Chapter 132: Awakening

Ming Han had been keeping watch by the hospital bed for the past few days, determined to be the first thing his mother saw when she woke up—that dashing son of hers.

He had planned to strike a pose and say to Su Yan, "Mom, look how wonderful I am, laboring away to take care of you. I’m truly proud to be such a filial son."

This was just like how Su Yan always took the credit for herself whenever people complimented Ming Han.

On this particular day, Ming Han was busy eating takeout and didn't notice that Su Yan had already opened her eyes. Still in a hazy state of consciousness, she looked at Ming Han and murmured, "Ming Chen..."

Noticing the movement, Ming Han hurriedly stood up. "Mom, you're awake?"

"What happened to me?"

It had been exactly ten days since the car accident, during which Su Yan had remained in a coma. Ming Han filled her in on everything that had happened, then grumbled indignantly, "Your son has been taking care of you with all his heart, and the first thing you do upon waking is get my name wrong? I'm absolutely heartbroken..."

Ming Chen and Ming Han! Surely those were two very different names?

Su Yan turned her head away. "Haha! It felt like such a long dream, filled with many old friends from the past."

Old friends with the surname Ming? Ming Han felt as though he had stumbled upon something...

Hearing that Su Yan had regained consciousness, Su Ruhai and his wife rushed back to the hospital. They had been exhausted and under immense pressure, unable to sleep properly for days.

Su Yan felt terrible. "Mom, Dad, I’ve made you worry."

Su Ruhai was so moved that tears streamed down his face. "It's fine, as long as you're all right. It's fine."

He had always felt that his daughter’s life was a mess. She had given birth out of wedlock and refused to reveal the name of Ming Han’s father no matter how much they asked. Was it worth it to defend a scumbag? She ran a restaurant by herself, bearing all the hardships without a single complaint. She was an optimist, and she had passed that trait on to Ming Han.

Sometimes Su Ruhai thought that perhaps this family was incomplete. But because the mother and son lived happily enough, many of his expectations for life could be compromised, and he was satisfied with what they had. As long as everyone was safe!

Now that his daughter was out of danger and recovering, Su Ruhai seemed to have shed ten years of age. "This time, I don't care what you say, you are coming back to our hometown to stay with us for a while. Your lousy restaurant is closing for the time being."

Su Yan spent all year round busy making money, rarely having time to keep the old couple company.

"Dad!" Su Yan protested. "Why did you have to add the word 'lousy' in front of my restaurant..."

Su Ruhai huffed. "You’re just too obsessed with your business. You get so busy you ignore everything else, and that’s how this happened." To the elderly couple, this car accident had been a mental blow as devastating as an earthquake.

"My serious work ethic is just a result of the excellent genes I inherited from you, Dad!"

Su Ruhai couldn't help but chuckle. "You're a mother now, yet you're still so unserious."

Seeing his mother return to her usual silly self, Ming Han felt a weight lift off his shoulders.

Afterward, Su Ruhai began to brag about Ming Han in front of Su Yan. "Look at how well-behaved Xiao Han is. He does things with my style—composed and magnanimous..."

Ming Han muttered to himself: Truly worthy of being blood-related; no matter who he starts off praising, he always ends up back at himself.

Su Yan smiled at Ming Han and said, "Son, you've worked hard these past few days. Why don't you go find Chen Li and relax?"

Ming Han was speechless. What on earth did relaxing have to do with Chen Li? Su Yan’s words were sometimes far too profound for a middle-schooler like him to grasp.

As if on cue, half an hour later, Chen Li and Chen Nuo arrived at the hospital together. They were thrilled to see Su Yan awake. Chen Nuo, in particular, had been crying all the way there. "Big sister, how could someone as kind as you get into such an accident?"

When they entered the room and saw Su Yan asking Ming Han for the latest entertainment gossip, Chen Nuo couldn't help but laugh through her tears. "Auntie, you're awake?"

Su Yan smiled and nodded, beckoning them over. "Quick, tell me the latest news from the entertainment world. Did that person and his wife get a divorce yet?"

"Yes! They did. Now they're having a war of words online, both trying to win sympathy and fight over the assets."

Once she heard the full story, Su Yan began to analyze the man's affair with great authority. In that moment, she seemed fully revived. Ming Han sighed; Mom, you really do pour your heart and soul into the neighborhood gossip market. Once you’re discharged, are you going to return to being the queen of the vegetable market?

The three women chatted away excitedly, leaving Ming Han to quietly peel fruit on the side.

"Ming Han, why are you so civilized and reserved now?" Chen Nuo asked. "From the moment I walked in, you've had this melancholy look on your face. And you're even peeling apples for me—I'm flattered!"

Ming Han thought to himself: I can't get a word in, so am I not allowed to just be a beautiful, quiet young man?

Chen Li had been acting quite reserved toward Ming Han today, not daring to look him in the eye. Ming Han was puzzled; he even went to the bathroom to check the mirror to see if his grim expression from the past few days had scared her.

"Still as handsome as ever," Ming Han muttered, shaking his head. What was Chen Li afraid of?

It wasn't until he returned to the room that he heard Chen Nuo say to Su Yan, "Auntie, I heard from our driver that my sister hugged Ming Han that day."

Chen Li’s face turned bright red.

Su Yan shrieked, "Li Li! You two actually went behind my back and pledged your lives to each other!"

Ming Han felt a vein twitch. What a mess...

"Mom, if you keep getting this excited, I can't guarantee that the old gentleman in the next room won't get up and beat you. I heard his condition requires absolute rest."

Su Yan stuck her tongue out playfully and then enthusiastically invited the two girls to eat more fruit.

...

A few days later, Su Yan was successfully discharged. Su Ruhai had borrowed a car to take her back to their hometown. Su Yan was teary-eyed as she said to Ming Han, "Son, I leave the house—and its fifteen years of remaining mortgage—in your care."

Ming Han was helpless. He had originally wanted to go back with her, but after Su Yan vividly described a countryside life of no internet, no signal, and constant noise from chickens and dogs, Ming Han surrendered with both hands raised. "Fine! I won't go!"

Mom, am I that much of a nuisance to have around?

Afterward, Su Yan said earnestly, "You've worked hard taking care of me; stay in the county town and have some fun with your classmates."

Watching his mother get in the car and drive away dashingly, leaving him as the only son alone in the county town, Ming Han felt a pang of heartache. Back when we were in the hospital, I thought our mother-son bond was one of mutual dependence, stronger than gold, and worthy of a ballad!

It had been a month since the high school entrance exams ended. Many of his classmates had posted photos of their graduation trips on social media. Ming Han also wanted to see the world outside—after all, reading ten thousand books was not as good as traveling ten thousand miles!

He imagined inviting three or four friends, carrying a camera, wandering through mountains and rivers, reciting poetry, and drinking wine—what a poetic experience!

Yes! That was the plan. He picked up his phone and started making calls...

"Yu Hang? Any plans for the summer break?"

"Yeah! I've agreed to go on a cycling trip with a group of friends, leaving tomorrow. Haha..."

Yu Hang laughed happily. Ming Han was annoyed: Just like that, you're abandoning me?

"Da Xu, you..."

Before Ming Han could finish, he heard Da Xu shouting on the other end: "Hit it! I will not rest until it's dead!"

Ming Han silently hung up. He was a fool for calling Da Xu. For someone like him, traveling was a waste of life and money. His virtual world was far more vast than the magnificent landscapes of the motherland...

Both his best friends were unreliable. Ming Han lamented his poor choice of companions.

Just then, Chen Li called. Ming Han was overjoyed. "Traveling with a beauty—that's even more interesting!"

"Chen Li, what's up?" Ming Han feigned indifference.

"Ming Han, I'm going on a trip."

"Oh!" Ming Han nodded. "Traveling is good for your physical and mental health. I fully support your decision!"

Ming Han expected Chen Li to say next: "Ming Han, I want you to come with me." Then he could pretend to be reluctant before accepting.

"Oh! I didn't want to go at first," Chen Li said. "But since you're so supportive, I'll agree to go to Hawaii with my parents for the sake of my health."

Ming Han froze. What? Hawaii? With her parents?

Ming Han wept silently. Another person had heartlessly abandoned him...