"What's wrong, Aunt Zhang?"
"Nothing, it's just that everyone usually takes care of the children with your grandmother every day. They're old friends, and they heard she was sick, so they came to ask."
"How is she? Did she wake up? What did the doctor say?"
"She's awake, and there are no major problems. Thank you for calling yesterday. We're lucky to have you."
"Oh, don't mention it. We're neighbors, and who knows when I might need your help in the future. Are you back alone?"
"Yes, Xiang Wan is at the hospital taking care of Grandma. I'm just getting some things to join her."
"Oh. Nian Nian told me quite quickly. You just got back yesterday, and today you're already holding her."
"She is my biological daughter after all. Although I haven't held her much, we've been talking on the phone, and she's still very familiar with me."
"Is that so."
Aunt Zhang looked as if she suddenly understood, and then glanced around at the others, as if asking if they had any more questions.
A gossipy aunt looked Lu Mingzhe up and down and chuckled.
"What does Nian Nian's father do? He's usually nowhere to be seen for months at a time. You weren't there when Xiang Wan was pregnant and giving birth. Is your job particularly demanding?"
Lu Mingzhe lied smoothly and without batting an eye.
"It's alright, Auntie. I was abroad for some matters and just returned recently."
"Abroad? It sounds like a good job. What exactly do you do?"
"What I did before wouldn't make sense to you, Auntie, but I've transitioned this year. I'm in e-commerce in Nancheng now, and I've opened a few small companies."
The crowd didn't believe him.
After all, Xiang Wan never gave the impression of being a boss's wife.
"A big boss? Such a big boss lets his wife and child live in our neighborhood?"
"I'm starting a business. We had financial difficulties in the beginning and cash flow issues. Recently, the cash flow has stabilized, and we'll be moving out soon."
Everyone: "..."
"Are there any other questions?"
Lu Mingzhe knew they were gossiping purely to satisfy their own curiosity and had no good intentions.
But to give Xiang Wan some dignity, he decided to say more.
Aunt Zhang stepped in to smooth things over.
"No more questions. You need to rush to the hospital, so we won't keep you. Please send your regards to your grandmother. We all say hello to her and will visit her when we have time. m..oΓg"
Lu Mingzhe chuckled lightly, "Although you don't have any questions for me, I do have something I'd like to ask for your help with."
"I'm planning to move my company to Hangcheng soon. Because of Nian Nian, I want to buy a school district house. I was wondering if any of your families happen to be in real estate."
"You want to buy a school district house?"
One aunt blurted out.
"Housing prices in Hangcheng are very high, and school district houses are even more so. Are you planning to pay in full or...?"
"In full. As I said, the cash flow has stabilized now."
"Wow, you can take out tens of millions at once? That's impressive. Actually, I have a nephew who sells houses..."
"I knew Auntie would have resources. Please give me his contact information. If this works out, I'll send you a red envelope."
After a few minutes of small talk with the aunties, Lu Mingzhe went upstairs with Nian Nian in his arms.
The neighbors below erupted in discussion.
"The young man is really handsome. Xiang Wan is so lucky to have married such a good husband."
"Yes, and he's a big boss, runs companies, and can buy a house worth tens of millions just like that. We really underestimated their family before."
"Women, if they're beautiful, have good destinies. Who told Xiang Wan she's beautiful?"
"I think her daughter, Nian Nian, will also be quite remarkable when she grows up. You watch, she's so cunning and clever at such a young age."
On the way back to the hospital, the call came through. The transfer procedures had already been completed.
Xiang Wan didn't have to worry about anything. They were directly admitted to a VIP deluxe ward.
The room was as clean and bright as a hotel suite, a world away from the oncology hospital.
When introducing the patient, Lu Mingzhe directly told the staff that this was his grandmother. So, when the nurse came to take the grandmother's equipment, she called Xiang Wan "Mrs. Lu."
"This medicine is to be taken in two hours, one pill at a time. Please remember."
"An hour after lunch, I'll come to give her an IV drip. There are also two examinations to be done in the meantime. Please don't forget, Mrs. Lu."
"I'll be right outside. You can call me anytime if you need anything. Thank you for your hard work, Mrs. Lu."
Lu Mingzhe, holding Nian Nian, was talking to the attending physician nearby. When he heard the nurse call Xiang Wan "Mrs. Lu," he couldn't help but glance back at her.
Xiang Wan was also looking in his direction, feeling awkward.
Their eyes met, and she blushed deeply.
Although they already had a child, it wasn't real. After the nurse and doctor left, Xiang Wan felt too embarrassed to look at him.
Lu Mingzhe felt even more guilty.
He proactively explained the doctor's treatment plan to Xiang Wan, but she didn't understand.
"We'll follow the doctor's arrangements then."
"Okay. Then we'll be staying here for the next few days."
"The room is quite spacious. It can accommodate two accompanying beds. There's a bathroom and a kitchen inside. You can cook and do laundry. No need to find hotels outside."
Xiang Wan was taken aback.
"Us? Didn't the doctor say her recovery period is quite long? Are you going to stay here and accompany her the whole time?"
Lu Mingzhe said as a matter of course, "Otherwise?"
"You're alone with the child, and you have to take care of the patient. Can you manage?"
"But..."
"There's no 'but.' Taking good care of Grandma and the child is your top priority. Don't think about anything else."
Xiang Wan couldn't help but think about things.
Seeing her lost in thought, Lu Mingzhe changed the subject.
"I'm very thirsty. I haven't had a sip of water since last night. Go and get me a glass of water."
Not only had he not drunk water, but he probably hadn't slept either.
There were faint dark circles under his eyes, and stubble was growing on his chin.
Although he looked young and his features were sharp, upon closer inspection, there was an undeniable fatigue he couldn't hide.
Xiang Wan hurried to pour water. "Drink it, and then get some rest."
Lu Mingzhe looked at the little one in his arms. "What about Nian Nian?"
"I'll take care of her. You sleep."
Hearing this, Nian Nian yawned cooperatively and rubbed her eyes with her little hands.
"It seems she's tired too. Why don't we both sleep?"
Xiang Wan was truly impressed by the child.
Was she not human?
To stick close to her dad, she was acting like a manipulative woman.
"Okay, have some milk before you sleep. She hasn't eaten anything for half a day."
Lu Mingzhe said, "I haven't made her milk formula yet. Let me try."
Xiang Wan took her daughter back. This time, she didn't refuse.
Lu Mingzhe mixed the formula as Xiang Wan instructed. He poured two drops on the back of his hand to test the temperature, but he couldn't feel it.
He subconsciously licked it to taste the temperature. "It doesn't seem hot anymore. See if it's like this."
He poured two more drops on the back of his hand and offered it to Xiang Wan.
Xiang Wan, without thinking much, licked the spot he had tasted. "Yes, that's the right temperature."
After tasting it, she belatedly realized what she had done.