Chapter 223: Qian’Er’s Late-Night Phone Call

Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Qian’Er’s Late-Night Phone Call

However, she didn’t bring it up, deciding instead to just watch things unfold.

To see how it would all turn out in the end.

Su Qingci lingered outside Jiang Fan’s office for nearly half an hour. Ultimately, she couldn’t bring herself to knock, and with lunchbox in hand, she departed in disappointment.

No one would ever know that the lunchbox she held was the result of her toiling away all morning.

But that’s just how the world works sometimes; not every effort you make will be rewarded as you wish.

Jiang Fan was busy the entire afternoon, even taking the rare initiative to work overtime. It wasn’t until after eleven o’clock at night that he finally shut down his computer and drove home.

His mind was occupied with two things: outlining his next proposal and figuring out what to eat.

"RRRRING-RRRRING!"

His phone, silent for the entire day, suddenly burst into a ring.

"Qian’Er?"

Jiang Fan answered instinctively upon seeing the caller ID.

"What’s wrong, Snot Girl?"

Jiang Fan asked in a lighthearted tone.

"Jiang... please come back. I don’t think Grandma is going to make it."

Li Qian’Er’s voice was choked with tears.

Her words exploded in Jiang Fan’s mind like a bolt of lightning.

It felt as if his consciousness had left his body.

"BANG!"

A tremendous crash jolted him back to his senses. In his stupor, the car had crashed directly into the guardrail on the side of the road.

"Jiang, what happened? Are you driving? What was that noise? Don’t scare me like this!"

Li Qian’Er, on the other end of the line, was clearly startled and immediately burst into tears.

"I’m fine, I’m fine. Wait for me. I’m on my way now."

He shook his head, forcing all thoughts and memories deep down into his heart.

He spun the car around and slammed the accelerator to the floor.

The car let out a ferocious roar and shot forward like an arrow.

A screech of tires cut through the air in front of the welfare home as Jiang Fan threw open his car door and dashed out.

But when he reached the door, he didn’t dare to push it open.

He was terrified of the scene that might await him.

In this entire world, the only people he could truly call family were probably Junyue, Li Qian’Er, and the Matron who had raised him.

And the Matron held a place in his life more important than anyone could possibly imagine.

Taking a deep breath, he finally pushed the door open and went inside.

He entered to find the Matron lying in bed. Li Qian’Er was at her side, holding her hand and murmuring something, tears streaming down her face.

"Jiang, you’re back. Grandma has been calling your name."

"SOB... She... she said she wanted to see you one last time."

"Grandma, it’s me, Jiang Fan. How are you doing?"

Jiang Fan asked as he took her pulse.

But the Matron was unconscious and couldn’t give him any response.

"Qian’Er, what exactly is going on?"

"How did Grandma’s health deteriorate so badly? This level of exhaustion... it’s like she’s been worn down to nothing. This only happens when someone completely burns through their Essence, Qi, and Spirit."

Jiang Fan immediately sensed something was wrong as he took her pulse.

The Matron had always been in relatively good health. She wasn’t without her aches and pains, but she was still quite spry.

He refused to believe she could suddenly decline like this.

Seeing Li Qian’Er’s hesitant demeanor, looking like she wanted to say something but didn’t dare, an inexplicable anger rose in Jiang Fan’s heart.

"Are you hiding something from me? Something I’m not supposed to know?"

Jiang Fan snapped.

Li Qian’Er was visibly startled; she had never seen Jiang Fan in such a state.

"It’s mainly because of the children at the home. The Matron has been worried sick lately, so much so that she couldn’t sleep."

"I wanted to call you, and I wanted to call Junyue, but she wouldn’t let me. She said it wasn’t easy for you to finally be successful, and she refused to add to your pressure or become a burden on your lives!"

"She said if I dared to call you, she would disown me as her granddaughter."

Fresh tears streamed down Li Qian’Er’s face.

"Jiang, what do we do? The Matron will be okay, right?"

Li Qian’Er was completely at a loss, and Jiang Fan had become her only pillar of support.

"Don’t worry. The Matron will be fine!"

Jiang Fan took several deep breaths, suppressing the panic in his heart.

’He was panicking too. The Matron’s condition was absolutely terrible.’

’But he knew he couldn’t panic now. If he did, the Matron might really pass away.’

"Fan... is that you, Fan? Are you back?"

The Matron’s weak voice sounded out.

"Grandma, I’m back. Don’t talk for now. Rest easy, you’re going to be fine."

"Qian’Er, go to the trunk of my car and bring me my silver needles."

"Hurry. The faster, the better."

Jiang Fan said, tossing her the car keys.

"Okay."

Li Qian’Er grabbed the keys and ran without a moment’s hesitation.

"Fan, Grandma is old. I know my own body."

"You don’t have to waste your energy. There’s just something I need to ask of you."

"After I’m gone, it will be too tiring for Qian’Er to support the welfare home all by herself. If you can help, please lend her a hand."

"If you can’t help, then wait until this group of children is a little older, and then send them to other welfare homes. You must make sure their futures are properly arranged."

As she said this, the Matron panted lightly, as if speaking had taken a great deal of effort.

"Grandma, don’t talk anymore. Let’s focus on getting you better."

"Don’t worry, I’ll definitely make sure you’re okay."

Jiang Fan kept his hand on the Matron’s pulse, but his expression grew increasingly grim.

Because the Matron’s pulse was now actually a little stronger than when he had first arrived.

’But this terrified him even more, because it was very likely her body’s last surge of energy—a terminal lucidity before the end!’

"No, Grandma, don’t worry. You can’t go. You can’t leave me!"

"You haven’t even seen me get married yet, remember?"

"Didn’t you say you wanted me to have a grandson for you, and that you would help me raise him?"

Jiang Fan said in an extremely low, gentle voice.

’The only thing he could do now was use his words to rekindle the Matron’s will to live.’

’As long as you want to live, as long as you want to hold on, your body will fight for you. But if you yourself believe it’s over and decide to let go, then there’s truly no hope.’

But the Matron opened her mouth, a look of regret on her face. She couldn’t say a single word, not even managing to make a sound.