"Are we interrupting something?" Tang Jiaojiao asked playfully as she recovered, looking at the loving couple.
Su He blushed and pushed him away, quickly straightening Lu Yanbei's collar. "Mom, Dad, why are you here?"
"Yanbei, are you feeling better?" Tang Jiaojiao asked kindly.
"Thank you for your concern, I'm much better," Lu Yanbei said, sitting up and reaching for the edge of the bed.
"Oh, you lie down and don't move," Tang Jiaojiao, not being one to stand on ceremony with her son-in-law, quickly stopped him.
Su Dazhi walked to the head of the bed and placed down the thermos. "This is bone broth made at home. It's cleaner than what you get outside. Drink more."
He wasn't a man of many words, so this was already quite thoughtful of him.
Lu Yanbei was touched by his consideration and sincerely thanked him.
After a brief inquiry, Tang Jiaojiao pulled Su He aside. "No wonder you weren't taking video calls before. You were hiding this from us! Do you not consider us family?"
"I didn't want you to worry!" Su He said guiltily, lowering her eyes.
"My son-in-law is sick, shouldn't I worry?" Tang Jiaojiao said exasperatedly. But considering she was pregnant, she didn't dare to speak too loudly. A few stern glances and the matter was dropped.
"How is my grandson? Has he been bothering you?" Tang Jiaojiao asked, her heart aching at the dark circles under Su He's eyes.
"He's been very well-behaved," Su He replied, gently placing a hand on her belly. "He even moved a couple of days ago."
As they were talking, the little one in Su He's belly shifted, causing her to interrupt herself. "Mmm..."
"What is it? Are you uncomfortable?" Tang Jiaojiao panicked when she saw Su He frown.
Su He waved her hands. "No, it seems he's moving again..."
"Really?" Tang Jiaojiao incredulously placed her hand on Su He's abdomen. After two seconds, a slight vibration could be felt beneath her palm, and her belly bulged slightly outwards.
"He's moving, he's moving!" Tang Jiaojiao exclaimed with excitement.
It was the first time she had witnessed a fetus moving within its mother.
"What's going on?" Su Dazhi looked at his wife, confused.
"Your grandson is getting his morning exercise," Tang Jiaojiao turned around, smiling broadly.
Su Dazhi also found it quite miraculous. However, due to propriety, he didn't reach out to touch Su He's belly, only smiling foolishly.
Their joyous expressions were even more radiant than those of Su He and Lu Yanbei.
As the baby was moving, Su He quickly returned to the bedside and took Lu Yanbei's hand to feel.
Perhaps sensing Lu Yanbei's presence, the little one suddenly became very still and quiet. Lu Yanbei kept his hand on her abdomen for a long time, but the baby didn't move.
Su He felt a bit disappointed. "He was quite active just now..."
"It's alright, there will be other chances," Lu Yanbei said, seeing her pout. He gently kissed her hand.
With the young couple showing affection, Tang Jiaojiao's heart finally felt at ease.
Judging by the situation, his condition must have improved.
Not wanting to disturb them, Tang Jiaojiao and Su Dazhi left after a short while.
Seeing that they hadn't become suspicious, Su He breathed a sigh of relief.
"That was close, we almost got caught!" Su He said, clutching her chest as she recalled the scene. "Were you deliberately kissing me just now to distract them?"
Lu Yanbei didn't deny it. "I saw them coming in, and had to resort to this."
"It's a good thing you reacted quickly. If they had seen your wound, they would have nagged us for days," Su He said, relieved they hadn't been exposed, while also marveling at Lu Yanbei's quick thinking.
"It wasn't entirely to appease them," Lu Yanbei said, caressing her chin.
With a beauty in his arms, how many men could truly remain unmoved?
Especially since Su He was his beloved wife. He hadn't been intimate with her for nearly half a month, and then she had touched his chest. It was natural for his thoughts to stray.
"I missed you," Lu Yanbei whispered the most moving love confession, his forehead against hers.
Su He wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her head against his right shoulder, replying, "Me too!"
Lu Yanbei's kiss deepened, from a light peck to a passionate embrace. They held each other tightly, their breaths mingling, and desire began to fill their eyes.
"Time for your shot..." the nurse pushed open the door, then quickly retreated. "Sorry... I'll come back later..."
Su He regained some semblance of sanity and immediately turned to adjust her clothes. She had forgotten that Lu Yanbei was injured. If things had continued, the consequences would have been dire.
***
Although the Lu family kept a tight lid on the news, secrets eventually get out. News of Lu Yanbei's hospitalization spread. While it was only a limited circulation, it was enough to cause a stir.
"Did you hear? The Lu family sent a private jet to bring Young Master Yan back from abroad, and he was immediately admitted to the hospital. They've even consulted several experts. Just how serious are his injuries?"
"No wonder we haven't seen him around lately..."
"The Lu family has been keeping this quiet, so it must be serious. Do you think Lu Yanbei might have been targeted abroad? Things have been quite chaotic over there recently!"
"That's entirely possible! If it were a minor issue, there would be no need to hide it."
"With such a long silence, could it be that..."
Speculations ran wild.
Those with malicious intentions, such as the Qi and Tang families, wished for Lu Yanbei's injuries to be as severe as possible.
Both the Qi and Tang families wanted a share of B City's market. However, with the Lu family firmly established, resources and connections were almost entirely monopolized by a few major families, led by the Lu family. To gain a foothold here, they would have to see the Lu family fall first.
Furthermore, the Qi and Tang families had some past grievances with the Su family. Not long ago, the third young master of the Qi family had plotted against Su He, nearly costing her her life. Lu Yanbei had retaliated fiercely, creating further animosity.
With new and old grudges combined, they wished for Lu Yanbei's ill fortune.
In a dimly lit room, two men sat facing each other.
"I heard it was a gunshot wound," Third Young Master Qi said sinisterly, smoking a cigar.
"Is the information reliable?" Tang Ren, Su He's nominal uncle, asked.
"I bribed a nurse at the hospital, and she said the wound was on his chest," Third Young Master Qi exhaled a ring of smoke, a smug smile gracing his lips. "If it had been a centimeter or two off, he would have been dead!"
"Then he truly has a strong will to live!" Tang Ren gritted his teeth hatefully.
A few days ago, he had condescended to visit Su Ying at her studio in person. However, she not only gave him a cold shoulder but also told him she would never welcome him again and to stay out of her sight.
Humiliating him in front of so many people was an unbearable insult.
How could Tang Ren accept this?
He hired a private investigator to look into Su Ying's background and discovered she was dating her assistant. He was furious at this outcome.
She would rather choose a jobless newcomer than spare him a second glance. What blind fool!