Zhan Bei Jue stood by the window, smoking another cigarette until he was sure his emotions were completely stable before entering the ward.
On the hospital bed, Min'er lay perfectly straight, her eyes fixed on the ceiling, like a piece of wood.
Her soft hair was scattered across the white pillow, so quiet and delicate.
It was a pity that the scar on her face had not yet faded, still a constant reminder of what she had recently gone through.
Zhan Bei Jue had lived for so long and considered himself to have seen many situations.
When Jiang Nan Fang suddenly divorced him, ran away, and secretly gave birth to a child behind his back...
He hadn't felt this distressed by countless events that had caused him to lose control of his emotions, because he knew those events were different in nature from this one.
He was very clear about what such an experience meant for a girl who had never experienced such things.
Min'er was still so young, and he was terrified that her mental health would be ruined from now on.
She didn't have to go through this.
If it weren't for him.
Although her previous life was also difficult, she was pure and clean, and would eventually meet a boy who loved her in the future.
They would date him openly.
But now... he didn't know how much effort it would take to fix her.
He didn't know what she was thinking.
Zhan Bei Jue had been sitting for a long time, but Min'er hadn't turned her head to look at him.
Zhan Bei Jue had to initiate the conversation.
"What are you looking at? Are you thirsty? Do you want some water?"
Min'er didn't speak, her gaze vacant.
Zhan Bei Jue took her hand and held it, only to discover that her hands were also severely injured.
Her nails were cracked, and her fingernails were filled with black and purple blood.
There were also bite marks on the back of her hands.
His eyelids twitched, and he dared not look again, placing her hand back under the covers.
"Min'er, if you have something on your mind, tell me. I'm here, and I'll listen to whatever you say. Don't keep it to yourself."
Silent tears slid down her eyes again.
Min'er paused for a long time, then slowly turned her head.
"I miss my mom, I want to see my mom."
Without holding her up, he couldn't know how serious her injuries were.
Zhan Bei Jue regretted it again, he had been too gentle today.
He was a normal person and couldn't imagine the perversion of those scumbags.
Min'er was severely injured, and the doctor had not put on hospital pants for her.
Her legs were covered in bruises.
The tearing was severe, and her entire body's muscles trembled with every movement.
Zhan Bei Jue lifted the quilt to pick her up, but seeing this scene, he helplessly covered her back up.
"Shall I bring her over? Or, if you don't like it here, we can go home. I'll have her visit you at home."
"No, I want to get up. Pull me up. She'll be scared when she sees me like this."
"Min'er, be good, the doctor said you can't walk yet..."
Min'er suddenly lost control of her emotions, hit her head hard with her hand, and shouted sharply.
"Don't tell me this! Don't tell me this! I don't want to hear it!"
"I know I'm broken. I'm like a broken toy doll with its strings cut, disgusting and tattered like trash! I know what I look like, don't remind me anymore!"
Zhan Bei Jue knew she would despise herself, but hearing her describe herself in such exaggerated terms still felt like being pricked by needles.
He suddenly felt timid, afraid of upsetting her.
He crouched down and patiently coaxed her.
"Okay, okay, I was wrong. Whatever you say goes, I won't stop you. I'll go get your clothes, wait a moment."
Jiang Nan Fang had already arranged for clothes to be sent.
Perhaps to cover her bruised legs, a very loose pair of casual pants and a loose hoodie were sent.
Zhan Bei Jue went outside the ward and asked Min'er to put them on herself.
A long time passed, so long that Zhan Bei Jue had smoked two cigarettes, and there was still no movement from the ward.
Min'er's mental state was not good, and Zhan Bei Jue was afraid something would happen to her, so he gently knocked on the ward door.
"Min'er, are you ready? Do you want me to call someone to help you?"
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a soft "click," and the door was opened from the inside.
Min'er's face was ashen, not human-like, covered in sweat, and trembling all over.
Every step she took was as painful as walking on knife blades as she shuffled towards him.
"I'm ready."
Zhan Bei Jue couldn't bear to see her tormenting herself like this.
"Shall I carry you, okay?"
"I have legs, I can walk myself."
"You know I don't mean it like that, Min'er. When I was seriously injured and couldn't move, didn't I listen to everything you said?"
"Be good, let me carry you downstairs. When we get to Auntie, I promise I won't let her see anything, okay?"
Min'er looked up and stared at him for a few seconds before finally nodding.
Zhan Bei Jue picked her up, and she weakly leaned against his chest.
Suddenly, she smiled.
"I thought you had forgotten the time we spent in the basement."
Overwhelming guilt and regret, accompanied by memories, surged forth.
Zhan Bei Jue didn't know how to answer her question.
He only felt like an ungrateful scumbag.
To ensure the privacy of their trip, Zhan Bei Jue drove himself, and the two of them quietly went to the nursing home.
When they entered the ward, Min'er's mother was squatting on the floor, planting a pot of flowers.
The weather was good, and the sunlight shone on her, illuminating her slender back, making her look quite serene and natural.
Min'er reached out and patted her face to bring some color to it, then rubbed her lips.
"Do I look okay?"
"You look great. You've always been beautiful."
Min'er then ran her fingers through her hair and gently knocked on the door.
"Mom."
The two of them sat down and started chatting about random things.
Her mother seemed to be in good spirits, but in reality, she was already starting to forget many things.
The doctor said she had signs of dementia.
She chattered to Min'er about her flowers, the birds flying outside the window, and the food at the nursing home.
In short, she was quite happy here.
It was as if she had forgotten all the unhappy things from the past.
After more than an hour, Min'er left the ward contentedly.
Getting into the car, her mental state seemed to have recovered a little.
"I'm relieved to see my mom living happier than before."
Zhan Bei Jue was very happy that she could say such a thing.
"Everything is getting better. Everything will get better. We must have faith in life."
Min'er could tell that Zhan Bei Jue was being cautious, treading on thin ice, and taking care of her emotions.
It was so rare.
Zhan Bei Jue, who had such strong influence in Nancheng and was almost revered by everyone.
Even at his lowest point, Zhan Bei Jue had never been so careful.
Today, he was treating her with such an attitude.
Min'er didn't know whether to feel honored or ironic.
"Are you in a hurry?"
After fastening her seatbelt, she suddenly asked Zhan Bei Jue this question.
It surprised him.
It seemed that her mother's condition had improved, which had given Min'er great psychological comfort.
Her state seemed to have recovered considerably.
"No rush. Today I'm your personal bodyguard and driver. I'll go wherever you go. Is there something you want to do?"