After Meng Meng and her parents left the room, Grandpa Jiang exhaled a deep breath and clenched his chest. Wrinkles formed from the strength of his grasp. He panted painfully, squeezing his eyes until creases carved to his temples.
Seeing his face scrunched together, Lily quickly searched for his medicine. In recent years, his heart condition has worsened. Due to his deteriorating condition, he passed the position of being CEO of Jiang Corps to Lily and her parents. Eventually, her parents decided to expand business overseas, leaving her in charge of the company.
Although he was aging and his health was not as great compared to the past, his assistant still reported the company operations to him. Sometimes, he would provide some professional suggestions to the assistant, so his advice would assist Lily without her knowing.
Just now, Grandpa Jiang purposely hid the striking pain in front of Meng Meng and her parents. It was a known fact between Lily and Grandpa Jiang that those three would heighten the tension if they knew he was suffering from heart pains.
Lin Que reacted instantly the moment he saw Lily rummaging through Grandpa Jijang's belonging. As a doctor, he knew how serious heart diseases could get if the patient doesn't take medicine in time. While Lily searched for his medicine container, Lin Que poured him a cup of warm water.
Fortunately, after Lily and Lin Que helped him take his medicine, his condition improved within half an hour. Lin Que kept timing how long Grandpa Jiang's condition lasted before permitting Grandpa Jiang to go home. As a doctor, he suggested Grandpa Jiang to stay overnight at the hospital for a thorough examination. However, his suggestion was kindly rejected by the elderly man.
"I understand your concerns about my health, but I really can't get used to the hospital beds. I am used to sleeping in my bedroom every night. I am feeling much better now. I promise that if I feel any kind of discomfort, I will head to the hospital first thing, alright?" Grandpa Jiang compromised with the young couple whose hands gripped onto his for a while.
"Grandpa, then you must take your medicine on time. Don't keep unnecessary people in your mind and relax. At your age, you should be going on vacation or enjoying life. Don't worry about anything. Just leave it up to me." Lily patted her chest, faintly smiling at the elderly.
"Haha, my precious granddaughter, vacation isn't something these old bones could bring me to nowadays. I could barely walk without the help of my cane. I'm getting old. All I wish now is to live peacefully and wait for my future great-grandchildren to run around my garden. Back then, it used to be so lively. Now, I am old and the house is quiet." Grandpa Jiang sighed, reminiscing the joyful waves of laughter in his garden when his wife was still alive.
"Grandpa..." Lily called out to him.
"Ahh, look at me. I space out a lot nowadays. I am feeling kind of tired tonight. Let's postpone the dinner for just you and Lin Que's engagement to another day. Grandpa can't have you eat this dinner when the mood is already ruined." Grandpa Jiang caressed Lily's cheek and gazed affectionately at the young couple in front of him
"Alright. Since you feel tired, let us accompany you home. We haven't sat in the same vehicle for a while. I need to watch you go to bed before I leave you alone." Lily strongly insisted.
Since the couple has already compromised with the elderly's request to go home for the night, Grandpa Jiang didn't reject their offer to take him home. Besides, it has been a while since he has spoken to Lily like this. He also wanted to take this opportunity to tease the couple.
Throughout the entire journey back to his house, Grandpa Jiang spoke nonstop about the couple's wedding and the rules they must follow right before the wedding. Even though it was still a long way before the couple would get married, the couple listened to the excited elderly with a smile on their faces. They would respond when he asks them inquiries.
When they reached his residence, the elderly man pouted, giving the couple a sulking face. He didn't want to part from the couple. It's been a while since he's been this interested in a certain topic. As much as he wanted to continue chatting with the youngsters even after they tucked him in bed, he knew they had to go home eventually.
Hence, he yawned purposely and waved at them. Right before leaving, Lily gave him a soft kiss on his forehead. Although he had his eyes closed, only he knew how that small peck on his forehead stirred up his emotions. It wasn't until the couple had switched off the lights to his room and closed the door did he let his tears fall out.
He really wanted to tell Lily how much he missed the liveliness, but he didn't want to become a burden. On the bright side, Lin Que made a promise to work hard on conceiving a child with Lily within two years after they get married. With this as his motivation, the elderly man wiped away his tears and thought of the cute giggles coming from his future great-grandchildren.
Sliding his hand under the pillow, he patted several spots before finding the item he was looking for. It was the last photograph he took with his late wife before she met misfortune. Inside the picture, the two of them smiled at each other in their garden. At that time, she still looked younger than her age.
He chuckled, caressing her cheeks in the photo. "Hopefully I get to see our great-grandchildren before reuniting with you, wife. You will surely be jealous of me, right? Until then, I will take my medicine and listen to Lily. Don't worry about me."
Bringing the photo to his chest, he breathed heavily. "Good night." He whispered, following his usual night routine.
Ever since his wife died, he's been holding this photo to sleep. Somehow, this photograph made him feel as if he wasn't as lonely. Slowly, he became used to the empty side of the bed. With this photo, he could sleep until the following morning.