During dinner, Yu Wenli asked several times, but the young girl just smiled and shook her head.
She brushed off the topic with a few perfunctory words.
It wasn't until she had completely finished her exams and met up with Yu Wenli again that she told the driver, "Take me to the First Hospital."
Yu Wenli: "?"
As he turned his head, Wen Tingxue explained, "My grandmother is here.
Aunt Fang called me, saying she was very seriously ill, possibly cancer... late-stage."
She paused and added, "I want to go see her."
Her hatred for Wu Shangrong was undeniable.
But Wu Shangrong had raised her for over a decade, and the feelings involved were a matter of personal experience.
Besides, this was a matter of life and death.
She couldn't stand by and do nothing.
Yu Wenli nodded, reached out to hug her, and said, "Brother will go with you.
"Coincidentally, my uncle is a doctor at the First Hospital, so I'll ask about the specific situation."
"Okay."
Wen Tingxue nestled into his embrace greedily.
No matter when, his embrace always gave her warmth and strength.
Twenty minutes later, at the hospital.
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery.
The one who brought Wu Shangrong over was Wen Tingxue's uncle, Wen Zhongyi.
He looked about five-tenths similar to Wen Zhong'en.
But his demeanor was worlds apart.
He looked like a gambler.
Wen Tingxue didn't have a good impression of him, and upon entering, her gaze fell directly on the bed.
Her parents had already been notified and had arranged the best single room for her.
But they hadn't arrived yet.
Wu Shangrong was scolding, saying what was the use of having sons, it would have been better to have killed them as infants.
The moment she saw Wen Tingxue, her expression became awkward, and she licked her lips, then chuckled dryly:
"Yi Yi is here? Quickly, quickly, sit down!"
She patted the spot next to the bed with the hand that was peeling the pear.
The juice on her hand quickly soaked a small patch on the bedsheet.
Wen Tingxue didn't move.
She had never called her by her nickname since she was young.
Now, to bring it up so abruptly, she suspected ulterior motives.
The atmosphere grew tense, and Wu Shangrong continued to peel the pear.
Wen Zhongyi stood at the foot of the bed, his gaze fixed ominously on Wen Tingxue.
After a moment, he couldn't stand it any longer and lectured:
"Wen Tingxue, what are you even here for? Mom told you to sit, why are you standing?
"She's the grandmother who raised you. Is this how you treat her?
"As expected, a thankless little|bitch. You've only been in Jiangcheng for a short while, and you've already forgotten your relatives in Lucheng?
"You didn't even greet anyone when you walked in!"
Yu Wenli's brow furrowed, and his gaze towards Wen Zhongyi gradually became filled with a bone-chilling coldness.
Wen Zhongyi inexplicably shivered. Just as he was about to look towards the source of the cold, Wen Tingxue spoke:
"She raised me, but she also took a lot of money over the years.
"Since she took more money than she was entitled to, don't talk to me about family affection.
"Moreover, you know very well whether she was good or bad to me, don't you?
"If we're talking about being thankless, only you, Uncle, deserve that title.
"After all, I've never seen anyone who betrays their parents, siblings, and even their spouse like you."
"You!"
Wen Zhongyi was accustomed to his niece's timidity.
He was caught off guard by such an insult, and anger flared in his eyes.
His raised hand trembled.
Wen Tingxue, whom he had maliciously pointed at, remained composed, with a hint of a desire to continue her scolding.
Yu Wenli raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Then, with a satisfied smile, he hooked his lips.
His gaze towards the young girl was as gentle as water.
Wu Shangrong made an unhappy 'tsk' sound and tried to smooth things over, "Why are you arguing with a junior?"
"Here, have a pear to calm your anger." She handed the pear she had been peeling for a long time to her younger son.
The whole action was quite practiced.
Because that's how it was at home.
Regardless of whether Wu Shangrong was sick or not, she was always taking care of her perpetually childish younger son.
Wen Zhongyi, surprisingly obedient, mumbled a low complaint and obediently ate the pear.
Wen Tingxue couldn't help but let out a cold laugh, "What do you mean by arguing with a junior?"
She raised her eyes, her clear gaze fixed directly on Wu Shangrong.
"Your youngest son insulted me first, and I'm not allowed to talk back?
"Wu Shangrong, I came to see you to ease my conscience.
"It doesn't mean I forgive the harm you've done to me over the past decade.
"And it certainly doesn't mean I acknowledge you as my grandmother emotionally."
Wen Tingxue took the fruit basket from Yu Wenli's hand and placed it heavily on the bedside table.
"Since you don't need me to visit, then I won't come again."
With that, she turned to look at Wen Zhongyi, who was eating the pear.
She unleashed her pent-up frustration and cursed:
"You said one thing wrong. I haven't forgotten my relatives in Lucheng.
"If my aunt were standing here today, I would respectfully call her 'Auntie,' but you..."
The young girl smiled mockingly, "I'm truly sorry, you're not worthy.
"You've never treated me well since I was little. Don't think that just because of a bit of blood relation.
"You deserve to be called 'Uncle' and expect me to fulfill that title. Before you accept it, please consider if you're worthy.
"Don't be a whore who wants to build a shrine. In the end, you're the little|bitch, or rather, the old|bitch."
"You dare say that to me again?!"
Wen Zhongyi's face turned ashen. He threw the pear at her, looking as if he wanted to tear her apart.
"What? You can curse me, but I can't curse you?" Wen Tingxue sneered, "You think too highly of yourself!"
"You damn... Ah!"
Before he could make a move, Yu Wenli kicked him in the abdomen.
The force, filled with thunderous rage, sent Wen Zhongyi sprawling to the ground, only able to whimper in pain.
"Xiao Yi!"
Wu Shangrong, frantic, started to get out of bed but remembered the IV in her hand.
She gritted her teeth, pulled out the needle, and ran barefoot to Wen Zhongyi's side.
Crying and wailing, she checked him over, then turned and yelled at Wen Tingxue:
"Enough! Even if he said unpleasant things, why did you have to be so harsh?!
"He's your uncle after all, and you're related by blood!"
"It was me who kicked him," Yu Wenli corrected without batting an eye. "And he's not my relative. If you want to settle scores, come to me."
Wu Shangrong choked for a moment.
She had witnessed the capabilities of this young man before. The last time she had been publicly humiliated at school was definitely related to him.
Moreover, his noble bearing suggested he wasn't someone she could afford to offend.
Wu Shangrong fell silent for two seconds, then turned her fire back on Wen Tingxue.
"You've been in Jiangcheng for almost a year, what have you learned?
"Talking back to elders is one thing, but now you need an outsider to speak for you?!
"Wen Tingxue! I order you to apologize to your uncle!"
"Apologize?" Wen Tingxue found it amusing. "Why? He provoked me first."
Wu Shangrong said, "No matter who was right or wrong, you shouldn't speak to an elder like that! Apologize!"
Her tone was unquestionable, exactly like her gaze.
Even if she weren't squatting on the ground, she would have probably grabbed her shoulders and forced her to kneel.
Wen Tingxue's anger flared. "Elder? Apart from his age and blood relation, in what way is he an elder?"
The young girl's gaze turned icy as she looked at Wen Zhongyi, who was too weak to get up.
She mocked him mercilessly:
"You, a man in your forties, have never contributed a cent to the family.
"And you always need your brother and sister to clean up your messes. Now your mother is hospitalized.
"You're not even taking care of her, yet you have the nerve to eat the pear your mother peeled for you?
"Tell me, aren't you a true white-eyed wolf? Your mother carried you for ten months.
"And spent half her life taking care of you. Now that she's sick, not only can you not afford to help, but you're unwilling to lend a hand."
Wen Tingxue deliberately glanced at the displeased Wu Shangrong.
She said, word for word:
"If I had a son like you, I would truly wish I had choked him to death."
Silence fell upon the room.
No one expected the usually meek and easily bullied Wen Tingxue to be so sharp-tongued.
Even Yu Wenli had never seen her like this, and he found it quite novel.
Wen Tingxue chuckled at the stunned expressions of the two and turned to leave.
She had genuinely come to visit Wu Shangrong today.
However, their behavior was so disgusting that it forced her to vent the resentment of over a decade.
The moment the door opened, whether it was the cold from her feet or a genuine realization of her wrongdoing, Wu Shangrong let out a sob and knelt on the ground, crying, "Yi Yi! Don't go!
"Your grandmother has been in Jiangcheng for seven or eight hours, and only you are willing to come see me.
"If you leave now, who else will come to see me?"
Her voice choked with tears, Wen Tingxue looked back and coldly looked down at her.
"What trick are you playing now? Are you not disgusted enough?
"You know better than anyone how you treated me during my fifteen years in Lucheng.
"I came to see you, not to ask for your approval, but just hoping you would recover soon. But how did you treat me?"
Wen Tingxue found it utterly amusing, tilted her head, and sneered, "Now, what do you want?"
"Your grandmother has knelt for you, why are you still clinging to those old grudges?"
Wen Zhongyi helped Wu Shangrong up and laid her back on the bed. Then he glared at Wen Tingxue and said,
"If you have any grievances, I'll apologize to you, okay? I'm sorry! I was wrong!"
"Xiao Yi!"
Wu Shangrong snapped, "Is that how you apologize?"
Wen Zhongyi: "..."
Wu Shangrong sighed and said, "I know your brothers and sisters don't like me.
"They didn't even show their faces when they knew I was sick and hospitalized. That kid Song Ruining didn't even call.
"Only Yi Yi was willing to come see me, and you're still being so difficult with her.
"If no one comes to take turns taking care of me in the future, let's see if you'll complain about being tired!"
So that's what she was after, Wen Tingxue sneered inwardly. "Don't worry, Dad and Mom have arranged for Aunt Fang to take care of you.
"Aunt Fang is efficient and cooks well. She won't displease you and your youngest son."
With that, she turned to leave. Wu Shangrong quickly kicked her youngest son.
Wen Zhongyi reluctantly spoke, "I'm sorry, I spoke rudely just now. Please stay with Mom a little longer."
"Next time."
Wen Tingxue politely declined.
After leaving the inpatient department, Yu Wenli wanted to see his uncle.
As it happened, his uncle was a specialist in oncology.
He wanted to inquire about Wu Shangrong's specific condition and get his uncle's personal advice.
But unfortunately, his uncle had gone to the capital the day before and wouldn't be back anytime soon.
Yu Wenli pondered for a moment and asked, "When will he likely return?"
The doctor who was temporarily covering his position thought for a moment, "I heard the case is very special and has gathered experts from all over the country.
"If everything goes smoothly, he should be back around New Year's."
Yu Wenli lowered his gaze.
So long.
Could it be too much of a coincidence?