Old Zhang was confused, his head aching from the back-and-forth arguments of the two.
After Zhan Bei Jue finished speaking, he saw Jiang Nan Fang reaching for the card in his hand and angrily reprimanded her a couple of times.
"Alright, stop arguing. You're grown adults, how can you bicker like children endlessly?"
"Since your relationship has developed to this point, you need to make your breakup clear."
"Stay for dinner, we can talk while we eat."
It seemed he had a good impression of Zhan Bei Jue.
He actually wanted to keep him for dinner, which meant Zhan Bei Jue had an opportunity?
Jiang Nan Fang was displeased, "Dad..."
Old Zhang interrupted her, "Dad is old and doesn't have the energy to cook. There's no one to help at home, and you've never cooked since you were little. Let's eat out."
"You go make a reservation first, I want to speak with Xiao Zhan alone."
It was as if Zhan Bei Jue was his son-in-law, and he had to entertain him personally?
Jiang Nan Fang pouted, "Why should we treat him to dinner?"
"Since he has something to say, he should be the one to treat. I'm not making a reservation. If he wants to reserve, he can do it. I'll stay here and talk with you."
Old Zhang turned to look at Jiang Nan Fang, his expression slightly stern.
It was clear he was angry.
He was blaming his daughter for being too inconsiderate.
Jiang Nan Fang, intimidated by his gaze, dared not anger him and was about to apologize.
Old Zhang suddenly reached out and clutched his chest.
"You haven't come back to see your father for so long, and now you're here to upset me, you girl..."
"Dad, are you alright?"
"Just go make the reservation, stop talking nonsense! Do you want to be like your brother, all three of you teaming up to make me die of anger?"
"No, no, no, Dad, don't be angry, I'll listen to you, alright?"
To barge into someone's home and make them sick, if anything were to happen, she couldn't bear the responsibility.
Jiang Nan Fang quickly took out her phone and walked out.
Zhan Bei Jue crouched in front of Old Zhang, reaching out to gently pat his chest.
"Uncle, are you feeling unwell? Do you need me to take you to the hospital?"
"It's an old ailment."
Old Zhang gently pushed his hand away, looking at him with a stern yet loving gaze.
"Young man, have I met you somewhere before? You look very familiar."
"..."
Zhan Bei Jue lied, "Perhaps it's because we're fated to meet, we hit it off immediately."
"It's possible." To his surprise, Old Zhang agreed with his statement.
"Don't say it, you have a good aura about you, what do you do for a living?"
"Electrical engineering," Zhan Bei Jue quickly replied, "I'm in the same field as you."
"Oh? That's even better." Old Zhang was increasingly satisfied with him.
"Qianqian has two older brothers, but they both dislike the electrical engineering industry, finding it difficult, and refused to take over my business."
"Qianqian is still young, and she's a girl. My health is declining day by day, and I'm always worried that the career I've dedicated my life to will have no successor. Since you're also in this field, I feel much more at ease."
Good, things were proceeding as he had anticipated.
Zhan Bei Jue looked at him with devout sincerity.
Old Zhang continued, "Qianqian is an unfortunate child. I had her when I was over 40, and when she was a teenager, her mother passed away in a car accident."
"Qianqian hates me, she hasn't visited me for years. They all say she won't come back. I don't believe it, I've been waiting for her here all this time."
"Finally, I waited for her to come back today, and seeing that she's living well, and even has a boyfriend, I can't express how relieved I am. Xiao Zhan, do you understand what I mean?"
Zhan Bei Jue seemed to understand and nodded in agreement, "I understand."
"If I entrust Qianqian to you, you must treat her well. Although I am old and my health is not good, as long as I am alive, if anyone bullies her, I will stand up for her."
"I'm willing to give you a chance to prove yourself, so from now on, you must treat her well."
With these words, he had secured the stepping stone to Huatai Electrical Engineering.
Zhan Bei Jue was very happy, "Okay. I will definitely perform well, thank you, Uncle."
"Alright then, let's go eat. Remember what you just said, don't upset Qianqian later."
Zhan Bei Jue and Vice President Gao stood up first, respectfully helping Old Zhang up.
As they tried to help him, Old Zhang's feet felt weak, and he couldn't stand.
As they helped him again, Old Zhang's vision went black, and he completely lost his strength.
"Don't move... get my medicine, quick, quick-acting heart-saving pills."
The meal was cancelled, and the group rushed to the hospital.
The doctor said Old Zhang had a history of chronic heart failure, and today's episode was triggered by excessive emotional agitation.
Fortunately, he was sent to the hospital in time, otherwise the consequences would have been severe.
He needed to be hospitalized for observation. After paying the fees, the doctor asked the family to sign the consent for admission.
Jiang Nan Fang and Zhan Bei Jue had entered the house through dishonorable means, causing the old man to become agitated and fall ill.
At this time, signing for the family would be too audacious.
Vice President Gao went to handle the procedures, while Zhan Bei Jue instructed Ah Zhong to quickly contact Old Zhang's two sons to come to the hospital immediately.
Soon, he was rescued and transferred to a general ward.
Jiang Nan Fang and Zhan Bei Jue stayed by his side.
Old Zhang was on a ventilator, wearing an oxygen mask, his face pale and weak.
But when he opened his eyes and saw the two of them standing before him, he stubbornly insisted on having the mask removed.
Feeling that he had something to say, Jiang Nan Fang quickly leaned her ear closer.
Old Zhang used all his strength to hold her hand.
"Qianqian, if that day I hadn't argued with your mother, if I had personally driven you to the exam, perhaps nothing would have happened."
"I'm sorry to your mother, and I'm sorry to you. Can you forgive your father?"
The incident happened ten years ago, and he was still dwelling on it.
Looking at the frail old man, still burdened by guilt, Jiang Nan Fang couldn't bear to make him feel worse.
"Life is unpredictable, and you didn't do it on purpose. Why should I blame you?"
"Mom doesn't blame you either. We all love you forever, don't say that."
Old Zhang's eyes instantly welled up, "It's good that you don't blame me, it's good that you don't blame me."
"You don't know how heartbroken I've been since your mother passed away. I'm so happy today that you brought your boyfriend back."
"Don't argue anymore in the future, for my sake, forgive Xiao Zhan this once."
"It was precisely because I argued with your mother that day that I regret it for the rest of my life. Never walk the same path as us."
Besides agreeing, Jiang Nan Fang didn't know what else she could say at this moment.
After admonishing her, Old Zhang looked at Zhan Bei Jue.
"Xiao Zhan, aren't you going to say something to me?"
Zhan Bei Jue crouched beside Jiang Nan Fang, held his hand, and echoed his earlier words.
"I promise you, I will never argue with her or make her angry again. Please don't worry too much."
"Sleep well and recover your health. When you wake up, we have important things to tell you."
The two sons of the Zhang family arrived at the hospital and saw Zhan Bei Jue standing at the ward entrance.