56: I've seen your pathetic state, your helplessness and frustration before.
"I'm fine, really fine. I don't need any more tests. I have class tomorrow. I was just too unfamiliar with the routine. I'll get used to it and it'll be fine. I don't need any tests. I need to rest. I'll go home and rest for one night and I'll be fine."
Shang Zhi remained emotionally unstable and insisted on leaving, refusing further examination. Pei Yanxiu tried to stop her but couldn't. He knew what she was panicking about; she was afraid that the tests might reveal something she couldn't accept, and she would break down.
"I have to go back. Tomorrow's class is very important, and I have to go back to class." Shang Zhi's shoulders trembled. She thought he would insist that she stay here, and she was prepared for a debate between the two of them.
"Okay." He didn't say anything more, just gently rubbed her head, and then helped her home.
"Remember to ask your teacher for leave. Don't go to school for the next few days. Rest at home and observe the situation before making any decisions." He gently applied the medicine for her, giving her repeated instructions, but Shang Zhi couldn't listen. A faint sense of fear enveloped her.
She couldn't let anything happen to her; she wouldn't allow herself to be harmed. Her pride and self-respect couldn't bear it. This time, she decided not to listen to them anymore. The next morning, before he woke up and before dawn, she sneaked out in the dark.
Her heart was pounding in her chest; she felt like she was gambling, or perhaps waiting for an outcome.
As long as she goes to class, as long as she can still dance during class, and as long as everything is normal, then there's nothing to worry about anymore. She can continue doing what she wants to do as before.
That's what I think.
But perhaps it was fate playing a cruel joke on her. Shang Zhi fell again while performing an action in class. This time, her pain was even more severe than before. She struggled to stand up but couldn't get up no matter what she did.
While the classroom was in complete chaos, Pei Yanxiu entered. She didn't know when he had followed her. Without saying a word, he picked her up.
He moved very gently, without scolding her for running away on her own, and carried her all the way to the car. The moment the car door closed, Shang Zhi could no longer control her emotions.
"I'm fine, I'm fine, right? Uncle Pei, this was an accident, right? You're older than me and more experienced, you know everything will be alright, right?" Pei Yanxiu rarely saw Shang Zhi like this, crying out in heart-wrenching sobs, which made his heart ache terribly.
He took her to the hospital, and even though she was reluctant, he still made her undergo many examinations.
"Your old injury has never really healed, you just didn't feel it. This time, dancing aggravated the same spot again, so you need treatment," the doctor said to Shang Zhi after examining her.
"How will it be treated? How long will the treatment take? Will it affect my classes?"
"The duration of treatment depends on the recovery effect. For now, don't think about dancing anymore. You may never be able to dance again. Our main goal now is not to affect your future life."
"Be prepared, this could be a long battle. For the time being, you can use a wheelchair."
Shang Zhi felt a deafening roar in her mind; she felt shattered. Everything seemed like a firework, vanishing in an instant.
Her pride and self-esteem were on the verge of collapse.
Pei Yanxiu pushed a wheelchair over and took her home. Shang Zhixin sat down as if she were dead, but she had no choice but to sit down because her ankle was in severe pain.
"Don't overthink it. I'll ask my friends if there are any experts in this field. Everything will be alright. Once you're better, you can do what you want to do. It's not too late."
"Go away, I don't want you to see me like this." Pei Yanxiu poured water for Shang Zhi, but she pushed him away.
"Xixi, don't think so much. It's just an illness, nothing serious."
"Go away! I said you could leave!" Tears streamed down her face, one after another, as if trying to express all the grievances in her heart. Pei Yanxiu sighed softly, stepped forward, and hugged her.
"Xixi, even if you want to change husbands, you have to wait until you've achieved success. Now is not a good time."
“What is it that you can’t let me see? I know you feel embarrassed and ashamed, and you don’t want others to see you like this. But I’ve seen it plenty of times, haven’t I? When you were little, you would make mistakes and lie on my lap to get a beating, your snot and tears all over me. I’ve seen your helplessness, your embarrassment, and all your silly little thoughts, hee hee.”
"I'm so infatuated with you, not just because you're so wonderful, Xixi. Although I've known how wonderful you are for a long time, I also fully understand your frustration, helplessness, and despair. You should believe me."
"No matter what, I just want to stay by your side." Pei Yanxiu's eyes also glistened with tears. He bent down and knelt down, holding her ankle and gently massaging it.
“I know everything about you, Xixi.”
"I can accept whatever you become, and I believe you understand what I'm saying."
He lowered his head and gently kissed her knee.
"Isn't this good? Now you can't disobey even if you want to."
Shang Zhi couldn't stop crying; his words today had been very hurtful.
She used to think that Pei Yanxiu had high expectations of her, but today she realized that his standards were also very low. In fact, he could accept her no matter what.
And he still loves her.
He's right. He's seen her at her worst. Although they haven't been together for a particularly long time, they've always had a deep connection. He understands her better than anyone else—her good, her bad, everything about her.
Pei Yanxiu applied medicine to her, brought her some books to keep her from getting bored, and bought groceries to make her various kinds of soups, worried that food from outside might not be good for her health.
But she still seemed unhappy, indifferent to everything. He could understand; no one would be happy in this situation.
"When are you going back to Hong Kong? You're just going to leave Wan Jia's affairs and run off with a woman? Pei Yanxiu, aren't you being a bit too spineless?!" Pei Qing'an has been extremely anxious these past few days and keeps calling Pei Yanxiu.
“Xixi is sick. The doctors here are better. Let’s get her treated here before we go back.”
"If you're sick, there are doctors. What are you doing there? Can't you come back and do something worthwhile like running the company? I really don't understand how I could have given birth to a son like you!"
"Do you want me to be like you? My mom was lying in bed with a fever of almost 40 degrees Celsius and you didn't care!"
"I'm not a doctor, what do I care! You need to get your surname right, Pei, and know what side you should be on!"
"I should stand on the right side."
Shang Zhi was sick for a few days, and Pei Yanxiu and Pei Qing'an had several arguments. He wanted him to go back, but he refused no matter what. Sometimes, Shang Zhi would hear the two arguing outside the door and feel that she had caused him a lot of trouble, but Pei Yanxiu said it was nothing.
“I can handle company matters here just the same. Actually, he’s just too controlling and can’t stand me not being under his nose. Don’t worry too much, Xixi. Just focus on getting better, everything will be alright.”
Pei Qing'an didn't call again for the next few days, and Shang Zhi thought he had given up. But unexpectedly, he and Liang Shuyin suddenly showed up at the door one morning, catching everyone off guard.
"Dad, Mom? What brings you here?" Pei Yanxiu looked at the people outside the door with surprise.
"What do you think? Have you had enough fun? When are you going back?"
"I'm not going back."
"What did you say?"
I said I wouldn't...
Before Pei Yanxiu could finish speaking, Pei Qing'an slapped him across the face. Hearing the commotion outside, Shang Zhi, who was inside the house, also pushed her wheelchair out.
"Dad, Mom, you're here." She said timidly, a little embarrassed, then turned to look at Pei Yanxiu, whose expression remained unchanged.
"Just say it, don't hit them. The children have it tough too." Liang Shuyin sighed softly. She had seen this kind of scene many times before and was used to it. Her two sons were also used to it. She turned to look at Shang Zhi.
"Xixi, I heard you were sick. Are you alright?"
"It's okay, Mom. I just need to rest and recover."
"Don't worry about it. Your father was just worried about you, so he insisted on coming to America to see you." Liang Shuyin tried to ease the atmosphere and make things less awkward for the people in the room.
"Mom, I just finished making soup. Shall we eat first? What time is your flight back? Are you in a hurry?"
“Go back? No way. If you don’t go back, I won’t go back either. I’ll just stay here and watch you, to see what you, such a busy person, are busy with all day long!” Pei Qing’an said sarcastically from the side.
"Not going back?" Pei Yanxiu frowned.
"What, you're not welcome?"
"Welcome, of course you're welcome, Dad. You can stay if you want." Shang Zhi stepped forward and tugged at Pei Yanxiu's hand, telling him to keep quiet.
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