Jiang’s mother raised her head, her eyes filled with desolation. “Jing Xin, I won’t live much longer. A month ago, I started feeling unwell, constantly tired and unable to eat. At the hospital, they discovered stomach cancer.”
The doctor said it’s late-stage and has spread. Surgery is no longer an option. I won’t live much longer; this disease progresses quickly. I haven’t told Xiangyang. He has already suffered too much, and I don’t want him to worry about me.
Jing Xin’s pupils contracted in shock. Tears welled up as she wiped them away, saying, “Auntie, how is this possible? How could you get this disease?”
Jing Xin felt only sadness and deep sorrow. She had always accepted fate but now resented the unfairness and cruelty of the world. However, she could do nothing.
She was not a doctor and had no miraculous healing powers. She collapsed on Jiang’s mother’s shoulder, crying like a child.
Jiang’s mother embraced her. “Child, don’t be sad. Life and death are predetermined. Today’s consequences are yesterday’s seeds. I made mistakes, and now heaven is punishing me. I blame no one. Death is not scary; everyone must walk this path. I just can’t bear to leave Xiangyang alone. I hope to see someone who can care for him before I die, but I don’t have time anymore.”
Thinking of her poor son, sadness swept over her heart.
“It will happen, Auntie. That person will definitely appear. Auntie, please take care of yourself.”
The two in the courtyard cried in each other’s arms, unaware of Jiang Xiangyang standing in the blazing sun behind them.
Chapter Thirteen: His Fragility
At four, watching his older siblings happily nestled beside the nanny, he stubbornly turned away, thinking his mother would one day take him away.
At six, his older brother won first place in an exam, and his father lifted him high, spinning him around. He hid in a corner, feeling dejected as his father ignored him.
In the dark night, he began to hate his mother for leaving him in this cold place.
At seven, his domineering sister pushed him down for breaking her porcelain doll and stepped on his thin arm. He questioned in his heart: “Mother, why don’t you want me?”
