Natural Disaster: Back to the End of the World

Part 23

Things weren't as simple as Yao Ziqing had thought. He initially believed that his weakness was just due to the fever, and that a few days of rest would be enough to recover. However, after several days, he still had no strength and needed support just to stand up.

Si'er had always been frail, frequently catching colds and fevers, but this was the first time he had been unconscious for three days straight. The illness itself was already puzzling, and the subsequent physical changes made everyone even more anxious. Even Lei Lang, who usually spoke without a filter, was now unusually cautious, with his usual playful demeanor around Yao Ziqing now seeming somewhat forced.

In the village, the roads were naturally worn and not paved with stones or asphalt, making driving very bumpy. As a result, they rarely took the elderly on long trips. Fortunately, Yao Ziqing was awake now. Although he lacked strength, it was still manageable for him to make a daily phone call to Grandma to reassure her.

Despite Lei Li and the others trying to hide their concerns, Grandma, having experienced so much in her life, could clearly see that something was wrong. After hanging up on Si'er's call, her initially cheerful expression gradually turned serious. She sat silently in the living room, deep in thought.

Lei Li packed the food into an insulated bag to take to the hospital and, seeing Grandma sitting quietly in the living room, quickly said, "Grandma, I'm going to deliver the food to Xiao'er and Si'er. You should eat while it's hot. I'll be back soon."

Grandma glanced at him and said solemnly, "Li'er, Grandma may be old, but I'm not foolish."

Lei Li's heart sank. He tried to deflect, "What are you talking about? Grandma, you're still young. You'll have to help us with great-grandchildren in the future."

Grandma wasn't fooled by his attempt to evade the issue and asked directly, "What exactly is wrong with Si'er?"

Lei Li hesitated and stammered, "Nothing, nothing. It's just a cold and fever. He's always had a weak constitution, and recently he's been running around in the early morning, so he caught a chill."

Seeing the wisdom in Grandma's eyes, which had been shaped by years of experience, Lei Li's excuses grew quieter until he fell silent. Grandma sighed.

"Grandma isn't as useless as you think, and I'm not made of paper. If there's something wrong, don't hide it. Look at you and Third Brother, so preoccupied and distracted these days. It's better to be straightforward like Xiao'er and not come home at all than to try and hide it from me. Your attempts to cover it up aren't convincing."

The atmosphere in the living room became heavy. Seeing that he couldn't hide it any longer, Lei Li decided it was better to be honest rather than letting Grandma worry unnecessarily.

"Grandma, Si'er... he's not quite right."

Even though he was somewhat prepared, Grandma's heart sank at the news.

She held onto her eldest grandson's hand, unsure if it was his hand or hers that was trembling.

"Don't be afraid. Grandma is still here. We've gotten through so many difficulties before, and we can get through this too. Now that you and Xiao'er are successful, whatever illness Si'er has, there will be a way to treat it."

Lei Li nodded heavily, feeling a bit reassured. He stopped feeling so lost and helpless.

He explained Si'er's condition in detail to Grandma, who grew more somber as she listened. After a long silence, she finally asked Lei Li to go to the hospital to deliver the food. Sitting alone in the old, empty living room, Grandma sighed deeply, feeling helpless.