Chapter 339: Shadows of the Past

In the afternoon, in the large hall of a three-story villa.

Jiang Jingshi was in the first-floor study, putting away the things she’d brought. After receiving Lin Zheng Ran’s call, she responded quickly:

“Alright, I understand, Zheng. Okay, you and Wen Wen don’t need to go back to school for the next couple of days. Just get the leave slips signed later.”

Her face flushed with a smile: “Why so formal with me? But Wen Wen… is she okay? What exactly happened? Hmm, good. We’ll talk when you get back. You two stay safe.”

Jiang Jingshi hung up the phone, and Lily walked in carrying a box, placing some items in the study.

Heqing followed close behind, her hands full of various bags, as the three worked on their tasks.

Jiang Jingshi turned to the others: “Lily, Heqing, Zheng said he and Wen Wen won’t be coming to school for the next couple of days. Wen Wen’s family had an issue, so they’re heading back south.”

Lily and Heqing paused, though they’d sensed something, they still felt a bit shocked.

“They’re going back south?!” Heqing asked quickly. “What did Lin Zheng Ran say? Is it serious? What can we do?”

Jiang Jingshi had been through more experiences, so she could pick up on things from Lin Zheng Ran’s tone:

“Zheng didn’t go into details about what happened. He just said Wen Wen’s family member is seriously ill. I guess he didn’t explain more because there are other reasons involved. Let’s just wait. Pressing for more might just cause trouble.”

Lily nodded: “With Zheng around, it’ll be fine. He can handle anything.”

She said it, but her expression showed clear worry.

Jiang Jingshi smiled, agreeing with Lily: “I think so too. With Zheng by Wen Wen’s side, she’ll be okay.”

The others murmured in agreement.

The high-speed train raced through the city borders.

On the train, Lin Zheng Ran held Han Wenwen’s hand; she was trembling with fear.

Her palms were sweaty, and she shivered.

She kept her head down, lost in thought.

Lin Zheng Ran asked softly: “How much do you remember about your mom?”

Han Wenwen jolted at the sound, snapping back to reality, and leaned on Lin Zheng Ran’s shoulder:

“Not much. I only remember that when I was little, Mom was always so busy. She never spent much time with me each day. Then one day, she left without a word. She said she was going out to buy things and would be back that evening, but I never saw her again.”

Han Wenwen pleaded: “Brother Zheng Ran, don’t let go of my hand. I’m scared.”

“Okay.” He gripped her soft, delicate hand tightly: “I’m right here.”

They arrived in the south that evening without any issues.

Once off the high-speed train, Han Wenwen pulled out her phone and called her uncle.

In the hospital, her uncle answered the moment he saw it was Han Wenwen.

Given Han Wenwen’s stubborn nature since childhood,

once she made up her mind, there was no changing it. And the past events had hurt her deeply.

He couldn’t even persuade her, so after her first call went unanswered, he only sent a few messages on WeChat, respecting her wishes.

Caught between them, he still hoped she’d come to see her sister one last time.

“Hello, Wen Wen? Why are you calling?” his uncle’s voice carried a hint of excitement.

Han Wenwen hesitated: “I’ve come back to the south by train. Send me the hospital room number. I’ll go see her.”

Without a second thought, her uncle agreed: “You’re back in the south?! Great, great. I got it. I’ll send it right over. Take it easy on your way.”

Han Wenwen hung up and stared at the address on her phone.

The two bought some gifts and took a ride straight to the People’s Hospital.

At the hospital room door, only her uncle and aunt waited, looking like they’d been there for a while.

“Wen Wen! You’re back!” Her pacing uncle rushed over, asking while spotting Lin Zheng Ran holding her hand: “And this is Lin Zheng Ran, right?”

Han Wenwen smiled at her uncle and aunt: “Uncle, Aunt, it’s been so long. This is my boyfriend; I’ve mentioned him to you many times.”

Lin Zheng Ran greeted them: “Hello, Uncle and Aunt. I’m Lin Zheng Ran.”

Lin Zheng Ran’s presence was quite striking, so her uncle and aunt nodded: “Hello.”

Her aunt said to Han Wenwen: “Your mom’s in the room. Your uncle and I will stay out here. You two go in and see her. She was so happy when she heard you were coming.”

Han Wenwen’s face showed little reaction, just glancing toward the room: “I see.”

As they reached the door, Han Wenwen took deep breaths.

Lin Zheng Ran squeezed her hand for encouragement.

Only then did she find the courage to push the door open.

Looking up, they saw a frail, worn figure in a hospital gown, once clearly beautiful and slender, lying in the bed.

The woman had a face shape similar to Han Wenwen’s, with eyes that must have been captivating in her youth. Now, aged, they couldn’t compare to Han Wenwen’s vibrancy.

Han Wenwen stared at the familiar yet strange figure, her eyes trembling.

The woman on the bed turned at the sound, spotting the girl in the doorway, her weak eyes widening in disbelief: “Is that you, Wen Wen?”

Han Wenwen bit her lip and walked slowly forward with Lin Zheng Ran.

Lin Zheng Ran spoke first: “Aunt, hello. I’m Lin Zheng Ran, Han Wenwen’s boyfriend.”

The woman gazed at the impressive young man and sighed: “What a fine young man. Hello.”

Han Wenwen scrutinized the woman she hadn’t seen in over a decade. The mix of nerves and emotions from the journey faded into something absurdly ordinary.

Because the woman before her was nothing like the memory— not as perfect, young, or distant.

“You look completely different from how I remember. Like a different person.”

The woman trembled as she stared at Han Wenwen’s strikingly beautiful face, shocked: “You too. I never imagined you’d grow up to be this stunning… even more beautiful than I was in my youth.” She suddenly laughed:

“This is nothing like I pictured. I thought I’d never see you as an adult, but here you are, coming to say goodbye.”

She clenched her fist: “I wasn’t planning to come, but Brother Zheng Ran said it doesn’t mean forgiveness. So I came to see what you’ve become.”

“I see…” The woman kept staring at Han Wenwen’s face, her emotions unreadable: “Brother Zheng Ran— such an intimate way to say it. Thank you.” Her last words were to Lin Zheng Ran.

Lin Zheng Ran just smiled.

Han Wenwen: “What did the doctor say? How many days does she have left?”

“It’s uncertain. Maybe a few more weeks, around a month.”

“That’s quite a while— a whole thirty days.”

“It is long.”

“I remember the nights I waited for you as a kid; they felt endless. And that was just one night.”

The woman looked at her daughter with a mix of disgust and complexity in her eyes, her lips trembling:

“I’m sorry, Wen Wen. I… I don’t expect your forgiveness. I just wanted to say I’m sorry.”

Han Wenwen’s eyes grew wet, her voice shaking: “How can you even say that? Don’t tell me you had some hardship. You left, and now sorry fixes it? People have to answer for what they’ve done.”

The woman said self-mockingly: “You’re right. I wish I had some grand excuse, but I’ve never done anything noteworthy in my life. Maybe the only decent thing was bringing you into the world and raising you for a few years.”

“Why…” Han Wenwen whispered: “Even after all this time, I still want to know— why did you leave me back then?”

“I… At the time, I thought I deserved a better life. I was young and beautiful; I didn’t want a child holding me back forever. So I left…”

Han Wenwen laughed at the blunt truth: “I figured it was something like that. Such a simple reason. Thanks for being honest. But did you get the life you wanted?”

The woman sighed deeply: “Everything fades with age. A woman’s looks don’t last forever. They won’t win hearts, and when things go wrong, men just vanish. I didn’t even ask them for help with treatment; they were afraid I’d drag them down.

Looking back over the years, the only one who truly stuck by me, loving me from the heart, was you as a child. That’s why I wanted to see you. Kids are so innocent and pure; I really missed you.”

Han Wenwen frowned slightly.

The woman worriedly watched Han Wenwen: “Wen Wen, how are you doing now? Are you making it on your own, or…”

“Don’t worry. I’m not following your path. I’m making my own way. Though Brother Zheng Ran is amazing and has helped me a lot, he always says people need their own passions and goals.

So I went with my talents and interests, becoming a gaming video blogger. I have a million followers now. It was over 1.6 million before, but I slacked off for exams and lost some. I’ll build it back up.

Before I met Brother Zheng Ran, I did various online gigs. It might seem unproductive to adults, but I’ve never harmed myself.”

She showed the woman her video account.

The woman looked at the videos, her worried brow easing: “That’s wonderful; I can rest easy.” She suddenly teared up: “I’m so glad you’re not repeating my mistakes.”