As soon as the college entrance examination ended, Jiang Huai frequently checked his watch, calculating the time Jiang Ruo would be home. After the conversation with Jiang Zhou that day, he knew convincing his son to give up on Jiang Ruo was nearly impossible. Thus, he planned to intervene from Jiang Ruo’s side. Even if it meant both children would resent him, he must prevent them from being together!
But after waiting a long time, he saw neither Jiang Ruo nor Jiang Zhou. Growing anxious, Jiang Huai turned to Feng Yun and urged, “Where could they have gone? Can’t you just call and ask?”
Feng Yun replied softly, “I’ve already called them, but neither A’Zhou nor Ruoruo answered their phones. Something must have delayed them!”
Previously, because of A’Zhou and Ruoruo’s situation, Feng Yun had argued with Jiang Huai and had been extremely disappointed in him. However, after Jiang Huai had a dispute with A’Zhou and fainted from anger, spending two days in the hospital, her anger gradually subsided. Worried that Jiang Huai might faint again, she had been speaking softly these days, and even when Jiang Huai occasionally lost his temper at her, she simply turned blind eyes.
“What could possibly delay them?” Jiang Huai’s eyes widened in panic. “Keep calling them, we absolutely cannot let them stay out overnight!”
Feng Yun frowned upon hearing this, “The kids are already adults, we don’t need to…”
“What do you mean, we don’t need to? It’s exactly because they are adults that I’m even more worried. Do we have to wait for them to disgrace themselves before you’d be satisfied?” Jiang Huai’s eyes seemed to burn with fire.
“…” Feng Yun was stunned. She simply couldn’t understand Jiang Huai’s thinking. In her view, even if Ruoruo was really with A’Zhou, it wouldn’t really be a disgrace. At most, people in their circle would gossip for a while, but as long as A’Zhou and Ruoruo could withstand the pressure from public opinion and hold on for a while, the rumors would gradually fade.
And if worse came to worst, A’Zhou could even take Ruoruo abroad. As long as they went somewhere where nobody knew them, who would care?
However, Feng Yun didn’t want to argue with Jiang Huai at the moment, “Then I’ll try contacting A’Zhou again to see if he answers the phone.” She softly replied.
But before Feng Yun could make the call, Jiang Zhou’s call came through. As soon as she answered, before she could even speak, Jiang Zhou said in a low voice, “Mom, Ruoruo is sick and hospitalized. I’m here with her at the hospital and can’t come home tonight.”
“Hospitalized? What happened to Ruoruo?” Feng Yun’s voice revealed her concern.
“The doctor said she has… she has chronic kidney failure. She needs further tests tomorrow.” Jiang Zhou sounded particularly somber.
“Chronic kidney failure? How could this… how could Ruoruo…” Feng Yun was completely flustered, finding her son’s words almost unreal. Although she didn’t know much about the condition, the name itself was already very frightening.
Hearing the words ‘chronic kidney failure,’ Jiang Huai’s expression changed drastically. He quickly got up from the bed, “Quickly ask A’Zhou the name of the hospital and which room Ruoruo is in. We’re going there now!”
Feng Yun hesitated, “Are you sure you should be going now? You’ve just been discharged.” Jiang Huai hadn’t fully recovered; if he wasn’t careful, he might end up hospitalized again.
Jiang Huai was already changing clothes, “It doesn’t matter. Let’s hurry and see Ruoruo’s condition first, then we should contact specialists to get a second opinion. We must first confirm whether she really has chronic kidney failure or not.”
Seeing his serious expression, Feng Yun also began to panic, “Is chronic kidney failure a very serious illness?”
Jiang Huai sighed, “This disease can’t be completely cured. To live longer, she must undergo regular dialysis. Anyway, let’s go and see what we can do.”
As for a kidney transplant, Jiang Huai didn’t even bother considering this option. It was already difficult enough for people with common blood types to wait for a transplant, let alone Ruoruo, who has a rare blood type.
Hearing Jiang Huai’s explanation, Feng Yun was devastated. Ruoruo was so young, only eighteen this year. How come she…
But maybe it was a misdiagnosis?
Yes, it could very well be a misdiagnosis! Ruoruo seemed perfectly normal before—how could she suddenly be diagnosed with a terminal illness?
Anyway, before they got a second opinion from the specialists, she shouldn’t jump to conclusions!
…
After the college entrance exam, Tong Yi, having nothing to do and finding himself idle at home, started to look for ways to ask Jiang Xiao Li out. Unfortunately, he was rejected several times, as Jiang Xiao Li was busy at the research institute every day and had no spare time for him.
Unable to hold back his sourness, Tong Yi asked, “Is your senior still working at the institute?”
“Uh-huh. If nothing unexpected happens, my senior brother should continue working there,” Jiang Li replied truthfully.
Tong Yi felt a bit jealous, “So you get to see each other every day?”
“Pretty much, at least we have meals together.” Noticing that Tong Yi seemed to have a lot of free time, Jiang Li asked back, “I heard from Grandpa that you’ve started a business?”
Tong Yi immediately replied with a smile, “Just a small venture, nothing compared to what your eldest uncle has achieved.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be busy, then?” Jiang Li probed further.
“…” He felt slighted! Not only did Jiang Xiao Li refuse to hang out with him, but she even wished that he was busy enough every day so that he wouldn’t have time to ask her out!
“Jiang Xiao Li, when the exam results come out, if you lose to me, will you call me ‘big brother’?” Tong Yi decided to change the subject. “
Jiang Li knew that being called ‘big brother’ had become Tong Yi’s obsession, so she mercilessly countered, “Then you must call me aunt if you lose. How? Do you agree?”
“…” No, he didn’t agree! If he called Jiang Xiao Li aunt, this would establish their seniority levels, leading her to perceive him as her junior. He would have no chance then!
Hearing Tong Yi’s silence, Jiang Li said, “See, you won’t even agree to my terms, so why should I agree to yours? I’m very busy right now, I need to go.”
Recently, although Feng Qi went to Beijing to attend a lecture, Jiang Li still decided to go to the institute. She had become a regular there and was well taken care of, even in Feng Qi’s absence. The main reason she frequented the institute was to learn as much as she could before university started, after which she wouldn’t have the opportunity.
After ending the call with Tong Yi, Jiang Li began to plan her schedule for the upcoming week.
…
Jiang Huai simply could not believe that Jiang Ruo had chronic kidney failure. He arranged for specialists to consult on her case and even transferred her to several hospitals, but the diagnosis remained the same. Initially, the family chose to hide the truth from Jiang Ruo, telling her she only had a common flu. However, repeated specialist consultations and multiple hospital transfers revealed to Jiang Ruo that her condition was far more serious than the flu.
Jiang Ruo began to pay attention to the medications prescribed by her doctors and did her own research online. After several attempts at probing her family, she finally learned the truth from Feng Yun.
In fact, the family knew they couldn’t keep the secret from Jiang Ruo for long, as the upcoming treatments required her cooperation.
The moment she knew the truth, Jiang Ruo felt as if the sky had collapsed. She had never imagined that at a young age, she would be afflicted with a terminal illness and would have to rely on dialysis to sustain her life.
Since then, smiles disappeared from Jiang Ruo’s face. When people spoke to her, she often appeared lost in thought. It usually took several calls for her to respond, and even then, she might be too dazed to understand what was said to her.
To prolong her life, she had no choice but to comply with the doctors and undergo blood dialysis. Once her condition stabilized, she could be discharged from the hospital, but she still needed to go to the hospital regularly for dialysis. She had to undergo blood dialysis two to three times a week, and each session required her to lie in bed for several hours. During these hours, Jiang Ruo often felt as if she were dreaming.
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It’s so mind-boggling to see how dumb the mom is. Like, she didn’t use her brain for anything and it shows! Aside from the fact that she sat by and allowed her Bio daughter to be bullied and treated like nothing, her willingness to let her son “pursue” his younger sister, and her lack of knowledge about chronic kidney failure. Clearly she didn’t graduate hgih school on her own merits. She just jumped straight into marriage with butterflies for a brain.
My good the mother is really brainless. I really want to know how can she be so willing about her son and “daughter” being together? That’s just so wrong…she they’re not “blood related” 🙄 but still. It’s so wrong on so many levels. And her asking if chronic kidney failure a serious illness. God almighty how did the Feng family manage to produce someone like her. Naive isn’t even the correct word to describe her. Probably that’s why she’s so easily manipulated by that husband of her’s to have a fall out with her family.