Danjiang Hospital.
"I’ll go get so hot water." Lin Hanrui walked out of the ward with the thermos.
Chen Ningxi handed the peeled apple to Liang Lei, "How did your conversation go?"
Liang Lei took a bite of the apple, chewing slowly, "It’s settled, we’re getting married and having kids."
The reply was straightforward, just as expected.
Chen Ningxi wiped the fruit knife clean with a disinfectant wipe, put it away, and turned to sit back on the stool, "Since you’ve decided, you should tell your parents."
Liang Lei said, "Let’s wait until they co back, which should be by the end of the month. By then, my body will be much better."
"You’re hiding the accident from them, and you’re not planning to tell them about the pregnancy either?"
Liang Lei said, "My parents already have their opinions about him. If they find out I’m pregnant before marriage, they wouldn’t give him a good face."
Chen Ningxi said, "But this isn’t sothing you can hide."
Liang Lei paused, "Let’s get the engagent done first, and tell them about the pregnancy later when the opportunity arises."
"Your parents are pretty open-minded. I think it’s better to tell them sooner; they’ll only be angry if they find out you’ve been hiding it."
After so thought, Liang Lei said, "I’ll think about it."
"By the way, Lin Hanrui is taking care of you in the hospital tomorrow?" Chen Ningxi asked.
"He’s going to the construction site tomorrow. I can still move around, I don’t need anyone during the day; he’ll be with at night."
"That’s not right," Chen Ningxi said. "I haven’t used my annual leave this year. I’ll apply to my workplace tomorrow and co take care of you."
"No need to trouble yourself. I don’t need soone to look after . Keep your leave in case of an ergency." Liang Lei insisted that Chen Ningxi not take leave. "If you really take leave, I’ll apply for discharge tomorrow."
Chen Ningxi reluctantly said, "You stubborn mule. If you don’t let take care of you, I’ll at least bring you als."
Liang Lei knew how busy Chen Ningxi’s work was, and if she delivered als, she’d be running on a whirlwind.
"als aren’t necessary either. There’s a cafeteria downstairs, and a bunch of restaurants at the entrance. There’s plenty to eat; it wouldn’t bother you to cook."
Chen Ningxi said, "You won’t let take care of you, and you won’t let bring you als. I know what you’re thinking, you’re worried about bothering , worried I won’t have ti. But you forget, you’re my best friend. If I don’t step up at a critical mont, what kind of friend am I?"
Liang Lei smiled and said, "It’s because we have this kind of relationship that I won’t let you co. I know my situation; if I really needed soone to take care of , I’d speak up before you even ntioned it. You know how I am, and you saw the examination results just now. There’s nothing wrong; the doctor also said I could get up and walk around. I can’t stay in this hospital; I might be discharged in a day or two."
"Alright. I’ll co see you after work. Let know what you want to eat, and I’ll bring it."
Liang Lei smiled, "That’s more like it."
Lin Hanrui ca in with the thermos, poured hot water, and placed the washbasin on the stool.
"Wash your face."
Liang Lei took the towel and tossed it back, "Ouch...hot."
Lin Hanrui quickly shook out the towel and tested it with the back of his hand, "It shouldn’t be too hot now."
Liang Lei said, "Be more careful, what if it were a child? They’d be burned."
Lin Hanrui nodded vigorously, "Got it."
Chen Ningxi watched Lin Hanrui help Liang Lei wipe her hands and soak her feet. Only genuine care would lead to such attentiveness.
After chatting with Liang Lei for a while, considering that she needed to recover, Chen Ningxi prepared to leave. She sent a WeChat ssage to Cheng Qiaobei, asking him to pick her up at the hospital.
Lin Hanrui walked Chen Ningxi downstairs as they talked.
"I heard from Liang Lei that you two have decided. Since you’ve chosen to get married, see her parents as soon as they return."
Lin Hanrui said, "Yes, I told her to notify as soon as they get back. By the way, what do her parents like?"
Chen Ningxi said, "To be honest, Liang Lei’s family is very well-off, and her parents have an open mindset. Gifts are just a formality; they care more about character and how you treat Liang Lei."
Lin Hanrui was most concerned about Liang Lei’s parents doubting his character.
"Sigh," Lin Hanrui sighed, "This is the main issue. They kept inviting to et, but I didn’t go. Her parents thought I was just playing around, but I genuinely had simple intentions. I had just resigned from my governnt job and wanted to make sothing of myself before eting them. But...the company is struggling, and without Old Cheng, it would’ve failed long ago.
Now, I’m eting them because of the child. How can anyone be pleased with that? I’m honestly proving I’m unreliable."
Chen Ningxi said, "Liang Lei’s parents are quite nice. You’ll understand after a few interactions. If they say sothing, don’t take it personally, because that’s their cherished child."
"I wouldn’t dare take it personally now." Lin Hanrui said as they left the inpatient departnt. He had been suppressing his urge to smoke and fished out his cigarette pack. "I’ll have a smoke. I felt suffocated inside. With Leizi pregnant, I’ll have to cut down on smoking too."
They went to the roadside, Lin Hanrui lit a cigarette with the wind at his back, then turned to exhale in the opposite direction, quickly fanning with his hand to avoid blowing smoke towards Chen Ningxi.
"When it cos to the wedding, if you need any help, I can assist. After all, I’ve been through it." Chen Ningxi said.
Lin Hanrui smiled gratefully, "Thank you. I’ll definitely need your help. You and Old Cheng have been great to ."
Chen Ningxi said, "Isn’t that to be expected?"
Feeling moved, Lin Hanrui said, "Brotherly bonds aside, you also support Old Cheng in helping , and for that...really, I deeply appreciate you. To put it another way, even if Old Cheng wanted to help and you weren’t willing, it might or might not happen. So, no matter how tight the brotherhood, one still needs a good sister-in-law."
Chen Ningxi glanced down and smiled.
Lin Hanrui continued, "Old Cheng has helped a lot, taking out money nurous tis. I’ve kept an account of it all, and once I get back on track, I’ll repay you both with interest."
Chen Ningxi said, "It’s his money, so he decides what to do with it. But I think if you ntion interest, he might not be happy."
Lin Hanrui said, "Business is business. Even if I borrow from soone, I have to pay interest. You can’t take others’ kindness for granted, can you?"
Chen Ningxi lightly shook her head, "If you trust , don’t ntion interest. He might even fall out with you over it."
Lin Hanrui understood this too, but in business, so interest returns were appropriate—not for anything else but to uphold his own dignity, which he was determined to protect.
As one cigarette’s ti passed, Cheng Qiaobei’s Cayenne appeared in their line of sight.
Chen Ningxi got in the passenger seat, and Cheng Qiaobei rolled down the window to ask the person outside, "How long until the construction site is finished?"
Lin Hanrui said, "Soon, in the next couple of days."
Just within the contract deadline, Cheng Qiaobei nodded knowingly, "Once you’re done, I’ll arrange for the show team to co and inspect."
"No problem." Lin Hanrui patted the car body, "Go on, get so rest."
The window rose, and Lin Hanrui watched as the Cayenne drove away, waiting until its taillights disappeared beyond the gate before turning back to the inpatient departnt.
On the way ho, Chen Ningxi noticed that Cheng Qiaobei didn’t look too happy, as if he was angry but holding it in.
"What’s wrong? Did soone at work upset you?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)