"Let me guess what the bad news is."
Chen Jinzhao seemed prepared.
Xu Nianqing looked at Chen Jinzhao in surprise. Chen Jinzhao said calmly, "During these few days in the hospital, I've thought about many things, and I think I can guess the bad news you're going to tell me."
"You might be right," Xu Nianqing replied.
Chen Jinzhao hesitated, "If I'm not mistaken, it should be related to my recovery ability. If it were me three years ago, this injury would have healed in less than three days. But now, I can feel that my recovery speed has become very slow, almost like an ordinary person."
"Am I right?"
Xu Nianqing took a deep breath, "You are very smart. The bad news I wanted to tell you is exactly this."
A heavy stone in Chen Jinzhao's heart was lifted.
He gave a bitter smile, "Actually, it's not really bad news for me. Being alive is already a gift from heaven."
"You're quite philosophical. And you're not wrong to think that way. Your cellular metabolism was too fast before, and now it's just returned to normal levels. So, what about the good news? Can you guess what it is?"
"I dare not guess," Chen Jinzhao said with a smile.
He was afraid his guess might not match reality, so Chen Jinzhao didn't want to have too high expectations.
Hearing this, Xu Nianqing smiled and said, "Never mind, I won't keep you in suspense. I'll tell you directly. The good news is that by comparison, your genes seem to have no mutations. Compared to your genes three years ago, you are much healthier."
"In other words, you are healthier."
"Your lifespan will also be extended accordingly, returning to the level of a normal person."
Chen Jinzhao had considered many possibilities, but this was one he dared not imagine, fearing disappointment.
He never expected it to be true.
He leaned back against the headboard blankly, as if he had lost his soul.
Xu Nianqing waved her hand in front of Chen Jinzhao's eyes. After Chen Jinzhao came to his senses, he said, "I'm fine, just a little happy."
"Thank you," Chen Jinzhao said sincerely.
Xu Nianqing smiled faintly, "No need to thank me, this is what I should do."
The atmosphere in the ward became lighter.
Chen Jinzhao remembered something and asked Xu Nianqing, "Can I ask you a question, about my daughter's health, does she have..."
He was afraid his mutated genes had been passed on to his daughter.
Just as his father had passed them on to him.
It was a curse.
Chen Jinzhao didn't want his daughter to tread the same path.
"Don't worry, Yu Mengzhi asked me to check soon after Xiao Sinian was born. Your daughter is very healthy and has no genetic problems," Xu Nianqing said. Chen Jinzhao thanked Xu Nianqing again, and they fell silent.
Xu Nianqing broke the silence again, "I heard..."
"You've gotten involved with a Japanese woman?"
Chen Jinzhao looked embarrassed, not knowing how to explain to Xu Nianqing. "It's not what you think, I can explain."
Xu Nianqing let out a soft hum and waved her hand, "No need to explain to me, I'm not anyone to you."
The process doesn't matter, only the result.
Chen Jinzhao scratched his head, no longer knowing what to say.
Xu Nianqing let Chen Jinzhao off the hook for now, "Fine, this is your life, I have no right to interfere. You should rest well and strive for a full recovery as soon as possible."
"I'm leaving now, bye."
Chen Jinzhao bid her farewell.
Xu Nianqing stopped at the door, and as Chen Jinzhao looked at her in confusion, Xu Nianqing bit her lip and said, "Chen Jinzhao, you are such a scoundrel!"
Before Chen Jinzhao could react, Xu Nianqing had disappeared from his sight.
"I am such a scoundrel?" Chen Jinzhao wondered.
A few more days passed.
Chen Jinzhao met the discharge criteria and left the hospital accompanied by Yu Mengzhi.
Yamanashi Chiho, accompanied and cared for by Li Qiurong, had already returned to the capital. Chen Jinzhao and his family of three planned to return to Ninghai first. He hadn't been back to his hometown in three years and missed it greatly, which was why he had the idea to return for a visit.
After half a month of accompaniment, his daughter had become very attached to Chen Jinzhao.
Chen Jinzhao couldn't help but sigh, thinking that if not for what happened three years ago, his life might have been even more fulfilling.
But life is always full of uncertainties.
After staying in Ninghai for a few days, Chen Jinzhao's mood gradually improved. Coupled with the company of Yu Mengzhi and his daughter, he gradually regained the three years he had lost. Yu Mengzhi also sometimes lamented that if not for these three years, they would have had more time together.
Leaving Ninghai, the three of them then went to Jiangning.
At this moment, it was just like three years ago, also close to the Spring Festival.
So Chen Jinzhao and Yu Mengzhi visited Yu Lingxiao, the elder of the Yu family, in the Jiangning prison. Since the incident three years ago, Yu Lingxiao had been imprisoned in a key prison in Jiangning. In these years, only Yu Mengzhi and Yu Huaiqing had visited him regularly.
After more than three years, Yu Lingxiao was now completely white-haired.
Moreover, Yu Lingxiao's health was very poor. The monotonous prison life had worn down his spirit, making him appear frail. When Yu Lingxiao saw Chen Jinzhao, his listless eyes showed a flicker of emotion.
Chen Jinzhao asked calmly, "How are you, sir?"
Yu Lingxiao gave a bitter smile, "I'm alright. I have food and drink, just not much freedom."
Chen Jinzhao said to the daughter in his arms, "Sinian, this is your great-grandfather. Say hello."
Little Sinian called out obediently, bringing a smile to Yu Lingxiao's wrinkled face. He even had the presence of mind to remark, "Little Sinian looks just like you and Mengzhi, like they were cast from the same mold. It's a shame great-grandfather can't hold Little Sinian."
After some conversation, Yu Lingxiao was filled with reluctance.
The three years spent in prison had made him realize many things and deeply acknowledge his mistakes.
In the past, he was obsessed with power and wealth. Now, he only wished to be with his family and spend the remaining time of his life.
During his meeting with Yu Mengzhi, Yu Lingxiao wept.
He begged Yu Mengzhi to find a way to get him out. This was a far cry from the Yu Lingxiao of three or four years ago. The once formidable elder of Ninghai had become the decrepit old man before them. Yu Mengzhi was helpless, for her heart was the softest.
After a comprehensive physical examination, Yu Lingxiao was diagnosed with liver cancer, which qualified him for medical parole.
Yu Lingxiao regained his freedom, only to be admitted to the intensive care unit.
Watching Yu Lingxiao groan in pain on the hospital bed, Chen Jinzhao thought of Xu Hanchen, who was far away in the capital.
Different illnesses, the same outcome.
Chen Jinzhao couldn't help but sigh.
Perhaps one can defeat many people in this life, but one cannot defeat time.