376: Awkward Atmosphere

"Oh, right, right." Jin Shujing directed the children to put away the gifts. "Come, come, put these in my small warehouse. Daughter-in-law, you, your mother, and Ling, go prepare dinner. The rest of you stay here; let's talk about work and life! Jin Chen, take Yan Yan upstairs to meet your mother!"

"Alright," Jin Chen agreed.

---

Jin Chen led Hanyan upstairs.

In the original book, Su Hanyan had not encountered any descriptions of Rong Qing; all she knew about her came from Jin Chen. She only knew that Rong Qing had left here after Jin Chen's father passed away.

During those years, medical technology was not very advanced, especially in remote and impoverished areas where medical care and medications were scarce. Rong Qing had volunteered at her workplace, annually going to remote, impoverished areas to provide medical care for the villagers.

Jin Chen had described this place as a place of sorrow for his mother, where she would always remember his father whenever she returned.

Their love had deepened amidst the ravages of war and hardship. Their unwavering commitment was unshakeable, and they had thought they could grow old together. However, Jin Baiyang's sacrifice had cut their journey short, leaving her behind.

Perhaps unable to overcome this emotional hurdle, she had left home many years ago.

She rarely returned throughout the year, only coming back this time for Grandpa Jin's birthday.

Su Hanyan was deeply moved by this sentiment. She really wanted to meet Jin Chen's mother, a woman of such greatness!

At the door, Jin Chen raised his hand and knocked, entering after hearing a response.

Su Hanyan followed behind him, seeing Rong Qing in a plaid dress, with short, neatly trimmed hair. She was petite, but it did not diminish her elegant demeanor.

She sat at Jin Chen's desk, flipping through yellowed photo albums, likely filled with precious family photos of the three of them.

"Mom!" Jin Chen called out to her.

Rong Qing lifted her head from the photos, her gaze resting on Jin Chen. Another year had passed without seeing him, and he seemed even more upright now, exuding a sense of maturity and composure.

"Chenchen," she smiled, closing the album and standing up. "You've gotten thinner than before, but you look more spirited."

"You too," Jin Chen replied.

"Mm."

After a brief exchange, mother and son fell silent, standing there without another word.

Su Hanyan sensed the awkward atmosphere between them. Perhaps it was due to not seeing each other for a long time? Or maybe Jin Chen still harbored resentment towards his mother for leaving him alone so early?

She was about to say something to break the ice when Jin Chen spoke first.

He took her hand, his voice clear and bright as he said to his mother, "Mom, this is Su Hanyan, my girlfriend!"

"Hello, Auntie," Su Hanyan greeted politely. "You can also call me Hanyan. It's nice to meet you for the first time. I'm not sure what you like, but I heard you're a doctor who spends a lot of time writing prescriptions in the countryside, so I bought you a fountain pen! I hope you like it!"

Jin Chen was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected Su Hanyan to prepare a gift so thoughtfully for his mother.

Surprised and happy at the same time, he felt immensely proud and grateful to have such a considerate girlfriend.

377: The Condition

Rong Qing glanced at the pen, reached out and took it. She saw that the pen was marked with Parker from the United States. This pen was quite valuable, probably worth more than a hundred yuan.

"What do you do for work?" Rong Qing raised her eyes and asked.

"I work in a state-owned enterprise as a worker," Su Hanyan replied truthfully.

"How much do you make in a month?"

"Around thirty yuan."

"Mm." Rong Qing placed the pen on the table and directly said to Su Hanyan, "Do you know? My son is ill!"

Jin Chen heard this and his pupils tightened.

His incredulous gaze stared at his mother Rong Qing, as if he couldn't believe these words came from her mouth.

Su Hanyan was also stunned by Rong Qing's words. It was the first time she had heard a mother say her son was ill, especially in front of her son's girlfriend whom she had just met.

"Huh?" Surprised and perplexed, she asked, "Auntie, what do you mean by that?"

"My son has been ill since he was a child, with a strange illness that can't be cured!" Rong Qing blurted out, seemingly not considering her son's feelings.

"Mom!" Jin Chen softly rebuked, "What are you saying!"

"Chenchen, you go out first. I have something to say to this Miss Su Hanyan!" Rong Qing looked at her son, her tone brooked no refusal.

"Mom, if you have something to say, just say it here!" Jin Chen frowned, lips pursed tightly, his jawline tense. "You've only come back once a year for so many years, or not at all. The moment you come back, you say this in front of my girlfriend. Have you ever thought about my feelings?"

"Jin Chen, is what I said wrong?" Rong Qing asked.

Jin Chen stared at her, then nodded after a moment, "Yes, you're not wrong. This is something I should let Hanyan know, but it should be me who says it, not you!"

"I think it's the same whoever says it. Miss Hanyan has the right to know." Rong Qing looked at Jin Chen with a serious expression, pointing to the door, "Please go out and wait for a while. Respect me and this young lady."

Jin Chen clenched his fists.

Does Jin Chen also have a condition?

This was something she had no idea about.

"Jin Chen." Su Hanyan walked up to him, softly saying, "Would you mind waiting outside for me? I'll talk to Auntie alone, okay?"

Jin Chen's gaze fell on Su Hanyan's face, mixed with complexity and struggle. However, he finally nodded and said, "Okay!"

The door closed.

Rong Qing gestured for Su Hanyan to sit down.

"Thank you, Auntie!" Su Hanyan sat opposite Rong Qing at the desk, facing each other. She looked directly at her, her gaze gentle, "Auntie, if you have something to tell me, please go ahead!"

"Good. Since you want to be with my son, I'll be direct. My son has had a strange illness since he was young. He often has tinnitus in his ears, various sounds, which can last for many days and nights, causing him pain and irritability. These sounds prevent him from getting proper rest. He becomes irritable and angry. Once, he locked himself in the study for several days and didn't come out until we opened the door, only to find him lying on the ground..."

After Rong Qing finished speaking, she pursed her lips and added, "You've been in contact with him, haven't you? Does he often get irritable? Does he look very tired? That means he's having an episode! According to our current means, there's no way to treat this illness! So, if you're going to be with him, you'll have to face such a man for the rest of your life! Of course, you'll live a comfortable life, after all, my son can earn money. But, mentally, you won't feel happy! Life, the word sounds beautiful, but it's also very long. Are you sure you're ready to spend your life with such a person?"

Outside the door, Jin Chen listened clearly. He leaned against the wall, his mood becoming restless.

"Jin Chen." Yan Yi came up with fruit. Seeing Jin Chen standing outside the door, she was not surprised at all. "Is Auntie talking to Su Hanyan?"

378: Declaration of War

Jin Chen didn't respond. His thoughts were all inside the room, uncertain of how Su Hanyan would respond after hearing those words. To be honest, he felt a bit nervous inside.

Seeing him ignore her, Yan Yi asked again, "Is Aunt Rong talking to Su Hanyan inside?"

"Yes, she is. You already know, why ask?" Jin Chen didn't mince his words, leaving two cold and blunt sentences before heading downstairs.

Yan Yi was used to Jin Chen's cold demeanor but couldn't tolerate his straightforward and hurtful reply.

She bit her lip, swallowing the bitterness and grievance, then lightly knocked on the door.

"Aunt Rong? I came up to bring you a plate of fruit." Yan Yi smiled warmly, her words filled with intimacy. "Do you still remember when Jin Chen and I used to run around sweating, and you always brought us fruit? You even saved the sweetest and best for me..."

The past happy times were irretrievable for Rong Qing. Her husband's sudden death and her son's bizarre illness had shattered the family overnight.

The sweeter the past, the greater the gap in her heart now.

"Let it go." Rong Qing regained her composure, nodded faintly at Yan Yi, then turned to Su Hanyan and asked, "So, is this your answer?"

"It's also my choice." Su Hanyan said firmly.

"Alright. I'll remember that." Rong Qing nodded. "I hope you can stick to it."

"I will!"

Yan Yi wanted to hear more of their conversation, so she didn't leave immediately, holding an apple and peeling it for Rong Qing.

By now, Rong Qing had finished her conversation with Su Hanyan.

"You can go out now," she said.

"Auntie, rest well!" Su Hanyan got up and walked out.

Yan Yi wanted to stay and talk with Rong Qing but was also driven away by her.

"Yan Yan, you should go downstairs too. Auntie wants to be alone for a while."

"Alright then." Yan Yi put down the fruit knife. Before closing the door, she said to Rong Qing, "Aunt Rong, my mom always remembers you. If you have time, please visit our home."

"I understand." Rong Qing nodded in agreement. "Tell your mom, I will definitely visit her when I have the time."

"Okay." Yan Yi smiled gently and closed the door softly.

She went downstairs and found that Jin Chen and Su Hanyan were not in the room, so she pushed open the door and went outside to look for them.

Coincidentally, Su Hanyan also came out to find Jin Chen, and the two met at the door.

"Where's Jin Chen?" Yan Yi asked.

"I don't know. I'm looking for him too." Su Hanyan shook her head. "I don't know where he went..."

Yan Yi squinted her eyes, thought for a moment, and smiled faintly, "I think I should know."

"Where?" Su Hanyan asked.

"You don't need to know this. It's a place where we played together from childhood to adulthood, and only a few of us know about it. Su Hanyan, even though you're Jin Chen's girlfriend now, you don't really understand him, or his friends and family! You've always been hovering outside his heart. He gives you a smile, and you think you can enter his heart? Impossible! Don't think that anyone can be Jin Chen's wife!"

[the guy does NOT like you, give it up]

There were no others around here, only the two of them, and she showed her true colors to Su Hanyan.

Su Hanyan frowned upon hearing this. "So, what do you mean by all these words? Are you openly declaring war on me?"

379: Shattering of Pride

"Declare war?" Yan Yi smiled, "You can see it that way!"

[istg this girl is a masochist]

"Is someone else's boyfriend so memorable to you?" Su Hanyan's expression was faint, "This war is one you can't win. Why waste emotions trying to break up others? Even if I am not happy, it doesn't mean you will be, right?"

"Break up? It should be you who intervened in our relationship!! How many years have I known him? And how long have you?"

Su Hanyan sneered, "Does love have anything to do with the length of time? Even if you've known him for a long time, so what? It only shows that you've spent all that time unable to enter a man's heart, while in just a few months, we've already surpassed you by many years! In the future, our lives will continue to intertwine and get closer. And you? You're only getting farther away from him, eventually completely splitting apart! All the memories between you and him will remain just memories. But he and I have an infinite future!"

Yan Yi was infuriated by her words. She knew this woman was not easy to deal with, but she didn't know if Jin Chen knew about her true nature behind his back.

She instinctively clenched her fists and then slowly relaxed them. "Love isn't marriage. Do you think that just because you've won Jin Chen's heart, you'll have a happy marriage?"

"Perhaps not." Su Hanyan smiled faintly, lightly brushing off Yan Yi's pride with a few words, "At the very least, I have his heart. What about you? You can't even get his heart, yet here you are deluding yourself about happiness! Ridiculous!"

"You... don't be too arrogant! You're just a factory worker..."

Yan Yi's words were cut off by Su Hanyan, "Yes, I'm just an ordinary factory worker. No family background, no education. Even so, I've defeated you in love! If you want to declare war with me, be prepared."

"Fine! Just wait!" Yan Yi wanted to say more but held herself back.

There was no need for tough talk. The slap of reality would come louder.

Coincidentally, Su Hanyan thought the same.

Yan Yi said nothing more and walked ahead to find Jin Chen.

She knew where he would like to go in this place.

Downstairs, the crowd dispersed, and the open window on the second floor slowly closed.

Rong Qing turned her back and leaned against the glass, closing her eyes with a faint smile. She hoped her son's love would be fulfilled.

...

On a summer night, countless scattered stars adorned the sky, and the hot wind carried waves of floral fragrance.

There weren't many people on the medical university's playground. Groups of two or three sat in the bushes, whispering softly or talking quietly.

Occasionally, a few students running at night dashed past, leaving behind crisp laughter.

Jin Chen sat under the basketball hoop, one leg bent, the other stretching freely into the distance. He held a cigarette in his mouth, its ember faintly glowing, outlining the contours of his chin in a hazy silhouette.

"Jin Chen." Yan Yi stopped not far from him, hesitating whether to approach.

She had seen him smoke only a few times, each time marking a major event.

When Aunt Rong left, he smoked. When he went abroad to study, he smoked. When he quarreled with Lu Feifan, he smoked...

Each cigarette represented his emotions reaching an extreme.

She didn't know what Aunt Rong and Su Hanyan had talked about, but she knew it must be related to him.

380: Seeking Trouble

Jin Chen lifted his head, his gaze lingering behind Yan Yi. After a moment, he slowly stood up and walked towards her step by step.

"Jin Chen... Are you feeling better now?" Yan Yi asked cautiously.

Jin Chen's lips slowly curled up, revealing a smile.

As he approached, his smile became more apparent. The softness in his eyes and eyebrows carried a tender sweetness that was incredibly heartwarming.

Yan Yi's heart started pounding, her breathing growing tense.

She had never seen Jin Chen smile at her like this before. She was excited but also worried. Worried that it was just her imagination and would vanish in the next second.

She stood still, afraid to move or breathe, waiting for him to speak, waiting for the moment of happiness to come.

But a voice shattered her fantasy.

"Jin Chen, I finally found you." Su Hanyan's voice echoed behind her.

She turned around and saw Su Hanyan standing there, hands behind her back, tilting her head slightly with a bright smile on her face.

Jin Chen had walked towards Su Hanyan. He stopped in front of her, not saying a word, just quietly looking at her.

Su Hanyan smiled at him and rushed into his embrace.

Jin Chen hurriedly opened his arms and embraced her tightly, resting his chin on her shoulder. There was a hint of joy in his deep voice, "So this is your choice, right?"

"Yes!" Su Hanyan nodded with a smile, "This is my choice! Dr. Jin, do you lack confidence in yourself or in me? You sneaked away midway to smoke and ease your mind?"

"Aren't you afraid?" he asked.

"Afraid of what?"

"Afraid that I'll drag you down! Afraid that I can't give you happiness!"

"I'm not afraid." Su Hanyan smiled, holding his sturdy waist tightly, "Without you, how can there be happiness? I'm a simple person and I don't like trouble. I just like you and want to be with you for the rest of my life! Besides, everyone's definition of happiness is different! What others may not consider as happiness, how do they know if I am happy or not?"

Jin Chen's heart settled back down, and his tense nerves relaxed.

This was the one secret he had kept to himself all along, now revealed by his mother. There was nothing more to worry about or hide.

"Mm." He murmured softly, "Thank you."

Su Hanyan released him, tiptoed with a smile, and kissed his lips.

Jin Chen didn't let her escape, his large hand holding the back of her head, he lowered his head and kissed her deeply, the faint scent of tobacco enveloping her...

Yan Yi watched the two of them affectionate in front of her, her heart clenched tightly. She wished she could just pull Su Hanyan away and replace her.

She was practically seeking trouble here, feeling as if she were suffering a drawn-out torture.

She turned around and left, covering her face.

On the way back, Jin Chen and Su Hanyan held hands, admiring the summer night scenery.

"Can you tell me about your condition? Do you mind if I know more?" she asked curiously and with concern, "I remember when I first saw you, you were so cold and somewhat intimidating... Is it related to this?"

"Yes," he admitted, "I was very restless then, feeling so uncomfortable as if I were dying. When you brought me breakfast at that time, it made me extremely irritable. I knew you meant well, but my restless emotions were uncontrollable."

Su Hanyan remembered now. No wonder every time she saw him, he always had that expression and demeanor. It turned out it was related to that strange illness.