Qu Jingwan turned around. Even the way she looked at Ji Chi was filled with viciousness.
“Okay. Let’s go. We’ll come back here tomorrow to visit Pei Ge and the children.”
Madam Ji bid the couple and their children goodbye before leaving the ward with her. While they were walking down the corridor, the older woman said softly, “Earlier in the ward, my son’s attitude toward you…”
“Auntie, it’s alright. I know that he’s acting like that merely because he’s worried about Pei Ge,” explained the other.
“Does he treat you well usually?”
The older woman did not believe it, for she understood her son. If he did not detest this young lady, he would not be at odds with her all the time. When he spoke, he would mock her. This happened often when she was around, so what more if she was not present?
“He treats me pretty well.” The young lady dipped her head, her shyness caused a blush on her face. This made the older woman happy and worried.
She was happy that her son still had some feelings for this lady, yet she also worried about Old Lady Qu’s parting remarks the other day. Her words were akin to invisible rocks weighing on her heart.
“Hey, no matter what my son does to you next time, if it upsets you, just let me know, okay?”
Ding! The doors opened and they boarded the lift.
The metallic interior of the elevator reflected their standing posture. Qu Jingwan’s wavy hair covered her apple cheeks as she spoke. “Autnie, don’t worry. Whatever happens, I’ll always be by his side. I’ve treated myself as a member of your family long ago.”
“Okay, then.”
Madam Ji smiled and nodded. With the Qu family as a support for her family, regardless of what happened in the future, the man would always be this lady’s.
…
Back in the ward, the three children surrounded Pei Ge.
“Mommy, when will your neck injury recover? Daddy said that we can only return home once you make full recovery.”
Ran Ran removed her shoes and went up her mother’s bed. Seeing some blood on the white gauze around her mother’s neck, she felt pain. Her chubby hands touched the injury as she asked, “Does it hurt?”
“It doesn’t hurt; even the most painful injury won’t hurt when I have all of you.”
Warmth from the children filled the woman’s fragile heart. If it were not for her daughter’s reminder, she would probably forget that her neck was injured. If Huang Zhian had used more force back then, she would probably be unable to stand or lie down now.
“You guys have been tiring your mommy for some time now; follow the nurses and rest in your rooms.”
Ji Ziming skinned four George apples, cut each into slices, and placed them on a plate. He carried the plate to his woman’s bed. “Have some apples and rest again after eating.”
“Hmph! Naughty daddy, I don’t wanna!”
The girl blinked her huge eyes and pouted in indignation. She turned her head, not wanting to look at her father.
“Is my little lover mad at me? You said earlier that you wanna marry me, so why are you going back on your words in the blink of an eye?”
He carried the apple to his daughter. Seeing that the latter was tempted but hesitant, warmth slowly melted the frostiness on Ji Ziming’s face. “How about eating an apple and reconciling with me?”
“Hmph! I don’t wanna eat your apple.”
She wanted to admit defeat but could not bear to lose face. Thus, the girl continued to present her back to the man as she pretended to still be angry.
“Since your little sister doesn’t want them, you guys can have them.”
Seeing that his daughter was unwilling to give him face, he turned to his two sons for support. Both hesitated and looked at each other before picking up the fork to eat the apples.
Ji Chi offered his mother the first slice he got; the concern he had for her was masked by the chilliness in his eyes.
The woman was clearly taken aback because she had not expected him to take care of her. Warmth filled her heart, and all the pain he had brought her previously was instantly wiped away.
If time could stop, it should stop at this very moment. She always wanted to see the care and concern that he had for her in his eyes.
“Thank you, Ping An.”
Her voice choked as her beautiful eyes brimmed with unshed tears.
“Are you still unwilling to care about me?”
As the two boys took the fruit platter from him, the man turned to address the adorable girl. Warmth crept into his chilly eyes. “If you’re still angry with me, I won’t marry you anymore. I’ll marry your mommy, instead.”
“Hmph! I know that no man is good!” Upon hearing his words, she faced about with her arms akimbo and scolded, “Daddy you are no good, too!”
“Who did you learn this from?”
This lassie was just like her mother in the latter’s teenage years. Back then, the woman was also like this and was good at scolding others.
“I didn’t learn it from anyone; it’s the truth!”
Ran Ran denied learning it from anyone, yet craftiness flashed across her eyes. If her father were to know that she had learned it from watching TV with her grandmother, he would probably not marry her anymore.
“Tell me: Who did you learn this from?”
Ji Ziming pressed on despite his daughter’s denial. From his understanding of her, it was impossible for the girl to say it by herself.
“Daddy, then, you must promise that you’ll still marry me if I say it.”
Seeing that she was unable to escape from it, she decided to come clean. Still, the girl was afraid that her father would not marry her anymore, and this made her feel very nervous.
“Alright. I’ll still marry you.”
The man smiled; with two feisty chili around him, his life would not be so boring.
“I learned it from grandma.”
“Grandma?”
He tried to recall but could not remember his mother having scolded anyone like this in the past.
“Grandma watches TV, and that’s how the wives scold their husbands in those shows.”
He laughed out loud while his daughter felt conflicted between laughing or crying, leaving her looking dazed. She wondered what he was thinking now. “Daddy, are you really not gonna marry me anymore? No way. You must make good of your promise! You’ve promised me earlier.”
Seeing that tears were about to flow out of his daughter’s eyes, Ji Ziming simply smiled and did not answer.
