The excitement was palpable in the old lady’s voice. Although the voice itself sounded old and hoarse, the tone and mood were lively like a little child’s.

Yu Lili’s impression of this old lady wasn’t too bad. Nevertheless, she didn’t dare to get too close and rejected her straightaway. “I don’t think so, Old Mrs. Shen. There are too many things keeping me busy in Kingstown.”

“Oh, is that so…” the elderly lady’s voice sounded disappointed. “Can I come to meet you in Kingstown then? I’ll just come to see you, OK?”

Unsure of what else to do, Yu Lili said, “You want to see me? How about doing a video call?”

“Yeah! Yeah!” Old Mrs. Shen was thrilled. She yelled, “Zhilie, video call! Video call!”

Shen Zhilie had no choice but to ask Yu Lili, “Is it convenient for you now?”

“Eh… not exactly. I haven’t washed my face. Give me a moment.” With that, Yu Lili hung up the phone.

When the old lady saw that the call had been disengaged, she flew into a rage and screeched, “What happened? The young lady hung up the call? How did that happen? Return my young lady to me!” As she spoke, she stretched out her palm and gave Zhilie a slap. “Return my young lady to me!”

Shen Zhilie was slapped twice on his face for nothing. He winced as he yelped, “Grandma! Grandma, that hurts! She went to wash her face. She’ll do a video call with you after she washes her face! Don’t you wo-worry, she won’t run, ah, run!”

When Old Mrs. Shen heard that, she gave a Zhilie a death stare and another slap. “Speak properly!” she commanded.

Shen Zhilie held on to his face. He wanted to cry, but no tears came.

…

When Jiao Ziqing came to the hospital early in the morning, the nurses told her that Ou Ming had refused to eat and accept his injections.

In a panic, she stepped into the room and saw Ou Ming rolled up inside the blanket on the bed. His back was toward the door, making him look even more desolate.

Jiao Ziqing’s heart ached for her son. She walked up to him. “Son, you haven’t had anything to eat since yesterday. Here, eat with me. I haven’t eaten yet either.”

“I don’t want to eat, Mom. I don’t have an appetite.” Ou Ming’s voice was low and unenergetic. He sounded weak.

Jiao Ziqing’s heart ached. She went up to Ou Ming’s bedside and said, “It’s fine. Don’t worry too much. When you’re more or less recovered, I’ll take you out, OK?”

Her words made Ou Ming feel disappointed. His arms inside the blanket tightened around his body. Since he was young, every time he threw a tantrum, this was what Jiao Ziqing did to humor him. It was clear that she still treated him like a child.

Ou Ming didn’t say anything. He just closed his eyes in silence.

“Ou Ming, get up and eat something. Don’t go hungry. Your health is important. Don’t make your mom worry.” As Ou Ming’s father spoke, he laid the take-out he had just bought on the table. He was about to support Ou Ming to sit up, but Ou Ming remained motionless.

With his eyes still closed, he said dully, “I don’t have an appetite. Why don’t you go back? It’s the New Year. Don’t let me spoil the mood.”

Jiao Ziqing started crying and wailed, “You silly child! You’re already in this state! How do you expect us to be happy? How do you expect us to celebrate the New Year?”

With the current situation, no one was going to have a happy new year.

“Alright, stop crying. Our son’s in a bad mood. Are you going to take advantage of me as well?” Ou Ming’s father helped Jiao Ziqing wipe her tears. “Let’s give him some peace and quiet. When he’s come around and his mood improves, he’ll eat.”