The afternoon sun streamed into the hospital room. Mengyao sat by the bedside, chatting with Song Jiaping.
What should have been a pleasant afternoon was suddenly interrupted when a group of people burst into the room, cameras flashing.
Mengyao instinctively stood up to shield Song Jiaping on the bed, then covered her face with her arm, stammering, "Who are you? Get out!"
"Are you Huangfu Mengyao? Is what's being reported online true?"
"Were you seeing another man while married to Hong Jiaxi?"
"Is this man lying in bed the one you were having an affair with?"
...
The questions came one after another, regardless of whether the person being interviewed was willing to answer.
Mengyao's face turned pale. She had no idea what was happening.
As she reached for the emergency call button, the reporters turned their cameras on Song Jiaping again.
Song Jiaping, unable to stand it any longer, sat up forcefully and yelled at the reporters, "Get out! If you don't leave, we're calling the police!"
Mengyao pressed the emergency button while doing her best to block the reporters, preventing them from threatening Song Jiaping.
Medical staff quickly arrived, saw the situation, called security, and escorted the reporters out.
Mengyao looked at Song Jiaping, still flustered, and asked, "Are you alright?"
Song Jiaping wrapped his arm tightly around Mengyao and said with heartache, "It's all my fault. I can't even protect you."
"I'm just glad you're okay," Mengyao said, feeling drained, and held him tightly.
At this point, the doctor in the room, seeing Song Jiaping sitting up steadily, asked, "Mr. Song, do you feel any discomfort when you sit up on your own?"
Hearing the doctor's question, they both realized something.
Mengyao released Song Jiaping and looked at him with surprise, "Jiaping, you just sat up by yourself?"
Song Jiaping nodded. He moved his waist and felt no discomfort. He told the doctor, "I feel fine. My hands don't feel as weak either."
As he spoke, he clenched his fists with both hands, feeling his strength returning.
"Let me examine you," the doctor said, walking over. Mengyao quickly moved aside.
The doctor performed a brief examination and said, "Try moving your legs."
Song Jiaping attempted to lift one leg, but his leg muscles still felt weak. He could lift it slightly, but with great effort.
The doctor smiled, "Don't worry. Your recovery is already quite fast. Starting tomorrow, you can go to the rehabilitation department for training. Your leg function should fully recover after some training."
Mengyao's mood felt like a roller coaster. The gloom from moments ago vanished, replaced by overwhelming joy.
After the doctor left, she immediately grasped Song Jiaping's hand and said happily, "Jiaping, that's wonderful! You're almost fully recovered."
Song Jiaping nodded, gently caressing her cheek. "You've worked so hard these past few days. Without your day-and-night care, I might never have recovered..."
Mengyao placed a finger over his lips, stopping him. "Don't say such unlucky things! If you dare to leave me, I'll forget you quickly and hate you forever!"
Song Jiaping felt a pang of heartache. He gazed at her, longing to kiss her.
But as he leaned in, he felt his energy falter and rested his head on her shoulder.
Mengyao knew he had only just managed to sit up and shouldn't exert himself for too long. She hugged him tighter and urged him to lie down, "The doctor said that physical recovery is a gradual process. You've been sitting up for a while. Lie down and rest. You'll go to the rehabilitation department tomorrow, and we'll gradually increase the time."
"Okay..."
Mengyao leaned in and kissed him.
Song Jiaping embraced her shoulders, returning her kiss tenderly.
Their kiss was passionate, as if they wanted to engrave each other into their very beings, yet incredibly gentle.
A cough alerted them to someone's presence in the room, and they quickly separated.
Mengqi stood at the doorway and saw them kissing. She didn't want to interrupt, but the situation was urgent, so she had to clear her throat.
Mengyao turned awkwardly and saw Mengqi. "Sister, why are you here?"
"I heard some gossip reporters had found their way here, and I was worried about you. It seems my worry was unnecessary," Mengqi said with a smile.
Mengyao and Song Jiaping looked at Mengqi, suddenly remembering they still didn't know what was going on with those reporters who had stormed into the room.
"Sister, those reporters rushed into the room like madmen just now, asking me all sorts of bizarre questions. What's going on?" Mengyao asked.
Mengqi replied, "You don't know? Someone is deliberately smearing you online, saying you had an affair during your marriage. It's caused a huge stir."
Song Jiaping asked, "Who did it?"
Mengqi hesitated for a moment before saying, "I've already found out. It was the Hong family. They're likely seeking revenge."
Song Jiaping clenched his fists on the bed, furious. "This is outrageous!"
Mengyao was stunned. She hadn't expected the Hong family to resort to such desperate measures. She couldn't help but worry about Song Jiaping's safety. No one could predict what terrible things the Hong family might do next.
Mengqi, also concerned for their safety, said, "Old Yao and I have discussed it. We want to send you to a hospital abroad for recuperation. With Hong Jiaxi's case nearing its verdict, regardless of the outcome, staying in Lancheng is not safe for you."
Song Jiaping couldn't swallow his pride. "I'm not afraid of them! I'm the one they should be retaliating against, not them!"
"Your body is in the recovery phase," Mengqi advised. "It's not guaranteed you'll win if you confront the Hong family head-on. They're like madmen now that they're about to lose their only heir. There's no need to clash with them. It's better to go abroad and lie low. We can deal with everything after Hong Jiaxi is in jail."
"Yes," Mengyao agreed with Mengqi's suggestion. "When we returned to Lancheng, we agreed that after I finalized my divorce with Hong Jiaxi, we would leave and travel the world."
Song Jiaping, pained by what Mengyao had endured, questioned, "The situation now is completely different from back then. Even though you and Hong Jiaxi are divorced, he and his family won't leave us alone! They probably think we're too easy to bully. Will going abroad really solve things if we don't show them a bit of resistance?"
"Old Yao will arrange a private jet to quietly take you to a hospital abroad," Mengqi and Yao Feili had thought of this. "After you leave, we'll have someone impersonate you and remain in this hospital room. The Hong family won't be able to detect it for a while."
Mengyao thought this was a viable plan. "Sister, you and Brother-in-law have thought of everything. Please arrange it as soon as possible."
Song Jiaping wanted to say more, but Mengyao held his hand. "Jiaping, think about it. You still need time to fully recover. If we stay in Lancheng, we'll be in danger. The Hong family built their fortune on illicit businesses, and they're likely still connected to unsavory characters. We really don't need to fight them head-on right now. A gentleman's revenge is never too late. It's not too late to seek revenge after you've recovered."