After accompanying Grandfather Feng to a few tests, Weiwei went to the hospital cafeteria while he was resting in a private room.
Weiwei was going to grab a bite to eat and meet up with Ruxuan, who had been messaging her for several days already. It was the end of the workday, and Ruxuan insisted it was convenient for her to stop by.
Weiwei sat down in the corner and thought about everything that had happened today. She remembered how she had convinced Grandfather Feng to visit the hospital and how Lawyer Li had asked her to come to his office in the coming days.
"What's wrong?" Weiwei asked him, flabbergasted.
"Nothing is wrong, young miss," the lawyer smiled politely. "You'll just have to sign some papers, now that you'll be a beneficiary of the Feng family."
Weiwei was stunned. "A what?"
"Mr. Feng Senior would like to include you in his will."
Weiwei was so shocked that she couldn't speak to Grandfather Feng or anyone else on the way to the hospital. Fortunately, he was feeling bad enough not to question her odd behavior.
A beneficiary of the Feng family! Why did this phrase make me feel so terrible? I'm sure Grandfather Feng is doing it for the best possible reasons, but I don't want his money. I don't want to be rich! All I want is to be happy. Why did Qi have to be from the Feng family!!!
Weiwei covered her face with the palms of her hands. She knew that most people would be celebrating on the day like this, but she only wanted to cry.
Is there something wrong with me? Or am I the only reasonable person in the world?
"There you are!" Ruxuan waltzed into the cafeteria, as always full of energy and excitement. Her voice rang out, cutting through the hum of the cafeteria, almost startling Weiwei.
Ruxuan perched on the edge of a chair and surveyed Weiwei. "You look tired, sister," she said. "Is everything okay?"
"Being in a hospital is never okay, I guess," sighed Weiwei. "I hope he's going to be fine."
"Who? His grandpa?"
Weiwei nodded.
"What an exciting life you lead," Ruxuan said, shaking her head. "I envy you. Rubbing shoulders with the rich, forcing the owner of TTT Group to the hospital, getting married to his grandson."
Weiwei gazed at the table.
There we go again. Why does it hurt my feelings when people describe it like that? What have I done wrong? I took my fiancée's grandfather to the hospital. What's wrong with that? He's a sick old man.
"It's not like that at all, Ruxuan," she said softly.
"I know, I know," Ruxuan laughed. "I'm just trying to cheer you up."
I figured. But it only made me feel sadder.
Weiwei took a sip of her tea.
I guess I'm just in a bad mood.
"How are you?" Weiwei asked.
"I'm great! What would happen to me?" chirped Ruxuan.
Weiwei wasn't surprised by the answer. However, she felt something was off in Ruxuan's overly optimistic tone. "How's Chengli?"
"Good. We're still dating."
Weiwei gazed at her. "Still?"
"Well, I mean, we're dating," Ruxuan said, blushing. "He's been very nice to me."
There was a pause in Ruxuan's bubbliness. She glanced back at Weiwei, almost a little embarrassed. "We're dating," she repeated, nodding as if trying to convince someone.
Weiwei wanted to ask what was wrong, but didn't want to make Ruxuan more uncomfortable.
She wanted to see me. I'm sure she'll tell me, if there is anything she'd like to share.
"Listen," Ruxuan said finally. "Let me ask you something, but strictly between us."
"Sure," Weiwei inclined her head.
"You can never mention this to anyone, especially Chengli," Ruxuan uncomfortably shifted in her chair. "I feel a little guilty." She gazed back at Weiwei, again with a trace of embarrassment. "I like Chengli. I like going out with him. But… I'm not in love with him."
Love is such a tricky thing.
"That's okay, isn't it?" Weiwei said.
"Is it?" Ruxuan sighed heavily. "The thing is I don't think I'll ever love him. Does that mean I shouldn't date him?"
Weiwei pondered for a moment. "But you like him?"
"Yes."
"You like him more than any other man?"
Ruxuan nodded decisively. "I like him more than anyone I've met. There was this one boy in high school who pursued me. He was something. I liked him a lot, too. Maybe I could've loved him…" Ruxuan abruptly caught herself. "Forget what I just said. I was a stupid little kid then. No, I like Chengli more than anyone I've met. Is that sufficient, though?"
Weiwei looked at Ruxuan with encouragement. "Wouldn't you want your partner to be your best friend? I think that's a lot already. Some people say they prefer a reliable friend to an unreliable lover."
Ruxuan looked at her intently. "So you think it's going to be okay, if I never really love him?"
"I don't know," Weiwei said. "And how could you know what will happen in the future? What's important is that you like being with him and he wants to be with you. What else is there to want?"
"I know," Ruxuan replied, her tone meditative and low. Then she asked in an even lower but passionate voice. "But is it okay for me to date him if he really likes me—maybe loves me—and I don't?"
They were both silent for a few moments.
"Do you think it would be better for him if you break up?" asked Weiwei. "Would it be better for you?"
"I don't know," Ruxuan said, waving her arms in exasperation. "If I knew that, I wouldn't have asked you. It's so hard to decide!"
Weiwei tried to give Ruxuan the best supportive smile she could muster. "Don't torture yourself. Do what your heart tells you. If you like the way things are, then there's nothing wrong with what you're doing. If both of you are happy, what's wrong with that?"
"I do feel almost happy," Ruxuan nodded. She lowered her voice again. "Tell me, when did you fall in love with Qi?"
Weiwei felt her cheeks turning bright red.
"But tell me the truth, sister. I just spilled my guts to you, so tell me like it was."
How can I tell her the truth? After everything I just told her about her situation.
"The truth," Ruxuan repeated, looking very serious for once.
Weiwei sighed. "The moment I first saw him," she said.