Chapter 381: Chapter 380: Tokens of Affection

After spending half an hour strolling in the terrace garden, the elderly Mr. Lian returned to his ward to rest. Wang Liansheng held onto Ling Chengyan and whispered, asking her to take the children home while he stayed to keep the old man company.

Ling Chengyan knew Wang Liansheng was a sentimental person. Having spent a lot of time with Mr. Lian, she had grown to respect him more as an elder.

She agreed and went back to the ward to say goodbye to the old man. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Mr. Lian’s face was clearly weary, though his eyes held a trace of reluctance as he looked at the two children.

"Mmm, go on back. You’ve had a long journey and must be tired. Take care, and don’t let the children get too exhausted," the old man said, glancing at Assistant Gao, who quickly offered to handle the hotel’s check-in procedures, but was stopped by Wang Liansheng.

"It’s already been taken care of. Don’t worry," Ling Chengyan explained with a smile before taking the two children to leave the ward.

Their hotel was not far from the hospital, nor was it far from the famous shopping street.

Ling Chengyan took the children to have a meal, went back to the hotel for a rest, and then leisurely strolled to the shopping street.

The goods in Hai City were more abundant, fresher, and more fashionable. Ling Chengyan didn’t plan to buy anything specific, just wandered around casually with the two children.

Suddenly, little Shi Tou tugged at Ling Chengyan’s coat and pointed at a shop by the roadside, saying, "Mom."

Turning to look, Ling Chengyan unexpectedly saw a pharmacy.

"?"

"Mom, look at that big pharmacy. Don’t you think it would have medicine to cure Grandpa Lian?" Little Shi Tou looked up, full of hope.

Ling Chengyan’s heart trembled slightly. She reached out to stroke her son’s head and asked with a smile, "Where is Grandpa Lian right now?"

Little Shi Tou blinked, "At the hospital."

Ling Chengyan smiled, "That’s right. Grandpa Lian is in the hospital, and there are doctors there to treat him. We’re not doctors, so we can’t buy medicine for Grandpa Lian..."

Little Shi Tou lowered his head, his expression unclear. Seeing her child like this, Ling Chengyan felt a pang in her heart.

She reached out to embrace her son, gently stroking the back of his head, and said softly, "We can’t buy medicine for Grandpa Lian, but we can still help him. Think about it, when you have to take medicine or get injections, what do you want?"

With his mother’s guidance, Little Shi Tou furrowed his already somewhat handsome brows and thought for a while, "When I was little, I always wanted to eat a piece of candy after taking medicine. Medicine is too bitter."

Beside him, Little Xiao couldn’t hold back any longer and interjected, "You said it; that was when you were little... Grandpa Lian is an adult, he certainly won’t eat candy."

Little Shi Tou glared at his sister, then turned back to his mother and said, "I like RC cars. The last time I had a cold and took medicine, Dad bought me an RC car."

With a smile, Ling Chengyan nodded, reached out to place a hand on Xiao’s shoulder, and said, "We’re not Grandpa Lian, so we don’t know what he wants, but it doesn’t matter. What we give Grandpa only needs to be our heartfelt intention. When our intention is there, so is our blessing. When we express our wish for Grandpa Lian’s quick recovery, he’ll be happy. And when he’s happy, he’ll get better."

"Really?" Little Shi Tou lifted his head, eyes shining brightly again.

Even Little Xiao didn’t argue, instead slightly frowning, as if considering how she should express her heart’s intention.

The outcome of the stroll was that Little Shi Tou bought a mighty and beautiful RC car, while Little Xiao chose a DVD of an old movie—"Heidi."

"Heidi" was Little Xiao’s favorite movie, a black-and-white classic from the 1930s.

Observing her children selecting gifts with such heart, Ling Chengyan didn’t interfere at all.

However, when they enjoyed the fragrant and sweet pine-nut rice dumpling candy, they simultaneously decided to bring a box for Grandpa Lian too.

Little Shi Tou said, "In case Grandpa finds the medicine bitter or the shots painful, a piece of candy will make him feel much better."

Unusually, Little Xiao didn’t refute her brother’s words but nodded in agreement, "Yes, eating sweets makes people happy."

Ling Chengyan nodded with a smile, "Alright, you can tell Grandpa Lian yourselves."

The siblings agreed in unison, having the candy shop owner help them wrap the box carefully and holding it reverently in their hands.

Ling Chengyan bought some food and brought it to the hospital.

Mr. Lian had a busy morning with treatments and had a more relaxed afternoon.

When the three arrived at the hospital, Wang Liansheng was accompanying Mr. Lian in a game of Go.

Wang Liansheng had learned Go at school and occasionally studied Go manuals. Though his skill was limited, Mr. Lian wasn’t really looking for a competitive match; he simply wanted someone to keep him company, and they were having a pleasant time.

As soon as Ling Chengyan entered with the two children, Assistant Gao immediately came over to take the bags from their hands.

Ling Chengyan quietly instructed Assistant Gao to check with the doctor about whether the items they brought could be given to Mr. Lian. If they could be eaten, they were to be put before the old man. Otherwise, Assistant Gao could handle them as he saw fit.

Upon seeing Little Xiao and Little Shi Tou, Mr. Lian set aside the Go pieces, smiling as he beckoned them over.

The siblings happily approached, presenting their gifts and explaining their intentions to Mr. Lian.

An RC car, an old movie, and a box of pine-nut flavored rice dumpling candy—none of them were expensive items, and they were clearly things the children favored, yet they made Mr. Lian extraordinarily happy.

Watching from the sidelines, Assistant Gao quietly marveled. Many people brought valuable herbs and supplements to visit, yet none managed to elicit a smile from the old man. These two children, with their simple gifts, made him laugh uncontrollably.

Not only did Mr. Lian cheerfully enjoy the pine-nut candy, but he also played with the RC car with Little Shi Tou, and then, with the two children, watched the movie "Heidi."

Seeing the joyful old man, Assistant Gao was briefly struck by the scene—it truly felt like a grandfather with his grandchildren.

After consulting the doctor, Assistant Gao learned Mr. Lian’s diet wasn’t severely restricted; he just needed to avoid unhealthy, high-salt, and high-fat foods.

The food and pastries bought by Ling Chengyan were thus placed on the table. Mr. Lian didn’t eat in bed but instead sat together with Wang Liansheng, Ling Chengyan, and the children, having dinner as a group.

After dinner, the two children accompanied the elder downstairs for a brief walk. By the time they returned, it was past eight in the evening, and only then did Wang Liansheng and Ling Chengyan take the children to say goodbye.

The next morning, Wang Liansheng got up early to buy soy milk, fritters, and soup dumplings, delivering one set to the hotel for the trio and another to the hospital for the old man’s enjoyment.

Mr. Lian, eating the soup dumplings, sighed, "A serving of marinated goose feet with this would be perfect. Otherwise, it’s tasteless."

Assistant Gao said, "The marinade contains too much salt; you can’t eat it."

Mr. Lian gave him an irritated glance, making Assistant Gao nervously shrink back.

With a smile, Wang Liansheng handed a cup of hot soy milk to Mr. Lian and said, "Once you recover, I’ll accompany you for a taste."

Mr. Lian nodded, picking up the soy milk and sipping it slowly without further comment.