The Sweet Rival (Mango Shen and Nathaniel Ye)

Mango and Nathaniel were both stunned for a moment.

"What are you waiting for? Nanny Zhang is dying. She has been sent from prison to the hospital. Let's go and have a look. There's still a burning pain in Mango's throat. Perhaps the treatment lacks a certain type of herb, and we still need Nanny Zhang."

Upon hearing Noah's words, Nathaniel reacted quickly.

He grabbed Mango's hand and rushed quickly to the hospital.

When they arrived at the hospital, Nanny Zhang was in the middle of emergency resuscitation. The lights in the emergency room made Nathaniel feel depressed.

Nanny Zhang played a huge role in his life. From childhood to adulthood, she did her part as a mother. Although she couldn't make up for what she had done wrong, Nathaniel was thinking about how good Nanny Zhang had once been to him at that moment.

Now he couldn't believe that Nanny Zhang was dying soon.

She was only in her fifties, she was still so young.

Was this karma?

Mango held Nathaniel's hand tightly. At this moment, any words of comfort would seem feeble to him and she didn't want to think of any either.

The reason why she was here was that she was worried about Nathaniel. Nanny Zhang mentioned earlier that she had poisoned Nathaniel, but she didn't know whether it was true or not. Zion followed along and quietly waited behind Noah.

As time went by, Nathaniel's heart suddenly skipped a beat when the lights in the emergency room went out.

The doctor opened the door and came out.

"Doctor, how is it going?"

Noah anxiously inquired.

The doctor shook his head and said, "We've tried our best, but her cancer has already spread. You can go in to see her, but you have to be prepared for her funeral."

Everyone was mentally prepared for such a result, except Nathaniel.

He had just woken up and still hadn't figured out many things. Why was she dying all of a sudden?

Mango saw him standing there in a daze. She couldn't help but push him. She said: "Go in and take a look at her."

Nathaniel looked at Mango. He felt that it wasn't good for him to see Nanny Zhang as he was afraid that Mango would feel uneasy. However, if he didn't look go in and take a look at her, he might feel remorseful in the future.

After all, that woman had raised him since he was a child.

"Go ahead. I'm fine."

Mango knew very well what Nathaniel was thinking in his heart. She smiled.

Nathaniel nodded and entered the emergency room.

He felt that his feet were heavy as if they'd been bound with concrete.

When Nathaniel saw Nanny Zhang again, he couldn't believe that the woman in front of him was her, who was once invincible.

Nanny Zhang who was using a respirator, was surprised to see Nathaniel. However, joy coloured her features.

God was kind to her and He allowed her to see her son wake up before she died.

Nanny Zhang waved to Nathaniel.

Nathaniel came to her side and sat down.

He grasped her hand.

Nanny Zhang's hands used to be soft and tender, but now they were only skin and bones with protruding joints.

"Why didn't you think of a way to tell me that you're ill?"

Nathaniel's voice was a little choked up.

At this moment, he would rather forget those evil things which were done by her. He was still willing to believe that she was still his mother who loved him very much.

Nanny Zhang's eyes suddenly became moist.

She had always been in Nathaniel's heart.

She finally understood it at that moment.

Although her son looked so cold and insufferably arrogant, his heart was still soft.

Nanny Zhang held Nathaniel's hand tightly and said weakly, "I'm sorry, Nathan. I'm really sorry. I've made too many mistakes. This is God's punishment for me. I know that this is my ending, and I don't blame anyone for it. The only thing that I feel sorry for is that I didn't bring happiness and good memories to you and Zion. Having a mother like me is a lifelong embarrassment to you. After I die, please cremate me and scatter my ashes wherever you like. I can neither enter the Ye family's ancestral graves, nor can I get your forgiveness. Let me drift around like a stray ghost. This is what I deserve."

"Nonsense. You can't enter the ancestral grave of the Ye family, but I will give you a proper burial. Don't worry, I will visit you. Although you have done evil deeds and hurt many innocent people, I've owed you a great deal since I was a child. You raised me, but I failed to let you enjoy your golden years. It's my fault."

Nathaniel's eyes were also moist.

Nanny Zhang shook her head and said, "It's none of your business. I brought it upon myself. I let the hatred blindsided me. If you really want to find a grave for me, you can take me home. I've been away from home for many years, and I had almost forgotten how it is like. Just because of my feud, it cost me my life, my children, and even my grandchildren. This kind of revenge is meaningless, but unfortunately, I repented too late."

"It's not too late. As long as you repent, you will still be my mother."

Tears kept sliding down Nanny Zhang's cheeks.

"Did you know that I've been waiting for you and Nick to call me "mother" for many years? Once, I really wanted to let go of all my hatred and just be with the both of you. However, Isla forced me to do it. I couldn't do anything. I was completely blindsided by hatred later on. I saw you calling her "mother" every day and I couldn't stand it when I saw Nick treating her so respectfully. When I was pregnant, my morning sickness was very strong. I threw up until both of you were born. I couldn't eat properly and couldn't sleep every day. I held my quilt in pain and cried all night long. I worked so hard to give birth to you both. How could I leave you two behind later?"

Nanny Zhang cried so hard that she could hardly open her mouth.

Nathaniel didn't feel good either.

His tears quietly rolled down his cheeks.

"No worries, it's all over."

"I know it's not over. In both your hearts, those things that I did are yet to be forgiven. I abandoned my children and grandchildren for my people. I did what I needed for my tribe, but I've neglected you all. Now that I'm dying, I wouldn't dare beg for your forgiveness. I just hope that all of you will live happily together in the future. Just let me bear all the misfortunes and tribulations."

"Cut it out."

Nathaniel was feeling even more uneasy as he

listened.

"Let me talk or I'll have no more chance. Nathan, I told Mango that I've given you a slow- acting poison. It was just a lie. I'm dying soon and you're my only son. How could I poison you? I did this just to meet Zion and Rita. I knew she wouldn't forgive me and wouldn't bring my grandchildren to see me. That's why I told her so. Ask her not to hate me please."

"That won't happen. Mango is very kind. She won't blame you."

Nathaniel turned his face away and felt extremely upset.

Nanny Zhang coughed, and Nathaniel quickly patted her back to help her catch her breath. However, he felt even gloomier when he saw Nanny Zhang cough out blood.

He could not believe that this was happening.

He had already lost Nick and Isla. Was he going to lose his birth mother also?

From now onwards, he was truly alone.

Nanny Zhang coughed up a mouthful of blood, which eased her slightly.

She held Nathaniel's hand tightly and said weakly, "Although Mango can speak, her vocal cords are seriously damaged. Even acupuncture can't completely cure her. She will feel terrible aching as if knives are stabbing her throat if she speaks a word. If this pain is not eradicated entirely, it will follow her for a lifetime. Nathan, there's a plant in my hometown which can cure her. This grass is called blue nymph grass and it grows next to damp graves. I have no time to return and search for it for her. You must remember to take her to my hometown and cure her throat after I die."

"Alright."

"Also, your nerve pain needs acupuncture for a long time. Don't be lazy and stop. Otherwise, if the condition takes hold, you won't be able to stand it when you get old." "That's right."

"I've nothing to pass down for Zion and Rita. If anyone of them wants to study medicine in the future, I have an ancestral medical tome. Remember to give it to them, and it is placed in my hometown's ancestra temple. This is the only thing I can leave behind forthem."

Nanny Zhang kept yammering, but her eyes had begun to lose focus.

Nathaniel felt very upset in his heart.

"Stop it and have a rest."

"I can't rest now, if I did, I would be resting forever. Let me say a few more words instead. Nathan, to be honest, I used to love your father.

After all, no woman would give birth for a man she didn't love. It's just that my feelings for your father are too complicated. I would rather believe that I hated him."

"I know."

Nathaniel now somewhat understood Nanny Zhang's thoughts.

Nanny Zhang lived a tragic life. She had been dominated by hatred for her entire existence, and thus she'd missed out on a lot of important moments.

Nanny Zhang looked at Nathaniel and wanted to touch his face with her hand, but she was too exhausted forthat.

Nathaniel quickly put her hand on his face.

"Do I look thinner than before?"

"Yeah, you look thinner. How can you get fat without me taking care of you? Nathan, you gotta take good care of yourself after I die. Please forget me as well. Just pretend that you never had a mother like me. You are Isla's son, her eldest son, and the only heir of the Ye Family. Furthermore, you're the pride of the people in Ocean City. You should never have a mother like me."

After Nanny Zhang finished her words, there was a bitter smile at the corner of her mouth. Her shriveled hand suddenly slipped down, and her eyes closed slowly and stayed that way forever.

"Mom, Mom-"

Nathaniel finally called out, but Nanny Zhang could no longer hear it.

She closed her eyes and ended her sad and tragic life.

Nathaniel held her hand and cried silently.

Right now, he seemed like a dispirited child who had lost everything after losing his mother.

He had never thought that there would be such a day. Never!

Tears spilled from the corners of Nanny Zhang's eyes.

It was hard to say if she had heard Nathaniel's shout, or if she was unwilling to part with this world. In any case, she would never wake up again.