Chapter 142: Mother and Daughter Reunited

Due to her memory loss, Mother Xu gazed blankly at Xu An’an, who was sitting by the hospital bed weeping. Yet, instinctively, she felt a pang of sympathy. "There, there, dear child, why are you crying so hard? There is no obstacle in this world that cannot be overcome."

"Tell me, dear, what has happened?"

As Xu An’an prepared to speak, her tears flowed even more profusely. She had forgotten how long it had been since she last heard her mother’s voice, still as gentle as ever, even though her mother did not recognize her. Her mother had always been a kind soul, willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.

Perhaps seeing how devastated and pitiable Xu An’an looked, Mother Xu could not bear it any longer. She reached out and pulled her into an embrace, her own eyes reddening.

"You must have encountered something truly difficult, haven't you?"

"You’ve suffered a great injustice, haven't you?"

"Then have a good cry. Don't bottle it all up inside; it will only hurt you. If your mother knew, she would surely be heartbroken."

Enveloped in the long-lost warmth of her mother's embrace, Xu An’an felt a profound sense of familiarity. She couldn't bear to let go. However, fearing she might frighten her mother, she eventually pulled away to wipe her tears.

She steadied her emotions and took out a photo she had cherished on her phone—a picture of the two of them together. Xu An’an did not know how to begin; everything had happened so suddenly.

Seeing the photo, Mother Xu froze. She looked from the picture to Xu An’an, then back again. Upon closer inspection, she realized how much Xu An’an resembled her own younger self. No wonder she had felt an extraordinary sense of intimacy the moment she saw her; this was her daughter, her precious daughter.

Remembering how bitterly Xu An’an had been crying, Mother Xu’s eyes reddened once more, tears welling up in them. As she spoke, the memories seemed to come flooding back.

"An'an."

"Mom!"

Having suppressed her emotions for so long, Xu An’an collapsed into her mother’s arms. The moment her mother called her name, all the grievances, sorrow, and pain she had endured over the years were released. Like a wounded little beast that had traversed mountains and crossed difficult paths, she had finally returned to the safety of her mother’s arms.

Standing at the doorway, Jiang Li felt his own heart surge with turbulent emotions. No one noticed the redness at the corners of his eyes. Sensing someone approaching, he quickly regained his composure, casting a cold glance that left Wen Huairou frozen in her tracks.

Wen Huairou offered an apology, though she didn't quite know why she was apologizing to Jiang Li, especially when she was the one who had been startled.

"Perhaps we should go to the office and wait? Given the situation, it seems the mother and daughter will be talking for a long time."

"It's fine." Jiang Li had no intention of going anywhere.

Wen Huairou paused, then retreated to the side. Her expression was complex, and no one knew what she was thinking.

After an unknown amount of time, Mother Xu grew weary and drifted off to sleep. Xu An’an tucked the blanket in carefully and sat quietly by the bed, not daring to blink for fear that everything might just be a dream.

*Knock, knock.*

The door was tapped. Jiang Li’s eyes flashed with displeasure as he saw Wen Huairou entering.

Wen Huairou hurriedly explained, "I just wanted to check on the patient's condition. Since she has only just awakened, it is best to avoid any significant emotional fluctuations."

Jiang Li’s expression softened slightly. Seeing that Jiang Li was still there, Xu An’an felt a bit surprised, but felt more grounded and reassured. She stood up, only to feel a sudden wave of dizziness—perhaps from crying too hard.

Jiang Li stepped forward quickly, helping her sit back down, and scolded softly, "Why on earth did you stand up so abruptly?"

Ignored, Wen Huairou gave a light cough. "Excuse me, please move aside."

Jiang Li did not even turn his head. "I think the other side would be more convenient."

As that was indeed the case, Wen Huairou had to move to the other side of the bed to carefully examine Mother Xu. "The condition is stable. An’an, could you tell me if your mother has recalled anything?"

Xu An’an shook her head. Although she wasn't an expert, she had seen enough on television to know that one shouldn't force a person with amnesia to recover their memories. Besides, she and her mother had spent all their time crying and hadn't really spoken of anything substantial. She wouldn't even know where to begin.

Wen Huairou nodded. "If she doesn't remember, let it be for now. There will be other treatments later; perhaps she will recall things on her own. Restoring memory naturally is the ideal state. Of course, you can guide her, but that will come in later stages of treatment, and I will remind you when the time is right."

Wen Huairou then meticulously explained Mother Xu’s current condition. Xu An’an listened intently, fearful of missing a single word. She was deeply grateful to Wen Huairou; if not for her, she wouldn't have known when her mother would wake up. Therefore, she listened to everything Wen Huairou said.

Wen Huairou suggested that it would be best for Xu An’an to hire a caregiver. "You are so busy with work; you surely don't have time to look after your mother here. As it happens, I know a caregiver who is dedicated, responsible, and experienced."

Xu An’an had been thinking about this very thing, and since Wen Huairou brought it up first, she felt even more strongly that Wen Huairou was thoughtful and thorough. Besides, as the hospital director, Wen Huairou would certainly know which caregivers were reliable. Thus, she accepted the offer, thinking things would slowly improve from here.

"Director Wen, thank you so much."

"If you truly want to thank me, why not drop the formalities and call me Huairou? Being called 'Director Wen' all the time makes me feel embarrassed," Wen Huairou said with a smile.

To Xu An’an, becoming friends with Wen Huairou was an absolute blessing. After all, her mother’s full recovery depended on her!

"Alright, Huairou."

"An’an."

Watching the two become friends, Jiang Li narrowed his eyes, but he said nothing.

Soon, Wen Huairou brought the caregiver over. "An’an, this is Auntie Zhang. She is very efficient and every employer speaks highly of her. I believe she will take excellent care of your mother and become good friends with her as well."

Xu An’an asked Auntie Zhang a few simple questions. Seeing her kind demeanor, she decided on the spot to hire her. In truth, given her mother’s current state, she only needed someone to prepare meals and provide company when she felt bored.

Wen Huairou then inadvertently asked about Xu’s father. "Have you told your father? If he knew your mother had awakened, he would surely be very happy."

At the mention of Xu Fengnian, Xu An’an’s expression darkened instantly. She hadn't even thought of that family of three; if they knew her mother was awake, they certainly wouldn't be the least bit happy. The matter had to be kept secret. Fortunately, this hospital had high security, and it had been pre-arranged that no one other than her could visit her mother.

"I’ll tell him later. He’s busy; he might not have time to come by anyway."

Xu An’an felt there was no need to discuss her family situation with Wen Huairou. Even though she was willing to be friends, they hadn't reached the point of confiding in one another.