When they first learned that Old Eight had been in a car crash, everyone was terrified.
Fortunately, the old lady said his injuries were not serious, just some flesh wounds on both hands.
Third Madam usually scolded her son fiercely, but the moment something really happened to him, this mother’s heart burned with anxiety and worry.
Their eldest son had also said the injuries were light, yet if they were truly light, why had Old Eight stayed in hospital so long?
The couple had followed the old lady and rushed to the hospital at dawn to see him.
Big Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law had heard too and were already on their way.
After venting her anger, the old lady finally released Zhan Yue’s ears.
Zhan Yue looked resentfully at his brothers standing far off, at Big Brother, and at his butler. Why had none of them called to warn him?
Because of them, he had opened his eyes to Grandma and nearly had a heart attack.
“Grandma, Dad, Mum, I just didn’t want you to worry. Besides, it’s really nothing. My hands were cut by the windscreen and bled a bit, but no bones were broken.”
“They’re almost completely healed now.”
As he spoke, Zhan Yue rubbed the ears that Grandma had twisted.
She had looked fierce, but in truth she had only used real force at the very beginning to give him a sharp sting. Afterwards it was mostly for show.
Third Madam swatted him twice and said, “Nothing? Then why stay in hospital so long?”
“You rotten boy, you get into a car accident and don’t tell the family. What if… your dad and I didn’t even get to see you one last time.”
“Pah, pah, auspicious words only!”
After saying that, Third Madam spat twice herself and hurriedly repeated, “Great fortune and great luck!”
The Zhan family ancestors were powerful and would protect their descendants, keeping them safe and healthy.
“Grandma, Dad, Mum, I’m sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have hidden it from you.”
Zhan Yue knew when to yield and apologised quickly, lest his mother really started twisting his ears herself.
Why did all the women in their family love pinching ears?
“But honestly, I’m fine. If there had been anything serious, Big Brother wouldn’t have helped me hide it. He was the one who told me to stay in hospital.”
“Big Brother wasn’t reassured, so he had me admitted for a few extra days of observation. Once my hands improve, I’ll be discharged.”
He and Zeng Xiaoya had not even exchanged a single stroke of the character for eight yet. Zhan Yue instinctively protected her and did not dare let the elders know he was lingering in hospital because of her.
In any case, when he was first admitted, it really had been Big Brother who insisted he stay.
So he was not wronging Big Brother by saying this.
Hearing Old Eight’s words, Zhan Yin did not deny them. He walked over and admitted frankly, “When Old Eight was brought in after the crash, his face was pale, he had hardly any colour, and his clothes were soaked with blood. He looked badly injured.”
“So I had him admitted. After a full check-up confirmed there were no internal injuries, I still wasn’t completely at ease, so I kept him here a few more days for observation.”
Zhan Yin’s gaze fell on Zhan Yue’s hands, still wrapped in gauze. “His hands are wounded. Even if he were discharged he couldn’t work, so he might as well stay in hospital.”
“Every few days the medical staff change his dressings, and he can rest properly. If he went home, who knows whether he’d stay put for even a few hours?”
Because Zhan Yue was hospitalised, even someone as sharp as the old lady could not imagine the real reason he refused to leave.
After hearing Zhan Yin’s explanation, the old lady said, “Let Grandma see your hands.”
Zhan Yue held out both hands for her to inspect.
The old lady carefully examined one hand, then the other. She could smell the medicine and asked, “Really no bones broken?”
“No, but the cuts were deep. You could see bone.”
“And there’s more than one wound, so full recovery will take time.”
Zhan Yue lied.
In truth, the stitches had been removed and the wounds were nearly healed.
But they were still covered with gauze and medicated, so Grandma could not see the actual state of them. Whatever he said, she had no reason to doubt him.
Third Madam also checked thoroughly. She even pinched lightly, and Zhan Yue pretended it hurt terribly.
“Mum, do you want me to stay another fortnight?”
Third Madam released his hand. “It really hurts? I thought they were almost better.”
