Hearing Victor Mo call her name, Serena Li’s heart tightened. It seemed that ever since the FFGfree club incident, he had stopped calling her “Ms. Li.” After several seconds, she said, “Mr. Mo, I want to talk to you about the license plate number.”
“Hmm?” Victor Mo drawled out the last syllable.
“Thank you for the car and license plate. That license plate wasn’t easy to get; I’ll transfer the money I paid for it to you.”
“I just got back from a business trip that day. At the airport, Ms. Wu told me that the car you bought wouldn’t arrive for another month. Coincidentally, that 4S store is owned by my friend, so I mentioned it to him. The price you paid for the car included the license plate. My friend has a way to get this number, so it didn’t cost any extra.” He paused, then added, “If you want to thank me, please do me a favor!”
Serena Li understood what he meant: she didn’t owe him money, but she owed him a favor.
Serena Li felt a little helpless; Joyce Wu’s big mouth had really dug a pit for her to fall into! After a moment of silence, she finally said, “What is it?”
“Can you come to the hospital with me tomorrow?”
“Hospital?”
“Yes, go see my grandma. Play the role of my girlfriend.”
“Mr. Mo, this is too much to ask of you, I cannot agree.”
“The doctor said she doesn’t have much time left. I’m not joking about this, please help me this time!”
Whether it was the pleading in his slightly tired voice or his desire to repay the favor as soon as possible, Serena Li finally agreed.
On Sunday, Victor Mo had social engagements during the day, and it wasn’t until 7 p.m. that he picked up Serena Li .
Victor Mo arrived at the Four Seasons Garden, Serena Li was waiting for him by the roadside, holding a beautifully wrapped bouquet of carnations.
She had just picked out the flowers; the girl at the florist told her that 12 carnations symbolized a blessing for the patient’s peace and speedy recovery.
Victor Mo saw her, he raised an eyebrow, opened the passenger door, and let her get in the car.
Serena Li got into the car, she saw Victor Mo wearing a Bluetooth headset talking to his grandmother on the phone. “Grandma, if you’re tired, take a rest. We’ll be there in a bit.”
He didn’t know what his grandmother had said, but he replied, “Okay, we didn’t buy anything, but she brought you a bouquet of flowers, your favorite carnations!”
Serena Li heard him mention flowers, she turned to look at him and, whether it was her imagination or not, she felt that he had lost a lot of weight since the last time they met.
He seemed very patient when he was on the phone, probably because he’s a good grandson. He was talking to his grandmother, and every word he said sounded patient and accommodating, and he was trying his best to say things that suited his elders.
At that moment, she suddenly felt that this filial man possessed a special charm.
Victor Mo turned to Serena Li and asked softly, ” Serena , have you eaten?”
Serena Li nodded: “Let’s go see your grandma now!”
“Thank you!” Victor Mo watched her fasten her seatbelt before starting the car and driving away.
The Bentley drove into the Second Municipal Hospital and parked in the hospital’s underground parking lot.
Victor Mo led Serena Li to the VIP ward on the 25th floor of the inpatient department. After entering, the nurse nodded to Victor Mo and then quietly withdrew.
Serena Li placed the flowers on the chair by the window and turned to see the patient information card on the bedside table. It turned out that her grandmother was 90 years old, much older than she had imagined.
At this moment, the old lady lying on the bed had gray hair, a pale face, and was frighteningly thin.
Victor Mo leaned down and whispered in Serena Li’s ear, “I need you to act a little more affectionate with me.” Then, with his slightly calloused hand, he took Serena Li ‘s left hand, leaned over the bedside, and smiled at his grandmother, saying, “Grandma, open your eyes and look, I’ve brought my girlfriend.”
When the old lady heard the familiar voice, she opened her eyes and turned her head with difficulty to look at Serena Li .
“Grandma, it’s me , Serena . I’ve come to see you.” Serena Li smiled faintly, her eyes filled with tears. Before coming upstairs, Serena Li never expected that she would be so moved. Looking at this elderly woman, who was emaciated from illness, she couldn’t help but think of her own grandmother who had passed away when she was young.
The old lady reached out her hand to Serena Li , her hand trembling slightly. Serena Li subtly withdrew her hand, but Victor Mo grabbed it and placed both of his hands in the old lady’s wrinkled hands.
“Sit down, child.” The old lady felt that her grandson had neglected Serena Li . She held Serena Li ‘s hand tightly with one hand and pointed at her grandson with the other: “Get a chair.”
Victor Mo turned around and grabbed a chair for Serena Li to sit on.
In the quiet ward, the old lady’s weak voice could be heard from time to time.
The old lady held Serena Li ‘s small hand, stroked it, and smiled, her face full of wrinkles: “Serena is so beautiful. She and my Xiaoyan look like a perfect couple. I heard from Xiaoyan that you are a high school math teacher. Being a teacher is good! Serena, you must always be good to our Xiaoyan. Xiaoyan will not mistreat you. This old lady… knows her grandson well.”
“I know, please don’t worry,” Serena Li said, a little guilty, as she reassured the old woman.
Victor Mo leaned down and gently put an arm around Serena Li ‘s shoulder, saying, “Grandma, I should have brought her to see you sooner. You need to get well soon, and after you’re discharged from the hospital, we’ll take you for tea.”
“Good, good, good!” The old lady smiled from ear to ear, saying “good” several times in a row.
so much physical contact with Victor Mo , Serena Li felt her heart beating a little fast. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the inexplicable emotions in her heart.
Fortunately, Victor Mo received a call on his phone at that moment, so he let go of his hand and went outside to answer it.
Serena Li and the old lady were alone in the hospital room. The old lady said, “My precious grandson is a man who is cold on the outside but warm on the inside. His mother passed away when he was very young, and he grew up by my side. He was naughty when he was young, but now he is becoming more and more responsible and filial. But he just hasn’t gotten married yet. I’m afraid I won’t live to see the day he settles down and starts a family…”
Serena Li listened attentively, but felt guilty. Deceiving an elderly person who was nearing the end of their life put her under a lot of pressure, even though it was a white lie.
“Grandma needs to tell you about her while she still has breath. Once she’s gone, there will be no one left to talk to you.”
The old lady started to cry as she spoke, and Serena Li picked up a cotton handkerchief from the table and gently wiped her eyes. “Grandma, if you’re tired, stop talking for now and rest for a while before continuing.”
The old lady took the cotton handkerchief from Serena Li and wiped her eyes herself.
Within minutes, the old lady fell asleep. The caregiver came in, and Serena Li got up and left.
Victor Mo returned from the phone call, he saw Serena Li standing by the hospital bed and walked over to her.
Serena Li turned to look at him and said, “Grandma is asleep.”
He nodded and pointed to the cubicle next to him: “Come sit here for a while.”
“Okay.” Serena Li nodded and followed him.
Staring at his tall back, Serena Li wanted to make something clear to him.
Inside the cubicle, Serena Li went in and stood by the window, looking out at the deep night.
“What did you two talk about?” Victor Mo poured her a glass of warm water and handed it to her.
Serena Li took it and said, “It’s all about you.”
“What did you talk about with me?” he asked.
Serena Li glanced at the closed door, then looked at him and said, “I can pretend once, but I can’t pretend with you forever. Even though it’s a white lie, what if the old man notices?”
Victor Mo looked down at her, took a step closer, and said, “Then let it become real.”
Serena Li felt his body getting closer and closer to her, and her heartbeat quickened accordingly. After she had processed the meaning of his words, a strange tremor ran through her heart. She lowered her eyes and fixed her gaze on her hand holding the water glass.
Seeing that she remained silent for a long time, Victor Mo said in a deep, ambiguous voice, “Hmm?”
Serena Li looked up, met his gaze, and said formally, “We’re not a good match.”
Victor Mo remained expressionless, as if he had already anticipated her response, and asked in an unchanged tone, “What’s wrong with it?”
Overwhelmed by emotion, she blurted out what she had already prepared: “Mr. Mo, with your qualities, I think you could easily make many women fall at your feet with just a snap of your fingers. If you don’t want to play anymore, it’s easy to get rid of them, and the result will make everyone happy.”
Victor Mo stared at her and said, “Do you think I just want to play around with you?”
Serena Li told herself she had to be decisive, looked him in the eyes, and said, “Yes.”
Serena Li finished speaking, the two fell silent. A moment later, there was a knock at the door. Victor Mo gave her one last deep look, then went to open it. Serena Li breathed a sigh of relief.
The nurse said, “Mr. Mo, the on-duty doctor is here.”
Victor Mo nodded, then turned to Serena Li and said, “I’ll go talk to the doctor for a bit, then I’ll take you home.”
Serena Li nodded.
About 15 minutes later, Victor Mo returned. He stood in the doorway without making any movement, slowly putting his hands into his trouser pockets.
“Tomorrow is Monday, you have to go to work, I’ll take you home to rest now,” Victor Mo said , looking at Serena Li who was looking down .
Serena Li nodded.
“Let’s go.” He opened the door first and led her out.
Serena Li stopped in front of the old lady’s bedside and glanced at her.
Victor Mo stood behind her: “Grandma is asleep, you don’t need to say goodbye when you leave.”
“Mm.” Serena Li nodded.
She turned away from the old lady’s bedside and then followed him out of that floor of the hospital .
They took the hospital elevator directly to the underground parking lot, and Serena Li walked with him, approaching the black Bentley.
Serena Li walked towards the passenger door, and Victor Mo also walked over, ready to open the door for her to get in. Perhaps it was his presence behind her that made her nervous, but as she reached out to open the door, Serena Li saw his outstretched hand.
His fingers touched hers. They were both about to open the car door.
Their fingers touched, and both of them froze. Serena Li stared nervously out the car window, where the tall figure of the man behind her was reflected. She was enveloped by his presence, and she trembled slightly. Soon, she saw his hand slowly cover the back of her hand.