By now, she no longer had the energy to contemplate love, nor did she possess that unyielding drive to strive upward.
Even her once grand dream of becoming a world - renowned engineer seemed like a luxury.
All she wanted was to scrape together enough money for Jiang Shuhua's surgery, provide for her in her old age, and live out the rest of her life in peace and quiet.
"We... aren't suitable." Jiang Wu poured a cup of hot water and handed it to Jiang Shuhua.
Jiang Shuhua held the cup, took a sip of water, thinking that Jiang Wu was feeling sorry for herself because of her prison stint, and patiently tried to persuade her.
"What's not suitable? It's true that you've been to prison, but it's not like you committed murder or arson. Back then when you went to prison, it was because mom didn't find a good lawyer to defend you. You were raised by mom with her own hands, and your character has always withstood the test."
"Moreover, since high school, you've always had Pei Yan's name on your lips. There were also his business posters on the headboard of your bedroom. You even took him as your life's goal, worked hard day and night, got into the School of Civil Engineering of Jing University, and managed to squeeze into the Pei Corporation..."
"Mom!" Jiang Wu interrupted her, rubbing her temples wearily. "Those are all things of the past. Besides, the person I've always liked... has never been him."
Jiang Shuhua choked back a sob, then sighed deeply, looking dejected as her lips quivered.
"Even if it's not Pei Yan... Mom's body won't last much longer. As for your biological parents... Five years ago when you were reunited with them, mom thought your life would be perfect. But after you went to prison... Mom has seen clearly that we can't count on them. You're already twenty - seven. You'll have to get married someday. Find someone..."
"Mom." Jiang Wu's eyes were rimmed with red, her voice choking. "Don't talk nonsense. The doctor said that as long as she has the surgery, she can live for a long time."
Jiang Shuhua paused in her thoughts, opened her mouth, and was about to persuade her further.
But Jiang Wu didn't want to talk about it anymore. She made up an excuse and left in a hurry.
"Coincidentally, I got my salary tonight. I'll go pay the overdue hospital fees first."
"You child..."
Jiang Wu closed the door, shutting out Jiang Shuhua's voice.
Leaning against the white wall outside the room, tears welled up in her eyes and slid down uncontrollably. She didn't dare to cry out, biting her wrist hard to stifle her sobs.
After a few breaths, Jiang Wu composed herself. She casually wiped the tears from her face and walked towards the attending doctor's office.
Just as she reached the door and was about to knock, a familiar, gentle voice came from inside.
"Don't worry about the surgery fee. Just arrange the surgery time first."
Jiang Wu's fingertips froze. She looked up to confirm - it was the chief physician, Li Fei.
She was in the right place. How could she hear Pei Yan's voice?
Wasn't he supposed to have left?
Creak...
The door opened.
Pei Yan's handsome and refined face came into her view. His usually gentle and steady eyebrows and eyes now showed a hint of anger.
Jiang Wu said in a daze, "Brother Pei... Why are you here..."
Pei Yan pulled her into the room, opened Jiang Shuhua's examination report, and tried to reason with her calmly.
"Auntie's condition is extremely urgent. She must have the surgery immediately."
Jiang Wu's eyes flickered slightly. She nervously tugged at the corner of her clothes. "I..."
"Even so, are you still going to refuse my help?" Pei Yan's tone became a bit harsher, with a compelling aura that made it hard to breathe.
Pei Yan had offered to cover the surgery fee before, but at that time, Jiang Shuhua's condition was still under control and in the stage of conservative treatment. Jiang Wu didn't want to have too much to do with Pei Yan, so she refused him repeatedly.
Who would have thought that the condition would deteriorate so rapidly in just one month?
Jiang Wu gently stroked her wrist, looking dejected.
Perhaps it was because Jiang Shuhua learned that her hand tendons had been severed that she worried too much, which accelerated the deterioration of her condition.
The heat that had just subsided in Jiang Wu's eyes welled up again. The cold air in the hospital was like cold iron, pressing down hard on her wrist, making her tremble with pain.
Pei Yan suddenly softened his tone, coaxing her gently like a puff of smoke.
"I've talked to Doctor Li. Don't worry about the surgery fee. I'll cover it. Here's the surgery schedule for next month. Take a look."
Pei Yan stuffed a stack of documents into Jiang Wu's hands.
"Right now, Auntie's surgery is the most important thing. Don't have too many concerns."
Jiang Wu lowered her head, speechless. The surgery schedule was densely packed with no gaps.
So many?
"Yes." Doctor Li chimed in.
"Your mother's condition really can't be delayed any longer. The earliest available surgery slot is on the 20th of next month. If you don't make a decision soon, even if you manage to scrape together the surgery fee, it might be too late to schedule the surgery."
Too late...
These words were like an ancient Buddhist bell, knocking her confused thoughts into clarity.
"Okay..." She felt her throat vibrate. "Have the surgery next month."
All the concerns about getting involved with Pei Yan and the Pei Corporation vanished into thin air at this moment.
Jiang Shuhua's life was more important.
If she lost Jiang Shuhua, even if she had the means to live out the rest of her life in peace, she would lose the courage to do so.
She was able to survive in prison only because of Jiang Shuhua's words - Mom is waiting for you to come home.
"Good." Pei Yan let out a sigh of relief. He took the schedule from her hand. "Then it's settled. Go back and rest."
On the way back, Jiang Wu finally regained her senses.
She pinched the base of her thumb, looking awkward. She said sincerely, "Brother Pei, I will definitely pay you back the surgery fee."
"Don't rush." Pei Yan said softly. "Take good care of yourself and Auntie first. You can pay me back whenever you can."
Jiang Wu bit her lower lip, tears welling up in her eyes.
If it weren't for Pei Yan, she might really have lost her mother. She really didn't know how to repay such a great kindness.
Suddenly, a warm hand landed on her head.
Jiang Wu stood still, stunned, as if frozen. She mechanically and stiffly looked up, her eyes landing on his smoothly - muscled arm.
The hand on her head gently patted her twice and then quickly withdrew, as if it were just an impersonal gesture of comfort.
Pei Yan's gentle voice sounded. "Okay, stop crying. Don't let Auntie hear and worry. Go back."
Jiang Wu nodded numbly and turned to flee.
Pei Yan watched her back, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
There was a strange noise at the end of the corridor.
He tilted his head slightly, raising the corner of his eyebrow. He put one hand in his pocket and left contentedly.
On this side, just as Jiang Wu returned to the outside of the ward, still out of breath, a large hand suddenly covered her mouth and nose. The scent of amber mixed with lemongrass wafted into her nostrils.
Jiang Wu was stunned. This smell was both familiar and strange.
She instinctively swallowed back her scream.
A hot and broad chest pressed against her back. She could even feel the other person's rapid and heavy breathing.
A gloomy and cold voice sounded in her ear. "Don't move."
She just raised her hand to struggle but hesitated and put it down.
In the fire escape.
The dim lights, the pungent smell of disinfectant, and the empty space where echoes could be heard were all so oppressive, empty, and cruel.
Jiang Wu was cornered in a small space, with nowhere to escape.
She trembled as she resisted, pressing her hands against the man's chest. "Young Master Pei... Why are you here?"
"Young Master Pei?" Pei Yunshen stared at the woman who looked like a quail, wishing she could hide herself. He impatiently ruffled her hair, trying to wipe away all the traces of Pei Yan's scent.
"Ouch..." Jiang Wu couldn't help but cry out in pain. Only then did he stop reluctantly.
"Didn't you used to call me A Shen? When did you become so polite? Calling me Young Master Pei?"
Jiang Wu, with her disheveled hair, said in a trembling voice, "We... have already broken up."