Thus, Mu Lin Jing was completely unaware of Zhan Yi Chen’s thoughts. Every day, besides enduring the torment of the withdrawal medication, she was left with endless streams of stray thoughts.
Seeing her spirits so low, only staring out the window blankly when she had nothing else to do, Aunt Mu’s heart ached. She pulled Uncle Mu outside to discuss.
“Do you think Jing’er is still thinking about Yi Chen? Look at her, she has no energy at all. Other than talking to Yu Meng on the phone, she doesn’t say a word to us. If this continues, will she develop depression?”
Aunt Mu’s guess sent a jolt through Uncle Mu. Thinking back, it was true that his daughter hadn't spoken to him in a long time. Was she blaming him for breaking off the engagement that day?
He sighed heavily. “Then what do you propose? Should we agree to her marriage with the Zhan family? Don’t you understand the current situation? Jing’er is suspected of murder. It would be good enough if the Zhan family didn’t let her go to jail, how could they possibly acknowledge this engagement now?”
“But it’s been some days, and the Zhan family hasn’t said anything, have they? Besides, Jing’er isn’t that kind of person. The Zhan family is so capable, they’ll surely figure it out. Once the misunderstanding is cleared, they’ll be back to normal. Should we continue to stop them? Her nasty mother-in-law is gone, and the rest of the Zhan family are decent people.”
This was Aunt Mu’s greatest sorrow. She saw how the Zhan family treated Mu Lin Jing. She knew her daughter would be happy marrying into the family, but they had just learned of that most upsetting incident.
Sometimes she even wondered if things wouldn’t be this way if the video had come later, or if Wen Yu Lan had met her end sooner.
Although this thought was selfish, faced with her daughter’s constant melancholy, she, as a mother, could only feel helpless. Her only wish was to make her daughter a little happier.
If this matter could be investigated and her daughter’s suspicion cleared, and if Zhan Yi Chen was willing to reconcile with Mu Lin Jing, she would no longer object.
Because she truly couldn't bear to see her daughter like this anymore. It pained her to the core.
She had also tried to persuade her husband not to make things difficult for their daughter, but Uncle Mu still shook his head.
“Have you forgotten how displeased the Zhan family’s elder was that day? If we marry Jing’er into their family again, she might be subjected to all sorts of difficulties. Are you willing to let your daughter suffer this?”
His words silenced Aunt Mu. Logically, they had broken the engagement first, causing the Zhan family to lose face. It was understandable for them to be difficult; they couldn't expect to benefit from everything.
But emotionally, what mother would want her daughter to be mistreated?
After their argument yielded no results, Aunt Mu decided to ask her daughter.
Mu Lin Jing gazed out the window, her mind replaying the events in Wen Yu Lan’s hospital room. She went over it again and again, afraid she might have missed some detail that could prove her innocence.
Because only by proving her innocence could she have the right to face this matter with Zhan Yi Chen.
Her mother sat by her bedside. She felt her presence but had no energy to respond. Although she knew the breaking of the engagement was out of her parents’ concern and protection, it was undoubtedly a necessary condition that led to the subsequent events.
If the engagement hadn’t been broken off, perhaps she wouldn’t have been entangled in this murder scandal and unable to extricate herself.
But if she were to blame her parents, what could she blame them for?
She could only remain silent as she was now, because she truly didn’t know what to say.
“Jing’er, have you contacted Yi Chen?”
Aunt Mu asked cautiously. Mu Lin Jing shook her head. “His mother’s cause of death hasn’t been determined yet, and my suspicion hasn’t been cleared. How could he possibly contact me? Besides, I broke off the engagement first. It’s only natural that he wouldn’t pay attention to me, and it’s what you both wanted, isn’t it?”
The couple could both hear the accusation in their daughter’s words regarding the broken engagement that day. Aunt Mu explained earnestly, “Your father and I were just afraid you would be wronged.”
“Yes, I know you were afraid I would be wronged. Now it’s all good. You don’t have to be afraid anymore. The person who would have wronged me is dead. I can no longer marry into the Zhan family, so you don’t have to worry. The gap in wealth, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts, everything is gone.”
Her words carried a mocking tone, immediately enraging her father. Uncle Mu hadn’t intended to scold her, but hearing her indirect accusations, his anger flared.
“What are you saying? Your mother and I did everything for you, and we were wrong? What deep-seated hatred did that woman have for you to put your life at risk? You’re lucky to have survived, and instead of staying away, you’re rushing to marry her son? I think you’re out of your mind!”
“Parents always say they do everything for their children, but have you ever considered what I truly want? That’s right, I am shamelessly eager to marry Zhan Yi Chen. Besides him, my heart cannot hold anyone else!”
Seeing the parents’ argument escalating, no longer about solving problems but simply bickering, Aunt Mu quickly intervened to mediate.
“Say less, Jing’er will feel unwell again soon!”
“She feels unwell, and so do I.”
Uncle Mu spoke in anger but stopped arguing with Mu Lin Jing. Nevertheless, Mu Lin Jing was greatly agitated, her face turning increasingly red, then purple.
She gasped for air, but it was as if her nose was blocked, and she couldn’t inhale. Whether her lungs were too empty or her heart ached, she felt so uncomfortable that she clutched her chest tightly, wanting to speak but unable to.
Fortunately, Aunt Mu noticed her daughter’s distress and promptly pressed the call button. Doctors rushed in and, without a word, placed an oxygen mask on her. “Quick, take her to the emergency room. Family members, please step aside.”
This was the third time she had been rushed to the emergency room in the past few days. She watched the doctors’ figures blur, and weakly said, “I feel like I’ve never seen you before?”
She couldn’t see clearly the person in front of her but felt unfamiliar, not the doctor who had been treating her.
However, she was too weak, her voice a mere whisper. Her question was not heard by her anxious parents, and soon she lost consciousness.
Aunt Mu and Uncle Mu waited outside the emergency room, and another argument ensued.
Aunt Mu blamed Uncle Mu for triggering her daughter’s condition, constantly scolding him. “Isn’t your daughter being healthy more important than anything else? Why did you push her so hard? Even if her engagement with the Zhan family is ruined today, will she be able to find someone she wants to marry in the future? Do you intend to force your daughter to remain unmarried for life?”
Uncle Mu also regretted his earlier argument with their daughter. He knew that he and his wife could not bear to lose their daughter again.