"Wow, who is this handsome man!"
"I didn't expect to see a hero saving the beauty during shift change, totally worth it!"
"A man actually laying hands on a woman, what a scumbag!"
"Serves them right! These disrespectful old parents deserve to be taught a lesson!"
Lu Yanbei's appearance instantly captivated the nurses.
Lu Yanbei's attention, however, remained fixed on Su He.
He looked travel-worn, with dark circles under his eyes, as if he hadn't slept well. But even so, it didn't detract from his handsomeness or his commanding presence.
He wasn't alone; Cheng Jue and several bodyguards followed behind him.
Lu Yanbei raised his hand, and the bodyguards immediately stepped forward, ready to escort Jiang Xiaoxiao's parents out.
"Ouch, someone's hitting people!"
"What kind of world is this! They're bullying us two old folks just because they have more people, can anyone tell us if this is fair!"
Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, Jiang's mother unexpectedly sat down on the ground and started throwing a tantrum.
This tactic, often used back in the village, had always worked for her.
Unfortunately, she overestimated her abilities and underestimated everyone else's intelligence.
Su He pointed to the camera in the ward. "Uncle, Auntie, there's surveillance here. The truth isn't determined by what you say. If you don't get up soon, I'm calling the police!"
Su He offered a kind reminder.
Jiang's mother, who was about to launch into more theatrics, was silenced by Su He's words.
It was truly a pathetic display.
The onlookers, who had initially been unaware of the situation, were now looking at the elderly couple with disdain after hearing the nurses' vivid descriptions.
"I've lived a long life, but I've never seen such shameless people!"
"Their daughter suffered so much, and not a word of comfort. They only care about saving face! What's more, they haven't even figured out what happened yet, and they're already yelling. I've never seen such heartless parents!"
"What era is this! So many young people cohabitate before marriage, what's the big deal about being pregnant! To scold her so harshly, it's clear she wasn't favored from a young age!"
"They must have a son at home, right? I've seen plenty of people like this! The son is treasure, the daughter is trash. When they need money or effort from the daughter, she's their beloved child; when they don't, she's nothing!"
"I know this couple. They never liked this girl from the start. I heard they stopped caring about her after she graduated from high school, making her work to earn money for her brother's car and house, tsk tsk tsk... If it were me, I wouldn't go back to a family like that either!"
"Alas, her life is truly bitter!"
The public gossip made Jiang's parents' faces flush with a mixture of red and white.
"I suggest you leave quickly. Otherwise, you'll have to pay us back immediately!" Su He knew that arguing with them further would be futile, as they were not people who reasoned. Only by hitting their sore spot would they obediently leave.
As expected, as soon as Su He mentioned money, the couple immediately cowered.
Jiang's mother quickly got up from the ground, helped Jiang's father up, and they walked out. Of course, before leaving, she didn't forget to bluster and curse Jiang Xiaoxiao a few more times, and shot Su He a glare.
"Hmph! We'll see!"
Su He wasn't afraid of her threat and glared back fiercely.
Finally, the ward quieted down, and Su He let out a sigh of relief.
Jiang Xiaoxiao lay in the hospital bed, writhing in pain from the wound on her abdomen, cold sweat beading on her forehead. Being scolded by her own parents made her feel even worse. However, she didn't cry. Instead, she stared blankly at a point in the distance, like a wooden doll, making no sound.
Su He knew she must be feeling terrible.
Physical pain could heal, but psychological trauma, once formed, was hard to cure.
Jiang Xiaoxiao's despairing look worried Su He greatly. She was afraid that if she couldn't cope, she would make herself even worse.
Lu Yanbei put an arm around her shoulder and said, "Let's leave for now and let her have some quiet time."
Su He hesitated, not responding.
"Don't worry, I'll leave someone here to look after things, and a similar situation won't happen again." Lu Yanbei knew what she was concerned about and decided to clarify everything at once.
Jiang Xiaoxiao needed time to sort out her feelings, and Su He also needed time to rest properly.
She had arrived in the middle of the night and had been taking care of Jiang Xiaoxiao, likely not having slept at all.
She cared for her best friend, and he cared for his wife.
Persuaded by him, Su He finally left.
"Xiaoxiao, you rest well. I'll go back to the hotel for now and come back to see you this afternoon." Su He squeezed Jiang Xiaoxiao's hand, offering silent comfort.
Jiang Xiaoxiao slowly turned her head, forcing a weak smile. "Don't worry, I'm fine."
Su He pulled the blanket up for her and asked the nurse to arrange for a caregiver before leaving with peace of mind.
The hotel Lu Yanbei booked was near the hospital, a five-minute drive away.
On the way back to the hotel, Lu Yanbei appeared somewhat tired, and his voice seemed hoarse.
"Didn't you sleep at all last night?" Su He noticed his unusual state and tenderly touched his face.
Lu Yanbei held her hand and grunted in response.
Cheng Jue, who was driving, added softly, "The boss worked until dawn to rush back..."
"Cheng Jue!" Lu Yanbei's low growl held a hint of anger.
He didn't want Cheng Jue to take matters into his own hands.
"You stayed up all night again? I wouldn't blame you if you didn't come, why are you treating your body like this!" Su He looked at the dark circles under his eyes and finally understood.
Lu Yanbei rubbed his temples, suppressing the irritation in his heart. "I was worried about you being here alone. If I had arrived any later just now..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but his words were filled with concern.
If he had arrived a moment later, Jiang's father would have attacked her. He truly couldn't imagine the consequences. Su He had injured her head before; what if something happened again... He couldn't bear another blow!
He had finally managed to get his Su He back!
Lu Yanbei recalled the scene at the hospital, almost experiencing an episode again.
He suppressed himself with all his might, refraining from reaching into his pocket. That's where he kept his antidepressant medication, and he didn't want Su He to see his distress.
Upon arriving at the hotel, Lu Yanbei found an excuse to leave for a while and took two pills.
Having taken the medication for years, he could even swallow it dry without water.
Su He took a quick shower and, wrapped in a bathrobe, slipped into bed.
If she didn't get enough sleep, she'd be listless all day.
When Lu Yanbei returned to the bedroom, Su He was already fast asleep, dreaming soundly. Looking at her beautiful sleeping face, Lu Yanbei's restless heart finally settled.