014 Belated affection

I moved into my new home.

When Qin Yue found out, he was initially a bit opposed.

But then, for some reason, he stopped saying anything.

Since I had been so distant with him, every summer and winter break, he sent Jingjing to stay with me for a while.

Although I no longer had any feelings for him or his father, Jingjing was my granddaughter, cute and sensible.

How could I not love her?

After all, the conflicts were between the adults, not the children.

So, I'd take Jingjing out to travel or enroll in a hobby class.

We even attended classes together.

This year, we enrolled in Chinese painting.

But when Jingjing arrived, her mood wasn't great.

She would sigh often.

I couldn't help but pat her head.

"What's wrong? Why are you sighing at such a young age?"

Jingjing hugged me tightly.

"Grandma, there's always fighting at home."

From Jingjing, I learned that Qin Zhi'an had moved into Qin Yue's house, bringing Gu Nian along.

What had originally been only a burden for me—Gu Nian's Alzheimer's—had now become a trouble for the whole family.

"Grandma Gu threw my mom's clothes into the toilet and poured water on Dad's phone."

The little one held her face in her hands.

"She even ripped up my homework, and when I told the teacher, she didn't believe me."

"They fight all the time because of Grandma Gu. One time, they fought so badly they forgot to close the door, and Grandma Gu wandered off."

I was shocked.

No matter what, Gu Nian was still a patient. The most I had considered was sending her away, but I never thought about letting her end up on the streets.

"She wandered off?!"

Jingjing patted my hand gently.

"Don't worry, Grandma. We found her. The police uncle brought her back."

I let out a relieved breath.

But Jingjing furrowed her brows.

"But Grandpa got so scared, he's sick now."

She leaned against me.

"Grandma, when Grandpa was sick, he kept calling out for you."

Qin Zhi'an fell ill.

When Jingjing video-called him, she made sure to show me.

He truly looked unwell.

There was a rope tied to his wrist.

One end was connected to him, the other to Gu Nian.

He no longer had the gentleness he once had. When Gu Nian wandered off, he instinctively slapped her.

Gu Nian's condition worsened.

She didn't even recognize him as her Zhi'an anymore.

She cried, retreating, throwing things.

Qin Zhi'an was hit in the forehead by an ashtray, and a small amount of blood trickled out.

The video ended in a chaotic mess.

Jingjing seemed to take it in stride.

"There's no way around it, Grandpa has to hold Grandma Gu, or she'll run off."

"She even went to the police station saying Grandpa was abusing her."

Jingjing leaned in closer.

"Grandma, Grandpa said he was wrong. Are you really not going to forgive him?"

I kissed Jingjing's forehead.

"It's like grading a paper that's already been marked. What good is changing the answers now?"

When the holiday ended, Qin Yue came to pick Jingjing up.

He lowered his head as he took Jingjing from me.

We silently watched as Jingjing skipped toward the car.

Suddenly, Qin Yue started crying.

His crying grew louder and louder, and I found it a bit embarrassing.

So, I turned away, pretending I didn't know him.

After he cried it out, he suddenly hugged me.

Like when he was little, he whispered my name softly.

"Mom."

I didn't respond, and he didn't call again.

Before I left, he hugged me one more time.

"Mom, I miss you."

"Mom, I'm sorry."

I sat in the car, eyes closed.

The first word a child ever says is "Mom."

And at the end of many lives, it's still "Mom."

Children love their mothers so deeply, but it's only when they lose them that they realize it.

I knew exactly why Jingjing said those words and who taught her.

I just didn't want to look back anymore.

My phone buzzed.

"Your visa has been approved..."