The electric fan creaked as it oscillated back and forth. Hearing a rustling sound from outside, Shang Qing slowly opened her sleepy eyes.
The room was dim, thanks to the new curtains, which blocked out more light than the old ones. She reached for her phone; it was 7:30 a.m. Perhaps because she had things on her mind, she had woken up earlier than usual.
"Grandma, where are you going?" Shang Qing stood in the doorway, rubbing her heavy eyes, and saw her grandmother holding a cloth bag, preparing to head out.
Grandma Kang hadn't expected Shang Qing to be awake at this hour. After all, Shang Qing was someone who loved sleeping in. In the past, she wouldn’t get up before 11:00 a.m. during the holidays. Even with her recent personality changes, she usually didn't wake up until after 9:30 a.m.
Shang Qing was unusually stubborn about her morning sleep. Since school hadn't started yet, what was wrong with sleeping in? To her, there was no greater happiness in the world than waking up naturally when you were finally rested.
Grandma Kang looked a bit flustered, even stammering slightly, "Oh, oh, I’m just stepping out for a moment. You’re up so early—why don't you go back to sleep for a bit?"
"I’m not sleepy anymore, Grandma. Where are you going so early?" Shang Qing couldn't figure it out. At this hour, her grandmother was usually at home. She wasn't the type of elderly woman who enjoyed strolling around; she preferred tidying up the house, keeping every corner spotlessly clean. Everyone who visited would always praise her for being such a neat and organized woman.
Grandma Kang paused for a moment, then replied with a smile, "I’m just heading to the morning market to see if there are any fresh vegetables. Qingqing, your breakfast is already in the pot, so don't forget to eat."
Shang Qing watched Grandma Kang’s hurried retreating figure and frowned. Was Grandma hiding something from her? If she didn't want to say anything now, it meant she wasn't ready to let her know. Shang Qing decided not to press the issue for the moment, but she would keep a close eye on things later.
Shang Qing walked into the kitchen and lifted the lid of the pot. Seeing the steaming breakfast inside, a soft smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
After eating breakfast and tidying up the kitchen, she threw herself back into making doll clothes.
Over an hour later, Grandma Kang returned, and as expected, she was carrying some peaches.
Shang Qing didn't say anything, as she was busy cutting fabric.
Grandma Kang stood by Shang Qing’s table with the washed peaches. Seeing her granddaughter’s focused expression, she felt a wave of contentment and smiled. "Qingqing, take a break and have a peach."
"Okay, love you, Grandma." Shang Qing stopped her work, washed her hands, and took a peach from her grandmother’s hand. It was a deep, vibrant red and smelled wonderful. She took a crunchy bite.
The crisp, sweet flavor spread through her mouth. It was so delicious she squinted her eyes in delight, her dimples deepening on her cheeks.
Her grandmother understood her so well. Shang Qing was a picky eater; she liked certain things, but she didn't like them in just any form. How to explain it? For example, with peaches, she liked them crisp and sweet, never soft and mushy. She loved crunchy, sweet dates, but wouldn't touch the dried, soft variety. She liked potatoes—whether shredded, in strips, or sliced—but never in chunks.
Others might find her particularities pretentious, but her grandmother never did.
Her grandmother kept every one of her preferences in her heart. By providing the greatest warmth and love in the smallest details, she gave Shang Qing the confidence to love others in return.
Shang Qing couldn't imagine how she would cope if the person who loved her most were ever to leave. Who else in this world could ever love her like this?
"Wow, this is so good. Grandma, you have one too." Shang Qing immediately pulled out a softer, riper peach and handed it to her grandmother. She knew that even though her grandmother had good teeth for her age, she couldn't handle the harder, crunchy peaches as well.
"Alright. I'll have one too... Mmm... It really is very sweet."
"Hehe, it's delicious, isn't it?" Shang Qing, thoroughly enjoying her treat, kicked her feet happily.Her feet, clad in slippers, were slightly chubby, glowing with a soft, pale pink hue. Each toenail was a clean, fleshy pink, looking adorable. Yet, only a few days ago, these beautiful toenails had been covered in hideous nail polish.
Shang Qing had been devastated at the time, doing everything she could to scrape it all off—naturally, that included the polish on her fingernails as well.
Looking at her hands and feet now, they appeared so comfortable; it was the result of all the care and maintenance she had poured into them over the last few days.
Seeing Shang Qing eating happily, Grandma Kang set the plate she was holding onto the table nearby and said, "Qingqing, there’s more. If you like them, have another one."
"Grandma, this peach is too big. I've already had one, and I'm full."
"Alright. I'll put it in the fridge, and you can have it whenever you’d like." As Grandma Kang walked toward the door, she looked back to remind her, "Qingqing, I’m going to the hospital to check on Xiaoxun in a little while. I’ll make you something delicious when I get back."
Two more days had passed since her last visit to the hospital, and Ji Xun still had not woken up.Thinking of this, Shang Qing decided to see him for herself. "Grandma, let me go with you."
Grandma Kang gladly agreed. She also hoped that someone of his own age would visit Ji Xun; it might just do him some good in waking up.
Inside the hospital room, Grandma Kang filled a basin with warm water and dipped a soft towel into it. Shang Qing helped her carry the basin to the side of the hospital bed.
Grandma Kang walked to the head of the bed and pulled back the covers from Ji Xun’s upper body. Ji Xun’s head was propped up by two pillows, and he was dressed in nothing but a disposable diaper.That was exactly the case. Before Shang Qing could even react, a bruised, purple-and-green, thin and withered body lay exposed before her eyes.Shang Qing's originally fair and delicate cheeks flushed a soft pink. As a young woman, she couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed seeing a boy in such a situation.Ignoring the young man on the bed, she sat down to the side and began to fiddle with some fabric, pondering how to coordinate the colors and textures to ease the visual intensity of the room.Grandma Kang took out the towel and wrung it dry. With the towel in one hand and Ji Xun’s wrist in the other, she began to wipe him down with great care.
"Oh, this poor child," Grandma Kang sighed heavily as she struggled to turn Ji Xun onto his side to wipe his back. "Ever since Brother Ji passed away, this boy has lost so much weight. He must have endured such suffering." She was not as strong as she once was, and the effort was clearly taking its toll.
Watching Grandma struggle to turn him, Shang Qing couldn't help but step forward. "Grandma, let me do it."
"Alright, alright." Breathing heavily, Grandma Kang stood up straight and rubbed her lower back. "I’m getting old; I just don’t have the strength anymore."
Shang Qing possessed considerable strength. While not superhuman, she had been stronger than the average person since she was a child. She might not match a particularly strong adult man, but she was certainly stronger than the average one—and compared to other girls, there was simply no contest.
She gripped Ji Xun’s shoulder and, with a gentle push, moved his entire body onto its side. His skin was mottled with bruises and lingering red spots, and he was alarmingly gaunt; his back was so bony it seemed as if the vertebrae might pierce through his thin, papery skin. It was hard not to wonder how he was even still alive.
She recalled seeing Grandma wipe his arms, chest, and abdomen moments earlier. His arms were as thin as bamboo stalks, as if they might snap with the slightest pressure. His ribs were clearly defined beneath his skin, reminding her of a skeleton, and his abdomen was so concave it looked hollow.
Watching the faint, rhythmic rise and fall of his chest—his breathing entirely dependent on the nasal cannula—she couldn’t help but think that if someone wished him harm, they wouldn't need to do anything at all; they would only need to pull the tube from his nose. Once the oxygen stopped, his life would surely follow.
Only now did Shang Qing truly understand why Grandma Kang felt such pity for Ji Xun.