"Shanshan, shall we go see Aunt Shen today?"
I called Ling Shanshan in the morning. She has been busy practicing dance recently, and I was afraid that if I made an appointment too late, she would not have time.
"Okay, I happen to be free today." Ling Shanshan's voice sounded very happy, and it seemed that she felt relaxed without having to practice dancing.
It rained for three or four days in a row, and today it finally cleared up. The nursing home is in a remote suburb of the city. At first, I didn't agree to leave Aunt Shen alone in such a strange place, but she was not in a good mental state, and I was afraid something might happen if no one took care of her.
"An An, Shan Shan, you're here." Xiao Xia was standing at the door. I had also made an appointment with her, and she was closer so she arrived earlier than us.
"Xiao Xia, let's go in." The winter sun was not warm enough and it was still cold outside. I took Xiao Xia's hand and said, "How is Aunt Shen these days?"
"It's still the same, but quieter than before. He doesn't clamor to go find Xiaobei anymore." Xiao Xia said, rubbing his face.
After so long, every time I hear He Xubei's name, my heart aches. I let out a long sigh and signaled Shanshan, who was following behind me, to hurry up.
There was a single bed in the small room. The nurse was tidying up the sheets. When she saw us come in, she greeted us and left.
"Aunt, An'an and Shanshan are here to see you."
Aunt Shen was sitting by the window, staring out the window. When she heard Xiao Xia calling her, she turned around, holding a pair of glasses in her hand.
"It's sunny now. Xiaobei likes the winter sun the most." Aunt Shen sighed, looked at us and said, "My Xiaobei is the most filial. I'm afraid of the cold in winter, so when the sun comes out, he always dries my quilt in the sun. He says it makes him warm when he sleeps, so he likes the winter sun. Do you think my Xiaobei is very filial?"
The three of us didn't say anything, just nodded and listened to her quietly. This is how we listened to her every time we came. It felt like another He Xubei was still by our side, never far away.
"My Xiaobei is very smart. He has been the class monitor since he was young. He is very good at playing the piano." Aunt Shen suddenly grabbed my hand and asked me, "You know, right? Did you know that he can play the piano?"
Xiao Xia was startled. I knew she was thinking about what happened last time. I shook my head to signal her not to make a sound. I said, "Auntie, I know, he looks very handsome in a white suit when he plays the piano!"
"But he doesn't play anymore. It's all my fault for being so foolish that I divorced his father." Aunt Shen seemed to be thinking of something unhappy. She frowned and said, "It's all my fault that he got hurt. Otherwise, he would have been even better."
I patted the back of her hand, pulled her clothes for her, and said, "He is the best and will always be the best!"
The nurse came in to remind Aunt Shen that it was time to take the medicine, but Aunt Shen got angry and refused to take the medicine: "I don't want to take it, you want to hurt me! I don't want to take it, the medicine is bitter!"
I took the medicine from the nurse and said to Aunt Shen, "Aunt, your Xiaobei is the best. He is not afraid of anything. You have to be the best mother too! If you don't take it, he will be unhappy ."
Aunt Shen calmed down after hearing what I said, took the medicine and swallowed it herself, then she said, "Sing for me, I want to sleep."
After much difficulty in coaxing Aunt Shen to sleep, Shanshan also returned from visiting the dean.
"The director said that Aunt Shen is much better recently. She is not as noisy as before and is more awake." Shanshan looked at Aunt Shen on the bed and continued, "The director also said that when Aunt Shen is awake, she always asks the nurse for a red scarf, saying that her son bought it. He asked us if we have that scarf at home, and if so, to bring it over."