CHAPTER 363: CHAPTER 362: THE ELDERLY FATHER-IN-LAW FALLS ILL

The nurse changed three sets of IVs, and it was past two in the morning before the needle was removed.

Zhao Dazhuang’s anesthesia wore off, leaving the surgical incision painful, yet the nurse instructed frequent turning and body massages.

Shi Yang helped Zhao Dazhuang turn over and massaged him every half hour.

When it was quiet, Zhao Dazhuang closed his eyes and relaxed, occasionally letting out a muffled groan of pain, the sound soft yet deeply resonant.

Zhao Meimei sat close to Shi Yang on the caregiver’s bed, looking at her father, lost in thought and feeling a sense of confusion and even fear.

She had accompanied Grandma Zhao in the family hospital compound, and also her grandmother. Even now, she could vividly remember how they lay on the hospital bed, emaciated and frail, their eyes dull and lifeless, tubes inserted in their noses and mouths, and monitors beeping, displaying numerous lines and numbers flashing continuously.

Back then, all she felt deep within was sympathy and unwillingness, but when her dad lay on the bed, a sudden indescribable fear gripped her.

"What’s wrong?" Shi Yang leaned in close to her ear and asked in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

Zhao Meimei shook her head, hugged Shi Yang’s arm, and leaned her head against his shoulder.

Shi Yang gently lifted her chin, their eyes met, and Shi Yang signaled a glance: Tired? Why not lie down and rest for a while?

Zhao Meimei shook her head: Can’t sleep.

Shi Yang didn’t persuade further. He sat steadily, kept his back straight, allowing Zhao Meimei to lean comfortably.

Zhao Dazhuang was in pain throughout the night. Shi Yang and Zhao Meimei stayed awake, with Shi Yang regularly turning and massaging Zhao Dazhuang, while Zhao Meimei kept her father company by talking with him.

A little after six, the nurse came to take the temperature, and soon after, Liu Xiue hurried into the ward, carrying a thermal food container.

She first peeked at Zhao Dazhuang and saw that his condition was clearly better than yesterday, secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and asked, "How do you feel?"

Zhao Dazhuang shook his head, took the chance while Zhao Meimei and Shi Yang went to wash, to groaningly say, "Oh mom! It’s killing me, I almost cried from the pain last night."

Liu Xiue, amused and exasperated, tousled his head: "Look at you, so lacking in nerve!"

Zhao Dazhuang grinned and asked softly, "Did I scare you last night?"

Liu Xiue’s eyes reddened, she glared at him: "You say it! If not for your stubborn refusal to come to the hospital, it wouldn’t have been dragged out so badly! We’ll see if you’ll listen to me later!"

Zhao Dazhuang said, "Am I disobedient? You’re number one at home, I can’t even rank second."

Liu Xiue chuckled, softly said, "Let me massage your head, to help you relax."

Zhao Dazhuang tugged at the corners of his mouth: "My wife is the best, knows how to take care of me."

The two spoke in soft whispers, both deliberately lowering their voices.

In the open restroom doorway, Shi Yang grabbed Zhao Meimei who just turned her head to walk out after washing her hands.

Zhao Meimei looked back, her expression full of surprise.

Shi Yang signaled for her to listen to the sound outside.

Zhao Meimei listened for a while, quickly covered her mouth, almost laughed out loud, bending her eyes to talk to Shi Yang in lip shape: My dad is acting cute with my mom, haha!

Shi Yang wrapped her in his arms, lowered his head and rubbed his forehead against hers: I’m acting cute with you too, so tired!

Zhao Meimei tiptoed to kiss him: Thank you.

Shi Yang shook his head: For you, I’m willing to do anything.

Zhao Meimei’s lips immediately curved into a happy smile: Me too.

Shi Yang laughed, the two hugged at the restroom doorway, and waited until the hospital room calmed down again, exchanged smiles before walking out one after the other.

Zhao Meimei needed to go to school during the day, and Shi Yang also had work responsibilities at the company, so Liu Xiue stayed at the hospital to take care of Zhao Dazhuang.

Shi Yang drove Zhao Meimei home to wash up and change clothes first, then took her to the school gate before heading to the company.

Near noon, Xu Hongbin made a point of going to the company to invite Shi Yang for dinner that evening.

As soon as they met, Xu Hongbin asked in surprise, "Mr. Shi, are you feeling unwell? Your complexion doesn’t look good."

Shi Yang took a sip of coffee, put down the cup, and rubbed his face with his hand: "Ah, my father-in-law suddenly developed acute appendicitis last night, my wife and I stayed at the hospital all night,

Xu Hongbin was astonished: "Gosh, really? Master Zhao is hospitalized! Which hospital? I’ll visit him later."

Shi Yang glanced at him and said, "Central Hospital."

Xu Hongbin nodded and said, "I initially planned to invite you and your wife for dinner tonight, but we can wait for another opportunity."

Shi Yang readily agreed. After chatting a bit more about work, Xu Hongbin left.

Xu Hongbin sat in the car, didn’t start it immediately but took out his phone, pondered for a while, then unlocked the screen, tapped twice on the screen before sending a message.

At the same time, Zhang Jiahui, sitting in the office revising practice questions, heard her phone buzz, she looked at it, paused for a moment, then glanced at Zhao Meimei, only then noticing Zhao Meimei indeed seemed somewhat sluggish and lacking energy.

Zhang Jiahui thought for a moment, quickly replied with a single word: Okay.

She casually set the phone aside, lowered her head to finish correcting the last question, handed it to Zhao Meimei: "Go back and correct the mistakes, rewrite the words you’re not confident about several times to enhance memory."

Zhao Meimei took the practice sheet, nodded: "I understand."

Zhang Jiahui turned to check the class schedule posted beside the bookshelf and said: "There’s one of my classes and a self-study session this afternoon, I don’t plan to cover new material in class, you can pack up and go home."

Zhao Meimei was stunned and looked at her in surprise.

Zhang Jiahui said thoughtfully: "I heard your father is sick and hospitalized, go be with him, it’ll not be counted as an absence."

Zhao Meimei felt a pang in her heart, her face slightly betrayed her emotions, she pursed her lips, didn’t make a sound.

Zhang Jiahui assumed she was worried about her father’s health, kindly advised: "Don’t stress too much, appendicitis is not a major illness, with surgery and proper care, it can be fully recovered. Go home safely."

Zhao Meimei said thank you to the teacher, turned to leave, once outside the office, her expression collapsed completely, thinking to herself that Zhang Jiahui definitely contacted Shi Yang again.

As the thought arose, Zhao Meimei became instantly displeased, though this discontent didn’t last long. Once she hurried to hospital in a cab with her bag, her mind was completely occupied with thoughts of her father, disinclined to bicker with Zhang Jiahui over trivial matters.

With too many people lining up in front of the elevator, anxious to see her dad, Zhao Meimei simply opted for the stairwell, climbing the stairs. By the time she reached the third floor, she saw Qu Chaozong chatting face to face with an old man, both smiling.