Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Qiao Nan had yet to reply while Qiao Zijin gave him a look of disdain. She was standing there all the while. Why would this man ask Qiao Nan if she could cope by herself? What did he mean by that? Was she not considered a person as well?
This man was good-looking. It was a pity that he was ‘blind’.
“It is fine. You should go back to have a good rest. I can cope.” Fortunately, she had a good sleep at home. It should not be a problem to stay vigil through the night.
As for the reason why Ding Jiayi had not shown up at all, Qiao Nan could not be bothered to care.
Unlike the prone Qiao Dongliang who was still on the bed, Ding Jiayi was healthy; she could take care of herself.
“Alright, I will come by tomorrow.” Zhai Sheng nodded. It was not easy for him to have some time off from the army. He could not possibly not go back home. Besides, this is the hospital. It would not be appropriate for him to stay there when he was drenched in sweat.
After Zhai Sheng left, Qiao Zijin leaned close to Qiao Nan. “Who is he?”
“It has nothing to do with you.”
“Of course it has something to do with me. Both of you are acquaintances. Now that I have met him today, I can’t possibly address him as ‘Hey’ when I bump into him next time. After all, he has helped us today, so we should thank him at the very least.” Qiao Zijin was indignant. She used to be more likable as compared to Qiao Nan. Even the boys would prefer to hang out with her.
However, this man only had eyes for Qiao Nan. He practically treated her as if she was invisible.
“You can use whatever form of address you prefer.” Qiao Nan widened the distance between her and Qiao Zijin. “Dad has not woken up yet. Can you shut your mouth and don’t disturb Dad? Besides, aren’t you hungry? You can go back home and fix yourself a meal. I do not have the time to wait on you.”
“You…” Qiao Zijin turned green with anger. “Fine, it’s no big deal! I will leave!”
Qiao Zijin was tired, starved and sleepy. After getting the fright of her life just now, she felt even more exhausted.
Since Qiao Nan was around, Qiao Zijin did not find it a problem to leave. She went back home and left Qiao Nan to look after Qiao Dongliang by herself.
Once Qiao Zijin was gone, Qiao Nan could finally relax. She asked the nurse to look after Qiao Dongliang while she bought a basin, a towel, and other related stuff.
Qiao Nan noticed that Qiao Dongliang’s lips were chapped. She used the cotton swabs to dab on Qiao Dongliang’s lips with warm water over and over again. Afterward, she wiped his hands and face clean with a cloth.
“You are quite good at taking care of your dad. Do you have any experience in taking care of patients?” The nurse was surprised when she saw how Qiao Nan took care of her father. Did children nowadays know so much about caring for patients?
“I read it from books.” Qiao Nan smiled. She had plenty of experience.
In the previous life, her parents were quite healthy, but Qiao Zijin had uremia at a young age.
Qiao Zijin had always been bad-tempered. When she was diagnosed with uremia, she behaved as if she was the empress dowager. Qiao Nan had to wait on her and take care of her daily needs.
Qiao Nan gained the experience through taking care of Qiao Zijin.
“Dad, when I went to school today, I was rewarded three hundred yuan for doing well in the exams. Dad, it has been confirmed that for the next three years in high school, I would be exempted from paying tuition and incidental fees. I only have to pay for my meals. Dad, you must get well soon. Judging from Mom’s temper, after today’s incident, if you did not recover before school starts, she will definitely forbid me to continue with my studies. Dad…”
Qiao Nan started to cry.
Even if Qiao Dongliang was biased, Qiao Nan knew that whether she could continue with her studies all depended on Qiao Dongliang.
If anything happened to her father, her mother would have the final say in the family.
Qiao Nan was reminded of the terrifying life she led in the previous life. It was just like a horrifying nightmare. Her tears tumbled down her cheek, falling onto the back of Qiao Dongliang’s hand.
While Qiao Nan bent her head and sobbed her guts out, she did not notice the slight twitch of Qiao Dongliang’s index finger.
By the time she lifted her head, there was no more movement in Qiao Dongliang’s fingers.
Qiao Nan stayed at the hospital throughout the night, looking after Qiao Dongliang. She dared not sleep at all. Her eyes were all red the next day from staying up all night.
While Qiao Nan was in the hospital keeping vigil over Qiao Dongliang, Qiao Zijin was having a good time at home. After eating whatever food available at home, she had a bath and went to sleep. As to why Ding Jiayi was not home yet, she did not give it much thought.
The next morning, Qiao Zijin heard sounds and jumped up from the bed. Did a robber sneak into the house?
“Qiao Nan!” Ding Jiayi shouted in displeasure. “Stop sleeping like a log. Hurry up and pour me a drink. Prepare today’s breakfast too. I will bathe and have breakfast before going to the hospital to visit your dad. Your sister has been keeping vigil by his bedside throughout the night. It must be very tiring for her, yet you are enjoying yourself here.”
“Mom, it’s me. Qiao Nan is at the hospital.” Qiao Zijin yawned and came out of her room.
“Why is it you? I wanted you to stay at the hospital and wait for your dad to wake up so that you will be the first person he sees. Why are you back at home! Are you a fool?!” Ding Jiayi was exasperated at Qiao Zijin. She slapped her on the shoulder. “You should not find it troublesome. If you want your dad to favor you once again, you have to put in some efforts. This cannot do!”
“Mom, it’s painful.” Qiao Zijin grabbed at her shoulder in displeasure. “Don’t worry. We still do not know if Dad will wake up today.”
“What do you mean? What’s wrong with your dad?!” Ding Jiayi stiffened at Qiao Zijin’s words.
“Dad… Dad’s condition was not very good, and he went into the operating room again. Hence, I suppose he will not wake up so soon. We should be able to make it in time if we go to the hospital now.” Qiao Zijin dared not say that she dozed off as she was too tired, and it almost landed her father in serious trouble.
“Then, what are you waiting for?! Let’s hurry up to clean and wash and go to the hospital. Do you want your dad to treat Qiao Nan as his precious darling?!” Ding Jiayi did not elaborate further. She did not bother to use hot water. Instead, she used the water from the well to bathe and changed into her clothes at lightning speed. She then prepared some food and went to the hospital with Qiao Zijin.
“Mom, why did you come back in the morning?” Qiao Zijin couldn’t help but ask on the way to the hospital.
“Why else could it be? Wasn’t it because your dad got into an accident and I had to leave work earlier? My boss was unhappy with me and wanted me to make up for the time.” Ding Jiayi was indignant. “Qiao Nan was too much. I didn’t go back, yet she also didn’t look for me. If she was to look for me and said that your father’s condition was not that good, my boss would not have made me work throughout the night.”
While Ding Jiayi was doing the night shift, she had been complaining that Qiao Nan had no conscience at all and that she did not care about her mother.
“Mom, did you really expect Qiao Nan to look for you? If not for the fact that Dad is unwell, she would have ignored you.”