Momo's Gradual Change

C134. Leaning on Age to Claim Privilege.

Chapter 134: Leaning on Age to Claim Privilege

The next day, Song Yimo went to the hospital as usual, though today, Zhai Muyang wasn’t just dropping her off. He had cleared his schedule to stay by her side.

His little sister—whom he’d never once spoken harshly to—how could he allow her to be mistreated by others?

"Dage, can we just let it go?"

"I won’t let anyone make things difficult for you." Zhai Muyang took her hand as they walked up the stairs. But if anyone dared cross a line again, he’d make them pay for both old and new offenses alike.

Inside, Grandma Wu glanced toward the door, worried. What if Yimo was angry and didn’t come?

“Grandma, Yimo will come. Even if she’s upset, she won’t abandon me.”

Grandma Wu sighed. “I know Yimo isn’t one to hold a grudge, but not seeing her makes me uneasy. All this trouble, stirred up by your useless father… If I’d known it would end like this, I’d never have called him here.”

Wu Ting tugged her lips into a faint smile, staying silent. It was about time Grandma saw things as they were.

Depending on Wu Zhengye?

She’d have given up long ago if she’d had to rely on him.

Grandma Wu stood up. “I’ll get us some breakfast. The porridge downstairs is quite good.”

“Grandma!” Wu Ting frowned, lifting her head a little to look at her. “Yimo will come.”

“Alright, alright, she’ll come. You just rest and don’t strain yourself.”

At that moment, they heard movement at the door. Song Yimo stepped in, carrying a food container. Catching their gaze, she immediately apologized, “Sorry for being late today. Are you hungry? Grandma Wu, please come eat. I’ll help feed Wu Ting.”

“Yes, yes, of course.” Grandma Wu dabbed at her eyes, and when she spotted Zhai Muyang, she nodded quietly, not daring to speak.

Zhai Muyang walked over to the bed, helping Yimo unpack the food. “It’s been a few days since I was here—looks like you’re recovering well.”

“The doctor says I’m doing great, thank you, Zhai Dage.” Wu Ting spoke with quiet gratitude, though, for some reason, she still felt a faint fear in his presence, despite his kindness toward her.

Song Yimo unscrewed the thermos containing the soup, inserted a straw, and held it to Wu Ting’s lips. She was used to drinking soup three times a day by now and quickly finished it.

After the soup came seafood porridge, creamy and flavorful. Wu Ting felt that her recovery was largely thanks to the nourishing meals she was given—meals one couldn’t get just anywhere. Even her grandmother looked healthier from eating them.

But some topics were inevitable.

Grandma Wu glanced at Zhai Muyang before sitting down beside Yimo and speaking softly. “Yimo, for the sake of this old woman, please don’t hold anything against your uncle. He’s been this way his whole life. There’s a saying, ‘With a good wife, a man has fewer troubles.’ And it’s true—if only Chen Yan were a bit more virtuous, the family wouldn’t be in such a state.”

Song Yimo listened patiently, then gave a small nod. “Don’t worry, Grandma Wu. I’ll see this through; I won’t abandon Wu Ting.”

Grandma Wu felt her breath catch in her throat. Though Yimo’s words echoed her own sentiments, hearing them so plainly stated was… startling.

Zhai Muyang smiled faintly, looking out the window where the branches swayed in the breeze. He had been too quick to think Yimo was easily hurt. She understood more than he’d realized. Most of the time, she’d let matters pass by with grace, but now and then, she showed her resolve.

Like now. It was clear she resented Grandma Wu for calling Wu Ting’s family here, only for them to bring further harm. And now, even as Grandma Wu played the elder, leaning on her age to ease her conscience, Yimo’s patience had limits.

“Wu Ting,” Song Yimo said, “do you trust me? Or do you think I’d leave you halfway, giving you hope only to let you down?”

Lying on her side, Wu Ting’s exposed half-face softened into a natural smile.

“In the past, I always thought you’d have the brightest future out of any of us. Then, thanks to you, I improved my grades, and back then, I believed that if I ever hit a rough patch, you’d be the first to lend me a hand. And I was right. The person I trust wouldn’t give someone hope just to abandon them. Yimo, I won’t thank you—‘thank you’ feels too light. Truly, it’s too light.”

Song Yimo poked her cheek. “If you make me sound so great, what if I can’t live up to it?”

“You already do.”

The two shared a smile, their bond untouched by the recent troubles with Wu Zhengye.

That afternoon, with Zhai Muyang stepping out for a call and Grandma Wu off to buy something, they received two unexpected visitors in the room.

Song Yimo’s eyes widened. “Teacher Chen?”

“Why the surprise? Am I not allowed to visit?” Outside the classroom, Chen Biling had none of her usual severity. Wearing a delicate, embroidered short-sleeved blouse and casual pants, paired with low-heeled open-toe sandals, she looked younger and more approachable.

Song Yimo quickly stepped aside, leading her in.

Hearing that familiar voice, Wu Ting knew who had arrived. The realization that, while her own parents had shown little care, her homeroom teacher had traveled all this way struck her deeply. By the time Chen Biling reached her bedside, Wu Ting’s eyes were already red.

“Teacher Chen…”

"Oh dear, you two are quite the daredevils," Chen Biling remarked, settling herself on the edge of the bed. Yet, her tone held no harshness. "How is your recovery coming along?"

"Much better, the doctor says as long as there are no complications, I'll be able to walk again."

"That's good to hear." She drained the glass of warm water Yimo handed her in one go, then gestured towards the tall teenager who had accompanied her. "This is my son, Zhu Yixin. He's a year younger than you, so he'll be your underclassman next semester."

Zhu Yixin seemed rather quiet, a stark contrast to the boy Yimo had imagined who would accompany his relatives to catch his father in the act.

"Hello, Wu Xuejie, Song Xuejie."

"Nice to meet you," Song Yimo replied politely, and after taking the paper cups from the mother and son, she went to get another cup of water.

Chen Biling gestured for her son to bring over the travel bag and, unzipping it, began to take things out. "I've bought some good quality dried goods. In your condition, you need to nourish yourself properly. By the way, how have you been eating?"

As Song Yimo looked at the vacuum-sealed packages of various mushrooms, she was reminded of the last time Teacher Chen had visited her grandmother in the hospital and brought her the same things. Later, when she started working, she realized how expensive dried goods were. These few packages alone were worth a month's salary for Teacher Chen.

Seeing that Yimo was silent, Wu Ting thought she was being modest and said, "Yimo arranges for someone to deliver meals every day. They're staying at a friend of Zhai Dage's place, not far from the hospital."

"That's good. Fortunately, there's such a place. The hospital food isn't very nutritious. Yimo, take this home and make some soup for Wu Ting."

"Okay." Song Yimo took the package without hesitation. It was a token of Teacher Chen's affection, heavy with meaning, and she had to accept it.

———
TN:
学姐, Xuéjiě; is a Chinese term used to address a female student who is in a higher year or grade than you at the same school or university. It's a respectful and informal way to refer to a female senior student.