My ex-boyfriend cheated on me with my sister, and I got married to him in a flash; he went crazy.

Liu Guixiang not only failed to get the bride price that day, but also lost her cleaning job at the hospital, which made her extremely angry.

She raised this daughter for so long, she can't let it all go to waste.

So, she came again today.

Meeting Pei Zhengping here was a pleasant surprise.

After all, discussing the bride price requires both sets of parents to sit down and have a proper talk.

Liu Guixiang shouted, "My daughter is beautiful and capable. Asking for a dowry of 500,000 yuan isn't unreasonable, is it? I've raised her with so much care; I can't just give her away to your family like this!"

Jiang Shutong came out upon hearing the noise and saw that her persistent mother had come again, which immediately gave her a headache.

She frowned and walked over. "Mom, why are you here again? Didn't I tell you? His family is very poor, living in a dirty and chaotic urban village. His father is a construction worker, a migrant worker. Where would they get any dowry?"

Pei Zhengping finally realized what was going on and quickly understood the shrew's intentions.

His brow furrowed, and an idea struck him.

He walked straight to the sofa and sat down, then sighed, "My dear in-laws, right? We really don't have any money. Look at these clothes I'm wearing, they were picked up from the garbage dump. I've worn them for years and I can't bear to throw them away. We usually eat pickled vegetables with white porridge, and we live in a tiny room in an urban village. There's barely any room to put our feet down."

"I go out to do odd jobs every day, and the hundred or two hundred yuan I earn isn't even enough for his younger brother to gamble. I have no choice; I love my youngest son the most, and I have to spend all my earnings on him."

"Now Yichen has had another accident, and I've already borrowed from all my relatives and friends. They won't even answer my calls now. How am I supposed to scrape together a dowry for you...?"

"Your daughter is beautiful and a good cook. To be honest, I'm quite satisfied with her. They've already registered their marriage, so let them live a good life. My son won't be able to stand up in the future, so she can take care of him after marrying into the family..." Pei Zhengping got carried away with his acting and became more and more enthusiastic as he spoke.

He had previously investigated Jiang Shutong's situation and knew that she had a mother who was determined to sell her daughter for personal gain, as well as her family's circumstances.

Liu Guixiang's face grew increasingly grim as she listened. Her voice, loud enough to shatter the ceiling, was shrill. "I understand now! So you're trying to get your daughter for free?"

After saying that, she immediately stepped forward and grabbed Jiang Shutong's arm, "Come on, come with me!"

Jiang Shutong shook off her hand, her face frighteningly calm. "I'm not leaving."

Liu Guixiang stared at her daughter in disbelief. "Are you stupid? Didn't you hear what they said? Their family just wants to marry you to take care of a paralyzed man who can't take care of himself, and they don't even want to give a bride price! Do you think they'll be grateful to you if you don't ask for a bride price? They'll just think you're a cheap, worthless piece of trash..."

Jiang Shutong looked at her coldly, "If you want a bride price, you can have my dowry first. I'll have them give you the bride price based on how much dowry you can afford."

Liu Guixiang's finger trembled with anger as she pointed at her. "You ungrateful wretch! I carried you for ten months, raised you with such hardship, and not only do you not give me a bride price, you even ask me for a dowry! Have you lost your conscience?"

"I've given you all my salary since graduation. I believe I've done my best for this family and have a clear conscience. But you know how you've treated your daughter all these years." Jiang Shutong opened the door and started to shoo her away. "Go away, and don't bother my husband while he's recovering again."

Liu Guixiang grumbled a few more times before reluctantly leaving when Jiang Shutong said she would call security.

The ward door closed again, and the once noisy ward finally returned to silence.

Feeling down after her mother's outburst, Jiang Shutong apologized, turned around, opened the door, and left.

The remaining father and son in the ward looked at each other in bewilderment.

Pei Zhengping was completely baffled. "I've described our family situation in such a terrible way, so why won't Jiang Shutong leave you? Is she really that devoted to you?"

Pei Yichen said coolly, "If you love acting so much, why don't you go act in short dramas?"

Pei Zhengping: ...

It's not impossible.

Pei Zhengping left in a hurry; he had a social engagement that evening.

Since Pei Yichen was injured and hospitalized, a lot of work has fallen on his shoulders.

Although there is a younger son in the family, he is a good-for-nothing and cannot be relied upon.

Pei Yichen stared at the text on the computer, but he couldn't concentrate.

Not only Pei Zhengping couldn't understand Jiang Shutong's actions, but he was also puzzled.

Could it be that she's really that devoted to him...?

Jiang Shutong took the elevator directly down to the first floor and went to the garden behind the inpatient department to enjoy the breeze.

A cool breeze carrying the faint scent of flowers and grass blew by, finally not the smell of disinfectant from the hospital.

It was evening, and occasionally a few caregivers pushed patients past.

Jiang Shutong found a white rattan chair and sat down. Light purple wisteria flowers were blooming next to her, and their gentle fragrance wafted over, soothing her restlessness.

A cold voice rang out, "Is this how you take care of patients—by leaving them in the ward?"

Jiang Shutong turned her head and saw Pei Yichen remotely controlling his electric wheelchair to stop in front of her.

"Sorry, I just wanted to come down for some fresh air. I saw your dad was here, so I came down..."

The man scoffed. "He's just here to laugh at me. You think he's here to take care of me?"

He just wanted to see if Jiang Shutong had left him, and then mock him for choosing an unreliable marriage partner.

Jiang Shutong: "Don't say that, he still cares about you."

She could still see concern for a son in Pei Zhengping's eyes, but she could never see a trace of love for her in her mother's eyes.

Pei Yichen stared intently at her. "Why don't you divorce me? Your mother is right. With your qualities, you can find other, more outstanding men..."

At least they are physically healthy.

Jiang Shutong didn't think too much about it. "We are husband and wife, husband and wife are one. You are injured and sick, so as your wife, I should naturally take on the responsibility of taking care of you."

Pei Yichen looked away, his voice low and cold, "It's fine if you don't get a divorce, but don't fall in love with me, or it will lead nowhere."