Susu put down the vegetables she was chopping and looked at Chen Ma. "Chen Ma, we used to misunderstand each other so much and never communicated. And me, I was so foolish. Tianyi was right, I was really foolish sometimes, which led to all these twists and turns. But don't worry, we won't be separated again. We will cherish our time now and stay together, so you don't have to worry about us anymore."
Chen Ma finally felt completely at ease. It seemed the young master finally understood how to love someone. "That's good, that's good."
"Chen Ma, how should I prepare this celery? Does Tianyi like it?"
"The young master doesn't really like it, but celery is good for health. I usually stir-fry it with dried tofu and lean meat, so the young master will eat a little more." Chen Ma shared her experience.
Susu knew Tianyi was always a picky eater and disliked the taste of celery. Apparently, other ingredients could balance it out.
"Okay, I understand."
Chen Ma took out lean meat from the refrigerator to thaw. Then, she said, "Young Madam, do you know who I saw in my hometown?"
Susu asked casually, "Who?"
"Miss Shu," Chen Ma said, chatting about her life. "She also had a baby. She must have found a foreigner."
Susu was stunned. Wasn't Xiao Anjing with Shu Yan now? How could Shu Yan marry a foreigner?
"Chen Ma, did you see Miss Shu with a foreigner?"
"No, I didn't. But the baby she was holding had blonde hair and blue eyes. A relative in the village where she stayed told me that she came to the village with a big belly. After she gave birth, it was all over the village that she had a mixed-race child."
Susu thought that the child really wasn't Tianyi's. If it was as Chen Ma said, it wouldn't be Xiao Anjing's child either. Who had Shu Yan been involved with?
"How could this be?"
Chen Ma said, "I was also surprised. Actually, my hometown isn't that village. I was visiting relatives in a neighboring village and accidentally saw her holding a baby in the yard, basking in the sun. As soon as she saw me, she immediately took the child inside with her. I casually asked my relative about it."
Susu began to understand why Shu Yan went to the countryside to give birth. It seemed the Shu family also knew there was something wrong with her child and sent her to the countryside in advance.
If the media in Lancheng discovered that Shu Yan had a child out of wedlock, and a mixed-race one at that, it would definitely be a sensational gossip headline, and the Shu family would lose face.
Chen Ma said happily, "I think it's a good thing. Whether the child is mixed-race or not, since she found a man and had a baby, she won't bother the young master anymore. It's one less trouble."
Susu couldn't help but smile. Chen Ma was right. There was no need to care about who Shu Yan was involved with, as long as Shu Yan stopped causing trouble, she and Tianyi could have a more peaceful life.
She started cooking, with Chen Ma guiding her. They made soup and several dishes according to Tianyi's taste.
Susu personally brought them to the room. Seeing Tianyi eating with relish, she asked, "How is my cooking compared to Chen Ma's? Who is more delicious?"
"Why don't you ask me, who would I save if you both fell into the river?" Tianyi put down his chopsticks and said with a smile.
Susu retorted, "Is that the same? My question isn't a life-or-death matter."
"Your cooking is about the same," Tianyi said contentedly after finishing his meal.
Susu pouted. "I worked hard all afternoon, can't you give me a compliment? You stingy person."
Qin Tianyi lay back on the bed. Just as he was about to speak, he felt a tickle in his throat and coughed.
Susu quickly sat by the bed and asked nervously, "What's wrong? Is the injured spot bothering you again?"
Qin Tianyi didn't answer her but reached out and hugged her waist.
Susu placed her hands on his shoulders and said, "Don't do that. Your injuries haven't completely healed yet."
"Yes, I don't intend to do anything. I just want you to kiss me," Tianyi said in a sickly manner, resting his head on her lap.
Susu looked at him in surprise, then reached out to touch his forehead and murmured, "You don't have a fever. What's wrong now?"
Qin Tianyi was so exasperated that he felt like spitting blood. He said helplessly, "You blockhead, why are you so clueless?"
Susu couldn't help but laugh. She was unaccustomed to his transformation from aloof to sickly. It was too abrupt. She lowered her head and kissed his forehead, saying, "There, is that enough?"
"Not enough," Tianyi said slyly.
At this moment, Susu felt he was like a child. She kissed his eyes like a butterfly touching a flower, then his nose, and finally touched his lips before quickly pulling away.
"Too perfunctory," Tianyi said, and then he proactively kissed her deeply.
Susu's heart couldn't be calm. She melted into his kiss, responding with equal passion.
But just as Qin Tianyi was about to take things further, she regained her senses and gently pushed him away. "The doctor said you can't have strenuous activity yet. Stop it. Do you want to fully recover or not?"
"As you command, my dear wife," Qin Tianyi lay back down.
Susu glared at him playfully before starting to clear the dishes.
Qin Tianyi leaned back on the bed, watching her busy herself. He felt as if he were in a dream, so sweet. If the hospital hadn't contacted him that afternoon, he would have almost forgotten that Susu might still suffer from the side effects of the medication.
"We'll go to the hospital together tomorrow."
Susu put down the dishes and looked at him. "Why are we going to the hospital? It's not your follow-up appointment yet."
"It's not for my follow-up. It's because some renowned experts I found for you are here. We'll go to the hospital tomorrow so they can examine your condition and see if there's a treatment method."
If he hadn't mentioned it, Susu would have almost forgotten. It had been almost a month since her last episode.
If it happened again, she didn't want to be injected with that medicine unconsciously.
"Tianyi, regardless of whether the experts you've invited can help me, can you let me endure it myself when it happens again?"
Qin Tianyi had seen how much pain she was in during her last episode and couldn't agree immediately.
"Susu..."
"If there's no other way to cure the side effects of that medicine, then let me endure it myself. Kang Xi said last time that those experts said if I could endure it once on my own, the dependence would be completely eradicated, and I would be fine."
Qin Tianyi had also repeatedly asked experts about this. It was said that like drug addiction, it could be overcome by enduring it oneself. However, the medicine injected into Susu was new, and no one could be sure of the severity of its side effects.
Susu might be in mortal danger while enduring it. He couldn't let her take that risk.
"At that time, we'll listen to the doctors and experts. If they say your physical condition can withstand it, I'll endure it with you. But if they professionally say it's not possible, then let's... let's not take the risk, okay?"