Chapter 97 Discharge Day

Grandpa Huo looked much better than a few days ago; his cheeks were rosier and his eyes were clearer. He was wearing a brand-new dark blue Chinese-style cotton-padded jacket, sitting by the hospital bed, watching his family members bustling around packing things, a faint smile on his lips, like an old child.

"Grandpa, look at this little asparagus fern! The nurses at the nurses' station gave it to you, saying they wish you health and longevity!" My cousin Huo Siqi presented the lush little potted plant to me like a precious treasure.

Grandpa Huo nodded with a smile: "Okay, okay, take them. Please thank them for me."

Mr. Huo and Huo Zheng were having their final conversation with the attending physician. Song Zhiyi stood quietly to the side, holding an open notebook, occasionally adding a few words of advice in a low voice, or quickly jotting down the doctor's instructions.

After completing all the discharge procedures, Huo Yanli walked in with the documents in hand. His gaze first fell on his grandfather, confirming that he was in good condition, before involuntarily turning to Song Zhiyi. She was listening to the doctor with her head slightly turned, the sunlight outlining the focused profile of her face, her eyelashes casting soft shadows under her eyes. That calm aura seemed to quiet down the slightly noisy ward.

"Everything's taken care of." Huo Yanli walked over to his father and uncle and handed them the receipts. "The car is waiting downstairs."

The attending physician gave a few more instructions, and finally smiled at Old Master Huo, saying, "Old Chief, your recovery is really good. Go home and rest well, take your medicine on time, and have regular check-ups. Most importantly, keep a good mood."

"Thank you for your hard work." Old Master Huo nodded, his gaze sweeping over Song Zhiyi. "It's also thanks to having a 'little doctor' at home keeping an eye on things."

The doctor also looked at Song Zhiyi, his eyes filled with approval: "Translator Song is indeed meticulous; the nursing points she suggested were all very professional. The old man is blessed."

Song Zhiyi nodded slightly: "You flatter me. It is all thanks to the dedication of the medical staff."

After everything was packed up, Uncle Chen and another servant carried the bags and packages downstairs first. Old Master Huo, supported by Huo Yanli and Huo Zheng on either side, slowly walked out of the ward. In the corridor, familiar patients and nurses said their goodbyes.

"Old Huo, you're discharged from the hospital? Congratulations!"

"Grandpa Huo, please take care of yourself!"

The old man responded with a smile, full of energy.

When they arrived downstairs, three cars were waiting. One was the one Old Master Huo usually used, one was the one Huo's parents and Huo Siqi rode in, and the other was the one Huo Yanli usually drove.

Grandpa Huo stood by the car, looked at it, and suddenly said, "Yanli, Zhiyi, you two ride in mine. Uncle Chen is a steady driver. Have your uncle drive your car back for you."

Huo Zheng patted Huo Yanli on the shoulder, a smile in his eyes, and got into the car in front.

Song Zhiyi stepped forward and carefully supported the old man's other arm: "Grandpa, take it easy." Together with Huo Yanli, she helped the old man into the back seat, carefully adjusted the backrest, and covered the old man's knees with a thin blanket.

She then walked around to the other side and sat in the back seat. Huo Yanli paused for a moment, then opened the passenger door and got in.

Uncle Chen slowly started the car and drove smoothly away from the hospital.

Outside the car window, autumn was in full swing. Inside the car, it was quiet, with only the low hum of the engine and the soft sound of the air conditioning blowing. Old Master Huo leaned back, watching the familiar street scenes rush past the window, a relaxed feeling of returning home on his face.

After a while, he slowly turned his head and looked at Song Zhiyi, who was sitting quietly beside him.

The girl sat upright, but not stiffly, her gaze fixed on the window, her profile serene.

"Zhiyi." The old man's voice was not loud, but carried the gentleness and slight hoarseness characteristic of the elderly.

Song Zhiyi immediately withdrew her gaze, turned slightly to him, and said with focused eyes, "Grandpa, please speak."

Looking into her clear and calm eyes, Old Master Huo paused for a moment before slowly speaking, each word clearly enunciated: "These past few years have been tough on you."

These words came somewhat suddenly, but were spoken with great seriousness.

In the front row, Huo Yanli's back straightened almost imperceptibly for a moment. He didn't turn around, but his gaze was fixed on a certain point in front of him.

Song Zhiyi was clearly taken aback. She hadn't expected her grandfather to say something like that at this moment.

She gently shook her head, a faint but sincere smile curving her lips: "Grandpa, please don't say that. I haven't had any hardship."

"How could it not be hard?" The old man sighed, his eyes filled with complex emotions—pity, apology, and relief. "Your maternal grandfather entrusted you to me so that you would have a home, someone to rely on. But these past few years... even though you've entered the Huo family, you haven't had a moment's rest. You're so busy with work, under so much pressure, traveling all over the country, and when you come home..." He paused, not finishing his sentence, but everyone understood what he meant—coming home wasn't a completely warm and relaxing haven.

“Grandpa,” Song Zhiyi’s voice was gentle, yet carried a firm strength, “I really don’t feel tired. I chose this job myself, I like it, and it’s meaningful. As for family…” She glanced at Huo Yanli’s straight back, her tone calm, “Everyone is very good to me. You’ve always been kind to me, Aunt and Siqi care about me, and Yanli… he’s very good too.”

She said "very good," instead of "very good to me." This subtle choice of words subtly wrapped the distance and politeness in the marriage into an acceptance of the overall family atmosphere.

Old Master Huo, being such a man, naturally understood the underlying meaning. He looked into Song Zhiyi's calm and unwavering eyes, which held no resentment or complaint, only a clear-headed acceptance of fate and a determination to walk her own path well.

The child's resilience and insight made him both proud and heartbroken.

"You're just like your mother, always reporting good news and never bad." The old man shook his head, reached out, and gently patted Song Zhiyi's hand resting on her lap. The old man's hand was warm and dry, with rough lines left by the years. "Grandpa is old now, and I see things more clearly. That boy Yanli, he used to be a scoundrel, arrogant and haughty, and he still had people and things he shouldn't have had in his heart. I'm sorry you had to suffer like that."

"Grandpa!" Huo Yanli, sitting in the front row, finally couldn't help but call out softly, his voice tight, filled with obvious embarrassment and a deeper sense of... shame.

The old man ignored him and just looked at Song Zhiyi: "But recently, he's changed. Grandpa can see it. The way he looks at you is different. He's started to care about people, he's started to be ambitious, and he also knows... that his world before was too small."

Song Zhiyi listened quietly, without looking at Huo Yanli, nor showing any unusual reaction to her grandfather's words. She simply took the old man's hand gently in return, her fingertips slightly cool.

“Grandpa, people grow up.” She said softly, as if stating an objective fact. “Yanli is very outstanding, and his achievements in business are obvious to all. Now he wants to do more meaningful things, which is his choice and his mindset. As for the rest…” She paused, her gaze lowered to their clasped hands, “I will keep my promise to you and Grandpa. There’s still some time left for the five-year agreement. In the meantime, I will do what I should do. Please take good care of yourself and don’t worry about us.”

She didn't respond to the comment about "the change in his eyes," nor did she respond to the comment about "feeling sorry for him." She attributed Huo Yanli's transformation to personal growth and social responsibility, and clearly framed their relationship within the framework of the "five-year agreement" and "things that should be done."

Clear, calm, leaving no room for speculation.

Grandpa Huo looked at her for a long while, then sighed again, this time with a helpless smile: "Alright, alright, Grandpa won't worry. You young people can handle your own affairs. As long as you're all doing well, that's all that matters to Grandpa."

He let go of her hand, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes, as if he were tired.

Silence fell over the car again. The only sound was the soft rustling of the wheels on the road.

Huo Yanli kept looking ahead, his jawline taut. His grandfather's words were like a dull knife, cutting open certain facts he had been trying to ignore. Song Zhiyi's response, on the other hand, was like a basin of perfectly warm water, extinguishing the spark that had just risen in his heart because of his grandfather's words, leaving only a damp chill.

She didn't lie, nor did she give a perfunctory answer. She was just... too clear-headed. Clear-headed in fulfilling her promises, clear-headed in drawing clear lines, clear-headed in... attributing all his changes and efforts to personal growth unrelated to "her".