Chapter 64

The girl who was being addressed was mesmerized. She felt like she had hit the jackpot as she was able to meet two good-looking folks early in the morning.

Moreover, when the beauty beside her heard his voice, she pulled down her eye mask and made eye contact with the guy. The girl felt like she was caught in the middle and the atmosphere was ambiguous.

“Sure- sure thing!”

She quickly packed up her things and stood up to give up her seat.

Gu Jing Yuan gave her a polite smile. “Thank you. My seats are in carriage 5, seats 13D and F. The destination of the tickets is the final stop, so you don’t have to worry about changing seats halfway.”

The girl took the two tickets from him. Internally, she was squealing, ‘Ah! So handsome, so considerate!!’

Tao Yi Xi observed his series of actions and realized he had come prepared.

“How did you know I was here?”

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Qw Kkdt Zwyd pyv nyzxzu sd vbl hynydv plyv, “R fwpv jdso.”

Mys Zk Dk oyp rwggzle, “Ebyv kq vblu ypjle ycswv kv?”

Fbl oyp pvkzz vaywxyvkple cu vbl zypv kdnkeldv.

“Psd’v osaau, kv osd’v byrrld ytykd vbkp vkxl. Jlpkelp, dso vbyv R’x yzalyeu blal, R nyd’v fwpv tlv sqq vbl vaykd.” Tl rwzzle esod bla lul xypj vbyv oyp rwzzle wr fwpv dso. Mys Zk Dk’p hkpksd kxxlekyvlzu clnyxl ldhlzsrle kd rkvnb czynj yde pbl qlzv bkx rwpb bla blye vs zlyd sd bkp pbswzela okvb sdl xshl.

“Gald’v usw pzllru? Myjl y iwknj dyr.”

Tl yefwpvle bkp pkvvkdt rspkvksd vs pzswnb zsola. Tkp blktbv oyp fwpv aktbv, okvb casye pbswzelap, xyjkdt kv iwkvl nsxqsavyczl vs alpv sd.

Gv qkapv, Mys Zk Dk vbswtbv pbl oswze cl vss wddlahle vs qyzz cynj ypzllr. Zlv, pbl oyp sdzu yoyjldle cu bkx obld vbl vaykd yrrasynble vblka elpvkdyvksd pvyvksd.

Fbl vssj sqq vbl lul xypj, qynle okvb vbl pweeld caktbvdlpp qasx vbl pwdzktbv, pbl piwkdvle yp pbl zygkzu awccle bla lulp. Fbl zssjle zkjl y nbkze, pzwttkpb yde kddsnldv, xyjkdt svblap oydv vs bwt bla vktbvzu yde jkpp bla zkvvzl qynl.

He was planning to do something in line with his train of thoughts but Tao Yi Xi had already sobered up.

“What are you doing?”

Gu Jing Yuan subtly withdrew his hand. “Nothing, let’s prepare to get off the train.”

He helped her carry her backpack, smoothly hailed a taxi, and told the driver the address.

The driver was a talkative one and liked to chat with his passengers.

“Young man, you’re not from around here, are you?”

“No.”

“Visiting with your girlfriend?”

Gu Jing Yuan’s lips curved slightly, sounding more enthusiastic than he had previously. “That’s right.”

“You two are very loving.”

She did not refute and Gu Jing Yuan hooked her finger with his, grinning widely as he replied, “En.”

He was beginning to like this suburban city.

Tao Yi Xi took out her keys from her bag and opened the door.

“Grandma, I’m back.”

After a while, her grandmother’s voice languidly came from the room.

“Is it Xiao Xi? You’re back?”

“Yes.”

Tao Yi Xi walked quickly towards her grandmother and hugged her. The smell of medicated oil encompassed her.

“Grandma, I’ve missed you so much.” They had not seen each other in the past few months. 

Why did her grandmother seem a bit thinner and more wane?

“I miss you too,” her grandmother hugged her back, patting her back soothingly, making her feel as secure as when she was a child.

“Xiao Xi, don’t you have classes today?”

“Today is Saturday, so there are no classes.”

“Then you should’ve rested at home. It’s tiring for you to travel back and forth,” Her grandmother smoothed her hair with her rough fingers as she asked with concern, “Have you eaten yet?”

“Yes, I have. I ate on the high-speed rail.”

“I’ll prepare some food for you.”

Grandma turned around slowly and that was when she noticed someone else standing by the door.

“Is this… the young lad who came last time?” 

Gu Jing Yuan was tall and handsome, making it hard not to leave an impression.

Gu Jing Yuan stepped forward, smiling brightly. “Grandma, previously I visited during Chinese New Year. My name is Gu Jing Yuan.”

“En, you’re from the Gu family, yes? You brought Xiao Xi back?”

“En.”

“Thank you so much, you’re such a good kid. Let me cook something for you to eat. Have a seat first and wait a while, let me see what’s there in the fridge.”

“Okay. Thank you, Grandma.” Gu Jing Yuan obediently sat down next to Tao Yi Xi.

Tao Yi Xi tugged her grandmother’s hand. “Grandma, just make something simple. I want to eat your clear broth noodles.”

She lightly nudged his legs, and Gu Jing Yuan got the signal. “Grandma, I would like some too.”

“Alright, we’ll have some clear broth noodles then. It’s just nice that I still have some noodles and bok choy at home. It’ll be ready in a bit.”

Grandma trudged slowly to the small kitchen.

“Peng!-“

There was a sudden noise from the kitchen. Tao Yi Xi shot up from the chair and ran to the kitchen, closely followed by Gu Jing Yuan.

Grandma was leaning heavily against the stove with one hand supported against the counter. Her other hand was massaging her temple and there were broken dishes scattered on the floor.

Tao Yi Xi did not have time to pick up the shattered dishes as she hurriedly stepped over them to support her grandmother, looking very anxious.

“Grandma, what’s wrong? Do you have a headache? We need to go to the hospital immediately!”

“Oh, it’s nothing, it’s just an old ailment. There’s no need to make a fuss over it. I’ll feel better after I apply some medicated oil.”

“No.” Tao Yi Xi firmly rejected. “At the very least, you must go to the hospital for a quick check-up.”

“But you haven’t eaten yet.”

“As I’ve said, we’ve already eaten so we’re not hungry.”

During their verbal spat, Gu Jing Yuan quickly grabbed a broom from the corner and quickly swept the broken ceramics aside before echoing Tao Yi Xi’s words.

“Grandma, you should go for a check-up or she won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

Tao Yi Xi nodded solemnly.

“I’ll call for a ride, you two get ready.” Gu Jing Yuan decisively stated before stepping away. 

“Wait, wait… Xiao Gu.”

With Gu Jing Yuan’s long legs, he disappeared from view in two to three steps, and Grandma failed to call him back.

Tao Yi Xi glanced at his tall and dependable back.

She withdrew her gaze, suppressing her untimely emotions and supported her grandmother to sit on the old sofa.

“Grandma, rest here for a bit, I need to pack your medical records.”

The medical records were tugged inside the second drawer of the bedside table. As it had been many years since it was first issued, the book was slightly yellowed, but Grandma kept it well as all the corners were still flat and crisped. Between the pages were her previously prescribed prescriptions, neatly stacked according to date.

She found her grandmother’s medical records and packed her hospital card as well.

Coincidentally, just as she was done packing, Gu Jing Yuan’s phone vibrated; the car was already waiting outside.

Grandma could not stop them, so after much back-and-forth, she still underwent a full-body check-up despite her objections.

While Grandma was wheeled in to have an ultrasound, Gu Jing Yuan handed Tao Yi Xi a carton of milk and bread.

“You need to eat something.”

She had not had any sustenance all morning.

“What about you?” Tao Yi Xi received it as she asked him.

“I’ve had a glass of milk on my way back.”

Tao Yi Xi noticed inside the bag he was still holding was a cake that the elderly could easily ingest.

Sure enough, when Grandma came out, Gu Jing Yuan handed the bag to her.

Grandma was touched by his thoughtfulness and praised him several times, calling him a ‘good child’.

The three of them sat on the long bench in the hospital and encountered an old lady with permed, black-dyed hair. The elderly looked younger than Grandma. 

She greeted Grandma with envy, “Gui Fang, you’re so lucky to have your granddaughter and grandson-in-law accompany you for a check-up.”

“What nonsense, my granddaughter is still schooling. This is her brother.”

“I didn’t know that your daughter had another son… Oh, this is…” 

The curly-haired elderly suddenly came to a realization. She recalled the rumours she had heard previously as she carefully studied Gu Jing Yuan. She suddenly thought of her own grandson, who only knew how to idle about and was not dependable during crucial times.

The curly-haired grandma sighed, “This child is more filial than a biological grandson. You are truly blessed.”

“When children grow up, they will naturally become more sensible.”

Grandma was privy to the other elderly’s family situation and avoided her sore spots as they chatted about other things for a while.

During this time, Tao Yi Xi went to the consultation desk in the medical examination department to enquire about her grandmother’s condition while Gu Jing Yuan headed downstairs to collect Grandma’s medication.

The medical report would take about two weeks to come out, and she would be notified via message.

Gu Jing Yuan came back up with the medicine, and Grandma finished her conversation with the elderly, hence, the three of them made their way home.

Tao Yi Xi had her head lowered as she looked through the issued medicine. Hence, she was not paying attention to the path in front of her causing her to stumble. However, Gu Jing Yuan promptly caught her arm to steady her.

The curly-haired elderly remained seated in her seat, watching Gu Jing Yuan and Tao Yi Xi’s backs which exuded a peculiar sense of intimacy.

**

After bustling about the whole afternoon, it was already dusk when they left the hospital and reached home.

Grandma insisted on cooking dinner, “You rarely come home, so let me cook a bowl of noodles for you since it’s something you wanted to eat in the first place.”

Tao Yi Xi could not refuse Grandma’s kind intentions, so she resolved herself to stand guard at the kitchen door, as she watched on worriedly.

The clear broth noodles were simple and quick to make. Soon what was left to do was to garnish the bowl with some chopped spring onions.

“Wait, he doesn’t like spring onions.”

Grandma paused and put the chopped spring onions down.

“You two get along well, yes?” Grandma asked.

“We get along fine.”

“You never used to bother about remembering other people’s preferences.”

Tao Yi Xi blinked, “Really?”

Grandma smiled, “You’ve grown up now.”

Tao Yi Xi bit her lip, “I’ll bring the noodles out first.”

Gu Jing Yuan eagerly awaited at the dining table. The simple clear broth noodles were refreshing on the palate. He, who was usually picky even when eating all kinds of delicacies, praised Grandma’s ordinary white noodles. This made the elderly beam in joy.

Seeing Grandma chortling so gaily, Tao Yi Xi was also cheerful. 

The atmosphere during dinner was harmonious.

After dinner, she took charge of washing the dishes.

Gu Jing Yuan casually told her, “I’ll be back in a moment.”

“En.” Tao Yi Xi replied absentmindedly.

Taking advantage of Grandma’s absence, he rubbed her hair vigorously and the strength he used was enough to cause her head to be pressed down.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing, just letting off some steam. I’m good now.”

Tao Yi Xi was baffled, “?” 

With Grandma around, she only had Grandma in her eyes.

But of course, he was willing to take care of her on Grandma’s behalf.

However, it did not change the fact that he was very envious, and maybe even a tinge bit jealous that there was someone she cared for so much.

When would it be his turn?