Although aware it was a ruse, Qiao Ningzhi felt compelled to maintain basic courtesy. Mu Linjing was indeed severely injured, her appearance in distress meant Qiao Ningzhi couldn't simply turn and leave.
Yet, seeing Zhan Yichen perfectly fine, Wen Yulan approached him, feigning concern, "Yichen, let me see if you're hurt."
Zhan Yichen impatiently pushed her hand away, "Mom, I'm fine. Linjing is injured."
Mu Linjing lay there for all to see, and Wen Yulan's act was clearly fabricated. At this point, with Mu Linjing having nearly sacrificed her life to save him, and Wen Yulan still deliberately targeting her, Zhan Yichen found it unbearable.
Wen Yulan knew he was defending Mu Linjing, and her displeasure was evident on her face.
"It's good you're not hurt. If you were injured saving someone, Mom would be heartbroken."
"Mom, Linjing was saving me," Zhan Yichen corrected. Wen Yulan, however, refused to listen. "Don't think I don't know. She stayed out late and almost got you into trouble."
Zhan Yichen found himself unable to correct her on this point. It was like trying to wake someone who was pretending to be asleep. No matter his explanation, Wen Yulan would only see Mu Linjing as the instigator.
Noticing Mu Linjing's worsening complexion, he directly asked her to leave, "Mom, since you've seen me, and I'm fine, let's go. A hospital room doesn't need too many people."
Wen Yulan, who had deliberately come to provoke Mu Linjing, had no intention of leaving so soon.
She pulled Qiao Ningzhi forward, "My visit to you is secondary. The crucial thing is that Miss Qiao is concerned about you. She was too embarrassed to come herself, so she asked me to accompany her. You haven't seen each other in a while, why don't you go down and walk with Miss Qiao."
Hearing this, Qiao Ningzhi looked bewildered and instinctively glanced at Mu Linjing on the bed.
"Aunt Zhan, didn't you say Young Master Zhan was injured and asked me to come and see you?" she asked.
Not wanting to be manipulated by Wen Yulan and forced into the role of a relationship disruptor, she stated this directly, leaving Wen Yulan momentarily speechless.
Mu Linjing, who had indeed been feeling unwell, understood upon hearing this that Wen Yulan was deliberately trying to upset her.
She didn't want to passively endure the onslaught and appear as a pushover.
Her injury was to her waist, preventing her from sitting up, which made her seem weaker. Therefore, she forced a stern expression to project less vulnerability.
"I don't welcome people I don't wish to see in my hospital room. Please leave!"
She issued the order to leave. She now understood that trying to maintain a cordial relationship with Wen Yulan for a peaceful outcome had been her biggest mistake.
People like Wen Yulan would only push their advantage; there was no possibility of them knowing when to stop.
Hearing herself being asked to leave, Wen Yulan finally found grounds for a scene and immediately became indignant.
"Yichen, did you hear what this woman said? How dare she speak to an elder like that? Such an ill-bred woman, clearly raised in a humble background, so petty. You should break up with her immediately; you are not suited for each other."
She simply looked down on Mu Linjing and always brought up her family background, as Mu Linjing had no way to refute it.
Expecting Mu Linjing to be rendered speechless as usual, Wen Yulan felt smug. Then she heard Mu Linjing coldly scoff, "My humble background indeed doesn't befit the Zhan family, but Yichen likes me. That is an undeniable fact, and you cannot change it, can you?"
This was the first time she had openly challenged Wen Yulan. Previously, to spare Zhan Yichen's feelings and avoid putting him in a difficult position, Mu Linjing had repeatedly conceded.
Since conceding had proven useless, she had to face the challenge head-on. After all, she was determined about Zhan Yichen.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have unhesitatingly taken the knife for him.
If she hadn't fully understood her own heart before, she was certain now.
In that situation, there was no time for the brain to react. Thus, her action indicated that her heart had made the decision for her brain.
How could she not follow her heart's desires?
Wen Yulan naturally refused to acknowledge her words, sneering, "Yichen likes you? That's just a fleeting interest. The woman Yichen likes can only be a lady from a distinguished family like Miss Qiao, not you!"
"Mom, you're wrong. The only person I've ever loved is Linjing. No, it's not just liking her; it's love, and responsibility!"
Zhan Yichen always contradicted her at such moments, leaving her both helpless and angry.
Meanwhile, Qiao Ningzhi, inexplicably drawn into this conflict, became the focus of their argument.
Already unhappy with Wen Yulan's repeated manipulation and deception, Qiao Ningzhi no longer cared about saving face and decided to act.
Being a mistress was something she would never do in her life. However, Wen Yulan's actions had undeniably forced her into that position.
Facing Wen Yulan, she said sternly, "Auntie, since Young Master Zhan has made his position clear, there's no need for you to try and bind us together. I, Qiao Ningzhi, am not dependent on the Zhan family."
She feigned anger and was the first to leave the ward. Only by doing so could she temporarily resolve the awkward situation.
Seeing this, Wen Yulan could only glare fiercely at Mu Linjing before chasing after her. The room finally fell quiet.
Wei Yumeng heard about the commotion and arrived just as they were both leaving in a hurry.
Knowing that Wen Yulan must have come to harass Mu Linjing, she quickly went to check on Mu Linjing's condition.
Concurrently, Zhan Mohan sat at home, with Feng Shiqing opposite him.
"I'm giving you only one chance to confess."
Feng Shiqing clasped her hands together, her fingers twisting incessantly, her eyes darting around, avoiding Zhan Mohan's gaze, a clear sign of guilt.
But she had no intention of confessing voluntarily and decided to brazen it out.
"Brother Mohan, I really don't know what you're talking about. They encountered danger because it was late yesterday. What does that have to do with me? Besides, we were together the entire time yesterday; I didn't do anything."
"Then why is there a call record from you on that person's phone?"
Zhan Mohan had no patience for her evasiveness. Since she wouldn't confess willingly, he decided to reveal the truth directly.
"Brother Mohan, I..."
Feng Shiqing didn't know how to argue her way out. It seemed that whatever she said would sound far-fetched.