Shortly after Xia Xiaolan arrived home, Ji Jiangyuan came.

He arrived with Tang Hongen.

They came from the hospital.

On the way, they discussed Ji Ya’s condition.

After Ji Ya was hospitalized, both Tang Hongen and Ji Jiangyuan could discuss her more calmly. The doctors had confirmed Ji Ya was truly ill – how could normal people compete with a patient?

If they couldn’t handle it, better leave it to the professionals.

Tang Hongen could ignore Ji Ya, but for Ji Jiangyuan’s sake, he was helping.

This wasn’t due to lingering feelings for Ji Ya, but because he didn’t want to see Ji Jiangyuan struggle so much. Two weeks into the semester, Ji Jiangyuan still hadn’t returned to school to report back. Having such a mother was truly a huge burden for Ji Jiangyuan!

Why hadn’t Xia Xiaolan seen George at the hotel? Because George had been frequently visiting Kangning Hospital.

Though he couldn’t be Ji Ya’s husband, he still had feelings for her.

Signing divorce papers didn’t mean emotions ended at that moment. As George said, though they couldn’t be spouses or lovers, he still considered Ji Ya a friend and hoped her condition would improve quickly – but Ji Ya wasn’t appreciative. While medication could control her mania, when George visited, she wouldn’t say a word.

Sometimes arguing was better – what’s most feared is complete indifference.

No one knew how long George could maintain this one-sided care. Ji Jiangyuan truly sympathized with George:

“My mother’s already this age. Doctors can treat her illness but can’t change her temperament. No matter how much Uncle George does, he can’t transform my mother. She doesn’t see others’ devotion – if someone gives her 99 parts of love out of 100, she doesn’t appreciate the 99 given but complains about the missing one!”

Before the divorce, she never remembered George’s dedication.

Now after the divorce, with George supporting her hospitalization, this point alone negated all his previous devotion.

Walking ahead, Tang Hongen remained noncommittal:

“Love yourself before loving others – I agree with this saying. But about your mother, I better not comment.”

She was someone who only loved herself and not others – what was there to say?

Reaching the stairwell, Tang Hongen could smell the food, as could Ji Jiangyuan.

“Smells wonderful, is this Aunt Liu’s cooking?”

Ji Jiangyuan and Tang Hongen’s experiences were quite similar.

Tang Hongen had lived alone, never experiencing family warmth. Though Ji Jiangyuan was raised by Ji Ya, it was inconsistent. Ji Ya said women shouldn’t revolve around the kitchen, cooking was impossible for her – her hands were for playing piano and painting, definitely not for holding knives and spatulas.

Ji Ya had practiced this belief her whole life. Even when they first arrived in America with modest means, Ji Ya never cooked to save on living expenses.

She fed Ji Jiangyuan lots of American fast food.

Cheap burgers, cheap juice, and soda – a child’s stomach was easily filled.

So when Tang Hongen brought him porridge, saying Liu Fen made it… for Ji Jiangyuan, it was a very fresh, very unfamiliar experience!

Regardless of how the porridge tasted, its significance was different.

Ji Jiangyuan envied Xia Xiaolan while drinking the porridge.

Although he grew up in America eating Western fast food while Xia Xiaolan might have gone hungry in a poor village, he still envied her. Even drinking thin porridge where you could count the rice grains, it was Liu Fen who gave her best within her means.

This maternal love was very Chinese and very simple.

Ji Jiangyuan had never experienced it.

If his mother knew he was getting close to his birth father so quickly, and even genuinely felt Liu Fen was a good person, his mother would certainly become hysterically mad again.

However, when Tang Hongen invited him home for dinner, Ji Jiangyuan couldn’t help accepting.

He had always wanted to live freely, following his heart.

Since he wanted to come, wanted to be closer to this kind of “home,” why refuse?

When he agreed, he could feel Tang Hongen was especially happy. Middle-aged people’s emotions were more reserved – Tang Hongen wouldn’t laugh out loud or cry from joy, but that happiness showed through his body language and facial expressions.

He truly wanted to accept him.

Tang Hongen was sending him this signal.

Thinking this, Ji Jiangyuan followed Tang Hongen to the door. The door opened from inside, and Liu Fen, wearing an apron, seemed a bit flustered.

“Aunt Liu, I’ll be troubling you tonight.”

“Oh child, what are you saying? This is your home – coming home isn’t trouble.”

As Liu Fen rushed to explain, Tang Hongen put his arm around her shoulders: “That’s not what Jiangyuan meant. I think he’s trying to thank you for working hard to cook.”

Xia Xiaolan, putting soup on the table, said, “It’s very hot, can you stop talking at the door and come in quickly?”

What was there to be awkward about eating with Ji Jiangyuan?

Old Tang and Comrade Ah Fen were being too careful.

Xia Xiaolan welcomed Ji Jiangyuan in, and he indeed relaxed considerably.

“Xiaolan, thank you for helping me request leave from school.”

“No need for thanks, just a small favor. I heard from Uncle Tang you’re contacting hospitals in Hong Kong, is that going smoothly? Let me know if you need any help, I have some friends in HK who could ask around.”

“Ji Ya” shouldn’t be taboo in this home.

If Ji Jiangyuan was to return to this family, “Ji Ya” was an unavoidable hurdle. Everyone not mentioning her was pretending, creating an insurmountable barrier.

Better to speak naturally about it, with everyone being less concerned – that was probably the best solution.

Ji Jiangyuan first praised the food before answering Xia Xiaolan’s question:

“I’ve already arranged with HK Castle Peak Hospital. I’ll take her there in the next couple of days. I should be able to return to school within a week at most.”

Ji Jiangyuan needed to go to HK personally. As Ji Ya’s family member who had lived with her the longest, he could describe her condition more accurately to the doctors.

Liu Fen hesitated, “About the medical expenses if you’re short on money, I could…”

Old Tang’s salary was modest, enough for mainland living but not for Hong Kong medical care.

Liu Fen had considered carefully before bringing this up.

Her words surprised not only Ji Jiangyuan but also Tang Hongen and Xia Xiaolan, who turned to look at her.

Ji Jiangyuan was puzzled, “Aunt Liu, I thought you disliked my mother. Why are you willing to lend money for her treatment? Of course, I don’t need to borrow money, and I’m not questioning your intentions – I’m just very curious.”

“Of course, I don’t like her. Even if she weren’t sick, I wouldn’t like her personality. Don’t blame Auntie for being blunt, but your mother is quite selfish. I’m not lending money for her treatment – I see you’re still in school, carrying such a heavy financial burden. How can you focus on your studies? If you’re not doing well, your father won’t feel good either. This money would be lent to you!”

She was still doing it for Old Tang.

If money could resolve family conflicts, Liu Fen was willing to spend it – somehow, she had developed such confidence!