Chapter 11: A Manufactured Romance and a Mother’s Unyielding Love

The movie turned out to be nothing more than a cloyingly saccharine youth romance drama, its melodramatic plotlines far outweighing any aesthetic appeal, and its awkward moments eclipsing any genuine emotion.

Considering that LGBTQ+ themes could not easily grace the big screen, a youth romance film for a date was not inherently problematic; however, the person who booked the tickets wore a perpetually conflicted expression, making them seem, in Qian Surou’s eyes, like a consumer thoroughly duped by a glossy poster.

Plotlines involving love triangles and infidelity were recounted with intimate familiarity.

Even with a mental endorsement of single-minded devotion, the narrative still evoked a considerable degree of discomfort, particularly with the inclusion of a character Qian Surou knew all too well: the unwitting, suffering soul caught in unrequited love.

She almost found herself empathizing!

‘“Qian Surou” was that kind of foolish girl; I, on the other hand, am not entangled in such a mess!’

‘If not for the fear of altering the plot and triggering some unforeseen complex reaction, I would never have willingly cooperated in playing the role of a hopelessly devoted “gal pal”!’

Well, truth be told, she was both cowardly and hadn’t completely moved on.

She simply didn’t want to face any punishment.

She was merely following her heart.

***

Nearly seven hours passed with zero physical contact, and after the commission was deducted, she received over six hundred yuan.

Perhaps owing to it being her first assignment, Meng Hanjing personally came to pick her up, even kindly placing an envelope containing cash into her hand.

“How was it? Do you believe me now?”

Meng Hanjing quipped playfully after closing the car door, entirely devoid of any boss-like airs.

“I have always believed you.”

This time, Qian Surou sat in the passenger seat, calmly bowing her head to express her gratitude respectfully.

The verbal agreement between them was for weekly payments, clearly demonstrating Meng Hanjing’s consideration for her.

Qian Surou was not oblivious to social graces; she informed Meng Hanjing that she had free time before the semester began and was willing to take on more orders.

This was partly to show her enthusiasm, and partly because her tuition bills were relentlessly pursuing her.

“As long as you don’t find this work disagreeable. Then I’ll call you A-Rou from now on. We do have a few new clients here, and I can arrange them for you.

If anyone bothers you or you encounter any trouble, you can always tell me. There are indeed some clients who like to push boundaries. Oh, and this is where I live.”

Qian Surou accepted the memo pad.

Meng Hanjing offered no further explanation.

There were indeed troublesome clients, but they were typically the kind who wanted to establish further contact or poach employees from her, which was, for the most part, still relatively civil. However, what kind of clients the young lady might arrange was difficult to say.

Some establishments with a dubious reputation would employ individuals to harass patrons, only to then stage a dramatic ‘hero saves the damsel’ act, thereby gaining control over the victim.

Of course, this had nothing to do with the young lady. Regardless of the process, the person would certainly be safe, as she had previously instructed Meng Hanjing not to assign Qian Surou to any other clients and not to harm a single hair on her head.

It was as if she cherished her as if fearing she might blow away if held in the palm, or melt if kept in the mouth.

It was perfectly understandable for a young person to desire a romantic encounter!

“Thank you for your concern; I will be careful.”

Qian Surou had long since prepared herself mentally. Earning quick money while preserving one’s dignity was an impossible feat; as long as it wasn’t forced, she could endure anything.

Her immediate priority was to mend her financial woes. For university, she could apply for student loans, which were disdained by the “Flower Seed” faction, and with her academic ability, securing scholarships would not be a problem.

Indeed, the game included a hidden setting for “Flower Seed.”

This referred to students who ascended from the Linhua Women’s College Affiliated Primary School, and there was even an affiliated kindergarten, though the scope wasn’t so limited.

Students who transferred mid-way found it challenging to integrate with them, as the social circles of teenage girls had long since solidified.

The majority of the girls possessed excellent personalities, but those from the pampered and unruly faction often hailed from the most affluent backgrounds.

The former Qian Surou was considered a moderate, possessing a background similar to the Flower Seed faction but not confined to interacting only with fixed members.

With the added benefit of her personal charisma, she, as a moderate, was accepted by both sides.

Qian Surou also knew that if she were to humble herself and seek assistance from her peers, she would most likely receive a “fundraiser,” but she detested such moral and emotional blackmail.

In this regard, she was much like ‘herself’; even when at the end of her rope, she never wished to burden others.

The Flower Seed faction dominated middle and high school and remained a formidable force in university, holding sway in clubs and competitions.

“Um… please, would you mind dropping me off at Yujing Medical University Affiliated Hospital?”

After a brief chat about today’s ‘date,’ Qian Surou made her request. She intended to visit her ailing mother and also wished to keep her residence hidden from Meng Hanjing.

Her old home was gone, and Qian Surou now lived in a rented apartment. As for her father, he stayed alone in a rental unit, spending his days in a drunken stupor.

He was in a state of self-imposed oblivion, with a volatile temper, which caused Qian Surou to extinguish any thought of having him move in with her.

She had given him the vast majority of the money from the property sale to settle his debts, reserving only a portion for medical expenses.

Ultimately, the property under her name had been purchased with her father’s money, so this was simply returning what was rightfully his.

Beer was inexpensive, and Qian Surou sent him a regular monthly allowance for living expenses.

Bidding farewell to Meng Hanjing, Qian Surou purchased a vibrant flower from a girl beneath the overpass, then traversed the leafy central courtyard to reach the hospital’s inpatient department.

Just like all hospitals, long-term patients were housed on the upper floors, and her mother was no exception. Qian Surou disliked the scent of disinfectant, but her body had grown accustomed to it.

The elevator ascending to the higher floors was empty, carrying only her.

Initially, visits to seriously ill relatives were fervent and frequent, but over time, they gradually dwindled. Qian Surou herself had started by visiting daily, gradually transitioning to once every three days, and sometimes even longer intervals.

Qian Surou bought a single flower as a reminder to herself: to replace it with a fresh one before the current bloom withered in its vase.

After all, her mother had always been exceptionally kind to her.

***

Zhu Ying occupied a private room. Diagnosed with adult congenital heart disease, she required assistance from medical staff for her care, regular oxygen, and spent most of her days confined to bed, though she could engage in low-intensity exercises with other rehabilitation patients during fixed periods.

Having too much rest time inevitably led to boredom. Although her room had a small television, she preferred to go to the floor’s common lounge to chat with fellow patients and watch the public television, typically news and entertainment programs.

Despite her condition allowing for quiet recuperation at home, each relapse meant a hospital stay, and this time was particularly severe, leading to an unusually prolonged admission.

Consequently, she couldn’t help but wonder if one day she simply wouldn’t leave.

The surgical cure rate was less than twenty percent, and a heart transplant was a rare, serendipitous event. Her daughter consoled her, urging her to patiently await the maturity of artificial heart technology.

However, that remained a distant, uncertain prospect.

Watching the scenes of family reunions on television, Zhu Ying felt she had no regrets in this life. Although she had no children with her current husband, she was blessed with two daughters.

Her younger daughter had a somewhat reclusive personality, and Zhu Ying felt guilty for not having paid her enough attention.

As for her elder daughter, she was Zhu Ying’s pride and joy.

Initially, she had harbored reservations about her husband’s child from a previous marriage, but she quickly realized the child’s innocence and plight, and began to treat her as her own flesh and blood.

Events had also proven that men were not always dependable; only daughters were truly precious.

The stark contrast between her husband, who hadn’t visited her for a full month, and her daughter, who came every few days, was undeniable.

Her daughter not only managed all her hospital affairs but also gained admission to Douyou University’s Department of Design with outstanding academic results.

Zhu Ying even had a fleeting thought that she herself could never have given birth to such an exceptional daughter.

Her fellow patients, also gravely ill, all envied her dutiful daughter, for their own relatives often visited only once every two weeks, and some elderly patients, whose lives were drawing to a close, relied entirely on the nursing staff for care.