The ten-minute journey from the winding mountain path to the flat paved road of Lu Jianzhang felt much longer. The tractor driver parted ways with them at the fork in the road.
Along the way, Lu Sisi slowly wiped the dirt off her body with a tissue. It wasn't until she saw the wound on her calf that she let out a pained cry.
Shen Lin had been paying attention to her injury, but in this desolate wilderness, there wasn't even a soul around, let alone a hospital.
"Miss Lu, please hold on a little longer," he could only offer words of comfort.
Beside them, Di Mingjue had been glued to his phone since they left the mountain road. The moment the signal bars appeared, his spirit perked up.
His back was straight against the car seat, his eyes fixed expectantly on the phone screen.
Through the rearview mirror, Lu Sisi watched Di Mingjue's transformation.
Even though she was in the same space as him, he acted as if he couldn't see her, his focus solely on Jiang Ziyu, who was not present.
The call connected, and Jiang Ziyu's voice came through the phone.
Hearing the voice he longed to hear, Di Mingjue's face broke into a smile.
"Did you find her?" xxs a
"Yes, I'll be back soon."
Jiang Ziyu was accompanying Qianqian to kindergarten, with Xiao Ran and Yu Ze also present. She took her phone and stepped aside, wanting to end the call quickly. "Mm."
That simple word was like a bucket of cold water poured over Di Mingjue's head, instantly plunging his burning heart into a cold, snowy landscape.
"Are you in a bad mood?"
"Brother Mingjue~"
Just as Jiang Ziyu was contemplating how to explain, Lu Sisi's coquettish voice came through the receiver. Losing any desire to explain, she casually replied, "No, I'm a bit busy right now, I'll hang up."
Without giving Di Mingjue any chance to object, she hung up the call.
Glancing at the call duration, Jiang Ziyu turned her phone to silent.
"Brother Mingjue, what's wrong with Ziyu jie?" Lu Sisi asked with feigned concern.
Her voice undoubtedly conveyed dissatisfaction to Jiang Ziyu. Di Mingjue opened his heart and lowered his head to compose a text message.
Upon opening it, he realized Jiang Ziyu had sent him a text last night, expressing her concern.
If she couldn't reach him last night, had she been worried all night?
Patting his head, Di Mingjue ordered the driver to hurry back.
Arriving at the city center hospital.
Di Mingjue personally led Lu Sisi to Di Jianhan's ward.
As soon as they entered, Lu Sisi, like his own daughter, rushed to his bedside with tear-filled eyes, "Uncle, are you okay?"
"You child, didn't I tell you to stay home and rest? Why did you leave without saying goodbye?" Di Jianhan sat up from under the covers, intending to scold her but afraid of frightening her with too much sternness.
Lu Sisi drooped her head, offering an apology.
"Uncle isn't angry, he's just worried about you. Let the matter of leaving without saying goodbye pass, but don't let it happen again," Di Jianhan admonished.
"Okay."
After Lu Sisi responded obediently, she deliberately exposed the wound on her leg.
If someone intended to notice, could they not see it?
Di Jianhan asked with exaggerated surprise, "What happened to this?"
"I fell accidentally on the way back."
The wound, having been soaked in dirty water for a long time, had begun to turn white at the edges.
"Quickly call a doctor!" Di Jianhan waved them on.
When they entered the ward, Shen Lin had already gone to call for a doctor.
The door pushed open, and with the help of a nurse, Lu Sisi sat down on a nearby sofa.
"It's a bit painful, bear with it for now," the doctor said before taking out scissors to cut open her pant leg.
As the wound was fully exposed, the injured area had become inflamed.
"Will I need an amputation?" Lu Sisi asked.
The doctor looked surprised and quickly explained, "No, you won't. After cleaning the wound, it will heal quickly."
As the disinfectant touched the wound, Lu Sisi's entire face contorted in pain. The pillow beneath her hands was crushed, and she let out continuous whimpering sounds.