Chapter 244 - 94: Mom, Don’t Be Like This
Jie Jingchen blocked the doorway. Standing in the courtyard, he couldn’t see what was happening inside.
"Xiao Tong has had a mind of her own since she was a child. It’s less that she was influenced by you and more that she had her own plans all along. Qin Mei, my parents and I know her all too well. We don’t blame you. Whatever she chooses, as long as she doesn’t regret it, we will support her." It was rare for Shen Qing to say so much at once.
Qin Mei smiled. ’They had arranged for Shen Tong to study abroad, but she gave it up. She refused to listen and couldn’t be swayed, so what else could they do but support her?’
"She won’t let you down." That was all she could say. Qin Mei couldn’t make any more promises.
Shen Qing said no more. She turned to see Jing Qi sitting back in her wheelchair, and her eyes flickered. Jing Qi smiled and shook her head at her. Shen Qing understood instantly, gave Jing Qi a nod, and strode away.
"What’s wrong with Jing Qi?" Jie Jinghun asked.
"See for yourself," Shen Qing said.
Jie Jinghun actually went to take a look. Jie Jingchen and Mrs. Xie’s expressions were back to normal. Jing Qi sat in her wheelchair, smiling at Jie Jinghun. "Third Brother, I’m fine."
Jie Jinghun found it strange but couldn’t spot anything out of the ordinary. His gaze shifted between them before finally resting on Jing Qi, and he offered a warm smile. "As long as you’re all right."
’They’re hiding something,’ Jie Jinghun vaguely sensed. ’And Shen Qing is in on it.’ He knew his wife too well; prying a secret from her would be far harder than coaxing it out of Jing Qi.
Mr. Xie was torn. He was angry with Jing Si and his wife, but he was still very concerned about Jing Qi. When he came out of his room, he saw that Jie Jinghun had returned to his own. After a moment’s hesitation, he started toward Jing Qi’s room.
"What’s wrong with Xiao Qiao?" Mr. Xie asked.
Jie Jingchen remained silent, and Qin Mei said nothing either. With a tacit understanding, they both stepped aside to let Mr. Xie into the room.
"Dad, I’m fine," Jing Qi said with a smile.
"Are you really?" Mr. Xie was skeptical. He looked toward his wife. Yan Qiu had always been composed, but her earlier cry of "Jing Qi" had clearly been a moment of lost control.
"Can’t you see for yourself if she’s all right or not?" Mrs. Xie shot her husband a look. "All right, go back to your room. I need to help Jing Qi bathe."
Mr. Xie gave a small smile and didn’t dare to linger, scurrying back to his room. Jie Jingwei was in the bathroom, and by the time he came out, his chance to show any concern was gone.
"Dad, is Jing Qi all right?" Jie Jingwei asked Mr. Xie as he returned to his room.
Aunt Zhang and Xu Chunyan came out of the kitchen as well, both wiping their hands on their aprons.
"Brother-in-law, is Jing Qi all right?" asked Aunt Zhang.
"Dad, is Jing Qi all right?" asked Xu Chunyan.
"She’s fine," Mr. Xie said with a dismissive wave. He was completely baffled himself. He went into his room and shut the door.
Jie Jingwei walked over to the two women and asked in a low voice, "What happened?"
Aunt Zhang and Xu Chunyan glanced at each other. Xu Chunyan looked at Jie Jingwei and replied, "Auntie and I were in the kitchen washing dishes, so we don’t know what happened either. We just heard Aunt Qiao call out for Jing Qi. Her voice sounded very emotional. We’re not sure if Jing Qi said something to upset her."
Jie Jingwei glared at Xu Chunyan before turning to Aunt Zhang. "Auntie, I don’t mean to criticize you, but what’s more important? Washing dishes or Jing Qi?"
Aunt Zhang really wanted to say, ’Washing the dishes,’ but what came out was, "Of course Jing Qi is more important."
Jie Jingwei wanted to lecture her, but considering Aunt Zhang’s position in the family, he held his tongue and went back to his room.
"The whole family is worried about Jing Qi. Our being there wouldn’t have made a difference. Everyone eats together, Auntie does the cooking, but I’m the only one who helps her with the dishes," Xu Chunyan couldn’t help but complain. "I can let Qiao Yanqiu slide, but Shen Qing is a daughter-in-law, too. How come she gets to just drop her bowl and chopsticks after dinner and head back to her room?"
"Second Daughter-in-law Jing, that’s enough out of you. Fine, you don’t have to help me. I’ll do it myself," said Aunt Zhang.
Xu Chunyan’s eye twitched. ’She waits until all the dishes are washed to say she’ll do it herself. A little late for that!’
"All right, Auntie. Thank you for your hard work." Xu Chunyan still knew how to be sweet with her words.
Xu Chunyan returned to her room, and Aunt Zhang went back to the kitchen to wash the wok and heat up bathwater.
Jing Qi could stand. The shock was immense for Mrs. Xie, and no less so for Jie Jingchen. Feeling anxious, Mrs. Xie pulled Qin Mei into the room, eager to get a clear explanation.
"Fourth Brother, close the door," Jie Jingshan said to Jie Jingchen, who was standing just outside.
Jie Jingchen froze for a second, then stepped inside and shut the door.
"Jing Qi, you can stand?" Jie Jingchen’s deep voice trembled. His intense gaze was locked on Jing Qi’s legs. He had just seen her stand up, but now she was back in her wheelchair, making him wonder if he had imagined the whole thing.
"My dear girl, can you... can you stand up again for me?" Mrs. Xie’s voice was also trembling uncontrollably. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and her hands, hanging at her sides, were curled into fists.
"Sister-in-law," Jing Qi said, looking at Qin Mei. ’Just this morning I asked her to help me keep it a secret, and now, before the sun has even set, I’ve already let it slip.’
"Jing Qi, do whatever you want," Qin Mei said with a smile. She wasn’t the one who needed to keep the secret; Jing Qi was. It didn’t matter to her either way.
Hearing this, Jing Qi hesitated no longer and rose from her wheelchair. Jie Jingchen let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. It wasn’t a hallucination. Jing Qi could really stand.
Mrs. Xie was overcome with emotion. Unable to hold back any longer, she threw her arms around Qin Mei and burst into tears.
"Mom!" Jing Qi cried out, startled. She took a few steps toward her mother. Thanks to her diligent exercises, her gait, while not yet normal, was no longer as stiff.
"Jing Qi, you..." Jie Jingchen’s dark eyes were filled with disbelief and astonishment, his expression a complex mixture of emotions. He looked at Qin Mei. Her expression had been calm and composed from start to finish. ’She knew. She knew Jing Qi could not only stand, but even walk, and she hid it from me.’
’Something this important, and she hid it from me.’ A deep sense of unease washed over him; it was an awful feeling.
Mrs. Xie released Qin Mei, her vision blurred with tears as she watched Jing Qi walk toward her. She was stunned, then stunned again. Every one of Jing Qi’s steps was slow, yet each one was as steady as a rock. Qin Mei had only been treating her for a little over a month, and Jing Qi could already walk. Thinking of Qin Mei’s medical skills, Mrs. Xie was simply floored.
"My girl..." Mrs. Xie covered her mouth as tears streamed down her face. Her heart pounded in her chest, overwhelmed with emotion.
"Mom, I can walk now," Jie Jingshan said, her face breaking into a radiant smile as she looked at her mother.
"My girl!" Mrs. Xie emotionally pulled Jie Jingshan into a tight embrace, her whole body trembling with an excitement she couldn’t suppress.
’She had imagined this scene countless times, and now, her wish had finally come true.’
Mrs. Xie held Jie Jingshan for a long time. Seeing that she had been standing for too long, Qin Mei stepped forward and reminded her, "Mom, let go of Jing Qi. She can’t stand for that long."
Immersed in a bittersweet emotional storm, Mrs. Xie was jolted back to reality by Qin Mei’s voice. She gripped Jing Qi’s shoulders, pulling her out of her embrace. Wiping away her tears, she said, "Jing Qi, quickly now, get back in your wheelchair."
Qin Mei stepped forward and helped Jing Qi back into the wheelchair.
"Xiao Mei, thank you," Mrs. Xie said to Qin Mei, her voice thick with grateful tears.
Qin Mei just smiled, saying nothing. ’What could she say? That they were family, so there was no need for such formalities? Even with family, some things warrant formality. Or should she mention that Jie Jingchen had paid her? Except he hadn’t, not really. It was all on credit.’
’Ask her mother-in-law to pay? She couldn’t bring herself to do it. The cost of treating Jing Qi’s legs was an arrangement she’d made clear with Jie Jingchen. He never said he wouldn’t pay, just that he’d owe her for the time being. She would lose too much face asking her mother-in-law for the money.’
"Xiao Mei," Mrs. Xie said, grabbing Qin Mei’s hand. To express the depths of her gratitude, she disregarded their relationship as mother- and daughter-in-law and started to kneel right then and there.
"Mom!" Qin Mei cried, startled.
"Mom!" Jie Jingchen was startled too.
"Mom!" Jie Jingshan was just as shocked.
Although the brother and sister were shocked, neither of them moved to stop their mother.
’Forget their mother; at that moment, both of them wanted to kneel before Qin Mei to express their gratitude.’
"Mom!" Qin Mei failed to stop her and immediately knelt down herself. "Mom, please, don’t be like this."