Chapter 224 - 121: Deathbed

Chapter 224: Chapter 121: Deathbed

Ge Er Ya stood at the door, her face devoid of expression, watching her eldest son and daughter-in-law approach. Li Xiu wore a white short-sleeved shirt, black trousers, and black leather shoes. He had an imported watch on one wrist and a ring on his left hand. With his long legs, buzz cut, and handsome features, he had an imposing air. Zhou Lian was dressed in a bean-green satin blouse with three-quarter sleeves, slim-fit black trousers, and high heels. She wore a matching watch and ring, but on her left wrist was a jade bracelet. Her long hair was pinned up with a matching jade hairpin, revealing skin as fair as jade and a graceful figure.

One was imposing, the other was elegant; they looked remarkably harmonious together. A pang of bitterness pricked Ge Er Ya’s eyes. She knew she was completely powerless against her eldest son and daughter-in-law, but it wasn’t in her nature to say and do nothing. So she started irritably, "You..."

"Mother, Eldest Uncle sent a telegram telling us to come back to see Father one last time. Are you trying to stop us?" Li Xiu knew no kind words would come from her mouth, so he cut her off, looking at his mother in the doorway and asking softly.

Ge Er Ya gasped, completely shut down by Li Xiu’s retort. ’What could she say? If she didn’t let them in, her mother-in-law and eldest sister-in-law would tear her apart alive.’ But she couldn’t swallow the indignation of letting them enter so easily. She opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say, so she could only stand at the door, glaring resentfully at the two of them.

"Second Sister-in-law, what do you think you’re doing? Are you blocking the door to keep his own son from seeing Second Brother one last time!" The moment Aunt Li (wife of Third Brother Li) walked in and saw Ge Er Ya aggressively blocking the doorway, she confronted her directly.

With his arm around Zhou Lian, Li Xiu slowly turned to see that Eldest Li’s family and Third Brother Li’s family had both arrived. Aunt Li (wife of Third Brother Li) stared at his mother with a blank expression, while Eldest Li, Aunt Li (wife of Eldest Li), and Uncle Li all watched with disapproval. As for the younger generation and their jumbled expressions, Li Xiu ignored them completely, smiling as he greeted the elders.

Looking at her polite nephew and niece-in-law standing to the side, Aunt Li (wife of Eldest Li) sighed and said softly, "It’s good that you’re back. Take your wife and go see your father. We can talk about everything else later!"

"Alright. In that case, Aunt Li, we’ll go inside to see Father first," Zhou Lian said, smiling at the Li family elders.

The hand holding Li Xiu’s gave a gentle squeeze. Li Xiu glanced down at her and, following her lead, started toward the room. Ge Er Ya’s scalp tingled under the glares of the Li family members. She swallowed hard and stepped aside. As Zhou Lian passed her, she gave her a faint smile before Li Xiu guided her past.

Lying on the bed, Second Brother Li’s face was ashen. If not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, one would think he had already passed.

Seeing this, Li Xiu looked up slightly and closed his eyes. No matter what, this was the man who had sired him, the father who had given him life. The Li family members following behind felt a pang in their hearts as they watched. In the face of death, all other matters seemed trivial.

The hand intertwined with his tightened its grip on his larger one. Li Xiu knew Zhou Lian was comforting him. He looked down, a gentle smile gracing his lips as he gazed at her, not wanting her to worry.

"Jin Chen, if you don’t feel like smiling, don’t force it," Zhou Lian said gently, watching him try to comfort her even now. His strained attempt to smile was painful to see.

Hearing Zhou Lian’s gentle words and seeing the ache in her eyes, the bitterness in Li Xiu’s heart lessened. He led her by the hand to the bedside and looked at his lifeless father. "Eldest Uncle, Uncle Li, what exactly did the doctor say? Are we just supposed to wait like this and do nothing?"

"The doctor said there’s nothing more to be done. He might wake up, but if he does, it will just be a final burst of energy before the end. It’s also possible he’ll just... pass on like this," Uncle Li explained softly to his nephew, glancing at Eldest Li.

Letting go of Zhou Lian’s hand, Li Xiu sat gently on the edge of the bed. He looked at his withered, lifeless father and said softly, "Dad, it’s Li Xiu. I came back from the Capital City to see you. I also brought your eldest grandson back. Do you want to see him?"

Perhaps Second Brother Li was holding on, refusing to take his last breath, just for this chance to see the eldest grandson of his line. Seeing Second Brother Li’s eyelids twitch, Li Xiu continued softly, "He’s already five years old. He’s very handsome, chubby and fair, and quite likable. He’s very smart, too. He can already recite the Three Character Classic, the Hundred Family Surnames, and the Three Hundred Tang Poems. Father, please open your eyes and look at him, okay?"

The moment Li Xiu mentioned Yanyan, Zhou Lian had already gestured for Li Bao to go to the house and get Yanyan and Sister Fang. No matter what, Yanyan was the eldest grandson of the Li family’s second branch—the eldest grandson of Second Brother Li’s eldest son. Letting his grandfather see him before he passed would at least fulfill one of Li Xiu’s regrets.

It was rare for Li Xiu to say so much to anyone other than Zhou Lian and his children. He continued speaking softly, recounting details about Yanyan’s life: when he was weaned, when he stopped wetting the bed, when he learned to recite ancient poems and do math...

Li Xiu didn’t stop his soft monologue until Li Bao arrived in a hurry with Sister Fang, who was holding Yanyan. He took Yanyan from Sister Fang’s arms and said gently, "Yanyan, this is Grandpa. Can you ask Grandpa to wake up?"

Five-year-old Yanyan looked just like a child from a traditional painting—fair, tender, and chubby. His features had inherited the best of both his parents, and his large, smiling, almond-shaped eyes darted around curiously. After hearing his father, he looked at Second Brother Li on the bed and whispered to Li Xiu, "Dad, let Yanyan down!"

Though he didn’t know what his son planned to do, Li Xiu had always doted on his children. Hearing Yanyan’s request, he carefully set him down on the floor.

The small boy nimbly climbed onto the bed and knelt on the edge. His little hand took hold of Second Brother Li’s withered, bony one as he said in a sweet, childish voice, "Hello, Grandpa. My name is Yanyan, and my formal name is Li Xiangrui. I’m five years old. Grandpa, have you not been eating well? You’re too skinny, Grandpa. Can you wake up and look at Yanyan, please? My dad is a great cook. If you wake up, I’ll have my dad make you delicious food, and then you won’t be so skinny!"

Hearing the little child call for his grandpa in such a sweet voice, the women of the Li family couldn’t help but wipe their tears. Zhou Lian heard the soft sobs and lowered her head slightly, keeping an eye on Li Xiu and Yanyan from the corner of her vision. ’As for crying, she truly couldn’t bring herself to do it, and she couldn’t be bothered to put on an act. It’s better to just keep her head down.’

Perhaps it was fated. Amidst Yanyan’s innocent, childish words, Second Brother Li forced his eyes open. The first thing he saw was the fair, tender little child. He had heard his eldest son’s voice, heard his eldest grandson telling him to wake up and eat something delicious. He struggled to open his eyes and saw his grandson, who looked just like a child from a painting. His own eyes reddened with emotion. ’The eldest grandson of the second branch... So healthy and smart. The second branch has an heir. This line of the family has been taken to the Capital City by my eldest son. They’ll probably stay in the Capital City from now on. Thank goodness, thank goodness... I still have such an outstanding bloodline. That spendthrift old woman didn’t manage to ruin it completely!’