Madam Zhao scrutinized Yan Yan, her fingertips lightly tapping the metal clasp of her crocodile-skin bag. The girl before her, though clad in a faded denim jacket, possessed an undeniable freshness. Her skin was so fair, one could see the faint blue veins beneath, like fine jade. Her hair, though a little unruly, was thick and black; with proper care, it would surely gleam like silk.
She's quite a beauty. Madam Zhao thought, her gaze sweeping over Yan Yan's slender neck and well-proportioned frame. The girl spoke with the soft, lilting accent of the Jiangnan region, as if she held a piece of osmanthus candy in her mouth, making one's ears tingle. She reached out to brush a piece of paper off Yan Yan's shoulder, her fingers touching a shoulder that was delicate yet straight.
"What year are you in?" Madam Zhao asked suddenly.
"Freshman," Yan Yan replied, instinctively clenching her jacket, her knuckles turning white.
Madam Zhao noticed the faded red string tied neatly around her wrist. It reminded her of the first pearl necklace she had saved up to buy in her youth – worn with the same care until the string turned yellow.
"Can you cook?"
"Yes... I can make small wontons," Yan Yan's voice was as soft as a feather. "My father says they're even better than the old shop down the alley."
Madam Zhao's lips curved slightly. She suddenly noticed a tiny Tear Pearl Mole at the corner of Yan Yan's right eye, like a tiny ink spot, adding a touch of stubbornness to her gentle face. This discovery made her change her mind, and she pulled another card out of her bag.
"The genetic test will be done tomorrow." The woman pushed a teacup forward, a check underneath it. "This is a hundred thousand in advance."
"Do you play the piano?" Madam Zhao suddenly changed the subject.
Yan Yan's eyelashes fluttered slightly, like the wings of a startled butterfly. "N...no, I don't."
"What a pity." Madam Zhao took a tube of hand cream from her crocodile skin bag and slowly applied it. "Mingyuan loved to listen to Chopin's Nocturnes when he was little." She deliberately let her diamond wedding ring glint in the sunlight. "But it doesn't matter, you can learn."
"You know, the Tear Pearl Mole on the corner of your right eye is very special. According to fortune-telling, it signifies wealth and prosperity."
Yan Yan's fingers unconsciously rubbed the hem of her clothes, the rough fabric making a slight rustling sound.
Madam Zhao took her phone out of the crocodile skin bag and tapped on the screen a few times. "Secretary Li, take someone to Examination Center No. 3 now." She hung up the phone, her gaze returning to Yan Yan.
The crisp sound of high heels echoed in the corridor, and a woman in a white coat pushed the door open. Her name tag indicated she was the Head Nurse, but she was holding a brand new patient gown. "The VIP channel is ready." She said respectfully to Madam Zhao, but her eyes kept sizing up Yan Yan.
Madam Zhao stood up, the Chanel jacket sliding over the leather sofa with a soft rustle.
"Oh, and one more thing," Madam Zhao said, turning back at the door, her pearl earrings swinging in an elegant arc. "Your father has been moved to Ward 1809. It has a view of the Magnolia Tree." A perfect smile played on her lips. "Of course, the medical fees have been settled." Yan Yan's mouth dropped open in surprise as she stared at her.
Yan Yan had been running around with the Head Nurse for days, and it was finally over. She was always uneasy these few days while waiting for the results, constantly wavering between regret and determination.
The moment Madam Zhao pushed open the door, the pencil in Yan Yan's hand snapped in two with a "crack."
She was wearing a moon-white silk qipao, a pearl necklace shimmering softly under the ward's stark lighting, and she was holding a bouquet of fragrant lilies.
"Mr. Yan looks much better," she said with a smile, placing the bouquet on the bedside table. The sweet, cloying scent of lilies immediately filled the air. "I'm here to tell you some good news..."
Yan Yan jumped up, the legs of her chair scraping loudly across the floor. Her younger brother was startled by her sudden movement.
"Aunt Zhao!" Yan Yan practically lunged forward, grabbing her wrist. It was icy cold to the touch. "Let's go outside and talk."
In the fire escape at the end of the hallway, the emergency lights stretched Madam Zhao's shadow long. She slowly rubbed her wrist, where my fingerprints were already visible. "What? Marriage is a big deal. You don't want your father to know? My son is absolutely a catch!"
"My dad will die," she heard her voice trembling. "If he knows I used this method to get medical expenses..."
Madam Zhao suddenly chuckled, pulling a document from her handbag. Through the translucent file bag, Yan Yan saw her father's latest CT report, a conspicuous circle drawn in red around the lesion.
"How long do you think he has left? Three months? Five months?" She slapped the document against my chest. "Sign it, and Director Li can perform the surgery tomorrow."
Yan Yan didn't even bother to take a closer look at the prenuptial agreement, signing her name without hesitation. She just wanted her to leave quickly and not disturb her father.
However, Madam Zhao seemed unusually excited. She said to me with a smile, "Your genetic testing results are the best I've ever seen! Not only that, but your IQ is also quite high!"
Hearing Madam Zhao say this, Yan Yan couldn't help but feel a complex mix of emotions. Yan Yan didn't know whether her satisfaction with this report was genuine or if she had ulterior motives, but in any case, she didn't care.
Then, Madam Zhao continued, "I've hired a caregiver for your father. Starting tomorrow, you'll move into my home. It'll be convenient, and it definitely won't interfere with your studies. But you might not be able to visit your father often. Remember to tell him later."
Her tone was gentle, but the strength she conveyed left me with no room to refuse. Yan Yan knew that from this moment on, her life would be turned upside down.