Lin's father and mother's smiles froze on their faces. Lin's father had a heart condition, and his face turned pale when he got agitated. Seeing her husband like this, Xiao Yue immediately went to support him, "Dezheng, don't get angry, your health is more important!"
Seeing that Lin Mei and Chen Qi might have a problem, Xiao Yue was about to push the door open to mediate between them, but Lin De stopped her. The two stood at the door and continued to listen to the conversation from inside.
Lin Mei had heard Chen Qi's apologies too many times; they had lost all meaning. "That's right, I want to break up, and I won't change my mind."
She forcefully stated her position, hoping Chen Qi would stop wasting his breath. No matter what he said, she would not continue to be with him. "This 1.2 million is to repay your life-saving grace. Once you sign the agreement, I will have a lawyer notarize it, and after it takes effect, I will transfer the money to you in one lump sum."
"I don't want your money!" Chen Qi suddenly stood up. He walked around the table and tightly hugged Lin Mei. "Wife, I like you as a person. We don't want to break up with you. Please, don't leave me, okay?"
Lin Mei frowned. Chen Qi's behavior was slightly abnormal. Given his usual disposition, he should have been complaining about the money being too little or getting angry and arguing with her at this point, not begging for her to stay so humbly...
Or was it that he sensed her determination and was adopting a conciliatory approach, just like last time?
"Stop saying these useless things," Lin Mei didn't want to make things too ugly. "You know what you've done. I won't be with someone who is habitually unfaithful."
Outside the door, Lin De and Xiao Yue both wore expressions of astonishment. Chen Qi cheated? How could that be possible!
As they were still surprised, they heard Chen Qi's heartbroken voice, "I can't believe you're slandering me like this just to break up with me. I know you want to be with him! But how could you hurt me like this?"
Lin Dezheng's breathing became more rapid, his face pale, his pupils dilated. Under the intense shock, he clutched his chest and collapsed!
Xiao Yue was terrified. "Someone, quickly call 120!"
Hearing the commotion, Lin Mei immediately ran to open the door. When she saw Lin Dezheng unconscious at the door and Xiao Yue heartbroken, her mind exploded!
How could they be here?
Her conversation with Chen Qi just now... Lin Mei had an epiphany. She finally understood why Chen Qi had been so abnormal earlier!
It turned out he was acting!
"I've already called 120! The ambulance will be here soon!" Chen Qi said.
The hospital was very close to the restaurant, and the ambulance arrived very quickly. Chen Qi, along with the medical staff, helped the unconscious Lin Dezheng onto the ambulance. Lin Mei and Xiao Yue also rushed to the hospital.
Lin Dezheng was taken to the emergency room. The other three waited outside, consumed by anxiety. Xiao Yue was crying, and Lin Mei stood beside her, putting her arm around her shoulder, giving her strength, and also giving herself strength.
Chen Qi watched the mother and daughter from the side, his face full of self-reproach. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't brought you here..."
"Now is not the time for self-blame," Xiao Yue interrupted Chen Qi. She had heard what happened earlier, and Lin Mei was the one insisting on breaking up. She wouldn't unreasonably blame everything on Chen Qi. She looked at her daughter and sighed, "Let's talk after the surgery."
Lin Mei clenched her fists, her hands sweating with nervousness. Her father had already undergone surgery for his heart condition, and the doctor had repeatedly warned him not to undergo any more severe stimulation, as he might not survive.
If something happened to him this time...
Every second of waiting was agonizing, feeling like an eternity. Finally, the emergency room door opened. Lin Mei was the first to rush forward. "Doctor, how is the patient?"
"He is temporarily out of danger," the doctor said the most reassuring words to the family. He then added, "The patient has a heart condition. This time, he fainted due to stimulation. He will be hospitalized for a few days of observation, and tomorrow we will do an angiogram and MRI to confirm if there are any other symptoms."
"I'll go handle the hospital admission procedures!" Chen Qi took on the task. He comforted Lin Mei, "You stay with Mom and Dad, don't worry, I've got this."
Chen Qi busied himself, arranging a single room for Lin Zhengde. The medical staff brought the still unconscious Lin Zhengde to the room, and Chen Qi carefully covered him with the quilt.
"Teacher Xiao, you and Mei Mei should go back and rest. I'll take care of Teacher Lin here," Chen Qi played the role of a considerate son-in-law to perfection.
Given the urgency of the situation, Lin Mei couldn't expose Chen Qi's pretense. Her mother was also getting old and it wasn't suitable for her to spend the night at the hospital. "Mom, let's go back."
After being persuaded by Lin Mei and Chen Qi, Xiao Yue left the hospital with Lin Mei.
Back at the apartment, Xiao Yue couldn't sleep either. After washing up, she sat in the living room, anxiously drinking water. Lin Mei wasn't much better; the mother and daughter sat side by side.
"When did you and Dad come?" Lin Mei asked Xiao Yue.
Xiao Yue didn't answer her question, but said, "If we hadn't come, how much longer were you going to hide this from us?"
Lin Mei knew exactly what she meant. She was referring to the breakup with Chen Qi, and now was not the best time to discuss it.
Xiao Yue said, "Chen Qi wanted to give you a surprise on your birthday, so he asked me and your dad to come over first. I didn't expect you to give us such a big surprise."
Lin Mei: "..."
Xiao Yue continued, "We, as parents, have seen how Chen Qi has treated you all these years. Even our relatives say that this prospective son-in-law is closer than our own son. How could you bear to break up with him?"
"Do you have someone else outside?" Xiao Yue naturally remembered Chen Qi's words to Lin Mei when he was trying to keep her. She hadn't had a chance to ask at the hospital.
Lin Mei couldn't deny it. She was indeed no longer pure. Now that the secret was out, she couldn't let Chen Qi twist the narrative. "I'm breaking up with Chen Qi because he has another woman outside, and not just one."
"How is that possible!" Xiao Yue didn't believe it. "You must have misunderstood him. He's such a decent person, he wouldn't do such a thing!"
Lin Mei asked her helplessly, "You don't believe me, but you believe him when he says I have someone else?"
Xiao Yue replied, "I don't believe he said you have someone else. What I mean is, there's a misunderstanding between you two. With so many years of feelings, can't you communicate properly? In this day and age, there are very few good men like Chen Qi."
Xiao Yue's attitude was clear: she didn't want Lin Mei to break up with Chen Qi. Lin Mei knew that Lin Zhengde would likely have the same choice as Xiao Yue.
It had to be said that Chen Qi's plan was brilliant, a comeback from a desperate situation. Now, to make her parents believe that Chen Qi had cheated, she would probably have to show them the explicit photos and videos.
However, given Lin Zhengde's current condition, he couldn't withstand such a shock.
Lin Mei had a terrible headache. Just then, her phone chimed. She picked it up and saw a message from Xing Zheng.
【Did you break up?】