Chapter 101: Happiness
Wu Xiulian had been to Jindu a few times, always for business trips. You Ruxu had never been free before. This time, with the New Year approaching, and You Ruxu on leave, she decided to visit, also urged by Wu Xiulian’s mother to check on You Ruxu’s living situation in Jindu. She took leave after her business trip and flew over. You Ruxu didn’t pick her up, it was Zhou Tianzui who met her at the airport. Wu Xiulian chuckled, “Is Xu Xu that busy? I’ll have to lecture her later.”
You Ruxu, afraid of worrying her family, hadn’t told them about her injuries. The police had suppressed the news, so Wu Xiulian didn’t know either.
Zhou Tianzui said, “She’s not that busy recently, just a little…inconvenienced.”
“Inconvenienced?” Wu Xiulian frowned, “Did something happen to her?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “She’s in the hospital.”
You Ruxu sat on the hospital bed, listening to Wu Xiulian say, “What happened? Why didn’t you tell us about such a big incident? If I hadn’t come, were you just planning to keep it from us?”
“I’m sorry.” You Ruxu said, “I didn’t want you to worry.”
“Worry? What worry?” Wu Xiulian said, “Xu Xu, we’re family, family should share everything, you…” She sighed, “Forget it, with your personality, it’s pointless arguing with you.”
You Ruxu looked at her and asked, “Aunt, how’s Mom’s health?”
“Definitely better than yours.” Wu Xiulian said, “Where does it hurt?”
You Ruxu said, “I’m not in pain anymore.”
“Don’t lie.” Wu Xiulian said, “I know a guy who broke his hand, and he was crying like a baby. You have injuries on both your hand and leg, how can you not be in pain?”
You Ruxu was silent.
Wu Xiulian said, “Alright, your aunt is here now, I’ll take care of everything, you just focus on recovering, don’t worry about anything else.”
You Ruxu glanced at Zhou Tianzui, a gentle smile in her eyes, and nodded, “Thank you, Aunt.”
“If you’re so polite again, I’ll hit you!” She pinched You Ruxu’s cheek, “You’ve lost weight, your face is so thin.”
You Ruxu said, “I haven’t lost any weight.”
“Whether you have or not, you have to eat everything I give you these next few days.” Wu Xiulian said, “Are there any hotels nearby?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Our apartment is nearby.”
“That’s not convenient.” Wu Xiulian said, “I’ll stay at a hotel, are there any nearby?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Yes, I’ll arrange it.”
“I’ll go with you.” Wu Xiulian picked up her suitcase. “Xu Xu, rest for a bit, I’ll come back later.”
Wu Xiulian’s arrival and departure were a whirlwind. You Ruxu sat on the bed, looking out the window at the sunny sky, a sense of warmth spreading through her. Zhou Tianzui took Wu Xiulian to a nearby hotel. It was less crowded during the New Year holidays. This hotel was mostly used by family members of patients, with a small kitchen and basic amenities, more like a studio apartment. Zhou Tianzui was worried Wu Xiulian wouldn’t be comfortable there and offered her apartment instead. Wu Xiulian said, “This is fine, it has everything, and I saw a supermarket downstairs. Dr. Zhou, are you busy? Do you have to go?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “I was on duty last night, I’m not busy today.”
“Then you should probably rest, go home and sleep?” Wu Xiulian said, “You look like you’ve lost weight too, were you scared by what happened to Xu Xu?”
Zhou Tianzui stood beside Wu Xiulian, “A little, Aunt, I’ll go to the supermarket with you.”
“Oh, alright.” They chatted as they walked, “Xu Xu, that child, can be incredibly stubborn sometimes. When she was in junior high, she told me, ‘Aunt, I want to be a lawyer.’”
“I asked her why, and she said she thought lawyers were cool.” Wu Xiulian chuckled. “Later, she went back to her hometown, and when she came back, she was different, always getting sick, fevers, not even colds, just fevers. We took her to several hospitals, my sister was so worried, working during the day, and I would stay with Xu Xu, but she’s stubborn, refused to tell us what happened.”
But she eventually did talk.
In her dreams.
She talked about many things from the past, her mother, her father, a reporter, and a notebook.
Wu Xiulian admitted she was selfish. Wu Xiulian’s sister’s condition had finally stabilized after several years, and You Ruxu, after coming to live with them, had finally started acting like a normal child, learning to be affectionate, to express herself. She couldn’t forget the fear and trepidation in You Ruxu’s eyes when she first met her, how she pretended to be another child, an obedient and sensible child, for Wu Xiulian’s mother, hiding her true self, just to be able to stay with them.
It had been many years, and she didn’t want to destroy the fragile happiness they had built.
So, she hid the notebook.
Zhou Tianzui asked, “She still hasn’t talked about it?”
“Whether she does or not, we already know.” Wu Xiulian said, “She originally wanted to go to university in Jindu after high school, but my sister couldn’t bear to be apart from her, so Xu Xu stayed here. My sister, she doesn’t expect Xu Xu to come back anymore, she just wants her to be safe and happy, she wants you two to be happy together.”
Zhou Tianzui was silent.
Wu Xiulian said, “I heard your mother also lives in Jindu and takes good care of Xu Xu. Maybe one day…”
“My mother’s not doing very well recently.” Zhou Tianzui said, “Maybe next time.”
Wu Xiulian looked at Zhou Tianzui, “What’s wrong?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “She knows about us.”
“Ah…” A soft gasp of understanding. Wu Xiulian said, “Then your mother, she must be very angry.”
Zhou Tianzui pushed the shopping cart, “Yes, she’s very angry.”
The angriest she had been in years.
Wu Xiulian said, “It’s normal for her to be angry, she probably just needs time to accept it, you can’t force her.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “I know.”
“Dr. Zhou,” Wu Xiulian said, “I know you and Xu Xu have been through a lot, Xu Xu might not say anything, but she keeps everything bottled up, her feelings for you, for your mother…”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Aunt, let’s forget about the past.”
Wu Xiulian looked at her.
Zhou Tianzui’s gaze was calm and peaceful. She said, “I don’t want to dwell on the past anymore. I told her, let’s let it go, we still have a future together.”
Wu Xiulian looked at her, and after a few seconds, said, “I’m sorry.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Aunt, you don’t have to…”
“Dr. Zhou, I’m sorry.” She said, “And I’m sorry to your mother, it’s our family’s fault, we’ve wronged you.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “It’s not your fault.”
You Ruxu was adopted later, they weren’t responsible for what happened, “Aunt, let’s not talk about this anymore, let’s go back.”
Wu Xiulian nodded, and carrying the bags, followed Zhou Tianzui. They returned to the hotel with three bags of groceries. Wu Xiulian told Zhou Tianzui to rest, but Zhou Tianzui said, “I have to go home, my mom’s alone.”
“Alright, then you go ahead.” Wu Xiulian said, “Don’t tire yourself out, don’t worry about Xu Xu, I’ll take care of her.”
Zhou Tianzui was relieved, Wu Xiulian’s arrival was timely, she could spend more time with Yu Qiao, without worrying too much about You Ruxu. Back at her apartment, Yu Qiao was making lunch. Hearing her enter, she didn’t turn around. Zhou Tianzui called out, “Mom.”
“Weren’t you on the night shift? You worked until now?” Yu Qiao’s tone was sharp. Zhou Tianzui said, “I had to pick someone up this morning.”
Yu Qiao didn’t ask who it was. Zhou Tianzui went to the kitchen, “Mom, let me help you.”
“I don’t need your help.” Yu Qiao said, “I can manage.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Mom, I’m sorry about last night.”
Yu Qiao’s hands paused mid-wash, her head lowered. Last night’s shock had been too much, she had even dreamt about it, You Ruxu coming to her apartment, looking for Zhou Tianzui, crying, begging to see her.
She had still been dazed when she woke up this morning.
Zhou Tianzui, seeing this, said, “It’s about the Fengyuan case, it’s almost over, don’t worry too much.”
“Worry about what?” Yu Qiao said, “Worry about you two sneaking around behind my back?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Mom, we weren’t sneaking around.”
“You’re not now.” Yu Qiao said, “But what about before?”
“I was afraid you wouldn’t accept it before.” Zhou Tianzui looked down, her long eyelashes hiding her expression. Yu Qiao said, “Couldn’t accept it before, so you think I can accept it now? Xiao Tian, it would have been better if you hadn’t told me at all, waited until I was dead, then you could be with whoever you want.”
“I didn’t want that.” Zhou Tianzui took the knife from Yu Qiao and started chopping vegetables skillfully, “You’re my mom, I want you to know about every decision I make.”
“You still remember I’m your mother!” Yu Qiao scoffed.
Zhou Tianzui continued chopping vegetables, “I do, that’s why you’re the one whose blessing I want the most.”
She turned to look at Yu Qiao, her tone sincere, “Mom, I don’t care what others think, what they say about me, even if they point fingers at me, I can handle it. But you’re different, you’re not like them, you’re my mom, the most important person in my life. If you don’t accept it, I won’t be happy.”
Yu Qiao was startled by her words, her heart heavy with complex emotions. They had only each other all these years, their bond stronger than anything. She didn’t doubt Zhou Tianzui’s sincerity, but it was precisely because of this sincerity that she felt even more heartbroken.
“Then—then you just—” Then just be unhappy.
Yu Qiao swallowed the words, looking at Zhou Tianzui, remembering her as a child, crying in her arms, remembering Zhou Tianzui in junior high, coming home every day excitedly saying, “Mom, I did well this week, the teacher praised me,” even when she was ridiculed and ostracized by her classmates at school, she would still come home with a smile, telling her mother she was fine.
Yu Qiao’s greatest wish in life was for Zhou Tianzui to be happy.
No one wanted her happiness more than she did.
But why a woman?
Yu Qiao couldn’t say the words, her face grim as she continued cooking. Zhou Tianzui, looking at her profile, sensing a slight softening in her demeanor, felt a warmth spread through her heart. She called out, “Mom.”
Yu Qiao didn’t respond.
Zhou Tianzui stood behind her, her voice slightly choked, “Mom.”
She just called out to her, not saying anything else.
Yu Qiao lowered her head, tears silently tracing her cheeks. Her back to Zhou Tianzui, she was unusually quiet.
After lunch, Zhou Tianzui went to her room to rest. She messaged You Ruxu: [Have you eaten?]
You Ruxu was having soup, her eyes lighting up slightly at the message. Wu Xiulian said, “Oh, a message from Dr. Zhou?”
“Yes.” You Ruxu said, “She just finished eating.”
Wu Xiulian said, “I heard, her mother knows about you two.”
You Ruxu’s typing paused, and she looked at Wu Xiulian.
Wu Xiulian continued, “It’s normal for her mother to be angry, even if she scolds us, it’s understandable. After you’re discharged, I’ll go see her with you.”
You Ruxu nodded, “Thank you, Aunt.”
Wu Xiulian said, “Finish your soup, I’ll go to the bathroom, you can talk to Dr. Zhou.”
You Ruxu, seeing her deliberately excuse herself, didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She called Zhou Tianzui, her voice low, “Are you going to sleep?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Yes, are you going to sleep too? Didn’t sleep well last night, did you?”
They had chatted on and off all night. You Ruxu said, “Yes, I’ll sleep after I finish eating.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ll come over later tonight.”
You Ruxu said, “Okay.”
Zhou Tianzui turned over and took out the press pass from her pocket. Before You Ruxu could hang up, she asked, “If—”
You Ruxu gripped her phone tightly.
Zhou Tianzui asked, “If you weren’t a reporter, what would you do?”
You Ruxu paused.
She hadn’t thought about any other career. After reading that notebook, she had once thought that if she died in an accident while working as a reporter, it would be a kind of redemption.
So, she didn’t know how to answer Zhou Tianzui’s question.
Zhou Tianzui waited patiently, knowing this was a difficult question for You Ruxu, “Become a lawyer?”
You Ruxu: “A lawyer?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Lawyers are cool, but they’re also very busy.” Her voice held a smile, “Be a clerk, nine-to-five, weekends off, we can go home together during holidays, take my mom on trips nearby…”
You Ruxu, holding her phone, listened to Zhou Tianzui’s words, imagining their future, a happiness she had never dared to dream of before.
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