Chapter 8: Fainting
Jiang Muguo stood in the living room for a long while, gazing at the small bottle of lemon water spray discarded in the trash bin, yet she did not retrieve it. A faint sting welled up in her eyes.
Afterward, she went to Haicheng ahead of time. It was always wise to arrive early in an unfamiliar city, especially with the military training that awaited her—necessitating the purchase of some supplies. Once settled in Haicheng, she thought to reach out to Jiang Wei. But no matter how many calls or messages she sent, Jiang Wei ignored her completely.
Jiang Muguo felt a touch of anger. Jiang Wei’s reproaches were inexplicable; she herself felt wronged. Over the years, Jiang Wei had strictly forbidden her from seeing Mu Anyan frequently, holding her tightly under watch, and she had complied. Yet this time, they had merely crossed paths on the street, a fact she had clearly explained. Jiang Wei’s unreasonable attitude made her upset.
Still, no grudge between mother and daughter could last overnight. Jiang Muguo, as usual, was the first to relent. After two or three days, she took the initiative to message and call Jiang Wei, coaxing her to happiness, offering apologies. She even sent photos of amusing things she had seen in Haicheng, yet Jiang Wei remained cold and unresponsive.
Even the registration for the new semester, setting up her dorm bed, and unpacking all her belongings—she managed it all alone. Fortunately, her roommates seemed congenial, far less troublesome than she had feared.
Yet standing at attention under the scorching September sun was far from pleasant. Jiang Muguo was not one to be overly sentimental, but her body, accustomed to comfort, grew dizzy several times under the relentless sun, nearly collapsing. Holding onto the thought that she “could not lose face outside,” she persevered stubbornly.
Days passed, but her spirits worsened with each one. Jiang Wei appeared to have a new boyfriend, constantly sharing their daily moments, while ignoring Jiang Muguo’s messages entirely. The pain weighed heavily on her. One night, in a fit of frustration, she ran two kilometers around the track. After finishing, she suddenly suffered hypoglycemia and fainted, causing panic among nearby classmates who hurriedly carried her to the infirmary.
When she opened her eyes, she saw a stark white ceiling and smelled disinfectant. Her eyes flickered, and she propped herself up on the edge of the bed, only to stiffen slightly upon seeing a figure standing by the window.
The person seemed to notice the movement and turned to look at her. Jiang Muguo almost thought her vision was blurred, still in S City—but the man had already approached her bedside.
He loomed over her, radiating an imposing presence. “How many hours have you been asleep? First, have some water to soothe your throat.”
As he spoke, he poured a cup of hot water and brought it to her lips.
Her lashes trembled. “Why are you here?”
He fixed his gaze on her, eyes calm yet resolute, steady and powerful. “I have a project to discuss with your school’s principal. I didn’t expect you’d be studying here.”
Jiang Muguo said nothing, turning her head slightly, her eyes stinging as she clearly wished not to drink the water he offered. “You’ve seen everything already. You should leave soon. Please don’t tell Mom about me fainting—I’m afraid she’ll worry.”
Mu Anyan frowned. “Muguo.”
She felt a pang of grievance—not from him, but from Jiang Wei’s coldness over the days. Suddenly, someone cared, and that stirred a strange ache within her. Yet she would not show it in front of Mu Anyan. She lay down and covered her face with the blanket. “Dad, please go. I’m fine.”
Mu Anyan stared at her for a long moment, his tone deepening, carrying an unmistakable firmness that brooked no refusal. “Muguo, drink the water first. I need to talk with you.”