Xing Zheng was certainly not going to leave. He peeled an egg for Lin Mei, who took it but lost her appetite upon seeing Lin Zhengde's expression.
Soon, the doctor arrived, temporarily breaking the tense atmosphere in the ward. The doctor conducted a brief examination of Lin Zhengde.
His heart was temporarily stable, but the doctor did not forget to remind him, "Remember, no more anger. Extreme joy or sorrow can both cause problems. You won't always be this lucky!"
After the doctor left, the ward fell silent again. Xing Zheng walked to the bedside, bowed, and said to Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue, "I'm sorry. I did many things to hurt her before. From now on, I will..."
"You have no 'from now on'!" Lin Zhengde said sternly, unwilling to listen to Xing Zheng's excuses. "She's foolish and can't discern people. To be with someone like you, we parents are not foolish! Stay away from her in the future!"
Even without knowing the past events, Lin Zhengde felt that Lin Mei had suffered too much with Xing Zheng. For instance, the kidnapping was pure misfortune. However, he was not an unreasonable person. Although he minded, he did not blame Xing Zheng entirely. Seeing how devoted Xing Zheng had been to Lin Mei during this period, he was willing to accept him as his son-in-law.
Who would have thought that the two of them had conspired to hide his past from him! They even concealed such a significant event as a miscarriage from them...
"Dad, don't be angry." Seeing Lin Zhengde getting agitated again, Lin Mei couldn't help but panic. She put down the items and tried to calm him, "I'll tell you about the past, okay?"
"Whether you confess or not, I will not agree to you being with someone who has hurt you," Lin Zhengde issued an ultimatum to Lin Mei. "If you insist, then I will act as if I never had you as a daughter!"
Lin Zhengde had never spoken such harsh words before. He knew well how emotional blackmail could affect father-daughter relationships. Since childhood, he had reasoned with Lin Mei and appealed to her emotions, giving her the utmost respect. But now, he couldn't!
Even if it meant issuing a threat, he could not allow anyone else to harm her. Some things, once started, are hard to undo.
Lin Mei had not expected Lin Zhengde to say such serious words. She froze, her throat tight, unsure of how to respond.
"Teacher Lin, it's my fault. Please don't say things that will hurt our father-daughter relationship," Xing Zheng said to Lin Zhengde. "It will make her sad."
"If you're afraid she'll be sad, then stay away from her in the future!" Lin Zhengde showed no mercy. "Without you, our family's relationship will be perfectly fine!"
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that." Xing Zheng did not back down an inch. He looked at Lin Mei, his gaze resolute, his tone firm, "I won't let her go."
Lin Zhengde was provoked by Xing Zheng, his breathing becoming rapid. His already pale lips were now tinged with purple. Xiao Yue quickly went to check on him.
Lin Mei also followed with concern. Xing Zheng did not stop, "She is the one I've chosen. I will never be with anyone else. I hope you can come to terms with it sooner."
Lin Zhengde began to cough, his breathing becoming even more rapid.
Lin Mei watched anxiously and yelled at Xing Zheng, "Shut up!" Her voice trembled with fear.
Hearing this, Xing Zheng finally stopped, regaining some clarity. "I'll go find the doctor."
The attending physician, who had left not long ago, was called back. He couldn't help but scold them, "Have the family forgotten what I said? The patient cannot be stimulated. Why are you still provoking him?"
Lin Mei lowered her head, filled with self-reproach. It was all her fault. Her romantic life was a mess, and she was making her parents pay the price...
"Xing Zheng." Lin Mei suddenly called out to him. "Let's go talk downstairs."
Her expression was resolute, and Xing Zheng immediately guessed what she wanted to discuss. But he had no choice. He nodded, "I'll wait for you outside."
After Xing Zheng left, Lin Mei did not follow him out. Instead, she said to Lin Zhengde on the sickbed, "Dad, I love him very much."
Lin Zhengde was angry at her lack of progress. "I think you want to anger me to death!"
Xiao Yue's expression was also grim. Lin Mei had always been obedient since childhood, and now, for a man, she was confronting them like this!
"The first child, I miscarried accidentally. It had nothing to do with him," Lin Mei explained to Lin Zhengde. "He also really wanted to keep that child."
"Stop defending him! He had a fiancée at the time. Even if you're confused, there are limits! Lin Mei, you've disappointed me too much!"
Even now, she was still speaking up for Xing Zheng. She was so intelligent; when she broke up with Chen Qi back then, she was so decisive. How could she be like this with Xing Zheng?
"I don't want to break up with him," Lin Mei murmured softly.
Although her voice was low, Lin Zhengde heard it. Lin Zhengde, hating her for not living up to her potential, spoke sternly, "Fine, then leave with him now. From this day on, whether your mother and I live or die will have nothing to do with you!"
"You're forcing me." Who could make such a choice?
"That's right, I am forcing you. If I don't force you, who knows how long you'll remain foolish! Hasn't he hurt you enough? Look at yourself now. Do you remember your former pride?" Lin Zhengde questioned, his words like sharp blades.
His emotions were running high, and his arm began to tremble. Seeing this, Lin Mei fell silent.
Xiao Yue grew anxious, "Hua Mei, don't upset your dad."
Lin Mei softly said "Mm" and walked out of the ward. She met Xing Zheng, who was waiting by the door. As soon as she emerged, he pulled her into his arms, embracing her tightly.
He held her, kissing the crown of her head and her forehead. "I'm sorry."
"Walk with me downstairs," she said, her tone normal, making it impossible to detect anything amiss. However, Xing Zheng's heart grew increasingly uneasy.
The two went downstairs. It was a bright summer morning, and many people were gathered around the hospital. Xing Zheng and Lin Mei stopped in a secluded corner.
Lin Mei broke free from his embrace and said to him, "Let's break up."
"I don't agree," Xing Zheng said. "I'll handle your father. I'll make them agree."
"How do you plan to resolve it? Anger him to death?" Lin Mei retorted. "Didn't you hear the doctor? If he's provoked again, he could have an accident at any moment."
"It's just a probability, not a hundred percent certainty. I can wait for him to be discharged. It's okay, I have plenty of time. I can wait forever." He spoke incoherently, his panic visible. "In short, I don't agree to a breakup."
"We have a child. Have you considered the child?" He brought out his last resort.
"I can raise him by myself," Lin Mei said. "I don't want to be caught in the middle between you and my parents."
"So you choose to give up on me." His voice was hoarse and suppressed, filled with deep disappointment.
Though not an accusation, it was more unbearable than an accusation.
"I'm just making the same choice you made," she said. "Last year, you also gave up on me without hesitation and chose Aunt Xie, didn't you?"