Chapter Four: Grandpa, She Is Aunt Liu

Sun Bailing still had business to attend to and had intended to leave after dropping Luo Yan back at the hospital. However, when he knocked on the door of the hospital room, a strange woman answered.

"Where is Luo Shicheng?" Sun Bailing asked.

Liu Jingqiu greeted Sun Bailing with a smile. "You must be Division Commander Sun. I am Liu Jingqiu. Huali is ill, and Shicheng is tied up with work, so he asked me to come and look after her."

Luo Yan was stunned. What kind of twisted logic did Luo Shicheng have to let Liu Jingqiu take care of Huali?

No, she could not let Sun Bailing leave; otherwise, both she and Huali would be in danger.

Taking advantage of the moment Liu Jingqiu was distracted, Luo Yan slipped into the room. She noticed a basin of clear water on the chair beside the bed with a towel soaking inside. She reached out to test the temperature—it was freezing cold.

As expected, Liu Jingqiu had malicious intentions.

*Clang!*

Seeing Luo Yan reach into the basin, An Xiaotong suddenly knocked it over. Startled, Sun Bailing pulled Liu Jingqiu aside and strode to the bed to scoop up Luo Yan.

"Grandpa, I'm okay. Please don't blame my little sister; she didn't mean to knock over the basin."

An Xiaotong’s little leather shoes were soaked through, yet she wore a look of kindness as she pleaded on Luo Yan's behalf to Sun Bailing.

Looking at the delicate-featured little girl, Luo Yan thought to herself: like mother, like daughter. Though barely five, the girl already possessed the distinct air of a seasoned "green tea" manipulator.

"Who are you?" Sun Bailing frowned, clearly displeased by the girl's remarks.

"This is my daughter, An Xiaotong..." Liu Jingqiu stepped forward to introduce her.

"Grandpa, she is the Auntie Liu I told you about."

Luo Yan's single sentence stirred Sun Bailing’s memory. Recalling Luo Yan's earlier comment about how Luo Shicheng preferred the company of "Auntie Liu" over his own wife, Sun Bailing’s gaze toward Liu Jingqiu grew even more scrutinizing.

Unaware of the implication in Luo Yan's words, Liu Jingqiu lowered her head slightly and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, affecting an air of serene grace.

"What were you doing just now?" Sun Bailing asked.

"I had just fetched some water, preparing to wipe Huali down," Liu Jingqiu replied.

Sun Bailing felt it was inappropriate for him, a grown man, to linger here, so he prepared to set Luo Yan down and leave. Luo Yan, however, wrapped her small arms tightly around his neck.

"Grandpa, don't go! The auntie is trying to kill my mommy!"

The statement hit Liu Jingqiu like a thunderclap.

"Luo Yan, who taught you to lie?" Liu Jingqiu scolded.

Luo Yan held onto Sun Bailing firmly. "I'm not lying. The water was so cold."

Having lived through more than half a lifetime, Sun Bailing had seen his share of storms. He immediately understood. He reached for the thermos on the windowsill—it was empty.

Without another word, Sun Bailing kicked them out.

"I have already arranged for someone else to take care of Shicheng's wife. You may leave."

He would settle the score with that brat Luo Shicheng when he returned.

Liu Jingqiu had intended to use the ice-cold water to wipe Huali down, hoping to aggravate her illness until she died, but this unexpected interference had ruined her plans. She didn't care much for Sun Bailing's opinion of her, but she was terrified of the news reaching Luo Shicheng.

Bending down to pick up the basin and towel, she left the room, went to the water station, and fetched a fresh basin of warm water, placing it back on the chair. Then, she turned to Sun Bailing. "I have washed the towel clean..."

She gestured to the thermos she had retrieved from the other side of the bed. "I have also filled the hot water. Just be careful when mixing it; don't let it get too hot."

With that, Liu Jingqiu took An Xiaotong’s hand, bowed to Sun Bailing, and left.

Sun Bailing's impression of her remained unchanged; if she had truly intended to use warm water, she wouldn't have been so guilty as to knock over the basin. However, since he had driven her away, he had to find a replacement. He scratched his head, wondering where to find a suitable person on such short notice.

"Division Commander..." his guard called out from the hallway, unable to wait any longer.

Sun Bailing had already spent too much time here and could not stay any longer. "Go and call Luo Shicheng back to take care of his wife. Tell him this is an order—he is not allowed to leave it to anyone else."

Having just returned to the base, Luo Shicheng was called back to the hospital, forced by Sun Bailing to stand guard over Huali.

When Huali woke, it was already evening. Opening her eyes, she saw her husband sitting on the chair by the bed, while their daughter lay curled up beside her, fast asleep.

"Why are you here?" Huali couldn't even remember how many months it had been since she last saw Luo Shicheng.

"You're sick. The neighbor, Sister Wu, came to the base to find me..."

Seeing the impatience in Luo Shicheng's eyes, Huali felt a sting of bitterness. "I'm sorry for the trouble. You can go now."

Luo Shicheng stood up immediately to leave.

Watching the man's heartless back, tears welled up in Huali's eyes. Luo Yan heard the commotion and rubbed her eyes, sitting up.

"Did Grandpa come?"

Sun Bailing had declared that Luo Shicheng could not leave until Huali was discharged. As long as Luo Yan mentioned Sun Bailing, Luo Shicheng had no choice but to stay.

Ignoring Luo Yan's question, Luo Shicheng said to Huali without turning back, "I'm going to buy you something to eat."

Luo Yan picked up the insulated food container from the nightstand and placed it in Huali's hands. "The auntie made this; it's delicious."

Huali’s hand trembled; she nearly dropped the container. "Was Liu Jingqiu here?" She sniffled, hating herself for being so weak.

Luo Yan realized Huali had misunderstood and quickly said, "It was made by the auntie at Grandpa's house, not Auntie Liu."

The Luo family had served in the military for three generations and were natives of the capital. To toughen Luo Shicheng up, they had sent him to Jiangcheng for training. Huali knew full well that Luo Shicheng's father would never come, so she was puzzled by Luo Yan’s constant reference to "Grandpa."

"Which grandpa?"

"Grandpa Sun," Luo Yan replied.

Since it wasn't Liu Jingqiu’s cooking, the starving Huali opened the container. The aroma of rice wafted out. Huali swallowed hard, took the spoon Luo Yan offered, and began to feed her daughter.

"Mommy, Yan-yan has already eaten..." Luo Yan patted her still-full stomach. "The auntie gave me some porridge; it was so good."

Hearing that Luo Yan was fed, Huali finally felt at ease and began to eat ravenously.

Luo Shicheng turned around to see Huali eating with the same ferocity as their daughter, spoonful after spoonful, as if she would die of hunger if she slowed down for even a second.

Huali ate the entire container of porridge as if possessed, then clutched the empty container and wept. She didn't understand why, despite living an upright life and never acting against her conscience, she had ended up like this. Thinking about how she had almost died at home, and the moments when she drifted in and out of consciousness only to hear her daughter crying for her, her heart felt as if it were being sliced by a knife.

"Luo Shicheng, let's get a divorce."

Once divorced, she would take her daughter back to her hometown. Even if her parents were gone, the villagers would help her look after the child. If the day ever came when she was no longer there, at least her daughter wouldn't be left with no one.

Luo Shicheng had maintained this marriage despite knowing Huali had "betrayed" him—only to satisfy his elders and avoid being pressured into another marriage. Now that Huali proposed divorce, he felt there was no need for them to continue tormenting each other; ending it early might be for the best.

"Fine. I'll write the divorce application as soon as I get back."