Su Qingsang wanted the answer, not because she didnât like Xiang Caiping, or because she wanted to rebuild the mother-daughter relationship with her real mother.
After meeting Xiang Caiping, she realized something.
Xiang Caiping had suffered for twenty lonely years. That made Su Qingsang wonder if her real mother lived an even worse life than Xiang Caiping had.
Xiang Caiping sold her apartment and left for the North to start her own business. She was a strong, capable woman. Still, she missed her daughter so much.
What about the other woman, the woman who gave birth to Su Qingsang?
Was she living an unfortunate life in someplace that Su Qingsang didnât know about? Was she unhappy?
Su Qingsang didnât want to think about that, but she couldnât help it.
Before, she never longed for motherly love, because she knew that was useless. However, after spending a few months together with Xiang Caiping, she felt entirely different.
No matter if she would eventually recognize that woman as her mother or not, she wanted to do something for her, to thank her for bringing her into the world.
As for the other things, she would think about those after she found that woman.
âDarling?â
Huo Jinyaoâs voice was heard on the other side of the phone. Su Qingsang came back to her senses, smiled at the fireworks in the sky, and said, âHuo Jinyao, can you really make my wish come true?â
âOf course,â Huo Jinyao nodded and said, âIâll even get you a star from the sky if you want one.â
âYeah, right,â Su Qignsang laughed. âIf I asked you for a star, you might give me a meteorite.â
âWonât you like that?â Huo Jinyao said regretfully. âDonât underestimate meteorites. Many meteorites have a very high value. They are even more expensive than diamonds.â
He was talking nonsense again. âYeah, yeah, I know. Maybe you should buy me a few pieces of meteorite instead of a diamond. We can put them in my room and hold a meteorite exhibition. Isnât that a great idea?â
âDarling, you know me so well,â Huo Jinyao leaned against the wall, looked at the splendid sky, and said, âI used to dream of owning a museum that would hold exhibitions of some special things that people never have seen before.â
On the other side of the phone, a trace of sadness flashed across Huo Jinyaoâs eyes. How come that little boy who dreamed about running a museum disappeared?
Su Qingsang didnât believe even a word he said. She almost lost patience. âWhat a great dream. How come you didnât do it?â
âMuseums donât earn money. They cost money. I need to make money for my wife, donât I?â
âHuo Jinyao,â Su Qingsang finally grasped a loophole in his words, âWhen you started to think about earning money for your wife, I wasnât your wife yet, was I?â
âNo, you werenât. However, I was long-sighted. I decided to earn money and save all my money for my future wife. See how smart your husband is?â
Su Qingsang nearly burst out in laughter. âHuo Jinyao, itâs such a pity that you werenât invited to the New Yearâs Gala. You are so good at talking. You could be a great talk show artist.â
âYeah. Those people are tasteless. Perhaps I should do a talk show exclusively for you next time?â
Hearing that, Su Qingsang finally laughed.
âAlright. Do start learning talk show skills. In the future, youâll be giving me a talk show every time I come home from work.â
âThatâs a deal.â
âAlright,â Su Qignsang gave up, âItâs getting late. Just get some rest.â
âYou go and rest, donât exhaust yourself. If you need help, call Xiao Ning or Xiao Yu.â
âDarling,â Huo Jinyao said again, before ending the call.
âEmm?â
âI bought a ticket for the flight back to Lin City tomorrow. I was going back to you, but my great-uncle is here, and my great-aunt is arriving soon. I might need to stay here until three days from now, or even longer.â
âItâs alright. Just do what you need to do.â Su Qingsang always understood him. âSay hi to your great-uncle and great-aunt for me. Iâll be there next time, I promise.â
âOkay. My great-uncle is a nice guy. Heâs going to retire soon, and heâll enjoy his retirement in Rong City. However, my great-aunt doesnât visit us often. When you come here, we should pay a visit to her.â
Huo Jinyaoâs great-aunt, Huo Yangxiu, was serving in a military district. She lived in the army together with her husband and rarely came to Rong City.
âSure.â Su Qingsang didnât refuse. She married Huo Jinyao knowing that she had to deal with his huge family. She wasnât used to facing so many relatives, but still, she would try her best to get along with his family.
âMy great-aunt is a good person. Youâll see when you met her.â
âI believe you,â said Su Qingsang. She thought for a moment, then said, âOh, I need to ask you about something.â
âWhat is it?â
Su Qingsang pressed her lips together for a moment, then said, âI always visited the Su Family on the first day of the New Year to wish Old Master Li and my father Happy New Year, even though I didnât like it.â
She moved out of the family since she started her college life. However, every year, she went back to the Su Family for the New Year.
In the past two years, she switched shifts with her colleagues on purpose to work at the New Year, so she didnât have to go back to the Su Family. This year, she needed to work too, but still, she hesitated slightly.
âHuo Jinyao, I donât want to go to the Su Family this year.â
She wasnât angry at Su Chenghui, but she didnât want to see him either.
âDonât go, then,â Huo Jinyao responded without thinking. âJust stay with Mom at the hospital during these days. If you still want to visit the Su Family, Iâll go with you when I come back.â
âOkay,â Su Qingsang nodded. She believed that with Huo Jinyaoâs company, she would be much calmer and composed than when she was alone.
âDarling, listen to me. From now on, you donât need to do the things you donât want to do or see people that you donât want to see. Itâll be fine. Iâve got your back.â
That sounded pretty self-willed. Could anyone live such a free life in this world?
No to mention anything else, the Su Family raised her. No matter why Su Chenghui told the Li Family people that Su Qingsang was Xiang Caipingâs daughter, he brought her up, and that was a fact.
She wished that one day, Su Chenghui would tell her the truth about her biological mother.
âI mean it. I donât want you to be unhappy. Donât you believe me?â
âI believe you.â
In fact, she barely suffered any unhappiness during the past half a year that she spent with Huo Jinyao.
It was almost one oâclock in the morning when the call ended.
The fireworks had faded. Everything was quiet. Su Qingsang silently went back into the room.
Xiang Caiping fell asleep earlier than Su Qingsang did, so when the latter got up, she was already awake.
âMorning,â Su Qingsang quickly got up and said, âHappy New Year, Mom.â
âHappy New Year, Happy New Year,â Xiang Caiping beckoned her and said, âCome here, this is for you.â
She took a red envelope out from under her pillow and said again, âHappy New Year.â
âMom, what is this?â
âYour New Yearâs lucky money. I should have given it to you yesterday, but I forgot,â Xiang Caiping said with a slightly guilty face.
âThank you, Mom. Iâm an adult. I donât need this.â Su Qingsang was touched. She grew up in the Su Family, so of course, she received New Yearâs lucky money every year.
However, that couldnât be compared with the red envelope that came from Xiang Caiping.
âDonât say that,â Xiang Caiping smiled and added, âI owe you many things. Iâll make it up to you bit by bit. When I have a grandchild, Iâll prepare New Yearâs red envelopes for him or her every year.â
âGreat. Iâm thanking you in my future childrenâs name, then. You should take good care of yourself first.â
âYou too.â
After breakfast, Zuo Hongchen came to visit Xiang Caiping. As a doctor, he came to the hospital pretty early.
The second visitor was Shi Mengwan. Su Qingsang didnât expect her to come so early.
âWhy are you in the hospital on New Yearâs day?â Xiang Caiping said to her. âYou could come here later.â
âAunty, itâs fine. Iâm not superstitious.â Shi Mengwan dropped the gift she brought while she spoke. âQingsang is my good friend. I donât believe what people say about hospital ill-luck.â
âYou are both good kids.â
Xiang Caipingâs room was full of visitors. A few of Su Qingsangâs colleagues who were on duty all visited Xiang Caiping.
The festive atmosphere was great.
Su Qingsang needed to work, so she couldnât stay in the room at all times. She was happy that Xiang Caiping had company.
Before lunch, Su Qingsang finished work, then walked toward Xiang Caipingâs room in a haste. Unexpectedly, she saw Su Chenghui again.
He was standing outside the room and obviously wanted to go in, but somehow didnât.
âFather.â Su Qingsang had many complaints about Su Chenghui, but she tried not to show it. âHappy New Year.â
âHappy New Year,â Su Chenghui responded awkwardly. He cleared his throat, glanced at the room and said, âYour mother...â
âMy mother is healing well. The doctor will give her another check-up after the New Year, and then sheâll probably be discharged.â
Su Qingsang and the caregivers had been taking good care of Xiang Caiping, so she recovered quickly. Her condition was better than what the doctor expected it to be by that time.
After the hospital discharged her, she would only need to focus on rehabilitation. She would be healthy again.
âI...â
Su Chenghui tried to speak, but she cut across him.
âDad, please, donât get into that room to see my Mother. Itâs the New Year.â
Xiang Caiping definitely did not want to see Su Chenghui on the first day of the New Year. That was certainly not a good thing for her.
Su Chenghui wore a sullen expression and replied with, âQingsang, I want you to remember that I am your father.â
âI know,â Su Qingsang nodded and said, âBut so what? My mother doesnât want to see you, so please, kindly leave her alone. Can you do that?â
Su Chenghuiâs face was dark as thunder. He spent a few seconds glaring at Su Qingsang, then said, âI only want to wish her Happy New Year.â
âDonât bother,â Su Qingsang honestly didnât think that was necessary. âSheâll be happier not to see you. Iâm afraid that seeing you at the New Year would make her not so happy.â
âWhat are you talking about?â Su Chenghui was very displeased to hear that.
...