Old Mrs. Ling wept silently, her weathered eyes gazing through the glass at the intensive care unit.
Xia Wantang followed her gaze, her own eyes reddening.
At this moment, Old Master Ling was still unconscious, tubes inserted into his mouth and nose, surrounded by a pile of equipment.
The white ward seemed exceptionally cold, with incomprehensible numbers scrolling on the monitor beside the bed.
The once vibrant old man lay there motionless, eyes closed, his face pale.
Nurses in uniform moved in and out, and the smell of disinfectant permeated from outside the room.
Xia Wantang suddenly felt Old Mrs. Ling’s grip on her hand tighten.
She quickly looked down, meeting a pair of tear-filled eyes. Her heart tightened, sensing that Old Mrs. Ling had something she wanted to say.
Old Mrs. Ling pulled her to sit down, her lips trembling slightly. "My dear, I didn't want to say this, but you've seen your grandfather's condition..."
She choked with sobs, tears welling up even more in her eyes.
Xia Wantang's heart softened, and she said, "Grandmother, please speak."
She could actually guess what Old Mrs. Ling wanted to say. People of their age most looked forward to seeing their descendants.
Looking at Xia Wantang's clear eyes, Old Mrs. Ling found the words stuck in her throat.
Her heart was filled with struggle.
At this moment, asking her granddaughter-in-law to bear the Ling family's first grandson would undoubtedly delay her studies.
But she truly did not want her husband to die with regrets.
His condition was currently stable, but due to his age and body, recovery was impossible.
This situation could lead to death in days, or perhaps months or years.
But she thought that if there was hope, he might hold on longer.
Seeing her silence, Xia Wantang brought it up herself.
"Don't worry, Grandmother..." She glanced at Ling Yucheng, her eyes firm:
"From now on, Yucheng and I will start trying for a baby, hoping to let Grandpa see his first grandson in his lifetime."
Old Mrs. Ling's tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She looked at Xia Wantang, unable to utter a word.
"Tangtang, you need to think carefully."
Zhu Yunfei did not want her to act on emotion. Sophomore year was a crucial time, and getting pregnant now would surely affect her studies.
Xia Wantang certainly didn't want this either. She hadn't planned to get pregnant before graduation.
But seeing the elderly couple facing their twilight years with regrets, she felt a pang of pity.
She was still young; after giving birth, she could still continue her studies.
After all, the purpose of studying was to get a good job, a bright future, and a more stable life.
She thought that as long as Ling Yucheng didn't let her down, what was such a small sacrifice?
Moreover, in her relationship with Ling Yucheng, it had always been him who made the effort.
With this thought, she nodded firmly and said, "Mom, I've thought it through. Grandpa is more important."
Ling Yucheng had been standing nearby, listening to their conversation.
His eyes were only on Xia Wantang; every movement she made was in his sight.
Every word she spoke entered his ears and settled in his heart, leaving deep impressions.
Old Mrs. Ling was so moved she couldn't speak, only reaching out to hug Xia Wantang tightly.
Zhu Yunfei also shed tears, gently patting Old Mrs. Ling's back to comfort her.
At this moment, even the two titans who dominated the business world were helpless against the cycle of life, old age, sickness, and death.
This was health that no amount of money could buy.
Ling Junye and Ling Yucheng could only stand and watch, their eyes deep with helplessness.
"The patient is awake. Two family members can go in to see him. Please be careful not to agitate him."
The nurse finished speaking and turned back into the observation room.
Old Mrs. Ling stood up shakily. After Old Master Ling fell ill, her own health had deteriorated.
She held Xia Wantang's hand tightly and said, "My dear, come with Grandma to see Grandpa."
Xia Wantang naturally agreed but couldn't help but look back at Ling Yucheng.
He must want to see his grandfather even more!
Ling Yucheng looked at her deeply, his eyes filled with tenderness.
After they entered the observation room, everyone else gathered by the glass to look inside.
Qiao Xinyue, who had been forgotten, also stepped forward, wanting to see Old Master Ling's condition.
Zhu Yunfei then noticed her, putting an arm around her shoulders with warmth. "If your Grandpa Ling knew you came all this way to see him, he'd surely be very happy."
"Grandpa Ling has been so good to me, of course I'd come to see him," Qiao Xinyue said, peering inside.
Lying on the hospital bed, Old Master Ling looked extremely frail and pitiful.
Xia Wantang and Old Mrs. Ling, after disinfecting, approached the bedside.
Old Mrs. Ling tremblingly held his thin hand and, fighting back tears, said, "Chengfeng, you've suffered so much this time."
Old Master Ling weakly squeezed her hand back, his exhalation fogging the oxygen mask. His voice was extremely weak.
"I'm... going to leave you first..."
"Don't say such disheartening things."
Old Mrs. Ling pursed her lips, suppressing her sobs. "Your granddaughter-in-law said she and Yucheng have already been trying for a baby, and perhaps they're already pregnant. Why don't you wait and see your grandson?"
Old Master Ling's breathing hitched. His drooping eyelids slightly lifted, as if he had regained some strength.
He chuckled softly. "That's wonderful! The Ling family will soon have an heir."
Xia Wantang understood Old Mrs. Ling's well-intentioned lie and did not expose it. However, she also felt the pressure and knew she had to get pregnant quickly.
When Old Master Ling looked at her, she felt a little embarrassed. "Grandpa, don't worry. Yucheng and I are already working on it."
"Good, good."
Old Master Ling said "good" twice. He looked at Xia Wantang with great affection and then instructed Old Mrs. Ling:
"You and... and your daughter-in-law, tell them not to mistreat our granddaughter-in-law."
"Don't you worry, just focus on recovering. Otherwise, you won't even see the grandson when he's born," Old Mrs. Ling said, relieved to see he had perked up.
They had been together for a lifetime, growing old together, so they had no regrets.
But if they could see their grandson, they could die with their eyes closed.
After a few more words, Old Master Ling began to grow drowsy again.
The nurse beside them saw this and urged them to leave, saying it was best for the patient to rest.
Old Mrs. Ling reluctantly released his hand, her eyes glistening with tears as she turned to leave.
She kept looking back, her heart filled with reluctance.
But the distance to the door was so short, and in just a few glances, she had to turn away.
She insisted on staying outside the door, but she was old, and her body couldn't handle it.
Only after Xia Wantang's repeated persuasion did she reluctantly leave, leaving Ling Junye and Zhu Yunfei to keep watch.
Ling Yucheng first took Old Mrs. Ling and Xia Wantang to a nearby hotel to rest.
This way, they could stay updated on Old Master Ling's condition at any time.