Huang Dehan's phone rang for a long time before being picked up. The moment the call connected, Li Man seemed to hear a woman's complaint: "...Annoying."
The voice was very low, if you didn't listen carefully, you wouldn't hear it. But Li Man was sensitive since she found out about Huang Dehan's affair, so she still caught this subtle voice.
If it was before, she certainly wouldn't have noticed it.
"Wife, how's mom?" Huang Dehan's voice came from the phone. Li Man didn't hear anything abnormal either.
"Mom might not make it, you should come back quickly." Li Man kept her voice flat.
"That serious?"
"Mm, it's already difficult for mom to last this long given her health."
Yes, without her meticulous care, mother-in-law wouldn't have lived this long either.
She just didn't expect that right after finding out about Huang Dehan's affair, mother-in-law's condition worsened.
Huang Dehan was silent for a while before saying, "I see, I'll rush back as soon as I can."
Huang Dehan didn't come back until noon the next day.
When he arrived at the hospital, the old lady was already unconscious.
The old lady's high fever persisted, and the hospital issued a critical condition notice.
"You should consider whether or not to resuscitate her," the doctor said. "But I don't think resuscitation would be very meaningful, it's up to you to decide."
Li Man looked to Huang Dehan, waiting for his decision.
Huang Dehan looked at his emaciated mother on the hospital bed and sighed, "Forget it, don't torment her anymore."
"Then I'll process the discharge paperwork for you," the doctor said before leaving.
Everyone understood the implication behind those words.
After completing the discharge procedures, Huang Dehan brought his mother back home.
Upon returning home, the old lady regained consciousness, as if making a last stand. She was in good spirits and looked at Huang Dehan, "Dehan, mom is leaving soon, I'm going to see your dad... you have to treat Manman well..."
The old lady mumbled a lot, jumping between topics, and held Li Man's hand, "Manman, mom is sorry to you..."
Tears rolled down Li Man's cheeks, but she wasn't crying because she was sad about mother-in-law's passing. Rather, she felt her years of dedication were worthless.
Over the years, she had treated mother-in-law like her own mother, perhaps out of guilt towards her parents. So she gave mother-in-law all the love she owed her parents, caring for her in every possible way.
The old lady passed away very peacefully, a smile still on her lips.
After handling the old lady's funeral arrangements, Huang Dehan dismissed the live-in housekeeper, on the grounds that with mother-in-law gone, there was no need to keep the housekeeper anymore.
Their daughter Huang Duoduo lived at boarding school and only came home once a week, so it was just the couple at home. There really was no need for a housekeeper.
Li Man didn't say anything, she just felt very cold inside.
Although there were only two people in the house, the house still needed cleaning.
...
That evening after dinner, Huang Dehan's phone suddenly rang.
Seeing the caller ID, Huang Dehan immediately grabbed his phone and ran into the bathroom, locking the door.
Li Man stood outside the door, listening to the sounds coming from the bathroom.
"Baby, I miss you too."
"Wait a bit, my mom just passed, I can't tell her yet..."
"Don't worry... good girl, I'll come see you tomorrow night..."
"Mom, what are you doing?"
Li Man was engrossed in eavesdropping when she was startled by her daughter's sudden voice, stammering: "Oh... I, I need to use the bathroom!"
"Whoosh!"
The sound of flushing came from the bathroom, then the door opened and Huang Dehan walked out, "Go ahead, I'm done."
Li Man had no choice but to dejectedly go into the bathroom.
She didn't actually need to use the bathroom, but since she was already inside, she might as well take a shower.
After showering, Li Man returned to the bedroom to see Huang Dehan lying in bed playing on his phone.
Li Man sat down at the vanity table and squeezed out her skincare products, applying them to her face one by one.
Looking at her no longer youthful face and sallow complexion in the mirror, Li Man was filled with self-doubt: Was it because she was no longer pretty that her husband was having an affair?
But in a fleeting moment, she dismissed this thought, because the main reason men have affairs isn't because their wives aren't good enough or pretty enough, it's because they are inherently fickle!
