A Cold and Aloof Top Student Is Relied Upon - Chapter 69.2

Chapter 69.2: Departure

◎The End◎

Gu Zhu was about to head back to where she was staying when Gu Baozhi suddenly said, “Please thank her for me. Be careful on your way.”

Gu Zhu looked up abruptly, but saw that Gu Baozhi had already closed her eyes to rest. She held back the questions she wanted to ask, simply said “Okay,” and left. The hospital was a private one, and the rooms were high-end single suites with a reasonably spacious sofa, making it convenient for her to stay overnight.

When she left the hospital, someone was already waiting at the entrance. She got into Bai Tan’s car and sat in the passenger seat, looking at the streetscape, which was completely different from the capital.

It had been a while since she was here. The city was still bustling, with a vibrant nightlife. Cars flowed without a break, and the lights shone brightly.

Bai Tan took her to her own apartment, which was where she usually lived. It was a large, single-floor apartment with a row of floor-to-ceiling windows and a big bay window. By the window ledge was a small, ladder-style cat tree. Bai Yibai was sleeping in a cat bed, which was level with the bay window, a fluffy ball seemingly merged with the soft, white wool of the bed.

Hearing the sound, Bai Yibai got up, arched her back, stretched, and slowly walked over.

After many years apart, the kitten had become an old lady. Bai Yibai was almost thirteen. While it might not be obvious from her appearance, her slow steps and eyes that were not as bright as before showed her age.

Bai Yibai seemed to remember her. She gave her a gentle sniff, then wrapped her tail around Gu Zhu’s leg and rubbed against her.

Gu Zhu crouched down and couldn’t resist picking her up, giving her a soft kiss on the forehead. She was so happy to see little Bai Yibai again, but she also felt a little melancholy. It seemed that not only people, but all living things would eventually reach the end of their lives.

She had grown up, Gu Baozhi had grown old, and Bai Yibai had grown old too. Time never favored anyone; it only moved relentlessly forward.

After she finished her reunion with Bai Yibai, she and Bai Tan had a simple dinner that the housekeeper had prepared in advance, which they only needed to heat up.

After they finished cleaning up, Gu Zhu only spent a little time with Bai Tan before getting ready to go back to the hospital.

Bai Tan wanted to drive her, but she refused. “You probably have a lot of things to deal with tomorrow. I can go by myself. You should get some good rest too.” She gave Bai Tan a light kiss on the corner of her mouth and continued, “Mom said to thank you for me. Bai Tan, really, thank you.”

Just like when they were young, Bai Tan cupped the back of her head and gently patted her. “Go on. Be careful on your way. Call me if you need anything.”

“Okay.”

…

Palliative care could only alleviate Gu Baozhi’s pain. Without targeted treatment, her condition gradually worsened. The tumor metastasized faster, and organ failure became more severe. Since she couldn’t eat, she had to rely on a nutritional IV to sustain her body’s functions.

Time quickly turned to the end of the year. Gu Zhu’s work had been minimal, and she was able to temporarily step away from the project. On Chinese New Year’s Eve, she drove Gu Baozhi home, accompanied by a hired private doctor.

The end of the year was the busiest time for the company, and Chen Xuelian and Bai Yingting had both made a rare return to attend her grandmother’s 90th birthday. Bai Tan couldn’t get away, so she could only bid them farewell from a distance.

Noticing her conflicted feelings, Gu Zhu comforted her with a few words, promising to keep in touch on the phone, and then set off from Yue City.

They had left early, and the road was a little congested but not too bad. The extended vehicle allowed Gu Baozhi to lie down, so she wasn’t too uncomfortable. She was still on an IV drip, and the accompanying doctor monitored her condition at all times. Thankfully, they arrived back in their hometown safely.

Chang Yuehua, Chang Xiling, and Luo Ning had been waiting at the intersection since early. Uncle Chang was busy cooking the New Year’s Eve dinner, so he hadn’t come to pick them up. When they saw Gu Baozhi being wheeled out in a wheelchair, a few of them teared up. The person in front of them was so old and withered that it was hard to believe this was the same healthy and robust person from just two years ago.

Afraid of ruining the holiday mood, they had to hide their sadness and made an effort to talk about lighthearted topics, so Gu Baozhi could have a good New Year.

The couplets on the front door had been replaced with new ones, and cheerful “Fu” characters were pasted on the door and windows. Chang Yuehua had tidied up the place completely, even making the bed with the same bedding Gu Baozhi was used to, not a new set.

After chatting for a while in the living room, Gu Baozhi got tired. The room fell quiet. It was only when the New Year’s Eve dinner was ready that Gu Zhu woke her up.

A large round table was set up under the open patio. The sun hadn’t completely set, and the sky was a hazy blue. The lights inside the house were already on, including the two lanterns at the door, casting a bright glow on everyone’s faces.

The New Year’s Eve dinner was lavish, with eight dishes, including chicken, duck, fish, and meat. There was also steamed egg and minced pork porridge made specifically for Gu Baozhi. The meat was pureed very finely so she could swallow it without having to chew.

At this point, they no longer had to be so particular about what she ate. Gu Zhu picked out some fish for her, removed the bones, and let her eat slowly. The laughter and conversation never stopped. Chang Yuehua talked about many recent events in town and, as she spoke, brought up stories from when they were young.

She talked about her own childhood, Gu Zhu’s youth, and even played high-definition videos of Chang Xiling from the time she was born to when she became an adult. There were a few embarrassing moments that made many people laugh at Chang Xiling’s “Ahhh!” as she covered her face.

After a while, the sound of fireworks and firecrackers began. They looked up and saw colorful blossoms in the sky. When they ended, there was a moment of silence in the yard.

“Come on, let’s wish everyone a Happy New Year. May we all be happy and successful, year after year.” Gu Baozhi shakily raised her cup, which held a rice drink that had been specially prepared for her. A smile was on her lips, and her expression was gentle. Tonight, her old and clouded state seemed to fade away, leaving her eyes soft and bright.

“Cheers! Happy New Year!”

Gu Baozhi didn’t wait until midnight to go to sleep. She got tired very easily now, often falling asleep without even realizing it. Gu Zhu wiped her hands and face for her and then slept beside her, just like she did as a child.

The next day was the first day of the New Year. A new year had arrived.

When Gu Zhu woke up, Gu Baozhi was still sleeping. Not wanting to disturb her, she got up to wash and then prepared a simple breakfast. While the porridge was cooking, she went into the room to check on Gu Baozhi and felt a slight sense of relief when she found her awake.

She went over to help her tidy up, then went out to call the doctor. Seeing that her condition was stable, she pushed her out for a walk. Afraid she would get cold, Gu Zhu covered her with a thick blanket.

Little Shali Town was the same as they had left it, without too many changes. Since it was the first day of the New Year, a rare holiday, there weren’t many people on the streets. Only a few children were chasing and playing, their laughter clear and crisp.

They passed through a few narrow alleys and walked up a long slope to the seaside. The weather was actually quite nice today. It was a little overcast, but the wind wasn’t strong. The seawater gently lapped at the shore, and a thin layer of foam receded from the edge of the sand.

The shops on the side were all closed, including their snack shop. It was a sparsely populated area. The sea was vast, and there were no boats coming or going.

They didn’t stay outside for too long before they went home. Chang Yuehua and the others had already arrived, bringing some snacks and fruit. After Gu Baozhi fell asleep, they chatted with Gu Zhu for a bit and then left, only to come back in the afternoon. They made many trips back and forth throughout the day.

On the morning of the third day, Gu Zhu had just opened her eyes when she saw that Gu Baozhi was also awake. She was startled, got out of bed, put on her clothes, and brought in some water. After wiping Gu Baozhi down, she was about to go make breakfast when Gu Baozhi stopped her.

“Don’t busy yourself. Just stay with me for a while, Mom.” Gu Baozhi’s voice was weak, as if the energy she had had for the past few days had suddenly disappeared.

Gu Zhu sent a message to Chang Yuehua, dried her hands, and sat on the edge of the bed. She tried to control her inner panic, holding Gu Baozhi’s hand and softly calling out, “Mom.”

“Yes,” Gu Baozhi responded with a smile, then slowly sighed, as if reminiscing. “The first time I saw you, you were so small, just like a little kitten. I was afraid to even hold you.”

“In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown so big. So big that I can’t even hold you anymore.”

“Help me sit up. It’s more comfortable to talk this way.”

Gu Zhu helped her sit up and then gently laid her head in her mother’s lap, feeling her soft, caressing hand.

“At that time, I was always afraid I wouldn’t be able to provide for you. Then as you grew up, I became afraid that you would leave.” Gu Baozhi’s family ties had always been weak. Her parents and husband died early, and later her only sister was gone too. Slowly, she had come to see Gu Zhu as her only emotional anchor, her lifeline. She always wanted to hold her tightly in her palm, but she hadn’t realized that she was creating a burden for Gu Zhu.

“I’m the one who can’t leave you, Mom,” Gu Zhu said softly. She was raised by this person, and this person had brought her up alone. Because Gu Baozhi was there, the wandering kite had a string to anchor it, so it could follow that string home.

“Mom knows. Mom knows now that my Zhu-zi is someone who loves her mom very much. It was my fault, for not having faith in you.” Gu Baozhi silently wiped away her tears. She had never been so happy in her life. She had always lived in fear, afraid of loneliness, afraid of having no money, and afraid of there being no tomorrow. She was at the bottom of society, without much experience, and she only wanted to live a simple, stable life.

She was so proud of how excellent Gu Zhu was, and she was so careful, afraid that she would go astray or suffer. She only wanted her to study, work, marry, and have children, so that she could leave in peace when her time came.

But life had taken such a big turn, almost breaking them both apart. Now that she was at the end, she felt that the things she had once been so insistent on were no longer so important. As long as Gu Zhu was happy, that was all that mattered.

“Zhu-zi, I love you. You can be whatever you want. As long as you think it’s good, it’s good.” Gu Baozhi gradually ran out of strength. She only had time for one last sentence. “So you must get better, get better quickly…”

Her hand fell silently onto Gu Zhu’s face, and then there was no more movement.

Gu Zhu lay on her mother’s body, her back trembling. She raised her hand to hold her mother’s and buried her face in her lap again. This time, she could no longer hold back her sobs.

Chang Yuehua rushed in, nearly stumbling, and leaned against the doorframe, crying too.

Outside the door, flocks of birds circled in the sky. The migratory birds were returning to their nests. Winter gave way to spring. The four seasons rotated, and time seemed to have no end.

But in this world, people arrive every day, and people also leave. May every coming and going be met with a welcoming face and a fond farewell.

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