Anyang stayed with her twin brothers in the hospital room, waiting for Anxin. When she finally emerged from the doctor’s office, she quietly signaled Anyang, and the two stepped into a quiet corner outside the room.

“Big sis, how’s Mom? What did the doctor say?” Anyang asked nervously, her face full of worry.

Seeing her sister’s anxious expression, Anxin’s gaze softened. She gently patted Anyang’s cheek and spoke in a reassuring tone.

“It’s nothing serious. The doctor said Mom’s condition has just been dragging on for too long. She might need surgery.”

Hearing the word “surgery,” Anyang’s face became even more tense.

“Surgery? Mom’s condition is that bad?”

In their village, any illness requiring surgery was considered life-threatening.

Anxin quickly comforted her.

“Don’t overthink it. It’s just a thyroid removal. For doctors, it’s a very routine operation—almost as simple as eating or drinking water.”

In the 21st century, a thyroidectomy was considered a minimally invasive, low-risk procedure. Even though this was the 1980s, Anxin was confident it wasn’t anything to worry about.

Anyang, still unsure, looked into her sister’s calm eyes and hesitantly asked, “Really? Surgery is that simple?”

Anxin gave her a reassuring smile and patted her on the head.

“Of course. The doctor said it’s a minor procedure. You don’t need to worry so much.”

Then, remembering how people in this era often feared surgery, Anxin added, “For now, don’t tell Mom or brothers about this. Let’s keep it between us, okay?”

She planned to handle everything herself. On the day of the surgery, she would sign the consent forms, get her mother into the operating room, and let the anesthesia do the rest. By the time her mother woke up, the procedure would already be done—too late to protest.

Anyang hesitated, visibly torn.

“But…”

Anyang had always been an honest and straightforward child. Keeping such a big secret from their mother made her feel guilty. Still, she nodded reluctantly.

“Alright, we’ll keep it to ourselves.”

Anxin could tell her sister was struggling with this decision. She gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze and added, “It’s not forever. We’ll tell her after the surgery is over.”

Her plan was to face her mother’s inevitable outrage after the fact. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission, right? But deep down, Anxin felt a twinge of guilt.

She couldn’t help but feel like a cunning wolf leading a naive little rabbit astray.

When the sisters returned to the room, they noticed a tall figure standing near the hospital bed. The man’s broad back exuded an air of quiet strength, and his posture spoke of someone accustomed to hard work.

Anxin blinked, momentarily stunned by the sight. Anyang took a step forward, addressing the man softly.

“Brother-in-law, you’re here!”

The man turned around, revealing a chiseled, stoic face that seemed even more striking under the dim hospital lighting. His sharp features, like a finely crafted statue, were impossibly handsome.

Anxin couldn’t help but mutter internally, What a waste. Such a perfect man, and the original Anxin just had to mess it all up.

The thought of how the original Anxin had schemed her way into marrying this man filled her with guilt. She resolved to treat him better as a form of atonement.

On the hospital bed, Chen Hongyan noticed the sisters returning and called out, “Anxin, your husband’s here. Go fetch him a chair and pour him some water.”

Judging by the dirt on Bai Yichen’s work uniform, he must have come straight from the mountains to visit his mother-in-law. It was clear he was a good man. Chen Hongyan felt proud of her daughter’s choice.

Anxin sighed internally but outwardly responded cheerfully, “Alright, Mom. I’ll get right on it!”

Great. The more the mother-in-law likes the son-in-law, the more the daughter becomes a glorified servant, she thought, moving quickly to comply.

After ensuring Bai Yichen was comfortably seated with a glass of water, he asked Chen Hongyan gently, “Mom, how are you feeling?”

It was a polite but perfunctory question. After just one day in the hospital, there was unlikely to be any change in her condition.

To everyone’s surprise, Chen Hongyan responded with unexpected energy.

“Oh, Yichen, I feel so much better already! This city hospital really is something else.”

Anxin: “…”

Was her mother serious? It had only been one day, and the doctors hadn’t even started treatment yet. This was pure placebo effect.

As her mother and Bai Yichen chatted animatedly, Anxin found herself playing the silent observer. Anyang busied herself helping their mother with her evening meal, while Anxin stewed in her growing frustration.

Why is it that I’m the one running errands, but they’re the ones bonding?

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the conversation between her mother and Bai Yichen wound down. Chen Hongyan glanced at the clock and clapped her hands.

“Oh, I completely lost track of time! You kids haven’t eaten yet, have you? Go on, go eat!”

Anxin had rented a small apartment nearby, claiming it was a friend’s place, so her family wouldn’t worry about their accommodations. Chen Hongyan waved them off with a smile.

“Anxin,” her mother said as they prepared to leave, “after dinner, you should go back with Yichen. Your siblings can stay at your friend’s place. I’ll be fine here on my own. The nurses will take care of me.”

Her tone left no room for argument. Chen Hongyan clearly thought it was inappropriate for a newlywed couple to be apart for too long—even if the reason was her own hospitalization.