Five years after being dumped, President Jiang became increasingly entangled in...

"Are you really planning to discharge her? Auntie's condition isn't good right now, and it wouldn't be the best option for her if she were discharged at this time."

When Qi Heng learned that Xu Chaoxi was going to take Su Mei home from the hospital, he rushed over anxiously.

"Thank you, Dr. Qi, but I want to take my mother somewhere else; staying here won't change anything."

She smiled and said to Qi Heng.

Jiang Jingsi couldn't give up. As long as she stayed here, she could only wait. Rather than endure it here, she might as well try in other cities.

"The doctor already told me that it's okay for me to transfer to another hospital."

Seeing that she had made up her mind, Qi Heng opened his mouth, hesitated for a moment, and then grasped her wrist.

"Come with me, I have something to tell you."

Xu Chaoxi followed him to the stairwell, not understanding why.

As soon as we reached the stairwell, I let go of her hand.

"I'm sorry, I may have been a bit abrupt, but... I don't want you to leave here. I think you should leave Auntie in this hospital so I can see you often."

"You often... see me?" Xu Chaoxi's mind went blank.

"Um."

The stairwell was dimly lit, making it difficult to see Qi Heng's expression, but even the slow-witted Xu Chaoxi noticed something—Qi Heng was confessing his feelings to her.

She never expected things to happen so suddenly, or even escalate to this point.

"Dr. Qi, I don't have any right now..."

"I know." Before she could refuse, Qi Heng interrupted her, "I know everything, Chaoxi."

He called her name for the first time.

He used to call her mostly "Mother Yi" or "Miss Xu".

This was the first time I had called her name seriously.

"I know you don't think that way, you're too busy taking care of yourself, but I want to take care of you, I want to take care of you and Yi Yi."

After a long pause, Xu Chaoxi pursed her lips and said hesitantly, "I'm sorry, Dr. Qi, I don't know how to reply to you, but I'm sure that I really don't want to think about relationships right now."

"I'm not forcing you to answer now. I just want to take care of you and Yi Yi. I hope you can give me a chance. I will wait until the day you are willing to do so."

Qi Heng pressed on relentlessly, his eyes full of sincerity.

But Xu Chaoxi really couldn't respond to him.

"sorry."

All she could say were those three words.

Qi Heng's expectation turned to understanding, followed by a bitter smile: "Is it because of Yi Yi's biological father?"

"It's not because of anyone." She knew what he meant, but she didn't refuse Qi Heng's request because of Jiang Jingsi.

"Dr. Qi, you've helped me so many times, and I'm truly grateful. But that's all. Once I've dealt with my current matters and have some free time, I'll thank you in return. But right now, I'm really overwhelmed and don't have the extra energy..."

She had no romantic feelings for Qi Heng and had no energy for dating.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Qi, I hope you won't bring this up again. You said we were friends, and I truly considered you a friend."

After saying that, she turned and left.

Watching her departing figure, Qi Heng felt a mix of emotions.

Seeing Xu Chaoxi enter the ward looking distracted, Su Mei chuckled and said, "What's wrong? Are you out of your mind?"

"No," Xu Chaoxi said, forcing a smile. "I was thinking about your transfer to another hospital."

"Stop hiding it, I know everything. How are things between you and Xiao Qi?" Su Mei asked with a happy expression.

Seeing her beaming face, Xu Chaoxi vaguely guessed what was going on and tentatively asked, "Mom, what do you know?"

"What could I possibly know? Xiao Qi likes you, that's all." Su Mei looked expectant. "Xiao Qi is a good person, hardworking, good-looking, and has a good job. He's a really good guy, and he happens to like you and doesn't mind that you're with Yi Yi. You should seize this opportunity; if you miss it, you'll never have another chance."

"Mom..." Xu Chaoxi sighed helplessly, "I didn't mean it that way, and I didn't agree to it."

"Why?" Su Mei was instantly taken aback. "How could you miss such a good opportunity?"

"Right now, because of you and Yi-yi, I don't have the energy to think about anything else. Where would I find the time to date? And where would I find the fortune to do so? Since Yi-yi came into my life, I have no plans to date again, let alone get married. You and Yi-yi are my everything. I don't want to let these trivial things distract me anymore. Mom, please don't bother me with these things anymore. I'm really busy, so busy I don't even have time to breathe. Please, okay?"

Her voice softened as she finished speaking.

Su Mei frowned, her eyes filled with self-reproach. After a long while, she stammered, "Xi Xi, Mom is sorry. Mom didn't know you would..."

"Mom, I know you mean well, but I really don't have the energy to think about these things. Let me focus on taking care of you and Yi-yi, okay?"

"I'm so sorry," Su Mei said, her face flushed with guilt. "Xi Xi, Mommy is so sorry. I've dragged you down."

"I didn't say that." Xu Chaoxi turned her face away. "I just didn't want to..."

"I know, I won't bring it up again," Su Mei quickly said.

She shouldn't have done that.

She didn't realize that she was putting so much pressure on Xu Chaoxi.

Yes, Xixi has already worked hard enough, and it's wrong of her to keep putting pressure on her.

Seeing this, Xu Chaoxi breathed a sigh of relief and got up to tidy up the things in the cabinet.

Having lived here for so long, and now suddenly having to leave, Xu Chaoxi felt very conflicted.

Watching the busy figure from behind, Su Mei felt a pang of heartache.

She really has been dragging Xixi down.

-

a few days later.

Jiang Jin quietly made a phone call to Jiang Jingsi.

"Congratulations, Si-ge, you're getting married soon."

"Get to the point." Jiang Jingsi was in a so-so mood and had no interest in joking with Jiang Jin.

"Of course, it's something very important. Xu Chaoxi handled her mother's discharge procedures from the hospital."

"Discharge procedures?" Jiang Jingsi's eyes sharpened instantly.

"Hmm." Jiang Jin boldly guessed, "I guess she didn't give up. She plans to transfer to another hospital, but she's withdrawing now and will re-register at the new hospital."

"When did this happen?"

"I informed you as quickly as possible today. I had so many things to do at the hospital that I didn't have time to attend to anything else, so I focused on reporting this matter to you."

Jiang Jingsi hummed in agreement, said "Thank you," and then hung up the phone.

After some thought, Jiang Jingsi gave Deng Xiao an internal call and asked him to investigate Xu Chaoxi's recent schedule.

"Pay special attention to whether she has any plans to leave the province or go abroad."

"Yes."

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Jingsi rubbed his temples, his mind filled with images of Yi Da crying.

What exactly is she planning to do? Run away with his daughter?