Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  “Although Nan Nan relied on her own efforts and bought a small house for Qiao Dongliang in the capital so that she could fetch him over and take care of him, we all know in our hearts that Qiao Dongliang isn’t as close to her as Elder Lin is.”

  As such, if something really happened to Elder Lin, Nan Nan would be the first to be uncontrollably sad. Miao Jing didn’t wish for such a situation to happen. Upon thinking that the triplets at home cared about Elder Lin a lot, Miao Jing became more upset. “What exactly happened? I can tell you that if anything happens, you won’t be able to coax even one of the three children, let alone Nan Nan.”

  They weren’t afraid of anything if the elderly in the family became old. They weren’t afraid that the elderly required people to take care of them if they were old. They were afraid that the juniors couldn’t accept that the elderly’s life had come to an end.

  “Elder Lin’s situation isn’t optimistic. However, it’s going to be the triplets’ birthday soon. Elder Lin wishes for them to be happy. Thus, he has been dragging this matter.”

  With a clang, the shocked Miao Jing couldn’t even hold the cup in her hands well. It fell to the ground, smashing into smithereens. “How…… how did this happen? He was still fine last month. Why did he……” According to Zhai Sheng, could it be that Elder Lin couldn’t even survive for a day after the triplets celebrated their birthdays? “No, why? How did this happen to Elder Lin? There should be a reason, right?”

  How would a healthy old man be at the risk of losing his life just like that? If it wasn’t a terminal illness, then it should be an accident. Which category did Elder Lin belong to?

  \r \r \r

  “Stomach cancer. Last stage.” Zhai Sheng took a deep breath. “The auntie, who’s taking care of Elder Lin, said that he is no longer eating. It’s tough to take medicines to continue one’s life. There are a lot of side effects from the medicine. Under such torment, even an average young man wouldn’t hang in there and choose to give up, let alone an old man like Elder Lin. If not for the triplets……”

  If not for the triplets, Elder Lin didn’t have to suffer so much and could choose to die from the illness a long time ago.

  Zhai Sheng felt very incompetent at Elder Lin’s perseverance and stubbornness as he didn’t know what he could do to help this old man relieve the physical pain. Furthermore, he was tolerating the pain for his wife and three children.

  Miao Jing was so shocked that she covered her mouth. Stomach cancer. Last stage!

  Oh, god. Why did something like this happen?

  “Has he really reached that stage where there’s no cure at all?” Of course, Miao Jing knew how scary cancer was. Just hearing the words ‘last stage cancer’ alone made Miao Jing feel terrified. She couldn’t imagine someone around her having such a scary illness.

  Zhai Sheng sat down with a defeated look. “If there’s any possibility of saving him, do you think Elder Lin will bear not to see the triplets and Nan Nan for a few days? Elder Lin was worried that his current look would scare the four of them. He’s not willing to let Nan Nan worry about him and neglect her own career in the process.”

  “.……” Miao Jing didn’t say anything. However, she understood Elder Lin’s mindset and thoughts.

  Zhai Sheng sighed. “Mom, I’m not only worried about Elder Lin now. Do you still remember what the old master said yesterday night? Initially, when Dad and I saw his sleeping look yesterday night, we were both relieved. However, after seeing Elder Lin today, I’m afraid……”

  “You’re afraid that his mindset is the same as Elder Lin’s and that they are both hanging there for the sake of the triplets’ birthdays?” Miao Jing’s heart shuddered. No, it couldn’t be. It must not be like this. Elder Lin was in his last stage of stomach cancer. He couldn’t be cured, thus his days were numbered. However, the old master’s health was always good. He didn’t have any illness or pain, and he even insisted on doing a set of punches every morning.

  No matter how she looked at it, she didn’t feel that the old master’s situation was similar to Elder Lin’s. “Zhai Sheng, could it be that you have thought too much? He wouldn’t do this. He has a strong relationship with your grandma. It wasn’t the first time that he mentioned her in front of us. It might be that he purely thought about your grandma that day and wanted to chat more about her with you so that you would remember that you had such a grandma. I think the old master didn’t mean anything else.”

  At this point in time, Miao Jing didn’t dare to agree that Old Master Zhai’s performance yesterday night was because his health condition was similar to Elder Lin’s and that he was hanging in there just for the triplets’ birthdays. “However, your worries are valid. Why don’t we do this? Let’s bring the old master to the hospital to do a physical examination since we are concerned for him. In that case, we can also buy peace of mind. The hospital results wouldn’t be wrong, right?”

  Miao Jing still didn’t feel that the old master was the same as Elder Lin and that they were about to finish walking the last moments of their lives. A few days ago, someone had seen the old master and even joked with her that based on how he was looking, he could probably still live for another seven to eight years.

  It was rare to see someone reaching his or her hundreds. However, it was highly possible that their old master could reach his nineties.

  How could a man whom everyone felt could live to his nineties just pass away without any warning when he hadn’t even reached the age of ninety? It should be that Zhai Sheng was too agitated by Elder Lin and felt that everything was pessimistic.

  “Okay, you can just mention these words to me here. In front of your dad, don’t say anything. Otherwise, he will hammer you to death. At that time, even I can’t help you. As for Elder Lin, it’s not easy to pass the stage with Nan Nan and the triplets.” If Nan Nan and the triplets knew about Elder Lin, they would definitely stay by Elder Lin’s bed all the time.

  Miao Jing sighed. “He chose to hide it from Qiao Nan such that she didn’t even have a chance to take care of him. He made such a decision alone. Do you think that he will regret it after he passed away?” People were the most vulnerable when they were sick. She believed that Elder Lin not only needed Nan Nan’s care but also desired it.

  “No.” Zhai Sheng shook his head, indicating that his mom had thought too much. “I persuaded Elder Lin for a long time, hoping that he would be willing to tell Nan Nan his condition. However, regardless of what I said, he refused to agree to it. He even forced me to hide it from Nan Nan together.”

  There was no doubt about Elder Lin’s feelings for Nan Nan. It far exceeded that for her parents, Qiao Dongliang and Ding Jiayi. Ding Jiayi never paid attention to Nan Nan and never treated her as a daughter to be cherished. As for Qiao Dongliang, he wasn’t the father of only Nan Nan.

  It was a tough call.

  Compared to these two people, Elder Lin’s feelings for Nan Nan were simpler and stronger.