CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 44: BOUNDARIES BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN

In the morning, the Su family came to visit.

Speaking of yesterday’s car accident, the police assessment determined that it was caused by the truck driver’s fatigue.

The truck driver is fully responsible for the accident, but he is now lying unconscious in the hospital ward, diagnosed as a vegetable.

Su Lingzhi can’t possibly have no emotions, but she didn’t show them, as the Su family will pursue accountability to the end.

In the end, only Jiang Chenglin was left accompanying her.

Su Lingzhi spoke softly, "You seem very free, don’t you have anything to do?"

"No."

Jiang Chenglin was peeling an apple beside her, clumsily breaking the peel repeatedly, leaving one very unsightly apple.

"I have someone I like."

In the quiet space, suddenly this sentence emerged again, causing Jiang Chenglin’s body to freeze.

He glanced sideways at the person lying on the hospital bed and responded, "So what."

His tone remained light, yet his expression was tense.

"You don’t have an obligation to stay here with me."

"No need to tell me to leave, it’s not up to you whether it’s necessary or not." With that, Jiang Chenglin picked up a small piece of apple and touched it to her lips, "Apple."

Su Lingzhi avoided, "I don’t want to eat."

"It’s sliced, do me the favor of having a bite."

Su Lingzhi avoided again, not giving him the slightest bit of courtesy.

Jiang Chenglin put the apple down helplessly.

Because she couldn’t see, even going to the toilet required someone to help.

Su Lingzhi tolerated her aversion to him, supporting him as they walked step by step towards the restroom.

"Where is the flush button?"

Jiang Chenglin held her hand and guided it to the button’s location, "Press here."

Su Lingzhi withdrew her hand, "I know, you can go out now."

Jiang Chenglin was reluctant, "I’ll be by the side, not looking."

"With you here, I can’t do it."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chenglin hesitated for a moment and said, "I’ll be just outside the door, call if you need."

Su Lingzhi nodded.

Having a man around was indeed inconvenient, so after using the bathroom and returning to bed, Su Lingzhi said to him, "Could you help me get a caregiver?"

Jiang Chenglin tucked her blanket in, "Am I not serving you well enough, needing a caregiver?"

"There’s a difference between men and women, it’s inconvenient."

"I’m your..." Jiang Chenglin paused, then quickly changed his tone: "I’ll get you one later."

Su Lingzhi, feeling bored, leaned on the bed and asked him, "What time is it now?"

Jiang Chenglin glanced at his watch, "Three in the afternoon."

"Where is my phone?"

"Just had surgery, don’t touch electronic devices."

Su Lingzhi fell silent and curled up under the blanket to sleep.

Later, she was woken up by noise.

"Zhizhi."

Upon hearing this familiar voice, Su Lingzhi was slightly surprised, "Xiaoxi? Why did you come back?"

Zhuang Xiaoxi frowned, looking at her with compassion, "I messaged you yesterday but got no reply. Later, I called your mom and found out you had an accident. Now you..."

Before she could finish, Jiang Chenglin interrupted, "Speak softer, she has a headache."

Zhuang Xiaoxi glanced at the man, hesitated for a while, then lowered her volume slightly and asked Su Lingzhi, "How are you feeling now? Still have a headache?"

Su Lingzhi sat up, replying, "It’s okay."

Then, relying on her instincts, she turned towards Jiang Chenglin’s direction, her tone inadvertently softening, "I’d like to talk to my friend alone for a while. You’ve been here with me for so long, please go and have a rest."

"Someone’s caring for you, and you just kick me aside, right?"

Su Lingzhi didn’t respond, not wanting to argue with him.

"I’ll come back to see you later." With that, Jiang Chenglin left the hospital room.

Since Su Lingzhi’s accident, he hadn’t left her side, but now he should go back and freshen up.

...

Later, Su Lingzhi explained to her why Jiang Chenglin was there with her while her family wasn’t.

"So, your family intends to set you up with Jiang Chenglin, that’s why they’re not here with you?"

Su Lingzhi replied, "I guess that’s the case."

Zhuang Xiaoxi frowned, "But... but after what Jiang Chenglin did to you in England, how can your family trust him with you?"

"I haven’t told my family about that, I don’t want them to worry."

"Did he bully you today?"

Su Lingzhi shook her head.

Zhuang Xiaoxi mumbled, "Well, with your family, he wouldn’t dare bully you."

Su Lingzhi changed the subject, "Let’s not talk about him. Do your family know you’ve come back?"

"They do, don’t worry. School’s on summer break, so I have time to care for you. I’m staying in a hotel for convenience."

"It’s already touching that you came to see me."

Suddenly remembering something, Zhuang Xiaoxi asked, "Does your boyfriend know you had an accident?"

"Not yet." Su Lingzhi grasped her hand, "Xiaoxi, could you help me find my phone in the room?"

Zhuang Xiaoxi got up and searched around, but couldn’t find it, "Could it be left in the car and not brought back?"

Su Lingzhi shook her head, "Could you log into my WeChat on your phone? I want to contact Fu Yinli."

"Okay."

Zhuang Xiaoxi fiddled with the phone, but got stuck at the step needing a verification code.

Seeing that Su Lingzhi was a bit anxious, Zhuang Xiaoxi asked, "Do you know where he lives? I can get my brother to pass a message for you."

"But he hasn’t met Zhuang Yuan before; I don’t know if he’ll meet him."

"As it concerns your safety, if he cares about you, he’ll definitely meet him upon hearing your name. Even if he doesn’t believe what my brother says, he’ll call you back to confirm."

Su Lingzhi considered for a while and nodded.

After patiently waiting for two hours, Zhuang Yuan’s side returned the call.

Zhuang Xiaoxi put it on speaker and lowered the volume a bit.

Zhuang Yuan’s voice came through, "He’s not home now. I’ve conveyed the message to Housekeeper Zhao at the manor villa."

Su Lingzhi replied, "Thank you, Brother Zhuang Yuan."

"You’re welcome, are you alright now?"

"I’m fine."

After hanging up, Zhuang Xiaoxi turned off the phone and put it a bit further away.

To be honest, she had never taken care of anyone before, and sometimes her nerves were a bit coarse, not meticulous enough. If her brother hadn’t reminded her earlier, she wouldn’t have known electronic devices are harmful to patients.

"Since the message was delivered, let’s patiently wait for his response."

Su Lingzhi nodded.

Actually, at this moment, Su Lingzhi really wanted to see him, and also hear his voice. But ultimately, there’s always a distance and time difference between domestic and abroad, especially since he’s usually so busy.

However, within a few minutes, an unfamiliar number came in, Zhuang Xiaoxi glanced at the phone, "Should be your boyfriend calling back, don’t chat too long. I’ll wait for you outside."

Zhuang Xiaoxi connected the call, handed the phone to Su Lingzhi, and then went outside to wait.