Chapter 6: Agony of the Living 2
Mother Li has three children, Li Wei, Li Ran, and Li Junting. When Li Wei and Li Junting were born she felt extremely joyous.
Oddly enough, when Li Ran was born, she felt extremely complicated, she felt a little happy but at the same time, there was a feeling of being at a loss.
She felt as if Li Ran is a stranger and not a daughter. Maybe because her husband's family is disappointed that she is not a son that she too felt a sense of denial.
She gets moody whenever she looked at Li Ran, that is why she hired a nanny to take care of her.
Father Li is always busy at work, he never usually pays attention to what happens at home.
He always brings dolls at home but since Li Ran is too young Li Wei always took the dolls away.
Mother Li frowned but Li Wei will always tell her "I'll give them back when she can play it with me."
As time goes by, Mother Li felt the distance between her and Li Ran but she became too busy with caring about Li Junting.
But as Li Ran grows up, Mother Li started to appreciate Li Ran's maturity. She never misbehaves and is always understanding of her siblings.
Mother Li started to become dependent on this mature Li Ran. She always thought that Li Ran is someone she and her family can depend on.
That feeling became stronger when Li Wei married early. She is a little upset about her eldest daughter but she married a good family so she just closed one eye.
She felt Li Ran is better and always cared for them. Li Ran always gave her a sense of security, and stability. She never has to worry about Li
Ran since she could always take care of herself even when she was young.
Her grades had always been good and she never has to scold her about anything. Instead, she became more worried about her youngest son.
Li Ran had always been there to help Junting but as a mother, her wish is for Junting to become successful like Li Ran.
Li Ran has always been understanding of her and Junting that is why she is surprised that Li Ran won't help Junting. If she can't help his brother then who else would help Junting?
She never wanted to argue with Li Ran but she is upset and said a few harsh words to Li Ran. It was true that the Li elders do not want another granddaughter but she is a mother, how can she not want her child?
She stood her ground that she will not abort the child and she never regretted her decision. Even Father Li told her once that he is glad Li Ran is born.
She also wants what is good for her daughter, so when Jun Minghao called her she was shocked. She scolded Minghao but saw his sincerity and remorse.
She was not unmoved and also thinks Jun Minghao is a good match for her, so she went to talk to Li Ran. Sadly, it ended with another fight. She does not want to continue fighting with Li Ran, so she walked out to give them both time to calm down.
Thinking about it, Li Ran has every right to decide for herself. She can't force her to accept her reasonings, she had said her piece, and whether she accepts Minghao or not is Li Ran's decision. She as a mother can only support Li Ran's decision.
She made up her mind to tell Li Ran the next time they meet that she could do whatever she wants. She will support her; now that she thinks about it, she never told Li Ran such words. Li Ran is self-supportive that she never needed such words.
She should apologize to Li Ran, maybe cook her favorite food. She always liked her Buttered shrimp and Corn soup. She would make it for her tonight as a peace offering. It has been so long since she cooked for Li Ran.
Mother Li went to the supermarket to buy ingredients. She went home and started to get busy. When she finished cooking, she packed them nicely and went back to Li Ran's home.
Outside her apartment, Mother Li knocked on the door. No one answered, she frowned and hesitatingly took out her spare key. She bit her lip and opened the door and went in.
She went to the kitchen and took out her packed food and began to plate them nicely. It felt nice to finally be able to do something for her most successful daughter.
She took out some side dishes she packed from home and decided to put them on the fridge first. When she opened the fridge she only saw water bottles inside and no food nor any ingredients that can be used to cook food.
Mother Li frowned and shook her head. 'This girl must be too busy to replenish her supplies.' She then opened her cabinets to look at the things inside and she saw a lot of packets of noodles.
Mother Li frowned even more, 'How could she only eat this? It's not good for her health.'
She continued to look around and she suddenly felt lonely. 'How could her house feel lonely.'
She went to Li Ran's bedroom and saw a bit of clutter and an unmade bed. She went inside and started to clean up. When she was organizing the side table she saw a bunch of medicines.
Mother Li is surprised, she looked at the medicine one by one and saw that there are sleeping pills, and some other pills she does not recognize.
She quickly pulled out her phone and started searching for the names of the pills.
She was even more startled to know that they are pills for anxiety and depression. She rummaged more on the cabinet and saw the prescription.
She quickly took the address on the prescription and went out of Li Ran's house to go to the doctor who signed on the prescription.
When she reached the hospital, she quickly went to the office of the doctor signed. Fortunately, the doctor is already seeing her final patient, and when she told her name the assistant told her the doctor wishes to see her as well.
She waited for some time before she was invited to the doctor's office.
Upon entering, Dr. Pei motioned Mother Li to sit.
Dr. Pei did not wait for Mother Li to speak, she spoke first. "I finally get to meet Ms. Li's guardian. I told her many times to bring her parents here. Her condition is not something she could overcome alone. She needs family support."
Mother Li felt her throat go dry. "What is wrong with my Ranran?"
Dr. Pei stared at Mother Li and sighed. "Ms. Li is diagnosed with major depressive disorder, there is also a manifestation of anxiety and fear of being abandoned."
Mother Li sharply inhaled her breath. Her hands trembled and tightly clenched her fist. "How did this happen?"
Dr. Pei looked at Mother Li. "It has been years since I started treating Ms. Li. She was still in university back then. But her depression manifested earlier than that, fortunately, she sought treatment before her self harm and thoughts of suicide got worse."
Mother Li widened her eyes "S.. suicide?"
Dr. Pei continued her detailed explanation of the sickness and finally, she said: "Mrs. Li, it may look like she is doing much better but I am afraid that if a trigger is pulled it may cause irreversible consequences. She never resolved the root of her depression and she never fully opened up to me. Her mental shield is both strong and fragile. It is strong because she can resist telling me or others her problem and she can continue to look strong in front of others. But that makes her mental constitution fragile, with just a wrong misstep she might break. And honestly, I cannot go into further details on our conversations but as a doctor, I think what she needs most is family support. Make her feel that her family is there for her and loves her."
Mother Li is stunned by all the information. "Are you saying she does not feel loved?"
Dr. Pei sighed "I am not in the position to tell you that, but you should know how you and your family interact. In all the years she had been consulting me, this is the first time I met a family member and I will tell you what I tell all the family members of my other patients. Familial love is the greatest medicine one can give to a patient. I already told you what I can tell you, the mother of the patient, the rest is up to you and your family."
Mother Li walked out of the office in a daze. She sat in the lobby for a while trying to absorb all the things she heard. She never thought that things could turn like this. She never saw clues, she never saw because she never looked. She just knew she could rely on Li Ran but never thought that she too needed someone to rely on. She paled at the thought that currently, Li Ran felt betrayed by Minghao.
She stood up and drove back to Li Ran's apartment. She called Li Ran's phone no one answered. She tried calling again and again until someone did answer. But it was not what she was expecting. "Hello, the owner of the phone had an accident please go to this hospital..."
Mother Li felt as if she was pushed into hell, she was trembling, she called her husband, and he frantically told her to stay put and he will fetch her and they will go to the hospital. She made a few more calls before she sat there in a daze. "Ranran... Ranran... my Ranran." She sobbed like crazy. "Mother loves you... don't leave us!" She cried as Father Li came and they went to the hospital hoping for a miracle.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone