law to be a “capable helper” to Jing Ran’s Grandpa at home, taking care of household chores and looking after their daughter, so he asked Jing Ran’s Grandpa not to ignore the years of her dedication to him. Grandpa Guo was a childless single man and felt that there would be no descendants to inherit the shop if it bore his name. Finally, the pastry shop was renamed “Xinrong Bakery”.

Actually, later on, the relationship between Grandma and Grandpa Guo wasn’t so tense. They started treating each other like family. Since Jing Ran’s Grandpa passed away, Grandpa Guo’s mental health deteriorated, and he started suffering from dementia. He often mistook Jing Ran for his Grandpa.

Jing Li stood outside Grandpa Guo’s room, leaving them space to talk. She knew Jing Ran must be feeling terrible right now. Facing the separation and death, anyone would feel helpless. In Jing Li’s family, all the elders are still alive, and she has never experienced the loss of a loved one. She didn’t know how to comfort Jing Ran.

Jing Li was feeling tired standing there, so she squatted beside the door and continued waiting, listening to the two of them talking about Grandpa Guo and Jing Ran’s Grandpa youth, and how Jing Ran’s Grandpa used to pursue Grandma when they were young. Jing Li realized that Jing Ran’s character inherited a lot from his grandfather – hardworking, practical, loyal, and a bit taciturn. Grandpa liked Grandma but often unintentionally made her angry. The most serious time was when Jing Ran’s Grandma went back to her family for half a year. What’s terrifying is that instead of coaxing his wife to come back, Grandfather chose to earn money first and then bring his wife and daughter back. Grandma never remarried, so it was true love for Grandpa too!

It took a long time for Jing Ran and Grandpa Guo to finish their conversation. After bidding farewell to Grandpa Guo, Jing Ran walked out of the room. Jing Li was squatted beside the door and called out, “Lili.”

Jing Li looked up, saw Jing Ran, and managed a faint smile, “You’re out?” When she stood up, she had been squatting for too long, and her blood pressure suddenly dropped, making her feel dizzy and unsteady.

Jing Ran quickly supported her, saying, “Be careful.”

“Thank you,” Jing Li said, then feeling a bit worried about Jing Ran, she asked, “Ranran, are you okay?”

Jing Ran nodded.

Jing Li comforted him, saying, “Don’t be too sad.”

Jing Ran nodded and said, “Lili, you should go back to school first. I want to spend these days with Grandpa Guo.”

“I’ll stay with you,” Jing Li looked resolute.

“No need, you go back to school first. Don’t delay your studies. I will come back to school to find you,” Jing Li went back to Grandma’s house alone to get some things ready to return to school. As she descended the stairs, she met Chen Wenbin, who came to find Jing Ran to go back to school together and also to discuss how to reconcile with Fang Zhenzhen. Jing Li told Chen Wenbin that Grandpa Guo was not in good health and might not make it through the week.

Chen Wenbin had been playing with Jing Ran since elementary school, often visiting Jing Ran’s grandfather’s house and also knew Grandpa Guo, who treated him as well as he did to Jing Ran. Later, Grandpa Guo moved to a nursing home, and Chen Wenbin often went with Jing Ran to visit him.

Without saying a word, Chen Wenbin quickly scanned a nearby shared bike’s QR code and pedaled swiftly towards the nursing home.

Jing Li returned to school for a few days, but Jing Ran did not come back to school. They would video chat every night at a fixed time, and she learned that Grandpa Guo might not make it through the next few days, and the family started to make arrangements for his passing. Jing Li felt uneasy, thinking about how Jing Ran didn’t feel well for a few days after Xiao Xiaokang passed away, and now that it’s his own relative leaving, she couldn’t help him in any way.

Through the video call, Jing Ran saw the faint worry on Jing Li’s face and said, “Lili, don’t worry, I’m fine.”

“Then you should eat well. I haven’t seen you for a few days, and you’ve lost weight. It hurts me,” Jing Li didn’t hide her concern for him.

“I know, you should eat well too.”

*
Jing Li and her roommates walked on the campus road, heading to the Management Department’s teaching building. On the way, they met Fang Zhenzhen, who looked a bit nervous and stopped Jing Li, “Senior Jing Li.”

“Zhenzhen, what’s wrong?” Jing Li saw her so anxious, estimating that there was something important, so she said to her roommates, “You guys go back first.”

On Saturday, Fang Zhenzhen impulsively broke up with Chen Wenbin. After calming down, she thought that besides having a slightly low emotional intelligence, Chen Wenbin was actually a nice person. But she couldn’t swallow her pride and make amends, so she waited for Chen Wenbin to take the initiative to reconcile with her, and also to test whether he was sincere towards her. If he was sincere, he would definitely find a way to reconcile with her. But after several days, Chen Wenbin did not contact her, and she suspected that she had been too affected and was rejected by Chen Wenbin.

Fang Zhenzhen actively called Chen Wenbin, but the call didn’t go through. Previously, Chen Wenbin had introduced Fang Zhenzhen to his roommates, and they had each other’s contact information. Fang Zhenzhen called Chen Wenbin’s roommate, and his roommate informed her that Chen Wenbin had not returned to school after the weekend and had not asked for leave. Fang Zhenzhen thought Chen Wenbin might have done something foolish, so she looked for Jing Ran, but Jing Ran’s phone was unanswered. Fang Zhenzhen was somewhat panicked. She didn’t have Jing Li’s contact information, so she went directly to the management department to find her.

After listening to Fang Zhenzhen, Jing Li said, “Zhenzhen, don’t be too nervous. Ran’s grandfather’s close friend is not doing well recently. That old man also watched Chen Wenbin grow up, and recently Chen Wenbin has been accompanying that old man with Ranran, so he hasn’t come back to school. Chen Wenbin has asked Ranran for advice on how to win you back, but the timing just wasn’t right.”

Fang Zhenzhen asked, “Really?”

Jing Li nodded.

Fang Zhenzhen breathed a sigh of relief, fearing that her breakup statement would lead Chen Wenbin to do something foolish.

Jing Li spoke for Chen Wenbin, “Zhenzhen, sometimes Chen Wenbin is straightforward and a bit of a troublemaker, but he’s not a bad person at heart.” Jing Li remembered when they were at the beach, Chen Wenbin made a sandcastle for the children, showing that he is a compassionate person, just a bit mischievous at times.

Fang Zhenzhen nodded, “I know…” Fang Zhenzhen calmed down and realized that Chen Wenbin’s character is not inferior to other boys; he is much better than many superficial boys.

*
When Jing Li saw Jing Ran again, it was a week later. He was wearing light gray clothes and had lost a lot of weight, which made Jing Li feel heartbroken. Jing Ran did not let Jing Li attend Grandpa Guo’s funeral. Jing Li obediently waited for him to come back at school.

They met at the school gate. Jing Ran disregarded the passing students and tightly hugged Jing Li, his voice trembling, “Lili, I missed you.”

The accumulated sorrow of the past week had no place to vent, and it all collapsed when he saw Jing Li.

Jing Li took out a tissue from her pocket and wiped away his tears.

Jing Ran’s tears kept flowing, and he asked, “Lili, am I very weak?”

While wiping his tears, Jing Li smiled slightly and said, “Ranran, you are not weak. You don’t have to pretend to be strong in front of me.”