Night Wanderer

What reasons might a modern person have for turning off their phone?

Mechanical failure, dead battery, being in an environment where it must be shut off—or simply not wanting to answer any calls.

Zong Ying fell into two of these categories: her battery had died, and to avoid the barrage of incoming calls, she deliberately didn’t charge it, letting it stay off.

Sheng Qingrang didn’t know the reason. Faced with the automated shutdown message, he could only dial the landline at Apartment 699 instead. The line rang for a long time, but no one picked up in the end.

He set the phone down, his gaze falling on the lonely nightscape with few people in sight—only cars speeding past each other on the deserted road. He had called only because of her words: "If you come back, no matter what, let me know." But now that this call to reassure her couldn’t get through, he had no choice but to let it go.

By the time Zong Ying drove to the hospital, it was already very late, and her grandmother’s test results had just come in.

Under the harsh white light of the examination room, the X-ray film clicked into place on the viewer. The doctor on duty studied it carefully before speaking to Zong Ying: "There’s a small amount of intracranial bleeding. Let’s admit her for observation—we can’t take falls lightly with elderly patients." After writing out the forms, she added, "Has she shown any symptoms of intermittent claudication?"

Zong Ying quickly recalled recent interactions. Her grandmother had indeed experienced some lower limb soreness, which she had dismissed as fatigue, so it hadn’t been taken seriously.

She answered, "A little."

The doctor finished writing and looked up. "If there are related symptoms, I recommend an MRA—magnetic resonance angiography—to rule out arteriosclerosis obliterans in the lower limbs. It doesn’t require contrast agents, so it’s a safe procedure. Here, sign this."

Zong Ying took the admission form and signed. The doctor glanced at the signature, and her expression shifted slightly—the name was familiar.

She then looked up at Zong Ying again, feeling an odd sense of recognition. But in the dead of night, her mind was sluggish, and she couldn’t quite place where she’d seen her before, so she refrained from asking outright.

After completing the admission procedures, Zong Ying returned to the ward to find her grandmother already asleep.

She sat down, staring blankly at the fluctuating numbers on the monitor, when suddenly the door to the ward was pushed open carefully.

Zong Ying snapped back to attention and turned to see Sheng Qiushi.

He carried a folding cot and was about to speak when Zong Ying raised a finger to her lips. He lowered his voice instead. "For overnight stays. Should I set it up for you?"

Zong Ying shook her head, so Sheng Qiushi leaned the cot against the wall and draped a blanket over it.

"If you’re tired, take a nap. There shouldn’t be any emergencies tonight."

"I’ll watch a little longer."

Both spoke cautiously, but the grandmother still stirred awake.

Zong Ying immediately stood to check on her. "How are you feeling now?"

Her grandmother half-opened her eyes and answered slowly, "Just a little dizzy, nothing serious. When did you get here?"

Zong Ying replied truthfully, "Half an hour ago." Then she added, "It’s my fault—I shouldn’t have left you alone at home."

Her grandmother couldn’t bear to see her self-reproach and said, "How could it be your fault? I was the one who wasn’t careful. And now I’ve dragged you into staying up all night." After a pause, she asked, "Did you settle that matter? What was his name again… Sheng…"

The elderly woman frowned, struggling to recall. "Sheng what?"

At that moment, Sheng Qiushi suddenly leaned forward. "Are you asking about me?"Grandma waved her hand dismissively, "No, no, not you."

Sheng Qiushi awkwardly took half a step back, glancing sideways at Zong Ying. But Zong Ying didn’t offer any explanation, instead bending down to coax her grandmother, "I’ll handle his matters properly. Don’t worry about it, just go back to sleep, alright?"

Seeing that Zong Ying wasn’t inclined to elaborate, and feeling genuinely tired, Grandma let it go, only adding, "You must get some sleep too, understand?"

Zong Ying softened her voice as she continued to reassure her, "I know, I’ll sleep right away."

With that, she unfolded the folding cot in front of her grandmother. Taking the hint, Sheng Qiushi tactfully stepped out. As he reached the doorway, the on-duty doctor happened to enter.

He greeted her, "Dr. Sun, here for rounds?" The doctor replied, "Yes, just checking in."

Dr. Sun walked straight to the bed and conducted a thorough examination before turning to Zong Ying with instructions, "There shouldn’t be any major issues, but keep an eye out tonight. If anything comes up, press the call button." She paused, then finally asked, "Have we met before? Did you visit my outpatient clinic?"

Zong Ying, who had been drowsy, suddenly jolted alert. Sheng Qiushi, who had been about to leave, turned back at this, while Grandma immediately questioned, "A-Ying, what were you seeing the doctor for?"

Zong Ying’s face tensed abruptly. Before Dr. Sun could say more, she interjected, "It’s nothing, just vascular migraines."

Dr. Sun glanced at her slightly pale complexion and seemed to grasp her intent to conceal the matter, playing along, "Right? Feeling any better now?"

Zong Ying exhaled quietly in relief, "Much better recently."

Sheng Qiushi, listening nearby, sensed something amiss. Why hadn’t Zong Ying mentioned visiting the hospital to him? It felt like she was deliberately keeping something from him.

He was about to ask her directly when Dr. Sun turned to him instead, "Earlier, I saw Nurse Yang from the ER looking for you. Didn’t she call?"

Sheng Qiushi patted his pockets, "I forgot my phone when I came up. I’ll go check."

Dr. Sun watched him leave before saying to Zong Ying, "By the way, there’s a form to fill out. Come with me for a moment."

Zong Ying knew this was just a pretext but followed her out of the ward nonetheless.

Some of the corridor lights had dimmed, casting a hazy half-light. The air conditioning was chilly, and the red digits on the wall clock flickered steadily. The sight of the clock made Zong Ying think of Sheng Qingrang again—had he made it back safely?

Dr. Sun called her name, snapping her out of her thoughts, and Zong Ying composed herself, urging her to speak plainly.

Dr. Sun grew serious, "Before coming here, I reviewed the imaging results from your previous exam. Did you not collect the report?"

Zong Ying pressed her lips together, answering, "No, I didn’t."

Ever the responsible professional, Dr. Sun continued, "Since you didn’t retrieve the report, we were supposed to contact you for further confirmation. But the phone number linked to your health card was incorrect—it didn’t go through." After a brief pause, she looked up and asked, "Do you know what your condition is?"

Zong Ying, exhausted, leaned half her weight against the wall, "I later went to the affiliated hospital for a DSA."

Just from her expression, Dr. Sun could guess the diagnosis, "Since you already have the results, why haven’t you undergone surgery?"

Zong Ying, as if chilled, sniffed slightly. In the dim light, she found herself opening up to a stranger, "The situation is complicated. If I rush into surgery, I’m afraid some things might become impossible to handle in time."

Dr. Sun clearly disapproved, "What could possibly be so urgent? You could always delegate those matters to your family."Zong Ying lowered her head, massaging her temples, her brows furrowed in silence.

Dr. Sun noticed her heavy anxiety, a clear sign of insecurity. "I'm sorry, do you... have any other relatives?"

Zong Ying looked up at her and sighed. "Yes, but we're not close anymore."

Undergoing a high-risk surgery alone, signing the consent forms by herself, with no one waiting outside the operating room for updates—it took immense courage, a loneliness not everyone could bear.

Dr. Sun reached out sympathetically, giving her a gentle pat.

Zong Ying straightened up and earnestly requested, "For now, I’d prefer if my grandmother and Dr. Sheng don’t find out about this."

Dr. Sun replied, "Protecting your privacy is no problem, but I suggest you proceed with the surgery as soon as you’ve settled your affairs. Don’t delay past October at the latest." She set a deadline, then glanced at the digital clock in the hallway. "Alright, it’s already midnight. Go get some rest."

Under Dr. Sun’s urging, Zong Ying returned to the ward.

Fortunately, her grandmother’s condition remained stable, and Zong Ying managed a full night’s sleep. Woken early by her alarm, she checked on her grandmother, then sat by the window in the morning light for a while before heading downstairs to buy breakfast.

Just as she stepped out of the hospital, she ran into her Aunt.

Aunt asked, "Here to visit Zong Yu?"

Zong Ying answered truthfully, "No, my grandmother is hospitalized."

Aunt was startled to hear her grandmother had returned and immediately probed, "When did she come back? Why is she suddenly in the hospital?"

Zong Ying didn’t want to elaborate and replied vaguely, "She returned at the end of last month," then excused herself with urgent matters and hurried off.

Aunt had wanted to press further, but Zong Ying slipped away too quickly, ignoring her calls.

On her way to the congee shop, Zong Ying passed a mobile service center. The front desk clerk, yawning from just starting her shift, perked up when she entered. "Hello, what can I help you with?"

Zong Ying pulled out her ID from her wallet and handed it over. "I need a new SIM card."

"Random number okay?" "Yes." "Please choose a plan." "The first one."

The clerk handed her the new card, then slid a promotional flyer toward her. "Need a new phone? There’s a special offer—monthly rebates if you bundle it with the new card."

It was just a sales attempt, but Zong Ying immediately agreed. "Fine."

Surprised by the easy sale, the clerk swiftly processed the phone purchase and handed her the new device. Zong Ying opened the packaging, took out the SIM ejector tool, inserted the new card, and with a soft click, powered it on.

After completing the setup, she quickly dialed a number. No one answered, and the voicemail prompted her to leave a message. She said, "Lawyer Zhang, if you need to reach me, please use this number for now."

Next, she called Xue Xuanqing, but the system announced the phone was off—likely out of battery.

Zong Ying checked the time. Three hours had passed since six in the morning. Outside the glass doors, sunlight blazed, and cicadas hummed from the plane trees.

She pushed open the door and went to the congee shop next door to buy breakfast. Meanwhile, Aunt entered her grandmother’s ward carrying a fruit basket.

Mistaking the visitor for Zong Ying, her grandmother sat up slightly, only to see Aunt instead.

Aunt set down the basket and put on a concerned expression. "I heard you were ill. As family, it’s only right I visit. Feeling any better now?"An uninvited guest is still a guest. After years apart, Grandma had no intention of making things awkward. To maintain surface harmony, she replied, "I'm still in decent health, no need to worry."

Aunt sat down. "Zong Ying went to buy breakfast, didn't she?"

Grandma said, "I don't know."

Aunt continued, "Why does she always act like this? Doesn't even say a word. Just now outside, she ran off before we finished talking—always in such a hurry, who knows what she's busy with? She never comes home, always buried in work. Zong Yu was hospitalized for two months after the accident, and his elder sister only visited once or twice. How can family relations become so cold? All these years since her mother left, we've cared about her, but she just keeps her distance. Though she'll listen to you, Grandma. Please talk some sense into her—throwing away shares like she's throwing a tantrum! If she needs money, she should just talk to her father. Now the whole family is caught off guard—it's very awkward!"

As she spoke, she checked stock prices on her phone. "Those were left to her by her mother, yet she sold them off just like that. How could she do such things? Don't you agree, Grandma?"

By now, Grandma understood her real purpose—using concern as a pretext to get her to discipline Zong Ying.

Grandma knew nothing about shares and had no intention of interfering with Zong Ying's decisions.

She stayed silent, hoping the other would take the hint and leave after finishing her piece.

But then Aunt suddenly answered a call. "Qinglin? Where are you? Yes, yes, I'm already at the hospital, with Zong Ying's grandma. She's hospitalized, so I came to visit. You're coming too? Room 1014, Bed 26."

Grandma's expression darkened. Aunt noticed her displeasure but assumed it was because she'd mentioned Yan Man.

After a pause, Aunt's tone softened slightly. "Grandma, about what happened with Xiaoman back then... it really wasn't handled well. When Qinglin arrives, let him apologize to you properly."

Grandma's throat tightened as if choked. After a long moment, she managed, "That bond is already severed. Best not bring it up again."

Her tone was forcibly polite, but Aunt pressed on. "No, no, apologies are necessary. After all, no one wanted things to end up that way. If Qinglin had been more understanding back then, if they hadn't fought over the divorce, Xiaoman might not have... Well, maybe things would be different now. Don't you think?"

Grandma clutched the bedsheet, the veins on her wrinkled hands bulging sharply. "Is that so?"

Aunt remained oblivious. "I'm not saying Xiaoman was wrong—I'm blaming Qinglin." At first glance, this sounded like taking responsibility, but in reality, it was another clumsy attempt at deflection, devoid of any sincerity.Grandma noticed the smirk tugging at Aunt’s lips, and instantly, the muscles in her back stiffened, the veins at her temples throbbing violently. “I said drop it,” she hissed, taking a deep breath and gripping the bedsheet tighter. “Xiao Man is gone. What good is an apology now? As for A-Ying—she’s an adult. Her affairs are her own responsibility. The shares her mother left her are hers to decide upon. You, me, and all those outsiders have no right to interfere.”

Her voice dropped to a whisper as she added, “Now, please leave.”

Aunt was momentarily stunned by the sudden outburst. She stood abruptly, her smile vanishing. “Grandma Zong, I came here today with genuine concern for you.”

Grandma’s breathing grew increasingly labored, the numbers on the bedside monitor spiking as her blood pressure soared dangerously close to the alarm threshold. Just then, the door burst open—

Zong Ying strode in with breakfast, hastily setting down the food container. Her eyes flicked to the monitor before she turned to Grandma. “Breathe in. Don’t rush. Slowly now. Breathe out.”

Keeping one eye on Grandma’s pallor and the other on the monitor, Zong Ying finally exhaled in relief. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Aunt still rooted in place, showing no intention of leaving.

Sensing Aunt was about to speak again, Zong Ying swiftly stepped forward, grabbed her arm, and wordlessly dragged her out of the room.

They barely made it into the hallway before Aunt wrenched herself free, her voice rising sharply. “Zong Ying, what’s gotten into you? I came here out of goodwill to see your grandmother. Was this really necessary?”

Zong Ying was furious that Aunt had upset Grandma. Her eyes were bloodshot, but she kept her voice tightly controlled. “Goodwill that sends her blood pressure skyrocketing? Grandma needs rest. I won’t allow anyone to disturb her.”

Aunt, incensed by the open defiance, fired back even louder. “I came here because of you!” Her gaze raked over Zong Ying, eyes blazing with fury. “Dumping stocks without a word, ignoring everyone’s calls—even your father’s! Who do you think you are? Who can rein you in besides your grandmother?”

Zong Ying clenched her jaw. Suddenly, Aunt pointed behind her and snapped, “Your father’s here! Go on, talk to him!” Her eyes shifted past Zong Ying to Zong Qinglin approaching down the hall. “Qinglin, take a good look at your daughter. She’s becoming more unruly by the day—utterly disrespectful!”

Zong Ying’s fists tightened, her breaths ragged. Zong Qinglin walked up, but she refused to turn or acknowledge him.

“Why didn’t you answer my call yesterday?” he demanded.

Silence.

“I told you to stop selling immediately. Why didn’t you listen?”

Silence.

“What exactly is going through your head? What do you want?”

Silence.

Zong Qinglin’s temper flared. “You’re just as unreasonable as your mother!”

Zong Ying drew a sharp breath, each word deliberate. “Answering calls is my choice. Selling shares breaks no rules—that’s my choice too. You’ve never cared what I think or want, so why ask now? And my mother—unreasonable?”

Aunt froze momentarily before sputtering, “Zong Ying! Don’t get too full of yourself. You’re still part of this family on paper!”

A nurse hurried over to mediate, plunging the scene into chaos.Zong Ying suddenly felt a moment of dizziness, a sharp ringing piercing deep in her ears. Instinctively, she grabbed the corridor's crash bar for support just as Sheng Qiushi strode toward her.

Fifteen minutes earlier, he had logged into the PACS terminal in the examination room, conducting a fuzzy search to pull up Zong Ying's medical scans.

He had come looking for Zong Ying, only to stumble upon this absurd scene.

Driven by the professional instinct to prioritize patients, Sheng Qiushi finally lost his patience. "Zong Yu is a patient, but isn't Zong Ying one too?" he snapped. "Can't you show her some consideration?! Right now—"