Xiâan was truly a city filled with history.
Wei Shuyi and Jiaren Wu went to the Great Tang Hibiscus Garden. Jiaren Wu said that Hibiscus Garden was very beautiful, but Wei Shuyi said that she was even more beautiful than the Hibiscus Garden. Jiaren Wu got so happy that she hugged and kissed him.
They even went to see the terracotta soldiers. Jiaren Wu said that the terracotta soldiers looked quite tattered and scary. Wei Shuyi laughed at her for not knowing history.
Then, they went to Huimin Street. Jiaren Wu said that Huimin Street was quite fun and had too much good food. She would come again in the future. Wei Shuyi called her a foodie.
After staying in Xiâan for four days, the two of them had to go back.
On the day he left Xiâan, Wei Shuyi sat at the airport and thought for a while before sending Ye Xi a message.
Wei Shuyi: [Chen Jingxi always wanted to see Xiâan⦠I came on her behalf. Xiâan is very beautiful, even more beautiful than I imagined.]
The player was still aloof and didnât reply.
Two hours later, Wei Shuyiâs plane arrived at Binjiang City.
On the way home, Wei Shuyi remembered the message he had sent to Ye Xi and opened Weibo. He didnât see Ye Xiâs reply but saw that the player had updated his Weibo.
Ye Xi: After so many years, Iâve learned how to bake cookies. Today, I sent the cookies to the girl I like. She said the cookies were delicious. She thought it was a blessing. I feel blessed too. [Attached: A picture.jpg.]
He clicked on the picture and saw two people holding hands
In an instant, Wei Shuyi was completely relieved about the failed surgery that year.
People had to look forward.
***
Jiaren Wu had originally planned to spend the night with Wei Shuyi, but at eight in the evening, she received a call from Dongli Shenghua.
âMr. Dongli, myââ
âI saw your post on WeChat. Youâre back. Can you come over? Xiao Aoâs stomach is hurting in the middle of the night. I have to send him to the hospital. Heâs been calling your nameâ¦â Dongli Shenghua sounded apologetic and was pleading. âMiss Wu, can you come and see him?â
Upon hearing that Dongli Ao was sick, Jiaren Wu could not refuse. âWhich hospital?â
âCity One Hospital.â
âIâll be right there.â
After hanging up the phone, Jiaren Wu walked out of the room and stood at the entrance of the kitchen. She stared at Wei Shuyiâs back as he cooked.
As if sensing something, Wei Shuyi turned around and saw her standing behind him. He didnât know how long she had been standing there for, so he asked, âAre you hungry? If you wait a while longer, there will only be a garlic pork rib left.â
Jiaren Wu said, âBrother Wei, I have to go.â
The smile on that personâs face quickly dimmed.
âWhat happened?â He sounded calm and peaceful.
He was always like this, suppressing his emotions and rarely speaking loudly to her. This was his gentle and easygoing nature.
Jiaren Wuâs gaze subconsciously shifted downwards and landed on the floor. This was a sign that she couldnât bear it.
She looked at the floor and softly explained, âMr. Dongliâs son has a stomachache. He has been sent to the hospital. The little guy wanted me to accompany him.â
Wei Shuyiâs expression turned cold.
He washed his hands, removed his apron, and turned off the gas stove. âItâs too late,â he told her. âIâll send you there.â
âNo need. Iâll ride my bikeâ¦â
âIâll send you there.â Wei Shuyiâs tone became unyielding, and Jiaren Wu eventually agreed.
On the way to the City One Hospital, Wei Shuyi didnât say much.
Jiaren Wu wanted to say something, but when she turned around and saw Wei Shuyiâs silent and beautiful side profile, she felt that saying another word would hurt him. When the car arrived at the entrance of the hospital, Wei Shuyi said, âWeâre here.â
Jiaren Wu suddenly reached out and held his hand. âBrother Wei, go back. If itâs alright, Iâll be back tonight.â
Wei Shuyi finally turned to look at her.
When he saw her uneasy expression, he couldnât bear to see her like this. âAlright.â
Jiaren Wu got out of the car and entered the hospital.
Wei Shuyi watched as she walked further and further away. He lowered his head only when her figure disappeared into the crowd.
***
When Jiaren Wu went to the medical department building to look for Dongli Ao, the doctor was performing an abdominal examination on the kid.
Dongli Shenghua was still wearing his home clothes. From the looks of it, Dongli Aoâs stomachache had come too quickly and he hadnât even had time to change his clothes.
Jiaren Wu guessed that Dongli Ao was suffering from acute inflammation.
A moment later, the doctor brought Dongli Ao out. The boy was in so much pain that he could not straighten his back. Dongli Shenghua immediately stood up and bent down to carry Dongli Ao in his arms. Dongli Aoâs little hand tugged on his fatherâs shirt. He was in so much pain that his face turned pale. He did not have the strength to cry and could only groan.
âDaddy, it hurts.â
Dongli Aoâs arrogant voice was filled with pain.
Dongli Shenghua was somewhat anxious, his eyes filled with helplessness.
Jiaren Wu sighed. She walked over and pressed down on Dongli Aoâs lower right abdomen. Dongli Ao immediately shouted, âIt hurts!â
She drew back her hand and joined Dongli Shenghua and the doctor.
âItâs acute appendicitis,â said the doctor. âItâs better to operate.â
When Dongli Shenghua heard that his son needed surgery, he subconsciously frowned.
Appendicitis was not a serious illness, but it was very painful.
Dongli Shenghua lowered his head and looked at the child in his arms. In the end, he nodded and said, âThen arrange the surgery.â
âSure.â
Only then did Dongli Shenghua lower his head and say to Jiaren Wu beside him, âMiss Wu, Iâll have to trouble you to stay here and accompany him.â Not wanting to hear Jiaren Wuâs excuses, Dongli Shenghua said, âIâll also stay here. Protecting me is your duty. Iâll pay you according to the contract.â
His words completely cut off Jiaren Wuâs path of retreat.
Dongli Aoâs situation made her uneasy.
Putting aside the fact that this child was quite cute, Jiaren Wu could not ignore him as he was her auntâs child.
âOkay.â
Jiaren Wu called Wei Shuyi.
The call was suddenly cut off.
Thinking that Wei Shuyi was sulking again, Jiaren Wu stopped calling him.
Wei Shuyi stood at the other end of the hospital corridor. He watched as Dongli Shenghua carried Dongli Ai and Jiaren Wu walked toward the hospital ward. The three of them were so close to each other that for some reason, Wei Shuyi felt as if they were a family of three.
His phone rang. Afraid that Jiaren Wu would find out he was here, he hung up immediately.
Before Dongli Ao was pushed into the operating theater, he was especially uncooperative. He shouted, âDaddy! Can you accompany me? Sister Jiaren, can you accompany me too?â He was especially cowardly. Although he looked like a cold child, he was especially afraid of pain.
Dongli Shenghuaâs forehead was full of black lines. He wanted to reject Dongli Ao, but Dongli Aoâs screams were too tragic. The entire floor could hear his cries.
Jiaren Wu asked the doctor, âCan we accompany him?â
Could the doctor refuse?
He could.
However, it was better for him to not reject the person in front of him.
âChange your clothes and come in together.â
Hence, the doctor performed the surgery on Dongli Ao while Jiaren Wu and Dongli Shenghua accompanied him.
Dongli Shenghua could not bear to watch the knife slice across his sonâs stomach, so he turned his head and looked at Jiaren Wuâs face. Jiaren Wu, on the other hand, had been watching the surgery on the operating table the whole time. She was very calm, and she did not show any signs of heartache.
Dongli Ao shivered in fear when he saw the blade approaching his stomach.
He suddenly stretched out his right hand, wanting to grab onto something to give himself some peace of mind.
At this moment, Jiaren Wu quickly held his hand.
Dongli Ao seemed relieved, and the panic on his face faded a little.
Dongli Shenghua looked at the woman and the childâs tightly clasped hands. He narrowed his eyes, and a look of determination flashed across his eyes.
Appendectomy was only a small surgery, and it was not dangerous. However, the surgery took more than three hours. When he returned to the ward, Dongli Aoâs nervous emotions gradually relaxed. When the anesthesia wore off completely, he started to hum.
Jiaren Wu sat at the side, listening to him hum and act coquettishly with his daddy.
âThen tell me a story about mermaids.â
Dongli Shenghua said, âYouâre already six years old. Youâre no longer suitable to listen to such stories.â
âI want to hear it.â
When Dongli Shenghua remained unmoved, Dongli Ao suddenly frowned and whispered, âIt hurtsâ¦â
There was nothing he could do.
Dongli Shenghua sat down at the corner of the bed and expressionlessly began to tell a story.
âIn the pastâ¦â
Dongli Ao and Jiaren Wu pricked up their ears.
Dongli Ao was interested in the story while Jiaren Wu was interested in Dongli Shenghuaâs ability to tell the story.
âThere was a little beauty. She was the underwater princess. One day, she saved the prince of the Fallen Sea and fell in love with him. Then, the little beauty changed her fins into her legs at the cost of her voice and walked ashore to get close to the prince. However, the prince misunderstood that it was another girl who saved him in the Fallen Sea, so he wanted to marry that girl. The beauty wanted to tell the prince that she was the one who saved the prince, but she couldnât speak. In the end, she could only watch as they got married.
âAfter that, the sisters of the beauty gave her a dagger that could kill the prince. If she smeared the princeâs blood on her feet, she could return to the sea. But the beauty couldnât bear to kill the prince, and in the end, she turned into foam.â
The story ended just like that.
Jiaren Wu thought that the story was too simple.
Dongli Ao said, âThe little mermaid is so kind.â
Dongli Shenghua snorted and said, âShe could only watch the person she loved marry someone else while she turned into foam because she was kind. This story tells us that all kind people die.â
Dongli Ao was shocked.
âThis story also tells us that different species shouldnât love each other. Thatâs wishful thinking.â
Dongli Ao couldnât help but say, âBut our teacher didnât say thatâ¦â
âThatâs why your teacher can only be a teacher while Iâm a boss.â
Dongli Ao felt that what Dongli Shenghua said made sense.
Jiaren Wu could not bear to listen any longer. She quickly walked over and took the opportunity to change her proud outlook. She said, âYour daddy is talking nonsense. Loving someone is a silent sacrifice and fulfillment. She fulfills the princeâs wish to marry the person he loves because she loves the prince. She canât bear to kill the prince and would rather become foam because she loves the prince.
âThis story tells us that love is about fulfilling others and giving.â
Dongli Ao nodded.
He thought for a while before saying, âI think Sister Jiarenâs words make more sense.â
Ever since Jiaren Wu started speaking, Dongli Shenghua had been staring at her.
After listening to her speak, Dongli Shenghua asked, âMiss Wu, do you think that love is a sacrifice?â
Jiaren Wu nodded.
Dongli Shenghua sneered.
âIs that so?â
Jiaren Wu did not reply.
Dongli Shenghua said, âBut in this story, I admire the girl who married the prince. She did nothing but she gained the princeâs love and the throne of his consort.â As he spoke, he took Dongli Aoâs small foot and squeezed it.
He added, âI think that love is about getting someone to your side by any means.â
Jiaren Wuâs expression did not change. She only said, âYou can get anyone just because you want them.â
âIs that soâ¦â Dongli Shenghuaâs fingers gently caressed Dongli Aoâs skin, but he said, âHow would I know if I donât try?â
Dongli Ao could not understand what they were talking about.
***
The next morning, Dongli Ao was famished and wanted to eat.
After asking around and learning that he could drink a small amount of liquid, Jiaren Wu fed him some thick rice soup.
Dongli Ao blinked and softly sighed. He then said to Jiaren Wu, âSister Jiaren, come and be my mother.â
Jiaren Wu immediately refused. âYouâre talking nonsense again.â
Dongli Ao shifted his gaze to his daddy.
Dongli Shenghua glanced at him and only smiled.
A day later, Dongli Ao had to get out of bed.
Jiaren Wu accompanied him as the two of them walked slowly along the hospital corridor.
Dongli Shenghua was not around today. It was unknown what he was busy with.
Jiaren Wu still had Wei Shuyi in her heart. She took some time to call him.
Wei Shuyi was probably busy and didnât answer the call.
In reality, Wei Shuyi was indeed busy. He had a surgery to perform.
It was already three in the afternoon when he finished his surgery.
After washing his hands, Wei Shuyi decided to go out and eat something. He looked at his phone as he went downstairs. He saw that there was a missed call from Jiaren Wu. He thought for a while and decided to call her.
The call went through, and Wei Shuyi walked out of the elevator. When he walked out of the hospital building, he saw a familiar man standing at the entrance.
The man was wearing a black shirt and black pants as he leaned against a black Bentley. His gaze and expression were cold and indifferent.