Chapter 339: Different Paths - Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten

Chapter 339: Different Paths Afternoon, inside the living room of a certain three-story villa. Jiang Jing Shi was in the study on the first floor, arranging the items she had brought along, and responded to Lin Zheng Ran’s call: "Alright, I understand, Zheng Ran. Okay, you and Wen Wen don't have to go back to school for the next couple of days. You can fill out the leave forms later." She blushed and smiled, "No need to be so formal with me, by the way. But Wen Wen... is she okay? What's really going on... Hmm, alright, we’ll talk when you get back. Be safe, both of you." After hanging up the phone, Jiang Xue Li, who had walked in with a box, also placed some things in the study. Xiao He Qing followed closely behind, carrying a collection of bags of varying sizes. Each of the three women went about their tasks. Jiang Jing Shi turned and looked at them: "Xue Li, He Qing, Zheng Ran said he and Wen Wen won’t be coming to school for the next couple of days. Something happened in Wen Wen’s family, so they went back to the south." Jiang Xue Li and He Qing were taken aback, though they had a premonition, it was still somewhat surprising. "They went back south?!" He Qing quickly asked, "What did Lin Zheng Ran say? Is it serious? Is there anything we can do?" Jiang Jing Shi had experienced more in life, so she could glean some information from Lin Zheng Ran's tone: "Zheng Ran didn’t give details about what happened. He just mentioned that Wen Wen’s family member is seriously ill. I suspect there’s more to it. Let’s just wait and see rather than peppering them with questions and causing more trouble." Jiang Xue Li nodded: “With Zheng Ran there, everything will be alright. He’s capable of handling anything.” Though her words were meant to reassure, her expression still betrayed a hint of worry. Jiang Jing Shi smiled, echoing Jiang Xue Li’s sentiment, “I believe Wen Wen will be fine with Zheng Ran by her side.” The two nodded in agreement. The high-speed train sped across the city's border. Lin Zheng Ran held Han Wen Wen’s hand on the train; she was trembling with fear. Her palm was sweaty and clammy with nerves. She bowed her head, lost in thought. Lin Zheng Ran gently asked, "How much do you remember about your mother?" Han Wen Wen shuddered and, returning to reality, leaned against Lin Zheng Ran’s shoulder: "Not much. I only remember that mom was always busy when I was a child. She couldn’t spend much time with me, and then one day, she left without a word. She told me she was going out to buy something and would be back in the evening. But I never saw her again." She pleaded, "Zheng Ran, don't let go of my hand. I'm scared." "Okay." He grasped the delicate, snow-white palm of Han Wen Wen: "I'm here." They arrived in the south by evening without any issues. After getting off the train, Han Wen Wen took out her phone and dialed her uncle's number. Upon seeing Han Wen Wen’s call, her uncle, who was in the hospital, hurriedly answered. Since a young age, Han Wen Wen had been a bit stubborn. Once she made up her mind, it was hard to change it, and the incident from back then had hurt her deeply. He couldn’t persuade her, so after Han Wen Wen didn’t answer the first call, her uncle resorted to sending a few simple messages on WeChat, respecting her decision. Yet, being caught between both sides, he still hoped Wen Wen would see her mother one last time. "Hello, Wen Wen? Why are you calling now?" her uncle spoke, his voice tinged with excitement. Han Wen Wen hesitated, "I'm already on the train back south, send me the room number. I'll go see her." Her uncle agreed without delay: "You’re back south?! Okay, okay, I’ll send it right away! Take care on the way." Han Wen Wen hung up, staring at the address on her phone. The two bought a few gifts and made their way to the People’s Hospital by car. In front of the hospital room, only her uncle and aunt were waiting, as it appeared they had been there for quite some time. "Wen Wen! You’re back!" Her uncle, pacing back and forth, immediately approached upon seeing Han Wen Wen. He also noticed Lin Zheng Ran holding Han Wen Wen’s hand: "You must be Lin Zheng Ran..." Han Wen Wen smiled at her uncle and aunt: "It's been a long time, Uncle and Aunt. This is my boyfriend, whom I’ve mentioned several times before." Lin Zheng Ran greeted them: "Hello, Uncle and Aunt, I'm Lin Zheng Ran." Lin Zheng Ran’s exceptional demeanor was uncommon, and her uncle and aunt nodded in acknowledgment: "Hello." Her aunt said to Han Wen Wen, "Your mother is in the room. We'll stay out here, you two go in. She was so happy to hear you were coming." Han Wen Wen had little emotional reaction, merely glancing at the room from a distance: "I know." Standing at the hospital room door, Han Wen Wen took several deep breaths. Lin Zheng Ran squeezed her hand for encouragement. Finally, she mustered the courage to push open the door. Inside, she saw a frail figure wearing a hospital gown, whose features hinted at once being strikingly beautiful in youth, lying in the hospital bed. The woman shared a similar heart-shaped face with Han Wen Wen, and if she had the spirit and was several decades younger, she would have boasted a captivating pair of fox-like eyes, though age had dimmed their allure, unable to compare to the vibrant young Han Wen Wen. Seeing the familiar yet strange figure, Han Wen Wen's eyes trembled. The woman on the bed also turned her head toward the sound, her gaunt eyes wide with disbelief upon seeing the girl at the door: "Is that Wen Wen?" Han Wen Wen bit her lip, slowly walking forward with Lin Zheng Ran. Lin Zheng Ran spoke first: “Hello, Auntie. I’m Lin Zheng Ran, Han Wen Wen’s boyfriend.” The woman gazed at Lin Zheng Ran with admiration: “Such a refined young man. Hello.” Han Wen Wen scrutinized this woman she hadn’t seen in over a decade. Her previous cocktail of nervous and anxious emotions now seemed ironic and mundane. Because the woman before her didn’t resemble the beautiful, unreachable figure in her memories. “You’re completely different from how I remember, like you’re another person.” The woman gazed in awe at Han Wen Wen’s extraordinarily pretty face, "And so are you. I never expected you to grow up to be this beautiful... even more beautiful than I was in my youth." She unexpectedly laughed: “Not at all what I imagined. I thought I'd never see what you'd look like grown up, but here you are, willing to see me one last time.” Han Wen Wen clenched her fists. “I wasn’t planning on coming, but Zheng Ran said visiting doesn’t equate to forgiveness, so here I am, to see what you look like now.” "I see..." The woman couldn’t quite decipher her feelings as she continued staring at Han Wen Wen’s delightful face: "Zheng Ran, such a close term. Thank you." She addressed Lin Zheng Ran with the last line. Lin Zheng Ran simply smiled. Han Wen Wen asked, “What did the doctor say? How long do you have?” “Not sure, perhaps a month more or so.” “That’s quite long, a full thirty days.” “Yes, very long.” “I remember the night I anxiously awaited your return, which seemed never-ending, was only one night.” The woman stared at her daughter with eyes tinged with loathing yet complexity, her lips quivering: “I’m so sorry, Wen Wen. I don’t expect you to forgive me, just to say sorry.” Han Wen Wen’s eyes turned misty as she echoed tremulously, “How can you say that to me? Don’t tell me you had some hardship. After abandoning me, why say sorry? Everyone should account for their actions.” The woman scoffed at herself: “You’re right. I wish I had some justifiable hardship. But my whole life, I’ve done nothing commendable. Probably the most human thing I did was bring you into this world and raise you for a few years.” “Why...” Han Wen Wen asked softly, “Even after all these years, I want to ask—why did you abandon me?” The woman’s eyes filled with tears: “I thought I deserved a better life. Being young and beautiful, I believed I shouldn’t be burdened by a child forever, so I left..." Han Wen Wen laughed at her mother’s candid admission: "I guessed as much. Such a simple reason. Thanks for your honesty. But you didn’t get the life you wanted.” The woman sighed deeply: “Inevitably growing old, a woman's looks can’t sustain her forever. You can’t win a man’s heart on looks alone, and when trouble arises, they leave. I never planned to make them pay for my treatment, but they feared getting infected by merely being around. Reflecting over the years, the only one who loved me and clung to me genuinely was you when you were a child. That’s why I wanted to see you, I’ve missed you.” Han Wen Wen furrowed her brow. Seeing her expression, the woman tenderly asked, “Wen Wen, how are you now? Are you living independently, or...” "Don't worry, I will not follow in your footsteps. I'm living independently. Although Zheng Ran is incredibly talented and has helped me a lot, he constantly reminds me that one should have their own passions and things they wish to pursue. Therefore, based on my skills and interests, I became a gaming video creator. I've already amassed a million followers. It was over 1.6 million, but I slacked off because of the college entrance exams, causing a drop. However, I plan to build it back up. Before meeting Zheng Ran, I did a lot of part-time online work. To adults, it might seem a bit unorthodox, but I never intended to harm my own wellbeing." She took out her video account to show the woman. The woman's worried expression softened as she looked at the videos: "That's wonderful. I'm relieved to hear that." Suddenly, tears welled up in her eyes, "I'm so glad you didn't end up like me." (End of chapter)