Chapter 24: The Passing of a Life

"Are you not coming in?"

As the elevator doors were about to close automatically, Liang Yuxiu reached out to stop them, his tone indifferent as he asked.

Wen Jianan pursed her lips and nodded, stepping inside.

The descent was silent. Wen Jianan intentionally kept her distance from him, and the moment they reached the ground floor, she hurried out.

Just as she reached the main entrance, her phone rang. It was the vice director of the Xingxing Welfare Institute. For some reason, the moment she saw the caller ID, her eyelids twitched uncontrollably. A sense of foreboding washed over her, and she answered immediately.

The vice director’s heartbroken, bitter voice came through at once: "Jianan, do you have time to come to the hospital? The director... she might not make it."

"...I'll be right there."

Wen Jianan’s mind went blank. She didn't know how she managed to get those words out. When she finally regained her senses, she was already standing by the roadside, about to rush toward a taxi across the street, only to be blocked by the honking of an oncoming car.

A car sped past behind her. She looked over in a daze to see Liang Yuxiu leaning out of the back seat, his brows tightly knitted and his face grim as he scolded her: "Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

He had always been calm; there was almost nothing in this world that could ruffle his emotions, or perhaps it was that he was simply different from normal people—he was almost entirely devoid of sentiment. Even back when they divorced and Wen Jianan was once hysterical, he had only watched her calmly, neither losing his composure nor offering comfort. This was the first time she had ever seen him so agitated, so uncomposed.

It wasn't until Liang Yuxiu got out of the car and pulled her back that Wen Jianan fully snapped out of it. She tried to pull away, but the taxi across the street had already driven off. It was rush hour, and it wouldn't be easy to find another.

Liang Yuxiu didn't give her a chance to refuse, pulling her into the back seat: "Where to? I'll take you."

Wen Jianan didn't stand on ceremony this time; she gave the driver the address.

"Are you not feeling well?" Liang Yuxiu blurted out.

Wen Jianan avoided the topic: "Can you go faster? I’m in a hurry."

Seeing Liang Yuxiu’s attitude, the driver nodded: "I'll see if there’s a shortcut."

Wen Jianan’s heart was in her throat. This wasn't the first time she had faced such a situation, but she still couldn't face death with any sense of peace. Liang Yuxiu noticed her distress, his lips pressed into a thin line. He didn't ask any more questions, but he kept his eyes on her from time to time.

The driver was efficient, and they arrived at the hospital in less than half an hour. Wen Jianan thanked him, rushed out of the car, and ran into the inpatient building.

The old director had already been moved to the emergency room, but in the end, there was no turning back the tides of fate.

The doctor came out and allowed the vice director and Wen Jianan to go in and say their final goodbyes. Although they were not blood relatives, having witnessed the passing of a life, Wen Jianan could not stop her tears.

"No need to cry. Birth, aging, sickness, and death—that is simply how it is."

After saying this, the old director smiled faintly, then closed her eyes. The monitoring machine beside her began to emit a steady alarm, eventually flatlining as all the readings dropped to zero.

In the hospital corridor, Wen Jianan sat on a bench, her thoughts drifting somewhere unknown. Her expression was solemn, and her heart felt impossibly heavy.

Liang Yuxiu stood not far away, watching her quietly, observing her. He suddenly felt that he had never truly observed this woman before. Although they had been husband and wife, it seemed he hadn't understood her at all. Or perhaps, in the past, he had felt there was no need to understand her, and he had been too arrogant to care.

Liang Yuxiu’s eyelids fluttered as he watched Wen Jianan take out her phone, tap a few times, and hold it gently to her ear, calling someone. Soon, he had his answer.

"Hello, Mom."

Wen Jianan had called Tan Fang. The old director’s passing made her think of her own parents. Suddenly, she felt an intense longing to hear their voices.

"What's wrong? Is something the matter?" Tan Fang asked.

Wen Jianan sniffled: "Nothing. I just suddenly missed you and Dad. Is Dad home from work?"

"He’s resting this afternoon, he's cooking dinner." Tan Fang keenly sensed that something was off with her daughter. "You're acting so scatterbrained, did something happen?"

"What’s wrong with Nannan?" Wen Shaoru’s voice seemed to join in the background.

Wen Jianan forced a smile, trying her best to mask the sob in her voice and insisting she was fine. After some convincing, Tan Fang finally believed her.

"You called at just the right time. I was planning to call you anyway. I’ve prepared some things you like to eat and am going to mail them to you. Send me your address. When it arrives, make sure to give a portion to Xiao Cheng, you hear?"

"Okay."

After hanging up, Wen Jianan let out a long, heavy sigh. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Liang Yuxiu.

"Why haven't you left yet?" she asked, walking over.

Liang Yuxiu had intended to say he was worried about her, but it came out as: "I happen to have an acquaintance hospitalized here, just checking in on them."

Wen Jianan had no energy to discern the truth in his words; she nodded and said: "Then I won't disturb you."

The vice director had gone to handle the funeral arrangements for the old director, and Wen Jianan had promised to attend. For now, she needed to return to the Yazhiyuan apartment.

As she turned to leave, Liang Yuxiu called out to her.

"I’m finished here, shall I give you a ride back?"

Wen Jianan didn't look back, refusing directly: "It’s not hard to catch a taxi from here. You go ahead with your business."

Too much had happened today. Wen Jianan felt she needed to sort things out. Some things required a resolution, but not right now.

As she stepped into the elevator to head down, she didn't pay attention to the people inside until a tentative, childish voice sounded from behind her.

"Auntie?"

Wen Jianan realized a beat too late that the child might be calling her. She turned around to see a small face that looked familiar. She was surprised: "Xiaofeng?"

It was Cheng He’s son.

Cheng Zifeng grinned: "Auntie, you remember me."

"I remember. Your father is Cheng He."

"I remember you too, Auntie."

Wen Jianan smiled and patted his hair, only then noticing the middle-aged woman beside him, who was looking at her with a wary expression.

When the elevator reached the first floor, they stepped out together. Cheng Zifeng suddenly took hold of Wen Jianan’s hand, looked up, and asked in an earnest tone: "Auntie, can you come and see me?"

He was wearing his hospital gown again. Wen Jianan understood what he meant, but instead of agreeing immediately, she chose to chat with the woman accompanying him.

Wen Jianan introduced herself, and the woman’s guard dropped slightly. From their conversation, she learned that the woman was the nanny Cheng He had hired to care for Cheng Zifeng. He had been hospitalized again today, so she was here to look after him.

"Is Xiaofeng sick with something?"

Wen Jianan looked at the child, who was very pale and thin, and couldn't help but feel a surge of sympathy.

The nanny shook her head: "It might be because he was born prematurely. His immune system is weak, and he catches colds and fevers often, especially lately."

Wen Jianan suddenly understood.

"Auntie, you haven't answered me yet." Cheng Zifeng tugged gently on her hand, his eyes bright and endearing as he looked up at her.

Wen Jianan’s heart softened: "Alright. Where is your room? Lead the way."