Horseback riding was out of the question. Jiang Yi was sent to the hospital.
On the way, Ning Wenying, looking at Jiang Yi’s swollen wrist, was heartbroken to the point of tears.
Jiang Yi couldn’t bear to see a beautiful woman cry. Looking at Ning Wenying’s worried face, she couldn’t help but think of her own mother. Coupled with the pain in her hand, she almost started crying along with her.
But she was a mature child now and couldn’t cry so pathetically. She endured the pain and comforted Ning Wenying, saying it wasn’t a big deal, that she’d fractured her wrist before and it healed quickly.
Sitting beside Jiang Yi, Jiang Sixian bit her lower lip, her face pale.
Ning Wenying felt Jiang Yi must be in agony and kept urging Jiang Qionghua to drive faster. Jiang Qionghua, also worried about Jiang Yi’s suffering, drove like a bat out of hell, rushing her to the best hospital nearby.
The X-rays confirmed a wrist fracture. Fortunately, there was no displacement, so surgery wasn’t necessary. Hospitalization for observation and immobilization treatment would suffice.
After a group of doctors consulted with Jiang Yi, a treatment plan was finalized, and hospitalization was arranged.
Jiang Qionghua felt it wasn’t appropriate for Jiang Yi to stay in the hospital alone, so she suggested to Ning Wenying that she would stay overnight and Ning Wenying could take Jiang Sixian home.
This suggestion was met with Jiang Yi’s vehement opposition: “No way! I’m fine on my own. There are plenty of nurses to take care of me! If you stay, where will you sleep?”
Jiang Qionghua had to remind her: “This ward has a bed for someone to stay overnight!”
Jiang Yi still objected: “I still don’t want you to stay. It’ll be inconvenient for me with you here.”
Jiang Qionghua was puzzled: “How is it inconvenient? Don’t you want me to take care of you?”
Jiang Yi proceeded to list the numerous inconveniences: “If you’re here, won’t you have to answer your company calls? Won’t you have to work? Won’t that disturb my rest?”
“Besides, with you here, how can I play games or chat with people?”
Her reasoning seemed sound, but Jiang Qionghua only heard one key point: “Your hand is like this, and you still want to play games?”
Jiang Yi knew all parents focused on the wrong things. Exasperated, she said, “I’m hospitalized! If I don’t watch TV or play games, how bored will I be?” Was she supposed to dedicate herself to studying?
Jiang Qionghua was speechless.
Ning Wenying, looking at Jiang Yi’s injury, felt sympathetic. She said gently, “How about Auntie Ning stays with you? I don’t have to work and can keep you company.”
The beautiful woman’s offer, to the current Jiang Yi, was like a sugar-coated bullet. Jiang Yi was tempted, but seeing Ning Wenying reminded her of the time she spent with her mother in the hospital. With her injured hand, she was feeling vulnerable and prone to sentimentality.
Therefore, she refused the beautiful woman’s “sugar-coated bullet”: “But Auntie Ning said staying up late makes you age faster, and the hospital isn’t a pleasant place. You don’t have to stay with me. Let me be alone.”
Please, just let her wallow in her solitary misery. Maybe her injury would heal faster that way.
Seeing both adults rejected, Jiang Sixian, who had been observing quietly, spoke up, looking at Jiang Yi in the hospital bed. “Then I’ll stay and keep you company.”
Jiang Yi was stunned.
Jiang Sixian paused, then finished her sentence: “Auntie Qionghua is busy with work, and Mom isn’t comfortable in hospitals. I have nothing to do, so I’m the most suitable.”
She looked at Jiang Yi, her gaze firm. “Besides, you were injured because of me. I have a responsibility to take care of you.”
This almost made Jiang Yi jump out of bed. “No, no, no, there’s no need, really. I don’t need anyone. Didn’t you hear the doctor? I need rest, proper rest. Any of you being here will seriously affect my recovery!”
She was a patient now, and everyone had to indulge her whims.
Of those present, only Ning Wenying was truly skilled at coaxing. She thought for a moment and suggested to Jiang Yi, “How about this? Auntie Ning will go home and make you something delicious, and your mother will stay here with you. How does that sound?”
Jiang Yi felt Ning Wenying was a truly remarkable woman. She rarely managed to effectively refuse her suggestions. Especially after a few seconds of silence, when Ning Wenying added tentatively, “Or would you rather I stay with you and your mother goes home to cook for you?”
Jiang Yi quickly said, “No, no, no, we’re back to square one, aren’t we?” Ultimately, although Ning Wenying was kind to her, she wasn’t her mother. No matter how shameless she was, or how much she wanted to torment Jiang Sixian, she couldn’t bring herself to let Ning Wenying stay with her. However, she could accept the offer of a home-cooked meal with a clear conscience.
After careful consideration, she said, “Fine, fine, let Auntie Qionghua stay then.”
Ning Wenying smiled. “Alright, then Auntie Ning will go home and make you something delicious.”
After a few more pleasantries, Ning Wenying took Jiang Sixian home. Before leaving, Jiang Sixian turned and glanced at Jiang Yi, finding her holding the remote with one hand, adjusting the TV, and feeling inexplicably reassured.
However, on the way home, she was still preoccupied with Jiang Yi, feeling restless.
Ning Wenying, driving, noticed her daughter’s unusual behavior and asked gently, “Worried about Xiao Yi?”
Jiang Sixian nodded. “Yes, Mom… if Jiang Yi hadn’t pulled me away, I would be the one in the hospital now, and it might have been much worse.” Recalling the scene, Jiang Sixian felt a wave of fear. She thought if she had been hit, she might have broken several ribs.
Ning Wenying’s smile faded. She reached out and placed a hand on Jiang Sixian’s cold hand, comforting her. “Yes, so I have to thank Xiao Yi for saving my precious baby.” She turned to Jiang Sixian. “Xianxian, you should thank her too, okay?”
Jiang Sixian nodded, a plan already forming in her mind.
Back home, Ning Wenying told Grandma Xu Lan about Jiang Yi’s situation. Grandma Xu Lan was so worried she became flustered. Finally, it was the composed Jiang Sixian who said, “Grandma, let’s pack some clothes for Jiang Yi first. Mom and I will take them to her later this evening.”
Grandma Xu Lan quickly agreed. “Right, right, right, I’ll go pack her clothes.”
Grandma Xu Lan led Jiang Sixian upstairs and opened Jiang Yi’s room. The door hadn’t been rekeyed; the code was still the default string of zeros.
Entering the room, Jiang Sixian was struck by how sparsely furnished it was. Apart from some necessities, the only things on the desk were a few books and a picture frame.
In the frame, Jiang Yi was sitting on the grass, her arm around her mother, smiling radiantly. Jiang Sixian couldn’t resist walking over and touching the frame.
Through the glass, she traced Jiang Yi’s face with her fingertips, her thoughts swirling.
It wasn’t until Grandma Xu Lan called from the closet, “Xianxian, come here and see if this is enough clothes for Xiao Yi,” that Jiang Sixian snapped out of her reverie. She quickly withdrew her hand, suppressing her racing heart, and turned to enter the closet. But the radiant smile in the photo lingered in her mind, like an unshakeable memory.
Author’s Note:
Jiang Yi: Speak of the devil!
