After returning home with the child, her ex-husband knelt down and gently coaxed her.

The room was clean, bright, and extremely spacious, with warm white as the main color. The white headboard was equipped with instruments to monitor the patient's vital signs, and the red and green breathing lights flashed in sync with the patient's heartbeat.

The woman lying on the hospital bed looked very young, and it was impossible to guess her actual age. Even though her face was pale, you could still see that her features were very delicate, and her eyebrows and eyes exuded the gentle and quiet grace of a woman from Jiangnan.

Lu Xiyan sat by the hospital bed and watched her for a long time. The ward was so quiet that he could hear his own breathing, but he couldn't hear the woman's breathing.

Because they rarely see the sun, the women's exposed arms are very white, and you can almost see the blue veins.

Lu Xiyan held the woman's arm in his hand, his fingertips gently tracing her delicate skin. "Mom."

When I spoke softly, I realized my voice was incredibly hoarse.

"Is it really too late to hold on?"

Lu Xiyan's eyes were very gentle as he looked deeply into the woman's pale face. "You miss my dad, don't you? So you really want to go see him as soon as possible, right?"

He smiled slightly, "You actually resent me, don't you? It was because I was too obsessed that my father had an accident. And it was because I wanted to keep you with me so much that you couldn't keep up with my father's pace, so you got anxious."

The man lowered his eyes, looking at the woman's slightly cool hand in his palm, slender and sickly white.

His eyes gradually reddened. "But I don't have a father anymore, I can't lose my mother too..."

Tears suddenly fell, landing on the back of the woman's hand.

He could barely feel the woman's faint pulse.

"Could you..." he choked out, lowering his head, "for my sake, try to hold on a little longer..."

He held the woman's hand tightly, "Why is it that the people I try so hard to keep always slip away..."

"Your mother is worried about you."

Lu Lixiao's voice suddenly rang out at the door. Lu Xiyan lowered his head to wipe away his tears, and when he looked up, his expression had returned to its usual coldness.

"west Yan?"

Cheng Wanwan followed Lu Lixiao in and quickly went to Lu Xiyan's side, looking anxiously at the woman on the hospital bed, "How is Auntie?"

Lu Xiyan turned to look at her, his eyes calm. "Why are you here?"

"Wanwan arrived this afternoon." Lu Lixiao came in. "Wanwan cares about this old man. She came over to have dinner with me this afternoon. There was a problem with your mother earlier, but I didn't tell her because I was afraid she would worry. I just found out that your mother's condition was unstable, so I rushed over to check on her."

"Grandpa Lu, really, how could you keep something from me about Auntie?" Cheng Wanwan said with a worried expression and a reproachful tone. She glanced at Lu Xiyan and said, "Xiyan is usually too busy, so it's only right that I take better care of Auntie."

She went over and quickly checked on the woman in the hospital bed, then tucked her in. "Thank goodness the aunt is alright, I was almost scared to death."

"Wanwan, your health isn't good to begin with. If worrying causes you even the slightest problem, your parents will be in trouble with me." Lu Lixiao said with a smile, then turned to Lu Xiyan, "Xiyan, your mother is still worried about you. The doctor said she's not completely deaf, and in my opinion..."

He glanced at Cheng Wanwan for two seconds, then his gaze fell on Lu Xiyan. "After you and Wanwan get engaged, you should also get married as soon as possible, to make your mother happy. Maybe if she's happy, she'll wake up faster."

Lu Xiyan's eyes narrowed, and his aura grew even colder.

Cheng Wanwan glanced at him and immediately said to Lu Lixiao, "Grandpa Lu, there's no rush."

"The sooner the better." Lu Lixiao looked at Lu Xiyan with a kind expression. "Xiyan, seeing you settle down and start a family is also your parents' wish. Your father is no longer here, so while your mother can still hear, let her rest assured. You and Wanwan are not young anymore, so get married after your engagement, which will also fulfill your parents' wishes."

After he finished speaking, he glanced at Ji Xiu behind him, who took out a business card and handed it to Cheng Wanwan.

"This is a private dress designer that your mother used to particularly admire," Lu Lixiao said. "Why don't you ask her for your engagement dresses with Wanwan? Go try them on tomorrow, this weekend. What do you think, Xiyan?"

Cheng Wanwan held up the business card in her hand. "Grandpa Lu, we—"

"Can."

Fearing that Lu Xiyan might think she had ulterior motives, she was about to politely decline the old man's suggestion in front of him when the man beside her spoke in a low voice, and two words made her freeze for a moment.

She looked up at Lu Xiyan and heard him say, "Since Grandpa has made the arrangements, let's do as he says."

Cheng Wanwan thought she had misheard. west Yan had agreed to go with her to try on wedding dresses tomorrow?

She and Lu Xiyan are getting engaged and then married soon!

"Then let's do it this way." Lu Lixiao smiled with satisfaction and beckoned to Lu Xiyan, "Xiyan, come with me to the study."

The two figures disappeared through the doorway, and Cheng Wanwan stood there, clutching the business card tightly in her hand.

Suddenly, a slight smile curved his lips, and his gaze fell on the woman on the hospital bed.

"Auntie, it seems that what I said to you was quite useful. I want to thank you for bringing my wedding with west Yan one step closer. Otherwise, I was really afraid that An Ning's appearance would cause some complications."

She bent down gently, leaned close to the woman's ear, and whispered, "Don't worry, I'll serve you tea on the day I marry west Yan."

......

On a weekend morning, coffee shops in the city center are bustling with people.

When Anning arrived at the agreed-upon location, she saw a familiar figure inside the store through the glass door.

She quickly pushed the door open and went in. "Sister Chen?"

The middle-aged woman was scrolling through her phone when she heard the sound. She turned around, paused for a couple of seconds upon seeing the woman's face, and then exclaimed in surprise, "An Ning?"

"Sister Chen, it's been a long time."

Landlady Chen has hardly changed from a few years ago. Seeing her reminded Anning of the first time she rented a room.

At that time, she was in dire straits. All the money she had wasn't enough to pay a month's rent. Fortunately, this Sister Chen was a very kind person. She not only reduced her rent but also gave her a lot of necessities. She treated her like a younger sister, giving her a lot of care and a sense of security.

An Ning's eyes reddened as she looked at the middle-aged woman in front of her.

Landlady Chen is also a sentimental person; tears welled up in her eyes, and they gave each other a big hug.

"This was left behind by your best friend when she moved out."

The two sat down facing each other. Sister Chen handed her an envelope. There was no postal code or address; it was just a white envelope.

"She said that if you ever come back to find her, she'll give this to you," Sister Chen said. "If you don't come back, this thing doesn't matter. I don't know what's inside, and I don't dare throw it away. Anyway, I'm not moving or leaving Jinghai, so I kept this envelope, thinking that if you ever come back, I can give it to you, right?"

Anning took the envelope; it was very thin.

The envelope was lightly pinched between my fingertips; it didn't look like any kind of document.

She quickly tore open the envelope and opened it.

There was no divorce certificate, only a note.