Chapter 162: Hospital

Sui Yi paused for a fraction of a second, clutching her phone as she figured that Ye Xiuling must have told him, since she had given Ye Xiuling her number after leaving the Ye family earlier.

She just hadn't expected this Ye Chunnan to come track her down...

"Mhm."

Sui Yi acknowledged and hung up the phone, then turned to Gong Jiu. "Today probably won't work out."

"It really is strange, buying a house and not even bothering to look at it... Who's looking for you? Making you bail out so readily." Gong Jiu's tone was deeply dissatisfied.

"I trust you."

"....."

Gong Jiu promptly and cheerfully sent the person off, though not too far, as Sui Yi had mentioned waiting beyond the street...

Well, how could a person like Young Miss Gong possibly agree to stand out on the street without a car or an entourage, especially with a bunch of investors waiting for her to lead a meeting back inside...

In the end, Sui Yi went to the roadside alone, and shortly after, she spotted Ye Chunnan.

Straddling a bicycle with his long legs, he was scrolling through his phone with an expression of utter impatience. When he looked up and saw Sui Yi walking out, he raised an eyebrow and sneered, "What on earth are you doing in a dump like this? Do you get a kick out of looking at it?"

Ye Chunnan was essentially still a youth at heart, possessing a rebellious streak in his bones—unceremonious and sharp-edged. Sui Yi, someone who strictly governed her conduct by propriety, was naturally unaccustomed to his demeanor. Yet, seeing as she was not really anyone to him, she didn't say much and merely glanced at him.

"Buying a house."

Hearing this, Ye Chunnan laughed. "Isn't my house good enough to live in, you're buying another one... Get on, I'll take you back!" Naturally, he didn't take her words seriously.

Sui Yi said nothing more and simply cast a glance at the bicycle he was straddling. "Just one?"

"Duh! Are you getting on or not?"

Sui Yi gazed at him steadily for a moment. "Get off first."

"What?" Ye Chunnan's eyes widened, but he still swung his long leg over. "What for?"

Before he could even react—

Sui Yi had already stepped straight up. With similarly long legs, she effortlessly swung over the saddle, grabbed the handlebars, and turned her face toward him amidst Ye Chunnan's stunned expression. "I'm not used to riding behind others, so you get on."

He could have vomited blood. Ye Chunnan felt that the greatest exasperation he had ever experienced in his life came from this seemingly harmless girl. The most terrifying part was that he couldn't throw a tantrum or resort to fists and feet the way he did with others.

——Behold the importance of a good appearance.

"Are you joking?"

Hardly had the words left his mouth when he saw Sui Yi turn her face, plant her feet, and pedal the bike forward, riding right away...

"Damn it! That's my bike! Stop, stop, stop right now..."

Ye Chunnan sprinted frantically in pursuit...

Three minutes later, Sui Yi stopped, turning to look at the panting Ye Chunnan, who was practically ready to collapse from exhaustion.

"Now, are you getting on?"

Ye Chunnan braced his hands on his thighs, hanging his head as he gasped for breath. After a long while, he straightened up and pointed at you-know-who.

"You, you... This is too much! That bike is mine~~" His voice, initially full of vigor, turned incomparably plaintive due to physical exhaustion...

"Mm, it's yours. So?" Sui Yi looked at him indifferently, her poised and calm demeanor carrying an intimidating aura...

Ye Chunnan: "You!"

He raised his fist! Aiming straight for Sui Yi's head...

Ten seconds later, Ye Chunnan, lacking the energy to shout or curse any further, found himself sitting on the back seat of the bicycle...

Looking utterly defeated.

Entering the residential complex, Sui Yi asked Ye Chunnan, "Where is the neighborhood committee office? I'm going to pick up Grandma."

"No need to pick her up. Grandma always stays over there for a long time... There are plenty of other old ladies playing with her, making dumplings and dancing... It's no fun for her even if she comes home." Ye Chunnan's words made Sui Yi abandon the idea.

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When Sui Yi and Ye Chunnan returned to the Ye house, Ye Xiuling was eating. There weren't many dishes, but Ye Xiuling was eating with great relish. Perhaps, for all these years, this was the first time she had ever eaten a meal cooked for her by someone else...

It tasted very good.

"Oh, you're back?"

Seeing the two of them return, Ye Xiuling made to stand up, but Sui Yi had already stepped forward, placing a stack of contract documents to the side and glancing at her. "Are there any warmed dishes?"

"Huh? They're not cold, they're fine to eat. Did you make this? It's delicious... Thank you, Sui Yi..."

She had been dizzy with hunger; where would she find the presence of mind to heat up food...

Sui Yi frowned, took in Ye Xiuling's sallow complexion, and headed into the kitchen. A moment later, she came out with a cup of hot water, placed it beside Ye Xiuling, and said calmly, "Your skin is sallow and dull, and there's a pent-up gloom between your eyebrows. It's either excessive liver fire or physical exhaustion... Tomorrow when I take Grandma to the hospital, come with us and get a checkup too."

These words caused Ye Chunnan, who had been about to head to his room, to pause in his tracks, while Ye Xiuling experienced a mix of shock and embarrassment at having her thoughts laid bare. "I... it's not that serious... No need for any checkups, though I'll definitely go along tomorrow when Mother goes to the hospital."

Deciding to leave the matter for tomorrow, Sui Yi didn't press further and changed the subject. "Is the shop giving you a lot of trouble?"

"It's alright, it's already sorted out. When you run a shop, there are always these kinds of headaches. It's fine..." Ye Xiuling didn't elaborate further. She finished her meal in a few quick bites, took her bowl inside to wash it, and called out to Sui Yi over her shoulder, "Sui Yi, your room has been tidied up. You can go inside and have a look, or watch TV in the living room..."

Sui Yi went to the living room to watch TV. After all, she had no homework to do, and there were no books here for her to read, so she turned on the television.

Ye Chunnan stayed in his room for a while. Driven by who knows what kind of thoughts, he suddenly emerged, plopped down right beside Sui Yi, and upon seeing that an antique appraisal show was on, let out a scoff. "What's good about this... I've got a disc here, let's watch something thrilling."

Sui Yi didn't care either way, so she let him be. Soon enough, the disc began to play...

And then...

An eerie atmosphere: a house, a white-faced woman standing behind a window... against a backdrop of gloomy music.

*Ju-on: The Grudge* began.

Ye Chunnan gritted his teeth, his heart turning icy cold. Then he looked at the person beside him...

Her expression was placid and detached as she watched the bloody decapitation scene unfold, the light in her pupils never even flickering.

Damn it, is this woman paralyzed in the face?! Her nerves are way too made of steel!

Suddenly! With a harsh, sinister, and shrill screech, Kayako's head lunged forward abruptly...

"Ah!" Ye Chunnan jolted straight up, stepping onto the sofa and grabbing a nearby throw pillow to bury his face in it!

From the kitchen came a sharp clatter as a bowl shattered, followed by Ye Xiuling's furious reprimand, "Nannan, what kind of video are you playing out there?! See if I don't tan your hide!"

Sui Yi's expression finally shifted slightly—into a smile.

Well, she thought Ye Chunnan was still rather amusing.

In the evening, Sui Yi and Ye Xiuling went to pick up the old lady. The moment she laid eyes on Sui Yi, the old woman was overjoyed, rushing forward to grab Sui Yi's arm. Beaming from ear to ear with her eyes crinkled into slits, she began introducing Sui Yi to the curious old ladies around her...

Undoubtedly, Sui Yi was a standout, drawing endless praise from the elderly women...

Seeing that the old lady's happiness was entirely genuine, Sui Yi smiled as well.

————————

The next morning, Ye Chunnan, high school senior though he was, didn't have to go to school. It seemed they had undergone a mock exam a few days prior, granting them a two-day break. Today, he made a rare early appearance. When Ye Xiuling questioned him, he sneered, "Your old lady is going to the hospital, your son has got to go check on her at least."

Such words...

The four of them took a cab, which happened to fit just right.

As soon as they got in the car, Sui Yi stated, "To City First Hospital."

"It seems Sui Yi you asked around yesterday? City First Hospital is indeed the expert when it comes to this... It's just that appointments are notoriously hard to get... If we can't secure a slot, let's head to City Third Hospital instead later..." Ye Xiuling suggested. In truth, she knew City First Hospital was the best, but while ordinary ailments were fine, difficult conditions like the old lady's were notoriously hard to find a doctor for...

"It's already booked."

Huh?

Ye Xiuling was surprised. She was certain Sui Yi had money, but securing an appointment at City First Hospital required immense connections. Since Sui Yi had just arrived in the provincial capital, how could she possibly...

Still, she didn't ask further, and the car drove toward City First Hospital.

City First Hospital was massive, with bright and clean renovations—after all, it was the premier hospital of the provincial capital.

However, it was also packed with people. The massive parking lot outside was crammed with private cars, forcing Sui Yi and the others to pull over along the street outside the hospital, a full hundred meters away...

"There are way too many people at this hospital..." Ye Chunnan rolled his eyes. Sui Yi, who visited hospitals often, was completely unfazed; after all, the country's medical resources were indeed rather lacking.

As soon as they stepped inside the hospital, Sui Yi's phone rang. Ye Xiuling and the others listened as Sui Yi exchanged a few words before hanging up, then led them toward the main lobby of the hospital's main building. Just as they were about to step onto the stairs, they saw a young man in a white lab coat walking out.

Graceful, dashing, gentle, and refined, he broke into a smile the moment he saw Sui Yi and stepped forward to greet her. "Sui Yi... Grandma, do you still remember me?"

Grandma Ye didn't have the sharpest memory. Having heard Sui Yi mention earlier that a doctor had been arranged, she hadn't immediately connected it to Jiang Yunxiu, who had treated her before. But the moment she saw him, she remembered and hurriedly stepped forward to express her gratitude...

And prepared to make a deep, formal bow...

Jiang Yunxiu wouldn't allow it for a second. He quickly supported the old lady, saying, "Grandma, Sui Yi and I are very, very good friends. It's only right, it's only right... Come, I'll take you upstairs for an examination... Don't be nervous."

Never in her wildest dreams had Ye Xiuling imagined that Sui Yi could have a friend like this. Not only was he handsomer than a movie star, but his attitude was also this wonderful, treating them almost like a dutiful son-in-law...

Ye Chunnan frowned; why did this man look a bit sneaky to him...

Naturally, the people passing by also looked on with astonishment at the scene, especially when a few nurses spotted Jiang Yunxiu and immediately trotted over.

"Director Jiang, what are you doing here?"

Director?

Ye Xiuling, her son, and the others nearby felt like spitting blood. Heavens, was there really such a young and handsome director?

Shouldn't they all be pot-bellied with bald, shining crowns...

Was this a television drama or something?!

"This is a patient with a reserved appointment, already reported to the dean. A few of you, come help out right away, I'm taking them upstairs first..."