"That settles it," Mengqi said, getting up. "I need to get back to my room and tend to my business. You have no idea how much time I've wasted dealing with Shaohua's affairs."
"Stop right there," Wu Xiufang called out. "Don't be like your father, all work and no play! You should attend more gatherings and meet people. It's time you got married and settled down. You'll be an old maid if you don't. A woman's most important thing is a good home..."
"Alright, I understand. I work so hard precisely so that when I marry into a well-matched family, I won't be looked down upon and will have a place of my own." With that, she ran off.
Wu Xiufang felt something was amiss and pointed at her, saying, "You little imp, who are you mocking! How dare you say I don't have my own career! My career is to make you all successful..."
But as she spoke, she couldn't finish her sentence.
In the end, it all came down to supporting a husband and raising children. What kind of career was that for herself?
...
Huangfu Mengyao and Hong Jiaxi returned to Lancheng. Upon disembarking, they didn't go their separate ways but headed to the hospital first.
Neither of them had informed their families about Hong Jiaxi's injury. The doctors at the hospital where he was initially treated had said his lumbar injury had largely recovered.
However, Huangfu Mengyao was still worried and accompanied him to Lancheng's best hospital for a follow-up examination.
As they sat in the waiting area for the test results, Hong Jiaxi asked with a sliver of hope, "Mengyao, can you give me another chance? Let's forget the past and try to start over."
Mengyao politely declined, "I don't want to talk about personal relationships right now. I just want to find a suitable job, use my knowledge, and help more sick people."
"Alright, then let nature take its course," Hong Jiaxi suggested. "Why don't you join our company's research and development department? You've done medical research before, haven't you?"
"I want to join a formal, state-run medical research institution, not serve a private owner," Mengyao stated her intentions. She wanted to join institutes like research centers and planned to submit her applications soon.
"Whatever job you do, I will support you," Hong Jiaxi said, looking at her and forcing a smile. "Can we still be friends?"
"Of course," Mengyao smiled faintly. There were many things she was grateful to him for, but gratitude was all that remained. The beautiful love they once shared would never return.
The examination results from this hospital also showed no serious issues, only that he should avoid strenuous activity with his lower back and be mindful.
After leaving the hospital, they prepared to go their separate ways.
They hadn't notified anyone about their return flight, and both were in low spirits.
Hong Jiaxi said gallantly, "Why don't I drop you off first, and then I'll head back."
"No need, my luggage isn't heavy. You were injured, so you're weaker than me. I'll watch you get into the car, and then I'll take a taxi." Mengyao insisted.
Hong Jiaxi smiled and nodded, flagging down a car and leaving first.
Only then did Mengyao breathe a sigh of relief. She walked ahead for a bit before hailing a taxi. The thought of seeing her family soon couldn't lift her spirits; a part of her heart felt empty.
Her sudden return delighted Wu Xiufang. She held Mengyao and examined her several times, saying, "You've lost weight again. You must not have been eating well outside."
Mengyao said nothing, but hugged her tightly, her voice choked with tears, "Mom, I'm sorry. I completely forgot about you, Dad, and my elder and second brothers. I've been so unfilial."
"What did you say?" Wu Xiufang hugged her, even more surprised. "You... have you regained your memory?"
"Yes, I have. I remember everything now."
Wu Xiufang cried with joy, quickly let go of her, and called Huangfu Sisong and Mengqi.
Thinking of calling Shaohua, she found his number on her phone but didn't dial. The moment she thought of that brat, she had to hold back, absolutely refusing to show weakness to him.
...
Mengyao rested at home for two days, recovering to her pre-accident state, and began submitting job applications online.
After returning to China previously, she had worked as a researcher at a medical college. Later, due to the car accident and subsequent amnesia, her position there couldn't remain vacant indefinitely.
Her family had handled her resignation. Now, she wanted to find a formal medical research institute and continue her medical research work.
She had always felt that becoming a doctor allowed one to directly treat patients, but medical research could cure many more people.
Any technical breakthrough in human medicine could change the fate of countless patients.
Therefore, she believed research was more meaningful.
In the evening, after the family had dinner, she returned to her room to check if there were any replies to the resumes she had submitted during the day.
Just then, Mengqi gently pushed open her door and asked, "Third sister, may I come into your room for a bit?"
"Elder sister, I'm not busy, please come in." As she spoke, she closed her laptop, stood up, pulled Mengqi in, and sat down on the bed with her.
Mengqi smiled and said, "It's wonderful that you've recovered. The time you had amnesia was truly... truly worrying."
Mengyao smiled and said, "Elder sister, you're usually too busy to chat. Is there something you want to tell me?"
"Yes," Mengqi said softly. "Shaohua asked me to pass on a message to you."
"Second brother? Right, I haven't seen second brother at all since I returned. Is he on a business trip?" Mengyao was a bit curious but assumed he was on a trip and hadn't asked her mother.
Mengqi shook her head and said, "He's not on a business trip. He's in Lancheng. While you and Jiaxi were abroad, he had a falling out with the family and moved out on his own."
"Ah," Mengyao said in disbelief. "He always listened to Mom and Dad the most. How could this happen?"
Mengqi briefly explained the situation between Huangfu Shaohua, Daisy, and Sheng Zhuzhu.
Mengyao understood and said sheepishly, "I didn't like that Zhuzhu either. She was a bit pretentious when we were little. I didn't expect her to have such bad luck. She's quite pitiful now, but it's not wrong for second brother to pursue his own happiness."
"I also think it's good that he's finally rebelled. Otherwise, I would suspect he doesn't have his own personality at all, always being Mom and Dad's good boy."
Mengyao smiled and asked, "Have you met the woman second brother likes? She must be very charming."
"I've only seen photos, not met her in person," Mengqi said with a mysterious smile. "But we'll have a chance to see her. Shaohua said he wants us to support him at his wedding and specifically asked you to go once you returned."
"No problem, I support him," Mengyao readily agreed.
Mengqi smiled and said, "He knew you'd be the most agreeable. By the way, this is a secret from Mom and Dad. We'll go sneakily."
"Understood," Mengyao gave her an OK gesture, suddenly very curious about this future sister-in-law.
...
One day, Huangfu Mengqi received an electronic invitation from Huangfu Shaohua in her office.
She immediately replied, "Mengyao is back. I'll go with her."