"Mhm," Zhu Yunfei responded and leaned on Ling Junye's shoulder.
Feeling sleepiness creeping in, she yawned and closed her eyes.
These matters had been settled, and fortunately, everyone was safe.
Ling Junye gently held her, carefully adjusting his posture to make her more comfortable.
The car sped along the highway. The sky was overcast, with dense clouds. The autumn wind was cold and sharp, and withered leaves swirled and fell along the roadside, exuding a sense of desolation.
Situ Jun stared out the window with a grim expression, his eyes vacant, his complexion poor, and his emotions incredibly complex.
He had never imagined that his grandmother and sister would do such a thing; it completely shattered his perception of them.
In his memory, his grandmother was loving and gentle, doting on him immensely.
Although his sister often resorted to violence against him, she was upright and kind.
She frequently took on cases for those who couldn't afford lawyers, indignant about injustice.
Yet this time, her selfishness had led to the deaths of hundreds of people. Xia Wantang and Aunt Ling had also narrowly escaped harm because of it.
He found it impossible to accept this reality, but it was laid bare before him, leaving him no choice but to believe.
In just a few days, he felt as though his world had completely changed, and his past life had been nothing but a dream.
He understood that the Ling family had treated them with utmost kindness.
His grandmother's fate was a consequence of her own actions, and the Ling family hadn't even lifted a finger.
As for his sister...
He still remembered what Uncle Ling had said to him before they left.
He had said: "It's best to confine mentally disturbed individuals to a psychiatric hospital, otherwise, no one knows what they might do."
He understood the meaning behind those words. If his sister wanted to continue living, her only option was to be in a psychiatric hospital.
Thinking about these matters made Situ Jun feel miserable. He could never have predicted that things would unfold this way.
But this was the best possible outcome. The Ling family hadn't retaliated against the Situ family because Ling Yuchen had taken their brotherhood into consideration.
Now, his task was to return and appease the Ling family's wrath.
After all that had happened, he didn't know how he would face Ling Yuchen in the future.
He remained lost in thought throughout the journey, and the car eventually stopped at the hospital.
Situ Jun walked with heavy steps towards the VIP ward on the third floor of the inpatient department.
Old Madam Situ and Situ Jing were staying here.
Old Madam Situ had been pulled from danger, but she was now severely paralyzed and unable to speak. Only her eyes could move.
Situ Jing's condition had improved considerably, but she had remained silent, staring out the window all day as if she had lost her soul.
Situ Jun hesitated at the doorway for a long time before mustering the courage to enter.
Running away was useless; he had to face this sooner or later.
At that moment, a caregiver was turning Old Madam Situ. With her mouth askew, she looked even more cruel and sinister.
Due to her incontinence, an unpleasant odor permeated the air within three steps of the bed.
On the sofa by the window, Situ Jing was curled up. Her head was bowed, her hair falling forward and obscuring her face.
Su Yishen was silently wiping away tears, her eyes swollen and her appearance haggastly.
Situ Jun stood at the ward entrance, suddenly losing the courage to go in.
"Jun Jun, where have you been?"
Su Yishen inadvertently looked up and saw him. She immediately got up from the sofa, her emotions no longer controllable.
"Do you know that something major has happened at home? How could you, my child, not come home!"
"Mom."
Situ Jun called out softly, afraid to meet her eyes. He was even more reluctant to tell her these cruel truths.
Su Yishen strode over, tears streaming down her face, her voice choked with emotion.
"Go look at your sister. She... she's not herself. The doctor said... said she's experiencing mental problems..."
"I know, I know everything."
Situ Jun stepped forward and pulled her into a hug. He closed his eyes, desperately trying to hold back his own tears.
Su Yishen, believing he was frightened and heartbroken, comforted him, "It's okay, everything will be okay..."
After a long while, Situ Jun's emotions had somewhat calmed. He released Su Yishen, his expression unusually serious, as if he had made a firm decision.
"Mom, I've already arranged for caregivers from Huaxi Sanatorium. Let's send Sis there!"
Su Yishen froze, then her face changed drastically, her emotions becoming extremely agitated.
"What are you talking about? Your sister was just stimulated; she's not insane."
"She is. If she doesn't want to die, she has to go there." Situ Jun gritted his teeth, his fists clenched, his eyes bloodshot.
Su Yishen looked at her son's appearance and subconsciously took a step back, shaking her head. "You're crazy! How can you send your sister to a psychiatric hospital? She's clearly fine."
"Hahaha..."
At this moment, Situ Jing, who had been on the sofa, suddenly burst into laughter.
Su Yishen turned to look, her heart aching. She quickly walked over and hugged her daughter tightly.
"Don't be afraid, Mom won't send you to a psychiatric hospital. No."
Situ Jing didn't look at her or struggle. Instead, she stared directly at Situ Jun.
"You know now?"
Situ Jun met her gaze with a complex expression and nodded lightly.
Situ Jing smiled again, tears flowing as she did.
Su Yishen, unaware of what they were discussing, hugged her daughter and asked, "Know what? What are you talking about?"
Situ Jing ignored her and looked at Situ Jun.
"He knows too, doesn't he?"
Situ Jun numbly nodded again. He couldn't bring himself to meet Situ Jing's eyes, his voice low. "Sis, you should go. If you don't..."
Situ Jing resignedly said, "I'll go."
This was her only path forward.
If she refused, an even more terrible fate awaited her, and the Situ family would be implicated.
"No, we're not going. Jing Jing, what's wrong with you?" Su Yishen felt an inexplicable sense of panic. She had no idea what had happened.
But the cryptic words exchanged between her son and daughter filled her with dread.
Situ Jing then looked at her, her voice choked with sobs. "I'm sorry, Mom. I made a mistake. I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
She hugged Su Yishen and cried heartbrokenly.
"It's okay, it's okay. Mom is here. Don't cry..."
Situ Jun's eyes also welled up, but he felt powerless.
After a long while, two men in white coats entered the ward. The white coats bore the insignia of Huaxi Psychiatric Hospital.
Situ Jing was led away by them.
Su Yishen was filled with reluctance and unwillingness, but Situ Jun held her back tightly.
He turned his head away, unable to watch Situ Jing being taken away, tears flowing silently.
After Situ Jing was gone, Su Yishen broke free from his grasp and slapped Situ Jun across the face.
"You scoundrel! Do you have any idea what you're doing?"
Situ Jun remained silent, head bowed, standing before her as if accepting whatever she decided to do.