Chapter 639: Side Story 052 Wan Quan’s Conspiracy Again (Updated Once)

Wan Quan stayed in the hospital for another week.

Her condition had somewhat stabilized, and she could eat a little now. The doctor suggested she recuperates at home.

After all, no one wishes to spend their last days in a hospital.

Wan Quan couldn’t walk on her own anymore, so Mu Cidian carried her home from the hospital.

Wan Quan had become incredibly thin.

So thin that Mu Cidian could hardly feel her weight in his arms.

He took her home.

Wan Quan didn’t have much energy, and spent most of the day lying in bed. Lei Qian stayed with her all day, and so did Mu Cidian.

Wan Quan was aware that her health was declining steadily, but she didn’t ask.

Nobody else had the heart to tell her.

After breakfast, Mu Cidian took Wan Quan for a wheelchair stroll around the neighborhood.

The breeze was gentle in the morning and it was refreshing.

These strolls were probably the only time during her day that Wan Quan felt a little comfort.

“Let’s sit over there,” Wan Quan pointed at a bench in the community park.

Mu Cidian wheeled her towards it.

He lifted Wan Quan from her wheelchair and sat her on the bench.

Mu Cidian sat down next to her.

Wan Quan said, “Cidian, time flies, doesn’t it?”

Mu Cidian sat quietly, listening to her. Wan Quan’s voice wasn’t energetic and authoritative like before; she gasped for air when she spoke.

“I can still remember when you were little. You were very obedient — you would listen to whatever your father or I said. We were truly happy as a family of three back then… if it hadn’t been for the accident…” Wan Quan seemed to choke up.

Mu Cidian clasped his mother’s hand in silent consolation.

“If it weren’t for that accident, our family of three could’ve remained happily ever after,” Wan Quan whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. “The only joyful memories I have left are from the time when your father was alive and when we loved each other. How could he abandon us…”

Tears trickled down her face unabated.

Mu Cidian didn’t know how to comfort her. He could only squeeze her hand reassuringly.

“Back then, I wanted to go with your father. But when I saw you, I dropped the idea of suicide. I saw your small figure standing in the middle of the room, watching me silently. I gave up the idea of ending my life. I wanted to raise you, to fight for what rightfully belonged to our family. And that’s why I married Xin He.”

“Mom, those are all things of the past,” Mu Cidian said. “Xin He is dead now, too. Our family’s grudges should end here.”

“I can let go of our family’s grudges, but I cannot accept — I truly cannot accept — your relationship with Xin Zaozao. It breaks my heart, Cidian…” Wan Quan seemed to get agitated, her body weak but her emotion apparent.

Mu Cidian wiped her tears. “I understand,” he said.

“Are you really going to listen to me? Are you truly going to end things with Xin Zaozao?” Wan Quan asked anxiously.

“Mm-hmm.”

“Then you should be with Lei Qian,” Wan Quan said outright.

“Mom, there are many other choices apart from Xin Zaozao. You should concern yourself more with your health rather than my future. I can take care of myself.”

“I’m afraid you can’t let go of Xin Zaozao…” Wan Quan said sadly.

“Mom, stop, please,” Mu Cidian said gently. “The doctor said you need to rest a lot, not tire yourself out with worries.”

Wan Quan looked at Mu Cidian.

Mu Cidian kindly smiled.

Even though he kept yielding to her, she could sense that he was not sincere.

But now, she didn’t want to use forceful measures anymore; she knew they wouldn’t work.

Even when she drugged Mu Cidian that night, he still went to Xin Zaozao in the end. Getting into a fight with him now would only damage their mother-son relationship.

But she would never allow him to be with Xin Zaozao.

“Let’s go home. I’m feeling a bit weak,” said Wan Quan, conversation over.

Mu Cidian lifted her back into the wheelchair and took her home.

Lei Qian was cleaning the room when they returned.

Just as they finished.

“How are you feeling today, Auntie?” Lei Qian asked when she saw them return.

“I’m alright.” Wan Quan gave a faint smile.

“You look much better today, Auntie. I’m sure you will recover completely soon.”

“You really know how to talk.” Wan Quan smiled. “Qianqian, could you take me to my room? I want to take a nap.”

“Sure.”

Lei Qian took over the control of Wan Quan’s wheelchair from Mu Cidian and wheeled her away.

Mu Cidian watched his mother’s retreating figure.

It was impossible for him not to feel crushed.

He never imagined his strong-willed mother would end up like this one day.

He’d rather have her be as tough on him as before. Even if it meant they were at odds, he didn’t want to see her behave weak and suffer.

…

Lei Qian tucked Wan Quan into bed.

Wan Quan didn’t sleep. She said to Lei Qian, “It seems Mu Cidian still can’t let go of Xin Zaozao.”

Lei Qian hesitated while adjusting the covers. She forced a smile and said, “Auntie, you should stop worrying about Mu Cidian and focus on your recovery. That’s what’s important.”

“Lei Qian, tell me honestly, am I dying soon?” Wan Quan asked.

“What are you talking about?” Lei Qian snapped.

“I know my own body.”

“Auntie, you just need to take care of yourself. Medical science is very advanced, you are not going to die,” Lei Qian consoled.

“Don’t lie to me. I want to know how much time I have left. What is the time frame for you and Mu Cidian to be together?” Wan Quan firmly asked.

Though her voice was weak, it still commanded authority.

Lei Qian clenched her teeth.

“Qianqian, I’m prepared. Since Mu Cidian won’t tell me, you should. Don’t worry, I can handle it better than you think,” Wan Quan enticed.

Lei Qian still didn’t dare to say it.

“Do I have a year left?” Wan Quan asked.

Lei Qian didn’t respond.

“Half a year?”

Lei Qian remained silent.

“Three months?” Wan Quan stared at Lei Qian.

“Two months?”

Lei Qian seemed to flinch.

“So, I only have two months left,” Wan Quan murmured.

“No, it’s not like that. Auntie, the doctor said it’s going to be longer than two or three months,” Lei Qian said in a slightly agitated tone.

Her agitation affirmed the reality.

Wan Quan just stared at Lei Qian.

She prepared herself for this news, but the realization that she was indeed dying was still hard to accept.

She just lay there frozen, not reacting for a long time.

“Auntie, Auntie, don’t scare me. It’s not like that; the doctor said you will live for a long time. Auntie, you just have to hold on… Auntie, hold on…” Lei Qian was nearly in tears.

Wan Quan just sat there, listening to Lei Qian’s voice. There was a slight movement in her eyes, her eyelids were very red, but she was extraordinarily calm at that moment. She said, “It’s okay, I saw it coming.”

“Auntie…”

“Stop crying.” Wan Quan said, “Don’t let Mu Cidian know about my condition, either.”

Lei Qian fiercely wiped her tears.

“I’m going to take a nap, you should go.”

“Auntie, I want to stay with you.” Lei Qian refused to leave.

Wan Quan glanced at her.

She sighed, not saying anything more.

In comparison, Lei Qian was indeed too inexperienced. Without her help, how could Lei Qian possibly compete with Xin Zaozao?

That woman Xin Zaozao, well, let’s not talk about her past. She used to be a good-for-nothing woman, but now it’s different. As a man, as a normal man, any man would pick Xin Zaozao over Lei Qian.

She must, in her last days, make Mu Cidian completely give up hope on Xin Zaozao.

…

Half a month passed.

Wan Quan’s condition was still the same, neither better nor worse.

Mu Cidian and Lei Qian were still there by her side.

Clearly, during this time, Mu Cidian had been completely doting on her.

Because of the harmony between mother and son, the atmosphere in the house felt better.

That day, after breakfast.

Wan Quan still wanted to go downstairs to get some fresh air.

Today, she specifically asked Lei Qian to accompany her, leaving Mu Cidian at home.

Lei Qian pushed Wan Quan downstairs in her wheelchair.

The two of them strolled around the neighborhood.

Suddenly, Wan Quan asked, “Qianqian, did you bring the car?”

“Huh?” Lei Qian was taken aback.

“Did you drive the car here?”

“Yes, it’s in the garage.” Lei Qian replied, “Auntie, what do you want to do?”

“Give me my phone.” Wan Quan said.

When they left the house, she asked Lei Qian to bring it with them.

Lei Qian quickly handed the phone to Wan Quan.

Wan Quan dialed a number.

It took a while for the other side to pick up.

Xin Zaozao really didn’t want to answer the call. She and Wan Quan had always been at odds and she didn’t want to have any interaction with her.

But for some reason, perhaps it was because this person was about to die, Xin Zaozao didn’t have the heart to reject even a phone call.

She said, “Wan Quan.”

“Xin Zaozao, let’s meet.”

Xin Zaozao frowned.

She thought Wan Quan called just to threaten her not to be with Mu Cidian.

Suddenly saying they needed to meet made Xin Zaozao hesitate.

“What, you dare not meet me?”

“I just can’t find a reason to meet with you.”

“I have one.” Wan Quan’s mouth pulled into a smile, “Don’t you want to know why our families had a feud all those years ago? I suppose you only know the tip of the iceberg and don’t know the real reason.”

“Why should I care?”

“You were bullied by me, and endured humiliation from Mu Cidian. Don’t you want to know what actually happened to our elders? Aren’t you curious?”

“I don’t think you’re that kind.” Xin Zaozao continued bluntly.

Xin Zaozao wasn’t as easy to fool as she used to be.

Wan Quan said, “I just want you to understand what’s really standing between you and Mu Cidian, why you two can’t be together.”

So it was still about stopping their relationship.

“Fine.” Xin Zaozao suddenly agreed.

Whether she and Mu Cidian could be together was not important. What was important was that she also wanted to know what had happened all those years ago!

Back then, who was really at fault?.

“SMALL Cafe.” Wan Quan said, “Ten o’clock.”

“Okay.”

After Wan Quan hung up the phone, she said to Lei Qian, “I will help you guys one last time.”

“Auntie, what are you doing?” Lei Qian didn’t understand.

“Take me to SMALL and you’ll see.”

Lei Qian hesitated for a moment, then drove Wan Quan to her destination.

They were waiting for Xin Zaozao in a private room at the cafe.

Xin Zaozao arrived exactly at ten, not a minute late.

This was probably a successful businesswoman’s accurate control of time.

The moment Xin Zaozao walked into the room and saw Wan Quan, she stopped in surprise.

She hadn’t expected Wan Quan to look so ill, so changed. Looking at her now, she probably didn’t have long to live.

She managed to control her emotions. No matter how Wan Quan looked, she was not worth her pity.

She sat down opposite Wan Quan and said, “Go ahead.”

“What am I supposed to say?” Wan Quan sipped on the warm water in front of her.

“Weren’t you going to talk about the feud between our families?” Xin Zaozao raised her eyebrows, “I’m very busy.”

“Who said I was going to tell you about the feud between our families?”

Xin Zaozao frowned.

Wan Quan said, “You think I would be that kind?”

Xin Zaozao laughed a little, “True.”

It looked like she had been played by Wan Quan.

However, she wasn’t mad.

With Wan Quan in her current state, she really wouldn’t be too worked up.

She was afraid that if she was too emotional and upset Wan Quan, Wan Quan might die on the spot, and she wouldn’t be able to shake off her involvement.

She said, “In that case, I should be going now.”

“How can you just leave after coming here?” Wan Quan looked at her.

Xin Zaozao frowned.

“I must have a reason for asking you here.”

Xin Zaozao really didn’t want to deal with Wan Quan. If it were in the past, she would just walk away. But seeing Wan Quan’s current state…

Admittedly, she did feel a bit sorry for her.

She said, “You can talk now.”

She restrained her emotions, not getting angry or rushed.