It was very quiet at the hospital’s lawn area. Su Yuxin’s voice was light but clear.
“Sister, we all know that Peizhen pushed it too far this time. Now, Dad wants to send her away, and brother-in-law wants her to go to prison.”
“Sister, she has already been punished and she knows that she’s wrong. Can we just let this matter rest?”
“You’re part of the Su family. One bad apple would spoil the entire barrel. If my sister Peizhen really goes to prison, the Su family reputation will be gone. We’ll be the joke of Lin City. Sister—”
“Sister, I assure you that this will be the last time something like this happens. If Peizhen really hurts you or Aunt Xiang next time, you don’t even have to say anything —I won’t forgive her.”
“Sister. Can we just forget it?”
As Su Qingsang listened to Su Yuxin, the shock in her eyes gradually wore off. She stood there for a long time without uttering a word.
Half an hour later, Su Qingsang sent Su Yuxin and Old Master Li off, then returned to the ward.
When it was almost time, Huo Jinyao had somebody send lunch over again. Su Qingsang had already lost her appetite from Su Yuxin and Old Master Li’s pestering, but she forced herself to take a few bites.
Xiang Caiping noticed immediately that Su Qingsang didn’t look too well.
“Qingsang, are you too tired from looking after me? If you’re tired, go have some rest for a bit.”
“Mom, what’re you talking about? I’m not tired.” Su Qingsang was thinking about Old Master Li and Su Yuxin’s visit.
Honestly, she didn’t want to think about this matter at all. She was angrier about Su Peizhen hurting Xiang Caiping. Her own conflict with her sister was nothing in comparison.
She really wanted to teach Su Peizhen a lesson as well, but what good would a prison sentence do? At most, it was just a few months. However—
“Then what is it? Is your superior mad at you for taking time off work?”
“Mom. Nothing’s wrong.” Su Qingsang pondered for a bit before deciding to tell it all to Xiang Caiping. She signaled for Xiao Ning to leave the room and seated herself beside the bed again.
“Mom, there are certain things I didn’t want to tell you at first, but now I feel that I should ask for your opinion.”
Su Qingsang told her about Su Yuxin and Old Master Li’s visit. She also told her about the punishment Huo Jinyao had in mind for Su Peizhen.
Honestly, a punishment like this was pretty severe for someone like Su Peizhen. For a person who cared so much about her reputation and had high status and social standing, how could she bear being locked up in jail for a few months?
Though Su Qingsang might not sympathize with her, she still thought that it was a pretty heavy punishment.
“So, that was what happened. I didn’t agree to anything. I felt that I don’t have the right to decide on this matter.”
Xiang Caiping didn’t speak. She really disliked Su Peizhen. It wasn’t just dislike — she loathed her. Absolutely hated her. She wanted to teach Su Peizhen a lesson, but prison—
“This was Jinyao’s idea?”
“Yes.” Su Qingsang nodded. “Huo Jinyao insists on her going to prison. Because of that, Su Yuxin had come all the way here to beg me to interfere.”
“And you’re on good terms with Su Yuxin?”
“Mmhmm. He’s unlike Su Peizhen, he’s quite a nice person.” Su Qingsang gave it a moment’s thought before adding, “In fact, even Old Master Li is very nice. Although he might not have paid a lot of attention to me, he did not make life difficult for me over the years. He just did his duty.”
Xiang Caiping lapsed into silence. She could tell that Su Qingsang had no warm sentiments towards Su Peizhen, but she was willing to consider Su Yuxin and Old Master Li’s feelings.
“Speaking of that, my accident had nothing to do with her. If I didn’t stumble in that direction, I wouldn’t have been hit by that car.”
“Mom.” Su Qingsang held her hand. “You don’t have to care about my opinion. You just have to consider your own feelings. If you really want her to pay for it, then send Su Peizhen to prison. It’s alright.”
“Forget it.” Xiang Caiping was still not in a happy mood, but she no longer had her mind revolve around this matter. “I’m not a totally unforgiving person. Since Su Chenghui wants to send her overseas, then let her be sent away. As for going to prison, forget it.”
“Mom, you’ve been mistreated.”
“I was fine for so many years — what kind of treatment have I not dealt with? My heart only aches for you.”
“Mom.” Su Qingsang liked neither the Su family nor the Li family. If it was possible, it would be best if the two parties did not maintain contact with one another. However, in the current circumstances, it seemed impossible.
She was still unable to distance herself from this.
During the night, Su Qingsang had Xiao Ning stay behind to look after Xiang Caiping. She went home with Huo Jinyao and told him about Old Master Li’s visit while she was at it.
“Your heart has softened?”
“A little,” Su Qingsang nodded. “I don’t have a deep hatred towards Su Peizhen — we just can’t see eye to eye, that’s all. I think sending her to prison would be too much of a punishment.”
Huo Jinyao noticed the conflicted look on her face. He scooped her up and placed her on his lap. “You’re too softhearted.”
To him, it seemed absolutely necessary to teach Su Peizhen a lesson so that she would learn that there’s a price to pay for stirring up trouble.
Yet, Su Qingsang and Xiang Caiping’s hearts had relented.
“Not really. The Su family might have had neglected me over the years, but they had never mistreated me in any other way. It’s very rare in Lin City to have an illegitimate child brought into and raised in the official family.”
At least she had been raised in a safe and peaceful place, had a higher education, and was still doing well now.
Brought home? That wasn’t necessarily for her own good. Huo Jinyao had a wicked tongue. “Why can’t you admit that it was something your father did to piss Li Qianxue off?”
Su Qingsang threw him a look. “Do you have to be so blunt?”
“I’ve always been very direct.” As he spoke, he turned her body around and had her face him. “Just like how I’m now directly facing you.”
The hint in his words was too obvious. Su Qingsang shied away slightly. “Stop messing around. I haven’t showered.”
“That’s great. Let’s shower together.”
As he spoke, he scooped her up effortlessly and skipped towards the bathroom.
Su Qingsang didn’t want to fall, so she could only wrap her arms around his neck. “Huo Jinyao—”
“Hmm? Don’t worry. I’ll make you squeaky clean.”
Who was talking about that? Su Qingsang glared at him, thinking of bringing up the matter of the baby. However, those words never left her lips.
Perhaps she should wait a bit more. Until her heart has settled down, and until she was more certain about it.
“Don’t worry. I know that you’re tired. Just this one time.”
The message in Huo Jinyao’s words was simply too obvious. Su Qingsang turned her face away, unwilling to listen to more of it, and ended up burying her face in his chest.
“Huo Jinyao?”
“Hmm?”
“It’s alright.” It didn’t have to be just once. She was happy to oblige.
Huo Jinyao understood. His gaze became hot and heavy with desire as he strode into the bathroom with her in his arms.
…
Su Qingsang looked after Xiang Caiping for a few more days. She finally went back to work in her department only after her mother has recovered a little more and she seemed to be in better spirits.
On the first day of her being back at work, two patients were admitted, both with heavy injuries from major car accidents. One of them was a pregnant woman.
She was eight months into her pregnancy. The situation was extremely risky. Su Qingsang and Director Chen prepared to start the surgery.
“The pregnant woman is losing a lot of blood. Quick — prepare some type O blood.”
