Chapter 30: He was too late
The doctor’s implication was to let Jiang Zhaoyu go in to hear his grandmother’s last words.
Jiang Zhaoyu had been groomed as an heir since childhood, had seen countless big events, and had a very strong psychological capacity.
But faced with the news of his beloved grandmother’s impending death, he was still unable to accept it for a moment.
Jiang Zhaoyu’s voice was hoarse: “Doctor, whatever you need to save my grandmother, just name it.”
Seeing Jiang Zhaoyu’s appearance, the doctor couldn’t help but recall a rumor he had heard before.
It is said that the Jiang family values their relationships deeply.
Now it was clear to see.
The resolute Jiang family’s eldest son also had such a vulnerable side.
The doctor sighed, “Mr. Jiang, we really did our best.”
Jiang Zhaoyu didn’t say anything more, thanked the doctor, and entered the ward.
Grandma was connected to various machines.
Her originally somewhat scattered gaze gradually focused when she saw Jiang Zhaoyu.
She managed a weak smile and opened her mouth to speak.
But she was too weak to make a sound, only her lips moving, forming the words: “Zhaoyu.”
“Grandma!” To hear Grandma speak, Jiang Zhaoyu knelt by the bedside.
Grandma reached out her hand, and Jiang Zhaoyu quickly grasped it.
Grandma’s lips moved slightly, saying in a weak, coaxing voice: “Zhaoyu… don’t be sad…”
Jiang Zhaoyu’s throat tightened; he swallowed twice before his throat felt slightly unblocked: “I’m not sad, I’m not.”
Grandma smiled reassuringly: “You’ve always been smart and steady, able to handle everything. Unlike Xiao Qi… he’s too stubborn…”
Jiang Zhaoyu hurriedly said, “Lichuan went to get Xiao Qi, he’ll be here soon. You can tell him in person then, okay?”
“Mm.” Grandma nodded lightly.
…
On a long stretch of road outside the hot spring resort, the snow was so deep that it covered the guardrails by the road.
Jiang Su could only hold onto the guardrails and grope his way forward.
But he was walking too fast, and at a turn, he lost his footing and fell into a thicket of thorns.
Jiang Su could feel his hands and face being scratched.
But all the way, his body was numb from the cold, and he couldn’t feel the pain.
Fortunately, as he walked down, the snow became shallower.
When the snow wasn’t so thick, Jiang Su started running.
The road was slippery in the snow; he fell many times.
At this moment, Jiang Su had only one thought in his mind: to see Grandma at the hospital.
After running for an unknown amount of time, he saw headlights approaching around a bend.
Driving up the mountain in the middle of the night, it must be someone looking for him.
Jiang Su didn’t bother to think about who it was; he stood in the middle of the road, waved his hand, and shouted, “I’m here!”
Following Jiang Zhaoyu’s instructions, Jiang Lichuan found an experienced driver to help drive, while he himself kept his eyes glued to the car window, searching for Jiang Su.
He quickly saw Jiang Su standing in the middle of the road: “Stop!”
As soon as the car stopped, Jiang Lichuan jumped out and ran towards Jiang Su.
“Xiao Qi!”
Jiang Su saw Jiang Lichuan and murmured, “Sixth Brother?”
Jiang Lichuan didn’t have time to be moved that Jiang Su finally called him “Sixth Brother.” He pulled him into the car: “Get in quickly.”
Jiang Su’s shoes and pants were soaked, his clothes torn and scratched from falling into the thorns, and his face, full of wounds, was covered in dried blood…
He was as wretched as if he had just crawled out of a graveyard.
It was almost four o’clock in the morning.
Jiang Su had been walking alone in the snow for nearly three hours.
Jiang Lichuan was shocked; he reached out to check Jiang Su’s injuries but didn’t know where to start.
His hand froze in mid-air; he softly asked, “Where are you hurt?”
“Scratches from branches, it’s nothing.” Jiang Su wiped his face and anxiously asked, “How is Grandma?”
“Big Brother is…” Jiang Lichuan hesitated, unwilling to tell the truth.
The warmth from the car’s heater slightly revived Jiang Su’s frozen body: “It’s okay, Sixth Brother, tell me the truth, I can handle it.”
Jiang Lichuan took a deep breath: “They issued a critical illness notice. When I came to get you, she was still in the emergency room.”
It was as if an iron hammer had struck Jiang Su’s head.
His mind buzzed, a blank.
Jiang Lichuan, known for his sharp tongue and lack of comforting skills, changed the subject.
“Change your clothes. Your grandmother would worry if she saw you like this,” he said. He often entertained guests, so he kept spare clothes in his car.
Jiang Su nodded.
…
At the foot of the mountain, the phone finally got a signal.
Jiang Su used his own phone to call Jiang Zhaoyu.
“Big Brother, how is Grandma?”
Jiang Zhaoyu only said one sentence: “Grandma is waiting for you.”
Then, he put the phone to Grandma’s ear.
Jiang Su spoke softly: “Grandma, I’ll be there soon, wait for me.”
Pressing the phone to his ear, he only heard Grandma’s strained voice saying a weak “Mm.”
Hanging up, Jiang Su urged the driver: “Can you go faster?”
He was very uneasy.
He had a feeling that he might be too late.
Jiang Lichuan saw Jiang Su’s anxiety: “Don’t worry, you’ll make it.”
At this moment, verbal comfort seemed incredibly weak.
On the rest of the journey, Jiang Su was restless.
The driver had speeded up as much as possible, arriving at the hospital at seven o’clock in the morning.
At the hospital entrance, before the car even came to a complete stop, Jiang Su opened the door and rushed into the hospital.
“Xiao Qi!” Jiang Lichuan couldn’t catch up.
Jiang Su reached Grandma’s ward in half the usual time.
As he pushed open the door, before he could speak, he heard the dull sound of the heart monitor.
Beep—
The sound was soft, yet abnormally clear and jarring in the quiet ward.
Jiang Zhaoyu slowly stood up, his voice hoarse: “Xiao Qi, you’re here.”
The distance from the ward door to the bed was short, yet it felt incredibly long to Jiang Su now; every step felt heavy, as if filled with lead.
On the bed, Grandma lay peacefully with her eyes closed.
Jiang Su opened his mouth to speak, but it was as if he had lost the ability, unable to utter a single word.
His beloved grandmother, who always cared for him, must have been holding on with her last breath, waiting for him.
But he was too late.
He didn’t even get to see Grandma one last time.
Jiang Su knelt down with a thud. He leaned over the bed, hugging Grandma’s hand.
Jiang Zhaoyu called out worriedly: “Xiao Qi.”
Jiang Su didn’t respond.
However, the next moment, Jiang Zhaoyu heard Jiang Su’s suppressed sobs.
Both brothers were deeply attached to Grandma.
At this moment, they understood each other’s grief.
But Jiang Su’s pain was even greater than his.