Yuan Man returned and diagnosed Zeng Jingchu, saying, as Tian Jing had mentioned, "Let's rebreak and reset it. Fortunately, it's only been over two months. This time, you must let it heal for a full hundred days. You'll stay here."
Zeng Jingchu looked at Tian Jing. "Sweetie, could you help me rent a place and hire a nanny?"
Tian Jing shook her head. "I'm not getting involved. Ask Zeng Jingliang to help you; he's not completely useless." With that, Tian Jing left the clinic and drove away.
Yuan Man sized up Zeng Jingchu. "Did you upset Captain Tian?"
Zeng Jingchu shook his head.
Seeing his nephew and Zeng Jingchu both looking bewildered, Dr. Yang sighed. "Tian Jing is clearly angry at Zeng Jingchu's foolishness. A big boss who was once looked up to by the villagers in Kushan actually broke his leg abroad."
"And now he's acting all disheartened, like he's seen through the world. If your leg hadn't already been broken, Tian Jing would have personally rebroken it for you."
"If it weren't for the fact that rebreaking it is a technical job, she would have had Tian Jing break your leg to vent her anger. Alas!"
Yuan Man was speechless.
Zeng Jingchu was also speechless.
Tian Jing parked her car and took out her phone, just as Zeng Jingrong called. "What's Zeng Jingchu's situation?"
Tian Jing replied irritably, "His leg is broken, and he's like a living dead man."
Zeng Jingrong sounded anxious and worried. "I'll go see him."
Tian Jing was indifferent. "Suit yourself. I've dumped him on Yuan Man."
"Oh, and he wants a nanny and a place to rent. You and Zeng Jingliang can sort it out for him. He's a total mess right now, and I don't want to see him."
Zeng Jingrong grew more concerned. "I'm coming over right now."
...
Zeng Jingrong arrived alone and his eyes reddened upon seeing Zeng Jingchu. "Why didn't you contact me? Why didn't you reveal my identity?"
Zeng Jingchu just offered a wry smile and said nothing.
Zeng Jingrong examined him carefully. "Didn't Sweetie say your leg was broken?"
Zeng Jingchu nodded. "They're going to rebreak and reset it tomorrow."
Seeing that Zeng Jingchu didn't want to elaborate, Zeng Jingrong didn't press further. "I'll go rent a place for you in the village and find you a nanny."
Zeng Jingchu thanked him.
Zeng Jingrong gave him a sidelong glance. "I know you need time, but you can't push us brothers apart."
Zeng Jingchu apologized again. "I'm sorry."
Zeng Jingrong lost his temper. No wonder Tian Jing didn't want to see Jingchu; he didn't want to see him either.
The only house available for rent in the village belonged to the Li family.
Zeng Jingrong went to find Tian Jing.
Tian Jing threw him the key to her small Western-style house. "Don't mention rent to me, or I'll lose my temper."
Zeng Jingrong knew Tian Jing didn't care about the money and left with the key.
...
The prefabricated roof of the back courtyard bathroom was sealed. The purchased items would have to wait for the walls to dry further before hanging.
However, the water pipes, faucet, wires, and lights were all installed. Li Weibai saw off Brother Niu and Lin Sirai. Tian Jing also thanked Brother Niu and Lin Sirai for their help.
The two repeatedly waved their hands, saying it was a small matter and not worth mentioning.
After seeing them off and returning to the living room, Li Weibai noticed his mother seemed unhappy and asked her what was wrong. Tian Jing told her second son about Zeng Jingchu's situation.
Li Weibai called Yu Ziyu from the kitchen to go to the clinic with him to see Zeng Jingchu.
Upon seeing Zeng Jingchu, Yu Ziyu's surprise was different. "He looks so much like Yuan Yuan's dad!"
"Silly," Li Weibai said dotingly. "This is Yuan Yuan's biological uncle."
"Oh, then I should call him little uncle, right?"
"Yes."
Yu Ziyu looked at Zeng Jingchu again. "He looks like he's wilting. If I call him, will he give me a red envelope?"
"Are you obsessed with money?"
"No, I just don't want to call someone who has lost all will to live."
The two continued their conversation as if no one else was there, while Zeng Jingchu remained emotionless.
Li Weibai took out his phone and called his elder brother.
Li Weihao was watching Li Wanting, Ji Qing, and Ji Xiang playing when he received his younger brother's call and felt surprised. "Why are you calling me when you're not busy?"
Li Weibai glanced at the dispirited Zeng Jingchu. "I want to find Li Wanting. Actually, I want to find Ji Xiang."
Li Weihao understood. "Little uncle is back?"
"Yes, I want Ji Xiang to talk to him."
"Perfect. I'm right here, just wait a moment."
Li Weihao called out to the three playing. "Ji Xiang, there's a phone call for you!"
Ji Xiang was startled, then ran to Li Weihao. "Is it Dad?"
Li Weihao nodded. "It's the new dad."
Ji Xiang was confused. "Do I have two dads?"
"Yes, I'll ask you to call him dad in a moment. You must behave."
"Okay."
Li Weibai, hearing the conversation on the other end, twitched his mouth. His eldest brother was really good at coaxing children.
"Hello?"
A childish male voice came from the receiver.
Li Weibai put the phone on speaker. "Ji Xiang."
"It's me."
"Your new dad is hurt and unhappy. Do you want to comfort him?"
"Okay," Ji Xiang agreed reluctantly. "New dad, does it hurt? If it hurts, call Fourth Uncle to blow on it, and it won't hurt. I can't come home yet, but when I do, I'll come see you. Don't cry, okay? Crying isn't brave."
As soon as the speakerphone was activated, a childish male voice came through. Zeng Jingchu turned his head to look. Hearing such a long speech and the child comforting him, tears involuntarily streamed down his face.
He asked Li Weibai, "Who is he?"
Li Weibai nodded at him.
Then, Zeng Jingchu suddenly reached out and snatched Li Weibai's phone. "Ji Xiang, I, I am Dad."
Ji Qing was stunned by Zeng Jingchu's voice, then retorted, "You're not Dad, you're the new dad."
Zeng Jingchu wanted to correct him again, but Li Weibai placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. He could only agree. "Yes, I'm the new dad. When will you come to see Dad?"
Ji Xiang mimicked adults comforting children with an open-ended promise. "Very soon, very soon. You be good and listen, and I'll come see you soon."
Zeng Jingchu's tears kept flowing. "Okay, Dad will be good and listen. Dad will wait for you to come back."
After comforting him, Ji Xiang withdrew. "Okay, new dad, I'm going to play with my brother now."
"Okay, goodbye."
"Bye-bye."
Someone else took the phone on the other end. "Little uncle."
"Hao Hao?"
"Yes, are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"Since you're back, I'll ask the captain later if No. 2 can take Ji Xiang back."
"Why No. 2?" Zeng Jingchu desperately wanted to see his son right now.
In his memory, his son was just a life, the future heir of the Zeng family. His heart was filled with darkness, all the coldness from being deceived by the woman he loved. However, the childish voice from the phone immediately tugged at his heartstrings. And that mature tone, the thoughtful comforting words, made a sliver of warmth rise in his cold heart.
"No. 2 is for Lili's wedding, we'll all be going back."
Zeng Jingchu froze completely, then shouted towards the pharmacy, "Yuan Man, Yuan Man!"
Yuan Man, who was preparing medicine, poked his head out of the pharmacy. "What is it?"
Zeng Jingchu was a little incoherent. "I'm not breaking my leg tomorrow. I mean, I want to wait until the 3rd to break and reset it."
Yuan Man came out of the pharmacy. "You can, but you can't walk. You can stand occasionally, but try to sit as much as possible and don't put any pressure on your leg."
Zeng Jingchu nodded. "Okay, okay, I'll remember." He then said into the phone to Li Weihao, "You must bring Ji Xiang back."
"I'll try my best."
Li Weihao, though unaware of Zeng Jingchu's situation, could hear his excitement. Moreover, he heard Zeng Jingchu mention breaking his leg and resetting it. He figured that the past two years must have been filled with many unpleasant experiences.
After hanging up the phone, Zeng Jingchu asked Li Weibai to carry him to the siheyuan.
Li Weibai stepped back. "My mom is unhappy."
"I know." Zeng Jingchu nodded. "I'll apologize to her and thank her. She has taught Ji Xiang very well."
Li Weibai stepped back again. "My mom didn't teach Ji Xiang. Ji Xiang and Ji Qing were raised by their cousin and his wife. Ji Xiang even calls my mom 'Little Aunt-in-law' after Ji Qing."
Zeng Jingchu paused for a moment, then beckoned to Li Weibai. "We'll work on the titles slowly later."
"Even though your mom didn't teach Ji Xiang, she allowed Ji Xiang to grow up in a healthy family. I still need to thank her."
"Hurry up and carry me, or I'll walk by myself."