“Uncle Jiang, don’t worry. Auntie will definitely be fine. She still has to grow old with you.”
“You understand me best, Suisui.”
Jiang Xingming’s heart melted instantly.
His future daughter-in-law really was so considerate.
It would be even better if she could call him “Dad.”
Hmm… He began to think silently.
Last time, his wife had given Suisui a bracelet, and Suisui had started calling her “Mom.”
If he gave Suisui an even more decent gift, perhaps she would be so happy that she would immediately start calling him “Dad.”
The more he thought about it, the more feasible the idea seemed.
He stopped crying at once, pulled out his phone, and secretly sent a message to his assistant.
When the assistant received the text, he replied in shock.
[Chairman Jiang, which family’s young master is Miss Jiang marrying?]
The chairman was secretly preparing a dowry for his beloved daughter!
The assistant had worked for Jiang Xingming for more than thirty years and knew everything about the Jiang family. Yet he had never heard that Miss Jiang had been promised in marriage.
Was he supposed to prepare a red envelope?
Jiang Xingming replied: [Just get it. Do you have to ask ten thousand questions?]
Assistant: [Understood.]
Sweat.
The assistant immediately went to the private safe at the bank to retrieve the item. At the same time, he prepared a large red envelope in case it was needed.
The corridor gradually fell quiet again.
Outside the operating room, many family members waited in silence.
The atmosphere was tense, and even the air seemed filled with oppressive stillness.
Just then, the operating room doors opened, and a patient was wheeled out beneath a white sheet.
The moment the patient’s family saw this, someone fainted from grief, while the other family members instantly descended into chaos.
Zhou Suisui stared at the scene, her hands clenched tightly in her lap.
Her fingertips trembled with nervousness, squeezing until they turned white.
Faced with this sight of life and death, everyone’s expressions grew solemn.
At a hospital—especially outside an operating room—separations of flesh and blood, as well as partings between life and death, happened all too often.
Two silent streams of tears slid down Zhou Suisui’s delicate face.
Just then, a warm sensation reached her.
A broad palm closed around her hand.
The pressure was neither too light nor too firm.
The warmth seeped through her skin.
Zhou Suisui blinked and turned her head toward the person beside her.
Caught completely off guard, she collided with a pair of deep, dark eyes.
Jiang Zongyan’s thin lips were pressed together. He said nothing, but the strength of his grip brought a sense of security.
“…”
Zhou Suisui’s face flushed.
Why was he holding her hand?
Her brother was right beside them!
She clearly knew she should pull away, yet her heart inexplicably fluttered.
“Sis, I’m going to get you some medicine.”
At that moment, Zhou Sui'an suddenly turned around and looked at her.
“!!”
Zhou Suisui was startled and almost immediately pulled her hand out of Jiang Zongyan’s grasp.
She nodded, pretending to be calm.
“Okay.”
Jiang Zongyan’s palm closed around empty air. His lips tightened slightly.
“…”
Zhou Sui'an’s curious gaze moved back and forth between the two of them.
Why was his sister blushing?
These two were shamelessly sneaking around right in front of him. How infuriating.
—
The surgery was a success. As long as Mrs. Jiang rested well and received proper care, she would be discharged in ten days.
Jiang Xingming was the first to rush forward. He gripped both sides of the surgical bed so tightly that the veins on the backs of his hands bulged.
“Wifey! Sob! You’ve suffered so much!”
Mrs. Jiang had not yet fully come out of the anesthesia. Her face was pale and weak.
Jiang Xingming’s eyes were red, and his heart felt as though it had been shattered with pain. He wanted to reach out and touch his wife’s face, but he did not quite dare.
“You’re a grown man. Why are you crying?”
Looking at her husband, Mrs. Jiang tried hard to force a smile, attempting to comfort him.
This man… Outside, he was a powerful figure who could summon the wind and rain. Everyone feared him and called him the devil of the business world, ruthless and merciless.
But to her, he was clearly nothing more than an clingy, dependent old nuisance.
At that moment, she felt even more grateful.
Luckily, she had listened to Suisui and come to the hospital for a full examination in time.
If she had delayed any longer and her illness had progressed to the point where even medicine could not cure it, how could she have left behind such a psychologically dependent old man with peace of mind?
“Wifey, as long as you can stay healthy, I’m willing to give up ten years of my life for you.”
“Don’t say such foolish things! I don’t want you to lose ten years!”
Her smile made Jiang Xingming’s nose sting even more.
“Don’t smile. Close your eyes and get some proper sleep. Be good.”
Mrs. Jiang reached a hand toward him.
“Then stop crying.”
“I’m not crying…”
Jiang Xingming rubbed his palm over his clothes again and again. Only after making sure there was no sweat on it did he cautiously reach out and clasp his wife’s hand.
Feeling the real warmth of her body in his palm, the heart that had been hanging in suspense finally settled.
Zhou Suisui watched from the side, her eyes filled with envy.
Auntie and Uncle really did love each other.
Suddenly, she remembered something, and her expression darkened.
Uncle and Auntie loved each other so deeply. They were practically inseparable, glued together day and night.
In her previous life, what had happened to Uncle after Auntie passed away?
And what had become of Jiang Ruitian and Jiang Zongyan?
Carrying these questions with her, the group escorted Mrs. Jiang back to the hospital room.
The doctor carefully explained all the precautions to take after the surgery.
Jiang Xingming listened with utmost seriousness, not missing a single word. From time to time, he nodded like an elementary school student paying close attention in class.
“Thank you!”
At the end, he solemnly clasped the chief physician’s hand.
“I’ve decided. Next year, the Jiang Corporation will double its investment in the hospital. If you’re short of any experimental equipment, just contact my assistant directly.”
The chief physician was practically overwhelmed with gratitude.
Not only had the hospital avoided being demolished, but it had also received a generous investment.
These crazy tycoons were frightening even when they acted normally. It all felt like a dream.
“Of course, of course. Then I won’t disturb Mrs. Jiang’s rest. Please call me if you need anything.”
The chief physician nearly bowed and scraped. His eyes narrowed into happy slits as he left in high spirits.
—
They stayed in the hospital room until evening.
Zhou Sui'an rose to say goodbye.
“Auntie, Suisui and I will be leaving first.”
Mrs. Jiang was reluctant to part with Suisui, but she still nodded.
“Be careful on your way home.”
The siblings left the hospital room.
“…”
Jiang Zongyan frowned slightly, the corner of his eye drifting toward the doorway.
Outside, Zhou Suisui was clinging coquettishly to Zhou Sui'an’s arm. No one knew what she was saying, but two shallow dimples appeared on her cheeks.
“They’re already gone. What’s the use of staring?”
Mrs. Jiang shook her head, deeply exasperated with her son’s lack of initiative.
“If you like her, go after her. If some other man sweeps her away, just see how you cry then!”
“Mom, I know.”
Jiang Zongyan withdrew his gaze, his tone indifferent and impossible to read.
Mrs. Jiang nearly choked.
With her son’s cold personality, even she felt like tearing her hair out. How could anyone possibly date him?
He had to change this personality of his!
Outside the room, Chairman Jiang’s assistant, Zhang Wei, hurried toward the hospital carrying an exquisite box. Two tall bodyguards followed behind him.
His forehead was covered in sweat. As he walked, he kept glancing left and right, afraid everyone would notice that he was carrying several priceless treasures in his arms.
He pushed open the hospital-room door.
Only when he saw Jiang Xingming did he finally let out a long sigh of relief.
“Chairman Jiang, I’ve brought the things you asked for.”
Guys, does anyone else understand how I feel?
All the way there, he clutched the box—valuable enough to buy an entire building—as though everyone he saw were a robber.
“Give it to me!”
Jiang Xingming took the box with both hands.
“Dad, what is it?”
Jiang Ruitian blinked her big eyes and leaned over curiously.
