"W-what?! She, she's the eldest daughter of the Qin family!" the man exclaimed in shock, stumbling and nearly falling to the ground.
Hong Wu ignored the man and got into the car, driving away.
The man dared not leave. He hurriedly turned and ran back into the clinic, his movements incredibly solicitous. He apologized to Chen Fan and the other two, and even wiped down a chair, inviting them to sit.
The old lady's expression remained grim. She said coldly, "Let's go home," and walked towards the clinic door.
Chen Fan quickly pulled Qin Shuran and followed.
As for the clinic, Chen Fan wasn't worried. After all, they now knew Qin Shuran's identity, so they wouldn't dare to be presumptuous.
After leaving the clinic, Qin Shuran gently tugged at Chen Fan's sleeve.
"What's wrong?" Chen Fan asked softly.
Looking at the old lady walking ahead, Qin Shuran slowed her pace and said nervously, "I feel like Grandma doesn't really like me."
"How could that be? My grandma is very easy to get along with," Chen Fan replied, holding Qin Shuran's small hand.
"Will Grandma disagree with us being together?" Qin Shuran's intuition was strong, and she couldn't help but ask.
Seeing Qin Shuran's lingering worry, Chen Fan gave her a reassuring look. "Don't worry. If Grandma disagrees, I'll go on a hunger strike. Besides, where else will you find such a wonderful daughter-in-law?"
Qin Shuran finally relaxed, feeling warmth in her heart. She hugged Chen Fan's arm tighter.
Chen Fan's old home was in a dilapidated old residential building.
At the turn of the stairs, he deliberately glanced at Qin Shuran, who was holding his arm. However, he saw no expression of disgust or disdain on Qin Shuran's face; she seemed quite natural.
This caused the old lady's brows to furrow slightly.
As the door opened, the musty smell of an old house wafted out, which was essentially the smell of dampness.
"The house is a bit run-down, please bear with it, my dear eldest daughter," the old lady's voice echoed as they entered.
Qin Shuran quickly followed and replied nervously, "It's actually quite nice. It feels and smells like a home."
Hearing this, the old lady looked at Qin Shuran a couple more times and noticed she wasn't covering her nose or making any other gestures of distaste.
Qin Shuran was observing the old house. It was a two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment, very dilapidated. The television was an old-fashioned CRT model. On the living room wall, various certificates belonging to Chen Fan were displayed.
"Xiao Fan, come here for a moment." With that, the old lady returned to her room.
Chen Fan frowned slightly. When Li Mengyao had visited his home before, the old lady had been busy and overjoyed, acting like a completely different person than today.
Chen Fan looked at Qin Shuran with a hint of apology.
"You go ahead. Grandma must have something to discuss. I'll admire your certificates," Qin Shuran said with a calm smile, urging Chen Fan to go.
Chen Fan nodded and entered the old lady's room.
"Kneel."
As soon as Chen Fan closed the door, the old lady said coldly.
"Grandma, what's wrong?" Chen Fan was stunned, his face full of confusion.
However, he still knelt on the ground. He had always been obedient to his grandmother since he was a child, knowing how difficult it had been for her to raise him alone.
"Tell me, why did you and Li Mengyao break up? If you can't give me a reason today, I won't forgive you!" the grandmother demanded.
"Grandma, we weren't compatible."
"Nonsense! You were together for four years if you weren't compatible?!"
Chen Fan remained silent. They had already broken up, and he felt there was no need to explain certain things.
"She fell for someone else, didn't she?"
Chen Fan looked at his grandmother with some surprise but remained silent.
"When Mengyao visited me last time, I could see the guilt and apology in her eyes. She's a good girl, but our families were simply not meant to be," the old lady sighed.
She then looked at Chen Fan and asked, "The identity of this Miss Qin, it's not simple, is it?"
Chen Fan did not hide anything and nodded. "She is the daughter of Qin Hongguo of the Qin family."
"I do not agree with your relationship," the old lady stated directly after Chen Fan revealed Qin Shuran's identity.
"Why?" Chen Fan looked at his grandmother in disbelief.
"You should know the phrase 'a good match in social status and wealth.' With our circumstances, how can we be worthy of her? Xiao Fan, listen to Grandma and break off your relationship with her." The old lady reached out and touched Chen Fan's forehead.
"Impossible, Grandma. Shuran and I have been through a lot. Even her father, who always disapproved, has accepted me. Why do you object?"
"Are you not listening to Grandma anymore? She comes from a noble family, and our Chen family cannot afford to associate with her, do you understand?!" The old lady's emotions seemed to be getting agitated.
"Grandma, Shuran is different from other young ladies. She's just an ordinary doctor." Chen Fan tried to persuade her.
However, the old lady's attitude was resolute: "I do not approve of your relationship."
"Grandma, can't I choose the girl I like?"
"You can choose the girl you like, but no daughters of prominent families!"
"Why? Is it because of my mother?" Chen Fan suddenly asked.
The old lady's expression froze. She looked at Chen Fan with disbelief and asked tremblingly, "How did you know?"
Chen Fan stood up from the ground. "Grandma, I know. My mother came from a noble background. Because she was with my father, it caused a lot of trouble. But that was because my father was incapable! Incapable of protecting this family!"
"Slap!"
The old lady raised her hand and slapped Chen Fan across the face.
But after the slap, the old lady seemed to regret it, looking at the mark on Chen Fan's face with concern.
The old lady said earnestly, "Xiao Fan, that is your father. You are not allowed to speak of your father like that!"
"The reason I object is that I don't want you to walk the same path as your father! I just want you to live a peaceful life, do you understand?!"
"Grandma, I am different from him. I now have the ability to gain the Qin family's approval, and I have the ability to protect this family, unlike him, who disappeared for over twenty years." Chen Fan replied.
The old lady's eyes welled up with tears, and they began to stream down her face.
"Grandma, the reason I've returned today is not just to have you meet Shuran. This weekend, I'm going to Kyoto to see my mother." Chen Fan said again.
"She, she's still alive?" The old lady was suddenly stunned, looking at Chen Fan in shock.
Chen Fan nodded. "Yes, but she's brain-dead and has lost consciousness. I'm going to Kyoto to save her."
"You can't go." The old lady suddenly seemed to realize something.
"If those people in Kyoto find out you're still alive, they won't let you go. Xiao Fan, listen to Grandma, don't go to Kyoto." The old lady tried to persuade him again.
But how could Chen Fan give up this chance to see his mother? His gaze was firm. "Grandma, I must go to Kyoto. Just like I must marry Shuran. No one can stop me."