"You..."
Wu Xianyao's veins bulged, his face contorted with rage, but he dared not speak. After much hesitation, he reluctantly licked the thick phlegm off the wall, then, gagging, he spat and gnashed his teeth as he fled Jishetang.
Despite her anger, Wu Huixian felt her face had been thoroughly disgraced by Wu Xianyao's repeated beastly behavior. She couldn't bear to stay at Jishetang any longer and said with her head bowed and a wronged expression,
"Brother Xiao, I have the early shift tomorrow, so I'll take the baby back to Longdu first. I've really caused you trouble tonight. I'll thank you properly another day."
Chen Xiao didn't stand on ceremony. He took out his car keys and unlocked the car.
"I'll drive you!"
As he spoke, the Maserati parked at the entrance flashed its dazzling headlights.
"Please don't!"
Wu Huixian shook her head without hesitation, politely refusing,
"It's really too late. You should get some rest. I'll just take a taxi."
With that, she hurried out, holding the infant in her arms. Just as she stepped out, she couldn't help but look back,
"By the way, where is Aunt Qing? I haven't seen her for the past couple of days."
Chen Xiao didn't want Wu Huixian to worry further about Chen Qing, who was seriously injured in the car accident, given the already troublesome Wu family affairs. Without thinking, he changed the subject,
"Don't worry about my mother. Hurry and get a taxi. Remember to send me a message when you get to Longdu."
"Okay!"
Wu Huixian nodded emphatically, then quickened her pace. Her tall, slender figure soon disappeared into the night at the end of the alley.
"Hoo—"
After a long day, Chen Xiao finally let out a sigh of relief and closed the door.
As the night deepened, Chen Qing slept soundly in the inner ward. Chen Xiao secured the doors and windows, then resumed using acupuncture to promote blood circulation, reduce swelling, and heal her injuries. He thought to himself,
"The 'Wu Gou Zheng Gu Shu' (Pure Bone Setting Technique) for mending broken bones is very effective, and the 'Jiu Gong Ba Gua Chang Chun Zhen' (Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Everlasting Needle) for promoting blood circulation and reducing swelling is even more remarkable than I anticipated. Combined with several oral medicinal herbs I've carefully prepared, I estimate my mother should be able to get out of bed with some difficulty tomorrow."
Just as he finished inserting one set of the Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Everlasting Needles, Chen Qing suddenly woke up. She instinctively reached out and caressed Chen Xiao's handsome face, her eyes filled with doting affection and concern.
"Son, you're finally off work. You must be exhausted, right?"
Chen Xiao shook his head slightly, his face also filled with concern.
"Mom, does it still hurt? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
Chen Qing repeatedly shook her head, indicating she was fine. Casually glancing at the wall clock, she paused and then said,
"It's so late, and you're just getting off work. You haven't eaten dinner yet, have you? Where's the temporary nanny you hired, Xiao Song? Have her make you something to eat. Her cooking is excellent, almost comparable to a hotel chef."
To prevent Chen Qing from overthinking, Chen Xiao decided not to explain Song Nuan's true identity. He said with a wry smile,
"Mom, stop fussing. I've already eaten at the hospital cafeteria. Besides, Xiao Song is only responsible for taking care of you during my working hours. Since I'm back from work, she's naturally gone home."
Chen Qing immediately became displeased.
"That's not right. She should also be taking care of you while I'm bedridden and recovering. At the very least, she should ensure you have a delicious hot meal waiting when you get home from work. We can always pay her extra."
Enjoying Chen Qing's nagging, Chen Xiao obediently nodded.
"Alright, alright. I'll talk to her tomorrow."
"You just know how to save money!"
Chen Qing gave Chen Xiao a stern look and continued to nag,
"By the way, are you working the day shift or the night shift tomorrow? Your second aunt's brother is moving into a new house and having a banquet tomorrow. It would be improper for us to miss it. But since I'm injured like this, I'll have to trouble you to go alone."
Her second aunt's brother was Wang Hailong, who had previously clashed with Chen Xiao at Zijing Middle School.
Mentioning Wang Hailong, Chen Qing immediately became a little indignant. As soon as she finished speaking, she couldn't help but complain sourly,
"Hmph! Although your second aunt's brother isn't a person of great character, he's developed very well over the years. I heard he's hooked up with a real estate boss surnamed Qin and easily bought a luxury house in Swan Lake district. Your second aunt said it cost several million! Tsk tsk tsk, I don't know when in my life I'll be able to earn enough money to buy you such a house as a wedding gift."
"A real estate boss surnamed Qin?"
Chen Xiao's mind immediately went to Qin Hantang, who had an accident at the construction site and whose precious daughter was being treated in the hospital. Just as he was about to inquire further, he was immediately disheartened by Chen Qing's latter sentence. He lowered his head, fiddling with his phone, and mumbled,
"Mom, I don't even have a girlfriend yet. Isn't it too early to be preparing a wedding house?"
Chen Qing was disappointed in his lack of ambition.
"Too early, my foot! Old Wang's chubby son next door is apparently half a year younger than you, and his child, born before the Lunar New Year, is almost old enough to run errands..."
As soon as she finished speaking, Song Nuan suddenly video-called Chen Xiao.
Chen Xiao didn't think much of it and casually answered the call. Instantly, Song Nuan's alluring and enchanting voice reached Chen Qing's ears,
"Darling, I miss you so much!"
What's more, on the screen, Song Nuan was only wearing a gossamer-thin silk nightgown, her flawless fair skin tantalizingly revealed!