Chapter 141 — Old Buffon's Origins
Years of Heartflutter · Page 156 of 214
"..." Yang Cenbin finally understood—Chen Shutang was speaking up for Zhou Yanning. But Yang Ce was puzzled: this little jar of vinegar, who usually dreaded any other woman being connected to him, why was she taking the initiative this time?
But this time Chen Shutang really had misunderstood Yang Ce. He had never meant to ignore Zhou Yanning—he simply felt that since she had not woken up yet, it was too early to discuss such matters, and it would not be too late to make plans once she woke. What he had not expected was that Chen Shutang was more anxious about it than he was.
"Mengyan, when did I ever say I'd ignore her?" Yang Moyi was caught between laughter and tears. "If I were ignoring her, would I come see her so often? Would I be going to the hospital with you today?"
"Then what was that expression just now?" Chen Shutang said with a frown.
"Just now I didn't dare bring up Zhou Yanning with you again, did I? One Lan Ling, one Lin Yanhe, and you're ready to tear the roof down. Add a Zhou Yanning on top of that—" Yang Ce did not get to finish before Chen Shutang cut him off.
"When have I ever been as unreasonable as you make me out to be?" Chen Shutang said. "I think Zhou Yanning is really quite pitiful. Yang Ce, you should treat her well—otherwise, everything she has given up would be too much for nothing. It's been nearly a month and she still hasn't woken up. The doctor says she may have to lie in that hospital bed for the rest of her life."
At this, Chen Shutang's expression dimmed. "I know... thank you, Mengyan, truly. As long as you can understand me, that's enough," Yang Ce said, moved.
"Let's go—better early than late. It's almost ten, and who ever visits a patient at noon?" Chen Shutang smiled and said to Yang Ce.
"Ha ha, we're going." Yang Ce had not expected Chen Shutang to let him off so easily, and was somewhat surprised.
With the Zhou family's wealth, Zhou Yanning's hospital room was naturally the finest available—though no matter how luxurious, a sickroom was still a sickroom. If one were not ill, who would want to live in such a place?
Father Zhou had already returned to Europe, where business demanded his attention, while Mother Zhou stayed at Zhou Yanning's bedside every day, having handed the company over to a vice president.
Over this stretch of time, Yang Ce had become a regular visitor here. Seeing him enter, Mother Zhou gave him a nod.
"Aunt Hua, how has Jiajia been these past few days?" Though he knew the question was pointless, Yang Ce asked it anyway.
"The same as always—ah." Mother Zhou, once so elegant and poised, had grown haggard and worn, thinner by a full measure.
"Hello, Aunt Hua. I'm Yang Juehuan's girlfriend, Chen Shutang," Chen Shutang greeted Mother Zhou.
"Mm, hello." Mother Zhou nodded, then rose to her feet. "You two keep Jiajia company and talk with her a while. I'll step outside for a bit."
Mother Zhou now desperately hoped that those close to Zhou Yanning would come often to the hospital and talk with her. The doctors said that perhaps a miracle might happen this way.
Setting the basket of flowers beside the bed, Yang Ce and Chen Shutang sat down together at the bedside. Looking at Zhou Yanning's terribly pale face, Chen Shutang could not help but choke up. Zhou Yanning had been such a beautiful, lovely girl, one who ought to be enjoying her youth—and now she could only lie in a cold, sterile bed, possibly for the rest of her days. Thinking of her, then of herself, Chen Shutang felt that to be able to be happily together with Yan was already a great blessing. Her own life now might be nothing but a vain hope to Zhou Yanning.
And yet now it might not even be a vain hope—it had grown all the more distant and unreachable. Compared with that, what did she have left to quibble over?