PSMD – Chapter 137

Qiu Yang heard Shen Ningruo say that and immediately shifted her attention.

“What happened to your dad?” As soon as Shen Ningruo hung up the phone, Qiu Yang asked with concern.

Shen Ningruo sighed, “I don’t know what’s wrong, he’s in the hospital. I need to go see him.”

It was impossible not to worry. After all, Shen Yuankai was her father, even though they had had a very unpleasant falling out before.

Another month had passed, and once again, there had been no contact between Shen Ningruo and Shen Yuankai. Thinking of this, she furrowed her brows, unsure for a moment how to face Shen Yuankai.

What Shen Yuankai had said to her last time had left a shadow in her heart.

Thinking about this, Shen Ningruo lifted the covers, got up, and walked over to open the wardrobe.

Qiu Yang watched her change clothes, but at the moment, she had no time to appreciate the sight. Qiu Yang pursed her lips and couldn’t help but ask, “Do you want me to go with you?”

Qiu Yang paused, “I’ll wait for you outside the door.”

Since Shen’s father knew about their relationship and was so resistant, it wasn’t appropriate for her to appear before him. If he got angry and his condition worsened, it wouldn’t be good.

Shen Ningruo paused for a second while putting on her pants. She turned around, looked at Qiu Yang, who was already sitting up, and nodded, “Okay.”

“You come with me.”

Qiu Yang also got out of bed to change clothes and then wash up.

The hospital where Shen Yuankai was located wasn’t far from Shen Ningruo’s home, about a twenty-minute drive. Shen Ningruo and Qiu Yang parked the car in the hospital parking lot.

However, it was Saturday, so finding a parking spot took some time.

Because there were many people at the hospital, there were queues for registration, getting medicine, and taking scans.

Shen Yuankai was already in a ward. The two of them entered the elevator.

The smell of disinfectant in the hospital was quite strong, not a single corner was spared, and there were other people in the elevator, children accompanying their parents to see a doctor, but judging from their conversation, it wasn’t very harmonious.

It wasn’t until the elevator reached the floor where Shen Yuankai was hospitalized that Shen Ningruo led Qiu Yang out.

Following the signs, they soon reached Shen Yuankai’s ward. Shen Ningruo released Qiu Yang’s hand. She looked at the white door, her lips pursed, not immediately intending to push it open.

Qiu Yang looked at her profile, hesitated for two seconds, and called out to Shen Ningruo, “Ruoruo, let’s go in.”

“I…” Shen Ningruo heard Qiu Yang’s soft voice, turned her head, and the words on the tip of her tongue took a turn. She obediently replied, “Okay.”

Qiu Yang leaned against the wall, “I’ll wait for you here.”

“Okay.”

Shen Ningruo knocked on the door before pushing it open and entering. She was carrying a bag of fruit that Qiu Yang had bought at the entrance of the residential area in her right hand. As she walked in, the bag rubbed against her leg twice, making a small rustling sound.

It was a standard ward with three beds. Shen Yuankai’s was inside. The people in the two outer beds were still on IV drips. They glanced at her when she came in, then continued watching their dramas.

Lao Yu was peeling fruit for Shen Yuankai. Seeing Shen Ningruo appear, he said happily, “Miss, you’re here.”

Shen Ningruo had told Lao Yu many times not to call her that anymore, but Lao Yu never changed, so over time, she got used to it.

Shen Yuankai was lying back, his eyes closed. Hearing Lao Yu’s words, he opened his eyes for a moment, but without even looking at Shen Ningruo, he closed them again.

Seeing his attitude, Shen Ningruo showed a smile. She placed the bag of fruit on the table nearby and said, “She bought this for you.”

There was no need to say who “she” was.

Shen Yuankai immediately opened his eyes and said in a low voice, “Take it out.”

Lao Yu chuckled awkwardly in the middle, “Old Shen, how old are you? Someone brought you fruit, and you’re still angry?”

“That’s right, Uncle Yu.” Shen Ningruo’s smile continued. She hadn’t intended to anger her father, but since Shen Yuankai was acting like that, why should she be gentle?

Of course, she would directly poke at Shen Yuankai’s sore spot.

Shen Ningruo’s eyes curved. She continued, “Some people are disrespectful of their age, relying on being older to put on airs as elders. It’s truly laughable.”

Shen Yuankai clearly didn’t want to talk to her anymore. He turned his gaze to the TV installed in the room and started watching the drama that was playing.

“Since you’re fine, Dad, and you don’t want me to stay here, I’ll go back then,” Shen Ningruo said indifferently.

Lao Yu handed over the fruit knife, “Miss, peel an apple for Old Shen. My hands are clumsy, I can’t peel it well.”

Shen Ningruo looked at the thin peel in Lao Yu’s hand: …

This is called not peeling it well?

However, she also knew that Lao Yu wanted her to stay with Shen Yuankai for a while longer. She raised her eyes, looked at Shen Yuankai, and deliberately said, “Uncle Yu, you eat this one. I’ll peel one of the ones I just brought for him.”

“Alright.”

“Then I’ll go wash it first.”

After saying that, Lao Yu took a large, red apple from the bag to wash.

Shen Ningruo sat down on the stool and tentatively asked, “Dad, could it be that Guo Ming’an asked you to be a go-between again?”

Shen Yuankai didn’t respond, still staring at the TV, not giving her a single glance.

Shen Ningruo lowered her eyelids, “Okay, since you didn’t answer, I’ll take it as you admitting it.”

Lao Yu was quick. He came back with the apple in a few seconds. Before handing it to Shen Ningruo, he even wiped it with a tissue.

“Thank you, Uncle Yu.”

“Miss, why say that?” Lao Yu picked up the fruit he had peeled, “I’ll go out and take a look.”

“Uncle Yu, just stay here.”

“My dad doesn’t want to talk to me, and I don’t want to have any communication with him. He’s still thinking about that dirty son-in-law of his who’s already married, and he’s not looking forward to my arrival. I’m just an eyesore staying here.”

Shen Yuankai glared at her at this point, “What nonsense are you talking?”

“Am I talking nonsense?” Shen Ningruo lowered her head, calmly peeling the fruit, “Which time before didn’t you act like this?”

Lao Yu felt the situation was going south and was about to say something to ease the tense atmosphere, but Shen Yuankai spoke before him, “You leave.”

He said this to Shen Ningruo.

Shen Ningruo’s peeling motion paused, then she put the knife away, placed it and the apple on the cabinet next to her, didn’t even look at Shen Yuankai, and walked out.

“Old Yu, don’t call her back,” Shen Yuankai said, coughing, “Let her go.”

Lao Yu sighed, but there was nothing he could do.

“Okay,” Shen Ningruo smiled when she saw Qiu Yang.

Qiu Yang’s lips pursed, “Are you okay?”

Shen Ningruo took her hand again, “What could be wrong?”

Qiu Yang lowered her eyes and saw a cut on Shen Ningruo’s left index finger, not long, but a bit deep, bleeding outwards.

“Wait,” Qiu Yang said, frowning, “You’re hurt.”

Shen Ningruo said “Ah,” distracted, “Maybe I accidentally cut myself just now while peeling fruit.”

Other people were walking by. Qiu Yang sighed inwardly, first taking a tissue from her bag to dab the blood, “Let’s go to the pharmacy outside to disinfect it.”

“Okay,” Shen Ningruo didn’t refuse.

At the pharmacy, Qiu Yang first disinfected Shen Ningruo’s wound with an iodine swab. The bleeding stopped, and she finally relaxed.

She could guess why Shen Ningruo had hurt her hand.

It must have been that Shen’s father said something while Shen Ningruo was peeling the fruit, distracting her and causing her to accidentally get hurt.

“Xiao Yang, I think my relationship with my dad is just going to be like this,” Shen Ningruo turned her head and smiled at Qiu Yang, “It’s so tiring, I don’t want to fix it anymore.”

The roads outside the hospital were always congested, and today was no exception. Traffic police were blowing whistles to maintain order.

Qiu Yang looked into Shen Ningruo’s brown pupils and hummed in agreement, “Then don’t fix it.”

To her, Shen Ningruo was the most important person, and she would respect all of Shen Ningruo’s thoughts.

The two of them walked back to the underground parking lot to get the car. They hadn’t been out long before returning home.

Shen Ningruo didn’t even know what illness Shen Yuankai had.

She had wanted to ask and show concern, but Shen Yuankai didn’t give her the chance.

He was her father, yes, but that didn’t mean she had to keep enduring the grievances.

After returning, Shen Ningruo rummaged through the cabinet, found a photo album, went directly to the last page, and pulled out a photo from it.

“Do I look like my mom?” Shen Ningruo held the photo next to her face and showed Qiu Yang the same smile as in the picture.

Qiu Yang was startled for a moment, then nodded, “Very much alike.”

Shen Ningruo put the photo down but still held it in her hand. She looked at the slightly old photo, her lips curving up, “This was taken before my mom married my dad. Back then, she was still looking forward to married life and smiling very brightly.”

Qiu Yang reached out and held Shen Ningruo’s hand, but she didn’t speak. At this moment, any words of comfort felt somewhat pale.

“So sometimes I wonder, when my dad looks at my face, which is so much like my mom’s, does he remember the terrible things he did before? If he can never forget, that would be great.” Shen Ningruo exhaled, put the photo back into the album, and closed it.

“Ruoruo,” Qiu Yang’s lips moved, “I will always be by your side.”

At this moment, saying too many nice words felt redundant. Expressing just that one sentence was enough.

Shen Ningruo looked into her eyes, “I know.”

“I will also always be by your side.”

Qiu Yang nodded and changed the subject, “Why don’t we think about how to spend the Dragon Boat Festival?”

“Okay.”

Several weekends in a row had been busy. Fortunately, this weekend, only the matter with Shen Yuankai took them out. The rest of the time, they stayed home. Shen Ningruo chose another suspense movie to watch, and Qiu Yang watched with her.

Just like before, whenever a scary scene was about to appear, Qiu Yang would raise her hand to block Shen Ningruo’s view.

But even so, Shen Ningruo still found it a bit scary and kept holding onto Qiu Yang, not letting go.

Pingzi the cat nearby: …

Speechless, how could this person be like this?

Even clingier than it was.

On Sunday evening, Lao Yu sent another message, giving news about Shen Yuankai. He was only staying in the hospital until tonight and was discharged.

Shen Ningruo transferred some money to Lao Yu because he had gone to so much trouble.

“Miss,” Lao Yu sent a voice message at the end, “Old Shen got sick this time because that man named Guo called him. He told that man to stop bothering you, and they argued. That’s why he got angry and fell ill.”