It wasn't because of Cao Yinqiong's notification.
Wen Tang pursed her lips, defiantly said, "It's just a signature and a minor surgery, it's not like once you go into the operating room you can't come out. There really is no need for such a fuss, I can sign on the surgery form myself."
Pei Heyan's eyebrows twitched, she truly didn't take her own life seriously.
"From now on, do whatever the doctor says; a woman doesn't need to be so stubborn," he said coldly, his face emotionless.
Wen Tang's lips curved slightly, and several times she wanted to speak, but the words did not come out.
She saw Cao Yinqiong leave the sickroom.
She turned her attention to Pei Heyan, "President Pei's hasty visit—if Miss Lu finds out, I'm afraid she'll consider me an outright enemy."
Pei Heyan looked down at her, "Are you saying you don't want to see me?"
"Don't forget, between the two of us, you never have the right to say 'no.'"
Wen Tang lay in bed, no longer holding back, "I'm not saying no, but you need to keep your distance from me too. Proper discretion must be maintained."
She didn't want to cause trouble for herself.
As her words ended, a shadow seemed to pass over Pei Heyan's eyes, his gaze on Wen Tang oppressive.
This caused the woman, who just a moment ago had spoken her mind, to instantly lose her composure. She had enjoyed her moment of satisfaction, forgetting that the man sitting in front of her was someone she absolutely should not provoke.
She turned her head away and weakly replied, "What I mean is, your visit here will take away from the time you should be spending with Miss Lu."
Pei Heyan narrowed his eyes, his voice carrying a full load of oppressiveness as it swept over her.
"Interesting, I didn't know when it became your place, an outsider, to intervene in the matter between her and me."
Wen Tang realized she had spoken out of turn, and Pei Heyan's biggest pet peeve was someone overstepping their bounds. She quickly said, "I'm sorry."
Pei Heyan did not dwell on her words any longer. Coincidentally, his phone rang, and he left the sickroom with his phone.
The sound of the man's footsteps grew more and more distant, finally disappearing entirely from Wen Tang's hearing.
Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief, and in no time she met Wen Lan's gaze.
Wen Lan stood outside the sickroom looking at her.
Entering the room, she bombarded her with accusations, "They said, just sleep with them for one night and all the money mom owes them will be written off. You stupid girl, why did you run away halfway through the deal!?"
Wen Tang felt heart-tired and weary, her voice dragging out as she called, "Mom! I'm your daughter."
"I'm not someone you picked up, nor someone you held in your arms. Why can't you just think about me for once, feel some sympathy for me?" Her expression carried impatience.
Tired, her body tired, her heart also tired.
Wen Lan turned her head to glance.
Changing her thoughts, she closed the door and came to the side of the bed, biting her words carefully and whispered to Wen Tang, "Mom's already negotiated with them. Just sleep once, and all that money will be wiped clean. It's like saving a fortune for the both of us. We are not only at no loss, but we've also made a big gain. What a good opportunity."
"And they also said, ordinary women can't even dream of getting on their bed, it's only because you have the looks and the figure that you were luckily chosen. They even praised me for having a good daughter!" Wen Lan spoke smugly as if she had forgotten her disdain for having a daughter.
Wen Tang's response was resolute, "Once something like this happens, it will happen again, absolutely not."
Wen Lan's face changed dramatically upon hearing this, "You silly child, don't be foolish."
"Sleeping it off as if that makes everything go away, have you gone nuts at school or did you injure your head?" She jabbed a finger at Wen Tang, frustration clear in her voice, "Money is so hard to earn these days, don't you know how to save some for your mom?"
Wen Tang's nasal passages stung with suppressed emotion, "Mom!" Her eyes glistened with tears, "If you really wanted to save money, you should have lived a decent life, not be constantly lost at the card tables."
"As long as you stop taking out loans, I will work hard and pay back every penny we owe them. As for the rest, I advise you to let that go," Wen Tang's stance was resolute.
Wen Lan recalled the creditor's demanding demeanor, her patience completely worn out.
"Just listen to your mom. If it's left to you and your part-time work, who knows when you'll ever fill this pit. That's settled, then. You were born to me, so I have the right to make choices for you." After she finished speaking, she stood up, not giving Wen Tang any chance to retort: "I'm going to find the doctor and get your discharge papers."
Wen Tang reached out frantically to stop her, nearly rolling off the hospital bed.
Cao Yinqiong appeared in Wen Lan's line of sight, saw Wen Tang's disheveled state, and turned to look at Wen Lan.
Wen Lan eyed her up and down: "You must be the doctor in charge of our Ah Tang."
Cao Yinqiong did not deny it.
Wen Lan approached her, full of herself, "Good timing, I was just about to look for you."
"Please process my daughter's hospital discharge, we're not staying."
Cao Yinqiong frowned slightly, seeming to understand why Wen Tang would rather sign the papers herself instead of asking her family for help.
So, she has an unreliable mother.
Wen Tang's self-esteem shattered, as if a scabbed wound had been torn open, exposing its ugliest side to everyone.
"Mom, can't you consider how I feel?"
She still had injuries on her legs, yet she was expected to serve those men—sometimes she doubted if this was really her mother.
She was like a locust, relentlessly sucking blood, repeatedly causing her to lose face.
"The thing is, I don't think your daughter has discussed her injury with you," Cao Yinqiong tried to be patient and explained, "If her leg injury doesn't heal well, it could lead to serious complications. I hope you'll seriously consider between staying and leaving the hospital."
"Of course, I'm just a doctor and have no right to interfere with your decisions."
Wen Lan was unyielding, "That's right, now hurry up and process our discharge."
After finishing, she turned to Wen Tang, her tone much gentler, "Ah Tang, we're leaving. Staying here, all you smell is disinfectant. Once the debt is paid off, mom will take good care of you every day."
Wen Tang felt despondent and powerless.
Cao Yinqiong noticed that Pei Heyan had returned.
Sensing a glimmer of hope, she made eye contact with him and then left the room.
Wen Lan, seeing the doctor was gone, turned to look for her, only to run into Pei Heyan's intimidating gaze, which quickly deflated her anger.
Turning to Wen Tang, she said, "You talk with him first. She won't agree to our hospital stay, so I'll find another doctor to do your admission paperwork."
Pei Heyan's lips parted slightly, "Discharge?"
He looked at Wen Lan, "Relying on your daughter to make money, yet worrying about her spending it, how is that any different from wanting the horse to run without letting it eat grass?"
"Aren't you afraid I'll cut off her source of income and leave both of you to live on the streets?"
Wen Lan was visibly scared by Pei Heyan's words, her cash cow might be unable to generate profits for her.