Emma's world seemed to tilt on its axis as she rushed to the hospital, her heart pounding with fear and uncertainty. The news that her grandmother had been taken to the operating room for surgery was a blow she hadn't been prepared for. As she stood outside the operating room, the presence of the nursing home's director only added to the weight of the situation.
"Emma, Grandma Sang has been in good health all evening. She fainted just before lights out at nine. As soon as she fell into a coma, our nursing staff called an ambulance and rushed her here," the director explained, trying to provide comfort amidst the chaos.
Emma leaned against the wall, the coldness seeping through her clothes, mirroring the chill in her heart. "Please, let me be," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath as she fought to hold back the tears.
...
Tang Mian received the news a little later, while Jason was still at a banquet. Without a moment's hesitation, he approached Jason and whispered the urgent news into his ear.
Jason stood up without a second thought, apologized to the event's organizer, and left immediately. His car was waiting at the hotel entrance, and he rushed out so quickly that he didn't even have time to put on his coat.
Tang Mian, sitting in the passenger seat, looked back at Jason and said, "President Jason, don't worry. The old lady will be fine. She's blessed."
The traffic was light at this hour, and the driver, familiar with the roads of Shanghai, managed to reach the hospital in just half an hour.
When Jason arrived at the hospital and saw Emma standing in the corridor outside the operating room, her forehead pressed against the wall, her slender figure seemed so alone and desolate.
"Xingxing," Jason called softly.
Emma turned around as if finding solace in his voice, her eyes brimming with tears at the sight of him. Jason strode over and enveloped her in his embrace, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
"Shen Yan," she whispered his name.
After a long while, Emma managed to say, "My grandmother is in a coma. What do I do?"
Although Emma had never been superstitious, she couldn't deny that her family ties were thin. Her grandparents had passed away before she was born, her mother when she was just ten, and her father had disappeared, leaving only her grandmother as her last living relative.
How could she not be afraid?
"I'm here," Jason reassured her, gently stroking her back, his voice soft yet resolute by her ear, "I'm always here, I won't leave."
For a long time afterward, when Emma recalled this day, she truly believed that she had held onto her entire world.
The surgery on Emma's grandmother ended around one in the morning, but since she needed to be in the intensive care unit, neither Emma nor Jason could see her. They sat on the chairs in the corridor, Emma rubbing her cheeks with her hands.
"You should go back and rest, you have so much work tomorrow," Emma said, knowing how busy Jason had been lately. He'd been coming home late, sometimes not until one or two in the morning when she was already asleep.
Jason frowned, "You want me to leave you here alone at a time like this and go home by myself?"
Just then, the doctor came out and saw them, asking, "Are you the family of the elderly lady?"
Emma immediately stood up from her stool, "I'm her granddaughter and the guardian."
The doctor nodded, "The surgery went smoothly for now, but she will need to be observed in the intensive care unit for the next twenty-four hours. If you want to see her, you'll have to wait until she wakes up."
"Thank you, doctor, thank you," Emma said repeatedly.
The doctor looked at her and still said, "But family should also be mentally prepared."
Emma's smile, which was just starting to form, froze, her eyes widening as she looked at the doctor in front of her, "What do you mean?"
The doctor, seeing her expression, knew that her relationship with the elderly lady must be very close, and softened his tone, "The elderly lady is already quite old, and she has been mobility-impaired for many years, her physical functions have significantly declined..."
Emma listened to the doctor's words, her thoughts, which had just started to calm down, began to churn again.
Birth, aging, sickness, and death.
She knew the doctor was just trying to tell her that no one could escape these fair yet cruel laws of nature, everyone has to face the day of death.
But she wasn't prepared.
She wasn't.
She couldn't face the possibility of her only living relative, whom she could still see and touch, leaving her side again. She knew she couldn't be with her grandmother every day, but she cherished every voice message she received from her, even though her grandmother wasn't very skilled at using it, sometimes sending a message before finishing a sentence.
Emma had to guess at her meaning, but every time she received a message, she was happier than anything else.
"Jingxi," Jason clearly felt that the girl in his arms was emotionally off, he said in a low voice, "It's okay, the doctor is just telling us about the possibility."
His palm gently stroked her back.
But Emma was still so nervous that she was trembling slightly all over until Jason held her in his arms and whispered, "It's okay, Xingxing is not afraid."
In the end, Emma was taken home by Jason. He asked Tang Mian to find a nurse to stay, and any movement from the hospital would definitely call them.
After returning home, Emma was still preoccupied.
Until she was pulled to bed by Jason, but she was tossing and turning.
After a while, in the dark room, Emma said, "Shen Yan, are you asleep?"
"No."
Without even a second of hesitation, Jason quickly answered her.
He knew she had not been asleep, just so quietly leaning against him. Perhaps she was afraid of disturbing his rest, she did not speak or move.
But she couldn't help it after all.
The more silent the night, the more countless thoughts in the mind will be infinitely magnified.
She also tried to comfort herself that what the doctor said was just a precaution, not that something really happened. But she always couldn't help thinking about the worst possibility.
Thinking about it made her toss and turn.
"Still worried about grandma?" Jason gently hugged her and asked in a low voice.
In the deep night, the man's voice in the room was particularly deep, and the calmness in the voice line made Emma feel a little more at ease, and she couldn't help but tell him everything in her heart.
"Shen Yan, I'm really scared."
"I know what the doctor meant, and I know everyone can't escape birth, aging, sickness, and death, but I just want to see grandma well," Emma's voice became excited again.
Jason knew that all words were pale at this time, he reached out and hugged her tightly, following her forehead and kissing down.
Then his lips fell on her eyelids, the tip of her nose, and finally on her lips.
The curtains in the room were tightly closed, blocking all the light from the outside, and they couldn't see each other's expressions, only each other's embrace was warm.
Being together, even if they don't say anything, the hug can warm each other.
Perhaps this is the reason why people have always pursued love.
Jason said in a hoarse voice, "No matter what happens in the future, I will always be by your side, never forsaking you."
Emma didn't speak.
Until Jason felt a hand slowly slide down his arm, quickly touching his palm, and the fingers interlaced with his, interlocking.
Her voice was a little hoarse as she said, "Me too."
The next day, Emma and Lao Zhang went to the hospital early in the morning. Jason had an unavoidable meeting to attend, so he went to the company first. However, it wasn't until the afternoon that the hospital allowed family visits.
Before Emma entered, Jason arrived just in time. When they went in, they saw her grandmother lying in bed with a respirator on her nose. She seemed to hear their movements and made an effort to lift her eyelids to look at them.
The moment Emma saw her grandmother, her eyes welled up with tears.
"Grandma," she approached, squatting by the bedside, carefully holding her grandmother's hand.
Her grandmother looked at her and then at Jason, and said, "Xingxing, have you been crying?"
Her voice was very weak due to her frail condition, barely audible.
"This isn't like my little Xingxing," her grandmother forced a smile.
Emma shook her head, "I'm not crying, please rest and don't talk."
"It's okay, I'm not tired, I just want to talk to you," her grandmother smiled and continued, "After I fell asleep this time, I dreamed of your grandfather and your mother."
Emma was taken aback.
"Your father wasn't there, does that mean he's still alive?" The old lady muttered to herself, unable to let go of the thought.
Ni PingSen, as a husband, father, and son-in-law, was the best. After Gu MingZhu passed away, he resolutely did not remarry and took care of his mother-in-law and young daughter.
For her grandmother, he was like her own son.
"Look, you're crying now," the old lady noticed the tears in Emma's eyes, her voice filled with heartache.
Emma wiped her tears, "I'm not crying."
The old lady looked at her and then at Jason behind her, and surprisingly, a smile appeared on her face, "I've dreamed of your grandfather and mother before, but they never spoke to me. I didn't expect they would talk to me this time."
"Your grandfather asked if Jingxi got married. I told him, yes. The old man was so happy. Then they asked if I saw you get married with my own eyes. I said I saw the marriage certificate, but the wedding hasn't been held yet."
Perhaps in the eyes of the elderly, that small marriage certificate is not as reassuring as a lively wedding ceremony.
At this moment, Jason immediately said, "Grandma, don't worry, we will definitely hold the wedding soon."
"I'm not trying to rush you, I'm just afraid I won't live to see that day."
"No, you will, you definitely will," Emma held her hand tightly, shaking her head desperately.
After Emma left the ward, she went to the restroom. But it took a long time before she came back, and it was obvious that she had washed her face and even her eyes were red.
In the evening, Huo Zhenzhong and Zhong Lan personally visited the hospital.
Zhong Lan looked at Emma's expression, something she had never seen before, and couldn't help but feel heartache, "You must have been scared."
Emma bit her lip tightly and nodded.
"You should have told us last night. If I hadn't called Tang Mian today, I wouldn't have known about this," Zhong Lan couldn't help but feel a bit displeased.
This was Emma's own grandmother, and as the elderly was hospitalized, they, as younger generations, should have come to visit.
Although Huo Zhenzhong and Zhong Lan had some dissatisfaction with Emma and Jason's marriage, after they got married, they still held a special banquet for the grandmother.
After all, she was her only family member left.
Zhong Lan held her hand, wanting to say something to comfort Emma, but looking at her appearance, her eyes moistened first.
Seeing her like this, Huo Zhenzhong immediately said, "Jingxi is already in a bad mood, don't make her sadder."
"I just feel heartache," Zhong Lan's voice was slightly choked as she spoke.
Huo Zhenzhong sighed, his voice full of helplessness.
Fortunately, Grandma was soon transferred from the intensive care unit to a general ward, and her appetite improved significantly. When she expressed a desire for Shanghai cuisine, Emma personally called Aunt Zhou, who was known for her exceptional cooking skills, especially in Shanghai dishes.
Aunt Zhou went the extra mile this time, making her signature braised pork balls in brown sauce and delivering them to the hospital. Grandma not only ate most of a bowl of rice but also wanted a second serving of the pork balls.
Emma quickly intervened, "The doctor said that although you don't have to avoid any foods, it's better to eat less of these heavy and rich dishes."
Hearing this, the elderly lady finally settled for sipping some soup.
As Emma was tidying up, Grandma leaned against the headboard and suddenly asked, "You kids weren't just humoring an old lady when you talked about the wedding, were you?"
Emma was both amused and exasperated by the question. The other day, Grandma had spoken as if she was leaving last words, which had frightened both Emma and Jason.
But she nodded and said, "No, we're not humoring you. It's true."
They had originally planned to hold the wedding next year, but since it was Grandma's wish and Jason's grandmother was also elderly, there was no harm in moving it up. After Jason mentioned it to Zhong Lan, she wholeheartedly agreed.
The news of Jason's family planning a wedding was not something that could be kept secret, especially not from the wedding planning companies, for whom this was a top-tier event. With both Emma and Jason busy, Zhong Lan helped them by selecting a few companies for them to choose from.
Their wedding was always going to be grand, with everything specially customized. They started by hiring a design company to create a unique wedding logo featuring their initials surrounded by stars, a detail that Jason personally approved.
The most urgent matter was the wedding dresses, both Western and Chinese, which required hand-made customization. The evening gowns, while also custom, were less complex in design than the main wedding dresses.
The wedding date was not set too soon but also not too late, finally settling on June 6th. Not only was it a season of blooming flowers, but it was also the anniversary of Emma's parents' wedding. Since her parents couldn't see her walk down the aisle, this was a way for them to be a part of her happiness.
It felt like June was far away, but after the New Year, May arrived in the blink of an eye.
Emma had already chosen her bridesmaids, including the three girls from her dorm, as well as Tang Mi and Hua Zheng.
Jason's side was easier; Xiao Yichen, Han Zhao, and Tang Mian were definitely going to be his best men. As for the other two spots, it was said that people were fiercely competing for them.
The main wedding dress was air-freighted to Shanghai at the beginning of May, less than a month before the big day, and Emma was finally going to see her wedding dress.
They went for the fitting on a Saturday without anyone else, with Jason personally accompanying her.
He turned to Emma and asked, "Are you really not hungry?"
Since finding out she was going to try on her wedding dress today, Emma hadn't eaten anything since the morning and barely drank any water. Even someone as doting as Jason couldn't help but feel a little angry.
But she clasped her neck and pleaded, "Please, I'm only going to wear this wedding dress once in my life. I have to be in the best condition possible."
In truth, she was already slender enough, her collarbone prominent under a loose-necked T-shirt.
Ultimately, Jason made her drink some milk before they hurried to the fitting, so he could take her to eat something afterwards.
Upon arrival, Emma discovered that the entire staff was at their service for the day. As soon as they entered, they were each led away to change into their respective attire. The first dress Emma tried on was the main wedding gown. Even though she had seen the design concept drawings, the moment she truly laid eyes on it, she was utterly captivated.
The upper body featured a deep V-neck and off-the-shoulder design, with a waistline that nipped in, and the skirt was an extravagant, grand, and retro palace style with a heavy train. Under the circle of overhead lights, the gown, adorned with crystals and jewels, truly shimmered and shone.
It was glowing.
Due to the weight of the wedding dress, a team of staff helped Emma put it on. Despite her slender figure, she fit perfectly into the waist-cinching design.
"Emma, your waist is so slim; this kind of waist-cinching style suits you best," a staff member remarked with a light laugh after helping her into it.
Emma smiled and exhaled softly.
Indeed, beauty comes with a price. The skirt of the main wedding dress was two meters long, and just standing there, she felt the immense weight.
Then, others began to attach the veil.
This veil was even longer than the dress's train, and the staff fussed over it for what seemed like an eternity.
After what felt like forever, and just as Emma thought her patience was about to run out, she finally heard someone joyfully say, "All set."
She let out a long breath, and then heard the person add, "Jason has already changed and is waiting. Now he can see our most beautiful bride."
Emma's tension was palpable, down to the curling of her toes.
Jason had been standing, replying to messages, as men's attire is generally quicker to put on. He had already changed and was waiting, typing on his screen when someone informed him that Emma was ready.
He stopped what he was doing and looked up.
The tightly drawn curtain, which had been concealing the view, slowly slid to the side, revealing the figure within inch by inch.
Emma stood in the center, her long hair styled into an elegant princess updo, topped with a veil as intricate and grand as her wedding gown. But what was most stunning was the girl in the wedding dress.
She was naturally tall and carried the elaborate palace-style gown with grace, its large, sweeping train and her tiny waist accentuated by the design.
She truly resembled a noble princess from a painting.
Jason looked at his girl, and for a moment, his eyes were filled with amazement.
Emma looked at him expectantly, waiting for his opinion, but when he remained silent, she finally couldn't help but ask, "Well? What do you think?"
"I wish today was the wedding," he whispered.
For a moment, Emma's cheeks flushed, but her eyes and the corners of her mouth were full of sweetness.
Even someone without a romantic bone in her body like her was moved in this moment.
Jason's family had begun sending out the wedding invitations, with Huo Zhenzhong personally calling to invite the most important guests. As for the younger generation, Jason took it upon himself to extend the invitations.
Although Su Yiheng had heard the news, she couldn't help but feel a sense of collapse when her mother mentioned that an invitation had arrived from Jason's family. After the incident where Jason prevented her brother from joining the board of directors, her mother had suspected that it was related to her. Upon questioning, it turned out to be true.
This time, when Su Yiheng returned home, her mother couldn't help but advise, "Now that Jason's family is planning a wedding, it's common knowledge."
Su Yiheng remained silent.
"Jason is as good as he is, but he's someone else's husband now. You've offended him before, and your brother suffered as a result. So no matter what, you must not cause any more trouble this time," her mother warned, knowing her daughter all too well. Su Yiheng had always been infatuated with Jason, and her pride was too great.
She had always gotten whatever she wanted, and now, the one thing she wanted the most was out of reach. It was no wonder she was going out of her mind.
Seeing Su Yiheng still silent, her mother gently nudged her knee.
Finally, Su Yiheng responded with a noncommittal "Hmm."
Soon after, she got up and said, "I have a cover shoot tonight, so I won't be home for dinner."
She came and left in a hurry, and her mother, accustomed to her ways, saw her off at the door, watching as her business van left the family villa.
Once in the car, Su Yiheng's phone suddenly rang.
She was gazing listlessly out the window, her mother's words still stinging her. Jason was good, but he belonged to someone else now.
She knew this, she understood the logic, but she couldn't help but feel sad.
It wasn't until she slowly took her phone out of her bag and answered that her expression changed within seconds.
Su Yiheng instructed the driver to turn around immediately and go to another location. Her assistant hurriedly said, "Sister Yiheng, we still have a shoot to do."
"Go there first," Su Yiheng said expressionlessly.
...
As the wedding day approached, everything was being prepared and put in place.
Emma, on the other hand, was still working as usual; she had always been able to focus on her work without distractions. There was a bachelorette party on the weekend, and her college dorm friends would all attend.
The names Yan Han, Ai Ya Ya, and Chen Chen brought a smile to her face just thinking about them.
After work, Emma stayed a bit later. It had been raining all day outside, and by the time she turned off her computer, her phone on the desk rang.
Emma answered, and the voice on the other end was calm and gentle, "Jingxi, can we meet?"
It was Su Yiheng.
"No need," Emma replied without a moment's hesitation, as she had always believed there was no need for her to meet with Su Yiheng.
But it seemed that Su Yiheng had anticipated her response and was not in a hurry. Instead, she let out a soft laugh.
Her laughter was filled with certainty, and she said, "Are you sure you don't want to know the truth about your father's disappearance?"
"Su Yiheng."
Emma's voice rose sharply, filled with extreme anger.
Su Yiheng maintained her calm demeanor, believing she had the upper hand. She gave an address and said, "You can choose not to come, but no one else will tell you the truth but me."
Emma clutched her phone tightly, but the call ended abruptly, leaving only the sound of a dial tone.
In the end, Emma couldn't resist the temptation.
When she arrived at the location specified by Su Yiheng, it was a high-end teahouse. The quiet and soothing music filled the lobby from the moment she entered.
After receiving her private room number, Emma was led inside.
As soon as she entered, she saw Su Yiheng already in the room, along with a man Emma had never met before, in his thirties, looking very weather-beaten.
The man had stood up, "Miss Su, if there's nothing else, I'll leave."
He turned just as Emma entered, and their eyes met. The man's eyes widened in shock, then he turned to look at Su Yiheng, "What do you mean by this?"
Su Yiheng smiled, "Mr. Sun, you've been in the Middle East for years, haven't you?"
The man called Mr. Sun looked ashen.
But Su Yiheng continued, "If it weren't for your mother being critically ill, you wouldn't have returned to the country, right?"
"Why don't you tell Emma what you've been doing in the Middle East, what you've been searching for?"
Mr. Sun's chest heaved with suppressed emotion as he asked, "Miss Su, what do you want to do?"
"What do I want to do?" Su Yiheng laughed, looking at Emma with anger, but then her expression softened with sympathy, "I thought you were so happy. Really, I used to be so envious of you. But now I just want to pity you, Emma. You're so pathetic. If it weren't for your father's disappearance, you wouldn't have been able to marry Jason."
"He feels guilty towards you."
Mr. Sun was furious but dared not look at Emma, "Miss Su, that's enough. You and Jason were not destined..."
"Fine, we were not destined, then tell Emma the truth. Let's see if their fate is predestined or made by humans."
Emma had remained silent until now.