Li Shuyang looked up and saw that Chen Ji's face was calm, revealing no emotion.
"Thank you." Chen Ji sat down beside his hospital bed. "Although I know what you're thinking, it's impossible not to mind. But more than minding, I'm grateful to you."
His expression was serious, and there wasn't a hint of joking in his words.
Regardless of Li Shuyang's motives, the fact that she wasn't injured left Chen Ji with nothing but relief.
When Xu Ruantang and Li Shuhe returned from the restroom, Li's parents had already returned to their ward.
Chen Ji stood next to Li's father, and the two were talking.
Li Shuhe said to them, "Dad, Mom, you should go back. I'll stay with Shuyang tonight."
Mother Li shook her head firmly, "No, you're a girl, how can you handle that? If he goes to the toilet, you won't even be able to help him."
Father Li: "I'll stay. It's too late. You should all go home."
In the past, Li Shuhe would not have insisted, but this time she was unusually firm: "I can, Mom, you come and relieve me tomorrow morning."
No matter how much Li's parents tried to persuade her, Li Shuhe refused to leave.
Li Shuyang also said that he was willing to stay, and his sister could stay if she wanted to.
After seeing off Li's parents, Li Shuhe began to urge Xu Ruantang and Chen Ji to leave.
Thinking it was getting late and that Li Shuyang should rest, they left.
Before leaving, Xu Ruantang said, "Then I'll come see you tomorrow."
"No need, you go about your business, it's nothing serious." Li Shuhe was unusual; she usually clung to Xu Ruantang, but today she refused without even thinking.
Li Shuyang didn't dare to speak, and behind Xu Ruantang stood a cold-faced Buddha.
After the two left, Li Shuhe closed the ward door and walked to Li Shuyang's side with a not-so-pleasant expression.
Li Shuyang felt uneasy under her gaze. "Sis, I'm tired. Is there anything else?"
Li Shuhe glanced at his wound, gritted her teeth, and waved her hand, "It's nothing, go to sleep!"
Just as she was about to leave, Li Shuyang said, "If your third sister-in-law wants to come next time, let her. Otherwise, she'll always feel indebted to me, and it won't make her feel good. Let her do something, and she'll feel better."
Li Shuhe's suppressed anger suddenly surged to her head, almost making her faint with rage.
She turned around abruptly and looked straight at Li Shuyang. "Li Shuyang, do you like her?"
Li Shuyang was visibly taken aback, avoiding her gaze, and said, "Who? What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Li Shuyang!" Li Shuhe's chest heaved with anger as she pointed at his nose. "I'm asking you to give up on this idea as soon as possible. You're ruining a military marriage!"
Li Shuyang's face turned pale instantly.
He forgot that they were siblings from the same mother, and no matter how different their personalities were, his sister was the one who understood him best.
Li Shuhe probably realized it was from the moment he took the knife for her and then comforted Xu Ruantang in the car.
One night was enough to sentence him to death.
Li Shuyang's eyes were vacant. The once sunny boy's eyes had dimmed. He murmured, "I didn't do anything. Can't I even like them silently? I won't disturb their lives."
He hung his head, looking helpless, a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes.
Li Shuhe was so angry she laughed. She couldn't understand why he had suddenly become like this!
"Li Shuyang, do you think I'm a three-year-old? You didn't do anything to make me deliver the picture book to Ruan Ruan? You offered to help me get bread from her house? You didn't do anything, yet you insisted on coming with me to the hospital to see her? And you even brought a whole bunch of things, saying you wanted to keep her entertained?"
And what about the outing? Didn't you insist on going with me? Li Shuyang, do you want me to lay out every single thing before you'll admit it? Do you know how shameless you are for doing this?
Li Shuhe spoke at length, her eyes reddening.
They are children of high-ranking officials. Li Shuyang's actions not only disrupt military marriages, but also implicate the Li family.
He's really out of his mind.
Li Shuyang's whole body was tense, and the wounds he was pulling on throbbed with pain, but his heart ached even more. He lowered his voice and said, "I know, I know all that you're saying. Can't I even treat her as an ordinary friend?"
Besides, their marriage is a sham. I can wait, I can wait...
Li Shuhe's fingertips trembled, and her voice shook: "You're talking nonsense! I think you're crazy! You've probably lost your mind!"
“He’s Chen Ji, Chen Ji! I can tell right away. Do you really think he doesn’t know?” Li Shuhe shuddered involuntarily as she recalled Chen Ji’s gloomy expression in the car.
"Ruan Ruan is Chen Ji's wife. Whether it's a fake or not, she's a military wife. Is a military wife fake? Tell me, can a military wife be fake? Can their marriage certificate and marriage proof be fake?!"
"Do you think Chen Ji is dead? He's being merciful by not exposing you. What are you thinking? Do you want to make a mistake and bring shame to your parents? Or do you not want this family anymore?"
Li Shuyang's face was full of remorse. "I...I didn't."
"Think about it carefully! Let me tell you, even if they get divorced, you can't be with her. Don't you know that? Or haven't you thought about the future? Haven't you thought about how serious it would be for Ruan Ruan, a girl, to be criticized behind her back?"
Li Shuyang panicked completely. "Sister, I just like her. I never intended to hurt her. I liked her even before I knew she was a military wife. I just want to like someone, why is it so hard..."
Li Shuhe looked at him with exasperation, "Give up. I beg you, even for Ruan Ruan's sake, you must completely abandon this idea."
It wasn't until this moment that Li Shuyang suddenly understood why Chen Ji had known his thoughts from the beginning but hadn't said a word.
He always thought that because of the agreement, even though Chen Ji liked her, he couldn't interfere with Xu Ruantang's decision.
It turns out that wasn't the case at all.
He was simply protecting Xu Ruantang in his own way.
And he almost caused a major disaster.
......
On the way back, Xu Ruantang leaned back in her seat, turning her head to look out the window without saying a word.
The car window was half open, and the summer night breeze felt pleasant on her face, lifting the stray hairs that clung to her cheeks.
Chen Ji glanced at her sideways, then quickly focused his attention back on driving.
Xu Ruantang was reminiscing.
Since she transmigrated into the book, she has encountered countless unexpected events, both big and small, including Yao Yulan's deliberate targeting, their framing of her, Lu Xiaozhao falling from the building, and Cheng Dan and Jia Shuling's numerous provocations.
And this time too.
To be honest, she was a little scared.
"Wife, it's my fault for not protecting you well." Chen Ji's deep, magnetic voice suddenly rang out.
Xu Ruantang turned her head and met his deep black eyes.
Before they knew it, they had arrived at the compound. Chen Ji did not get out of the car immediately. His deep gaze fell on Xu Ruantang's face, and his eyes held a faint, almost imperceptible, dark light.
His long, slender fingers caressed Xu Ruantang's cheek, his tone tender and affectionate: "It won't happen again."
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