Chapter 15

In the afternoon, seeing the time approaching, Qin Yi, Su Xiaowan, and their daughter went to the villa entrance to wait for Qin Yi’s parents, Qin Zhiqiang and Xu Yijing.

Qin Zhiqiang and Xu Yijing were both low-level employees at a state-owned enterprise in their hometown county. Since they hadn’t yet reached retirement age, they had taken a day off next Monday.

Soon, the car sent to pick up Qin Zhiqiang and Xu Yijing stopped steadily at the villa entrance.

As soon as the car stopped, Xu Yijing immediately opened the door and walked straight to Qin Nian Nian. She picked her up and asked gently, “Nian Nian, tell Grandma, how long have you been standing? Aren’t you tired?”

Then she turned to Qin Yi, scolding lightly: “You could have just stood at the door waiting for your father and me. Why did you make Nian Nian and Xiaowan stand here with us? Aren’t you afraid of tiring them out?”

Qin Yi quickly admitted his mistake. “Mom, I’m wrong! I’ll change it next time!”

In his heart, he thought: Do you think I actually wanted to stand here waiting for you? You know my nature—you know I’ll lie down if I can, sit if I must, and only stand if I absolutely have to.

Standing nearby, Su Xiaowan, seeing her mother-in-law, mentally quipped: No wonder my husband is so handsome—he must have inherited all the good genes from his mother! I really wonder how my father-in-law managed to win her over back then.

Seeing how quickly Qin Yi apologized, Xu Yijing didn’t press the matter further. Besides, her daughter-in-law was standing nearby. She also knew that the idea of standing at the door to greet them must have come from Su Xiaowan, and as a mother, she was well aware of Qin Yi’s nature.

In one word to describe him: lazy.

So, she smiled and called out to Su Xiaowan: “Xiaowan, let’s go inside first. Let them carry the things from the car themselves.”

“Okay, Mom!” Su Xiaowan linked her arm with her mother-in-law and walked into the villa.

Once Xu Yijing and Su Xiaowan left, Qin Zhiqiang looked at Qin Yi and laughed: “The sun must be setting in the west! Since when do you ever stand at the door to wait for your mom and me?”

Qin Zhiqiang really knew his son well.

“Ah! Your wife insisted I stand at the door to greet you two! What could I do?” Qin Yi said, carrying luggage from the car.

Once Qin Zhiqiang and Qin Yi reached the living room, Xu Yijing, Su Xiaowan, and Nian Nian were already chatting lively.

Seeing Qin Zhiqiang enter, Xu Yijing said immediately: “Old Qin, give me what I prepared!”

Qin Zhiqiang gave Qin Yi a pitying glance and then pulled a feather duster out of the luggage, handing it to Xu Yijing.

Seeing this, Qin Yi quickly ducked behind Su Xiaowan.

Xu Yijing turned to Su Xiaowan: “Xiaowan, step aside. Today I’m going to fix this boy’s lazy sleeping habits!”

Qin Nian Nian, seeing her grandmother about to scold her father, immediately defended him: “Grandma, Daddy didn’t sleep in!”

Xu Yijing, noticing Nian Nian lying, looked sternly at her granddaughter: “Nian Nian, tell Grandma, are you telling the truth? Think carefully before you speak!”

Seeing the feather duster in her grandmother’s hand, Nian Nian hesitated, opening her mouth but not saying a word.

Qin Yi immediately protested: “Mom, what proof do you have that I slept in? Everything should be based on evidence! And you’re scaring our daughter!”

Xu Yijing, annoyed but amused, turned to Nian Nian: “Nian Nian, tell your dad, over the past month, has Grandma called you every morning?”

“Daddy, over the past month, every morning on school days, Grandma has called me.”

Xu Yijing continued: “Nian Nian, tell your dad, what does Grandma ask you every morning?”

“She asks if I’ve eaten breakfast, who I eat with, and who took me to kindergarten.”

Hearing this, Qin Yi gripped Su Xiaowan’s shoulder tighter.

He hadn’t expected his mother to indirectly check on him through their daughter. Although Nian Nian didn’t explicitly say he slept in, her every answer confirmed that Qin Yi had indeed been lazing around at home every morning.

Seeing her husband’s nervousness, Su Xiaowan looked at him reassuringly.

“Mom, you’ve had a tiring journey. Rest first. We’ll deal with Qin Yi’s habits tomorrow. My parents have prepared dinner at home, and we’ll need to visit them later.”

Seeing Su Xiaowan intercede for her son-in-law, Xu Yijing could only put down the feather duster. A daughter-in-law’s face must be respected.

Seeing the relief on Nian Nian’s face, Xu Yijing immediately started comforting her precious granddaughter.

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That evening, in a hospital ward in Tianhai City, a haggard-looking woman gently wiped the face of a young girl, who appeared to be around three years old, asleep in the bed.

If Yi Bohao saw her, he would recognize her as the same woman who had applied for a position at the private club earlier that day.

“Yueyue, Mommy will make sure you get better,” the woman whispered, bowing her head.

Suddenly, the hospital door gently opened.

Hearing the sound, she looked up.

Seeing it was a nurse, she stood and walked toward the door.

In the hallway, the nurse said: “Ms. Wu, your daughter’s hospital fees can only be extended until the day after tomorrow.”

She continued: “Our hospital knows your situation, so we’re giving you an extra two days. But if you still can’t pay after that, then…”

Although the nurse didn’t finish her sentence, Ms. Wu understood the meaning and replied: “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure the hospital fees are paid as soon as possible.”

She bowed to the nurse: “Thank you very much for taking care of us.”

The nurse, seeing this, said nothing further, sighed slightly, and slowly walked to another ward.

After the nurse left, Ms. Wu began a mental struggle.

One voice urged her to work as a hostess at the private club, while the other voice urged her to seek help from someone else.