Despite outwardly claiming indifference, Chong Yan was deeply troubled by this matter.
The research project was his initial proposal, the very premise used to justify the establishment of the laboratory. It had been over two years, yet as he admitted, the progress had been minimal.
His research team had developed numerous drugs, some targeting symptoms caused by specific gene mutations, others aimed at repairing genetic damage. However, for over two years, their experiments had been confined to animals.
Some yielded minor successes, while others proved entirely ineffective. Those that did show promise could not be deemed successful until they passed clinical trials.
Therefore, he was contemplating the idea of recruiting participants for the experiments.
He drifted through his thoughts all the way home. Liu Cui had already returned.
For the past two years, due to her and Ran Zhonghua's health, the Ran family had a team of medical staff constantly on hand. Originally, Ran Zhonghua, being over twenty years her senior, should have been in poorer health. But ever since undergoing surgery for liver cancer two years prior, her condition had steadily declined. The formerly plump, rosy-cheeked old woman was now as thin as a skeleton.
Within this household, Chong Yan felt the second deepest affection and gratitude for her and Yang Yun. Every time he visited her, his heart ached uncontrollably.
Zhu Jin, however, remained as cold and distant as ever, her expression only shifting when she saw Chong Yan.
After observing her, Chong Yan approached her. Zhu Jin looked at him and said, "She's stable for now. Go eat your meal first."
Seeing her composed demeanor, Chong Yan's internal frustration and panic vanished. He softened his voice, "Will you eat with me?"
Zhu Jin joined him in the dining room. While waiting for the meal to be prepared, she discussed the old lady's condition with him.
"Her liver isn't the most critical issue, nor is the more than sixty percent that was removed. Many of her organs are failing. You should have prepared yourself earlier. Don't be too despondent over this."
Even when comforting him, her tone was not gentle, but rather very direct.
Chong Yan was accustomed to it. He managed a smile, "I know. I already asked the doctor."
Zhu Jin looked at his stiff smile and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Also, Grandpa. His health isn't good either."
Chong Yan hadn't seen him earlier.
Ran Zhonghua was already in his eighties or nineties. He had survived a terrifying epidemic and lived a life of hardship and labor. Without Zhu Jin, he might not have lived past seventy. To have lived another ten or twenty years was already a great fortune.
"Tell me. I can handle it."
Zhu Jin reached out and stroked his hair. "The laboratory has Li Yuan watching things for you. Don't go back there for now."
He would deal with it after seeing those two off.
Zhu Jin could sense that those two were nearing their end. Chong Yan's path over the past twenty years had been too smooth. Apart from that one kidnapping in his childhood, he hadn't experienced danger or failure since. Pain. She thought about the changes he might undergo after those two passed and even felt a pang of regret.
Pampering him too much didn't seem to be a good thing.
Chong Yan detected the subtle meaning in her tone and slowly lowered his head.
Zhu Jin moved closer and gently kissed his forehead, just as she had when he was a child, filled with love and care. It gave Chong Yan an illusion of returning to the past.
"Don't overthink it. It's their fate. You are different."
Chong Yan gently reached out and hugged her.
Without this person, they would all be the same.
Humble, struggling, like ants.
It was because of this person's existence that he could become the "favored son of heaven" others spoke of, that he could, when other classmates couldn't find laboratories for experiments or lacked financial support, independently choose everything and pursue his own ideas without any worries.
He was deeply grateful for the person in his embrace.
And he loved her.
"I know. Thank you, A Jin."
"We don't need thanks between us." For her, his being obedient was the greatest comfort.
Liu Cui's health deteriorated further. On the third day, she fell into a complete coma. The Ran family was in a frenzy day and night. Doctors came and went, and after a long night of effort, they were unable to save her.
During her final moments of lucidity, her only request was to see her grandson and the granddaughter-in-law she had personally chosen.
They entered the room together to see her.
Liu Cui lay weakly on the hospital bed, the ventilator already removed as it was no longer of use. Her eyes were clouded as she looked at the two people standing at the door. She slowly reached out a hand towards them. They walked over and stood beside her.
"Grandma."
"Yan Yan." Her voice was faint and hoarse as she extended her hand towards him.
Chong Yan grasped her dry, cool fingers, his eyes welling up uncontrollably. "Grandma."
"Don't, don't cry." She blinked her eyes and said to him, "Yan Yan, don't cry. My Yan Yan always smiles. When you smile, you're so handsome."
Chong Yan held back his tears, his eyes fixed on her.
The old woman traced his face again and again with her clouded gaze, her eyes filled with reluctance.
Zhu Jin watched quietly from the side, making no sound.
After a while, Liu Cui also extended her hand towards her.
Zhu Jin quietly sat beside him. Liu Cui held her hand and placed it together with Chong Yan's, slowly saying, "You two, be good to each other. Jin Jin, I'm sorry to you. There's a reason for everything. You, don't blame him."
"I won't blame him," she said calmly. "And I've never blamed you."
The old woman seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
She had never regretted what she had done in the past, for it was because of this girl that they were able to live a good life and her grandson could grow up in luxury, leave the mountains, and become a university student. Although sometimes she felt that her grandson, being so handsome and academically gifted, deserved even a celestial being.
But she didn't think the girl she had bought for one hundred catties of grain and five yuan was not good enough for him.
She rambled on, saying more things, such as when they had children, to bring them to her grave to see her, whether boys or girls. She also said that after she and Ran Zhonghua died, they shouldn't be buried together, as it was not conducive to protecting them, or to show filial piety to Yang Yun, and to help out their children...
As always, she considered everything meticulously, arranging all her affairs after death. She chattered on for a long time.
It wasn't until late at night that they left. Before returning to their room, they went to check on Ran Zhonghua next door. He said nothing, only looked at them silently. Finally, he waved his hand, signaling them to leave.
The next day, Liu Cui passed away. Ran Zhonghua also fell into a coma and never woke up. After two days, he too passed away.
The Ran family was in mourning. The estate, which had never been fully opened, was opened for the first time, allowing neighbors and friends to pay their respects.
The two of them were objects of envy in the village. Liu Cui, in particular, had a similar fate. While others were still toiling diligently for their sons and grandsons, she had moved into a large house, had people serving her, didn't have to work in the fields, and didn't even have to cook.
She was someone who had suffered hardship, and she was also someone who had enjoyed blessings. Although she was only in her early sixties now, in the eyes of many, this was already a joyous passing.