A week later, Susu completed the discharge procedures for Sophie, and to reassure Sophie, she arranged for Tianyi to pick her up from the hospital.
Tianyi arrived but waited at the main entrance, not entering the treatment center.
Susu escorted Sophie out from inside, and the staff loaded Sophie's luggage into the car's trunk.
Upon seeing Tianyi, Sophie immediately became nervous and scared, hiding behind Susu and avoiding his gaze.
Tianyi, remembering his promise to Susu and as a man who shouldn't dwell on trivial matters with a woman, proactively addressed Sophie. "I'm also very happy that you've fully recovered. I can't entirely blame you for what happened before. Get in the car. Once we're back, consider it your home. I'll treat you as Susu's sister, so don't overthink things."
He then extended his right hand, hoping to resolve their past unpleasantness.
Susu gave him an approving look, encouraging Sophie with her eyes not to worry anymore.
Sophie stepped out from behind Susu and responded to Tianyi, shaking his hand briefly. "It was my fault before. I apologize and promise not to act crazy like that again."
"Alright, let's get in the car," Susu said, pulling her into the car and smiling. "Let's go back quickly and see the room I've prepared for you. If there's anything you don't like, just say so, and I'll change it..."
As they were about to get into the back seat of the car, someone called out to Sophie, "Since you're discharged, come back with me. Everyone at home misses you very much."
Hearing the voice, Sophie froze. Susu released her and looked towards Sophie's mother, who had appeared from nowhere.
It seemed she had known Sophie was being discharged today and had waited for them here intentionally.
Susu stepped in front of Sophie and addressed her mother. "Auntie, I've already asked her. She doesn't want to go back with you to get married and prefers to stay in Lancheng."
"Where are you two taking her?" Sophie's mother asked them, looking at them. "May I ask who you are to her? You're not related, and you have no right to take my daughter away."
As she spoke, she took out a piece of paper from her bag and waved it. "She has a history of mental health issues and is legally incompetent. Only relatives can be her guardian and decide where she should go."
Susu snatched the paper from her hand. It was a guardianship application. It seemed Sophie's mother had come prepared.
"I'm not mentally ill, and I don't want to go back with you," Sophie said nervously. "I won't agree to the marriage you arranged for me. I haven't even met the person!"
Sophie's mother looked at her, trying to convince her, and said softly, "The marriage isn't urgent. Once you're back and meet him, you can spend some time together. That's not important. Your father and brother miss you very much. Go back and see them. Your father hasn't been well for a while and has been sick. He can't even afford to stay in the hospital anymore."
Sophie was somewhat swayed. She did miss her family. Although she had never liked the restrictive atmosphere at home, there was still an unbreakable family bond.
"What did you say? Daddy is sick? Has something happened at home?"
Sophie's mother walked closer to her. Susu wanted to intervene, but Tianyi held her back.
Tianyi gestured for her to let Sophie's mother speak.
Sophie no longer resisted her mother, allowing her to hold her hand, her eyes welling up with tears.
Sophie's mother also said with tears, "Our small processing plant went bankrupt. Your brother doesn't have money for school, and your father is sick. I'm just a woman working odd jobs, and I can't support the family. Fortunately, your father's good friend, Uncle Barty, is willing to help us, but he wants his son to marry someone. You've actually met his son before. You even played together when you were children..."
"Uncle Barty's son?" Sophie immediately broke free from her, stepping back. "Mom, what do you take me for? Uncle Barty's son is notoriously lazy and only lies around playing games and watching TV. He's nearly three hundred pounds and can barely walk! You want me to marry someone like that? I won't!"
"That's not true. You haven't been back for a while. His son has lost a lot of weight and isn't as fat as before," Sophie's mother said quickly.
Sophie's affection, which had just begun to rekindle, vanished. "Who are you kidding? Without incredible willpower and perseverance, could he lose weight and become normal? If he could, wouldn't he have found a wife?"
Sophie's mother also became anxious. "He's just a bit overweight, but otherwise, there are no problems. You're already like this, you can't be too picky. Listen to me and come back with me. Marrying him will solve your marriage issue and help the family through this difficult time. It's a win-win situation."
Susu couldn't hold back any longer and wanted to rush over, but Tianyi was faster. He took the paper and said to Sophie's mother, "Ridiculous, applying for guardianship? You're treating Sophie like a child. She's an adult and can make her own decisions. Who are you trying to scare with this paper? As long as Sophie doesn't agree, you won't take her away today!"
Upon seeing Qin Tianyi, Sophie's mother was intimidated by his cold, noble, and powerful aura. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Who are you, and why are you interfering in our family affairs?"
"No matter who I am, Sophie has already said she doesn't want to marry the person you mentioned. Can't you hear me? Please leave immediately," Tianyi said, tearing up the application. "If you continue to obstruct our return home, don't blame me for being impolite."
Sophie's mother tried to maintain her composure. "Don't think I don't know anything just because I'm back from abroad. I've asked friends in China. People with a history of mental illness can have their relatives apply for guardianship. She is not capable of making her own decisions. If you continue to interfere with our family reunion, I will call the police and let them sort this out."
Tianyi and Susu were not very familiar with the relevant laws and regulations and couldn't refute her immediately.
However, Tianyi said with his powerful aura, "Fine, then go ahead and apply! I will also find a lawyer to handle this matter. It won't be too late to take her when you have the successful application documents. But right now, you have no right to make her obey you."
Sophie's mother hadn't expected things to become so complicated. She really didn't want to go through the process of applying for guardianship. Her husband and son were waiting for her in Paris, hoping she could bring Sophie back to help them, or at least bring back some money.
She ignored Tianyi and made a last attempt, looking at Susu. "I don't want things to turn out like this either. If you want to take Sophie, you can, but you just need to give me some compensation, like a bride price. I won't apply for Sophie's guardianship again after that. As for where Sophie wants to stay, I don't care anymore..."
"Mom!" Sophie felt utterly embarrassed. Her mother was openly asking Susu for money.