Chapter 122: A Cure for Cancer?
Li Chen had not slept the entire night, arriving at his villa in the morning. Exhaustion weighed heavily on him, evident in the weariness etched across his face. As he stepped into his villa, he found Zhang Mei engaged in conversation with a nurse. Li Chen patiently waited until they concluded their discussion.
"Hey, Zhang Mei," he greeted, managing a faint smile. Zhang Mei reciprocated with a warm smile and introduced the nurse, "This is a nurse hired by Aunt Lixia to take full care of Mom."
Li Chen nodded in acknowledgment and greeted the nurse with a polite smile. Once the nurse left, Zhang Mei turned her attention back to Li Chen. "You’re not going to the office today?" he inquired.
"I had to show the staff around," Zhang Mei explained. Li Chen raised an eyebrow, and she clarified, "The maids hired to take care of the house, of course. Now I won’t have to cook when I come back from work. I have to thank Aunt Lixia."
Li Chen, captivated by Zhang Mei’s beauty, found himself momentarily lost in her smile. Zhang Mei playfully brought him back to reality, saying, "Hey, Li Chen, I’m talking to you. Come back to earth."
"Sorry, just tired," Li Chen admitted. "Had a long night."
"Then you need to rest," Zhang Mei insisted. "You can’t be walking around like a zombie like this." Li Chen playfully saluted, saying, "Yes, ma’am."
"Don’t call me that; I’m not married," Zhang Mei retorted. Li Chen chuckled and walked upstairs with the intention to rest. Zhang Mei watched him disappear from view before muttering something inaudible and heading towards her mother’s room. The events of the night had left Li Chen drained, both physically and emotionally, and the need for rest was undeniable.
Mu Lingling found her daughter, Zhang Mei, blushing as she entered the room. Playfully, Mu Lingling asked, "Why are you blushing like that?" Zhang Mei, trying to deny it, replied, "I am not blushing, Mom." Mu Lingling, with a knowing smile, said, "You are my daughter; I know you. Tell me, is it Li Chen?"
Zhang Mei hesitated but eventually admitted, "Mom..." Mu Lingling encouraged her to speak her mind. "What? You two would make a perfect match, and his mother and I are friends. I would die in peace knowing I left you in her care," Mu Lingling remarked. Zhang Mei pleaded, "Mom, please don’t talk like that."
Mu Lingling, grappling with the reality of her illness, spoke earnestly, "Honey, we can’t shy away from the truth. This cancer can take me anytime, and I need you to be strong." Zhang Mei, struggling with her emotions, acknowledged, "I know, but I can’t easily accept losing you."
Understanding her daughter’s pain, Mu Lingling continued, "I understand, baby. That is why I need to see you happy. If you like that boy, you should show him." Zhang Mei sighed and asked, "How, Mom? He is always busy lately." Trying to lighten the mood, Mu Lingling attempted to laugh but ended up coughing. Zhang Mei quickly got her a glass of water, and after drinking, Mu Lingling said, "Oh, so you do like him."
Zhang Mei, realizing her mother had tricked her, also laughed, "Why did you have to trick me like that?" Mu Lingling smiled and replied, "Because you don’t want to admit the truth and face your feelings." The mother-daughter bond held a mixture of love, understanding, and the bittersweet acknowledgment of the challenges they faced.
Mu Lingling insisted, "You are not going to work today." Zhang Mei nodded, "No, not much is going on right now. We will be busy when the game launches." Mu Lingling understood and replied, "I see."
The mother and daughter spent some time chatting, sharing the little moments that meant the world to them. When Zhang Mei noticed her mom growing tired, she gently tucked her in and said, "Mom, you have to rest. I will check on you later." Mu Lingling smiled weakly, "Okay."
Zhang Mei watched her mother slowly close her eyes to sleep. Sighing, she closed the door quietly on her way out. The weight of her mother’s sickness lingered heavily on her heart. Despite hoping for a miracle, Zhang Mei now realized that nothing could be done. The inevitable loss of her mother loomed, and she found herself unprepared. She knew she would never be ready for such a heart-wrenching ordeal.
In his room, Li Chen had showered, letting the water cascade over him, washing away the fatigue that clung to his body. After finishing, he headed straight to bed, recognizing the importance of getting as much rest as possible amidst the chaos surrounding him. As he drifted into sleep, he found himself immersed in a strange and vivid dream.
In this dream, Li Chen walked through a dark, ethereal space, surrounded by an emptiness that seemed to stretch into infinity. The only sound echoing through the void was a deep, haunting voice repeatedly whispering his name. The atmosphere was eerie, and a subtle sense of unease settled over him as he moved forward.
In the distance, he noticed a figure standing with its back turned to him. Li Chen attempted to speak, to break the silence, but his voice failed him. All that resonated in the dream was the haunting voice, continuing to call his name with a resonance that sent shivers down his spine.
The dream left Li Chen in a state of disorientation and confusion when he abruptly woke up. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and he found himself unable to comprehend the meaning behind the enigmatic dream. The lingering sensation of the dream’s intensity stayed with him, and Li Chen couldn’t shake off the feeling that there might be more to it than initially met the eye.
Li Chen, unable to find solace in sleep, decided to take a stroll in the garden for some fresh air. The remnants of his mysterious dream lingered in his mind as he settled onto a bench. As he inhaled the invigorating air, a soft tap on his shoulder drew his attention.
Turning around, he discovered Zhang Mei standing there, holding a glass of juice. With a warm smile, she offered him the refreshing drink.
Zhang Mei: "I brought you this."
Li Chen: "Thank you."
Zhang Mei joined him on the bench, and they engaged in light-hearted conversations, sharing laughter amidst the serene ambiance. The casual topics gradually shifted to a more personal one – kids.
"Would you like kids?" Zhang Mei asked in hidden anticipation.
"Of course, a boy and a girl. What about you?"
"I would love a son, but I have to be married to have kids."
"You would make a great mother and wife; any man would be lucky to marry you." There was a flash in Li Chen’s eyes as he said this that Zhang Mei didn’t notice.
"Oh well, I don’t think I will find the one."
"Why not? There is someone for everyone." Li Chen said the words staring straight at Zhang Mei as if he wanted to make sure she took in his words.
"Well, I guess I have to wait."
"Yeah, we both have to wait." Li Chen said with a smile.
The two sat in silence before Zhang Mei mentioned she needed to check on her mom.
"How is she?", Li Chen asked.
"No difference."
"I will come with you, haven’t seen her in a while." Li Chen suggested realising that despite being under the same roof, he hadn’t seen Zhang Mei’s mother in a while.
Their conversation reflected a growing connection between them, marked by genuine concern and shared moments in the peaceful garden.
Mu Lingling, weak but welcoming, opened her eyes upon sensing Li Chen’s presence in her room.
"Li Chen, haven’t seen you in days."
"Sorry, aunty, I’ve been busy."
"You don’t have to explain." Mu Lingling said with a smile.
"Li Chen, please help me sit her up."
Li Chen approached, gently holding Mu Lingling’s arm to assist her in sitting up. In that moment, a realization struck him—the knowledge of herbs that he had acquired recently. The names and properties flooded his mind, a mental list that he couldn’t ignore.
Zhang Mei, noticing Li Chen’s distant expression, urged him to focus on the task at hand.
"Li Chen, help me here."
Li Chen, coughing slightly, apologized and joined them in helping Mu Lingling sit up. As they worked, Li Chen mentally recited the names of the herbs, determined not to forget a single one. Though uncertain if the herbs could cure Mu Lingling’s cancer, he felt a surge of determination.
In that moment, a small but hopeful smile graced Li Chen’s face. The possibility of helping someone he cared about fueled his resolve to explore the mysterious depths of his newfound knowledge.
