Chapter 48

“What are you afraid of? You’re so tough,” Lin Yuxi retorted confidently. “I’ve been cursing you for so long, and you’re still fine.” 

She still had patient records to complete, so she turned to leave after speaking. Zhou Yanjing, in no good mood, barked, “Come back!” 

He grabbed Lin Yuxi’s arm, his gaze falling to her leg. “Where did you hit yourself? Go get it checked out.” 

Lin Yuxi pulled her arm away. “No need for your concern. I’ll take care of it myself.” 

Zhou Yanjing watched her cold and unfeeling figure as she walked away without looking back. His pent-up frustration had nowhere to go, so he laughed in exasperation. 

“Ungrateful!” 

As he retracted his gaze, he noticed Tan Xingchen’s wheelchair parked against the wall. She had been sitting there quietly, pretending to be invisible, with only her eyes darting around. 

Zhou Yanjing asked, “Why are you still here?” 

“Uh.” The once-arrogant Tan Xingchen now shrank back cautiously, her neck turtling into her shoulders. “I didn’t hear anything. I’m deaf.” 

Zhou Yanjing, having just helped Lin Yuxi, didn’t find her as annoying as before. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and gave her a cold, sidelong glance. “Next time, fight your own battles.” 

Tan Xingchen replied meekly, “Okay.” 

Lin Yuxi’s entire knee was swollen and bruised, looking quite alarming. However, after inspecting it, she thought it wasn’t too serious. Once she finished her work, she went to orthopedics for an X-ray. 

There wasn’t much of a problem. It was just swollen like a loaf of bread and a bit painful, so she had to walk slowly. 

After getting some medication, as she passed by a private hospital room, the door opened, and she ran into Ling Yaqiong. She had originally intended to call her “Mom,” but after some thought, given the current situation, she decided “Auntie” would be more appropriate. 

“Hello, Aunt Ling.” 

Ling Yaqiong probably already knew Lin Yuxi had moved out. When she heard this form of address, she simply nodded faintly. 

Holding a hospital water bottle, Ling Yaqiong and Zhou Yanjing were both at the hospital, probably visiting someone. Lin Yuxi casually asked, “Are you here visiting a patient?” 

Ling Yaqiong replied, “Nan Nan hurt her leg, so I came to see her.” 

“Oh,” Lin Yuxi murmured. She hadn’t known Jiang Nan was hospitalized here. 

At that moment, Jiang Nan’s voice came from inside the room, “Auntie, there’s no need for you to trouble yourself. It’s not right for a senior to care for a junior like this. I feel bad about it. If my mom knew, she’d definitely scold me. Please let me take the bottle; I can get water myself.” 

Ling Yaqiong turned back and scolded, “Lie down! Doesn’t your wound hurt?” 

Though her tone was stern, it was full of genuine concern. 

To Lin Yuxi’s surprise, the once regal and graceful Mrs. Zhou was now looking after someone, fetching water for a patient.  

This kind of care and attention was something Lin Yuxi had never received. 

Seeing the medication in Lin Yuxi’s hand, Ling Yaqiong asked, “Are you not feeling well?” 

“It’s nothing, just a bump on my leg,” Lin Yuxi said. “I should get back to work now.” 

After leaving the hospital, Ling Yaqiong approached the car. Old Liu held the door open as she bent to get in. Zhou Yanjing was already inside, legs crossed, glancing at the stock market on his tablet. 

Old Liu shielded the car door as Ling Yaqiong sat inside. 

“Nan Nan was asking about you just now. You had time to look at stocks, but couldn’t visit her?” Ling Yaqiong chided. 

Without looking up, Zhou Yanjing replied, “She’s not a prisoner. Even if she were, with an injured leg, she wouldn’t be going anywhere. Why do two people need to watch over her?” 

“The accident was caused by your driver. You’re fully responsible. Shouldn’t you at least show some courtesy?” 

“I paid the medical bills, bought supplements, arranged for the best wound recovery expert, and you and Dad even sent over two sets of antiques as an apology. What else can I do to show courtesy?” 

Zhou Yanjing added flippantly, “Should I slice my knee, get a few stitches, and offer that as an apology to balance things out?” 

“And when that’s done, make sure Jiang Nan’s family returns those antiques. My place is looking a bit empty, could use something to fill it.” 

Ling Yaqiong sighed in frustration. “Your mouth! Who taught you to talk like that?” 

She paused and then changed the subject. “How are the divorce papers with Yuxi coming along?” 

“Why are you so eager?” Zhou Yanjing asked. 

“Why do you think? You two have been dragging this divorce out for months. It’s still not done.” 

“Divorce isn’t as simple as grabbing a meal. With my assets, the lawyers have to be thorough.” Zhou Yanjing’s tone was indifferent. “You were the one who wanted me to get married, and now you’re rushing me to divorce.” 

Ling Yaqiong didn’t like that. “It wasn’t me who wanted you to get married. It was your grandmother’s idea.” 

“But you’re the one who sacrificed me, aren’t you?” 

Ling Yaqiong fell silent. 

Zhou Yanjing lifted his gaze, his lips curving with a hint of sharp mockery. “In your eyes, my brother’s marriage couldn’t be sacrificed, but mine could.” 

Ling Yaqiong’s face was hard to read, filled with a kind of sadness. “Yanjing, that’s not what I meant.” 

“If that’s not what you meant, then what did you mean?” 

Zhou Yanjing’s tone was calm but cutting. “Hasn’t it always been like this? To you and Dad, my brother is the most important. Only he can inherit the Zhou family business. I’m not worthy.” 

“It’s not like that…” Ling Yaqiong furrowed her brows deeply and sighed after a long pause. She reached for his hand. 

 “I know asking you to marry Yuxi was unfair to you, and now that you’re separating, things are returning to how they should be. 

 During this time, I’ve been talking with Jiang Nan’s family, and they’ve agreed to you two being together. Once you and Yuxi finalize things, I’ll talk with her mother, and we can…” 

Zhou Yanjing let out a dry laugh. “So you’ve already lined up my next match.” 

“Looks like even though I’ll be divorced, Jiang Nan’s family isn’t too concerned. Eager to arrange a marriage even before I finish signing the papers.” 

He tossed the tablet aside and asked sharply, “Tell me, how much did you promise them for them to be so willing to sell their daughter?” 

“Watch your mouth!” Ling Yaqiong reprimanded him. “You’ve known Nan Nan since childhood, and I know how you two feel about each other.  

You’ve made such a fuss these past few years, chasing her all the way to the U.S. You wanted to be with her. I’m just trying to help make that happen.” 

“Spare me.” 

Zhou Yanjing’s expression suddenly became cold and disinterested. “From now on, don’t interfere in my life.”