The security guard skeptically took the phone. Tian Tian heard Chen Dongyang's voice and explained the situation to the security guard over the phone. However, the security guard remained uneasy and accompanied Chen Dongyang to her apartment.
Chen Dongyang opened the door after Tian Tian relayed the password through the phone.
Upon entering, he saw the apartment in disarray. Tian Tian was lying on the floor, blood gushing from her foot.
Without a word, he scooped her up, rushed downstairs, placed her in the minivan, and headed to the hospital.
Tian Tian never expected to find herself in such a predicament, having severed a tendon in her heel.
The doctor performed surgery and instructed her to stay in the hospital for observation for a few days, but Tian Tian refused.
The only reason her parents had kept her confined for twenty-six years before releasing her from the Zhan family was their fear that she wouldn't be able to care for herself, that she might have an accident.
Yet, she had managed to get herself into this state within just over a month of being released. She was terrified that Jiang Nan Fang would send her back home to be kept like a caged bird.
Therefore, she was determined to be discharged.
The doctor disagreed, "Your wound has just been sutured. If something else happens, your foot could be permanently disabled."
"It's fine. You won't have any trouble with your hospital. I can sign a waiver."
The doctor was amused by her stubbornness and looked at Chen Dongyang.
"Who are you to her? Please try to persuade her. I've never seen a patient so reckless."
The doctor withdrew. Chen Dongyang continued to try and persuade her, but Tian Tian said,
"I know what I'm doing. No need to say anymore. Please go and handle my discharge procedures. I'll be working from home and won't let anything happen to me."
Chen Dongyang understood she had her reasons and didn't press the matter further.
After completing the discharge procedures and bringing her home, he placed her on the sofa and asked if there was anything else he could do.
Tian Tian replied that there wasn't, "Thank you for coming all this way. I'll call Wu Shuang to come over."
Since Wu Shuang hadn't arrived yet, Chen Dongyang felt uneasy about leaving immediately and went to pour her some water.
"You call first. I'll leave after she gets here."
Unfortunately, Wu Shuang's phone was unreachable.
She had sent two WeChat messages, but there was no reply.
It was already past midnight, and neither of them had eaten dinner.
Chen Dongyang checked the refrigerator. Apart from some iced water, there was no food. He had no choice but to order takeout.
"What do you want to eat? I'll order you dinner."
Feeling unwell and not eating would be unbearable, so Tian Tian didn't stand on ceremony.
She listed a few things she wanted to eat and then transferred 1,000 yuan to Chen Dongyang via WeChat.
After ordering takeout, Chen Dongyang opened WeChat and saw her transfer.
"What do you mean?"
Tian Tian said, "I feel bad that you've been busy with me for so long. I can't let you treat me to a meal. I'll pay."
"I know you're rich. You don't need to show off like this."
Chen Dongyang initiated a refund.
"Although I'm poor, I can still afford a meal. You don't need to belittle me like this."
"..."
Tian Tian hadn't meant to belittle him. His words made her feel petty.
Unsure of what to say, Tian Tian continued to focus on her phone.
She was curious why Wu Shuang hadn't replied to her messages so late.
Seeing Tian Tian engrossed in her phone, Chen Dongyang didn't say anything more. He found a mop and broom, cleaned up the garbage on the floor, and then surveyed the area.
He moved aside anything that looked dangerous or inconvenient for her to navigate, making it easier for her to move around in the coming days.
After tidying everything up, the takeout arrived. Chen Dongyang went downstairs to get it, taking the trash with him.
Upon his return, he asked Tian Tian, "Has Miss Zhu replied?"
"No. It's so late, I don't know what's going on with her. Her phone is unreachable. Could something have happened?"
Chen Dongyang paused, "Where does she live? Shall I go and check?"
Tian Tian was genuinely worried.
Wu Shuang was introverted and didn't have many friends. She lived in a secluded area, so if anything happened, no one would know.
"Will it be too much trouble? Won't Dou Bao worry if you don't go home? Should you call them first to explain?"
She was sincerely afraid of causing Chen Dongyang any inconvenience.
However, after she finished speaking, Chen Dongyang glanced at her meaningfully.
"I don't live with them. I don't need to report everything to them."
It seemed as though he was trying hard to distance himself from Hui Hui.
Tian Tian realized her slip of the tongue and nodded.
"Then please trouble you one more time. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Didn't you help me before?"
Chen Dongyang grabbed his car keys to leave. Before he went, he placed the food in front of Tian Tian and asked if she could manage on her own.
Actually, she needed to use the restroom.
She had been holding it in since she got home from work.
But with her foot in this condition, how could she bring herself to say it?
"No problem. You go quickly."
She sent Wu Shuang's address and apartment number to Chen Dongyang's phone. Chen Dongyang navigated there, but no one was home. He knocked for a long time with no response.
He had no choice but to return.
"Could she have gone on a business trip and is on a plane right now with her phone turned off?"
Tian Tian said she didn't know, "We haven't been in touch for the past couple of days."
He comforted her, "Don't worry too much. She's an adult, she should be fine."
After speaking, he looked at the coffee table. The food had gone cold, and Tian Tian hadn't touched it.
"Does it not suit your taste? Why didn't you eat?"
Tian Tian was about to burst. At this point, she couldn't be coy with him anymore.
She could only stammer, "I need to use the restroom."
"..." Chen Dongyang scratched his nose. "I'll carry you."
Her left foot couldn't bear any weight. When they reached the bathroom door, Chen Dongyang originally intended to put her down.
However, her bathroom was quite large. After a moment's thought, he simply carried her and placed her on the toilet.
Fortunately, Tian Tian was wearing a dress today.
Both of them were awkward, avoiding each other's gaze. Chen Dongyang said,
"I'll wait by the door. Call me when you're done."
Tian Tian didn't dare to exert any pressure. After carefully using the restroom, she hesitated in there for a while before calling him.
"Chen Dongyang, are you still there?"
Chen Dongyang replied instantly, "Yes. Are you finished?"
"Yes."
He pushed the door open, didn't look at Tian Tian, picked her up directly, and carried her back to the sofa.
He hadn't eaten a bite, and Tian Tian hadn't eaten much either. The food was completely cold.
"I'll heat up the food. Wait here for a moment."
It was already past one o'clock. Tian Tian felt too embarrassed to trouble him further.
"I'm not hungry. How about you eat? I'll order you another one."
Upon hearing this, Chen Dongyang looked at her meaningfully again.
"Having money doesn't mean you should waste food like this. Alright, don't be polite with me. Last time Dou Bao was hospitalized, if I had been as polite with you as you are with me, would he be alive now? Wait."
He seemed quite familiar with the kitchen. After a few minutes of maneuvering, he came out with steaming hot food.
They sat facing each other and began to eat in silence.