"Where is Shiyue? When will he be back?"
After taking a sip of the chicken soup made by Tang Jingyun, Tang Xi’s calm mood began to churn again, and her eyes started to warm up. This was the taste of family.
Just a few days ago, she had sent Tang Jingyun a message saying she would visit her in An City on Saturday, and Tang Jingyun had started preparing the meals for today since last night.
"I was so happy I forgot; I’m going to call Shiyue right now." As she spoke, Tang Jingyun took out her cell phone and dialed Tang Shiyue’s number.
Tang Xi heard the voice from the other end of the phone, "Sis..."
Tang Xi’s lips trembled for a moment, her already choked voice becoming even huskier, "It’s me."
She had been hiding in North Island for four years.
Fearful of involving Tang Jingyun and Tang Shiyue, she had been out of touch with them.
A tear slowly slid down.
Tang Jingyun was patting her shoulder.
Tang Shiyue’s voice was filled with excitement, "Sis, I’ve finally heard your voice again."
Memories of the time spent with Tang Shiyue and Tang Jingyun at the orphanage echoed in Tang Xi’s mind.
Shiyue was busy with his studies. Otherwise, if he had known about Tang Xi’s return to An City, he probably would have flown back that very day. Tang Jingyun said there would be plenty of opportunities to meet in the future, and Tang Xi also said she had already returned to North City.
The apartment was rented by Tang Jingyun; it had two bedrooms and two living rooms. Tang Jingyun tidied up the bedroom where Tang Shiyue would stay when he was on break and let Tang Xi stay there.
Tang Xi wanted to spend the night with Tang Jingyun.
Tang Jingyun smiled indulgently, "Okay, together."
That evening, they talked a lot, from childhood to the present.
They talked about Qin Jianlan.
Tang Jingyun sighed, "I really hope she can get better. She’s a good person; she shouldn’t suffer ."
The next morning, Tang Xi scheduled an appointment with a specialist in the city hospital via her cellphone and took Tang Jingyun for a medical checkup. Tang Jingyun said there was no need, but Tang Xi insisted.
If it weren’t for Tang Xi not yet achieving complete financial independence, and her daughter being held back, she would have liked to bring Tang Jingyun to her side to take care of her. As a doctor, Tang Xi of course knew that now, four years later, Tang Jingyun’s health, judging by her facial edema, might be a concern. Even with the kidney transplant, there might be other complications.
After all, four years had passed.
Moreover, Tang Jingyun was always a very frugal person.
After a series of examinations, a few indicators were high. Tang Xi talked with the doctor for more than ten minutes.
Tang Xi wanted Tang Jingyun to be hospitalized for a period of convalescence. As soon as she heard it, Tang Jingyun shook her head continuously, but Tang Xi was very persistent. No matter how much Tang Jingyun refused, she firmly arranged for her immediate hospital admission.
Then she went home to pack some daily necessities for Tang Jingyun.
It was a double room, but only Tang Jingyun was admitted.
By the time everything was done, it was already afternoon, and Tang Jingyun urged her to hurry to the airport or she wouldn’t make it. Tang Xi shook her head, having already canceled the flight. She called Jiang Wangyue and asked for two days off, which Jiang Wangyue readily agreed to.
In the evening, Tang Xi went out to buy food for Tang Jingyun.
There was a soup dumpling store across from the hospital, where she went in and ordered. At that moment, her phone buzzed—a message from an unknown number.
"Your daughter is adorable."
Tang Xi stared at the message, taken aback for a moment.
Before she could react, a photo was sent to her.
In the picture, Fu Tingzhou was with Tangtang, and beside them stood a woman, with a playground in the background. The three of them took a photo together, and that woman was Shu Mengshu.
The three of them looked like a family of three.
And Shu Mengshu’s hand was holding Tangtang’s hand.
In an instant, Tang Xi’s whole spine went numb.