Lin Ruiqing reached out to hold Jing Yi's hand, her face showing a hint of solemnity.
"I've also owed you an apology for a long time. I'm sorry."
Jing Yi was slightly taken aback, revealing a surprised and confused expression.
"Auntie, why are you apologizing?"
Lin Ruiqing's lips quivered slightly, as if she had many things she wanted to say.
"For the resentment I directed at you back then. Because of my misplaced anger, you ended up growing up abroad for over twenty years."
Jing Yi hurriedly waved her hands, looking somewhat flustered. "Auntie, you really don't need to apologize. If it weren't for the Jing family, how could I have possibly grown up in such a privileged environment?"
[If it weren't for Grandma Jing, Jing Yi might have grown up in an orphanage the whole time. Compared to children who spent over a decade in orphanages, Jing Yi was already very fortunate.]
Jing Yi's gaze was clear and pure. "...As for the resentment you mentioned, I may not be able to accept it on behalf of three-year-old Jing Yi, but you don't owe anything to the grown-up Jing Yi."
Lin Ruiqing's eyes reddened slightly, the tender smile in them growing more pronounced.
"Then let's consider this matter settled. I'm just starting to learn how to be a mother to two daughters, and you're experiencing living with elders for the first time. Let's call it even."
Jing Yi's pupils dilated slightly, and she froze on the spot.
[Did she just say two daughters?]
Lin Ruiqing's face bore a smile as she gently patted Jing Yi's head. It might be too early to talk about these things now; she should give her some time to think it over.
"There's a milk tea shop downstairs. The nurse just said it's quite good."
Jing Yi immediately sat up straight, her small face full of seriousness. "Auntie, you can't have anything too sweet."
[I remember clearly what the doctor said about dietary restrictions!]
Lin Ruiqing chuckled lightly, the smile at the corners of her mouth deepening.
"It's not for me, it's for you. You've been eating bland food with me all this time. You should have what you like."
Jing Yi's eyes curved into crescents, and the dimple at the corner of her mouth appeared faintly. "Hehe, actually, Aunt Wang's health food is quite delicious too."
Lin Ruiqing couldn't help but smile as well. "If there's anything you want to eat, let Zeqian bring it for you. He should be here soon."
Jing Yi's eyes brightened noticeably, and she quickly pulled out her phone.
"Hello, Second Brother?"
"How did you know I was going to ask you for a favor?"
"Auntie said you could bring me some food!"
"The milk tea from the shop downstairs, the one with the green sign. I want their signature drink with 30% sweetness. Then there's a duck neck shop next to the milk tea place, get me some duck necks and tofu knots. And across from that, there's a cake shop. I want two donuts and... You're the pig!"
Lin Ruiqing laughed quietly. It turned out that Jing Yi had already familiarized herself with all the food shops in the area, and even remembered that the nurse said the signature drink with 30% sweetness was the best.
When Jing Zeqian arrived, Jing Yi was chatting with Lin Ruiqing. Who knows what they were talking about, but they were both laughing so much their eyes had curved into crescents.
"Second Brother!"
This wasn't a call for her second brother; it was clearly a call for the snacks in his hands. She was like a hungry wolf.
Jing Yi took the snacks from Jing Zeqian's hands and immediately turned away.
Jing Zeqian didn't have time to bother with her. He walked to Lin Ruiqing's side, who was smiling as she watched Jing Yi.
"Mom, how are you feeling today?"
Lin Ruiqing nodded with a smile, "Pretty good. The doctor says I'm recovering well."
Jing Zeqian's worry eased a bit. Lin Ruiqing's illness had really scared him.
During this time, Jing Zeqian had been constantly checking on Lin Ruiqing's condition with Jing Zeyou and the doctor. Now he could finally relax a little.
"Mom, I'll come to keep you company starting tomorrow."
Although he had readily arranged for Jing Yi to come and keep her company before, he couldn't possibly let Jing Yi replace them in accompanying Lin Ruiqing.
"Junjun also said she's coming tomorrow. You two should coordinate."
Wasn't Junjun still busy with her film crew? Jing Zeqian remembered that Jing Zejun's scenes were wrapping up recently, and she should still have quite a lot to do.
"She said she's almost finished."
Jing Zeqian nodded. Since his sister was coming, he would take a step back.
After chatting idly for a while, Jing Zeqian noticed Jing Yi eating happily.
He moved closer to Jing Yi and reached out to take a donut, earning a glance from her.
Jing Zeqian raised an eyebrow. "What? I bought these from so far away, and you're not even willing to let me eat one?" Only then did Jing Yi let this donut go.
Jing Zeqian didn't particularly like sweets, but seeing Jing Yi eating so heartily made him feel hungry too.
He took a bite of the donut he was holding and immediately frowned, looking suspiciously at the remaining half.
What's so good about this? The texture isn't great, and it's so sweet!
He put the remaining donut on the table, then put on gloves and tried a bite of the duck neck.
This is just average too...
Then Jing Yi saw the person next to her taking one bite after another. Her almond-shaped eyes gradually widened. "You're going to eat it all!"
"Don't be stingy, I've only eaten a few!" As he spoke, he put a few more snacks into his mouth.
"Leave some for me!" If she didn't protect her food, everything she ordered would end up in Jing Zeqian's stomach!
"What's so good about this stuff anyway?"
"If it's not good, why are you eating so much?!"
"What's wrong with tasting a bit?"
"You call this tasting a bit?!"
Lin Ruiqing shook her head helplessly. It's a good thing the isolation in the ward was effective, otherwise they might have attracted the doctors and nurses.
Before the two could finish arguing, Jing Beicheng pushed open the door and entered. The quarreling in the ward came to an abrupt halt.
......
"Jing Zeqian, tell me, what did you do wrong?"
Thinking that his wife was still in the hospital, Jing Beicheng had rushed back to the hospital as soon as he finished dealing with some cooperation matters.
As a result, as soon as he opened the door, he heard the two of them arguing in the ward. They were both in their twenties or thirties, yet still so inconsiderate.
Lin Ruiqing watched the two people standing obediently in front of her husband. She really should have taken a picture to show Xiao You and Junjun.
Jing Zeqian, who was almost thirty and the CEO of a listed company, was now standing as punishment while reciting his mistakes.
[Who would have thought that the formidable Young Master Jing, who commands respect in the business world, would still be punished by standing when he makes mistakes at home? Hahaha]
Jing Yi lowered her head and chuckled quietly. Seeing Jing Beicheng's gaze turn towards her, she quickly suppressed the smile on her face and stood obediently to the side.
"What about you?" Jing Beicheng asked Jing Yi.
This was the first time Jing Yi had been punished by standing. Although she had laughed at Jing Zeqian, thinking about it now, she felt quite embarrassed herself.
Moreover, when Jing Beicheng became serious, he was truly imposing.
Jing Yi spoke softly and hesitantly: "I shouldn't have spoken loudly in the hospital, I shouldn't have been stingy and not let Second Brother eat together, and I shouldn't have left Auntie alone when I was the one who said I would keep her company."
Jing Beicheng nodded, seemingly satisfied with this answer.
Jing Zeqian's eyes widened, his face full of shock as he looked at Jing Yi.
Jing Yi had only been interacting with his parents for such a short time, and she already knew his father's weak spot?!
"It seems Little Yi already knows her mistakes. Go keep your aunt company."
Jing Yi's almond eyes curved into crescents, and her dimple appeared faintly. "Thank you, Uncle! I'll definitely correct my behavior!" As she left, she cast a glance at Jing Zeqian beside her.
Jing Zeqian: He swore that must have been a show of triumph!
