Ji Xuan was a handsome man, with chiseled features and sun-kissed skin, the color of health.

Probably due to his time in the military, he had remained tan since his exposure to the sun, and never fully regained his fair complexion. But it didn’t matter—Ji Xuan was naturally good-looking, and though his features were sharp, they never appeared feminine.

His hair was short, a style he had kept after transitioning from soldier to businessman, giving him a more polished, commanding presence.

Standing in his office like a king, Ji Xuan waited for a while before calling Ban Zhenye in with the phone.

As Ji Xuan’s chief secretary, Ban Zhenye was responsible for managing his every need.

But when she heard his request, she paused for a moment, then asked, “Mr. Ji, you want to speak with Miss Xiao?”

Ji Xuan nodded heavily, his expression weighed down. Ban Zhenye couldn’t help but offer some advice, saying, “President Ji, since you’re already divorced, why bother going to see her? If Miss Xiao clings to you again, it might cause unnecessary trouble in your life. For your daughter’s sake, perhaps you should reconsider.”

Ji Xuan’s face took on a look that clearly said, “You don’t understand!” He replied, “She’s still Xiaoyu’s mother. Since she called, I should at least go see her.” He didn’t mention at all that it was because he had been threatened.

Since Ji Xuan had already made up his mind, Ban Zhenye knew her place and didn’t try to dissuade him further. She simply nodded and said, “Understood.” Then she left to make the necessary arrangements, including preparing the car for their departure.

Meanwhile, Ji Xuan changed into a fresh set of clothes in the lounge, fuming inwardly: How dare she threaten me! I won’t let this slide!

Ban Zhenye immediately called Xiao Yu to ask where she was. Xiao Yu smiled faintly and told her, “Central City Hospital.”

Ban Zhenye was momentarily stunned and asked, “Why are you at the hospital?”

Xiao Yu chuckled. “Miss Ban, what else would I be doing at a hospital? Do you usually stroll around hospitals for fun when you have nothing better to do?”

Ban Zhenye was left speechless. She had held a high-ranking position for a long time and was used to issuing commands to other secretaries. It had been ages since anyone dared to talk back to her, so Xiao Yu’s blunt response caught her completely off guard, leaving her at a loss for words.

Only after Xiao Yu hung up did Ban Zhenye snap out of it, frowning as she pondered. Why does she seem different somehow? Then she shrugged it off. She’s been cast aside for four years. No way she’s still the same person she used to be.

After waiting downstairs for a while, Ban Zhenye saw Ji Xuan come down, now dressed in a sharp, well-fitted suit.

“President Ji, she’s at Central City Hospital. She might be sick. Should we bring your daughter along as well?”

Ji Xuan thought for a moment, then shook his head. “We don’t know what’s going on yet. Let’s check it out first.”

Ban Zhenye had no objections. After all, Xiao Yu had never been much of a mother. Without further comment, she instructed the driver to set off.

Xiao Yu and Xiao Ruoguang waited until nearly lunchtime, but Ji Xuan still hadn’t arrived.

Xiao Ruoguang sat eagerly at the edge of the bed, staring expectantly toward the door. When he noticed that the clock’s hands had reached the spot where the nurse had said lunchtime would begin, he thought to himself: It’s time to eat lunch now.

Realizing this, Xiao Ruoguang took off his shoes, climbed onto the bed, and carefully moved past his mother to reach her pillow. He pulled out his small bag and looked inside, only to discover that the one-yuan coins the nurse had taught him to count had dwindled to just one.

Xiao Ruoguang started counting on his fingers, recalling how the food vendor had told him that a bowl of rice cost one yuan, a serving of vegetables cost three yuan, and the soup was free. He carefully calculated twice before confirming that he would need to bring four yuan with him.

Xiao Ruoguang hadn’t started preschool yet and didn’t really know how to do math. His finger-counting skills were thanks to the kind nurse who had patiently taught him. Besides, the vendors at the hospital weren’t likely to cheat him—after all, what was the point of tricking a three-year-old out of a couple of coins?

Bit by bit, Xiao Ruoguang had learned to perform simple addition and subtraction using his fingers, even if he was a little slow.

Seeing him counting so seriously, Xiao Yu turned her head and smiled at him. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Let’s ask Daddy to treat us to lunch later.”

Xiao Ruoguang turned to look at her, blinking his large eyes. “Really?” he asked.

Xiao Yu nodded confidently. “Really.”

And so, the two of them waited expectantly until noon. It wasn’t until the clock struck twelve that Ji Xuan and Ban Zhenye finally entered the hospital room, just barely avoiding being outrageously late.

The moment they saw Xiao Yu, both of them were visibly stunned. Xiao Yu wasn’t the type of woman with striking, glamorous features, but there was no denying that she was beautiful. She had a baby face—a soft, youthful face—and, on top of that, she was quite petite.

Now, however, that once delicate face had grown pale and gaunt, with hollowed cheeks and brittle, yellowish hair. Her lips were dry and cracked, though her eyes still sparkled with a sharp, lively glint.

As she lay there on the hospital bed, her gaze drifted lazily toward the door, and when her eyes landed on Ji Xuan and Ban Zhenye, the faint, indifferent look she gave them made them both feel a pang of guilt. Seeing her in such a sorry state, they suddenly felt ashamed for having assumed she had some hidden agenda. She was clearly struggling—how could they have been so cynical?

Just as they were reflecting on this, Xiao Yu’s dry, cracked lips parted slightly, and she uttered a blunt, matter-of-fact sentence: “You’re finally here. Go buy me some lunch—I’m starving.”

Ji Xuan: “…”

Ban Zhenye: “…”

Ji Xuan casually instructed Ban Zhenye to go get the food. Before she could leave, Xiao Yu, still lying on the bed, called out loudly, “Buy extra! Enough for two!”

As Ban Zhenye walked out, she mused to herself: Well, at least she’s finally thoughtful enough to get something for President Ji. Seems like life outside hasn’t been easy—she might’ve learned some manners after all.

Meanwhile, Ji Xuan sat down at the bedside, looking at Xiao Yu with a frown. “What happened to you?”

Xiao Yu tried to struggle a bit, wriggling her body twice, but when she found she truly couldn’t move, she fixed her gaze on Ji Xuan and said, “What do you think?”

Ji Xuan raised an eyebrow, letting out a cold laugh. “What, are you paralyzed now?”

Xiao Yu smiled lightly and said, “Yep!” She wasn’t too bothered by it—after all, it wasn’t permanent, and she knew she’d recover.

Ji Xuan: “…” He stared at her in stunned silence for over ten seconds before finally giving her another skeptical look and asking, “Seriously?”

Xiao Yu tilted her head slightly and responded with a faint smirk, “Can’t you tell? Look, I can’t move anything except my head.”

Ji Xuan scolded, “You’re paralyzed, and you’re still smiling?!”

He pulled back the blanket at the foot of the bed and, sure enough, saw Xiao Yu’s legs lying limply, the muscles already slightly atrophied.

Xiao Yu grinned smugly. “See? I wasn’t lying.”

Ji Xuan was speechless. “What exactly are you so proud of?!”

He rubbed his forehead, feeling exhausted just talking to her. It wasn’t the first time she’d worn him out—he’d been frustrated by her plenty in the past—but this felt different. Before, it was pure exasperation; now, it was a mix of frustration and confusion, like dealing with two completely different types of aggravation.

“What happened? How did you end up paralyzed? And what do you want from me?” Ji Xuan asked, figuring that since she was Xiaoyu’s mother, lending a hand in a situation like this was the right thing to do.

Xiao Yu blinked at him with wide eyes that were eerily similar to Xiao Ruoguang’s. “Oh, I got hit by a car. Broke some bones—snapped my cervical spine, too. The doctors said I’m paralyzed. The compensation money’s all spent. Tragic, right?”

Without thinking, Ji Xuan nodded. “Yeah… that’s pretty tragic.”

Xiao Yu casually said, “Then lend me some money!”

Ji Xuan didn’t hesitate and asked, “How much?”

Xiao Yu thought for a moment and replied, “Go ask the doctor how much the rehab will cost.”

Ji Xuan gave her a surprised look. “You don’t need anything else?”

Xiao Yu shook her head and said with a mockingly “melancholy” tone, “I’m already a useless person. What else would I need…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Xiao Ruoguang came back carrying a bedpan and cheerfully called out, “Mommy, I’m back! Is Daddy here yet?”

Ji Xuan: “…”

Xiao Yu: “…”

The moment Ji Xuan laid eyes on Xiao Ruoguang, he immediately understood the child’s origins. There was no doubt about it—Xiao Ruoguang looked exactly like Ji Xuan when he was a child.

Just as Ban Zhenye returned from outside, carrying takeout boxes, she heard Ji Xuan’s furious roar echoing from Room 506: “Whose child is this?!”

Xiao Yu turned to Xiao Ruoguang with a shrug and said, “See? I told you, baby—he’s angry.”

Ban Zhenye: “…”

=^_^=