Chapter 55

Chapter 55: His Eyes Held a Smile, Ready for a Kiss She had been worried all afternoon, and now that Jiang Shixu was out of danger, she wanted to go see him. After all, he had taken that knife for her. "Be obedient! Come home with me!" Ruan Shaodong said sternly. Chu Tang shook her head, her gaze resolute. "Dad, I know you're very angry right now, but I can't go home yet. Brother Shixu risked his life for me—there's no reason for me not to go see him. If he opens his eyes and doesn't see me, he'll be so sad." Elder Jiang felt deeply gratified. He looked at Ruan Shaodong. "Shaodong, my wife's words just now were too harsh. I apologize to you. Don't take it to heart." Jiang Yi also chimed in, "That's right. Shixu must really want to see Chu Tang the moment he opens his eyes." Lin Yueying added, "In-laws, don't be angry. It's a good thing that the two children have strong feelings for each other and are devoted to one another." Since even someone as powerful as Elder Jiang had swallowed his pride to apologize personally, Ruan Shaodong couldn't very well say anything more. Elder Mrs. Jiang was indeed unreasonable, but fortunately the rest of the Jiang family were sensible people. He paused for a moment, then looked at Chu Tang. "Fine, you stay. I'll go home and check on your sister." After Ruan Shaodong left, Chu Tang apologized again for her impulsiveness. Mrs. Jiang, Lin Yueying, sighed and took her hand. "Good child, don't blame yourself anymore. This isn't your fault. I know you didn't want to see Shixu get hurt either. At the end of the day, this is our Jiang family's fault. Your father was right." Chu Tang's eyes welled up with tears. "I want to go see Shixu." Lin Yueying held her hand. "Let's go together." ... When Jiang Shixu opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Ruan Chutang's face full of worry. Seeing that he had finally woken up, Chu Tang's nose tingled and tears streamed down her face before she could stop them. "Brother Shixu, you're finally awake." Jiang Shixu tugged at the corner of his mouth, his voice gentle. "Don't cry. I'm not going to die." Lin Yueying stood to the side wiping her tears. "You scared me to death. As long as you're okay, that's what matters. If anything had happened to you, I really wouldn't want to go on living." Jiang Yi frowned and clicked his tongue. "Why do you keep saying such inauspicious things?" Chu Tang's tears flowed freely, and Jiang Shixu's heart ached at the sight. He reached out to wipe her tears, lifting his hand. After the anesthesia wore off, the wound hurt terribly, and the movement was difficult. Chu Tang quickly grasped his hand. "Brother Shixu..." "Tangtang, don't cry." A faint smile appeared on Jiang Shixu's pale face, his gaze tender with concern. "As long as you're safe, it doesn't matter what happens to me." "No, that's not true." Chu Tang wiped away her tears and sniffled. "We both have to be fine." "You child, what are you saying?" Lin Yueying frowned. "Can't you both just be fine?" "How is Jiaojiao?" Jiang Shixu asked again. Chu Tang's eyes were red. "Jiaojiao is fine. She's safe." "That's good." Lin Yueying said, "You child, you nearly lost your life and you're still worrying about others. Rest well and recover. Don't worry about those things—we'll handle matters outside." "Dad, Mom, could you step out for a moment? I'd like some time alone with Tangtang." Jiang Shixu said weakly. Lin Yueying and Jiang Yi understood and cooperatively withdrew. Jiang Shixu looked at Chu Tang with concern. "Tangtang, they didn't give you a hard time, did they?" Chu Tang shook her head, her heart aching with bitterness. Even in his condition, Jiang Shixu was still worried about whether she had been mistreated. She tried hard to hold back her tears and forced a smile. "Brother Shixu, you need to get better soon. We still have to hold our engagement ceremony." A smile curved on Jiang Shixu's lips, pale as paper. "Alright, I promise you." Jiang Yi and Lin Yueying had barely left the ICU when they received a phone call. The caller's tone was urgent. "Bad news, Chairman Jiang! Something's happened!" At the detention center, Chen Jingsu claimed she was pregnant and, per regulations, needed to go to the hospital for an examination. On the way to the hospital, a car recklessly came barreling toward them, violently ramming the vehicle carrying Chen Jingsu to a stop at the roadside. Several burly men got out of the car, each highly skilled. Chen Jingsu was taken away by them. The staff member in the same car who had been monitoring her was seriously injured, and the vehicle was badly damaged, making it impossible to give chase on the spot. After listening, Jiang Yi's face showed an incredulous expression. "She was actually snatched away?" "What's wrong? Who was taken?" Lin Yueying asked. Jiang Yi took a few deep breaths, his shoulders slumping. "It's Chen Jingsu." "What!" Lin Yueying was shocked. "Wasn't she already arrested?" Jiang Yi furrowed his brow in thought. "Dad was right. This matter isn't as simple as the Gu family made it seem. There's someone behind her. We need to find out who that person is as soon as possible." ... Jiang Shixu stayed in the ICU for a few days before being transferred to a regular ward. It felt like he had been through a long, drawn-out dream. When he woke, Jiang Shixu felt utterly exhausted, his body so weary that even breathing was a struggle. He slowly opened his eyes. The pungent smell of disinfectant filled the air. Sunlight streamed through the window glass, gently falling across his face. Jiang Shixu reached out a hand, wanting to shield himself from the somewhat glaring brightness. A sudden pain shot through the back of his hand—the movement of raising it had tugged at the wound where the IV needle was inserted. "You're awake." Chu Tang appeared at the doorway. Seeing that he was conscious, the girl quickened her steps to the hospital bed and set down the insulated food container she was carrying. "I just went to make you some food. Perfect timing—you woke up just in time to eat." Jiang Shixu turned his head to look at the insulated container she had just placed on the bedside table, surprise flickering in his eyes. "Cook?" "Yeah." Chu Tang smiled sheepishly. "I made it myself. Want to try some? This is actually my first time learning to cook." Jiang Shixu gradually adjusted to the dazzling sunlight. His face softened beneath the glow, warmth and tenderness written across his features. He gently curved his lips into a smile, a soft light shimmering in his eyes. "Sure." Chu Tang leaned over toward him, the pleasant fragrance of flowers and fruit wafting around Jiang Shixu's nose. Thinking Chu Tang was about to hug or kiss him, Jiang Shixu's heart felt as sweet as if it had been drizzled with honey. His eyes brimmed with a smile as he prepared himself for a kiss, a mix of anticipation and nervousness stirring within him. This would be the first time Tangtang had ever kissed him on her own initiative. But the next second, the head of the hospital bed slowly rose up. "I'm adjusting the bed for you so you can sit up comfortably while you eat." Hearing this, Jiang Shixu felt a twinge of disappointment, but also found it somewhat amusing. What was he, some young lad with his heart fluttering with first love? Chu Tang set up the small tray table on the bed, spread a layer of tissue over it, and then placed the insulated container on top. She opened the container—the top layer held stir-fried baby bok choy and boiled beef. "The doctor said you need to watch what you eat during your hospital stay and keep your diet light, so I made you bok choy and beef—a good balance of vegetables and protein." Jiang Shixu's gaze was tender as he quietly fixed his eyes on Chu Tang's face. These past few days, this face had appeared in his dreams again and again. Now that the dream had ended, she was the first person he saw. Jiang Shixu felt so happy it seemed almost unreal.