Ji Nian woke up feeling exceptionally well-rested.
Upon waking, she initially thought she was in her dorm from her previous life, but it took her a moment to realize that her dorm bed wasn't this soft.
【Oh right, I'm now Jeeba Daughter, Ji Nian】
System: 【………】Could you please forget that name.
Ji Nian became fully awake and noticed that her surroundings had changed; she wasn't in the original hospital room anymore.
This scent of incense—it was Ji Tingzhou's bedroom.
When did they return? She hadn't heard a single sound.
The system kindly informed her: 【Three hours after you fell asleep, Ji Tingzhou brought you back. You didn't notice because the servants moved the entire bed back, only transferring you to the bedroom.】
Got it, so Ji Nian was literally carried back while lying down.
There was a warm source nearby, still deep in sleep, with slow and steady breathing.
Ji Tingzhou had excellent sleeping posture; he remained in the same position as when he fell asleep, unlike Ji Nian, whose head was almost hanging off the bed.
Worried she might kick Ji Tingzhou, she quickly sat up and moved to the side.
【The princess really shouldn't sleep with me, with all her injuries. What if I accidentally kick him?】
At the moment she sat up, Ji Tingzhou, who had been deeply asleep, opened his eyes.
His thick eyelashes fluttered, and he closed his eyes again, his voice languid and hoarse: "Pink-headed turtle, what time is it?"
It was already nine-thirty.
When the curtains were pulled back, both father and daughter squinted from the sudden light.
When Zhiliao entered with someone, Ji Tingzhou was playing with the child's curly hair, enjoying the sight of Ji Nian's expression of anger mixed with helplessness.
Zhiliao sister!
Seeing Zhiliao was like seeing a savior; Ji Nian's imaginary ears seemed to perk up.
Ji Tingzhou clicked his tongue.
Due to Ji Tingzhou's limited mobility, breakfast was served in bed.
While Ji Tingzhou was wiping his face, Ji Nian was opening her mouth wide for someone to brush her teeth.
Thanks to Ji Tingzhou, Ji Nian experienced the decadent luxury of having food and clothes brought to her.
After eating, Ji Nian wanted to leave, but just as the doctor arrived to change Ji Tingzhou's dressing, she plopped back down.
The doctor was a familiar female doctor to Ji Nian, and she was delighted to see Ji Nian, patting her shoulder affectionately.
She actually wanted to ruffle the child's fluffy hair, but the intense gaze from Ji Tingzhou beside her was a bit intimidating, forcing her to change her trajectory mid-motion.
Although Ji Tingzhou was thin, his physical condition was surprisingly good; his wounds were already scabbing over in just a few days, though they still looked quite gruesome.
This wasn't really suitable for a child to see, but the doctor had prepared to comfort Ji Nian, only to find that the child watched the entire process without any adverse reaction, even showing a bit of eagerness. Both Ji Tingzhou and Zhiliao didn't seem to find this unusual.
She looked pleadingly at Ji Tingzhou.
Ji Tingzhou, without even looking at her, knew exactly what the little fool was thinking.
"Let her try."
He had slept well and was in a good mood.
Zhiliao: Wasn't it because the misunderstanding was cleared up?
The doctor had no choice but to hand the roll of bandage to Ji Nian.
She had prepared to verbally guide the child if she messed up, but once Ji Nian took it, she carefully thought for a moment before starting the bandaging.
She did it with a model-like precision, perfectly replicating the doctor's previous actions.
"You're really smart, very impressive."
The doctor praised without holding back.
This wasn't just flattery; it was a genuine compliment.
Ji Nian scratched her head shyly.
After all, she wasn't really a five-year-old.
"Not bad."
Even Ji Tingzhou rarely praised, flexing his arm to examine Ji Nian's handiwork.
Of course, she was smart—she was his child, after all.
If Ji Nian had been only symbolically shy before, now, with her worthless father's praise, she was genuinely embarrassed.
"Show her."
Seeing Ji Nian's small movements indicating her desire to leave, Ji Tingzhou signaled the doctor to check her wounds.
The doctor nodded, took her to the next room for a full body check, and then reported back: "The wounds on her forehead and hands aren't serious; they just need a few days to heal. Avoid water, and don't eat greasy, spicy, or seafood."
"The old scars on her body are much better than before."
"If you keep using the scar removal cream, they should fade away in a few years."
Ji Tingzhou nodded.
Noticing her hesitation, as if she had more to say, he gestured for her to continue.
The doctor obliged: "Should we consider finding a psychologist for the child?"
Now, it was Ji Tingzhou and Zhiliao who looked puzzled.
The doctor: "………"
Realizing Ji Tingzhou had grown up in what kind of environment, she thought it wasn't surprising he didn't understand.
Judging by age, Ji Tingzhou was still a child in her eyes.
Given the previous abuse by the nanny and the recent attack, seeing blood—without proper guidance, it could leave psychological scars, affecting her future growth. In severe cases, it might lead to depression.
"While it may not be apparent now, there could already be underlying issues. At this stage, parents need to be vigilant and address them."
Ji Tingzhou pondered, while Zhiliao, usually expressionless except around Ji Tingzhou and Ji Nian, showed a glimmer of understanding.
"I understand. I'll arrange for it."
They had overlooked this aspect.
Ji Tingzhou had always been self-sufficient, and Zhiliao had lost her mother at a young age, with only an abusive father. Both had a simplistic view of raising a child—providing material needs without emotional nurturing.
The doctor could understand: "Raising a child is like nurturing a delicate flower. Not only do you need to water and fertilize it, protect it from predators, but also give it ample love to ensure it feels secure."
When Ji Nian returned with her coveted packet of shrimp-flavored snacks, she was met with the intense gazes of her deadbeat father and Zhiliao.
Ji Nian: "………Want some?"
"But only a small piece."
She didn't even want to eat them herself.
Seeing her greedy yet pitiful appearance, Ji Tingzhou beckoned her over.
"Just finished eating and you're already at it again—are you a little pig?"
Though his words were scolding, Ji Tingzhou wasn't really upset; he actually wanted Ji Nian to eat more.
The little bit of weight she had gained was lost again after this ordeal, leaving her as thin as before, with her large eyes even more prominent.
Knowing it wasn't about her shrimp snacks, Ji Nian didn't care and let him say what he wanted.
When Shen Qingtang arrived, she happened to see Ji Nian lying next to Ji Tingzhou, her butt sticking up as she looked at a picture book.
Hearing the sound, both father and daughter looked up simultaneously, both with black hair and green eyes, their exquisite features and even their momentary expressions strikingly similar.
There was an atmosphere between them that excluded outsiders, as if a invisible barrier separated them from others.
Shen Qingtang involuntarily stopped in her tracks.
