Before he died, my grandfather forced me to marry the richest man in the capital.

Thursday.

Su Xue wanted to ask Tang Junyao to have dinner at the base again. It wasn't that she was particularly looking forward to the food at the base—after all, she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth—but she especially liked the feeling of the three of them plus the two little ones eating together.

Just do it.

During lunchtime, Su Xue sent a message to Tang Junyao, but an hour later there was still no reply, like a pebble thrown into a lake that didn't produce any reaction.

While resting in the consultation room, Su Xue began to wonder, muttering to herself, "This shouldn't be the case. Yao Yao should be very free at this time. Why isn't she replying to my messages? What's going on?"

Su Xue has a heavy responsibility, carrying her brother's mission every day, and spending all her time with Guo Guo except when she's at work.

Sitting across from her, Han Guoguo rubbed her belly, a habit she'd recently developed, as if touching it would make it grow bigger. "Why don't you call and ask? Just in case something's wrong. Ugh, what am I talking about? It's definitely nothing, maybe just a bit busy today."

Su Xue was also quite worried. When someone you often contact suddenly goes silent, you start to overthink. "I'll ask around."

She took out her phone and started making a call. The call went through, but was immediately disconnected. Su Xue tried to call again, but was disconnected again.

Su Xue stared in disbelief at the series of disconnected calls, her eyes wide. "Did Yao Yao's phone get stolen? Why does it keep getting hung up on? If it wasn't stolen, I suspect she wants to break up with me. This is so strange, this is the first time something like this has happened."

Su Xue fell into deep thought, a series of question marks floating above her head.

Guoguo shook her head in disagreement, placed her hands on her stomach, stretched out her legs, and sat however was most comfortable. "How could that be? Didn't you say that your bodyguards could take down Yaoyao one by one? There's no way a thief would be so desperate."

After listening to Guoguo's analysis, Su Xue felt that it made sense. Stealing a phone from her best friend's bag might result in having her wrist broken. She shrugged, indicating that she was also confused.

Half an hour later, Tang Junyao returned the call. Tomorrow was her godmother's surgery, and she was listening to some seniors discuss the surgery. So she hung up on Su Xue.

Su Xue's phone on the table vibrated and spun around. She reached out and pressed it, sliding the answer and speakerphone buttons. "What are you doing? If you disappear for another half hour, I'm thinking of calling the police."

Tang Junyao wasn't planning on arguing with Su Xue today. "It's nothing, I just had something to do, discussing the illness with them. Did you need something?"

Su Xue is a bit careless; sometimes she acts faster than she thinks and speaks without grasping the main point. However, when it comes to serious matters, she considers things very carefully. For example, when Yao Yao hung up on her several times, she started to think about it more deeply.

Having spent a lot of time with Tang Junyao, she could sense her best friend's emotions, whether she could keep up with the conversation or how she responded. Right now, her best friend was definitely in a bad mood. "Is something wrong?"

Tang Junyao lied, not wanting Su Xue to worry, "It's nothing, what could possibly happen to me?"

If it were any other day, Tang Junyao would say, "You just want something to happen to me, right? Can't you wish me something good?"

The lines were wrong, and Su Xue became even more certain, repeating, "What do you need?"

Since the two sentences were exactly the same, Tang Junyao naturally knew she couldn't hide it from Su Xue. "Okay, there is something. My godmother is sick and has surgery tomorrow. I was just listening to them discussing the surgery."

Su Xue stood up, immediately becoming agitated. "You! I knew something was wrong. Do you think I couldn't tell if something was wrong or not? A serious illness?"

After a moment of silence, Tang Junyao's muffled voice came from the other end of the phone, "Yes, mid-stage stomach cancer."

Han Guoguo heard everything through the speaker, gasped, and became extremely nervous. She clasped her hands together and gestured with her chin to signal Su Xue to come back to her senses and speak.

Su Xue was also shocked by this sudden accident and didn't react in time. She couldn't describe the feeling in her heart. She knew too well how important Aunt Zhang was to Yao Yao. She adjusted her breathing so as not to let her emotions affect her best friend. "Yao Yao, don't think too much about it. It's okay. Your godmother is such a good person. She will definitely recover. What time is the surgery tomorrow?"

Tang Junyao didn't want them to worry, so she deliberately didn't say anything. "It's tomorrow morning, you don't need to come. Hancheng and the others will be with you. Also, you must keep Guoguo away. Don't let her know she's pregnant. Don't let her worry about it."

Su Xue: It's too late, I already know.

Han Guoguo shook her head at Su Xue, signaling her to lie. Su Xue understood and quickly agreed, "I know, I won't tell Guoguo. Don't worry."

"it is good."

After exchanging a few more words, Su Xue hung up the phone. The pleasant atmosphere in the office had vanished, and both of them were filled with complicated thoughts and worries.

Han Guoguo spoke first, "What should we do if we have to go to work tomorrow? I'd like to go and keep Yao Yao company. I think Yao Yao must be very worried and sad right now, but she just hasn't shown it."

Su Xue thought about it and realized that taking leave was not very realistic, since it was only the first day of work. "I'll call Xiao Nan."

I quickly picked up my phone and dialed Xiao Nan Nan's number. "Xiao Nan Nan, are you busy at the company tomorrow? Good morning."

Lu Jinnan on the other end of the phone sounded incredibly greasy. "How can you talk like that? Honey, even if you're busy, you'll have time. Tell me, honey, what do you want to do?"

Even through the screen and across the distance, Han Guoguo could hear the greasy voice on the phone. She got goosebumps all over her body and couldn't bear to watch.

I was debating whether to ask Su Yu to go check on things tomorrow, but I decided to ask him tonight first.

Su Xue recounted what had just happened over the phone. Lu Jinnan, who had previously been carefree and irresponsible, became serious and spoke normally. "Don't worry, I'll go tomorrow. You can go to work without worry, I'm here for you."

With me by your side, this is the life that so many girls dream of, having a man supporting them from behind.

Early the next morning.

Two minutes after Aunt Zhang entered the operating room, three people entered one after another. The three men walked in side by side. If you didn't know them, you would think they were there to visit patients at the base.

The atmosphere and occasion were inappropriate, so Lu Jinnan didn't dress flashy. He opted for a rare simple outfit: jeans and a white shiny down jacket, which was quite normal.

Han Yue was dressed simply in a long black down jacket and jeans, while Su Yu wore a sweater and a gray coat.

Three men stood beside Ji Hancheng, who was wearing a black overcoat. Lu Jinnan spoke first, "Are we still brothers? Your sister-in-law's godmother is sick, such a big thing, and you didn't even tell her."

Han Yue didn't say anything, he just stood there, looked up at the operating room, and took a picture of Xiao Xi, probably to report it.

Su Yu walked up to Tang Junyao, glanced at her, and before she could ask, said, "Guoguo knows and is worried about you. She instructed me last night to come in her place."

Looking at the three men in front of him, Ji Hancheng smiled, a slight tremor in his heart. He simply said, "Thanks."

Tang Junyao was deeply moved, but she didn't know where to begin expressing her gratitude. All she could say was "thank you," "Brother Su Yu, thank you, and thank you all."

Su Yu didn't say much, and he wasn't lying; it really was Guo Guo's instruction. He quietly sat down in the chair, and Han Yue also sat down, chatting with Xi Xi on his phone: "Just went in."

Xi Xi: Tell me when the surgery is over, okay? Did your sister cry?

This is a difficult question to answer. He glanced at Tang Junyao out of the corner of his eye: No, she's fine. She's a doctor.

Xi Xi: Okay, thank you for your hard work, Yue Ge.

Han Yue: Pay attention in class.

Xi Xi: OK.

Su Yu, wearing the same hairstyle, also sent a message with his hair down: "Guoguo, I'm at the hospital. My older brother and Lu Jinnan are here with me. There are quite a few people with me, so you can go to work without worry. I'll let you know if there are any problems."

Compared to Han Yue, Su Yu's response was like a long essay, introducing everyone present and offering some words of comfort.

When Han Yue looked up, he saw Su Yu's chat interface. The screen wasn't covered by a privacy screen protector, and Han Yue, with his sharp eyes, could see it at a glance. He smiled and invited Lu Jinnan to sit down, "Your height is just like that, sit down for a while."

Lu Jinnan glared at Han Yue, then started to put his bottom on the chair. "Sister-in-law, Brother Cheng, sit down for a while. Don't be nervous, we'll just chat and the time will pass."

Lu Jinnan felt that everyone's tense emotions had been too oppressive and suffocating for several hours, and he wanted to ease everyone's tension.

Tang Junyao thought so too, and pulled Ji Hancheng to sit down next to Lu Jinnan and started chatting. Han Guoguo did not reply to Su Yu's message, probably because she was at work.

"Sister-in-law, this place is really nice."

Ji Hancheng: "You're welcome to come anytime."

Lu Jinnan: This is practically a hospital, so why are you cursing him?

Han Yue sat with his legs crossed, lazily propping his arms up on the back of the chair, with one hand on Su Yu's back, which looked like he was protecting him from a distance.

Ji Hancheng crossed his legs and, seeing Lu Jinnan's complicated expression, explained, "Don't misunderstand, I'm just inviting you to come and have fun. Don't get the wrong idea, I'm very kind."

This man actually claims to be kind; there's no one else like him.

Indeed, Lu Jinnan's actions eased the tense atmosphere, as his purpose in coming today was to help everyone relax.

A few hours later.

The operating room lights went out, and the people sitting in the chairs stopped talking. At the same time, they stood up and headed towards the operating room door.

Aunt Zhang was wheeled out; she was awake, but still somewhat dazed. The doctor told Tang Junyao, "The surgery was a success; take good care of yourself."

Tang Junyao expressed her gratitude and followed the nurse as she was wheeled to the best room to rest.

Aunt Zhang, lying in the hospital bed, was still drowsy from the anesthesia, but she could still make out Tang Junyao's face. She couldn't speak. Tang Junyao sat down next to Aunt Zhang, and all the men consciously withdrew, leaving the space to the mother and daughter.

After the door closed, Tang Junyao slowly spoke, letting out a sigh of relief, "Godmother, did you hear that? The surgery was very successful. With proper care, you'll fully recover, and the chance of recurrence is very small."

Aunt Zhang opened her mouth, but not a single word escaped from between her teeth. She could only blink to indicate that she understood, and she looked very tired.

Feeling like she had survived a disaster, Tang Junyao finally smiled, relieved.

She stayed by the bedside, unwilling to leave. Even after Aunt Zhang closed her tired eyes again, she still held Aunt Zhang's hand and noticed that it had many wrinkles.

I subconsciously raised my hand to smooth it out, but I couldn't erase the marks of time no matter what I did.