Chapter 71: The Four Women’s First Unexpected Encounter...

A splendid scene unfolded. Early the next morning, Fu Xinxin arrived at the hospital accompanied by Shi Yang, carrying an insulated container. At that very moment, a police Santana pulled in as well. Lan Qian held an insulated container in one hand and dragged Zhuo Lanlan with the other.

Zhuo Lanlan, sharp-eyed as ever, immediately spotted Fu Xinxin. "Sister Xinxin, you're here!" She broke free from Lan Qian's grasp and ran toward Fu Xinxin.

"Ah, Lanlan, where did you come from?" Fu Xinxin asked in surprise.

Zhuo Lanlan pointed at Lan Qian. "I came with Sister Lan."

Fu Xinxin politely nodded to Lan Qian, catching a glimpse of the container in her hand. Lan Qian, too, noticed what Fu Xinxin carried, and for a moment, her expression was awkward. Facing Zhuo Nan’s legitimate partner, Lan Qian—though older—always felt she couldn't hold herself straight in front of Fu Xinxin.

Fu Xinxin broke the silence first. "Sister Lan, did you make something for Zhuo Nan as well?" Her words were innocuous enough, but Lan Qian, feeling guilty, detected a double meaning.

With an unnatural expression, she replied, "I just made something simple, something everyone can drink..."

Shi Yang, sensing the tension between the two women and their complicated connection to Zhuo Nan, interjected, "Lanlan, let's head upstairs first..." He figured it best to let them talk it out before entering Zhuo Nan’s room, lest a fight break out.

"Alright, Brother Yang, let's go." Lanlan and Shi Yang went upstairs together.

Fu Xinxin, after all, was a woman—more accurately, a girl—and women’s intuition is particularly sharp. She had long known Lan Qian liked Zhuo Nan. Whatever the reason for their prolonged silence, Lan Qian’s actions today made clear she hadn’t forgotten him, which explained her awkwardness in Fu Xinxin's presence.

Fu Xinxin smiled gently and changed the subject. "Sister Lan, do you know if Zhuo Nan is awake yet?" She had hoped to steer the conversation elsewhere, but found herself unable to avoid mentioning Zhuo Nan, and laughed at herself.

Lan Qian was about to answer when she heard Fu Xinxin’s laughter and asked curiously, "Sister Fu, what are you laughing at?"

Fu Xinxin didn’t hide it. "Whenever we’re together, we can’t go three sentences without mentioning Zhuo Nan. Maybe the two of us are destined to be with him all our lives..."

Lan Qian was startled, stammering, "Sister Fu, I...I..." Yet she couldn’t say a word. She no longer wished to deceive herself, nor Fu Xinxin.

Finally, she gathered her courage to confess, but just as she opened her mouth, Fu Xinxin interrupted, "Sister Lan, don’t say it to me. If Zhuo Nan wakes up, tell him. As long as he’s willing, I have no objections..."

Lan Qian could only feel gratitude now. She looked at Fu Xinxin, unsure what to say, her nose stinging as she quickly turned away and rubbed her eyes.

"Thank you, Xinxin, thank you..." Lan Qian’s words came from the heart. Women are selfish, yet Fu Xinxin’s willingness to share her love was more than enough for Lan Qian to be grateful.

Just then, two sedans arrived—BMW in front, Mercedes behind. The BMW stopped, and four men emerged, swiftly surrounding the Mercedes, all facing outward, eyes scanning the surroundings. Their posture made clear they were bodyguards. Inside the Mercedes was Dongfang Zhiyi. Once assured of safety, the bodyguard nearest the door opened it, and another stepped forward to shield Dongfang Zhiyi as she exited. Their every move was meticulous, evidence of professional training.

Dongfang Zhiyi got out, holding an insulated container herself. Witnessing this, both Lan Qian and Fu Xinxin felt an emerging threat.

Though Dongfang Zhiyi was clearly visible, Lan Qian ignored her, taking Fu Xinxin upstairs first. Zhiyi also noticed Lan Qian and the girl beside her, wondering who she was—and noting both carried insulated containers.

She snorted faintly, and surrounded by bodyguards, made her way toward the ward.

Inside, Wang Liru had not slept all night. Zhuo Wengang had already gone to the factory to request leave that morning. Now, past seven, Zhuo Nan showed no signs of waking, and Wang Liru was anxious.

From the doorway, Lanlan’s voice sounded, "Mom, is Brother awake?"

"Not yet, but it should be soon... Shi Yang, you're here, have a seat..." Wang Liru looked exhausted.

"Auntie, I should tell you, Lan Qian and Xinxin are here, downstairs..." Shi Yang’s words made Wang Liru understand immediately.

She whispered, "They won’t start fighting, will they..."

Shi Yang shook his head. "Hard to say..."

"Ah..." A sound came from the hospital bed, and Wang Liru was instantly revitalized, Shi Yang’s attention snapping to Zhuo Nan.

"Ah...ah, that was such a comfortable sleep..." Zhuo Nan’s first words upon waking.

Wang Liru, overjoyed, wept tears of happiness. "You rascal, you scared your mother..."

"Brother’s awake, brother’s awake..." Lanlan called out excitedly.

Zhuo Nan took Wang Liru’s hand gently. "Mom, I’m sorry... for worrying you all..."

Wang Liru laughed and cried. "As long as you’re alright, as long as you’re alright..."

Shi Yang spoke, "Nan, Lan Qian and Xinxin are here, both made something for you, they’re coming up... What should we do..."

Zhuo Nan was horrified. Damn... Whose cooking should I eat? If I don’t eat either, there’s no way to explain. Only one way out: "Mom, I’m going back to sleep, hold the fort for me..."

"Hey... Nannan, Nannan..." Wang Liru worried he might not wake up again.

Just then, Lan Qian and Fu Xinxin reached the door, verifying their identities with security. Wang Liru sat back down, signaling Lanlan with a glance. Her son’s awakening had lifted her spirits.

When Lan Qian and Fu Xinxin entered, they saw Wang Liru’s red-rimmed eyes and Zhuo Nan still lying in bed, apparently unconscious. They assumed Wang Liru had cried early that morning. "Auntie, please don’t cry. Zhuo Nan hasn’t woken up yet?" Fu Xinxin approached and took Wang Liru’s hand.

Wang Liru recognized Fu Xinxin and sized up her future daughter-in-law. Fu Xinxin was embarrassed, lowering her head shyly. "Xinxin, do you like our Nannan?" Wang Liru’s question was blunt, leaving Fu Xinxin at a loss.

Seeing the girl’s embarrassment, Wang Liru continued, "Does your father know?"

Fu Xinxin was startled and hurriedly shook her head. "He doesn’t know..."

Wang Liru sighed. "Xinxin, you know our family isn’t well off. I just wonder if your father will approve of our Nannan..."

"He won’t object, Auntie, he won’t. Zhuo Nan is a good student, very smart. He’ll definitely get into university. My father wouldn’t oppose us..." Fu Xinxin grew anxious, rebutting quickly. Nothing could interfere with her love for Zhuo Nan, not even her parents.

"Don’t worry, don’t worry, Auntie’s just speaking nonsense... Focus on your studies for now..." Wang Liru wasn’t sure why she broached the subject, perhaps to divert their attention, but found it hard to draw back.

At that moment, Dongfang Zhiyi entered carrying her insulated container, followed by the nursemaid, Dongfang Yuyan.

"Zhuo Nan, that pretty girl from yesterday is here. Looks like she brought food..." The brain piped up, that damned thing, clearly the invention of some lecherous mind, always perking up at the mention of beautiful women.

"You pervert, as if you’re the only one..." Though he said it, he still sneaked a glance—she was indeed quite pretty, with a fine figure.

Dongfang Zhiyi approached Wang Liru, offering her container. "Mrs. Wang, last night I asked the nursemaid to prepare ginseng and black-bone chicken soup. When Zhuo Nan wakes, he can have some."

Wang Liru took it with a smile. "Miss Dongfang, you’re too kind, it’s really too much trouble..."

Dongfang Zhiyi smiled gracefully, her elegant demeanor marking her as a lady from a distinguished family. "Mrs. Wang, yesterday Zhuo Nan saved me. If not for him, I might be dead. This soup is nothing, especially since it was the nursemaid who made it."

Wang Liru turned to Dongfang Yuyan, who bowed and smiled in greeting.

Unable to bear it, Lan Qian stepped forward. "Why drink ginseng chicken soup? You should have this pig liver soup. He lost so much blood, he needs to replenish it properly..." She shot a glare at Dongfang Zhiyi.

Dongfang Zhiyi was usually quiet, but Lan Qian’s words were filled with provocation. Besides, Lan Qian was beautiful too, and beautiful women are naturally jealous of each other—especially when gathered for the same man. The scene was set for fireworks.

"How can you drink pig liver soup? Offal is so unclean. My ginseng is a thousand-year-old root from Changbai Mountain, the best for restoring vitality and health," Dongfang Zhiyi retorted, unwilling to back down.

In terms of ingredients, Lan Qian couldn’t compete. Her pig liver cost four and a half yuan per pound, eggs fifty cents each, hardly comparable to the efficacy of a thousand-year-old ginseng. Lan Qian was momentarily silenced.

Fu Xinxin, hearing Dongfang Zhiyi say Zhuo Nan was injured saving her, and seeing Zhiyi’s stunning beauty, felt little goodwill toward her.

"Auntie, when Zhuo Nan wakes, let him drink this—old hen stewed with bird’s nest, the nest was a gift to my father." Fu Xinxin handed her container to Wang Liru.

Wang Liru was speechless, stunned, thinking, "Nannan, who would have thought you’d be so popular with women? Each of them fighting to make soup for you..."

At that moment, Yang Yilin appeared at the door. Shi Yang, who’d been quietly amused, noticed her and called out, "Vice President Yang, what brings you here?"

"You’re here? I made some black fish soup for Zhuo Nan. It’s good for post-surgery recovery." True to her words, she too carried an insulated container.

Now Wang Liru was completely dumbfounded, thinking, "Nannan, your mother can’t handle this anymore. There were two just now, now it’s four. I can’t keep up with this play..."