Chapter 282: A Healing Gift

Seeing Lin Zheng Ran reply with “ok.”

Xiao Heqing couldn’t hide her excitement, she tucked the package into her pocket and tapped away on her phone, chatting with Lin Zheng Ran.

“Are you busy these next couple of days, Lin Zheng Ran?”

Heqing was a standout beauty, whether in the North or the South, especially after she blossomed in junior high.

As a kid, some people used to pick on Xiao Heqing, but from junior high on, it was mostly boys harboring crushes or trying to chat her up.

And there were plenty of them—walking down the street, she often turned heads.

For instance, on days like today when she was out, someone might approach and ask for her contact info.

“Hey, you’re gorgeous—can I get your phone number?”

Deep in conversation with Lin Zheng Ran, Xiao Heqing walked right past the guy, only turning back after they’d crossed paths. She pointed at herself, “Wait, were you talking to me? Sorry, I didn’t hear you.”

The stranger nodded awkwardly.

“Yeah, I mean you. You’re so pretty—could I get your number?”

Xiao Heqing blinked, her tone still sweet but lacking the shy warmth she had with Lin Zheng Ran: “Sorry, I’m taken… I’m married. You should ask someone else. Good luck.”

“Married? How old are you?”

“It’s true. I’m chatting with my husband right now.” With that, she said it straight and went back to her phone, walking away without further explanation.

Staring at her screen, Xiao Heqing’s cheeks flushed pink again. In her heart, she already saw herself as Lin Zheng Ran’s wife since they’d been intimate.

To her, claiming she was married wasn’t a lie.

She headed home with the package Lin Zheng Ran had sent.

Xiao Heqing lived in Pingfang Village, but it was close to the township, making it easy to get around.

“Grandma, I’m back!”

She pushed open the door and stepped inside.

From the inner room, Grandma called out from her bed, “Is that you, Qingqing?”

“Yeah, Grandma, how are you feeling today?”

Xiao Heqing sat beside her, noticed her cup was empty, and poured some water.

Grandma said thanks, Xiao Qingqing.

“No problem, Grandma.”

“Where’d you go?”

Xiao Heqing: “Just to pick up a package.” She blushed and added softly, “My boyfriend sent it.”

“Oh, that Lin Zheng Ran?”

“Yep.”

“I heard you went on that trip to the North with him. Did you have fun?”

Xiao Heqing pulled the two wrapped pills from her pocket: “It was great! He treats me so well.”

Though she remembered which was which, she double-checked Lin Zheng Ran’s handwritten note to confirm the larger one was for Grandma.

She tucked the note away carefully, handed Grandma the larger pill, and said, “Grandma, Lin Zheng Ran made this for you. He’s skilled in medicine and knew about your back, so he prepared it specially. Give it a try and see if it helps.”

Grandma took the pill with her wrinkled, hesitant hand: “A pill? Did he buy this?”

“I told you, he made it himself, not bought.”

“Your boyfriend makes medicine? But he’s around your age.”

“He is, but he’s amazing at everything! Oh, and during the trip, he mentioned he’d visit us sometime. I’ll bring him to meet you then. Go on, try it—maybe it’ll ease that back pain.”

“No medicine’s that magical. My back’s been hurting for years from old injuries, but since it’s from your boyfriend, I’ll give it a shot. Just eat it straight?”

“Hmm, let me check what he wrote.”

She glanced again at the instructions on the note and told Grandma, “Yeah, just eat it directly.”

Grandma nodded and popped it into her mouth without a second thought.

The pill, infused with a hint of heavenly spiritual energy, dissolved instantly like it had when treating Jiang Jingshi, sliding down her throat as a smooth stream.

Grandma paused in surprise. “What a strange pill—it’s gone in a flash! Just like Iron Fan Princess swallowing Sun Wukong.”

Xiao Heqing chuckled.

“Grandma, you always come up with those fun comparisons.”

Grandma grinned. “I’m tired now, need to lie down and rest. You go play.”

“Okay.”

She helped Grandma settle back into bed.

“Rest well, Grandma. I’m heading to my room.”

Though it was a gift from Lin Zheng Ran, neither Heqing nor Grandma expected much—they figured it was just a tonic, nothing special.

But sometimes, reality surprises you.

As the pill took effect, its faint spiritual energy coursed through Grandma’s body, making her brow furrow slightly as she rubbed her stomach.

“Everything feels so warm and comfortable…”

In the afternoon, Aunt He drove home from work.

She worried about her mother’s back injury, knowing it was a lingering issue from years ago.

It was an old problem from her youth that flared up easily with age.

This time, who knew how long it’d take to heal—it could drag on for a month or two.

Aunt He parked at the house and heard noises from the vegetable patch in the yard.

Thinking it was her daughter, she called, “Qingqing, what are you doing out there?”

Stepping inside, Aunt He’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open.

She stood there, stunned and speechless.

Because in the garden, her mother—who could barely walk to the restroom without help due to her bad back—was now wielding a hoe and digging alongside Xiao Heqing.

Grandma swung the hoe with vigor, flipping the soil effortlessly.

Even Xiao Heqing watched in shock, at a loss for words.

Terrified, Aunt He rushed over, her usual seriousness gone: “Mom, what on earth are you doing? Stop right now!”

Grandma smiled freely as she saw her daughter. “You’re home from work?”

“Mom, seriously, what’s going on? Why are you tending the garden? I thought your back was too bad to move!”

Grandma stood up straight and touched her waist. “What’s the worry? I feel great. Sure, I get tired if I haven’t moved in a while, but my back doesn’t hurt at all!”

She twisted a little to show. “See? It’s all better!”

“Huh?” Aunt He was baffled. Was this a dream?

Grandma laughed at her daughter’s shock. “I knew you’d be surprised—just like Qingqing was. It’s all thanks to that pill from her boyfriend. It’s incredible! I took it, napped, and woke up with no pain, no aches—my old troubles vanished.”

“Wait, what?” Aunt He felt like she was still dreaming.

Xiao Heqing grinned too. “Mom, I know it sounds unreal, but Grandma really perked up out of nowhere. She was so eager to get moving.”

Aunt He frowned, glancing between her daughter and mother. “What in the world happened? I was only gone a day—how did this turn around?”