She Is Seriously Ill - Chapter 49

Chapter 49

You and your aunt… why were you kissing?

The previous evening, Jiang Chen had been debating whether to go straight home the next day or call Jiang Yun in advance to give everyone some mental preparation.

Unexpectedly, the next morning, Jiang Yun broke the ice first by contacting her.

Her tone was no different than usual, asking if she had time for lunch together.

Okay, you… Having just woken up, her voice was terribly hoarse. Jiang Chen quickly cleared her throat before continuing, What would you like to eat? I’ll make a restaurant reservation.

Jiang Yun said, I’ve already booked a place – Wheatfield Western Restaurant. Do you still remember? You loved their ice cream when you were little.

Back when their family wasn’t well-off, Dai Xiaoqin would only take them there for special occasions like holidays or birthdays.

Unlike other romantic Western restaurants, Wheatfield had a dull, retro decor – dim yellow lighting, brown long tables, and booth seats wrapped in red fabric.

The menu had been limited to the same few items for years: pre-made processed steaks, instant powder milk tea, and tough pasta with Chinese-style sauce…

Yet at the time, just getting to eat there felt incredibly joyful.

After their family encountered difficulties, Dai Xiaoqin rarely took them anymore. Later, Jiang Chen would try many Western restaurants with better food and ambiance than Wheatfield in various cities, but whenever she heard this name, that irreplaceable taste from her memories seemed to come flooding back all at once.

Wheatfield is still open? Jiang Chen sounded surprised.

Jiang Yun chuckled, Yeah, I heard they’ve done quite a few upgrades and renovations over the past couple years. Business is still good.

Okay, let’s eat there then.

Mm, get some more rest. They don’t open until ten, no need to go too early.

After hanging up, as soon as Jiang Chen put her phone down, the arm wrapped around her waist instinctively tightened, pulling her back into an embrace.

Jiang Chen glanced sideways, Did I wake you?

Chen Guo nuzzled against Jiang Chen’s shoulder, apparently still not fully awake, her voice sounding groggy, I’ll go with you.

No need. Jiang Chen felt uncertain about what Jiang Yun might say during their meeting and didn’t want Chen Guo to face potential awkwardness.

Chen Guo opened her eyes, looking at Jiang Chen with concern. Jiang Chen gently pushed her face away, unable to suppress a smile, What are you thinking? She’s my sister.

Despite Jiang Chen’s repeated refusals, Chen Guo ended up accompanying her anyway, though she didn’t go inside together.

There was a KFC across from Wheatfield Western Restaurant where Chen Guo ordered a single-person meal combo. She sat by the window, eating while occasionally glancing up at the restaurant opposite.

After its upgrades and renovations, Wheatfield Western Restaurant had significantly expanded its menu with much more refined preparation methods. However, the interior decor had preserved its original rustic style – stepping inside felt like traveling back to the millennium era.

Jiang Chen arrived first. Not long after she sat down, Jiang Yun appeared. Her expression upon entering mirrored Jiang Chen’s exactly. Even after sitting down, she couldn’t help looking around, remarking to Jiang Chen with feeling, This place hardly seems to have changed at all.

But there are more food options now. Jiang Chen slid the menu over to Jiang Yun.

Jiang Yun seemed quite interested, Let me see… you’re right. I remember when we used to come here, it seemed like they only had pasta, steak, and those basic items.

She flipped through the menu, I wonder if that ice cream you used to love most is still available.

Jiang Chen smiled faintly, That one’s still there.

Really? Then we must order one today for both of us to try. Jiang Yun said while browsing the menu.

Jiang Chen pursed her lips, looking across the table with inexplicable restraint, Okay.

Jiang Yun lowered her head to order while reminiscing, I remember every time we came here to eat before, you’d always change into a pretty dress in advance. Mom and I teased you about being vain, and you’d get upset, saying princesses always dress up for meals.

Mentioning these past embarrassments, Jiang Chen lowered her head and smiled sheepishly, I watched too many cartoons back then, always indulging in unrealistic dreams.

That’s actually good. A little girl having more unrealistic fantasies and living more innocently means fewer worries.

Jiang Chen’s eyelids drooped slightly, remaining silent. After finishing her order, Jiang Yun handed the menu over, What would you like to eat?

Jiang Chen randomly pointed at the steak, This one.

After they both ordered, Jiang Yun returned the menu to the server, I’m treating today, no arguing.

Jiang Chen curved her lips slightly, Okay.

Mom originally planned to come with me the day before yesterday. We were about to leave when her old friends suddenly called saying there’s an elderly choir competition in the community next month. Since Mom used to be in the local cultural troupe, they insisted she must participate.

After pouring water for herself, Jiang Yun reached for Jiang Chen’s cup, but the other was holding it with both hands, staring down absentmindedly without responding for a while.

Chenchen? Jiang Yun called her.

Jiang Chen snapped back to reality, quickly looking up, Hmm?

Jiang Yun smiled faintly, Want some water? Let me pour you some.

Oh, okay. Jiang Chen hurriedly handed over the cup, glancing at Jiang Yun with a hesitant expression.

Jiang Yun poured water while asking abruptly, Was what happened four years ago also related to her?

Jiang Chen froze immediately. Jiang Yun’s tone was too calm and too sudden, making it hard to process that they were already discussing her and Chen Guo.

Jiang Yun placed the water before her, I’ve always wondered why she left before the admission notices were even out, and went somewhere so far away. Thinking about it now, everything seems to make sense.

Jiang Chen kept her head down, almost afraid to meet Jiang Yun’s eyes, I’m sorry…

If Yu Liang were still alive, you would indeed need to apologize to him. How old was Chen Guo back then? She was young and didn’t know better, but shouldn’t you have known? But he’s gone now. The two people who should blame you the most are no longer here. As for me—

Jiang Yun smiled self-deprecatingly, I’m the least qualified to blame you. After Yu Liang passed, I once saw Chen Guo as my spiritual pillar to keep living, thinking that as long as his daughter remained, there would still be people and things connected to him in this world, that he hadn’t completely disappeared. But after Yu Liang left, I never truly took care of her – you were the one doing everything. So I have no right to blame you on behalf of Chen Guo’s family.

As your sister, I have to blame you—not for who you chose as a partner, but for keeping such a major incident from me and the family, insisting on bearing it all alone. Now that you’re fine, it’s easy to say it’s all in the past. But what if you hadn’t woken up back then? Where would I go to find my little sister?

Jiang Chen had braced herself for criticism and accusations, but this was entirely different from what she had imagined. Her lips trembled slightly as she stared blankly at the woman across from her. Sis…

The waitress came to serve their dishes. Jiang Yun lowered her gaze and took a sip of water, waiting until they were alone again before speaking. Were those photos from four years ago sent by Chen Guo?

Jiang Chen looked down, her voice soft. It’s all in the past…

It might be in the past for you, but not for me. Jiang Yun’s expression was uncharacteristically stern. Chen Guo is too immature.

Jiang Chen gazed at her sister, once again feeling the profound comfort of having family stand up for her. Jiang Yun shot her a glance and said irritably, Why are you looking at me like that? Are you unhappy that I criticized her?

Jiang Chen pressed her lips together. Don’t you think we’re… strange?

Liking girls? I figured it out a long time ago. Jiang Yun cut a piece of steak and placed it on Jiang Chen’s plate. I’m not a fool. I’ve seen bits and pieces of those online rumors over the years, so I had an idea. I just never expected it would be Chen Guo.

Jiang Chen put the piece of steak in her mouth and murmured, I didn’t expect it either.

What do you like about her? Jiang Yun couldn’t help asking.

Jiang Chen thought for a moment. I like… how desperately she loves me.

After she said it, both sisters lowered their heads and chuckled awkwardly.

After the accident, there had been a period when Jiang Yun resented Jiang Chen—especially during nights when phantom limb pain kept her awake. In those moments, bitter thoughts would surface: resentment toward Jiang Chen for disobeying and wandering off, toward their mother for never being home and leaving her to care for her younger sister, toward herself for being the older sister, and toward fate for letting others walk normally while she endured this suffering…

But every time she woke in pain late at night, sitting by the bed and weeping helplessly, Jiang Chen would cautiously hand her a warm towel. Staring at that face, what surfaced in her heart wasn’t hatred, but memories of how Jiang Chen used to depend on her and act spoiled toward her.

The car accident hadn’t changed just one of them.

While she endured physical agony, Jiang Chen suffered in her own way too.

During those adolescent years when they should have confided their girlish secrets to each other, both sisters were absent from each other’s lives. As they grew older, it became even harder to broach those topics, leaving a lingering sense of distance between them—sometimes intimate, sometimes not.

Jiang Yun knew the root of the problem lay with her. Even after all these years, she couldn’t claim to harbor no resentment at all. She wasn’t that noble; sometimes she still resented, quietly, without saying it aloud, especially when life felt particularly unfair.

But—

If it happened again, I would still go out looking for you that night.

No particular reason. You’re my sister. If anything happened to you, I’d probably suffer even more.

That incident had been like a thorn between them, but putting it into words finally brought relief.

Not wanting to see Jiang Chen crying outside—after all, she was a public figure, and if photographed, the media would surely twist the story—Jiang Yun handed a tissue across the table and quickly changed the subject. Let’s not tell Mom about you and Chen Guo for now. Her health hasn’t been great these past two years, and even small things keep her up all night. I’m already enough of a worry for her. Let’s keep your situation from her for now and take things one step at a time, okay?

Jiang Chen actually agreed with Jiang Yun’s suggestion. Their mother was getting older, and there was no need to force her to accept concepts that didn’t exist in her subconscious.

But she didn’t agree immediately. She and Chen Guo had just established a rule: they wouldn’t hide things from each other and would discuss everything together. She didn’t want to be the first to break that promise.

Unexpectedly, when she brought it up with Chen Guo, the latter fell silent, staring at Jiang Chen for a long time without saying a word.

What’s wrong? Are you upset? Jiang Chen turned the steering wheel and pulled over to the roadside, ready to talk. Suddenly, Chen Guo unbuckled her seatbelt, leaned over, and kissed her.

Jiang Chen was momentarily stunned, unsure what was happening. Chen Guo held her tightly, overwhelmed with emotion. Am I really that important to you now?

Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes, Jiang Chen said, As if I mistreated you before.

Chen Guo shook her head. I’d still like you even if you did.

Since they couldn’t park for long, Jiang Chen patted Chen Guo’s arm, signaling her to sit back properly.

Chen Guo gave Jiang Chen one more kiss on the lips before releasing her and settling back into her seat. How about I treat Aunt Yun to a meal tomorrow? Consider it a New Year’s greeting.

Jiang Chen held back a laugh. That’s not how you give New Year’s greetings.

Chen Guo looked at her. Then how should I do it? Bring gifts to her place?

If we go tomorrow, aren’t we returning to Anqing? Jiang Chen asked.

Chen Guo paused, as if suddenly remembering, and her mood dipped.

Jiang Chen glanced at her and smiled. Alright, let’s go to Anqing first and handle your matters there. There’s no rush with my sister—we can see her anytime.

They had booked flights back to Anqing for the next morning, but that night around ten, Zheng Xinbao suddenly called. Half an hour earlier, Jiang Ping had pulled out two tubes attached to his body himself. By the time the nurses found him, he had already passed away.

Jiang Ping had made a fortune in business when he was younger, and his funeral was entirely handled by the funeral home, conducted with great pomp.

Chen Guo didn’t stay for the entire event. After discussing the final payment and method with the responsible person, she left the funeral home.

It was another sunny day. Standing by the roadside, Chen Guo looked at the car across the street and felt, for the first time, a tangible sense that she could finally be with Jiang Chen properly.

Her phone rang in her pocket—Zheng Xinbao calling to ask if she had finished her business.

Chen Guo hummed in affirmation. Just left the funeral home.

Oh, then… how about lunch together? Zheng Xinbao hesitated. There’s something I want to ask you.

What is it? Chen Guo glanced at the traffic light across the street, preparing to cross.

There was a tense pause on the other end, lasting nearly ten seconds.

Finally, a bewildered voice asked, Why were you and your aunt kissing?

The traffic light had turned green, and Chen Guo was about to start walking when she stopped abruptly upon hearing those words. Her entire body tensed up instantly. Where did you see it?

So it wasn’t photoshopped! It’s real. Zheng Xinbao exclaimed in shock.

Where did you see it? On Weibo?

Chen Guo’s heart leaped to her throat. Subconsciously, she moved the phone away and tapped into Weibo to refresh the trending topics.

No new content had loaded yet.

No. Zheng Xinbao’s voice came through first. Jiang Ping is dead. The nurse handed me some of his belongings, and there was a phone among them. When I turned it on, the screensaver was that photo of you and your aunt… that one.

Chen Guo was stunned for a moment, then let out a slight sigh of relief. She asked Zheng Xinbao, No one else has seen that photo, right?

Damn, I was so scared when I saw it, I practically wanted to swallow the whole phone. Who would I dare show it to? But you’re really something else, you two… what exactly is your relationship? Zheng Xinbao stammered in his urgency.

Chen Guo pressed her lips together, but before she could respond, a voice from behind answered the question in the phone for her.

Lovers.

Chen Guo froze, then quickly turned around to meet Jiang Chen’s smiling eyes.

Bathed in sunlight, she slowly straightened up and raised an eyebrow at Chen Guo. What, did I say something wrong?