Chapter 13 "Almost Impotent, Right?"
Her smile became subtle. Qiao Shu gave a soft sneer and gritted her teeth. She had almost forgotten that her ex-husband was a tasteless and stingy man who still held a grudge against her for initiating the divorce.
Yu Zeheng strode into the hospital building, his back straight and his proportions impeccable. With broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs, he had a bit of the look of a thug in a suit.
Song Yue turned her gaze away and said, "Ever since President Yu's team won the championship last year, he sold the team and returned to China to take over the family business, which he's doing quite well. Everyone thought he was just good at burning money, but I didn't expect him to be even more ruthless when it comes to making money."
Qiao Shu frowned: "No wonder the eyes are on the top of the head."
Song Yue smiled and said, "But his temperament is getting more and more gloomy, as if the whole world owes him five million the moment he opens his eyes."
Qiao Shu lowered her eyes and chuckled, walking side by side with Song Yue through the automatically opening glass doors of the hospital: "Maybe it's because I'm almost thirty and about to lose my erectile function, so it's no wonder I'm feeling depressed and unhappy."
Yu Zeheng is a year older than her, already twenty-nine, and will turn thirty next year.
He's clearly already in the ranks of old men.
Qiao Shu had seen too many young and strong younger men in Australia. In comparison, he was like a faded flower, time waits for no one, while she remained bright and beautiful, while others were already past their prime.
Thinking about it this way, Yu Zeheng's rudeness just now could be forgiven by her.
When they arrived at the hospital, the old man still showed no signs of waking up. That evening, Qiao Kaiyu went to the hospital, glanced at the situation in the intensive care unit, and sat down next to Qiao Shu.
"How long can we hold on like this?" Qiao Kaiyu rubbed his face; he had been exhausted by company matters lately.
The media somehow learned that the old man was seriously ill and rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. He is still in the intensive care unit, and his life hangs in the balance. To make matters worse, someone dug up information suggesting that Qiao Shu and Yu Zeheng may have already divorced. The evidence is that the couple has been living separately for many years, with Yu Zeheng in China and Qiao Shu in Australia. If they have divorced, it will be questionable whether the partnership between the two families will remain stable. Various negative news is flying around, and the company's stock has plummeted.
Qiao Kaiyu wasn't ready to take over when the old man suddenly had an accident, leaving him with a mess. He was caught off guard and started to feel anxious and sleepless.
Qiao Shu didn't see him say that the hospital seminar would end tonight and that he would provide them with a solution.
Qiao Kaiyu looked up, momentarily bewildered: "I hope so."
Not long after, my uncle and aunt went to the hospital. My aunt casually mentioned that Yu Zeheng's mother, Jiang Wenxin, was also in this hospital and had been staying there for two days because she was unwell.
Qiao Shu bumped into Yu Zeheng at the hospital gate because he had come to visit Jiang Wenxin.
She was slightly taken aback. Jiang Wenxin had been good to her. In fact, the Yu family had all been good to her. After their divorce, she had sent her New Year's greetings, and Jiang Wenxin had replied, telling her to take good care of herself while she was away. In her words, she didn't seem to mind that she had mentioned the divorce.
Qiao Shu sent his regards to Jiang Wenxin and visited her in the hospital the next day, bringing flowers and fruit as a token of his appreciation.
Qiao Zhenkai woke up suddenly after being in a coma in the intensive care unit for forty days. His various data gradually stabilized. After a day of observation, he was transferred to a regular ward.
A huge crowd of the Qiao family members rushed over.
Qiao Shu was blocked at the door with her arms crossed. Her aunt put her hand on her shoulder and said, "Xiao Shu, you shouldn't go in for now. The old man's condition is still unstable. I'm afraid he will be unhappy if he sees you, which may affect his blood pressure."
Although her words contained scheming and exclusion, they were not without reason. She did not intend to go in. Hearing the old man's voice from outside, she felt relieved. She prepared to return to the hotel.
"Where's Xiao Shu? Why isn't she here?"
The voice was weak and aged, but the words were clearly enunciated.
Qiao Shu stopped, and the people inside turned around. Her aunt was even more surprised. She turned to her and called out, "The old man wants to see you. Come in."
She paused for a second, took a deep breath, and went inside.
For the past forty days, Qiao Shu has come every day without fail, rain or shine. But the old man is in a coma, so they never make eye contact, never talk, and never argue. Two years have passed, and she still often thinks of the nights when they argued. Her mood is like the endless, damp rainy season of her life.
Humans are strange creatures, their emotions and reason intertwined. She didn't feel she had done anything wrong, but she still regretted that the bond between her and her grandfather could never be the same again.
With mixed emotions, Qiao Shu looked at the old man on the hospital bed. He still had a breathing tube inserted, and the oxygen tube was pressed against his dry lips. He spoke haltingly, "Come to me."
Her steps became stiff and heavy; she almost dragged herself there. She managed a weak smile and called out, "Grandpa."
Qiao Zhenkai raised his hand, but it was too weak, so he had to give up. Seeing her stunned and helpless look, he asked, "Were you scared?"
Qiao Shu felt a lump in her throat and gave a muffled "hmm".
Qiao Zhenkai weakly forced a smile and said, "Let them go back. I'm fine. There are too many people. Everyone should go do their own thing. I'm not used to hospital beds. Ask Aunt Li to get me a blanket."
He spoke to Qiao Shu as before, instructing her to handle the tasks.
The others in the ward were quite surprised. Qiao Kaiyu scratched his head, not understanding the situation. He just assumed that the illness had made the old man realize something and that he would no longer pursue or dwell on the past.
Qiao Kaiyu said, "Grandpa, don't worry about things at the company. With me here, there won't be any problems."
Qiao Zhenkai nodded, gave a few more instructions, chatted with the others for a bit, and indicated that he was fine. While he was talking, Qiao Shu remained silent after sending a message to Li Ma.
"Where's Zeheng?" Qiao Zhenkai looked at Qiao Shu again. "Why haven't I seen him? Is he still abroad?"
An unexpected name suddenly appeared, and the ward fell silent for a moment. Everyone reacted in unison. Qiao Shu was stunned for two seconds: "...Why did you suddenly ask about him?"
Qiao Zhenkai paused for a moment and said, "I looked around at everyone and couldn't find him. Just asking casually, did you not tell him about my hospitalization?"
Qiao Shu remained silent, unsure how to respond.
"You two had another fight? It's normal for couples to have disagreements. Just be careful not to make things worse." Qiao Zhenkai was tired from talking so much, so he closed his eyes and went to sleep for a while.
Everyone in the room left, each lost in their own thoughts. The ward door closed, and Qiao Kaiyu frowned as he asked Qiao Shu, "What did the old man mean by what he just said? What husband and wife? What quarrel? Has he forgotten that you're already divorced?"
The second half of the sentence was spoken in a very low voice, implying that it was impossible no matter what. This matter was like a fishbone stuck in the old man's chest.
"I don't know," Qiao Shu said, equally confused. "Go see a doctor."
Qiao Kaiyu suddenly realized: "Right, find a doctor!"
"He has amnesia."
The doctor explained that the brain hemorrhage occurred near the hippocampus in the medial temporal lobe. The hemorrhage caused damage to nerve cells, resulting in retrograde amnesia. Patients usually cannot remember the events of minutes, hours, days, or even longer before the incident.
The doctor concluded after speaking with the old man that his memory stopped two years ago in early summer, and that the past two years had become a blank.
Based on the timeline, he had forgotten the argument and the fact that Qiao Shu and Yu Zeheng had divorced.
Qiao Kaiyu grabbed the doctor's arm and anxiously asked, "Is there any way to remember?"
The doctor said helplessly, "I can only tell you that it's possible. Because nerve cells cannot regenerate after death, we can think of the brain as a transportation network. The death of nerve cells causes this part to break the connection, resulting in traffic paralysis. However, the brain has a strong compensatory ability and may open up another path to restore traffic. These factors are closely related to the patient's recovery, age, and subsequent training."
In other words, the old man won't remember it in the short term, and given his age, it will be difficult to repair in the future.
Qiao Shu smelled the disinfectant and forced a bitter smile. It turned out that she had forgotten that in the old man's eyes, she was still that obedient and well-behaved granddaughter.
Over the next few days, Qiao Shu and Qiao Kaiyu took turns talking to the old man about what had happened in the past two years, but they tacitly avoided mentioning Qiao Shu's divorce. The old man's reaction back then was still vivid in their minds, and now that he was in poor health, no one dared to provoke him easily.
In her spare time, Qiao Shu wondered what would happen after everything was remembered, after this warm and peaceful place had been restored.
She rested her chin on her hands, her gaze deep and somber.
—
Jiang Wenxin was undergoing a routine annual physical examination when a minor stomach problem was discovered. Yu Zeheng forced her to be hospitalized and undergo all the detailed examinations. Only after confirming that there were no major problems was she allowed to be discharged.
When she was discharged from the hospital, Yu Zeheng came to her ward to help her with the procedures and take her home.
Jiang Wenxin was only staying for a few days, and a travel bag was enough to fill her luggage. There were only some fruit baskets and flowers left. She looked at a large bunch of sunflowers that looked like little suns and said, "Xiao Shu came to see me. She brought the flowers and fruit basket. She knew I was in the hospital and came to visit me specially."
Yu Zeheng did not respond and asked his assistant to handle the discharge procedures.
Jiang Wen thought about getting out of bed, and Yu Zeheng came over to help her. She held his arm and said softly, "It's been two years. Even though you're divorced, you don't have to never see each other again. Let's part amicably."
Yu Zeheng pursed his lips, held Jiang Wenxin's arm, and whispered, "Be careful."
His eyelashes were lowered, and his eyes were cold. From the very beginning, it was all about calculation and self-interest. There had never been any good between them, so how could they possibly part amicably?
Jiang Wenxin changed out of her hospital gown and went out, thinking that the Qiao family patriarch was also staying in the same hospital and had just woken up recently. The two families used to be in-laws, and even after their divorce, they still had a business relationship. It was only right and proper for her to visit him.
"Buy some flowers and fruit, and we'll go visit Grandpa Qiao."
Yu Zeheng had no objection, bought the items as she requested, and then carried them over to her.
When Jiang Wenxin and Yu Zeheng arrived, Qiao Shu was reading Shi Tiesheng's "Random Thoughts from a Sickbed." Her voice was clear and melodious, and her pronunciation was perfect. She stopped reading the last line, "Since suffering has pushed me to the edge of a cliff, let me sit down on this edge and look at the misty clouds below, and sing a song for you." She lifted her eyelashes and saw those indifferent eyes.
Qiao Shu closed the book, her long hair tied into a loose braid that hung down in front of her chest. The window behind her was pushed open, revealing a clear, azure sky.
Jiang Wenxin first greeted the old man, then affectionately called him Xiao Shu.
Qiao Shu immediately stood up, hesitated for a moment in front of the old man, and still called out awkwardly, "Mom."
Awkward and awkward.
Fortunately, Jiang Wenxin did not embarrass her. She smiled and nodded, then went to the old man's bedside and gently inquired about his health, telling him to rest well.
Qiao Zhenkai looked much better and no longer needed an oxygen tube. He held a blanket in front of him with his hands in front of him, wearing a blue and white striped hospital gown. At this moment, he looked like an ordinary old man with some energy. He nodded and said, "You're very thoughtful."
Qiao Shu held the book against her leg, then looked down at the tips of her shoes touching the ground.
In her peripheral vision, she saw shiny leather shoes, a step away from her. The words coming from the front contrasted sharply with the deathly silence behind, until Qiao Kaiyu returned after finishing his call. He was first surprised, then greeted her warmly.
"Zeheng." Qiao Zhenkai looked at Yu Zeheng and called him gently.
Yu Zeheng stepped forward, bent down, and asked, "Grandpa, how are you feeling today?"
"I'm much better now, thank you for your concern. As people get older, their health will inevitably suffer." Qiao Zhenkai smiled slightly. "I thought you wouldn't come. Xiao Shu said you've been on a business trip in England recently. No matter how busy you are with work, don't take advantage of your youth and do whatever you want. You also need to take care of your health."
Qiao Shu turned her face away and looked at the lilies on the windowsill.
Yu Zeheng lowered his long eyelashes and spoke in a deep voice again: "I'm sorry I couldn't visit you sooner. I've remembered your words of advice."
Qiao Kaiyu touched his nose to prevent the situation from becoming awkward, and then told the old man that he should take a nap and that he would see them out.
Qiao Zhenkai didn't respond, but still looked at Yu Zeheng: "Speaking of which, you two have been married for four years now, it's time to consider having a child. Do you two have any plans?"
"..."
An eerie silence descended once again upon the ward.
Four years, child—every word was unexpected. Yu Zeheng frowned, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone pretending not to hear. Jiang Wenxin looked at her son in confusion.
Qiao Kaiyu coughed twice, stepped forward, stood in front of Yu Zeheng, and said in a low voice, "The most important thing right now is not the child, but your health. You should rest well first, and we'll have them give you a definite answer another day."
After much persuasion, they barely managed to get away with it.
After Qiao Zhenkai lay down, Qiao Shu and Qiao Kaiyu saw them out of the ward. Qiao Kaiyu extended his hand and said, "I wonder if Aunt Jiang and Zeheng have time? Shall we find a place to sit down and chat?"
Jiang Wenxin was full of doubts. She agreed, and Yu Zeheng pursed his lips, neither nodding nor refusing.
Qiao Shu naturally refused to accompany them and was about to sneak back to her ward when she was stopped.
"Xiao Shu, come here too."
Under Jiang Wenxin's friendly gaze, Qiao Shu smiled and said okay, but the smile vanished the moment she turned around, revealing unconcealed resentment beneath her long eyelashes.
Qiao Kaiyu found a nearby teahouse. The small private room was quiet and elegant, and the faint aroma of tea had a calming and soothing effect.
Jiang Wenxin asked, "What did Chairman Qiao mean by saying 'married for four years'?"
Qiao Kaiyu sighed and explained the reasons: "The old man's body is as fragile as paper right now. We dare not subject him to any stimulation, nor do we dare to risk telling him the truth. We can only keep it from him for now."
Jiang Wenxin nodded: "You're doing the right thing. Focus on getting better first, and we can talk about other things later."
“I’ve been thinking about this for the past few days. The old man is such a shrewd person. If we just keep coaxing him, he’ll definitely become suspicious after a while. So I came up with a plan.” Qiao Kaiyu’s gaze fell on Yu Zeheng’s cold and gloomy face, then shifted to Qiao Shu, who was playing with her nails.
"What method?" Jiang Wenxin asked.
"I'd like to ask Zeheng for help. Could you and Xiaoshu cooperate so that in front of the old man, you two can still act like husband and wife? It won't take too long; just a show will suffice..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was immediately met with opposition.
Qiao Shu: "I don't want to!"
Yu Zeheng: "No."
Qiao Shu lifted her eyelashes, her long eyebrows furrowing: "Big brother, have you been watching too many idol dramas and ruined your brain? I don't agree with your suggestion, but I'll talk to Grandpa about it."
She crossed her arms in protest, wondering if he also had a problem with his head.
Yu Zeheng leaned back in his chair, his arm resting on the table, his expressionless face growing even colder: "I would never cooperate with anyone to do such a thing."
Jiang Wenxin took a sip of tea from her teacup and, after careful consideration, concluded that Qiao Kaiyu's words made a lot of sense.
Qiao Kaiyu looked troubled: "I have no choice. The old man can't be discharged yet. His condition is unstable. If he really finds out that you're divorced... knowing his personality, he might just tear the whole hospital down."
However, Yu Zeheng had already stood up, looking down at him without glancing to the side, his imposing aura pressing down on him. His voice was direct and resolute: "You don't need to say anything more, I won't agree."
"Sigh." Qiao Kaiyu wanted to say something more.
Yu Zeheng rested his hands on the table, leaned slightly forward, his eyelashes half-closed, and said, word by word, "I never want to have anything to do with her again in this lifetime."
The words were followed by a cold laugh.
Qiao Shu rested her elbows on the tea table, propped her chin on her hand, and wore an innocent smile on her face: "What a coincidence, me too."
If they could put on an act while their marriage was still going on, now that they're divorced, all they have left to do is unabashedly express their disgust for each other.
Just imagining yourself wanting to strangle someone but having to look at their face and force a fake smile is enough to make anyone nauseous.
Neither of them looked at the other, but both turned to Qiao Kaiyu, one cold and the other warm, making him their outlet for venting their frustrations.
Yu Zeheng put his hands in front of him and buttoned up his suit jacket: "Mr. Qiao, if you continue to bother me with such boring and childish suggestions, I think the cooperation between our two companies will have to stop."
Qiao Shu smiled gently after hearing this, her voice as gentle as a cool spring flowing under the moonlight: "Big brother, did you hear that? He's threatening you."
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Author's Note: A voiceover should be playing right now: Loading, loading, loading! President Yu is thrilled to have acquired Strong Brother!
50 red envelopes, kiss kiss! Due to the clipboard, the next update will be on Thursday night at 11 PM.
——
My next book will be "Blazing Heat".
Jiang Ruan and Chen Zexu have been married for three years.
No different from other couples who marry into wealthy families, they didn't know each other before marriage and had no feelings for each other, but because of mutual benefit, they were able to maintain a respectful married life.
Chen Zexu is the perfect husband candidate: tall and handsome, with both inner and outer beauty. Although he is a bit aloof, he is respectful and considerate to others.
The only unusual thing was that they didn't sleep in the same bed every night. No matter how passionate they were before, he would coldly withdraw and go back to his room, saying goodnight.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, they will continue living like this.
Until Jiang Ruan unintentionally pushed open the hidden door to his bedroom, she saw that the walls were covered with her photos, from her student days to the present, and on the desk was an open notebook filled with dense writing:
Jiang Ruan ...
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