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Soong Shi froze, unsure whether he had misheard or whether Fu Chijing had. Tong Qing was supposed to be at the Tong family’s place. How were they supposed to pick her up at the hospital? Fu Chijing noticed his stunned expression and shot him a cold glance. "Are you going to prepare the car?" Soong Shi jolted into motion and didn’t dare waste another second. Half an hour later, Fu Chijing’s car came to a steady stop at the hospital entrance. Before Soong Shi could even get out, a figure hurried past. When he looked again, he recognized her. It was Tong Qing. Had she left the Tong family? Then had she managed to borrow the money to pay the fees? Fu Chijing sat in the back seat, watching her slip by, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. Tong Qing walked quickly into the hospital. When Chiang Nan saw her, he let out a breath of relief, but his worry didn’t fade. He insisted on checking her from head to toe, only relaxing after confirming she wasn’t hurt. "What could happen to me?" Tong Qing said with a small smile. "Tong Nianyu can’t do anything to me." Chiang Nan snorted. "I was worried about you." She was straightforward and always said what she meant, never beating around the bush. She wasn’t like Tong Nianyu, who was calculating and full of schemes, and that made it easier for Tong Qing to lower her guard around her. Tong Qing was about to reply when the ward door was pushed open from outside. It was the nurse who had argued with Chiang Nan earlier that morning. Chiang Nan’s irritation flared the moment she saw her, and she raised her guard. "What are you doing here? Are you trying to kick us out again?" "No, no, no. It was all a misunderstanding," the nurse said quickly, her attitude completely different now as she smiled ingratiatingly at Tong Qing. "Miss Tong, these two caregivers were specially assigned by the hospital to take care of your mother. Consider it our way of making amends." As she spoke, she ushered two people forward and presented them to Tong Qing. If she had known the patient in this ward was connected to the Fu family, she would never have dared to drive them out, no matter how bold she thought she was. "Caregivers?" Tong Qing frowned slightly. She had watched Tong Nianyu make that call, and there had been no mention of arranging any caregivers.

Unaware of what she was thinking, the nurse asked attentively, "Miss Tong, if there's anything you need, just let me know." Tong Qing's eyes flickered as she shook her head. "No, nothing else." "Then..." "Stay here. You're dismissed." Tong Qing was not often at the hospital, and with Shen Wanqiu lying in bed, still unconscious, having two more people to look after her was a good thing. Seeing that Tong Qing was not going to make things difficult for her, the nurse slipped away as if her feet were greased. Chiang Nan watched the nurse's sudden 180-degree change and felt puzzled. "What was that about?" "I don't..." Tong Qing's lips moved slightly, but just as she started to speak, she stopped. Her eyes had caught a familiar figure. "Don't tell me your deadbeat dad suddenly grew a conscience," Chiang Nan guessed to herself. When no one answered, she turned to look at Tong Qing. "Qing, why aren't you saying anything?" The man wore a black shirt with the collar slightly open, and everything about him carried an indescribable sensuality and an air of mystery. Tong Qing's heart skipped as she looked at Fu Chijing, watching him slowly approach and then stop in front of her. The wheelchair pressed against the tips of her shoes, so close that there was barely any distance between them. Tong Qing blinked, startled. "You... why are you here?" Fu Chijing looked Tong Qing over from head to toe. Only after confirming that her collar was neat did he speak. "I'm here to take you home, and while I'm at it, to see your mother." Only then did Chiang Nan notice Fu Chijing, confusion flashing in her eyes. "And you are?" Since they had just signed the marriage agreement that morning, Fu Chijing did not answer. He only looked at Tong Qing with a faint smile, as if to say that whatever she introduced him as, that was what he would be to her. Heat rose in Tong Qing's face for no reason. She rubbed her fingertips together nervously, moved closer to his side, and said in a low voice, "Nan, I forgot to tell you." "I'm married." The four words had barely left her mouth when Chiang Nan cried out in alarm, "What?" They had not seen each other for only a week, and she was already married. "What happened?" Chiang Nan grabbed her and, out of the corner of her eye, could not help glancing at Fu Chijing. Seeing him seated in a wheelchair with a heavy, brooding look, she seemed to guess something. "Was it the Tong family?"

Tong Qing nodded, then shook her head. Finally, under Chiang Nan's intense stare, she reluctantly explained the recent events in a gentle, concise manner. After listening, Chiang Nan was at a loss for words. She knew she should be angry, but according to Tong Qing, Fu Chijing was not a bad person. He had not mistreated her; in fact, he had treated her with great respect. Chiang Nan's face fell, and after stewing for a moment, she could not hold back her anger. "The Tong family is utterly shameless," she said. "I thought that Tong Hongliang, no matter how despicable, would at least help you and your mother out of respect for you being his biological daughter. But to think they would exploit the situation like this. Ah, it is infuriating." Tong Qing's eyes crinkled as she soothed her. "Okay, calm down now." Chiang Nan sniffled and glanced at Fu Chijing again, her eyes filled with sorrow. Her dear little cabbage, how did she end up with this older man? Having lived a lifetime already, Fu Chijing could easily guess what Chiang Nan was thinking when he saw her again. He took a sharp breath, his forehead veins throbbing. What was wrong with being an older man? Even if he was older, he was still a dashing gentleman.

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