Chapter 402: Chapter 402 Are You Not Giving Up Yet?
“Are you Pan Lian?”
When Hu Yunqin saw her, she was still a little unsure.
“Yes, yes, it’s me.”
Pan Lian was also a little surprised to see Hu Yunqin after so many years, her face showing a hint of delight.
Of course, she often saw her on television these days, but she hadn’t had a face-to-face meeting like this.
“What brings you here?”
Pan Lian stepped forward, holding her hand warmly and affectionately as she spoke.
Hu Yunqin never thought the world could suddenly become so small, where they could meet in such a place.
She and Pan Lian used to live in the same village, but they drifted apart after going to college.
They stayed in touch during their university years, but eventually, the contact faded away.
Counting now, it had been more than twenty years since they last spoke.
“I came to see someone,” Hu Yunqin said, then asked in turn, “What about you? Why are you here?”
Pan Lian casually replied, “My younger daughter is hospitalized here.”
Hu Yunqin: “Oh, is the child okay?”
“Nothing serious.”
Suddenly, Pan Lian’s gaze fell on Dong Xiaoxiao, who was standing nearby wearing a hat.
“And who’s this?”
“Oh, this is my daughter,”
Hu Yunqin turned towards Dong Xiaoxiao and said, “Xiaoxiao, say hello, this is your Aunt Lian.”
Dong Xiaoxiao glanced at Pan Lian and reluctantly greeted, “Aunt Lian.”
Pan Lian responded, “Ah, good child, you’re so beautiful.”
Afterward, the two casually exchanged a few words.
“Yunqin, how come you’re out and about without a bodyguard or anyone with you?” Pan Lian asked curiously.
“I see so many celebrities always have bodyguards or assistants when they go out. Aren’t you afraid someone might recognize you?”
Hu Yunqin replied, “It’s fine. My fans are pretty rational and not too excessive.”
Both of them were in their fifties, but Hu Yunqin’s appearance still retained the youthful look of someone in their thirties, which made Pan Lian envious.
“You’ve really taken great care of yourself; you look like a young girl.” She chuckled as she spoke.
On the side, Dong Xiaoxiao had long grown impatient.
She interrupted their conversation, her tone brimming with dissatisfaction and frustration: “Mom, are you going to see that person or not? If not, I’m heading home.”
Feeling a tad apologetic, Hu Yunqin turned to Pan Lian and said, “Ah Lian, I have something to handle—let’s catch up another time. I’ll be staying around Yue City for now.”
Pan Lian responded, “Alright. Is your number still the same one as before?”
Hu Yunqin: “No, I’ve changed it.”
“Then let’s exchange contact info and plan to meet later.”
“Alright.”
After exchanging contact details, Hu Yunqin led Dong Xiaoxiao down the left corridor.
Pan Lian watched their retreating figures, her face still carrying a faint smile.
Back then, she never would have imagined that someone from their desolate village could turn into such a big celebrity.
In those days, her family and Hu Yunqin’s family were neighbors. Ever since she was a child, Hu Yunqin had been stunningly beautiful and very popular with the boys.
Not only was she pretty, but she also excelled in academics.
From their class, Hu Yunqin was the only student to get into college. After she left for university, she never returned.
Later, she suddenly saw her on TV.
At first, she thought she must have mistaken someone else for her.
She had even tried calling Hu Yunqin then, but the number was no longer valid.
From that point on, the only way to glimpse her was through television.
Televised interviews, endless awards—news of her accomplishments seemed to keep multiplying.
While Hu Yunqin’s career soared, people like her were still gradually climbing from the bottom.
Pan Lian would be lying if she claimed not to envy—or even feel a bit jealous of—her.
She had even heard that she married a wealthy man.
Recently, word had gone around that she was searching for a long-lost daughter. But what she hadn’t expected was to find her here, in Yue City.
On the other side—
Hu Yunqin brought Dong Xiaoxiao to an exclusive VIP ward.
At the moment, a woman was lying on the hospital bed.
Upon hearing someone enter, the woman opened her eyes.
“Yunqin, why are you here?”
The woman on the bed beamed with delight when she saw that it was Hu Yunqin who had arrived.
As the woman was about to sit up, Hu Yunqin quickly approached and gently pressed her shoulders. “No need to get up; just lie down.”
“I heard you were hospitalized, so I thought I’d come check on you. How have you been?”
Liang Qinglan replied, “I’m alright. Just had surgery two days ago.”
Hu Yunqin glanced around the ward. “Why are you here all alone?”
“I’ve got a caregiver, but she just stepped out to buy something for me.” Liang Qinglan said, “Yunqin, help me sit up. Talking while lying down feels uncomfortable.”
“Alright.”
Hu Yunqin adjusted the bed and helped her sit up slowly.
Since entering the ward, Dong Xiaoxiao had stood rooted in place without moving.
Liang Qinglan, now upright, glanced over at her with a smile. “You must be Xiaoxiao, right?”
Hu Yunqin looked towards Dong Xiaoxiao and said, “Xiaoxiao, say hello. This is your Aunt Qinglan.”
Unwillingly, Dong Xiaoxiao muttered a greeting, “Hello, Aunt Qinglan.”
Liang Qinglan smiled warmly. “Just call me Aunt Lan. Your mom and I have been old friends for years.”
Dong Xiaoxiao gave a quiet “oh” and said no more.
Simply accompanying Hu Yunqin out today was already her limit.
She didn’t feel obligated to go out of her way to please anyone either.