Early the next morning, Zhang Heying and Li Qianye went to visit Pei Yueran at the hospital, bearing gifts.
Zhang Heying got her three novels of different genres and a puzzle game. Li Qianye got her a bouquet of flowers and a gift card that said, "Get well soon Baby Girl." Zhang Heying raised a brow when she saw it but said nothing.
Pei Yueran was awake and semi-upright in bed. She had slept well the night before and was feeling well rested. She smiled when she saw them come in.
"Ran'er, how do you feel today? I'm so sorry you had to go through this", Zhang Heying said, going forward to hold Pei Yueran's hand.
"I feel much better Auntie, thank you very much. Thank you for coming Uncle", Pei Yueran answered with a small smile. Talking was easier to do today. She still didn't know that Fu Mengyao was behind yesterday's ordeal.
The Li couple greeted their son. Li Chuanmo looked as tired as he felt. Although he slept a bit during the night, he kept waking up to check on Pei Yueran. Added to the fact that he hadn't rested properly after his trip, his running around to get her things and that he had not eaten since he alighted from the plane, his energy levels were quite low.
Zhang Heying took one look at him and shoo'ed him away, "Off with you now. Go and get something to eat and take a shower. We will take care of her."
"Yes" Li Qianye agreed, "You look like you have been stranded on an abandoned island for a week. Besides, you have to go and see Li Yuchen. We told him you had business to attend to, but he may have been worried."
Pei Yueran laughed at Li Qianye's comment, pulling on her surgical wound in the process. She winced.
Li Chuanmo shot to her side in moments, "What's wrong? should I ring for the nurse?"
"No, I'm fine", Pei Yueran said, feeling a bit shy since his parents were in the room. Why was he overreacting? She felt touched though.
She looked at him, meeting his eyes. Both of them held their gazes for a few seconds, until Li Qianye cleared his throat, interrupting them.
"Okay, okay, we get it. We are sorry for being the lightbulbs here, but Chuanmo has to go".
Pei Yueran blushed a deep shade of red.
Li Chuanmo ignored them and said to Pei Yueran, "I'll be back soon. Do I need to get you anything?"
Pei Yueran nodded, then shook her head to indicate that she didn't want anything. She saw the bag he packed for her in the morning and thanked him for it. She planned to unpack them later.
Li Chuanmo did not say anything, but the tip of his ears turned red. He left soon after.
Zhang Heying and Li Qianye visited with her for the rest of the morning. They kept her company, telling her anecdotes about Li Chuanmo's teenage years. Pei Yueran had to keep herself from laughing.
The doctor came to check on her during his ward round, and the Li couple stepped out for a moment. The doctor examined her wounds and confirmed they were healing well.
He asked her how she was feeling and Pei Yueran said she was feeling better. He asked to see her guardian when he returns, before he left.
Zhang Heying came in afterwards, telling Pei Yueran that Li Qianye stepped out to talk to one of their business partners. She asked if Pei Yueran had something she wanted to do, and Pei Yueran remembered she wanted to unpack the bag Li Chuanmo packed for her.
Zhang Heying helped her put the bag on the bed and started bringing out the contents. The picture frame was placed on top, so as Zhang Heying brought it out, she asked, "Is this your son? He's so adorable."
Pei Yueran nodded with a smile on her lips. Han Yichen was the ride of her life. "His name is Yichen."
"Yichen", Zhang Heying repeated, testing the name.
"Yes. 'Yi' as in grand, 'Chen' as in celestial bodies- the sun, moon and stars. He was our whole world."
"Good name. Very good name", Zhang Heying praised.
She continued bring stuff out —lotion, hairbrush, lip balm etc. "Chuanmo is very thoughtful", she exclaimed as she arranged them in the bedside drawer.
Pei Yueran smiled. Zhang Heying was still talking as she brought things out, "He has always been like this. When I was in the hospital after giving birth to the twins, while your Uncle Li was running around like a headless chicken, Chuanmo personally cooked blood nourishing soup for me. He also made a meal timetable and ..... oohhhh!"
Pei Yueran was arranging the things that Zhang Heying had brought out, and she only looked up when Zhang Heying went silent in the middle of a sentence before exclaiming.
She wanted to ask what happened when she saw the item Zhang Heying was holding up. Her face burned hotly.
No wonder Li Chuanmo's ears were red. She felt mortified!
Zhang Heying grinned from ear to ear, "It's nothing to be embarrassed about. You need these, and he was thoughtful enough to help you bring them over."
Pei Yueran nodded quickly, while Zhang Heying kept the underwear in the drawer. She also kept the other articles in the mini wardrobe provided by the hospital.
Li Qianye and Li Chuanmo came in together after a few minutes. They had met outside the hospital. Li Chuanmo had changed his clothes and he looked better rested.
He was wearing a black business suit — sans the jacket—with a white inner shirt. If he looked handsome yesterday, he looked absolutely stylish and aristocratic today.
Pei Yueran could hardly take her eyes off him.
Of course Zhang Heying and Li Qianye noticed, so they decided it was time to leave. They asked when she would be discharged, to which Li Chuanmo responded that he would ask the doctor about it.
"So rest well Ran'er. We will come and see you again."
"Thank you Auntie, Uncle. Go home safely."
Li Chuanmo escorted them to the door of the ward. Zhang Heying looked at him, "have you discussed where she would recuperate? You can't let her go home alone you know. Or you could hire someone, a caretaker for her."
"I'll sort it out Mother. Thank you for coming Father, Mother."
"No need for thanks. She's such a lovely girl. Fu Mengyao must be severely punished for what she has done."
"Definitely."
"Take care of yourself."