CHAPTER 42: CHAPTER 42: SHI YANG’S FATHER

Zhao Meimei returned home in the evening, personally driven back by Director Shi. Shi Yang’s mother was worried about Shi Yang and stayed at the hospital to take care of him.

Zhao Dazhuang and Liu Xiue were chatting in front of the grocery store with other familiar neighbors from the community. Liu Xiue, being sharp-eyed, recognized Director Shi’s car and quickly followed Zhao Dazhuang to the roadside to greet them.

Director Shi got out of the car, walked to the passenger side, and opened the door for Zhao Meimei. Zhao Meimei nimbly got out of the car.

"Meimei!" Liu Xiue called out.

Zhao Meimei turned her head, saw her mother, and quickly waved, "Mom! Dad!"

Director Shi casually closed the car door and turned to join them.

Zhao Dazhuang and Liu Xiue came over and greeted politely, "Oh my, why did we trouble you to personally bring our Meimei back? Where is Shi Yang’s mother?"

Director Shi smiled and said, "She couldn’t leave the child and is at the hospital."

Zhao Meimei rushed into Liu Xiue’s arms, her little face flushed with excitement. She had never sat in such a luxurious private car growing up. On the way back, everything she saw was new to her, and she was thrilled the whole way.

Liu Xiue hugged Zhao Meimei, "You weren’t naughty at the hospital, were you?"

Zhao Meimei quickly reported, "Not naughty, I just slept with Brother Yangyang."

Liu Xiue was startled, "Where did you sleep?"

Zhao Meimei, "I slept in Brother Yangyang’s bed."

Liu Xiue’s eyes immediately widened, "Your Brother Yangyang is a patient. How could you squeeze onto the same bed with him? What if you pressed on his wound?"

Director Shi, hearing Liu Xiue about to scold the child, quickly intervened, "It’s alright, she didn’t press on him. The two children have a good relationship and fell asleep after playing."

Earlier, Director Shi had gone to the factory to handle some matters. Upon arrival, he bumped into the deputy director and entrusted the task to him. With Shi Yang on his mind, he quickly drove back after giving instructions.

When he returned to the ward, he saw two children cuddled together, sleeping soundly and peacefully.

At that moment, Director Shi felt a surge of intense guilt and self-blame. He quietly sat by the bed, looking at Shi Yang’s sleeping face, feeling an aching in his heart.

Director Shi had married young; his wife was a former schoolmate with whom he shared a strong romantic relationship.

The second year after marriage, Director Shi was promoted to section chief and planned a vacation to travel with his wife. Unexpectedly, they were involved in a car accident.

The person about to be hit was him. At the critical moment, his wife selflessly pushed him aside and was crushed under the wheels herself, eventually turning into a vegetative state.

For all these years, Director Shi had felt he owed his wife and had never abandoned her, providing care with the best nurses in the hospital.

During that time, Director Shi was still young. As the years passed, he felt lonely and empty. Like any man, he had needs, and since he wasn’t a person of disoriented private life, he was captivated by the young, beautiful Shi Yang’s mother.

When they got together, Director Shi truthfully shared his situation, and Shi Yang’s mother genuinely loved him then. Young and impulsive, she stayed with him without a title, eventually having Shi Yang.

Since birth, Shi Yang had no official household registration. When he started elementary school, they had no choice but to register him under Director Shi’s original wife’s name in the household registration. This matter made Shi Yang’s mother hold a grudge, causing frequent disputes, and it’s also one of the reasons Shi Yang never forgave him and acknowledged him as his father.

Director Shi considered himself faithful. He believed that his original wife’s sacrifice was noble, and seeking another behind her back while having a son amounted to betrayal. To ease his conscience, he never divorced his wife and did not give Shi Yang and his mother an official status.

Back then, he simply wanted to give his original wife a complete status, even if only in name. But now, facing his son Shi Yang’s cold attitude and rejection, he began to waver, often reflecting and regretting why he insisted on such a hollow title, leading to a situation where he has a son who doesn’t acknowledge him and a wife who cannot be openly recognized.

Director Shi had a soft spot for Zhao Meimei. Wanting to compensate for what he owed Shi Yang, his urgent desire made him also cherish Zhao Meimei. That day at school, she fiercely defended Shi Yang like a little wolf cub, which deeply touched him.

Director Shi opened the trunk and took out two large fruit baskets, two boxes of milk, a box of canned fruits, and two beautifully packaged bouquets.

Director Shi handed the items to Zhao Dazhuang and Liu Xiue, "They’re gifts from friends visiting Shi Yang. He can’t consume all of this. It would expire, so please take them home. There’s a lot left at the hospital. Once it’s gone, I’ll bring more."

Zhao Dazhuang quickly refused, "Oh no, how could we accept your things!"

Director Shi feigned annoyance, "Are you being formal with me? Shi Yang’s mother often mentioned your family looking after Shi Yang, and I’m grateful. Besides, these weren’t bought with money; they’re gifts from others. Just help me out. Otherwise, they’ll go to waste."

What Director Shi said was true. Their family lacked nothing and didn’t need a taste of this. Besides, with Shi Yang in the hospital, his family had no appetite, and there was no one to eat these. Keeping them would only lead to expiration and wasted food.

Only then did Zhao Dazhuang and Liu Xiue accept, smiling and waving as Director Shi drove away. Once his car was out of sight, they turned and carried the items back home.

Sitting at the grocery store entrance, a neighbor inquired of Liu Xiue, "Yo! Who was that person giving you so many things?"

Liu Xiue always felt that neighborhood gossips spoke negatively about Shi Yang’s mother and son. Now, finally finding a chance, she quickly helped establish Shi Yang’s mother’s identity, "Ah! Are you talking about Brother Yangyang’s dad? Haven’t you seen him before? He often comes over; I thought you knew!"

The crowd sighed and began gossiping among themselves.

Zhao Dazhuang and Liu Xiue entered the grocery store, speaking privately. Zhao Dazhuang frowned, grumbling, "Why’d you bring that up?"

Liu Xiue pursed her lips and lowered her voice in complaint, "With their sharp tongues, they’ve belittled people behind their backs. Wasn’t I just standing up for Shi Yang’s mother?"

Zhao Dazhuang disagreed, "The guilty will be revealed eventually. If Shi Yang’s mom didn’t speak up, why should you? It’s pointless! I wonder why Meimei acts out so much; turns out it’s just like you!"

Liu Xiue immediately widened her eyes, "Oh, the good traits come from you, and the bad ones all from me?"

Zhao Meimei, lifting the fly screen curtain, came in with flowers, complaining, "Mom, Aunt Sun pulled two red flowers out of my bouquet; she picked the biggest ones!"

Looking at Zhao Meimei’s thrifty behavior, Liu Xiue scolded her while glaring at Zhao Dazhuang, "Definitely takes after your dad, so stingy!"

Zhao Meimei realized her mother wasn’t speaking kindly, stubbornly retorted, "I’m not stingy. These flowers were given to our family, so they’re mine. I don’t like others touching my stuff. I’d feel bad if anyone took it."

Zhao Dazhuang sourly grumbled, "Oh, please, if Brother Yangyang asked, I’m sure you’d gladly hand it over. I don’t even know whose child you are, giving all the good stuff from home to Brother Yangyang."

Zhao Meimei pouted and countered, "Brother Yangyang isn’t an outsider!"

Zhao Dazhuang chuckled, tapping her forehead, "Alright, this is why they say daughters will turn their back on you as they grow. Not even grown up yet, and you’re already siding with outsiders!"

Zhao Meimei didn’t understand what her dad meant. The incident with the flowers quickly forgotten, she gleefully played with her father, carefree and happy.