The scene froze, with the two people in an extremely awkward position. Chang Zhiyuan's one leg was immobilized, while the other rested on the bed.
Shu Yi tried to get up, struggling a bit, her head brushing against the man's stomach.
Without either of them noticing, the hospital room door opened.
"Ahem."
Shu Yi immediately sat up, looking at the three people who had entered.
Of the three, she only recognized one—Chang Ningjing, whom she had met previously in the hospital.
There was also a middle-aged couple.
Shu Yi smoothed her hair and stepped back.
"Dad, why are you here?" Chang Zhiyuan's tone suggested he wasn't pleased with their arrival.
Chang Ningjing felt they had interrupted something and looked apologetic, her eyes darting around the room.
"So you still remember I'm your father. Have you counted how long it's been since you've been home? You're in the hospital and still can't behave yourself."
Chang's Father stared at Chang Zhiyuan, while Chang's Mother turned her gaze to Shu Yi.
Shu Yi didn't dare move, having already cursed Chang Zhiyuan 180 times in her mind.
Their position just moments ago would have looked inappropriate to anyone. As a young woman, she was already self-conscious and couldn't bear the middle-aged woman's constant scrutiny.
Chang Huaiming said sternly, "Come out with me."
"Dad, his leg is in a cast. He can't move around freely," Chang Ningjing quickly intervened.
Chang Huaiming's expression kept shifting from dark to red.
Chang Zhiyuan, for his part, showed no reaction and refused to look up.
"Let's step outside for a moment," Chang Ningjing said, walking over to Shu Yi.
Feeling awkward, Shu Yi nodded immediately and followed Chang Ningjing out of the room.
Only Chang Zhiyuan, Chang Huaiming, and Nie Ling remained in the hospital room.
Nie Ling seemed to be holding back words, while Chang Zhiyuan was so startled by their arrival that he'd held back even going to the bathroom.
"Dad, Mom, did Ningjing tell you I was crippled? I'm fine, you didn't need to come."
"Indeed, we didn't need to come. Seems we've interrupted your good time," Chang Huaiming said sarcastically.
"It's not what you think."
"If it's not what we think, then what is it? Early in the morning, and she was already on top of you. We've never interfered much with your antics before, but now you're hospitalized with a broken leg. How can you be so reckless? Are actresses these days so shameless?"
Nie Ling's words were particularly harsh. She walked to Chang Zhiyuan's side and, touching his cast, said tearfully, "Yuanyuan, your father and I only want what's best for you. You should know what's appropriate and when. You're our only son. If anything happened to you, how could your father and I go on living?"
Tears streamed down her face.
Chang Zhiyuan always found this behavior irritating. It had been the same since he was young—she cried as if he was on his deathbed.
"I'm not dead yet, am I?"
"Tsk, watch your language. Don't talk about death, it's bad luck."
"Mom, you should go home. I'm fine."
"How can we leave when you're like this? You can't even walk, and there's this vixen here. Your mother and I will stay to take care of you."
Chang Huaiming also looked concerned.
"Yes, your father and I will stay and look after you. And that woman from earlier—break it off immediately. You can't be together. No sense of propriety, no consideration for time and place. It's disgraceful."
Nie Ling's face was full of reproach as she spoke.
"First of all, I don't need you to take care of me. I have a fracture, see? My leg can still move." Chang Zhiyuan demonstrated by wiggling his casted leg.
"Secondly, she's great, and I haven't even won her over yet. Don't interfere with my love life."
Chang Zhiyuan picked up his phone and messaged Shu Yi, asking where she had gone.
Chang Huaiming and Nie Ling's expressions darkened further upon hearing Chang Zhiyuan's words.
"Yuanyuan, if you can't win her over, just let it go. You could find any kind of woman you want. I've recently found quite a few nice girls. That girl just now, she's nothing special. You know what the entertainment industry is like."
Nie Ling tried to persuade him gently.
Chang Zhiyuan frowned at her words.
"I do know, and I like her anyway."
Chang Huaiming turned to Nie Ling and said, "This is all your fault. You've spoiled him since he was little, giving him whatever he wanted. Look at him now, he won't even come home, let alone listen to your advice."
"Me? You spoiled him too. Why don't you mention that? Before he was born, you wanted a son so badly. After he was born, you indulged him every day."
"Stop arguing, both of you. You've both spoiled me. You've been too indulgent, and that's why I am the way I am now. You'll have to accept the consequences. I know I'm not young anymore and I could get married, but I want my life partner to be someone I truly love. Not someone you think is suitable and arrange for me. I know you love me, but you shouldn't only love me. I have a sister too."
It would be absurd to say that Chang Ningjing deserved their love only because she was good to him. It's the 21st century, after all.
Chang Ningjing never said anything, but he knew—who wouldn't yearn for their parents' love?
No matter how strong or excellent Chang Ningjing was, she was still just a girl.
"How can you say we don't love your sister?"
Chang Zhiyuan remained silent.
"You should go home now. I don't need you to take care of me. I know you mean well, but it would be better if you didn't interfere with my relationships or my sister's."
"You—"
Before Chang Huaiming could finish, Nie Ling stopped him.
"Fine, we'll go home."
In the park downstairs, Chang Ningjing and Shu Yi walked side by side, the initial awkwardness of their first meeting now gone.
"Ms. Chang, I'm sorry. What you saw earlier wasn't what it looked like," Shu Yi explained. She had only intended to help Chang Zhiyuan get up, not expecting things to turn out as they did.
Chang Ningjing smiled, "It's alright. Just call me Sister Ningjing."
Shu Yi nodded, and they continued walking.
"How have you been feeling lately?" Chang Ningjing asked.
"I'm fine now, thank you for your concern, Sister Ningjing."
Since learning more about Shu Yi, Chang Ningjing had let go of her previous prejudices.
It wasn't her fault for being prejudiced before. After all, Chang Zhiyuan's previous girlfriends were all peculiar characters with plenty of scandals to uncover. She even suspected Chang Zhiyuan was doing it on purpose. What kind of taste did he have, picking a bunch of beautiful but morally questionable arm candies?
In comparison, Shu Yi seemed quite decent. Although her family background was modest, she had impressive academic credentials. Moreover, there weren't any scandals associated with her. She was intelligent and had good acting skills too.
"We should be done here. Let's head back," Chang Ningjing suggested.
"Alright."
"Dad, Mom, you've come down."
Chang Huaiming and Nie Ling were approaching them from the opposite direction.
