Outside, she regretted not wearing a shirt under her sweater; the fine, short fibers of the sweater pricked her skin like a nest of caterpillars, making her itch uncontrollably. She scratched until her neck was red from her own fingernails, rubbing against the leather seat to relieve the itch. Zhou Yuqian noticed, pulled down her collar, seeing red marks dotted with blood, as if scalded by boiling water. He was angry but couldn’t scold her now, taking her hand in his, “Scratching like that can get infected. Let’s buy some clothes to change into.” She shook her head with a forced smile, “It’s fine!” She was experienced; the initial discomfort would fade as she got used to it, like having needles in her back, though the process was unbearable. She let him hold her hand, saying with determination, “I won’t scratch until I bleed!” She would adapt, find a way, and get through it, just as she had when her mother was sick, even when she had hurt her. Zhou Yuqian said nothing; her calm and silence were not surprising, just like five years ago when she calmly explained what happened and discussed terms with him. Before that, she must have collapsed and cried, but she bounced back quickly, always facing reality, finding solutions, and trying to resolve issues with those solutions.
In the hospital, Zhang Zongxiang, filled with guilt, stood up as she approached, extending his hand to pat her shoulder but she ignored him, walking straight to her mother, whose face was ashen. With a thud, she knelt down. Lai Ruoyun, tears rolling down her cheeks, managed a few stifled sobs without howling. Lai Hui, also on her knees, bit her lip, holding back her cries, her muffled sobs making her dizzy. Zhou Yuqian watched, his heart aching, but he dared not intervene before understanding Lai Hui’s intentions, though he was anxious. He glared at Zhang Zongxiang to vent his anger, causing him to shiver and turn away, only to meet Xiao Yu’s indignant gaze. He knew everyone in the room wished he would leave, and he thought to comply with their wish. Just as he reached the inner room door, he bumped into Jia Yi, who exclaimed, “It’s you!” Having learned of the situation from Xiao Yu’s call, Jia Yi was already anxious and felt guilty for giving Zhang Zongxiang Lai Hui’s number, which had caused this mess. When the two culprits met, Jia Yi angrily grabbed Zhang Zongxiang’s arm, pushing him back against the wall. This small conflict broke the silence in the hospital room. Lai Ruoyun, her voice trembling, said, “Get up, don’t embarrass yourself in front of others!” She glanced at Zhou Yuqian. Lai Hui didn’t rise, lifting her face full of regret, “It’s all my fault for being foolish and vain. I did wrong, I know it now! I’ll leave him immediately, Mom, please forgive me?” The room fell silent upon hearing this. Zhou Yuqian hadn’t expected this to be her solution, but it wasn’t surprising. With her mother already aware, denial was futile. Her greatest fear was her mother discovering she had become someone’s mistress for medical expenses, which would devastate her further. Admitting her vanity and seeking forgiveness was the better option.
