Lan Mushang raised his hand and wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes. "My grandfather's people have confirmed his identity."
Lan Zixin asked with hopeful eyes, "My dad is still alive, so what about my mom? Is she alive too?"
Lan Mushang pursed his lips. "We'll only know if Jinsong's father remembers."
Ling Xiaoling's eyes dimmed, and she clenched her fists as she walked to the spiral staircase. Nan Zhenting and Elder Hong, wearing masks, followed closely behind her.
The medical staff then carried Lan Jinsong down.
Ling Xiaoling looked at her son-in-law on the stretcher, his eyes closed, his face so thin it was gaunt. Her eyes reddened, and tears began to fall.
Nan Zhenting gently patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, Jinsong will be alright."
Elder Hong sighed, "Xiaoling, don't cry. Hurry and have them take Jinsong down. Yuxi and the others are already waiting in the operating room."
Nan Zhenting supported Ling Xiaoling as they stood to the side. The group followed the stretcher into the elevator.
In the operating room, Lan Yuxi, who had just arrived, scrubbed her hands and looked towards the door.
Lan Xiaoliu shook his head helplessly. "They'll be here any moment, stop looking and scrub your hands properly."
Lan Yuxi took a deep breath and steadied herself to scrub her hands diligently.
Five minutes later, just as they finished their preparations, Lan Jinsong was brought in.
Lan Yuxi looked at her father's emaciated, knife-cut face and almost cried.
Lan Jinsong now looked nothing like himself. If it weren't for the red mole near his ear, she wouldn't have recognized him as the once extraordinary and dashing father from so many years ago.
Lan Xiaoliu glanced at her. "Can you do it? If not, let someone else perform this surgery."
Lan Yuxi shook her head. "I'm fine, I can do it!"
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure! Let's begin the pre-operative preparations."
Outside the door, Tang Wan helped Ling Xiaoling sit down as soon as the operating room light turned on.
Mumu handed her a cup of hot milk tea. "Great-grandma, don't worry, my mom and Sixth Uncle are very capable."
Ling Xiaoling took the little girl into her lap. "Great-grandma isn't worried, your grandfather will definitely get better."
Mumu glanced at Lan Haolin. In her memory, Grandpa Jinsong was a character from a story, while Grandpa Haolin was real. Nevertheless, the little girl nodded obediently.
Chaotiao handed a hot drink to his grandfather and then leaned into his embrace, silent.
Nan Zhenting affectionately stroked his head. "Did you miss Grandpa?"
Chaotiao nodded with a stern face.
Lan Haolin said enviously, "See, this little guy is still closer to Grandpa."
Chaotiao glanced at his fourth uncle, who was distributing hot drinks to everyone, implying that since someone was getting you a hot drink, you shouldn't complain.
Lan Haolin smiled, took the hot drink, and handed it to Tang Wan. "Have some. I heard your teeth chattering just now."
"I'm not cold, just nervous. Jinsong must get better."
"He will. God has never treated good people unfairly."
Lan Xiaowu smiled. "Grandma prays to Amitabha, and you pray to God. If they both came, what would that scene be like?"
Lan Muguo chuckled and handed him a cup of coffee. "If they both came, it would truly be a battle of the gods!"
"They better not fight, or no one will be looking after Jinsong's father."
The originally tense atmosphere was broken by their conversation, and everyone started to laugh.
Nan Zhenting inserted the straw and handed it to Chaotiao before smiling and settling him onto his lap. "I heard you agreed to help your father manage the company?"
"One day a week."
"If you feel tired, tell your father, and he'll think of other solutions."
"I'm not tired." Chaotiao reached out and touched his grandfather's mask. "Does it hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt. I've become like this, how did you recognize Grandpa?"
"Your eyes, when you look at me and my sister, are the same as before."
Ling Xiaoling smiled and flicked the little boy's nose. "Our Chaotiao is like his mother, so smart!"
Chaotiao smiled shyly.
Mumu raised her cute little face and asked, "Great-grandma, who do I take after?"
Ling Xiaoling smiled and kissed the top of her head. "Then Great-grandma needs to ask you a question first before I know who you take after."
Mumu nodded very seriously. "Ask away!"
Ling Xiaoling smiled at her. "Will you tell anyone about what Grandpa did in Nokas?"
Mumu shook her head without thinking. "I definitely won't tell anyone. If that person finds out, she'll insist that Dad and Mom get a divorce."
Ling Xiaoling affectionately stroked her little head. "As expected of Nan Xiao and Lan Yuxi's child. You're so young and already understand so much."
Nan Zhenting frowned slightly. This An Lianshu was like a speck of dirt, causing everyone to be unsettled.
Chaotiao reached out and smoothed his brow, speaking in a voice only they could hear. "She won't bother you for now."
Nan Zhenting nodded. "I understand. Your father and mother's cooperation this time was seamless. Besides creating trouble, it has temporarily cut off her idea of going to the US."
Chaotiao frowned. "But this is ultimately not a solution. My mother cares about my father's feelings and won't let her lie in bed forever."
"Then do you have any good ideas?"
Chaotiao drooped his little head and shook it. "There are many ideas, but none of them can be implemented because my father would be heartbroken."
Nan Zhenting stroked his little head. "If she causes too much trouble, Grandpa will be the villain."
Ling Xiaoling's ears twitched, and she turned to look at Elder Hong.
Elder Hong, with his excellent hearing, had naturally overheard.
He saw the killing intent flash in Ling Xiaoling's eyes and subtly shook his head. She was Nan Xiao's biological mother. No matter how detestable she was, his junior sister couldn't take action, or Nan Xiao would resent her, and she would never be with Nan Zhenting in this lifetime.
Mumu saw her great-grandmother trembling with anger and quickly reached out to pat her chest.
Ling Xiaoling's heart warmed, and she hugged her tightly.
At ten o'clock in the evening, Lan Jinsong was finally pushed out. The group, who had been waiting outside for twelve full hours, immediately gathered around.
Lan Xiaoliu pulled off his surgical cap and gave everyone an ok sign.
Just as everyone let out a sigh of relief, Nan Xiao's anxious voice came from behind them. "Sixth Brother, where's Yuxi? Why hasn't she come out yet?"
Chaotiao and Mumu heard their father's voice and ran over.
Nan Xiao bent down and picked them both up, then walked quickly to the mobile bed. When he saw Lan Jinsong's gaunt face, his brow furrowed.
Lan Zixin tucked in her father's blanket and looked up. "Uncle, you're here."
"Mm, take your father back to the ward." Nan Xiao then shifted his gaze to Lan Xiaoliu's sweaty face. "Where's Xi Bao?"