Lin Mei had not yet replied to Xing Zheng when Xiao Yue glanced over. Fearing Xiao Yue would see it, Lin Mei quickly put her phone away. "It's almost half past ten, Mom. Go to bed early. Tomorrow morning, we'll go to the hospital for Dad's check-up."
"Think carefully about what I just said," Xiao Yue said earnestly to Lin Mei. "The most important things for two people together are mutual trust and communication. Your father and I have had our arguments over the decades, but there's nothing we can't overcome."
Lin Mei replied with an "Mm," and added, "I'll go prepare a quilt for you."
The next day, Lin Mei and Xiao Yue, mother and daughter, woke up early. They made breakfast together in the kitchen and then headed to the hospital.
Upon their arrival, Lin Zhengde had already woken up and was talking with Chen Qi. Xiao Yue hurried over and fussed over her husband, "Are you feeling better? Have you seen the doctor?"
"Don't worry, Teacher Xiao. He was seen by the on-call doctor as soon as he woke up last night," Chen Qi reported to Xiao Yue before Lin Zhengde could reply. "Now we just need to wait for the MRI and angiography."
Chen Qi's words put Xiao Yue at ease. Xiao Yue said to Chen Qi, "Haven't you had breakfast yet? Fortunately, you were here last night. Go eat something. I'll feed Old Lin some porridge."
Chen Qi noticed the insulated container on the table. "Let me help you."
Chen Qi was a perceptive person. Without perceptiveness, one wouldn't get far in a business like banking. He always tried to ingratiate himself with elders, as that was something people of his parents' generation appreciated. Chen Qi served a bowl of porridge, and Xiao Yue and Lin Zhengde praised Chen Qi effusively.
Chen Qi's gaze flickered towards Lin Mei. Since entering the ward, she hadn't uttered a single word. "I'll go see if the attending physician has arrived."
Chen Qi was exceptionally concerned about Lin Zhengde's condition, as if the patient were his own parent. However, Lin Mei couldn't feel touched because she knew perfectly well Chen Qi's intentions.
His concern was feigned; his true aim was to manipulate her through her parents.
Even his departure was timed calculatedly.
Indeed, as soon as he left, Lin Zhengde said to Lin Mei, "Come here, sit down."
Lin Zhengde pointed to the chair opposite the hospital bed, his expression stern. Lin Mei walked over and sat down. Lin Zhengde then said, "You and Chen Qi, find a date in the latter half of the year to get your marriage license."
Lin Zhengde's tone was irrefutable, like a command. In her entire life, this was the first time Lin Mei had seen her father so assertive. Yet, she did not yield. "I will not marry Chen Qi."
"Why?" Lin Zhengde coughed, as if angered by Lin Mei.
Xiao Yue was startled and quickly helped him calm down. She chimed in with Lin Zhengde, lecturing Lin Mei, "Your father was just sent to the emergency room yesterday because of you. Do you want to send him there a second time?"
"I never thought of that," Lin Mei replied calmly and respectfully, without any sign of backing down. "My decision to break up was carefully considered. Dad, Mom, I'll tell you the reason again today. I broke up with Chen Qi because he cheated, and not just once. I will not gamble my marriage on him."
"Did he cheat, or did you fall for someone else?" Lin Zhengde stared sharply at Lin Mei.
Lin Mei frowned, feeling a chill at being questioned by both parents. "Dad, what do you mean by that?"
Lin Zhengde asked, "Who is Ming Zhou?"
Lin Mei immediately understood. Chen Qi had played the victim by making a false accusation and telling Lin Zhengde about Ming Zhou. Chen Qi had undoubtedly portrayed himself as the wronged party, and Lin Zhengde, with his upright and proud nature, would never tolerate such a matter.
"I'm asking you, who is Ming Zhou!" Lin Zhengde raised his voice. Due to his emotional agitation, his chest tightened with pain again, forcing him to clutch his chest.
Both Lin Mei and Xiao Yue were terrified. Xiao Yue kept patting her husband's back to calm him down, while also lecturing Lin Mei, "Did I say all that to you last night for nothing? Your father has already been to the emergency room once. What else do you want to do to anger him?"
"Dad," Lin Mei's eyes welled up. Seeing her own father like this, anyone would feel distressed. "Please don't be angry. Your health is more important."
"If you still consider me your father, then quickly break ties with that person outside and settle down to get married to Chen Qi." Lin Zhengde's chest heaved with anger, his face extremely pale, turning purplish, as if he could faint at any moment.
Seeing this, Lin Mei dared not say anything defiant. She could only acknowledge that Chen Qi's methods were despicable yet effective. She had no choice but to compromise with her parents. However, the word "okay" stuck in her throat, refusing to come out.
Lin Zhengde would not let her off without an answer. "Did you hear what I said?"
"I... I understand," Lin Mei replied, steeling her heart. There was no other way.
However, a father knows his child best. Lin Zhengde immediately sensed that Lin Mei was just placating him. He then said, "If you don't do as I say, then there's no point for me to stay in this hospital."
Lin Mei couldn't believe it. Her usually reasonable father was actually using such a low-handed tactic to threaten her?
"Dad, I will do as you say. Please don't worry," Lin Mei said, straightening her attitude and assuring Lin Zhengde once more.
A few minutes later, Chen Qi returned, carrying the queue ticket for the angiography. "I've already had the nurses' station enter our information. It should be about two hours. We can go down to queue at ten o'clock."
Chen Qi's actions were commendable, and Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue praised him profusely. Lin Mei watched from the side, feeling a wave of nausea. She hadn't felt this physically disgusted even when she saw the videos of Chen Qi cheating.
"Chen Qi," Lin Mei called out to him.
Chen Qi immediately walked over to her, asking with utmost tenderness, "Is there anything you need me to do?"
He was like a model, considerate fiancé, working tirelessly for his future in-laws without complaint. Lin Mei gave a sarcastic smile and said to him, "Come out for a walk with me."
Lin Mei and Chen Qi went downstairs to the inpatient department. Once outside, Lin Mei confronted Chen Qi, "The matter with my parents, you arranged it beforehand, didn't you?"
With the elders gone, Chen Qi dropped his pretense in front of Lin Mei. "I just don't want to break up with you."
"So you can joke about my father's illness?!" Lin Mei's beautiful eyes were filled with intense anger. She rarely got this angry.
Chen Qi retorted, "Do you think I wanted to do this? If I didn't, would you change your mind? I know you've been involved with Ming Zhou for a long time. He's richer than me, from a better family. You want to ditch me and become a phoenix, right?"
"Lin Mei, I'm telling you, you can never repay what you owe me. What's a million yuan! Even ten million is useless! You have to marry me, or I'll tell your parents about your affair with Ming Zhou. I just don't know if your father can handle another shock like this!"
Lin Mei, unable to bear it any longer, slapped Chen Qi hard and gritted her teeth, "You scumbag!"