Two cars from the Ye residence appeared at the hospital entrance simultaneously. Shen Meixiu, watching Ye Shaoting step out from beside her, hurried over to him in her high heels. "Are you here to see that girl too?" she asked him urgently.
Ye Shaoting frowned. "Who?"
"Ye Ziyu!" Shen Meixiu gritted her teeth.
Ye Ziyu was hospitalized? He hadn't known. Ye Shaoting was at the hospital to pick up something.
"I'll go with you to see her," Ye Shaoting said, taking Shen Meixiu's arm and guiding her into the hospital.
Along the way, Shen Meixiu complained about Ye Qianzhi's actions, her words laced with envy for Ye Ziyu. She quieted down only when they reached the hospital room door.
Ye Shaoting pushed the door open, and Shen Meixiu entered with a benevolent expression.
"Why are you here?" Ye Qianzhi's tone was a little stern.
It seemed he didn't welcome her, an uninvited guest.
Shen Meixiu's inner grievances immediately surfaced, but to prevent Ye Ziyu from completely capturing Ye Qianzhi's heart, she suppressed her feelings.
"I heard Ziyu was hospitalized, so I came to visit," Shen Meixiu said, approaching Ye Ziyu and examining her with a concerned gaze. "Oh my, why is your head bandaged? Are you alright?"
"It's nothing, just a superficial wound," Ye Ziyu replied, raising her hand to deliberately block Shen Meixiu's attempt to touch her.
Sincerity could not be faked. Ye Ziyu knew Shen Meixiu was there because of Ye Qianzhi, not out of concern for her.
Shen Meixiu awkwardly withdrew her hand, patting her chest as if in relief. "It's good that you're okay. Make sure to rest well. There shouldn't be any lingering effects."
Her spoken words of caution were a silent curse in her heart. Shen Meixiu wished something would happen to Ye Ziyu so she could meet her mother sooner.
The fierceness in Shen Meixiu's eyes made Ye Ziyu unwilling to engage in any more pretense. She turned to look at Ye Shaoting.
Ye Shaoting was standing in front of Xingxing, looking both shocked and somewhat angry at his presence here.
Xingxing lowered his head in fear, not daring to meet Ye Shaoting's gaze.
"Big brother, I forgot to tell you. Xingxing had a fever this morning, so I brought him to the hospital for a check-up," Ye Ziyu explained.
"Sick?" Ye Shaoting looked at Xingxing. "Why didn't you tell me if you weren't feeling well?"
He squatted down, bringing his gaze level with Xingxing's.
After a moment of eye contact, Xingxing quickly averted his gaze. He knew Ye Shaoting was angry.
Ye Ziyu sensed the subtle shift in atmosphere between them and, concerned, got out of bed. She looked at Shen Meixiu, who was in her way, and unceremoniously pushed her aside, heading straight for Xingxing.
"Don't blame him; I insisted on bringing him to the hospital. I meant to call you to let you know, but your phone wasn't answered, and then I got busy and forgot to tell you later," Ye Ziyu said, standing behind Xingxing and placing her hands on his shoulders.
What seemed like normal interaction felt like a thorn in Ye Shaoting's eyes.
Had their relationship improved so much in just one morning? Or did Xingxing simply not take his words to heart?
Ye Shaoting stood up and pulled Xingxing towards him.
Ye Ziyu's hands fell away, and she looked at the stern-faced Ye Shaoting, unsure of what to do.
"Next time, don't make decisions without me. Xingxing is my child. Your actions make things difficult for me," Ye Shaoting accused.
Ye Ziyu tried to explain, but Di Mingjue stepped forward to shield her. "Big brother, we've heard what you said. Don't worry, if there's a next time, we will wait for you to return and will not bring him to the hospital without your consent."
They were all family, so what difference did it make who brought him to the hospital?
Ye Ziyu felt Ye Shaoting's incredulity, unable to understand why he was so possessive of Xingxing, preventing others from getting close to him.