Chapter 28: Lotus Root Starch

Zhou Sheng couldn’t wait—visited the hospital Saturday.
At the ward—Lin Sitian, messy, opened the door.
“Morning.” He greeted.
She panicked—closed the door, tidied up (high ponytail, neat clothes).
Opened—”Why here?”
He: “See grandma…and you.”
In the single ward—grandma slept.
He: “Grandma’s condition?”
She: “Late stage—half a year, maybe a year with surgery.”
He: “Not your fault—pancreatic cancer’s hard to detect early.”
She: “Signs—lost weight, poor appetite, back pain, blood clots. Went to hospital—no results, so stopped. If I’d insisted…”
Regretful—she hung her head.
He: “Dad hired a nurse— Cousin helps. Go back to school.”
She: “Sorry—no replies.”
He: “Understand—priorities.”
Nurse: “Room 403—family.”
Left—he checked on grandma.
Sunlight—he closed the curtain.
“Water…”
Grandma woke—recognized him.
“Zhou Sheng.”
She: “Boyfriend?”
He nodded (caught off – guard).
Grandma: “Prefer Xiao Yu (Meng Qiaoyu).”
He: “We support each other—only love her.”
Grandma questioned—he answered.
Finally—”Hungry—osmanthus lotus root starch.”
He: “Can’t eat—surgery recent.”
Grandma: “Xiao Yu would buy.”
He: “Check with nurse.”
Left—grandma: “Scared him away.”
She returned—asked: “Zhou Sheng?”
Grandma: “Ran—woke up and fled.”
Doubtful—she sat.
Grandma: “Sweet—come here.”
She: “Scared him? No—shy, not cowardly.”
Grandma: “Sit—let me see.”
…
Grandma: “Granddaughter—beautiful.”
“Next year—college. First in family.”
Tears—she cried.
Grandma: “Dad—single for years. Fear you’ll be bullied. Need a good man.”
She: “Don’t want you to go…”
Grandma: “I’ve lived enough—promise me: choose wisely. If not—live alone.”
She nodded.
Grandma: “Zhou Sheng’s good—I like him.”
Footsteps—Zhou Sheng, panting, entered with a bag.
Grandma: “See—he found your lotus root starch.”