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Before they knew it, Zheng Shuyi's discharge date arrived. After a follow-up examination, the doctor confirmed that she was recovering well and could prepare for discharge. Chu Yiran felt a great weight lifted from her heart, but then she began to worry about the follow-up care.
He secretly hired a caregiver in advance, planning to have the caregiver accompany Zheng Shuyi home on the day of her discharge so that she could take care of her around the clock.
"Hello, Auntie, I'm Xiao Li. I'll be taking care of your daily needs from now on..." Caregiver Xiao Li introduced herself with a friendly smile.
To everyone's surprise, Zheng Shuyi immediately straightened her face and waved her hands repeatedly, "No, no! I'm perfectly healthy and don't need anyone to take care of me! Ah Ran, you should tell them to go back!" She took Chu Yiran's hand and whispered, "Don't waste my money! I can really manage on my own, you don't need to worry about me."
"Mom!" Chu Yiran was both helpless and anxious. "You have to listen to me this time! Wasn't your fainting enough frightening? I can't be by your side all the time because of work. What am I supposed to do if something else happens?" He tried to reason with her, "Don't worry about the cost of hiring a caregiver, I can earn it now—"
"That won't do! I feel uncomfortable with an outsider in the house!" Zheng Shuyi's attitude was unusually firm, and the mother and son were deadlocked in the ward. In the end, Chu Yiran could only let the caregiver go back first.
The production budget was burning through cash every day, and as the lead actor, he couldn't keep everyone waiting for him forever. But he also couldn't rest easy until Zheng Shuyi was properly settled...
Just as the stalemate was at hand, there was a gentle knock on the ward door.
Chu Yiran looked up and saw Wu Jingyun and Su Ting standing outside the door carrying large and small bags.
"Uncle and Aunt, what brings you here?" Chu Yiran asked, somewhat surprised.
“We heard from Xiao Jing that your mother is sick, and we were just lazing around at home with nothing to do, so we thought we'd come and visit…” Wu Jingyun said with a smile, then turned to Zheng Shuyi beside Chu Yiran, “You must be Xiao Chu’s mother? I’m Wu Jingyun, Su Jing’s mother. I don’t know who’s older between us, you look quite young. How’s your recovery in the hospital going…”
Wu Jingyun was very enthusiastic. She immediately took Zheng Shuyi's hand and started chatting about everyday things. Su Ting, who was standing nearby, also stepped forward and handed the things he was carrying to Chu Yiran: "I came in a hurry and just brought some things. I don't know what your mother likes to eat..."
Chu Yiran quickly accepted it with both hands: "You're too kind, Uncle."
“Shuyi, I heard you say earlier that you don’t want to hire a caregiver? Sigh, I understand! It’s awkward to have a stranger in the house.” She changed the subject, her tone becoming sincere. “How about this? After you’re discharged from the hospital, why don’t you come and stay with us? It’s just me, Lao Su, and Xiao Jing who comes back occasionally. We have plenty of empty rooms. You can come and keep me company, we can chat and stroll around the garden together, and you’ll have someone to look after you. How can you leave the children at work alone at home?”
Upon hearing this, Zheng Shuyi quickly waved her hand, "How can this be! It's too much trouble for you, no, no..."
"What's the trouble!" Wu Jingyun said reproachfully. "I was just worried about having no one to chat with! Old Su is busy with his own things all day, and Xiao Jing is never home. I'm so happy you're here! We sisters can keep each other company, grow flowers together, watch dramas, how wonderful! Just think of it as coming to keep me company, okay?"
Wu Jingyun spoke warmly and sincerely, and quickly struck up a conversation with Zheng Shuyi, instantly lightening the atmosphere in the ward. Zheng Shuyi was somewhat swayed by her words, but her face still showed hesitation and embarrassment.
At this moment, Su Ting gave Chu Yiran a wink, signaling him to speak privately. The two walked to the corridor outside the ward.
Su Ting patted him on the shoulder, his tone steady and reliable: "Xiao Chu, don't worry. Your mother will definitely not be wronged in our family. Jingyun genuinely wants to find a companion. You can go back to work with peace of mind. Leave your mother to us, and we'll take good care of her."
Chu Yiran quickly shook his head: "How can this be, Uncle? This is too much trouble for you!"
"What trouble is it?" Su Ting comforted her. "Xiao Jing mentioned to us that you're busy with work and under a lot of pressure. Your mother is your only family member, so she must be worried. This little bit of trouble is nothing. Besides, look how well your mother and Jingyun get along..."
Su Ting pointed into the ward, and Chu Yiran followed his gaze and saw Zheng Shuyi and Wu Jingyun holding hands and laughing together.
Wu Jingyun, as expected of a veteran actress, was warm and polite in conversation, and quickly made Zheng Shuyi very happy.
Chu Yiran frowned, somewhat conflicted, and said, "Well then, Uncle, we can't let my mother bother you for nothing. I'll pay her by the day—"
Before he could finish speaking, Su Ting interrupted him with a serious frown, saying, "What are you saying, Xiao Chu! That's too formal. Do you think your Aunt Wu and I would want your money?"
"Uncle, that's not what I meant—" Before Chu Yiran could finish explaining, Su Ting patted his shoulder and said, "I understand, Chu. It's not easy for you young people to work hard outside. As elders, we should help as much as we can. If you really feel bad about it, come visit me and your Aunt Wu more often when you have time, okay?"
Su Ting's words were sincere, carrying the unique kindness and responsibility of an elder, and Chu Yiran felt a warmth rise in her heart.
He was silent for a moment, and when he looked up again, his eyes showed a decision, but more than that, deep emotion: "Uncle Su, thank you, and thank you Auntie... and Su Jing, thank you so much."
"Silly child, don't be so polite." Su Ting smiled. "Go and tell your mother so she can rest assured."
Finally, under Wu Jingyun's enthusiastic invitation and Su Ting's assurance, Zheng Shuyi reluctantly agreed to stay at the Su family's house for a while. After arranging everything, Chu Yiran hurriedly returned to the Hengdian film crew.
Back on set, Chu Yiran's state of mind was quite different from when he left. Looking at Su Jing off-camera, he felt as if a crack had quietly appeared in his heart.
Upon Chu Yiran's return, the director immediately began filming the scene of the two leads performing a duet. The scene being filmed that day was a night scene, in which the two characters, after experiencing a life-or-death ordeal, temporarily sought shelter from the wind and rain in a dilapidated house, waiting for dawn around a campfire.
The scene was set up in a very atmospheric way, with flickering light and shadows cast on the faces of the two people by the dancing flames.
According to the script, Chu Yiran's character was shot and bleeding, his face pale as he leaned against the ruins. The two had just finished filming a scene in the rain, and it was the dead of winter, so even their breath was damp with sweat. When filming officially started, Su Jing's character went over to check on his injuries, took off his coat, and then took off his slightly dry school uniform underneath and draped it over Chu Yiran.
This action wasn't in the script. Chu Yiran was slightly taken aback, but Su Jing had already half-squatted beside him, her fingers casually brushing against his neck, tightening the overly wide collar slightly. The rough fabric brushed against his skin, carrying the other's body heat.
"The situation is turbulent right now, why do you have to put yourself in such a dangerous situation?" Su Jing recited his lines steadily, but his eyes looked particularly deep in the firelight.
Chu Yiran's gaze fell on the neck exposed above his white vest, where several faint red marks stood out starkly against his pale skin. Almost instinctively, he blurted out, deviating from the script, "Are you injured?"
Su Jing was clearly taken aback by this impromptu remark. His eyelashes fluttered slightly, but he quickly picked up the act: "It's nothing. You know the police aren't going to be polite to students..." Then he added jokingly, "But luckily I ran fast."
Su Jing successfully brought the dialogue back on track, and after the scene ended, the director's voice was full of praise: "This take was very good, the emotions were very natural!"
The lights on set came back on, and the crew got busy, but the air between the two seemed to still be frozen in that moment.
Zhao Wei and Sun Xiaoxiao came over and handed him a towel. Su Jing silently draped the towel over Chu Yiran's shoulder. Just as he and Zhao Wei turned to leave, Chu Yiran called out to him, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible concern: "You... you didn't get this on you at the hospital that day, did you?"
That day at the hospital, Chu Yiran pulled hard on Su Jing's collar, and the stiff shirt scratched several red and swollen marks on Su Jing's shoulders and neck.
Su Jing was clearly surprised that Chu Yiran would take the initiative to care about him. He was slightly taken aback, and then a glimmer seemed to appear in the depths of his eyes. He shook his head and a very faint but real smile appeared on his lips: "No, I'm fine."
“Su Jing,” Chu Yiran paused, “thank you for taking my mother to the hospital that day.”
Su Jing's smile deepened. He looked at Chu Yiran and replied softly, "Auntie is doing well at my house, so you don't need to worry."
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