Meng Meiling said, "I learned it from you."
"I can’t agree with that. She’s not just my daughter; as her mother, you should at least take half the responsibility."
Shi Zhenhua’s mental state wasn’t at all like someone who had just experienced a major life crisis, and upon waking up, he hadn’t shown concern for the corporation that had made his name so renowned. Instead, he seemed like an utterly ordinary man, quibbling with his ex-wife over trivial household matters that would seem petty for someone of his stature.
"You should have slept a bit longer, otherwise you might really have woken up to hold your grandchild."
Meng Meiling said something inexplicable and didn’t continue the argument.
Shi Zhenhua was puzzled.
"You should know better than I do about her and Jiang Chen. I told her not to rush back, and she even suggested letting Jiang Chen visit you."
Shi Zhenhua fell silent, then burst into laughter while shaking his head and sighing, "This girl..."
"She went to Hancheng for an inspection and took Jiang Chen along. She also had dinner with Duan Zhongxin at home."
Meng Meiling succinctly put it, although she had been keeping a constant vigil at the hospital these past months, she seemed to have a thorough grasp of her daughter’s whereabouts.
"What did Duan Zhongxin say?"
Shi Zhenhua asked calmly.
"What would he say? You should know Duan Zhongxin’s character the best—so composed as to be almost slick. Don’t expect to hear any disagreeable words from him."
"You can’t really say that; coming from academia, being strict and following the rules has become an instinctual habit for him. It’s indeed difficult to hear anything harsh from him, but at least he wouldn’t flatter and fawn. Since he didn’t say anything to you, that means he doesn’t have any complaints about Jiang Chen. After all, he’s been in education for a couple of decades—he knows how to judge character."
"Not long after your accident, Qian Qian called him over. He really put in a lot of effort in the investigation. It seems he also has a good relationship with Ye Tingxuan."
"So, it looks like our daughter may have better judgment than the two of us," Shi Zhenhua said with a laugh.
Initially, neither he nor Meng Meiling took that young man seriously, but he ended up delivering one surprise after another.
"I’ve talked with him."
"What about?" Shi Zhenhua curiously asked.
"Qian Qian is out of my control and I had no other options, so I just set some ground rules with him. As long as he doesn’t meddle with Jin Hai, I won’t interfere with whatever’s between him and Qian Qian."
Shi Zhenhua was taken aback, his lips moving several times as he struggled to speak before finally settling on a half-laugh, half-sigh, "MeiLing, MeiLing, I never thought you’d reach the end of your rope."
To this day, in terms of achievements and wealth, he had long surpassed the Meng family, which had once looked down upon him, yet his attitude towards Meng Meiling hadn’t changed in the slightest.
To describe their former relationship using simplistic terms of romantic affection would be too superficial.
Towards Meng Meiling, he had something that came from the bottom of his heart... respect.
Logically, from the heights at which Shi Zhenhua now stood, his perspective on women would naturally be condescending unless the woman possessed equal capabilities.
Meng Meiling was precisely such a woman.
"What can I do? You’ve already made a pact with him, do you want to go back on your word now?"
"But that young man, he seems... towards Qian Qian..."
"MeiLing, let our children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Qian Qian is grown up; she knows what she wants. We should learn to let go."
Meng Meiling eyed the man on the hospital bed, her voice neutral, "It’s as if you’ve had a brush with death."
Shi Zhenhua shook his head with a smile, about to speak, when a knocking sound interrupted.
"Knock, knock, knock..."
The couple, who had had such a lengthy conversation for once, simultaneously turned to look towards the door.
Through the glass in the door, they could see the very man they’d been discussing standing outside, looking somewhat... embarrassed.
"See, he’s quite sincere," Shi Zhenhua commented and then said with a smile, "Come in."
The one who had been coerced by a phone call to fly over finally entered, carrying a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
"Director Shi, Auntie Meng."
Shi Zhenhua didn’t bother asking how he had so precisely found this location; one didn’t need to think hard to know it was surely his beloved daughter’s "accomplishment."
"Jiang Chen, long time no see."
Jiang Chen was taken aback, then he too, smiled.
"Director Shi, long time no see."
"As long as you’re here, that’s enough. Why so formal? MeiLing, please take the flowers for Jiang Chen."
"Aunt Meng, I can manage on my own."
Jiang Chen placed the lilies on the bedside table.
"Jiang Chen, you call MeiLing ’Aunt’ but you address me as ’Director Shi’? Doesn’t that seem a bit inappropriate?"
Shi Zhenhua’s demeanor made Jiang Chen feel somewhat at a loss. The tycoon appeared to have undergone a change in personality since waking up, displaying far more warmth than was visible to the naked eye.
Jiang Chen stood by the bed, wrestling with his thoughts for quite a while before he plucked up the courage and addressed him, "Uncle Shi."
Shi Zhenhua nodded with a smile, "That’s more like it."
Jiang Chen looked towards Meng Meiling.
"Aunt Meng, you seem to have lost weight."
The sudden utterance quieted the entire hospital room.
What kind of people were Shi Zhenhua and Meng Meiling?
How could they not perceive the implications of that statement?
Shi Zhenhua’s smile grew even more profound.
Now, his gaze towards Jiang Chen was completely different.
Quite astute, isn’t he?
Meng Meiling stood up straight and walked straight out.
Shi Zhenhua quietly watched her leave with a smile, but said nothing.
Although his ex-wife was cold in demeanor, the fact that she had watched over him night and day, caring for a man who may never wake up or might not have awakened, was an irrefutable reality.
Shi Zhenhua turned his gaze away.
Jiang Chen obediently carried a chair and sat down at the bedside.
"Your Aunt Meng has told me about everything. Thank you for taking care of Qian Qian during this time and for the trouble you’ve been through."
"Uncle Shi... please don’t mention it, I hardly helped at all."
The unusual amiability displayed by the tycoon left Jiang Chen somewhat disconcerted. He found himself almost missing the imposing business magnate he had known before, this newfound avuncular disposition brought more pressure upon him.
They say a person changes drastically after experiencing severe setbacks. Could that be true?
"Jiang Chen, don’t spoil Qian Qian too much. That girl was spoiled rotten by me. She’s too capricious. You don’t need to listen to her every word and rush here so urgently."
You’re aware of that lady’s temperament.
You spoiled her to this point, and now you start to make such indifferent remarks?
If I hadn’t come, would that lady have let me off the hook?
Such thoughts Jiang Chen could only mutter internally, not daring to voice them out loud. Instead, he forced a smile and said, "It’s not her fault; I wanted to come myself. I’m sincerely happy that Uncle Shi has recovered."
"Is that the truth? You’re not holding a grudge over that incident from before?"
Jiang Chen showed a puzzled look, not feigned but genuinely bemused.
"Last time, when you asked for my help to save Pei Yunxi, I didn’t agree..."
At these words, Jiang Chen instantly understood, feeling not a trace of dissatisfaction but rather a growing sense of guilt.
"Uncle Shi, I’ve forgotten about that, and I also know you had your reasons."
Shi Zhenhua nodded, "Good that you understand."
Jiang Chen quickly changed the subject, "Uncle Shi, Aunt Meng has really been through a lot lately."
Shi Zhenhua nodded, "Indeed, they say a couple is like birds of the same forest that fly off separately when disaster strikes..."
"And there’s also the saying that hardship reveals true friendship. I always felt that..."
Jiang Chen began to speak instinctively but soon realized his mistake and promptly stopped.
Shi Zhenhua seemed to know what he was about to say.
"Actually, there are many forms of affection between men and women, and marriage is only one of them. Although your Aunt Meng and I are divorced, I’ve always known that I will never meet another woman quite like her. It was true in the past, and it will remain true in the future."
Jiang Chen fell silent, thoughtful. After a while, he spoke up, "Then, Uncle Shi, if there are still feelings between you and Aunt Meng, why not..."
Shi Zhenhua didn’t reprimand him for his impertinence but leaned against the bedhead, his gaze drifting towards the television on the wall, remaining silent.