"What's wrong, Auntie Zhang?"
"Nothing, it's just that everyone usually takes care of the child with your grandmother every day. We're old friends, and when we heard she was sick, we came to ask about her."
"How is she? Did she wake up? What did the doctor say?"
"She's awake, and there are no major issues. Thank you for calling yesterday. We're lucky to have you."
"Hey. You're welcome. We're neighbors, and maybe I'll need your help in the future. Are you back alone?"
"Yes, Xiang Wan is at the hospital taking care of Grandma. I'm bringing some things to meet up with her."
"Oh. Nian Nian told me you came back quite quickly. You just got back yesterday, and today you're already holding her."
"She's my biological daughter after all. Although I haven't held her much usually, we've been talking on the phone, and she's still very familiar with me."
"Is that so?"
Auntie Zhang seemed enlightened, looking around at the others, implying, do you have anything else to ask?
A nosy aunt sized up Lu Mingzhe and chuckled.
"What does Nian Nian's father do for a living? You're not seen for months at a time. You weren't there when Xiang Wan was pregnant and giving birth. Is your work that demanding?"
Lu Mingzhe lied skillfully and with a straight face.
"It's alright, Auntie. I was abroad for some matters and just returned recently."
"Abroad? That sounds like a good job. What exactly do you do?"
"The work I did before, you wouldn't understand even if I told you. But I've transitioned this year. I'm doing e-commerce in Nancheng now and have opened a few small companies."
The crowd didn't believe him.
After all, Xiang Wan never gave the impression of being a boss's wife.
"A big boss? Such a big boss lets his wife and child live in our neighborhood?"
"I'm starting a business. We had financial difficulties at the beginning, and the cash flow was tight. Now that the cash flow is stable, we'll be moving out soon."
The crowd: "..."
"Is there anything else you want to ask?"
Lu Mingzhe knew that their gossip was purely to satisfy their own curiosity and that they meant no good.
But to give Xiang Wan some face, he decided to say more.
Auntie Zhang stepped in to smooth things over.
"No more questions. You need to rush to the hospital, so we won't take up your time. Please send our regards to your grandmother. We'll visit her when we have time."
Lu Mingzhe chuckled lightly, "Although you all have no questions for me, I do have something I'd like to ask for your help."
"I'm considering relocating my company to Hangcheng soon. Because of Nian Nian, I want to buy a school district house. I wonder if any of your husbands or family members happen to be in real estate."
"Want to buy a school district house?"
One aunt blurted out.
"The housing prices in Hangcheng are very high, and school district houses are even more so. Are you planning to pay in full or...?"
"In full. As I said, the cash flow is stable now."
"Wow, you can come up with tens of millions at once? That's impressive. My nephew happens to be selling houses..."
"I knew you aunties would have resources. Please give me his contact information. If this deal goes through, I'll send you a red envelope."
After exchanging pleasantries with the aunties for a few minutes, Lu Mingzhe carried Nian Nian upstairs.
The crowd below erupted.
"The young man is so handsome. Xiang Wan is really lucky to have married such a good husband."
"Yes, and he's a big boss, runs a company, and can buy a house worth tens of millions just like that. We really underestimated their family before."
"Women, when they're beautiful, their fate is good. Who wouldn't want Xiang Wan to be so beautiful?"
"I think her daughter, Nian Nian, will also be an extraordinary person when she grows up. You watch, she's so clever and witty at such a young age."
On the way back to the hospital, the call came through, and the transfer procedures were already completed.
Xiang Wan didn't have to worry about anything, being directly admitted to a VIP senior ward.
The room was as clean and bright as a hotel suite, a world of difference from the oncology hospital.
When introducing the patient, Lu Mingzhe directly told the staff that this was his grandmother, so when the nurse came to collect the instruments for the grandmother, she addressed Xiang Wan as Mrs. Lu.
"This medicine is to be taken two hours from now, one pill at a time. Please make a note of it."
"An hour after lunch, I'll be here to give her an IV infusion. There are also two examinations to be done during this time. Please, Mrs. Lu, don't forget."
"I'll be right outside. You can find me anytime if you need anything. Thank you for your hard work, Mrs. Lu."
Lu Mingzhe, holding Nian Nian, was talking with the attending physician. When he heard the nurse call out "Mrs. Lu," he couldn't help but glance back at Xiang Wan.
Xiang Wan was also looking in his direction, feeling awkward.
Their eyes met, and she blushed crimson.
Even though they had a child, their relationship wasn't real. After the nurse and doctor left, Xiang Wan felt too awkward to look at him.
Lu Mingzhe felt even more guilty.
He proactively explained the doctor's treatment plan to Xiang Wan, but she didn't understand.
"We'll just follow the doctor's arrangements."
"Okay. Then we'll be staying here for the next few days."
"The room is quite spacious. It can accommodate two accompanying beds. There's a bathroom inside, and a kitchen. You can cook and do laundry. No need to find hotels outside."
Xiang Wan was taken aback.
"Us? Didn't the doctor say her recovery period would be quite long? You're going to stay here and accompany her?"
Lu Mingzhe said as a matter of course, "Why else?"
"You're taking care of the child alone, and also looking after the patient. Can you manage?"
"But..."
"There's no 'but.' Taking care of Grandma and the child is your priority. Don't think about anything else you shouldn't be."
Xiang Wan couldn't help but think about other things.
Seeing her lost in thought, Lu Mingzhe tried to distract her.
"I'm so thirsty. I haven't had a drop of water since last night. Go get me a glass of water."
He hadn't just not drunk water; he hadn't slept either, had he?
There were faint dark circles under his eyes, and stubble was appearing on his chin.
Although he looked young and his features were sharp, upon closer inspection, there was an undeniable weariness.
Xiang Wan hurried to pour water, "Drink it, and then you should rest."
Lu Mingzhe looked at the little one in his arms, "What about Nian Nian?"
"I'll handle her, you go sleep."
Nian Nian, upon hearing this, actually yawned cooperatively and rubbed her eyes with her little hands.
"It seems she's tired too. Why don't we both sleep?"
Xiang Wan was truly impressed by the child.
Could she be an old soul?
To cling to her father, she was acting like a social climber.
"Okay, have some milk before sleeping. She hasn't eaten for half a day."
Lu Mingzhe said, "I haven't made her milk powder yet. Let me try."
Xiang Wan took her daughter back. This time, she didn't seem to resist.
Lu Mingzhe prepared the milk powder as Xiang Wan instructed. He poured two drops onto the back of his hand to test the temperature, but he couldn't feel it.
He instinctively licked it to taste the temperature, "It doesn't seem hot anymore. Can you check if it's like this?"
He poured two more drops onto the back of his hand and offered it to Xiang Wan.
Xiang Wan, without thinking, licked the spot he had tasted, "Yes, that's the right temperature."
After tasting it, she only then realized what she had done.