"Grandma must be mad at you for blaming yourself. You should know it was not your fault. At least she had a smile everyday, right? That proves it," Bai Renxiang reasoned.
"Yeah, I know. But my heart and conscience can't help it," Jiang Meilin sighed. "Anyway, tell me the name and address of the hospital so that I can go and see how Xiaozhi is doing."
Bai Renxiang agreed and sent her the address on her phone. Jiang Meilin chatted for a few more minutes before she left the hospital.
******
Meanwhile, Mrs Ning remained consciousness that morning. Her eyes scanned her environment properly. She was wanted to know if she ended up in hell for her deeds to her daughter
But it turns out she was alive and in a hospital room to be exact.
'This must be the second chance God has given me to amend my ways and live life right,' she thought.
Just then she heard a faint vlice call out to her. The person sounded shocked and relieved at the same time. Her head slowly turned to check who it was.
"Xiao-Xiaozhi?!" Her vouce was hoarded.
Ning Xiaozhi quickly moved to get the wiman a glass of water. She then helped her drink. Once that was done, she stepped away.
"I'm so–"
"How are you feeling?" Ning Xiaozhi cut her off quickly.
She did not see continue their purpose of the meeting a reasonable thing to do right after she regained consciousness. Ning Xiaozhi is not that cruel and heartless.
"I feel... I think I'm fine. Just a few aches here and there. Most especially my knee. But other than that, I'm fine. You do not have to worry to much about me," Mrs Ning answered.
Ning Xiaozhi slowly nodded. The room then fell into an awkward silence as none of them could bring themselves to say a word. Ning Xiaozhi raised her brain for something to say.
"Ahem!" Sge cleared her throat. "The doctor said you will need about a month and few weeks to recover. But you can't walk too much to avoid putting pressuring on your knee she informed her.
Mrs Ning nodded quietly.
"That reminds me, cousin Yi, Li Qiang and Yingjie are on their way here with your husband. I had Chaoxiang call to inform them of your accident," she said.
Mrs Ning was quiet stunned. She had thought that thise four wohld want to have nothung to do with her. She thought they did not even care anymore.
But hearing that they were on their way just to see her, made her feel a little glimmer of hope. She would use this chance to ask for their forgiveness again.
"T-Thank you for... for coming to check up on me," Mrs Ning stuttered a bit put of nervousness and happiness too.
Yes, she was happy. Happy that her daughter, who she offended the most cared enough to come and see her. Especially after those words Ning Xiaozhi said to her over the phone the last two times she called.
"I did not come to check up on you. I stayed here with my husband. We have been here since the time you were being operated on," Ning Xiaozhi let her know.
"O-Oh! I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Especially for your h-husband. He's a busy man and he still..." Mrs Ning trailed off.
"Yeah. You did not approve of him for me and yet he still came. I bet Han Duyi would have done the same," Ning Xiaozhi spoke in sacarsm.
She could not help it. She had to admit that a huge part of her was still mad at her mother. But the rest reminded her that without that woman, she would have not been born to meet her sweet darling Chaoxiang.
"I know what I did was horrible as a mother. I regret it and I want to tell you that I am really–"
*knock knock*
A knock from the door interrupted her. Ning Xiaozhi did not hesitate to go and check who it was. She did hope it was her Chaoxiang because she needed him to go through that apology phase.
But when she opened the door, the person she had least expected to see stood right outside. To say she was surprised would be an understatement.
"Xiaozhi dear. Oh, how are you? I heard what happened to your mother. I came quickly," Jiang Meilin said.
"Mum! I did not expect your arrival. I missed you," Ning Xiaozhi hugged her.
"I missed you too dear. I didn't bring any home-cooked meal because I did not expect to hear such sad news. But I bought something on my way since I thought you had not had anything yet," Jiang Meilin handed her the packaged food she bought from a restaurant on her way here.
"Thanks, mum. I really appreciate this. Come in. Oh and please excuse my bad manners," Ning Xiaozhi ushered her in.
Jiang Meilin shook her head and waved that talk off. Her eyes then met with Mrs Ning's curious once. She gave her a curt nod and a hello before focussing her attention on Ning Xiaozhi.
Now that she has seen the woman that has been bad to her Xiaozhi, Jiang Meilin could not help but feel a certain amount of anger. As for Mrs Ning it was another different story.
To be honest, she had to say that she felt a huge amount of jealousy when she heard her daughter calling someone else, mum. A frown even made its way to her face.
But when she remembered that her action towards her said daughter was no less of a dictator, the frown instanlty disappeared.
She could hear how happy her daughter was to see this woman she called mum. It was exactly how it was when little Xiaozhi called her(Mrs Ning) mum.
So she got curious to see for herself whi this woman is. Her tone showed her utmost care and love for her own child. One she failed to continue showing as Ning Xiaozhi grew up.