"It's okay. Didn't the doctor say the surgery was successful?" Qin Si Ye held her close, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"You should go back. I might be at the hospital for quite some time these days, and the children need you to pick them up and take care of them. It must be hard on you!"
"How could it be? Taking care of them is what I should do. I used to do it all by myself anyway." Yin Xi looked at him with a smile. "How about I get some food for us? After we have lunch together, I'll leave."
"Mm. Okay." Qin Si Ye ruffled her hair, his lips curving upwards.
Just then, Qin Xiuzhi's faint, low voice came from behind them, "Si Ye, Xi Xi."
Upon hearing this, the two rushed to the bedside, their hearts pounding with excitement.
"Dad."
"Uncle, you're awake."
"Mm." Tears welled up in Qin Xiuzhi's eyes. He looked at them hazily, his mouth opening and closing as if to say something, but he hesitated.
Yin Xi quickly pulled out a tissue and wiped away the tears from his eyes.
"Uncle, your surgery was very successful. You should be happy. I'll bring the three little ones to see you after school tonight."
"Okay." A smile spread across Qin Xiuzhi's face. He pursed his lips and said, "I want to drink some water."
"Alright. I'll pour it." Hearing this, Yin Xi immediately stood up, poured a glass of water, and brought it over.
At that moment, the caregiver pushed the door open and quickly intervened, "Wait. After the patient wakes up, they can only drink water or eat after 6 hours."
"Ah? Then what if he's thirsty?" Yin Xi looked at him in surprise.
The male caregiver quickly poured a cup of warm water and used a cotton swab to dip into the water, moistening Qin Xiuzhi's lips.
"We can only relieve him like this. Otherwise, it will increase the patient's cardiac burden."
So that's how it is. Yin Xi couldn't help but sigh. As a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, she only understood acupuncture and herbal medicine, but knew very little about post-surgery care.
Fortunately, the caregiver was there, otherwise, a serious mistake would have been made.
"I'll do it," Qin Si Ye said, taking the cup from the caregiver.
The caregiver stepped back behind him and said, "Mr. Qin, for these 6 hours, you need to talk to Old Master Qin more. Absolutely do not let him fall asleep again."
"Okay." Qin Si Ye focused on moistening his father's lips with water, replying with a single word.
Qin Xiuzhi stared at him intently, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions, and his eyes blurred again with mist.
Just then, Qin Si Yue walked in carrying a lunchbox. Seeing the scene in the room, she excitedly went to the bedside and said, "Dad, you're completely awake?"
"Mm." Qin Xiuzhi looked up at her and replied softly.
Upon learning that Qin Xiuzhi couldn't eat, Qin Si Yue handed the lunchbox in her hand to Qin Si Ye and glanced at Yin Xi, saying, "Brother, you and Sister Xi, no, Sister-in-law, eat first. I'll take care of Dad."
Yin Xi was stunned, not having reacted to being called sister-in-law for the first time.
Qin Si Ye accepted it naturally and asked, "Have you eaten?"
"No. You guys eat first, I'll eat later," Qin Si Yue replied with a smile.
Coincidentally, the portion of food she had ordered was large enough for three people.
Yin Xi was led by Qin Si Ye to the table. After eating, she stayed to look after Qin Xiuzhi for a while, recounting many amusing stories about the children when they were young.
After Qin Si Yue finished her meal and returned after discarding the trash, Yin Xi left the hospital.
She needed to rush to Xinglin Pharmacy to prepare some traditional Chinese medicine for Qin Xiuzhi's supplementary treatment.
As soon as she reached the basement, she suddenly received a call from Han Haoming.
"Hello? Yin Xi, where are you now?"
"Still at the hospital, just about to leave," Yin Xi replied.
Han Haoming asked, "Big Brother and Si Yue are not with you, right?"
"No. What's wrong?" Yin Xi asked, raising her eyebrows curiously.
Han Haoming's low voice came through the phone, "I've made a significant discovery and wanted you to help me see if it's real."