Afternoon, inside the hall of a three-story villa.

Jiang Jingshi was placing some of the things she brought into the large study room on the first floor. When she picked up Lin Zhengran’s call, she responded:

“Okay, I got it, Zhengzheng. Alright, you and Wenwen don’t need to return to school these next couple of days. You can just sign the leave slip when you’re back.”

She blushed and smiled: “Why are you still being so polite with me? But… Wenwen, is she alright? What exactly… okay, let’s talk when you’re back. You two be safe.”

Just as Jingshi hung up, Jiang Xueli walked in holding a box, placing a few things in the study as well.

Little He Qing followed behind, also carrying various bags. The three of them each handled their tasks.

Jingshi turned to the other two: “Lili, He Qing, Zhengzheng said he and Wenwen won’t be coming back to school for the next couple of days. Something happened in Wenwen’s family, and they’ve gone back south.”

Jiang Xueli and He Qing paused. Although they had a feeling this might happen, they were still a bit surprised.

“Back south?!” He Qing asked anxiously, “What did Lin Zhengran say? Is it serious? Is there anything we can do?!”

Jiang Jingshi, having been through more, was able to glean something from Lin Zhengran’s tone:

“Zhengzheng didn’t say much, only that a relative of Wenwen’s is seriously ill. I think if he didn’t explain it clearly, there must be other reasons. Let’s just wait. Asking too much might only make things harder for them.”

Jiang Xueli nodded: “As long as Zhengran’s there, it’ll be okay. He can handle anything.”

She said that aloud, but her expression clearly still showed worry.

Jingshi smiled, affirming Xueli’s words: “I think so too. With Zhengzheng by Wenwen’s side, she’ll be fine.”

The two of them responded in agreement.

The high-speed train rushed through the city’s outskirts.

Lin Zhengran held Han Wenwen’s hand in the car. She was actually trembling with fear.

Her palm was sweaty, her body shivering.

Head slightly lowered, she seemed deep in thought.

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

Han Wenwen flinched at his voice, then leaned on Lin Zhengran’s shoulder:

“Not much. I just remember she was always busy when I was little. She never spent much time with me. Then one day she left without saying a word. Told me she was going out to buy something and would be back that night… and I never saw her again.”

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

“Mm.” He squeezed her pale, tender hand. “I’m here.”

That evening, they safely arrived in the South.

After getting off the train, Han Wenwen pulled out her phone and called her uncle.

Her uncle, who was at the hospital, quickly answered the moment he saw her call.

Because Han Wenwen had always been a bit stubborn.

Once she made up her mind about something, she rarely turned back. And the things from back then really had hurt her deeply.

He had tried to persuade her, but after she ignored the first call, he had only sent a few messages on WeChat to respect her wishes.

Still, stuck in the middle, he truly hoped Wenwen would come see her mother one last time.

“Hello, Wenwen? You… you called?!” Her uncle’s voice carried a trace of excitement.

Han Wenwen hesitated, then said, “I’m already back in the South. Send me the room number. I’ll go see her.”

Her uncle immediately nodded, “You’re back in the South?! Good, good, I understand. I’ll send it right now! Take your time on the way.”

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

The two of them bought some gifts and took a car to the People’s Hospital.

At the door of the hospital room, only her uncle and aunt were waiting—clearly they had been there for a while.

“Wenwen! You’re back!” Her uncle immediately called out when he saw her. He also noticed Lin Zhengran holding her hand. “Is this Lin Zhengran?”

Han Wenwen smiled at her uncle and aunt: “Long time no see. This is my boyfriend, I’ve mentioned him many times before.”

Lin Zhengran greeted them, “Hello, Uncle, Aunt. I’m Lin Zhengran.”

Lin Zhengran had an uncommon presence. Her uncle and aunt nodded after seeing him. “Hello.”

Her aunt turned to Han Wenwen: “Your mom’s inside. Your uncle and I won’t go in. You two go on ahead. She was really happy when she heard you were coming.”

Han Wenwen showed little expression, just glanced toward the room. “I know.”

Standing at the hospital room door, she took deep breaths again and again.

Lin Zhengran tightened his grip on her hand, encouraging her.

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

Looking up, there was a thin, worn figure in a hospital gown lying in bed, but you could still tell that she must have been stunning in her youth.

The woman had an oval face, just like Han Wenwen. If she were younger and more vibrant, those would have been a pair of enchanting fox-like eyes. But with age, she no longer compared to the young Han Wenwen.

Seeing the familiar yet strange figure, Han Wenwen’s eyes trembled.

The woman on the bed turned her head at the sound. When she saw the girl at the door, her tired eyes widened in disbelief: “Is… is that Wenwen?”

Han Wenwen bit her lip, slowly walking in with Lin Zhengran.

Lin Zhengran greeted first, “Hello, Auntie. I’m Lin Zhengran, Han Wenwen’s boyfriend.”

The woman looked at the refined young man and sighed, “Such a poised boy… Hello.”

Han Wenwen studied this woman she hadn’t seen in over a decade. All the tension and complicated feelings she’d had on the way here—anxiousness, frustration, confusion—suddenly felt ridiculous now. Ordinary.

Because the woman before her looked nothing like the one in her memories. Not the stunning, youthful, unreachable woman she remembered.

“You’re completely different from what I remember. Like a totally different person.”

The woman trembled as she stared at her outrageously beautiful daughter, stunned: “You too. I never thought you’d grow up to be this gorgeous… even more beautiful than I was at your age.” She suddenly smiled:

“Totally different from what I imagined. I didn’t think I’d get to see you all grown up. Didn’t expect you’d actually come see me one last time.”

Han Wenwen replied coldly, “I wasn’t going to. But Brother Zhengran said coming didn’t have to mean forgiveness. So I came, just to see what you’re like now.”

“I see…” The woman kept staring at her face, emotions unreadable. “Brother Zhengran, such an intimate nickname… Thank you.” That last part was to Lin Zhengran.

He simply smiled.

Han Wenwen asked, “What did the doctor say? How many days do you have left?”

“Not sure. Might still last a while. Maybe about a month.”

“That’s pretty long. A whole thirty days.”

“Yes, it is.”

“I remember the night I waited for you to come home felt endless—and that was just one night.”

The woman looked at her daughter with a mix of guilt and pain, her lips trembling:

“I’m sorry, Wenwen. I… I’m not asking for forgiveness, I just wanted to say I’m sorry.”

Tears welled up in Han Wenwen’s eyes as she said with a trembling voice, “How can you even say that? Don’t tell me you had your reasons. If you were going to abandon me, you already did—what’s the point of saying sorry now? People should be responsible for what they’ve done.”

The woman mocked herself, “You’re right. I wish I had some excuse, but I’ve never done anything worth justifying. Maybe the only halfway decent thing I ever did was give birth to you and raise you for a few years.”

“Why…” Han Wenwen asked softly, “Even after all these years, I still want to know. Why did you abandon me?”

“I…” The woman’s eyes filled with tears. “Back then, I thought I deserved a better life. I was young, beautiful—I didn’t think I should be tied down by a child. So I left.”

Looking at her mother, who was being brutally honest, Han Wenwen laughed, “I figured it was something like that. Such a simple reason. Thanks for telling the truth. But you didn’t get the life you wanted, did you?”

The woman sighed deeply, “Eventually, everyone ages. A woman’s face can’t feed her forever. Looks alone won’t win men’s hearts. The moment something happens, they all leave.

Even though I never asked them to pay for my treatment, just the thought of me being sick scared them off. Looking back, the only one who ever clung to me and truly loved me… was you, when you were a child.

That’s why I wanted to see you. Children are so pure and sincere. I missed you so much.”

Han Wenwen frowned slightly.

The woman looked at her worriedly: “Wenwen, how are you doing now? Are you supporting yourself, or…”

“Don’t worry, I won’t walk your path. I’m supporting myself.

Even though Brother Zhengran is amazing—really amazing—and he’s helped me a lot, he always says people should do what they love and follow their own path.

So I took what I’m good at and what I like, and became a game video content creator. I have over a million followers now. I used to have more than 1.6 million, but I slacked off during exam prep and lost some. I’ll build it back up.

Before I met Brother Zhengran, I did a bunch of online part-time gigs. Sure, adults might think that’s not a proper job, but I’ve never once thought about hurting my own body.”

She took out her video account and showed it to the woman.

Seeing the videos, her mother’s worried expression finally eased: “That’s wonderful… I’m relieved.” Tears suddenly welled up in her eyes again. “I’m so glad you didn’t end up like me.”