by Dragon King
“I’ll pay you back. Thank you, Auntie!” Hao Ren said sincerely.
“It’s not much money so don’t worry about it. Taking care of her is your priority,” Zhao Hongyu took Zhao Yanzi by the arm, and the three of them left.
Hao Ren stayed in the ward, waiting for his grandma to wake up. She finally came to her senses at midnight when Hao Ren was about to fall asleep.
“Ren! She called out softly as soon as she saw him beside her bed.
Hao Ren was suddenly woken up by her voice, and he rubbed his eyes to have a better look. When he saw his grandma awakening up, he called out in excitement, “Grandma!”
Then, he immediately covered his mouth as he remembered that there were still other elders in the room.
“Why am I here?” his grandma asked.
“You fainted at home, so we took you to the hospital,” Hao Ren answered lightly.
“Oh, I remember now. I was cleaning the house… but I don’t remember what happened next,” she raised her skinny arm and pinched her forehead as she continued, “Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be in school?”
Hao Ren told her exactly what had happened. However, he replaced Zhao Hongyu’s identity of “mother-in-law” to “his student’s mom.”
“In that case, they are a family of good people. I must go thank them in person after I recover.” Grandma sighed.
She was too weak to keep up their conversation, so he persuaded her to rest some more since he didn’t want her to pass out again.
When she looked at her filial grandson, she was delighted and forgot about her health condition.
At sunrise, a nurse brought over breakfast, and Hao Ren took it from her and fed his grandma carefully.
“Ren, today is Friday, so you still need to go to school, right?” Grandma asked as Hap Ren lifted up a spoon full of soup.
“It’s ok. I can take a day off to keep you company,” Hao Ren said immediately.
He was planning to go back on the weekend to keep his grandma company, but he didn’t think that something like this would happen. Hao Ren felt guilty when he thought about his grandma being home alone when Uncle Wang wasn’t very good at taking care of her.
However, his grandma’s words reminded him of Zhao Jiayi and the guys. He called them up and told them to help him out. That meant if a teacher took attendance, Zhao Jiayi and the guys would need to inform the teacher of the situation.
Grandma had to keep having her intravenous drip today, and Hao Ren went back and forth as a filial grandson; he washed towels and peeled apples for her, doing whatever he could.
In the afternoon, Hao Ren received a text message from Xie Yujia, asking about his grandma’s condition. Hao Ren knew she must have overheard Zhao Jiayi when he explained it to the teacher, and this message was her way of caring for him.
Although it was only a friendly text, Hao Ren was still a bit moved by it.
Grandma saw Hao Ren hesitating on his cell phone, so she laughed, “Is it your girlfriend?”
“No,” he laughed and typed in “Thank you for asking” after a few seconds of hesitation.
“It’s normal to have a girlfriend at your age,” Grandma kindly brought up the old topic again.
Hao Ren knew that she had the traditional concepts of the suburb farmers and believed that boys should start dating at the age of 20 and get married before they turn 25. However, given her age, it was understandable that she wanted to have a granddaughter-in-law as soon as possible. Therefore, he didn’t argue with her.
The strange thing was, Xie Yujia would always pop up in his head whenever his grandma brought up this topic. It was as if his instinct had been telling him that a smart and understanding girl like her would be the type of granddaughter-in-law his grandma would like.
“But if you do have a girlfriend, she would probably be visiting me now that I am sick, right?” Grandma didn’t want to let this topic slip, so she kept asking tentatively.
As she finished her sentence, Zhao Yanzi entered the room curiously. She was in her blue school uniform and had the pink backpack on her back.
56 The Genes of a Clever Wife and a Wise Mom?
When she saw Hao Ren and his grandmother in the room, she confirmed that she didn’t walk into the wrong ward. She walked towards Hao Ren slowly, turned to his grandmother on the hospital bed, and asked softly, “Grandma, do you feel better?”
“Haha, I feel a lot better,” Grandmother replied. Turning around, she asked Hao Ren, “This is…”
“Ah, she’s Zhao Yanzi, the little girl who I’ve been tutoring recently. You fainted last night, and her mother took you to the hospital,” Hao Ren replied.
Hearing that Hao Ren called her a little girl, Zhao Yanzi pouted unwillingly.
“So, this is my little savior!” Grandma looked at Zhao Yanzi with appreciation. “Come here and let grandma have a good look at you!” she said.
Zhao Yanzi came closer to the hospital bed when she saw Grandma waving at her.
Grandma narrowed her slightly-cloudy eyes and observed Zhao Yanzi happily. After she saw this little girl with the ponytail being so delicate and cute, it struck her soft spot as an elder. She gently stroked Zhao Yanzi’s head and said, “This little one is so pretty!”
Zhao Yanzi smiled as she heard Grandma’s compliment. Her eyes curved like a bright half-moon, and that made Grandma like her even more.
“Ren, little Zi is my savior. You have to work harder when tutoring her in the future!” Grandma stroke the head of this cute porcelain doll-like girl and said to Hao Ren.
Zhao Yanzi heard her words and looked at Hao Ren with pride as if she obtained the Shangfang Sword 1 . Hao Ren could only nod his head.
“By the way, why are you here?” Hao Ren looked at Zhao Yanzi and asked.
“I only have a half day of school on Fridays. I got off early and wanted to come to take a look,” Zhao Yanzi said.
Even though she spoke calmly, Hao Ren knew she was worried about his grandma and came to see her. He looked at Zhao Yanzi and thought, “Even though this little girl is harsh when she speaks, she is kind-hearted.
“Have you eaten lunch yet?” Hao Ren asked her.
“Going to go home and eat,” she answered.
“I’m going to buy lunch for Grandma. Do you want me to get something for you too?” Hao Ren asked. He knew that Zhao Guang had work today and Zhao Hongyu might be busy welcoming a foreigner. If Zhao Yanzi went back home now, there wouldn’t be anything for her to eat.
Zhao Yanzi thought for a bit and left her backpack on the chair beside the hospital bed. “I’ll go with you,” she said.
Grandma lied on the hospital bed, listened to their conversation quietly, and thought, “This little girl is great.”
However, she could never think that this lovely girl was her granddaughter-in-law.
Zhao Yanzi and Hao Ren went downstairs, walked to the restaurant near the hospital, bought three meals, and returned. Perhaps Hao Ren was surprised by Zhao Yanzi’s voluntary visit; he felt like this girl wasn’t as inconsiderate as before.
When they returned, a few nurses were planning to change Hao Ren’s grandma into a different room. It was because Zhao Hongyu used her friend’s connection and talked to the hospital’s superintendent, and that was why the hospital was moving Hao Ren’s Grandma from a general ward to the best private room.
Hao Ren and Zhao Yanzi helped carry some items and followed the nurses and Grandma to a south-facing private room with better air quality.
Seeing Zhao Yanzi carrying a bunch of stuff in her hands, Hao Ren had a more favorable impression of her.
A nurse pulled the curtains to the sides, and the bright sunshine from the garden outside immediately brightened the whole room. This was definitely one of the best places in the hospital.
“Lunchtime, Grandma!” after his grandma settle down, Hao Ren brought her lunch to her.
“You guys eat too. Don’t starve yourselves!” Grandma said while looking at Hao Ren and Zhao Yanzi. Sh
e felt like this Zi, as Hao Ren’s student, had helped out more than enough today.
Hao Ren and Zhao Yanzi opened their lunch boxes. Zhao Yanzi was craving for the braised pork in Hao Ren’s lunch box, so Hao Ren had to give it to her.
Grandma was slightly confused when she saw them fighting but yet also being very intimate.
After lunch, Hao Ren asked the nurse to change the saline solution and watched Grandma as she fell asleep. Zhao Yanzi was going to go home, but she stayed because she thought this room was wide and comfortable, and she started to do her homework here.
At the table in front of the window, Zhao Yanzi’s body seemed to become more feminine under the sunshine. Through the light, her curvature in the blue school uniform was perfect, and her arms underneath the sleeves seemed translucent and cute.
Hao Ren sat beside her and answered all of her questions patiently. Their bodies formed a pair of shadows, cuddling on the floor of the room.
Time passed by, and Zhao Yanzi finished half of the weekend’s homework with Hao Ren’s assistance. A few of her textbooks were still at Hao Ren’s place, and Hao Ren could only return them to her on Monday.
“Ah they changed the room…,” a gentle voice sounded. Hao Ren and Zhao Yanzi turned their heads around and saw Zhao Hongyu appear in business attire at the door.
“Why are you here, Zi?” she was slightly shocked when she saw Zhao Yanzi.
From Zhao Hongyu’s expression, Hao Ren was positive that visiting Grandma was Zhao Yanzi’s own idea.
“Um, I came here to visit Hao Ren’s grandma,” Zhao Yanzi packed up her homework and said.
Zhao Hongyu smiled in gratification. She probably felt as if Zhao Yanzi had suddenly grown up.
Hao Ren saw that there were a bunch of fruits and dietary supplements in her hands, and he walked over quickly and said, “Why did you buy so many things for us, Auntie?”
“It’s nothing,” Zhao Hongyu smiled as she put the fruits and dietary supplements by the cabinets beside the hospital bed
She asked Grandma, “Are you alright?”
Hao Ren’s Grandma wasn’t dull and knew who Zhao Hongyu was from her conversation with Zhao Yanzi. She sat up and said, “Thank you for bringing an elder like me to the hospital yesterday.”
“Don’t mention it. That’s what I should do!” Zhao Hongyu answered frankly.
Grandma continued and said, “The money for the hospital…”
Zhao Hongyu held Grandma’s fingers and didn’t let her continue, “Please don’t worry about it!”
Seeing Zhao Hongyu being so polite about the issue, Grandma felt terrible and repeated, “No, no, no…”
“Auntie! Please don’t treat me like a stranger. We are a family…,” Zhao Hongyu said.
“A family?” Grandma looked at Zhao Hongyu in confusion.
Hao Ren felt like his heart just dropped on the floor. The sword in ancient China that represented absolute authority and was given by the emperor.
57 An Honoured Gues
Seeing the confused look on Hao Ren’s grandma’s face, Zhao Hongyu laughed, “I mean, Ren has been tutoring our Zi, and we have gotten acquainted like a family.”
“Hehe,” grandma laughed happily at this explanation and said, “Yeah, I can tell. Ren does have a good relationship with Zi.”
Zhao Yanzi’s face blushed immediately as she defended herself in a quiet voice, “Who says I have a good relationship with him…”
“I just asked the doctor, and he said that if everything is ok after another day of observation, you can go home,” Zhao Hongyu continued.
“Thank you so much! But I still need to pay you back. Once I am discharged, I will look at the bills and give you the money!” Grandma insisted.
Seeing her like this, Zhao Hongyu couldn’t refuse any longer. Therefore, she nodded reluctantly and said, “Alright…”
“Mom, didn’t Phillip Stark come to visit your studio today? I thought you are having dinner with him,” Zhao Yanzi said.
“I showed him around the Creative Center today. But since Hao Ren’s grandma is ill, I canceled our dinner arrangements,” Zhao Hongyu smiled.
Hao Ren was touched that Zhao Hongyu had prioritized his grandma, but he had no idea that Phillip Stark was a World-Renown Designer who worked on the renovation of the most historic and luxurious hotel in Hong Kong - the Peninsula Hotel as well as the personal residence of the French President Francois Mitterrand. Zhao Hongyu didn’t just give up an ordinary dinner in order to see Hao Ren’s grandma at the hospital.
Since she was here, she certainly wouldn’t leave without chatting with Hao Ren’s grandma for a bit.
Although she was in business attire, she was still an understanding wife and loving mother who was down to earth. Her thoughtful conversations and smart responses helped her bond with Hao Ren’s grandma.
Grandma was a bit unhappy about how busy her daughter-in-law was since Hao Ren’s mom was working all the time. Therefore, after she found out that Zhao Hongyu was great at doing house chores and taking care of her family, Grandma liked her even more.
During their conversation, Zhao Hongyu asked, “Auntie, it’s pretty inconvenient for you to stay in the beach house. Why don’t you move into the city?”
“Ren’s dad said that the air on the beach is fresher, so he bought me the cottage there. We sold our place in the city many years ago,” Grandma answered.
“You are a senior, and it’s not safe for you to live alone over there. Ren almost lost it yesterday when this happened. I think it would be easier for you if you lived in the city,” Zhao Hongyu carried on.
Grandma was a bit convinced as she turned to Hao Ren and imagined how stressed out he was the day before.
Zhao Hongyu continued, “How about moving in with us after you have recovered?”
Hao Ren was listening to their chat from the side, and he tensed up at the suggestion. “Grandma moving into Zi’s house? What would that mean?” he thought.
“That’s not necessary!” Grandma waved hastily and said, “I’m used to living alone at the beach. It’s is ok. Plus, Ren’s parents are coming back next week, so I will be alright with them taking care of me.”
“Next week?” Zhao Hongyu’s eyes lit up.
“Yes, should be next Wednesday. I will ask Ren’s dad to take your family out for dinner to thank you for saving my life,” Grandma said.
“Please don’t bother with that… we are a family,” Zhao Hongyu kept mentioning that they were a family.
She soon added, “But it’ll be good for us to all meet.”
Hao Ren’s heart sank. He felt like he had just fallen into a trap. Although his grandma looked healthy, she had severe high blood pressure. It was an indisputable fact that Zhao Hongyu did him a huge favor this time.
“Great! I’ll have Ren’s dad make a reservation when he comes back so we can show our gratitude!” Grandma said brightly.
Zhao Hongyu covered her mouth as she laughed and glimpsed at Hao Ren, and he lightly sighed helplessly. He knew that the meeting was destined even if this incident with Grandma never took place. With Zhao Guang controlling the Mingri Group, and he would be able to meet up with Hao Ren’s parents by either investing or sponsoring their projects.
“Since we are already a family,” Zhao Hongyu added in the heat of the moment, “Maybe you can stay with us for a few days and fully recover before Ren’s parents come back? We can take you back to the cottage afterward. Plus, we are very close to Ren’s university. You guys would be able to see each other more often because Ren comes to tutor Zi every day. That sounds great, doesn’t it! Ren was so worried when he heard the news yesterday. You don’t want to worry him too much too, right?”
Those words were persuasive, but Grandma was still hesitant, “That’s…too much trouble…”
“Not at all. We have a spare room, and I will get it ready for you after we get back. It’s not troublesome at all; just an extra pair of chopsticks!” Zhao Hongyu said enthusiastically.
/> Grandma turned to Hao Ren and was still hesitant.
Hao Ren was in a dilemma himself after hearing Zhao Hongyu’s suggestion. On the one hand, he didn’t want to trouble Zi’s family because of his grandma. On the other hand, he wanted her to be taken good care of after getting out of the hospital. He wanted her to get well soon because she shouldn’t go through too much at such an old age. Uncle Wang was not young, and he might neglect a lot of things. Hao Ren would still be worried if he let her return to the cottage directly from the hospital.
Therefore, he said after a thorough consideration of the situation, “Since my parents will be home next week, it’s better for Grandma to stay with Auntie Hongyu for the time being. We can take you back to the cottage after my parents come back.”
He thought to himself, “We must pay back the favor to Zi’s family because they have spent money, time, and energy on Grandma in her time of need. It’s a good thing that Zi is still young! I can ask dad to give her a thick red pocket with 7,000 to 8,000 yuan as a gift when they meet. That should be enough to express our gratitude and cover the cost.”
Grandma finally made up her mind after hearing Hao Ren’s words. She said to Zhao Hongyu, embarrassed, “Aoy…sorry for the trouble then…”
She had the same thoughts as Hao Ren. She wanted to thank Zhao Yanzi’s family a million times once Hao Ren’s dad was back.
“Then take some good rest, Auntie! I will send a car to pick you up first thing in the morning tomorrow!” Zhao Hongyu laughed cheerfully. She stood up and lightly bowed to Grandma. Then she waved Zhao Yanzi over.
“Goodbye, Grandma!” Zhao Yanzi put the backpack on her back and said to Grandma in a girly tone.
“You have really met a great family, Ren!” Grandma sighed as the two walked out of the room one by one.
Next morning, after having examined Hao Ren’s grandma’s condition, the doctor confirmed that everything was fine. He told Hao Ren to complete the discharging procedures.