Seeing that he had scared her, Jun Mochan instinctively restrained the murderous aura that exuded from him: "Don’t worry, I will protect you. Anyway, it’s getting late. You need to rest for your checkup tomorrow."
"Okay," Ye Ranran lay down.
Jun Mochan went to the study to deal with some important documents. By the time he came back, Ye Ranran was already asleep.
He lifted the quilt and lay down next to her, reaching out to draw her into his arms.
Ye Ranran snuggled into him—a movement that unintentionally brought a smile to Jun Mochan’s face.
In the morning, when Ye Ranran woke up, she unsurprisingly saw Jun Mochan sitting on the balcony.
Today was her follow-up consultation; how could he not be there?
Ye Ranran pressed her lips together, lifted the quilt, and got out of bed.
After breakfast, Jun Mochan accompanied Ye Ranran to the hospital.
"Your recovery is going well." The doctor inspected Ye Ranran’s wound and said, "When you go home, apply the medicated cream again, remember to avoid sour, spicy, and stimulating foods before the wound is completely healed. You also need to eat more nutrient-rich foods, your body is far too frail."
Jun Mochan listened attentively at her side, nodding intermittently.
"I’ll find a nutritionist for you when we get back to help you improve your physical strength," Jun Mochan said after they left the examination room.
"Actually, I’m in better health than the doctor describes," Ye Ranran reassured him as she put on her hat again.
Until the wound had scabbed and her hair fully grown, she would have to keep her head covered.
Jun Mochan didn’t acknowledge what she said, he just helped her adjust her hat. Just as Ye Ranran was considering how to convince him, a soft voice came from the side: "Ranran?"
Ranran turned her head and saw her mother’s kind face. On her left was Ye Tianjiao, on her right, her father, and Gao Han was standing behind them.
Everyone except Ye Tianjing was there.
The scene had all the makings of a happy family.
Naturally, they were a happy family. She was the only discordant note, the only unstable factor in this household.
Ye Ranran’s fists involuntarily clenched, her nails piercing the palms of her hand to the point of pain.
"Ranran, what are you doing here? Did you come to see me?" Her mother approached a few steps, apparently oblivious to Ye Ranran’s dark expression, and looked at her.
Ye Ranran’s smile did not reach her eyes: "No, I’m just unfortunate enough to have run into you."
"Oh, my fall had nothing to do with you, don’t feel guilty. I’m not blaming you," her mother said in an even tone with nary a trace of accusation.
But her words were indeed the ultimate reproach, because even if she didn’t blame Ye Ranran, it didn’t mean that Ye Ranran hadn’t done anything.
Rather, her words would lead others to misunderstand that Ye Ranran was the one who had pushed her down, and she was just too generous to fuss about it.
"Mom, why are you defending her? Everyone knows she was the one who..."
Her mother sternly cut off Ye Tianjiao mid-sentence: "Enough, Tianjiao. Ranran is your sister, how could you speak to her like that?"
Ye Tianjiao looked disgruntled but said no more.
Ye Ranran watched the family drama play out before her with a look of ridicule: "Not bad, the acting is on point."
Finally, she nodded approvingly.
"Ye Ranran, how dare you speak like that? Is that how you show respect to your mother? What did I teach you?" Her father pointed at her in frustration.
Ye Ranran’s smile became even brighter, yet it did not reach her eyes: "Dad, as you gave me life, I’m willing to call you ’Dad’. But my mother is dead, how can you expect me to accept your mistress as my mother?"