After hanging up the call, Jiang Mi felt she might have been overthinking. Her daughter being happy was a good thing, and her wanting to be close to her father was also good. There was no need for her to dwell on it.
…
That evening, Jiang Mianmian didn't receive a call from Yun Buji. He had broken his promise. When she called him, he didn't answer. Mianmian leaned against her headboard, feeling a bit dejected as she played with her phone, unhappy. She wondered what Yun Buji was up to. He had explicitly promised to take her out for snacks, and then suddenly disappeared.
From childhood to adulthood, her parents had never broken a promise to her.
Yun Buji was indeed in trouble. Zhou Hao's grandfather had been hit by a car and was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. Zhou Hao, in a panic, called him. Yun Buji rushed over immediately, handling all the paperwork, payments, and waiting outside the operating room. By the time he finished, it was past eight o'clock, and he hadn't even had time to check his phone.
The police had also arrived and inquired about the situation. The car owner had insurance, and everything would be handled by the insurance company, meaning the car owner would not appear again.
Zhou Hao was both angry and upset, wanting to confront the car owner, but Yun Buji stopped him. "Getting angry now is useless. Everything is proceeding according to normal procedures. We can only wait and see how Grandpa is doing."
Zhou Hao knew this was true, but he was still furious. He couldn't help but be angry. His grandfather had been sitting by the roadside and was hit. He didn't believe the driver had been driving normally at all.
Yun Buji was also skeptical, but without evidence, he couldn't say much. He could only focus on getting Grandpa treated and calming Zhou Hao down.
Fortunately, Grandpa Zhou's surgery was successful. He had a fractured leg, but no other major injuries. However, a fracture for an elderly person was troublesome. Grandpa Zhou was already blind, and now with a broken leg, he would require full-time care.
Zhou Hao had his own job now, and in this situation, he would have to quit to take care of his grandfather.
"You'd better not quit. Your current job allows you to learn things and will give you a skill in the future. Why not hire a caregiver for Grandpa?" Yun Buji suggested calmly.
"A caregiver? How could I afford that? Five or six thousand yuan a month would barely cover my own expenses," Zhou Hao worried, chain-smoking.
"Don't worry about the money. Grandpa's situation will likely require care for at most half a year, and you'll have some breathing room. You won't have to worry so much. I'll pay for it." Yun Buji calculated his savings, which were certainly enough, though it meant he couldn't buy gifts for his young lady.
"That won't do. I can't possibly let you pay." Zhou Hao immediately refused.
"Don't rush to refuse me. I'm short on money too. What I mean is, you're not earning much as an apprentice now. Once you're skilled, we can open a repair shop together, and then you can pay me back." Yun Buji said.
… Zhou Hao remained silent for a long time. He knew this was the best solution, but he really didn't have much money. He had only three or four thousand yuan for emergencies. Grandpa's health was poor, and he took medication long-term, so he couldn't save any money.
"It's settled then. I'll find a caregiver for you."
"Okay, I'll remember how much it costs and pay you back later." Zhou Hao knew this wasn't the time to be sentimental.
"Alright, I have to go now. Take care of Grandpa, and call me if anything comes up." Yun Buji got up to leave.
"You go back and get some rest. Your irregular schedule is bad for your health," Zhou Hao said.