Shi Ran wore a down jacket, concealing her pregnant belly, making her appear slightly plump, though not noticeably so. Fortunately, Shi Ran's morning sickness wasn't severe; otherwise, her mother would surely have discovered her condition.
Despite wearing a mask, the heavy dark circles under her eyes and the exposed skin gave her a haggard appearance.
Listening to her mother's words, Shi Ran's heart skipped a beat. She nervously swallowed and offered a sheepish smile, fabricating an excuse: "It's probably because I didn't sleep all night."
"You girl, why have you been wearing a mask?" Shi's mother, noticing Shi Ran had worn a mask since arriving home, couldn't help but say, "Hurry and take it off, your ears will hurt from the pressure later."
When asked to remove the mask, Shi Ran became even more anxious and immediately explained, "I just recovered from a cold, and I was afraid of catching a chill."
After saying this, she realized the excuse was quite weak.
While fearing catching a chill could be an excuse, they were in a hospital room; where would there be a chill?
She quickly changed the subject, "Oh, Mom, you should sleep. I want to talk to Dad." Taking her mother's hand, she led her to the accompanying bed, pressed her shoulders, and made her sit down. "You rest well. I'm still young; my body can handle it."
She hadn't seen her parents for just a short while, but looking at them now, their hair was already streaked with white.
Shi Ran's heart ached as she saw this.
Recalling their youthful appearances, her parents' young faces were still etched in her memory. She never imagined time would pass so quickly.
Because her son was in debt and her husband had been beaten, Shi's mother hadn't slept well for days and was extremely tired. She didn't pay much attention to Shi Ran wearing the mask.
Nodding, she said, "Ah, alright, alright, Mom will rest for a bit."
"Mm."
Shi Ran helped her mother lie down, covered her with a blanket, and then got up to dim the lights in the room to avoid disturbing her mother's rest.
After turning off the lights, Shi Ran walked to the bedside. Looking at her father, who was haggard, weak, and full of worry, her heart ached profoundly. "Dad, you focus on recovering. I'll figure out the situation with Brother and the money."
"Sigh~"
Shi's father let out a long sigh. Even in the dim light, his slightly reddened eyes were clearly visible. "You always say you'll find a way. Last time, when your brother owed millions in gambling debt, it was you who paid the money, saying you borrowed it from friends. Dad knows you have some wealthy friends, but constantly borrowing from others isn't a solution, as that money needs to be repaid. Over ten million, you can't possibly repay it all in your lifetime!"
Shi's father's emotions became somewhat agitated. Whenever he thought of his son causing trouble and his daughter having to help out, he felt he had failed Shi Ran.
If only he knew the truth wasn't like that.
"It's okay, Dad, we are family," Shi Ran said, trying to soothe her father's emotions. However, she dared not mention the complex emotional entanglements between herself and Zhao Wuyan to her father.
Though she spoke lightly, Shi Ran felt immense pressure.
She only had a hundred thousand yuan; how could she repay a debt of three hundred and fifty thousand?
Moreover, her parents lived in such a dilapidated house, on the sixth floor. Shi Ran truly couldn't bear to see them living such a difficult life and still having to take money to help them move to a better place.
Where would she get such a large sum of money?
Money was one issue; another was her disfigurement.
It was winter now, so wearing a mask could be understood, given the cold weather.
But she couldn't wear a mask every day; it would surely arouse suspicion from her parents.
Shi Ran, under immense pressure and with her mind in turmoil, still had to comfort her father, "Dad, you rest well. I'll handle the other matters; we'll find a solution."
"It's my fault, I'm useless, Dad is useless..."
Shi's father patted the bed in self-reproach, turned his face away, and no longer looked at Shi Ran.