Chapter 237: Want to See You in a Wedding Dress Getting Married

Xia Xi carried two large bags out of the elevator; the ward was to the left of the elevator, she turned left directly and thus didn't notice a slim black figure in the elevator on the right.

As the elevator doors closed, that figure disappeared.

Entering the ward, Xia Xi saw several gift boxes piled together at a glance. She walked over and saw they were deluxe fruit gift boxes and high-end nutritional supplements: "Someone came to visit Grandma?"

They have no relatives in Nancheng. Even if they did, it would be impossible for them to know Grandma was hospitalized for a fracture.

The orderly said: "It's a…"

Grandma's voice drowned out the orderly, speaking first: "An elderly lady from our building, we used to take walks together; hearing I was hospitalized, she had her family bring her over to see me, and she just left."

The orderly closed his mouth, looking doubtful: clearly a handsome, imposing young man, how did he become an old lady?

While Xia Xi wasn't looking, Grandma gave the orderly a look.

Although the orderly didn't understand Grandma's intention, he still went along with her cover: "Oh, right."

Xia Xi had no doubts, took the daily necessities out of the plastic bag and put them away, smiling: "I didn't know Grandma had made friends in the neighborhood. That's great; once your leg is fully healed, going out more for activities will lift your mood."

Grandma responded absentmindedly.

Xia Xi packed two meals from the restaurant outside, a light one for Grandma, and for herself she ordered cheese mushroom beef stew rice and kelp tofu soup.

That night she stayed to keep watch by the bed, letting the orderly go rest.

Grandma sipped thin porridge, eyeing Xia Xi's beef stew rice; Xia Xi gave her only two spoonfuls, refusing more: "Too oily and salty isn't good for you; I'll take you to the restaurant after you're discharged."

Grandma pursed her lips chewing the beef, then said: "The taste is indeed just average, not as good as Uncle Cao's cooking."

Xia Xi's hand holding the disposable spoon stalled. Uncle Cao is the head chef at Peishan Grand Hotel, his culinary skill renowned far and wide; back then Grandma went to great lengths to lure him over.

Grandma was reminiscing about the past.

Seeing Xia Xi's startled expression, Grandma waved her hand: "I was just speaking offhand." Grandma changed the subject: "Call the orderly and ask her to stay tonight, Xi Xi; listen to Grandma, go back and rest—you can't neglect your rest, you still have work."

Xia Xi took a sip of tofu soup, swallowed the food in her mouth: "Grandma, tomorrow is the weekend."

"Your job doesn't have days off; you're always busy."

"It's the same wherever you work."

After eating, Xia Xi washed some fruit for Grandma, cut it into small pieces and put them in a bowl; Grandma held the bowl and ate slowly, while Xia Xi stepped aside to call Huang Shiyu.

Huang Shiyu was working overtime at the company; Xia Xi knew her address and it was on the way from the hospital: "After you get off work, bring my laptop over and call me when you arrive." She had left in a rush that morning, bringing only her phone.

"All right." Huang Shiyu noted it down, then pondered and asked: "How are things at home going? Well… you don't have to say if it's inconvenient."

"Nothing much, Grandma fell and needs to stay in the hospital for a few days." Xia Xi said briefly, arms crossed in front, elbows propped, then asked about work: "Have the Xu Clan people looked over the design plan? Any objections?"

This design plan was her solo effort; other team members didn't grasp her design concept well enough to help, so many things had to be done by her personally. Cooperation with the Xu Clan is crucial, directly tied to future development—no slip‑ups allowed.

Huang Shiyu reported earnestly: "General Manager Wang Xiao has looked it over; he has no objections for now, but he said he wants to pass it to General Manager Xu for review."

At 7:30 p. m., Huang Shiyu passed the hospital on her way home and delivered Xia Xi's laptop.

Xia Xi told her to take a taxi back, and she would reimburse the fare.

Huang Shiyu waved goodbye, obediently hailing a cab.

The night air was low and damp cold seeped into the bones. Xia Xi carried the laptop back to the ward, just in time to see Grandma lift the covers to get out of bed; she hurriedly set the laptop down and went to help her.

Grandma braced one hand on the bed rail: "I need to use the toilet."

"Just call me; please don't move around on your own."

Xia Xi helped her into a wheelchair, pushed her to the bathroom, assisted her with using the toilet, did a quick wash‑up, then pushed her back to the bedside, carefully supported her onto the bed and tucked the covers in.

Grandma had always been strong; after Grandfather passed, she was young and made a living selling braised dishes, building up a business. Later family troubles struck, she suffered a serious illness but didn't collapse—her body just isn't what it used to be. Now even a small thing like using the toilet requires assistance, and she feels awful inside.

Xia Xi understood Grandma's nature and advised her not to worry too much; look at the other elderly in the inpatient department—those worse off than her are everywhere, yet they still get by.

After settling Grandma, Xia Xi sat in the chair beside the bed, opened the laptop on her crossed legs, lowered her head and focused on the elevation model on the screen.

Grandma had slept a lot during the day and couldn't fall asleep just yet, tilting her head to watch her.

After working for nearly an hour, Xia Xi looked up, saw Grandma's eyes open and alert, closed the laptop, took one of her hands and chatted: "What are you thinking about, Grandma?"

Grandma spoke frankly: "I'm wondering when I'll get to see you in a wedding dress, and I don't even know if I'll live long enough to see it."

Xia Xi: "……"

If we talk about that, Xia Xi has nothing to say. After holding it in for a while, she finally blurted out a reproach: "You're just like my mom; I thought you'd be more open‑minded than she is."

Grandma chuckled: "All elders have the same heart—we just want to see the younger generation live happily."

Xia Xi rubbed Grandma's hand, the corner of her mouth lifting in a faint smile: "I'm happy right now; if you get your health back, I'll be even happier."

Grandma shook her head, silver hair a little messy: "That's not the same. I won't be able to stay with you much longer, and Mom can't be with you forever either. I want to see, before I close my eyes, that you have someone you can rely on beside you—someone who knows your cold and hot, who can stay with you into old age, comfort you when you're sad or down, and care for you when you're sick in bed. Do you understand?"

"Didn't Grandma raise your mother just fine on her own back then?"

"Xi Xi, your situation is different from Grandma's. Back then I only needed to look after myself and my daughter; your burdens are far heavier than mine." Grandma wiped her eyes, speaking earnestly: "You have a mother to support, a child to care for; although Xiao Xuan has built her own little family, her health is poor, so you still need to worry about her. When Xiao Yue comes out, if she's not doing well, given your nature you wouldn't just stand by. You're exhausted; if someone helps share the load, Grandma can rest easy."

Grandma spoke so sincerely that Xia Xi couldn't retort with her usual glibness.

She promised Grandma: "If I meet someone suitable in the future, I'll consider it."

The driver sent Xu Yanfeng back to his residence; the housemaid had dinner ready and placed it on the table.

The housemaid doesn't live in; she usually just cleans and cooks, told Xu Yanfeng, then left.

The dishes on the table had gone cold; Xu Yanfeng didn't go over to eat, sitting alone in the armchair by the window, elbow on the armrest, forearm propping his forehead, eyes closed in thought.

Grandma said the child was his, so she shouldn't have lied to him, but he recalled the two paternity test reports. The first report had been tampered with by someone Ling Yan found, but she later told him the report was genuine and she hadn't swapped it. Later he redid one, and the result was the same.

The report showed that he and Xia Xi's child are not biologically related.

Xu Yanfeng didn't know where the mistake occurred.

The second report was overseen by Guan He the whole way; there's no chance of a slip‑up.

At that time in the ward, he was about to say a few more words to Grandma, but after she said "Zi Heng is your child," she told him to leave, refusing to divulge anything else, saying Xia Xi would be back soon.