Knowing Huo Cheng's plan, Gu Sisi slowly curled up a maternal smile.
"So, my plan to match them up has a better chance now?" Gu Sisi was almost jumping up with excitement.
"Yes." Huo Cheng steadied her and continued to feed her soup. "Don't let go of my hand next time."
Gu Sisi slowly lowered her head. A hint of embarrassment spread over her. It was really embarrassing earlier.
Thankfully, Huo Cheng didn't bring it up again.
After a full meal, Gu Sisi looked blissful, covering her stomach as she lay in the bed.
"I think I should be discharged. I have to go to work tomorrow!" Gu Sisi thought that if she continued lying in bed for a few more days, she would surely gain weight.
"I've already asked for leave for you. Just focus on your recovery."
"But..." Gu Sisi watched as Huo Cheng was packing up the food containers with his back to her. She closed her mouth, feeling that she had no way to argue. Forget it, she thought. No point wasting energy on this.
She gently closed her eyes when a ringing sound came from beside her.
Gu Sisi reached out to answer it. Seeing that Huo Cheng hadn't left yet, she whispered, "You can go first!"
"Hello, Mom. What's up?" Gu Sisi asked, stealing a glance at Huo Cheng. To her surprise, he walked back and sat beside her bed.
It took a while before her mother replied, "It's okay, honey. Mom's fine."
Gu Sisi felt that her mother's tone was off. She quickly sat up and questioned, "Mom, did you and Dad have a fight? Don't be upset. Dad doesn't mean any harm. He's just like that."
Her mother hesitated for a second and denied it. "No, no. Mom and your dad didn't fight. Everything's okay."
"I don't believe it." Gu Sisi said firmly. After all, she had lived in this family for so long. If she couldn't tell that her mother's tone was off, she would be a fool.
"I just wanted to call you. Really, nothing's wrong. I just wanted to ask how you've been lately?" her mother said softly.
Gu Sisi glanced at Huo Cheng and frowned. She felt that something was getting weirder and weirder.
"I'm fine, Mom. How about you?"
"I see." Her mother seemed not to hear Gu Sisi's question and continued, "How's your relationship with Huo Cheng?"
Gu Sisi's eyebrows were almost knitted into a knot. She gritted her teeth and said, "Fine."
Seeing this, Huo Cheng reached out and rubbed her forehead.
"Mom, it's me." Huo Cheng took the phone and walked outside. Gu Sisi had no idea what he was saying.
Gu Sisi looked at him anxiously. Soon, he came back and handed the phone back to her.
"Mom?" Gu Sisi called out.
"Sisi, don't blame Mom. Your dad and I were still thinking about saving more for your dowry, but we didn't expect that we won't be able to support ourselves in the second half of our lives. Instead, we might become a burden to you."
There was full of self - blame on the other end of the phone.
Gu Sisi's heart ached. She still didn't understand what had happened.
Then came the voice, "Your dad and I have both been laid off."
"Ah?" Gu Sisi was shocked. She never in a million years thought such a thing would happen.
Her face turned pale. She quickly looked for her shoes. "Mom, don't worry. I'm on leave. I'll come back and have a look."
Without waiting for her mother's reply, Gu Sisi hung up the phone. She knew that her mother would definitely not agree.
After all, her parents had always wanted not to be a burden to their children and had tried to keep working. Now that they had suddenly lost their jobs, it must be a huge blow to them. She had to go and be with them.
"Do you want me to go with you?" Huo Cheng's steady voice rang out.
However, Gu Sisi shook her head. "No. My parents would be ashamed. They definitely don't want many people to know about this."
"Okay." Huo Cheng understood. "I'll send someone to take you there."
...
"Hey? Where is everyone?" Jiang Lihao came in with the supplements he had bought. He saw that the ward was empty. Only a nurse was making the bed.
"Do you know where the patient in this ward has gone?" Jiang Lihao grabbed the nurse and asked.
The nurse didn't even turn her head. "She left not long ago. She should be paying the bill."
Jiang Lihao dropped the things and ran. He just saw Huo Cheng's back. He continued to run. Finally, just as Huo Cheng got in the car and before it started, he knocked on the window.
The window slowly rolled down. Jiang Lihao quickly asked, "Where's sister - in - law? I just bought some things and left them in the ward."
"She's been discharged. Keep the things for yourself." Huo Cheng had also heard Gu Sisi's phone call. It was really strange that both of her parents were laid off at the same time. He was deep in thought.
Seeing that Huo Cheng seemed absent - minded, Jiang Lihao opened the car door and got in. Facing the bewildered driver, he said, "Let's go."
"What are you doing here?" Huo Cheng glanced at him from the corner of his eye.
Jiang Lihao took a deep breath. He pursed his lips, pointed at Huo Cheng, hesitated for a long time, and then suddenly let out a sigh. His imposing manner immediately faded.
"I helped you out today. If you don't treat me to a good meal, do you think you can live up to me?" There was even a hint of grievance and complaint in his tone.
Huo Cheng pondered for two seconds and then said, "Driver, turn around."
A cheer came from inside the car.
"Mom and Dad, you don't need to prepare so much." Looking at the table full of delicious dishes, Gu Sisi suddenly felt a bit regretful. Running back like this would only make her parents more exhausted.
They were already so sad.
"How can that be?" Her mother smiled and picked up a piece of food for Gu Sisi. "Our precious daughter is coming back. We must prepare the best for her."
"Right, Lao Gu?"
Receiving the hint, her father quickly picked up a chopstick of food for Gu Sisi too.
"Yes. How could you think we've prepared too much? We even think it's not enough."
On the phone, she could still hear the sad tone, but now there was not a trace of sadness. Gu Sisi felt that something was wrong.
So she just buried her head and ate.
"Daughter!" Her mother suddenly called out.
Gu Sisi looked over and saw that her parents were staring at her with bright eyes. Obviously, they had something to say.
Putting down her chopsticks, Gu Sisi nodded and said seriously, "Go ahead."
She was mentally prepared for whatever it was.
However...
"I heard from Huo Cheng that you two are going to get married. Why didn't you tell Mom and Dad? We could have prepared in advance." Her mother sighed. "Of course, we won't oppose your marriage. We know Huo Cheng is a good boy. You don't need to hide it from us. We're open - minded people."
... So that's what Huo Cheng had said on the phone that day. No wonder her mother mentioned the dowry later.
However, she really had forgotten to tell her parents about this. Mainly because she couldn't give them a specific time.
"No, Mom and Dad. We're still just in the initial discussion stage. We're not there yet." Gu Sisi had to make up an excuse.
"I can tell that Huo Cheng has this intention. It won't be long before this happens. You have to tell us so that we can prepare for you. After all, Mom and Dad are both experienced people." Her mother continued to nag. It was obvious that she was quite unhappy about not being told earlier.
Gu Sisi had no choice but to nod obediently. "Okay, Mom. Don't worry. I'm not crazy. I won't get married without telling you."
... However, as it turned out, she had indeed been crazy before.