Chapter 72

It was almost five in the afternoon and the sky was getting dark. Jiang Suihan was torn between going home to eat first and then bringing food to Xu Zhao, or waiting a little longer as perhaps her mother-in-law was already on her way to the hospital.

Xu Zhao glanced at Jiang Suihan and said, “You should go eat first. Don’t come back tonight. There are nurses here. Let my mom bring dinner.”

Jiang Suihan didn’t respond immediately. Noticing his odd expression, she asked, “What’s wrong? Did the wound open up again?”

Xu Zhao’s face showed a hint of embarrassment. After some hesitation, he admitted, “I drank too much milk and need to use the restroom.”

After drinking two large cups of milk and a small additional cup of water, his bladder was about to burst.

Jiang Suihan blushed and scolded him, “If you need to go to the bathroom, just go. Why are you telling me?”

Xu Zhao felt exhausted. Did she forget he had just undergone surgery last night and still had wounds?

“Help me find someone to assist me outside. It should be a man.”

Jiang Suihan smacked her forehead in frustration, mentally chastising herself for forgetting such an important detail, feeling a bit sad, and worried such things might continue happening.

At this time, the hospital staff was either out for dinner or busy with other tasks, and the hallway was mostly empty. There were female nurses but no male doctors.

Jiang Suihan searched outside but couldn’t find anyone. After a few moments of hesitation, she said, “I’ll help.”

Xu Zhao looked at her with some hesitation.

Jiang Suihan, feeling annoyed, snapped, “Are you dissatisfied with me helping you? Hurry up, I’m starving. It’s not like I haven’t seen this before.”

Initially, she didn’t think it was a big deal, but seeing Xu Zhao’s embarrassed and uncomfortable expression made her question whether she was being too casual and lacking the proper modesty.

Xu Zhao’s mouth twitched. Fine, if she didn’t feel awkward, he didn’t need to be overly sensitive.

The restroom was at the end of the hallway, a five- to six-minute walk.

Jiang Suihan guided Xu Zhao by placing one of his arms over her shoulder. Xu Zhao tried not to lean on her too much. Despite gaining a bit of weight from good care over the past two months, she still looked a bit thin.

Fortunately, the restroom was empty. Jiang Suihan’s face was flushed with embarrassment. She held her breath and tried not to open her eyes. After they returned to the ward and Xu Zhao was settled back in bed, she quickly said, “I’m hungry. I’m going to eat. I’ll bring you some food later.”

She finished speaking and hurried away, her face still red.

“Sui Sui.” Su Ying quickly called out to Jiang Suihan, rushing over with concern, “I saw your note saying Xu Zhao was injured and hospitalized. How is he? Is he okay? How serious is his injury?”

Upon returning home and finding no one there, Su Ying thought Jiang Suihan might have gone for a walk. While pouring water, she saw a note on the living room table. She picked it up and nearly panicked, her legs weakening as she braced herself against the table.

Not even drinking the water, she anxiously closed the door, hurriedly rode her bicycle to the hospital. As soon as she arrived and parked, she saw Jiang Suihan coming out of the hospital.

Jiang Suihan hurriedly explained, “He had surgery last night, and it went well. The doctor wants him to stay in the hospital for a few days for observation. If recovery goes well, he’ll be discharged soon. Don’t worry too much, Mom. I’ll take you to see him.”

Hearing that the situation was under control eased Su Ying’s anxiety slightly, but she still wasn’t reassured until she saw him for herself.

“Why did you come back?” Xu Zhao asked as he saw Jiang Suihan, then his mother followed in.

Su Ying walked right past Jiang Suihan and went to the bedside. She lifted the quilt off Xu Zhao and looked at him wantonly, from head to toe, from toe to head, not letting go of any part of his body until she was sure that he was fine. Only then did she slowly let out the anger she had been holding back at home.

After covering her son with the quilt again, Su Ying finally had the heart to look at her son’s face. Seeing two light pink wounds on his handsome face, she couldn’t help but frown: “It’s ugly.”

Xu Zhao’s lips twitched involuntarily. Only a mother could say something like that.

He looked at his mother with a resigned expression. “Mom, I’m an injured patient. Could you please avoid personal attacks when we first meet?”

Su Ying turned to Jiang Suihan. “Sui Sui, do you think he’s become less good-looking?”

Jiang Suihan nodded sincerely. The wounds had already scabbed over and fallen off, leaving only two long, light pink scars. They might fade within two or three months.

It was like a fine vase with a shallow crack—though not severely impacting its beauty, it still had an effect, especially for those with a perfectionist streak who can’t tolerate any flaws.

When Jiang Suihan had visited the hospital earlier that afternoon, she had noticed Xu Zhao’s old scars. She had wanted to touch them but refrained, fearing that Xu Zhao might find her odd. She tried not to focus on his face to avoid constantly staring at it.

Su Ying examined the faint scars on Xu Zhao’s face closely, still frowning. “These wounds don’t look very deep. They shouldn’t leave scars, right?”

Jiang Suihan, uncertain, replied, “They might disappear after a while. As long as he’s not prone to scarring, it should be fine.”

Su Ying clicked her tongue regretfully. “Such a handsome face, it’s such a shame.”

Jiang Suihan agreed with a nod, instinctively saying, “Yes, it’s a pity.”

To be honest, Xu Zhao’s face had played a significant role in her agreeing to marry him. She was indeed a hidden face-fetish.

Xu Zhao felt the wounds pulsing slightly and was irritated by the two women. Weakly, he said, “Have you finished criticizing me? I’m hungry.”

After a bit of joking, the atmosphere in the ward lightened considerably.

Su Ying made a decision. “Let’s not cook tonight. I’ll go home, get the lunchbox, and bring food from the cafeteria. Sui Sui, do you want to go home to eat or stay here with Xu Zhao?”

“I’ll stay here with him. Mom, could you check if Lele is back home and save his portion of food separately?” Jiang Suihan thought for a moment, then quickly shook her head. “No, I can’t leave him alone at home.”

She considered going home first and visiting Xu Zhao the next day, but then reconsidered. There were nurses in the hospital, and Xu Zhao could call them for help, but with the night shift and fewer staff, it might be difficult to get assistance immediately in an emergency.

Noticing Jiang Suihan’s hesitation, Su Ying suggested, “I’ll bring Lele along on my bike. That should solve the problem.”

She thought to herself, what’s the point of agonizing over this?

Jiang Suihan looked dejected. “Do you think I’ve become stupid?”

Xu Zhao replied without changing his expression, “No, you’re just tired and don’t want to think.”

Jiang Suihan straightened up immediately, glaring at him. “You’re lying. That comment was clearly a roundabout way of calling me stupid. Are you saying otherwise?”

Xu Zhao remained silent.

Jiang Suihan rested her chin on her hands and asked, “Do you think I will give birth to a little fool?”

Xu Zhao glanced at her, noticing her furrowed brows, pursed lips, and downcast eyes, as if she was deeply worried and pondering seriously.

This wasn’t really a question!

Xu Zhao sighed silently and made an effort to respond seriously, “No.”

Jiang Suihan pressed on, “How do you know it won’t happen? Everything has a one in ten thousand chance. If, I mean if I really gave birth to a stupid little kid, would you dislike him for not being as smart as other children? Would you feel disappointed?”

Xu Zhao avoided the question, taking another unexpected angle: “Not smart and stupid are almost equivalent. These two words should not be used together.”

Jiang Suihan responded with an awkward “Oh,” realizing that as a Chinese language teacher for fourth and fifth graders, she hadn’t caught such a blatant misuse of words!

Well, Xu Zhao was right, she was too lazy to use her brain recently.

Xu Zhao quietly breathed a sigh of relief, glad to have dodged that.

That evening, Su Ying stayed at the hospital to keep watch while Jiang Suihan and Jiang Leyun walked home, leaving the bicycle at the hospital without worry about theft.

The next day was New Year’s Eve.

Dr. Liang conducted a routine check on Xu Zhao’s wounds. “The recovery is going well. You can prepare for discharge. Just remember not to engage in strenuous activities, eat a light diet, and avoid spicy foods which could irritate the wound. Come back for a follow-up in a week.”

Su Ying said seriously, “Dr. Liang, you can rest assured. I’ll keep a close watch on him.”

Jiang Suihan also added, “Thank you, Dr. Liang.”

Dr. Liang smiled, his previous sternness seeming like a mere illusion. “It’s unfortunate that you got injured right before the New Year with so much good food around. Xu Zhao, you’ll just have to watch others eat this year.”

Xu Zhao changed his clothes and sat on the bed. Hearing this, he raised his eyelids and said calmly, “Aren’t you alone during the New Year this year? Has someone prepared delicious food for you?”

Dr. Liang’s smile faltered for a moment but quickly returned to normal. He turned to Su Ying, “Aunt Su, remember that Xu Zhao’s diet must be light. Avoid eating too much meat and fish, and avoid fried, spicy food if possible.”

Su Ying regarded Dr. Liang’s words as an imperial decree, nodded and said, “I will definitely follow the doctor’s advice. I won’t let him eat any of the fried meatballs, radish balls, or fried crispy corners made at home. Can he eat the braised pork?”

Dr. Liang adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose and said calmly, “It’s a bit greasy.”

But he didn’t specify whether it was permissible to eat or not.

Su Ying thought she understood Dr. Liang’s meaning and replied, “Alright, then we won’t let him eat it.”

Xu Zhao’s face turned pale, and he shot Dr. Liang a look that seemed light-hearted but was actually full of unspoken threat.

Dr. Liang shrugged, seemingly indifferent.

Since Xu Zhao didn’t have much to pack, and the hospital was not very busy during the New Year, Dr. Liang saw them off to the hospital entrance.

Su Ying stopped and smiled, asking Dr. Liang, “Xiao Liang, do you have time tonight? Come over for a meal.”

Dr. Liang replied, “No, Aunt Su. A colleague’s family had an emergency, so I have to cover his shift tonight and can’t leave.”

Su Ying, hearing Dr. Liang had other commitments, did not press further. “Alright then. When you have time next, remember to come over to our place. Don’t be so polite with Auntie. With your elder brother and sister-in-law not around, and you working so hard, it must be tough being here alone. I feel sorry for your parents.”

Dr. Liang, who couldn’t stand lengthy nagging from elders, quickly said, “I’ll definitely visit when I have time. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll leave first.”

Su Ying sighed and opened her mouth to say more, but Dr. Liang had already turned and hurried back into the hospital.

Seeing Jiang Suihan shivering and stamping her feet from the cold, Xu Zhao adjusted her scarf and slipped her hands into the pockets of his coat. “Still cold?”

Jiang Suihan inhaled the chilly air and replied, “Yes, it’s cold.”

Su Ying turned around, slightly exasperated. Why were they still cuddling in this cold weather? Shouldn’t they just leave if they’re cold? Did hugging each other somehow make it warmer?

The New Year was approaching, and the family compound was bustling with activity. The air was filled with children’s laughter, and every household had its own delicious smells wafting through the air. Some of the daughters-in-law, eager to showcase their culinary skills, had risen early to prepare a variety of tasty dishes. The children’s mouths were never still.

Jiang Suihan silently wished that every day could be like the New Year.

When they returned home, Jiang Suihan had barely taken off her scarf when Jiang Leyun handed her a letter. “It’s a letter from Sister Weiyu.”

Did Weiyu send a letter?