Huo Wen’an looked gratefully at Xu Xingguang.

After understanding Huo Wen’an’s condition, Xu Qingnian finally relaxed and said, "Health is more important than anything else."

Xu Qingnian was completely paralyzed from the waist down, and the left side of his body was becoming increasingly unresponsive; he always leaned to the left when sitting in a wheelchair.

Seeing that Xu Qingnian wouldn’t be returning to his room anytime soon, Linlin brought a pillow and placed it under his left arm for support. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Noticing Huo Wen’an looking at him continuously, Xu Qingnian said apologetically, "Sorry, I’ve had a stroke for a few years, and my body is partially paralyzed. I must look a bit unsightly like this."

In truth, it wasn’t just his appearance that suffered.

After becoming partially paralyzed, Xu Qingnian’s speech also sounded somewhat slurred and unclear.

But Huo Wen’an listened carefully. After Xu Qingnian finished speaking, he shook his head and said, "Xingguang takes great care of Grandpa. Compared to other old men with the same illness, you look much more spirited."

"Haha, that’s because Xingguang is so filial and understanding," Xu Qingnian said, his eyes turning to look at the quiet and graceful Xu Xingguang. He sighed, "In the past, her grandma and I were never satisfied. We always hoped for another grandson and overlooked what an excellent child she is. We were always rather indifferent to her."

"When she was little, she wasn’t actually close to me. She always clung to her mother, knowing her mother loved her most in the world."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xingguang remained calm, as if she didn’t care about the past when Xu Qingnian and Grandma Xu were biased against her during her childhood.

However, the smile in Huo Wen’an’s eyes vanished completely.

"I never thought, after living my whole life, in the end, it’s only Xingguang who treats me as family," Xu Qingnian lamented. "I feel guilty in my heart."

Huo Wen’an initially believed that the reason Xu Xingguang honored her grandpa was due to his favoritism towards her, making it worthwhile for her to treat him that way.

He never expected that Grandpa Xu had once disdained Xu Xingguang for being a girl.

But the old man being aware of his mistakes seems to justify Xu Xingguang’s efforts.

Xu Xingguang noticed Huo Wen’an’s change in mood, sensing that his earlier respectful and enthusiastic attitude toward Grandpa might have waned, but she kept silent, feeling a sense of comfort inside.

Huo Wen’an truly prioritizes her above all else.

After listening to Xu Qingnian’s long-winded speech for half an hour, Huo Wen’an found an excuse to leave and said, "Grandpa Xu, I’ve been focusing on my health recently and can’t stay up late, so I’ll head back now and see you next time."

"Oh, alright."

Sister Lin pushed Xu Qingnian upstairs, but despite saying he was leaving to rest, Huo Wen’an didn’t get up to leave.

Xu Xingguang collected the cups from the coffee table and took them to the kitchen to wash.

Huo Wen’an followed her into the room to help wash the cups, and said in a low voice, "They say affection skips a generation, but when you were little, Grandpa Xu wasn’t affectionate towards you. Now, in his current state, Xu Qingnian probably doesn’t hold him in high esteem. He’s fortunate to come to Cangshan Town for a peaceful time with you."

"What, are you standing up for me?" Xu Xingguang hung the cup on the rack and handed a towel to Huo Wen’an.

While drying his hands, Huo Wen’an said, "He’s not worthy of your care for him."

Xu Xingguang replied, "I know. While he wasn’t an exceptionally loving grandfather, he never intended to betray or exploit me. At most, he merely neglected me."

"But we’re family, and if I don’t care for him, he’d rot away in that filthy room."

Recalling that Huo Wen’an wasn’t his mother’s biological child but one she had taken from the hospital, Xu Xingguang asked, "Boss Huo, if it were your mother who fell ill, would you care for her?"

Huo Wen’an answered without hesitation, "No, I would hate her for a lifetime."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xingguang could indeed understand Huo Wen’an.

After all, he should have grown up happily beside his biological parents, but was taken by Mrs. Huo and hidden here in Cangshan Town for a lifetime.

And his life has been so miserable.

When Huo Wen’an left Xu Xingguang’s house, it was nine o’clock at night.

After seeing Huo Wen’an off and just about to lock the yard gate, Xu Xingguang saw Uncle Xie from the repair shop riding a motorcycle back from the end of the town.

Politely, Xu Xingguang greeted, "Uncle Xie, coming back so late?"

"Yes, today is my sister’s birthday. I went to her house for dinner, just got back."

Uncle Xie’s sister married a farmer who raised crayfish, living not far from Cangshan Town. It took only about twenty minutes by motorcycle.