Xi Jingsheng glared at his wife in frustration and anger: "That’s your mother-in-law, not some beggar you can casually dismiss!"
Having spoken, Xi Jingsheng instructed the driver to drive. The driver pressed the accelerator, and the car sped away.
Guo Zhengmei watched the car disappear in the distance, both annoyed and resentful: "... All for this Shi Nian, was it worth it!"
The car went directly to "Deep Valley," by which time it was already nightfall.
The lights in the Deep Valley courtyard began to flicker on, distant and near, competing against the deep blue of the night.
Xu Xinzhen had just finished dinner, in good spirits, and asked the caregiver Mrs. Liu to help with her hair.
In the window glass, a figure was reflected, which she treated as a mirror while gazing at the scenery in the courtyard.
From afar, she saw a man step out of a large black-headed car and head straight toward her. Perhaps he saw her looking through the glass, as the man waved to her from a distance.
Xu Xinzhen was momentarily stunned.
A man—it couldn’t possibly be Nian Nian’s dad, could it?
But no. Nian Nian’s dad always wore a police uniform, and would never ride in such a lavish-looking large black-headed car.
She was bewildered, and the man continued approaching.
The courtyard lights gradually brightened, and the light from her room fell through the gleaming glass onto the man’s face. The previously shadowed eyebrows and eyes became clear before her. Original content can be found at novｅlfire.net
She was holding a small mirror, and as the man’s features came into focus, her hand trembled, and the mirror crashed to the floor, shattered!
Mrs. Liu was focused on brushing Xu Xinzhen’s hair, chatting about affairs in the courtyard, completely oblivious to the visitor outside the window. Suddenly startled by the sound of the mirror breaking, she dropped the wooden comb, flustered and asked, "Xin Zhen, what’s wrong?"
Mrs. Liu rushed over to check Xu Xinzhen’s hands to see if she was injured. Seeing none, she breathed a sigh of relief, urging Xu Xinzhen not to get up as she went to the bathroom to fetch a broom.
Xu Xinzhen extended both hands, still in the same position as when holding the mirror, her gaze following Mrs. Liu to the doorway, her face pale, eyes dark.
As Mrs. Liu’s silhouette vanished from the doorway, Xi Jingsheng entered.
At the very moment Xi Jingsheng’s figure appeared in the light, Xu Xinzhen covered her ears with her hands and screamed sharply.
Xu Xinzhen screamed with all the strength she had, her voice shrill and piercing.
Mrs. Liu heard it in the hallway, promptly pushed open the door, and rushed in, anxiously asking, "What happened, what’s wrong?"
Mrs. Liu dashed in only to see another person in the room. Recognizing Xi Jingsheng, she quickly greeted him: "It’s Mr. Xiang. You’ve come."
Every month, Xi Jingsheng personally visits the courtyard to pay for Xu Xinzhen’s expenses, never a day late over four years, making a great impression on everyone there. On each visit, he would always bring small gifts for Mrs. Liu, sincerely asking her to take good care of Xu Xinzhen. Mrs. Liu, feeling grateful, is always polite to Xi Jingsheng.
Xi Jingsheng stood distantly, not daring to approach, anxiously pointed at Xu Xinzhen and hurriedly said, "Mrs. Liu, quickly check her, is she uncomfortable?"
Mrs. Liu ran over and hugged Xu Xinzhen: "Xin Zhen, what’s wrong?"
Xu Xinzhen clutched her ears, her dark eyes fixated on Xi Jingsheng, continuously shrieking.
Mrs. Liu patted Xu Xinzhen’s back reassuringly: "Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. It’s Mr. Xiang, your father-in-law, he’s not a bad person."
Then, awkwardly, she explained to Xi Jingsheng: "Sorry, Mr. Xiang, though Xin Zhen’s condition has improved greatly, she still gets fearful when she sees a man in a black suit. I’m sorry to have startled you."
Xi Jingsheng frowned slightly and quickly instructed the driver who followed carrying bird’s nest: "Why haven’t you called the duty doctor yet?"
The duty doctor rushed over, administered an injection to Xu Xinzhen, who then calmed down. Her eyelids drooped slowly, and before long she had fallen asleep.
Mrs. Liu apologized: "Mr. Xiang came, but Xin Zhen fell asleep. Perhaps Mr. Xiang could leave any messages with me, and I’ll convey them when she wakes up."
Xi Jingsheng wasn’t in a hurry to leave; he sat down on the sofa by the bed, neatly stacked the box of bird’s nest on the coffee table, his serene gaze resting on the peacefully sleeping face of Xu Xinzhen.