Chang Qingchuan and Huo Jin were both silent for a moment, knowing the risks involved in the surgery.
Huo Jin considered it and said, "Alright, what you're saying makes sense. I'll consult with the other specialists again to see if there are any conservative treatment options."
Gu Susu was truly grateful to them, feeling content to have such good friends. "You've both gone to so much trouble for me during this time. I don't know how to thank you enough."
"Sususu, what are you saying?" Chang Qingchuan said as he drove. "You don't need to be so formal with us. We're just glad we could help."
"Exactly, exactly," Huo Jin said, putting her arm around Gu Susu's shoulder and smiling. "You helped Qingchuan before, and me too... I used to tease you a lot back then."
Gu Susu smiled along. "That was because you cared about him so much."
This comment made Huo Jin a little embarrassed, and she chuckled.
After they dropped Gu Susu off at her place and left, they sat in the car, both looking worried.
Chang Qingchuan had noticed Huo Jin seemed preoccupied all day. He asked, "What's wrong? Did those doctors find any other illnesses in Sususu?"
"No," Huo Jin said worriedly. "I'm worried about Sophie. You know, that girl who was good friends with Sususu abroad? I haven't been able to reach her for the past two days, and I have a bad feeling something might have happened to her."
Chang Qingchuan thought she was overthinking. "Maybe she changed her phone number, or maybe something else came up and she couldn't contact you?"
Huo Jin said anxiously, "She called my phone the day before yesterday, but the shop was busy, and I missed her call. When I tried to call back, I couldn't get through. You know, only she and we know that Sususu changed her identity and returned to Lancheng. If... if Yang Sijie suspects her and arrests her to interrogate her, it's possible that Yang Sijie will find out, and then we won't be able to hide Sususu at all."
Chang Qingchuan's expression hardened. "Even if Yang Sijie really comes looking, I'll fight him. I won't let him take Sususu away."
"You absolutely cannot be impulsive. You can't stop him," Huo Jin said, becoming even more worried seeing his reaction. "I'm telling you this so we can think of a solution together. If Yang Sijie comes looking, how can we prevent Sususu from being taken away?"
"I don't believe Yang Sijie can cover the sky with one hand. This is Lancheng, not some foreign country."
"Qingchuan, my father also warned me not to provoke Yang Sijie. Even someone like my father wants to avoid him. How can you possibly confront him? So, we can't go head-to-head with him. We can only find a way to make sure he can't find Sususu. Of course, this is Lancheng, and he can't do anything to us, but we still need to be careful and protect ourselves so we can continue to protect Sususu."
"What can we do? If he finds out anything from that girl Sophie, he'll definitely come looking for you. It seems I'll have to stay by your side to protect you well." Chang Qingchuan not only worried about Gu Susu but also about Huo Jin. "Huo Jin, thank you for everything you've done for Sususu. In fact, I care more about your safety. Why don't you stay out of this? If Yang Sijie comes for you, push all the blame onto me. I'm not afraid of him."
Huo Jin, sitting in the passenger seat, tightly held Chang Qingchuan's arm, feeling a sweetness in her heart. She smiled and said, "If anything happens, you're the one who shouldn't be involved. After all, I'm part of the Huo family. Yang Sijie wouldn't dare touch me in Lancheng. Don't worry, I sympathize with Sususu's situation and will help her to the end."
"To have a wife like this, what more could a man ask for?" Chang Qingchuan said sentimentally.
Huo Jin pinched the muscle in his arm, laughing. "Are you being cheesy? Who's your wife? We've been together for so long, and you still don't have the courage to meet my parents. I'm telling you, if you keep dragging this out, I might end up marrying someone else one day, and then you'll be crying."
Chang Qingchuan pretended to cry for a moment, joking, "Hearing you say that, I'm really worried. It seems I need to propose to you immediately."
"Get out of here. Can't you be serious for once?"
As if performing magic, Chang Qingchuan took out a ring from a small compartment in the car and looked at Huo Jin, saying earnestly, "Does this count as a serious proposal?"
Huo Jin covered her face in surprise, only revealing her eyes, and stared at Chang Qingchuan in disbelief. "Am I dreaming? When did you hide a ring in your car?"
Chang Qingchuan said to her solemnly, "Actually, I bought this ring a long time ago, but I never had the courage to propose. Sususu also told me before not to miss out on you because of my own overthinking, or I'd regret it. But I always felt there was too big a gap between us, and I was afraid I couldn't give you happiness..."
"What are you talking about? Shouldn't you be asking me if I'm willing when you propose?" Huo Jin didn't want to listen to his long-winded speech. She extended her left ring finger and said, "Hurry up and put it on me to try. How long ago did you buy it? Has my finger gotten fatter now?"
Chang Qingchuan was amused by her. He carefully slid the ring onto her ring finger, saying, "It fits. Are... are you willing? Being with me might mean you can't live the life of a young lady anymore, and you might suffer hardships. I might have to work for many years to achieve what your father has. Would you still be willing?"
"Then I'll have to think about it carefully." Huo Jin stopped looking at him and focused on the ring on her finger, happily comparing it to her other fingers. She deliberately didn't say yes immediately, wanting to make him anxious too.
Seeing that she had put on the ring but hadn't said yes, Chang Qingchuan felt tongue-tied. Was this a successful proposal or not?
His face flushed. He tried again, "But I will love you and protect you well. Even if it's not much, I'll give you all my assets. As long as you don't dislike me, I will only have you in this life..."
Huo Jin smiled and reached out to cover his mouth. "Silly, if I wasn't willing, would I be wearing your ring? Come with me to meet my parents tomorrow. My saying yes is useless; you need to get their approval."
Chang Qingchuan was most afraid of facing her parents. However, since he had made up his mind to propose, he would brave any danger. "Okay, don't worry, I'll get their approval."
"Then it's up to you tomorrow," Huo Jin said, deliberately trying to make him nervous. In reality, when they returned home today, she would talk to her parents first, so he wouldn't be embarrassed.
Although she had always been the one to take the initiative in their relationship, now that it came to marriage, she didn't want him to think it was too easy. She wanted to make herself more valuable in his eyes so that he would cherish her more in the future.
Chang Qingchuan held her hand, his palms starting to sweat at the thought of tomorrow. But for her, he was willing to go all out.