When Zhan Yichen proposed marriage, Mu Linjing subconsciously covered her face, "But I..."
Zhan Yichen held her hand, interrupting her words, "Your injury has healed very quickly. Trust me, this won't affect you. Besides, I don't like you just because you're pretty. I like you for who you are. It has nothing to do with how you look. No matter what you look like, as long as you are Mu Linjing, that's enough."
Although this confession lacked flowery words, for Mu Linjing at that moment, it was the most beautiful thing she had ever heard.
However, she still had concerns and did not agree immediately.
Zhan Yichen couldn't help but ask, "Linjing, if you feel I've done something wrong, you can tell me."
Hearing this, Mu Linjing shook her head, "You've done very well. It's just that your mother is in this state now... it actually has a lot to do with me."
Regarding Wen Yulan's situation, she felt a pang of guilt. Even if Wen Yulan had done many excessive things, if she saw a stranger in such a state, she would have said they deserved it. However, this was not just a stranger.
Blood is thicker than water. No matter how many mistakes Wen Yulan had made previously, as her son, Zhan Yichen only felt guilt when she was lying in a hospital bed.
Mu Linjing feared that Zhan Yichen's psychological burden would be too heavy because of this matter. If Wen Yulan never woke up, it might even affect their relationship.
To her surprise, when Zhan Yichen heard her words, he immediately rejected her perspective.
"My mother's condition was an accident. Moreover, she was the one who made things difficult for you. You endured such hardships and are still willing to be with me because you are magnanimous and don't hold it against her. Although she is ill now, some responsibilities must still be borne."
On the matter of right and wrong, he had always remained clear-headed.
With his words, Mu Linjing no longer had any worries. Even without a proposal or a ceremony, she was willing to agree.
The statement she had made earlier about their feelings needing time to settle was not solely about a lack of time.
Settling doesn't necessarily get better with more time. Although their time together couldn't be measured in years yet, they had already experienced enough trials in their limited time.
Zhan Yichen had never disappointed her. He had always resolutely chosen her.
Perhaps now, she was his only solace. How could she bear to refuse him?
Holding Zhan Yichen's hand, she nodded emphatically, "Okay, I promise."
Zhan Yichen's decision to propose marriage at this time was not a sign of disrespect but because he knew his mother's personality too well.
If she were conscious, and he proposed to Mu Linjing, she would definitely object, and worse, she might threaten to die or cause a scene at the wedding.
It is said that a wedding is a woman's lifelong aspiration. He naturally wanted to protect Mu Linjing's aspiration in every possible way.
Therefore, to prevent their relationship from being forced into such an awkward situation, Zhan Yichen chose this seemingly disrespectful method.
Once they had made their decision, they went to see Wen Yulan together.
Upon entering Wen Yulan's hospital room, a wave of sadness washed over Zhan Yichen. He sat by the bed and asked William, "How is my mother today?"
William's response was the same as what he had told Grandpa Zhan earlier. Hearing this, Zhan Yichen felt that Wen Yulan might be unwilling to wake up, as William had suggested.
Just then, Mu Linjing returned from the restroom with a basin of water, preparing to wipe her face and hands.
Zhan Yichen took the towel from her hand, carefully wiped Wen Yulan's hands, and spoke to her as usual.
"Mom, I've already proposed to Linjing. We'll get married after her face heals." He paused, holding onto the slim hope that mentioning something Wen Yulan wouldn't like might elicit a reaction. He continued, "Your son is getting married, and it's not right for you not to be here for such a big event."
After speaking, he stared intently at Wen Yulan, but the result was equally disappointing. Wen Yulan remained lying there, showing no reaction.
Sensing his disappointment, William comforted him, "Don't rush things. Your mother is recovering well. I believe she will wake up one day."
Everyone knew these were words of comfort, but no one exposed them.
Days passed. To avoid delaying company progress, Mu Linjing eventually wore a mask every day and went to work completely covered up.
Meanwhile, Wen Yulan's condition neither improved nor worsened, which was a blow to William, a world-renowned neurosurgeon. He couldn't understand what he was doing wrong. All indicators were normal, yet she simply refused to wake up.
Grandpa Zhan would also send Cen Yuan to check on her from time to time, always receiving the same results.
One day, he appeared in Wen Yulan's hospital room again. Seeing William looking troubled, he found an excuse to let him go out and relax.
"You've been taking care of her diligently all these days. This kind of illness can't be rushed. Since you returned to the country, you've been at the hospital. Why don't you go out for a stroll today? I'll keep an eye on things."
William felt he needed to get some fresh air and change his mood, so he didn't refuse Grandpa Zhan.
After he changed into casual clothes and left, Grandpa Zhan sat by the hospital bed and was silent for a while.
There was no sound in the room for a long time before he slowly exhaled, his voice filled with helplessness, "Are you planning to pretend forever, or are you waiting until this old man passes away before anyone will make decisions for Yichen anymore?"
His words caused the person lying on the bed to instinctively grip the bedsheet tightly, but their facial expression remained unchanged.
Since the blanket covered their lower body, from an outsider's perspective, she was still unconscious.
However, Grandpa Zhan knew that the person on the bed had been awake for days. He had come today to expose her.
"Yulan, how long are you going to keep up this act?"
This time, Wen Yulan maintained her composure. No matter what Grandpa Zhan said, no matter how tightly her hands clenched beneath the covers, her expression did not change.
But she forgot that this old man, when determined to expose someone, would not care if they were faking sleep.
"It's fine if you continue to feign illness. To prevent your illness from affecting the children, I plan to send you to Country B. I have a property there that I had set aside for my retirement. Since your illness hasn't improved, I'll give it to you."