RGL – Chapter 151

“Sigh, your mom and I were thinking the same thing. Even though we’re just looking for a comfortable life at our age, when things really do get comfortable, we find ourselves not used to it. You’re not with us either, so your mom and I always try to keep ourselves busy doing something.”

Su Min laughed. “I was counting on you two to come visit me, but look at you, getting all busy at home instead.”

“Of course we’ll come visit—once this semester ends. Didn’t you just open a shop and get busy with it? Your mom and I didn’t dare to disturb you.” Su Changrong missed his daughter terribly but was afraid of getting in the way of her future.

This time, making up his mind to expand the business was also for the sake of his daughter’s future.

His daughter was doing business in City B now, and the chance of her coming back home was slim. If she wanted to continue doing business here or even buy a house and settle down, that would be a significant expense. With what little savings they had back home, they could live comfortably there, but it wouldn’t amount to much in a big city.

So he figured while he still had the energy, he should earn as much as he could for his daughter. That way, she’d feel less pressure in the future and could live a better life than others.

“Minzi, you have to study hard over there. Don’t worry about things at home—your mom and I have it all handled.”

“I know. I’ll be home in less than twenty days.”

After the father and daughter finished chatting and were about to hang up, Su Changrong’s phone was suddenly snatched away by Sun Qiufang.

“Minzi, are you still there?”

Su Min quickly put the phone back to her ear. “Yes, what is it?”

Sun Qiufang said anxiously, “I almost forgot to tell you. A few days ago, I called over to Grandma Xue’s place, but the call was picked up by a housemaid. She said the old lady had a stroke and was taken to the hospital. I can’t go there myself, so please help me buy something and go visit her.”

Hearing that Grandma Xue was sick, Su Min was startled. “When did this happen?”

“It’s been several days. You must go visit her, okay?”

“I will. I’ll go buy something and head to the hospital right away. Don’t worry.”

After hanging up, Su Min went to a nearby supermarket and bought some nutritional supplements suitable for the elderly. Just as she was carrying them out, she realized she didn’t even know which hospital Grandma Xue was in.

She tried calling home again, but guessed her parents were probably out.

After thinking for a moment, she simply carried the bags straight to the office where Xue Mian had taken her before.

Compared to her first visit, the place had changed a lot. What used to be empty now had neatly arranged office furniture, and a receptionist was stationed at the front desk. Su Min registered at the front, and after someone called inside, within a few minutes, Xue Mian came out of the office.

He was still neatly dressed and looked sharp, but his expression clearly lacked the spirit he once had.

Seeing Su Min, he was slightly stunned and looked a bit awkward. “Why did you come today?”

Su Min lifted the gift bag in her hand. “I wanted to visit Grandma Xue, but I don’t know which hospital she’s in.”

Xue Mian nodded knowingly. “Wait a moment. I’ll go grab a few things, then take you there.”

“Okay.”

He moved quickly—within three minutes, he came hurrying out, throwing on a gray overcoat as he walked toward the elevator. Su Min quickly followed behind.

This time, Xue Mian wasn’t riding a bicycle but a motorcycle.

Su Min had never associated someone as refined and gentle-looking as Xue Mian with a motorcycle. When she saw the bike, she was slightly surprised. But after getting on and seeing how skillfully he started it and hit the road, she could tell this wasn’t his first time using it—he’d probably had the bike for quite a while.

Xue Mian didn’t say a word during the ride. After reaching the hospital, he parked the bike and quickly led Su Min toward the inpatient department.

He was tall and walked fast. Su Min had to jog to keep up, panting for breath.

After walking a few steps, he noticed the gap between them had widened, so he stopped, turned around, and waited for her to catch up. Once she did, he slowed down and walked beside her. “Grandma still can’t speak, but she’s quite conscious. My aunt is the one taking care of her at the hospital. I come by after work to see her too. Before she got sick, she was still thinking of you. She’ll be very happy to see you.”

“What exactly happened to her? She was fine before, wasn’t she?”

“She had a fight with my mom.” Xue Mian didn’t want to say it at first but couldn’t help telling Su Min the truth.

Hearing the reason, Su Min didn’t know how to respond and could only follow him in silence.

When they arrived at the hospital room, Xue Nian was helping Grandma Xue clean her hands and feet. Seeing Su Min, she was surprised. “Su Min’s here too?”

Su Min put the items down on the cabinet beside the bed. She saw Grandma Xue reaching out with one hand, trying to speak but only managing to utter muffled sounds. Su Min immediately reached out and held her hand. “Grandma.”

“Ugh ugh…” Grandma Xue mumbled, unable to form clear words.

Xue Nian wiped the corners of her eyes and sighed. “She’s trying to talk to you, but she just can’t.”

Seeing the current state of Grandma Xue, Su Min felt a lump in her throat. She held back her tears and gently massaged the old lady’s hand. “Grandma, don’t worry. Once you’re better, you can talk slowly, okay?”

Grandma Xue blinked, her eyes filled with grievance and sadness.

Then she glanced at Xue Mian and motioned for him to come closer. Xue Mian also sat down by the bed. “Grandma.”

“Ugh ugh…” Grandma Xue moved her lips again but still couldn’t speak. Xue Mian held her other hand. “I know what you want to say. I’ll bring Su Min to visit you often, I promise.”

Grandma Xue blinked twice in response.

Seeing this, Xue Nian smiled. “How did you know what she meant?”

“Last night when I was taking care of her, we agreed—if what I said was right, she’d blink twice; if wrong, once.”

“She’s always loved you the most. When I’m taking care of her, she doesn’t even look at me, let alone talk. Sigh, the old lady treats you with all her heart, yet your mom treats her like this—it just makes me so angry.”

Normally, out of consideration for the family, Xue Nian would still speak politely to her older brother and sister-in-law. But when it came to matters involving the old lady, she wouldn’t back down at all. If even her own mother was being bullied and she didn’t stand up for her, she wouldn’t be a real daughter.

Xue Mian felt guilty too, but he had no right to speak up. Deep down, he blamed his mother, but as a son, he couldn’t confront her directly. The only thing he could do now was take good care of the old lady and hope she recovered soon.

After seeing Su Min, Grandma Xue’s mood improved, and she even willingly ate some porridge.

Su Min promised that once she got better, her mom would come and make big steamed buns for her to eat.

That afternoon, Xue Jun brought Li Aiyun to the hospital as well. Someone else came with them, and Su Min was quite surprised to see her.

But Sun Manli, upon seeing Su Min, showed no surprise at all—she acted like she didn’t even know her, quietly standing beside Li Aiyun without saying a word.

Li Aiyun noticed Su Min was there too and gave her a scrutinizing look. “You must be Mianmian’s classmate, right? The old lady’s health isn’t great, and it’s not convenient for her to entertain guests. Maybe you should head home and get some rest.”

Hearing this clear attempt to shoo her away, both Xue Nian and Xue Mian’s expressions changed.

Before Xue Nian could say anything, Xue Mian spoke up. “Mom, Grandpa already said it—you and Dad don’t need to come visit Grandma. She just ate and is getting ready to sleep now. You two should go back.”

“What kind of attitude is that?” Li Aiyun stared at her son, unable to accept his tone.

Although Xue Jun was uncomfortable, he didn’t refute it. His father had indeed said that before. Still, he couldn’t stop worrying, so he had come to check on her anyway.

“Aiyun, let’s go back,” Xue Jun said, not wanting to argue by the old lady’s bedside.

Li Aiyun said, “This isn’t about going back or not—it’s about how Mianmian clearly doesn’t see us as his parents anymore. I want to know who taught him to act like this.”

Xue Nian sneered. “Well, whoever taught him, it wasn’t you. Because you never taught him anything at all.”

Seeing that Li Aiyun and Xue Nian were about to start arguing, Su Min felt it wasn’t right to get involved in their family matter in their own house, so she quietly walked out of the hospital room, planning to wait for things to calm down before going in to say goodbye to Grandma Xue.

As soon as she stepped outside, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Sun Manli leaning against the wall by the door.

Dressed in a bright red wool coat, Sun Manli’s usually cold demeanor took on a more vivid and striking look.

She looked directly at Su Min and suddenly called out, “Su Min.”

Su Min frowned. She didn’t know why this person was here, and clearly she had some sort of close relationship with the Xue family. But Su Min had no interest in getting involved with this icy beauty.

Sun Manli straightened up and said, “I’ve seen you before—in a notebook filled with your name, page after page. There was even a sketch of you. Moved, aren’t you?” She looked at Su Min with disdain. “Even if you are, it’s pointless. What doesn’t belong to you never will. Do you know why Grandma got sick this time? It’s because of you.”

“Grandma wanted to invite you over for a meal, but Auntie didn’t want you to come, and they ended up arguing. That’s when she had her episode and got hospitalized. Knowing all this, you still have the nerve to come visit?”

Sun Manli looked at Su Min with undisguised contempt.

She had known about Su Min since before university.

When Xue Mian went to the U.S., she had taken special leave to see him off. After coming back, she went into his room and found that notebook. On the very first page, written neatly, was Su Min’s name.

That was the first time she realized the aloof little boy she’d known since childhood had someone he secretly liked.

Su Min.

That name stuck with her.

It was also through that notebook that she learned Su Min wanted to study fashion design and aimed to get into F University in City B. So she gave up studying medicine and switched to fashion design too.

She knew Su Min was hardworking, so she pushed herself even harder to surpass her. In the end, she was accepted into F University and ended up in the same class as Su Min.

Most importantly, Su Min wasn’t as good as her.

She didn’t perform as well in her studies, didn’t have a better background, and wasn’t as attractive either. Xue Mian must have been momentarily confused to like someone like her. She refused to believe that after spending years abroad, Xue Mian would still have such poor taste.

What she didn’t expect was that Su Min had some skill after all—enough that even the usually indifferent Grandma Xue often brought her up.

Su Min never imagined that she’d become a thorn in this frosty beauty’s side so early on.

When Sun Manli pinned the blame for Grandma Xue’s hospitalization on her, Su Min curled her lips into a smile and said sarcastically, “You sure sound natural when accusing people. I bet you’re used to it. Honestly, if you hadn’t gone to the Xue family’s dinner, wouldn’t none of this have happened? From a cause-and-effect perspective, aren’t you the more direct cause?”

Sun Manli hadn’t expected the usually mild Su Min to talk back. Her face turned cold. “No matter what, Auntie Li will never like you.”

“Auntie Li?” Su Min asked.

“Xue Mian’s mother.”

Su Min suddenly understood. “I know she doesn’t like me. I never expected her to. Whether she likes me or not—what does that have to do with me?”

Sun Manli gave a mocking laugh. “Drop the act. If you want to be with Xue Mian, you have to get Auntie Li’s approval. Acting like you don’t care—what’s the point? If you truly didn’t care, would you have come to visit Grandma?”

Hearing her words, Su Min finally understood—Sun Manli saw her as a rival for Xue Mian, the number one threat.

Su Min couldn’t help but reach up to scratch her head. “Sun Manli, I’ll only say this once. I came to City B to attend university, not to steal anyone’s man. If you like someone, go after them. As for me, don’t waste your energy worrying—I have no romantic interest in Xue Mian. Not now, not ever. Satisfied?”

Seeing Sun Manli’s probing gaze, Su Min added calmly, “Believe it or don’t, I’ve said my piece. But if you keep picking fights, I’m happy to play along. Honestly, do you have too much free time? Why not go enjoy life instead of seeing everyone as your enemy?”

No wonder Sun Manli didn’t socialize much with classmates. Now Su Min understood—she was too scared to get close to people, afraid they’d see her paranoid side.

Who would have guessed that this cold and aloof “goddess” was actually a delusional fantasist on the inside?

Sun Manli didn’t believe her. Just as she was about to speak, Xue Mian walked out of the room, his face cold.

Her heart skipped a beat, afraid he had overheard everything. But then she reminded herself she hadn’t said anything wrong—so what if he heard?

Xue Mian looked at Su Min with a frosty expression. “It’s getting late. I’ll take you home.”

Su Min looked back at him, suddenly a little uneasy. “What about Grandma?”

“She’s asleep. My parents and aunt aren’t arguing anymore—they’re just sitting inside.”

Hearing that his parents were staying in the room, Su Min had no intention of going back. She nodded. “Okay, I’ll head back then. I’ll come visit her another day. No need to take me—I can get a ride myself.”

Xue Mian walked over and grabbed her wrist, pulling her along as he said, “It’s fine. I need to get back to work anyway.”

It was the first time Su Min realized how strong Xue Mian was—she could only follow as he pulled her along.

Behind them, Sun Manli bit her lip in frustration, unwilling to be so thoroughly ignored by Xue Mian.

Once they got downstairs, Xue Mian remained silent. After Su Min got into the back seat and buckled up, he suddenly started the car with a roar and sped off.

Su Min was startled and instinctively grabbed his shirt. “Xue Mian, slow down!”

The wind roared past, drowning out her voice. She didn’t know if he heard, but gradually he eased off the gas.

When they arrived in front of the mall, he finally stopped. He turned to look at her. Su Min was chilled to the bone and stiff as she got out of the car.

Seeing her red hands, Xue Mian reached out and began rubbing them.

Su Min tried to pull her hands away, but he held on tightly. “I don’t mean anything by it. Just warming you up.”

Hearing the stubborn note in his voice, Su Min didn’t resist anymore.

After a few minutes of rubbing, her hands felt better. She stomped her feet and said, “I’ll head up now. You should get back to work—it’s been a long delay for you.”

Xue Mian nodded, pressing his thin lips together. Wearing his rimless glasses, he looked gentle and refined. Su Min knew he usually didn’t wear glasses—only at work. He must have left in such a rush today that he forgot to take them off.