Bai Yichen took the thermal lunch box from Anxin and gazed at her for a moment. He said slowly,
“Why don’t I stay here and help take care of Mom?”

For some reason, seeing Anxin handle the chaotic situation and still make time to prepare his lunch made his heart stir. Marriage didn’t seem as bad as he’d imagined. Since they got married, Anxin had been meticulous, managing everything for him without complaint.

Hearing the man’s excuse to linger, supposedly to “help,” Anxin was immediately against the idea. But instead of being blunt, she gently reasoned with him.
“You should go back to work. As you can see, Mom is already settled in the hospital. From now on, it’s just about taking care of her daily needs.”

Having a man like him stay in the hospital wasn’t convenient.

Most importantly, if he stayed, how would she have the freedom to go out and earn money?

Bai Yichen glanced at Chen Hongyan, who lay surrounded by her children, all fussing over her. He realized he couldn’t offer much assistance by staying. Besides, as her son-in-law, it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to hang around all day.

“Alright then,” he nodded.

As the captain of the exploration team, his absence could cause the younger men to slack off. The team was at a critical phase of their work, and he couldn’t just leave everything behind.

With this in mind, Bai Yichen strode to Chen Hongyan’s bedside. His voice softened as he said,
“Mom, rest well in the hospital. I’ll head back to work now and come see you after I’m done for the day.”

If he finished early, he could return to the provincial city and bring Anxin home.

Chen Hongyan, lying weakly in bed with tubes attached to her, opened her eyes slightly to look at her tall, handsome son-in-law. She nodded gently and said,
“Go ahead, don’t worry about me. Everyone should just do what they need to do.”

Her hospitalization would undoubtedly cost her daughter and son-in-law a significant amount. If Bai Yichen also skipped work to stay with her, Chen Hongyan would feel even guiltier.

Rural people are straightforward like this, always considerate and pragmatic.

Bai Yichen was momentarily at a loss for words, touched by her understanding. The atmosphere grew awkward, so Anxin quickly stepped in.
“Mom, you rest for now. I’ll walk him out.”

Her priority was getting Bai Yichen to leave so she could get back to work. With her entire family now in the provincial city, she needed to earn as much as possible.

Chen Hongyan waved her hand weakly and said,
“Why don’t you go back with him? Your siblings can take care of me here.”

Since Anxin was now married, Chen Hongyan didn’t want her daughter to focus solely on her maternal family. If this caused tension between Anxin and Bai Yichen, she would feel responsible.

Realizing her mother was trying to send her away, Anxin quickly explained,
“Mom, the doctor said a family member needs to stay nearby for signing forms and handling other matters. The kids are too young to do that. I have to stay.”

If she left with Bai Yichen, she wouldn’t be able to make money today.

Sensing Anxin’s reluctance, Bai Yichen chimed in to help.
“Mom, I’ll head back to work alone. Let Anxin stay here with you. If anything comes up with the doctor, it’ll be easier for her to manage.”

Chen Hongyan sighed softly, realizing there was no use arguing. She relented,
“Alright, then. You walk him out.”

Anxin tugged at Bai Yichen’s sleeve, urging him.
“Let’s go.”

The two walked to the hospital entrance together. Anxin helped Bai Yichen into the jeep. Before starting the car, Bai Yichen rolled down the window and said,
“I’m leaving now. If anything comes up, make sure to call the office. They’ll get a message to me.”

He suddenly remembered Anxin might not know their office’s phone number. Reaching into the car for a pen and paper, he jotted it down and handed it to her.

Anxin took the note without hesitation, waving her hand.
“Got it. You go ahead and focus on work.”

There was no way she would actually call him. As long as he left and didn’t interfere with her plans, she was satisfied.

“Alright, I’m off,” Bai Yichen said, starting the jeep.

As the car drove away, he glanced back. For a split second, he thought he saw a flicker of joy in Anxin’s eyes.

Was she happy he was leaving? Did she look forward to being alone in the provincial city?

His dark eyes dimmed slightly as he drove off.

Once Bai Yichen’s jeep disappeared from sight, Anxin didn’t return to the hospital immediately. Instead, she walked around the surrounding area and quickly found a small courtyard with a “For Rent” sign.

She stepped inside to find a neat, independent yard. The property included a two-story house, a kitchen, and small side rooms, all equipped with basic essentials like cookware and beds.

Pleased with the setup, Anxin negotiated the rent with the landlord and secured the space.

She guessed her mother’s treatment might take a while, and with her younger siblings present, they needed a place to stay. It wasn’t practical to rely solely on the hospital.

After the landlord left, Anxin checked the yard thoroughly. It was secure and private, just what she needed. She quickly took out household essentials from her space storage, setting up everything neatly.

She used a small stove to start cooking chicken soup, then returned to the hospital to bring her siblings to their new temporary home.

After settling the kids and giving them instructions, Anxin rushed off toward the alley where Lu Junkai (kaizi) rented out vehicles.

From a distance, she saw a tall figure walking out of the alley. Squinting, she recognized Kaizi. Anxin hurried to block his path.

“Kaizi, where are you off to? I haven’t rented a car yet!”