Chapter 26: Grandmother in Critical Condition

Evening was approaching, and a cool breeze drifted by.

“I wonder when the first snow of the year will fall,” Lin Xi mused, resting her chin in her hand as she chatted with Wen Jin while snacking on the film set.

“Soon, I suppose,” Wen Jin replied, a hint of melancholy in her voice as she gazed up at the endless sky.

Suddenly, a shrill ringing pierced the air—it was Wen Jin’s phone.

“Hello, are you a relative of Wen Lihua?” The voice on the other end was cold and distant.

“Yes...yes, I am. Is something wrong with my grandmother?” Wen Jin’s greatest fear was coming true. Her grandmother’s health had been unstable lately, and she hadn’t been able to spare any time to stay with her at the hospital.

Now that the hospital was calling, it couldn’t be good news. A thousand possibilities flashed through Wen Jin’s mind, and darkness seemed to engulf her. Her voice trembled uncontrollably.

The caller didn’t give her a moment to prepare: “Your grandmother’s condition is critical. Please hurry to the hospital—the critical condition notice has just been issued. Be mentally prepared.”

Wen Jin was stunned, frozen in place. Her phone slipped from her ear and fell to the ground, but she didn’t even notice.

“Jin? Jin, what’s wrong?” Lin Xi saw something was terribly amiss. She rushed forward and shook her gently.

Wen Jin jolted as if shocked by electricity. She met Lin Xi’s worried gaze, her vision blurred as tears streamed down her cheeks. “Xi...Xi, my...my grandmother...the hospital...”

“Yes...I need to go to the hospital.” Wen Jin spoke in a daze, tears flowing freely as she rushed out the door.

Lin Xi sensed the gravity of the situation. She quickly glanced at Lu Yuxiu, who seemed to have anticipated everything, and nodded at her. Without hesitation, Lin Xi followed Wen Jin, chasing after her.

Wen Jin, heavy with dread, raced desperately toward the street corner. The world seemed to suddenly darken; the cold wind howled, banners strung across the street were tossed about, and she herself staggered in the wind, as if she might collapse at any moment.

“Jin!” Lin Xi hurried forward, wrapping an arm around Wen Jin’s waist. Just then, Xiao Li, the driver, pulled up. Lin Xi bundled Wen Jin into the car, and they sped toward the hospital.

On the way, Wen Jin sat motionless, unresponsive to anything Lin Xi said, like a hopeless, broken automaton.

Lin Xi had no time to worry about decorum—she grabbed her phone and dialed Gu Yao.

“Xi? What’s wrong? Calling me at this hour—do you miss me?” Gu Yao’s voice was careless and teasing.

“Fourth Brother, get to Central Hospital right now! Jin’s grandmother... Anyway, Jin is in a bad state,” Lin Xi’s voice was urgent.

“What!?” Gu Yao almost exploded upon hearing this.

He immediately dropped his phone, snatched up his car keys, and rushed out.

“Yao! Where are you going? We’re about to record!” Mo Ke shouted after him.

He chased him to the door, but a flashy red Lamborghini sped off, leaving only a cloud of exhaust behind.

Lin Xi supported Wen Jin as they hurried into the crowded emergency room, surrounded by a cacophony of anxious voices. Patients in critical condition were being wheeled into the emergency area; faces etched with worry and despair, the air was thick with the smell of blood and disinfectant.

Lin Xi forced down her fear and anxiety, steadying herself. She had to be Wen Jin’s anchor now, she couldn’t falter. Lin Xi put on a mask, gripped Wen Jin’s icy hand, and walked to the nurse’s station.

“Hello, could you tell me how to get to Wen Lihua’s emergency surgery room?” Lin Xi asked.

“Are you Wen Lihua’s relatives? Quick! Xiao Wang, take them to the operating room,” the nurse called out to a younger colleague amidst the chaos.

“Please follow me!” The young nurse met Lin Xi’s eyes and was momentarily startled—they looked just like her idol’s!

Wen Jin rushed in the direction pointed out, the nurse hurriedly following, and the three reached the operating room doors in record time.

It seemed Wen Jin’s tears had dried up on the way; she stood there, dazed, staring through the glass as if she could see through the door.

Suddenly, the glass door swung open, and a fully suited doctor emerged, holding some papers. He removed his mask and addressed them with a grave expression.

“Which of you is the family of the patient, Wen Lihua?”

“I am! She’s my grandmother. She’s the only family I have—please, Doctor, I beg you, save her!” Wen Jin’s voice was raw and desperate, her face filled with grief.

“We will do our best. Please try to stay calm,” the doctor replied, clearly accustomed to such scenes.

Lin Xi stepped forward to steady Wen Jin. “Jin, don’t panic. Let’s hear what the doctor has to say.”

The doctor continued, “The patient is in late-stage heart disease. She’s experiencing precordial pain, difficulty breathing, her skin is dark brown, and her lower limbs are swollen. The risk of heart attacks is high, and her condition is unstable. Temporary brain ischemia may cause brief loss of consciousness and sudden fainting. Her heart stopped just now, but we resuscitated her. We recommend transferring her to the ICU, putting her on a ventilator, and close monitoring.”

“Please review and sign if you have no objections,” the doctor said, handing over the form.

Every word felt like a knife piercing Wen Jin’s heart. Her hands trembled as she took the form, squeezed her eyes shut, and signed her name with all her strength. As soon as she finished, her body sagged, stumbling backward as if she’d exhausted all her energy.

Lin Xi reached out to steady her, but a strong hand intervened—it was Gu Yao.

He had arrived in time to hear the doctor’s prognosis, racing through who knows how many red lights.

“In short, the patient is in a critical state. Please be prepared mentally,” the doctor said, taking the form and returning inside.

Gu Yao helped Wen Jin to a nearby chair, but she didn’t even notice his presence, sitting there in a daze, as if her soul had been shattered.

Gu Yao knelt gently in front of Wen Jin.

“Jin.” His voice was gentle and firm, reaching into her heart.

Her gaze slowly focused, recognizing him. In that instant, tears that had dried up suddenly welled from the corners of her eyes.

Her eyes were red and swollen, her hair disheveled, tears streaming down in rivulets.

Gu Yao’s heart ached. He gently wiped her tears away with his fingertips, then carefully drew her into his embrace, pouring all his tenderness into that gesture.

“Don’t be afraid, Jin, don’t be afraid. We’ll find the best doctors—your grandmother will be fine! She’ll pull through. We have to believe in her, alright?” Gu Yao soothed her, his voice hoarse and heartfelt.

Wen Jin sobbed convulsively, clutching his shirt tightly. Hearing his words, she nodded fiercely, choking back her pain.

Seeing this, Lin Xi finally felt a sense of relief and couldn’t wait to leave.

But as she turned, she collided with a familiar embrace.

“Miss, shouldn’t you watch where you’re going? If you bump into me, you’ll have to take responsibility!” A deep, smooth voice teased from above, full of languid humor.

Lin Xi was startled, then realized it was Lu Yuxiu.

How had he come as well?

For some reason, Lin Xi felt she had found a safe haven. She buried her head in his chest, unmoving.

Lu Yuxiu sensed something was wrong and gently rested his hand on her shoulder, as if to lend her strength. He had just taken leave from his father, uneasy about the situation, and rushed over. Seeing Lin Xi’s state, he feared Wen Jin’s grandmother’s condition was dire.

Thinking this, Lu Yuxiu spoke softly, “Xi? What’s wrong?”

“Take me away from here,” Lin Xi murmured.

“Alright.” Lu Yuxiu didn’t question her further. He glanced at Gu Yao and Wen Jin, felt reassured, and led Lin Xi out of the hospital.

Once in the car, Lin Xi removed her mask, her complexion pale as she breathed in the fresh air.

Lu Yuxiu noticed her pallor and realized it wasn’t just Wen Jin’s grandmother that troubled her; there was more, something he didn’t know.

“Xi, are you feeling unwell?” he asked with concern.

“I’m fine. I just don’t like hospitals,” Lin Xi replied, forcing a smile that looked anything but convincing.

Lu Yuxiu saw she didn’t want to talk and didn’t press further.

Lin Xi leaned back, closed her eyes, brow furrowed. Suddenly she remembered, “By the way, do you think the media will catch wind of us coming to the hospital today?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it. Just rest,” Lu Yuxiu reassured her.

“Mm…”

Lin Xi fell silent, gradually drifting into sleep, though her tightly furrowed brow showed her rest was uneasy. Lu Yuxiu gently moved her head onto his shoulder, gazing at her with compassion, smoothing her brow to help her sleep more soundly.

Zhou Jun was considerate, driving slowly and steadily, stretching a fifteen-minute journey into half an hour.

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Life must go on, even when it is messy and chaotic.

“Glorious World” continued filming in earnest, undeterred by anyone’s personal circumstances. Lu Jin was determined to wrap up several major scenes before the new year.

Everyone’s workload was heavy these days. Each scene required extensive rehearsal, with a large cast, and there was barely time to rest.

Since her grandmother’s condition worsened that day, Wen Jin, already reserved, spoke nothing on set except her lines, always keeping her head down.

From Lin Xi’s observation, it seemed Wen Jin was deliberately avoiding Gu Yao. He had been visiting the set frequently, clearly out of concern for Wen Jin. Yet every time he showed up, Jin would lock herself in the makeup room and refuse to come out.

Lin Xi could do nothing to help her Fourth Brother; she could only stand by helplessly. Wen Jin was facing an enormous ordeal, with her grandmother still in the ICU, her life hanging by a thread.

Lin Xi understood that what Jin needed most was time alone to adjust and recover. She couldn’t force her—everything would have to proceed slowly, step by step.