Mu Chen glanced at the screen with a playful expression, "Do you need me to step out?"
Yu Wenli didn't reply, directly answering the call.
That meant he didn't.
Mu Chen shrugged and leaned against the wall, choosing to listen.
Being so close, and with Que You's booming voice, Mu Chen could hear almost everything.
"Ancestor! Can you just come back for work? I'll hire ten caretakers if I have to!"
Que You was truly at his wit's end.
He hadn't dared to return to Jiangcheng for the New Year, having been busy non-stop.
After finally securing several promising endorsements and business collaborations, Yu Wenli said he couldn't take them on!
"If you keep doing this, who will dare to work with you? Brother Yu, Ancestor! Grandpa! If not for the money, at least consider me! In this life, reputation is everything!"
Que You was so anxious his lips were starting to blister. "Of course, I understand that Old Yu is ill and you want to stay by his bedside to show filial piety. Everyone understands."
"But understanding is one thing, and thinking you're unreliable is another. Besides, to put it bluntly, you're not a doctor. Staying there won't make much of a difference…"
"Que You," Yu Wenli called out in a cold voice.
Que You immediately shut up. He accidentally touched a blister on his lip and hissed.
Yu Wenli frowned. Mu Chen glanced at him, "Let me say something fair."
Yu Wenli lowered his gaze to meet Mu Chen's. Mu Chen continued, "Even though my words might not be pleasant, he's speaking the truth. Old Yu has esophageal cancer, not a common cold. It's not something that will be cured in two or three days, and no one knows how long you'll stay.
"What if, and I'm just saying what if, what if it takes a year or two? Your career is just starting, and the entertainment industry is a rapidly changing place. If you don't fight for it now, if you don't try to make a name for yourself, by the time you decide to, there might not be a place for you anymore."
"A'Li," Mu Chen straightened up and said earnestly, "We all know your filial piety, but some things truly cannot wait. The music industry today is not what it used to be. Talent doesn't always guarantee influence. You've finally managed to break in, are you really willing to give it up like this? Mo Yichen and Jiang Tu are waiting for their chance."
Yu Wenli wanted to say 'yes, I am willing,' but the words wouldn't come out.
He understood all these reasons.
But he just couldn't bring himself to choose.
He felt like he was standing precisely in the middle of a scale, and whichever side he chose, it would tip.
What he wanted, however, was not for the scale to tip.
But for it to be balanced.
Yes, he was greedy.
But as a human being, who wasn't greedy?
"Perhaps there's a way to have both?" Mu Chen asked slowly, seeing his thoughts.
Yu Wenli looked up, "What is it?"
Mu Chen glanced down the corridor and said, "If I remember correctly, Xiao Xue's work is very flexible, and she can complete it without going to the capital. Grandpa treats her the same as he treats you. And she's your fiancée, so it's reasonable for her to stay by his bedside and show filial piety."
He paused. "And the most important point is, you can return to your work at any time, but if you insist on staying here, Grandpa might not be happy."
What old people desire most is for their children and grandchildren to be safe and successful.
If everyone gave up their careers to stay with him, he might be happy initially, but over time, he would feel sad.
Thinking of how his grandfather had deliberately hidden his illness, Yu Wenli pursed his lips and remained silent for a moment.
Mu Chen felt he had been heard. After a moment of silence, he said, "Xiao Xue is meticulous and thoughtful in her actions. With your parents and her parents also helping out, it doesn't really matter if you're here or not."
Yu Wenli continued to stare blankly into the distance, saying nothing.
Wen Tingxue, who had just come out of the ward after receiving Que You's distress call, saw the two standing at the end of the corridor.
As she approached, she overheard Mu Chen's words.
She placed her delicate hand on Yu Wenli's arm and stepped forward, meeting his downcast eyes.
Wen Tingxue smiled charmingly and said, "Brother Chen is right. I was thinking the same thing. You should go and do what you need to do. Don't worry about Grandpa; we'll take good care of him."
Yu Wenli managed a weak smile, raised his hand to stroke her head, but said nothing.
The next few days, Grandpa Yu underwent various examinations.
Due to the complexity of his condition, the risk of immediate surgery was too high.
Therefore, after much discussion among the doctors, they decided on a plan of chemotherapy followed by surgery.
Wen Tingxue stayed by Grandpa Yu's side throughout.
Song You and Teacher Shou were looking after her situation, and they weren't planning to assign her any work for the time being.
Yu Wenli, on the other hand, canceled all his arrangements to focus on accompanying his grandfather.
However, he was also being urged by his grandfather to return to work in the capital as soon as possible.
Yu Wenli would verbally agree each time, but in reality, he made no move to leave.
At most, he would sit alone by the window late at night, writing songs.
Others didn't have such freedom, being tied down by various work and personal matters, but they made sure to visit every day.
After tucking Grandpa Yu into bed and confirming that Wen Jin Yan and Yu Wen had left, Wen Tingxue sat with Yu Wenli on the small balcony.
"Brother Que You called me again, urging you to go back soon."
"Mm."
He responded indifferently, his typing speed on the keyboard unwavering.
Wen Tingxue frowned, preventing him from avoiding her gaze by firmly grasping his wrist. She said in a deep voice, "As you've seen recently, Grandpa is being taken care of very well by me. You can leave with peace of mind."
She paused, then squinted suspiciously. "Or, do you not trust me?"
"No," Yu Wenli said with a chuckle, turning the laptop screen to show her. "How could I not trust you?"
Wen Tingxue lowered her gaze and discovered that he wasn't writing a song, but his upcoming schedule.
"You…"
She was stunned. Yu Wenli took the opportunity to cup her small hand and gently pull her head onto his shoulder.
"I just bought the plane tickets. I'll be departing tomorrow afternoon."
This was his answer to her unasked question.
"Xiao Xue," he closed the laptop and set it aside.
Then he hugged her tightly. "Thank you so much."
For allowing his scale to find its balance.
"It's nothing," Wen Tingxue wrapped her arms around his waist. "Grandpa Yu is very good to me too. I'm willing to take care of him."
Yu Wenli smiled faintly, not pointing it out.
No matter how willing she was, she wouldn't be so meticulous.
He knew she was trying so hard because she wanted him to be at ease.
"I should thank you too."
At this point, he didn't seem to know what else to say.
Wen Tingxue smiled and nestled into his embrace. "Then you can stay with Grandpa tonight."
According to the prearranged schedule, it was her turn.
But since he was leaving tomorrow, he might as well spend more time with his grandfather.
"Mm," Yu Wenli looked up at the stars. "Tomorrow, let's hire a caregiver."
Although Grandpa was mobile and not difficult to care for, having one less person meant more work for her.
He didn't want her to be exhausted.
Wen Tingxue said, "Don't worry, I'll arrange it reasonably."
Yu Wenli lowered his head and kissed her forehead, his voice hoarse. "Don't make yourself too tired."
The latter half of senior year had very few classes, so she didn't return to the capital.
She stayed with him through all three rounds of chemotherapy.
Yu Wenli's throat bobbed with emotion. "You've worked hard."
"It's nothing," Wen Tingxue smiled and stood up to get water downstairs. "However, the surgery date hasn't been set yet, but I estimate it will be next week. Will you have time to come back?"
Yu Wenli glanced at his schedule and frowned. "It's quite full."
And it was all abroad.
"I'll try to adjust it," he said.
Wen Tingxue knew that in the workplace, many things were beyond one's control.
"It's okay," she comforted him. "I can stay with Grandpa, and your aunt and uncle are also here. If you can come back, then come back. If not, it's alright."
Yu Wenli got into the car, leaning back tiredly, his voice muffled.
Otherwise, given Jiao Yutong's personality, a single "scram" would have sufficed.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey!"
Lu Youran suddenly patted Wen Tingxue's arm vigorously. "Here they come! And one after the other! There's definitely something going on!"
"Even if something is going on, don't hit me, it really hurts!" Wen Tingxue was about to cry.
Lu Youran quickly withdrew her hand and chuckled, "Sorry, I got too excited."
Wen Tingxue: "…"
"What are you guys talking about?" Jiao Yutong hurried over. "Is it our turn yet?"
"Not for a while, they just started with the ones in front."
Saying this, Lu Youran stared at her intently, the word "gossip" practically etched in her eyes. "Tongtong, are you guys...?"
She made a heart shape with her hands.
Just then, Tang Mobai walked past and gave her a thumbs-up with a smile.
Jiao Yutong immediately glared at him, and Tang Mobai quickly retreated.
"No," Jiao Yutong replied indifferently.
Lu Youran didn't believe her. "Then why were you talking for so long…?"
"We were…" Jiao Yutong was speechless.
Wen Tingxue and the other girl understood immediately. "It's okay, it's okay, we understand, we understand."
Jiao Yutong: "…"
Jiao Yutong: "We really aren't."
The two: "Right, right, right!"
Jiao Yutong: "…"
The graduation photos included not only class photos but also dorm photos and even individual ones.
By the time they were all done, it was already evening.
Lu Youran planned to have a meal at their usual spot.
All the familiar faces had been notified.
Only Fu Ran could not be reached.
"That's strange, he should be in the capital today."
As she said this and was about to call again, someone nearby blurted out, "He's on a blind date today."