Chapter 168 Traveling Together

"It's alright, I haven't visited Auntie yet, let's go together."

Her gaze drifted towards Pei Yu at the finish line, then she turned and got into the car, saying, "I'll go with you."

Having said all that, Ji Wanqing had no reason to refuse.

She got into Pei Yu's car, fastened her seatbelt, and secretly glanced at Pei Yu, who was focused on driving.

"Brother Pei... thank you for helping me out earlier, but how did you know..."

Pei Yu was silent for a few seconds before speaking, "I was on my way home from get off work when I saw you hurriedly getting into your car. You didn't seem to be going to the hospital. I checked the fan group and found out that you had taken a phone call and then ended your live stream. So I drove over to see if you needed any help. Thankfully, you're alright."

He didn't ask Ji Wanqing what happened at the restaurant, which relieved Ji Wanqing, as she really didn't know how to bring up these upsetting things.

"Um... is my mom really alright?" Although she knew he might have been making an excuse, she couldn't help but ask to confirm.

"It's okay, I checked before I left work," Pei Yu replied.

"I owe you another favor, and I really don't know how to thank you enough," Ji Wanqing said sincerely.

"It was nothing." Pei Yu's tone remained calm, but his fingers gripping the steering wheel tightened slightly.

It turns out that in her heart, he wasn't trustworthy enough.

The finish line appearing here doesn't seem like a coincidence; it's more like something the two people planned in advance.

The atmosphere fell silent for a moment. While waiting at the traffic light, Pei Yu looked in the rearview mirror and saw the car following behind him.

He looked at Ji Wanqing and said, "You can call me anytime if you need anything next time. Don't be afraid of bothering me. Isn't it just a matter of you helping me and me helping you? Since we are neighbors, we should help each other."

Even so, Ji Wanqing knew that ordinary neighbors wouldn't be this enthusiastic.

She didn't expose Pei Yu's thoughts, but simply nodded obediently, "I understand, Brother Pei."

The car arrived at the hospital quickly. After parking, Pei Yu and Ji Wanqing got out, and Xie Chi's car followed closely behind. He got out and walked over naturally, as if it was only natural for them to be together.

The three of them walked together toward the inpatient building, the atmosphere subtly tense.

Ji Wanqing walked between the two, her feelings a mix of emotions.

Arriving outside Ji's mother's ward, through the glass window in the door, one could see that Ji's mother was awake, leaning against the headboard, talking softly to the aunt who was taking care of her. Although her face was still a little pale, she seemed to be in good spirits.

Ji Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief and gently pushed open the door. "Mom, I'm here. How are you feeling?"

When Ji's mother saw her daughter, a kind smile appeared on her face. "She's doing well; she just ate some porridge..."

Her gaze fell on the two distinguished men behind Ji Wanqing.

She was familiar with Pei Yu, but judging from his clothes, he had obviously already left work.

The other one, whom I had seen at the entrance of the community before, was greeted with a polite nod and a smile by Ji's mother.

"Hello, Auntie, I'm Xie Chi, Wanqing's friend." Xie Chi stepped forward first, his tone polite and considerate. "I heard your surgery was successful, so I came to see you. I wish you a speedy recovery. I apologize for not bringing a gift today, as I came in a hurry."

Mrs. Ji was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Oh dear, you're too kind, child. It's already very thoughtful of you to come and see me. The gift is not important. Please have a seat."

At this moment, Pei Yu also walked in, speaking gently, "Wanqing was worried about you and insisted on coming to see you. I had nothing to do after get off work, so I came with her. We can go back together later."

"Okay, okay, let's go back together." Mrs. Ji nodded with a smile. She was worried about her daughter going home alone so late at night.

Xie Chi stood to the side, watching Pei Yu and Ji's mother's familiar interactions, and lowered his eyes slightly.

Madam Ji looked at Pei Yu, then at Xie Chi, and then at her own daughter. She seemed to have noticed something, but she just smiled and didn't say anything. Instead, she asked Ji Wanqing.

"Wanqing, have you eaten? Didn't you say you were going to work today and wouldn't be coming over?"

"I've already eaten, Mom, don't worry about me," Ji Wanqing quickly said. "It's just that... I only broadcast for a little while today, and Dr. Pei and Xie Chi happened to be nearby, so they came to see you together."

She kept those things to herself, not wanting her mother to worry any more.

After spending some more time in the ward, it was mainly Ji's mother, Ji Wanqing, and the aunt who were talking. Pei Yu occasionally chimed in with some professional advice, while Xie Chi mostly listened quietly. The atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Seeing that it was getting late and that Ji's mother looked tired, Pei Yu spoke up.

"Aunt He, please get some rest. We'll be going now and will come to see you again tomorrow."

Xie Chi also got up to say goodbye.

The three of them left the ward together. When they reached the entrance of the inpatient department, Xie Chi said to Ji Wanqing, "I'll take you back."

Almost simultaneously, Pei Yu also spoke up, his tone calm and natural, "I'm going that way anyway, I'll just give her a ride."

The two men's eyes met again in the air, a silent contest brewing beneath the surface.

Ji Wanqing was caught in the middle, and her scalp tingled.

Directly refusing anyone is inappropriate and will only make the situation more awkward.

She took a deep breath, forced a natural smile, and adopted a balanced approach.

"Well... since it's so late and we don't live far apart, how about... we walk together?"

Her voice carried a hint of negotiation and ingratiation, her gaze sweeping over the two faces.

"What I mean is, since Brother Pei is driving and Brother Xie Chi's car is here too, why don't we... go to the entrance of the community together? That way you'll both feel at ease."

She didn't specify who should deliver it, but instead suggested a companion. Heaven knows he had no idea where Xie Chi lived, and she was quite impressed with herself for saying it so calmly.

This suggestion clearly took the two men by surprise. Pei Yu's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, and Xie Chi also raised his eyebrows slightly, seemingly not expecting her to handle it this way.

After a brief silence, Pei Yu spoke first, his tone devoid of emotion, "Okay."

Seeing this, Xie Chi also twitched the corners of his mouth, which was considered tacit agreement, but he did not back down and said directly, "Get in my car."

Looking at Ji Wanqing's expression, Pei Yu knew that continuing to insist would only make things more difficult for her.

He headed to the parking lot first, saying, "Take his car; I'll wait for you at the elevator."

Ji Wanqing secretly breathed a sigh of relief, turned to Xie Chi and smiled, "Let's go."

Xie Chi watched Pei Yu's departing figure, narrowed his eyes slightly, and then followed Ji Wanqing's steps.

The hospital is not far from home; it only takes three minutes to drive to the neighborhood.

Ji Wanqing got out of the car to say goodbye, and Xie Chi also got out of the car directly.

"Let's go, I won't feel at ease until you get home safely."

Now that they were already here, Ji Wanqing was too lazy to refuse anymore. The three of them entered the elevator together, and the atmosphere became strangely silent.

Ji Wanqing watched the numbers on the elevator screen change constantly, praying for it to go faster, faster.

Pei Yu only took out his key to open the door after Ji Wanqing entered the house.

Xie Chi glanced at him and silently entered the elevator to go downstairs.

After getting out of the elevator, he took out his phone.

"Hey, find me a room in Building C of Chenshu Huafu... um... close to the eleventh floor... um, the closer the better... as soon as possible..."