Could she be so easily persuaded to return?

Guan Hue’e thought it unlikely.

If Yuan Han’s sweet talk meant more to her than Zhou Yi’s life, Guan Hue’e didn’t know what to say!

Zhou Cheng suddenly thought of Song Minglan:

“Has Uncle considered arranging for Zhou Yi to continue studying abroad, or work in another city?”

Wasn’t that what the Song family did with Song Minglan?

Though Zhou Yi’s academic credentials weren’t sufficient, she didn’t need to attend a particularly prestigious university. Using workplace connections to study abroad on public funding, even for just a year, would test how much feeling remained between her and Yuan Han!

It wouldn’t work while they were still close, as Zhou Yi wouldn’t bear to separate.

But now that there was discord between her and Yuan Han, it was the perfect time to send Zhou Yi abroad. After a year away, the Zhou family wouldn’t even need to intervene – Zhou Yi might lose interest in Yuan Han on her own.

Guan Hue’e’s interest was piqued, “That’s worth discussing with your uncle.”

However, it wasn’t an immediate concern. After Zhou Yi’s cesarean section and post-delivery shock requiring emergency treatment, it would take two to three months just to recover. Postpartum ailments, if not properly treated, could become lifelong conditions.

No matter how angry Zhou Yi made them, no one in the Zhou family wanted her to suffer a chronic illness.

Zhou Cheng was just making a suggestion – whether to implement it would depend on Zhou Wenbing and Jiang Hong’s wishes.

Zhou Cheng learned about Zhou Yi’s difficult delivery even before Grandmother Zhou. Since Zhou Yi had knelt at their doorstep with Yuan Han, Grandmother Zhou hadn’t seen her granddaughter. The elderly couple hadn’t attended Zhou Yi’s wedding banquet, and when Zhou Yi later tried to visit them, she wasn’t allowed in.

Hearing that Zhou Yi had nearly lost her life softened Grandmother Zhou’s heart.

At home, she fidgeted restlessly, until Grandfather’s eyes hurt from watching her:

“You want to visit her at the hospital?”

The old lady looked sheepish. The old man snorted, “Go if you want to, but I’m not going!”

When one refuses to live a good life and insists on making trouble, they must bear the consequences.

If Zhou Yi realized from this incident that the Yuan family didn’t truly care for her and cleared her head, the old man would recognize her as his granddaughter again. But if even a brush with death couldn’t wake her up, then that’s how the rest of her life would be.

Grandmother Zhou quickly said she wouldn’t go, but while Grandfather Zhou was out fishing with old friends, she secretly went to the hospital.

She didn’t enter the ward, just spoke with Jiang Hong at the door:

“If your father knows I came, he’ll surely be angry. I won’t go in, but take this money to buy her some things for recovery.”

Grandmother Zhou had given part of her savings to Xia Xiaolan and now split the remainder in half, pressing a bankbook into Jiang Hong’s hands.

Jiang Hong’s eyes reddened, “Mom, we can’t take your money. Wenbing and I have enough. It’s my fault for giving birth to this debt collector, making you worry too.”

The medical treatment was free.

However nutritional supplements would need to be purchased.

Grandmother Zhou couldn’t understand why Zhou Yi had such a difficult delivery, wondering if it was due to financial constraints during pregnancy. The money was meant for Zhou Yi anyway, so giving it now made sense. She insisted that Jiang Hong accept it.

After forcing Jiang Hong to take the bankbook, the old lady looked around:

“I don’t see the Yuan family. Where’s the baby?”

Jiang Hong wiped her eyes and laughed coldly, “The Yuan family doesn’t dare come. Only Yuan Han runs back and forth several times a day. It’s irritating just seeing him. How dare he refuse to sign for the surgery? Thankfully Zhou Yi survived. If anything had happened, I would have made the entire Yuan family pay with their lives!”

The baby was being cared for at the hospital. Jiang Hong didn’t want to care for it personally, and Zhou Yi was too weak – she still hadn’t produced any milk, so the baby hadn’t even had a single feeding from its mother.

Zhou Yi herself didn’t mention it, and Jiang Hong was even less inclined to bond with the child.

Grandmother Zhou wanted to say that Yuan Han wouldn’t dare save her, that there might be some misunderstanding… but the old lady would have to be crazy to speak well of Yuan Han, preferring instead to criticize him further.

“Shh, keep your voice down, don’t let Zhou Yi hear. And don’t tell her I came.”

Zhou Yi had already heard everything.

She was pretending to sleep – she had to, as being awake would be too awkward.

One by one, Zhou family members who had previously ignored her were now coming to see her, showing concern, cursing the Yuan family. While Zhou Yi was touched, she also felt extremely uncomfortable.

Zhou Yi knew why the Yuan family didn’t dare visit.

Yuan Han’s nephew had scared her with a rat, triggering early labor – his sister certainly wouldn’t dare come.

Her mother-in-law had despised her for not having a son and losing face, then accused her of being delicate for needing a cesarean section. She had refused to consent to the surgery, nearly sending Zhou Yi to meet the King of Hell – how could she show her face now?

As for Yuan Han… Zhou Yi couldn’t understand why he hadn’t signed immediately.

Was it a lack of medical knowledge, or had his previous kindness all been fake? When faced with choosing between his mother and wife, was his first reaction to listen to his mother rather than attend to his wife’s needs?

Zhou Yi hadn’t voiced any of these thoughts.

She had fallen out with her entire family to marry Yuan Han, making her mother prefer to raise dogs rather than deal with her, yet in Yuan Han’s heart, she wasn’t the most important?!

Thinking of dogs, Zhou Yi started.

During her two days in the hospital, Jiang Hong had stayed constantly by her side, and Zhou Wenbing had kept watch for an entire day before having to return to work today.

In two days, Jiang Hong hadn’t mentioned a single word about how the Pekinese were doing.

…

When Zhou Cheng learned of Zhou Yi’s difficult delivery, it meant Xia Xiaolan knew too.

Xia Xiaolan had been interning at the law firm for three days, engaging in a battle of wits with Matthew. They maintained a peaceful coexistence most of the time, and Matthew had found ways to demonstrate his abilities in front of Grey. However, when it came to “competing for favor,” their rivalry intensified.

Peace overall, with localized conflicts.

Grey had assigned them a week’s worth of work, which they completed in three days.

Xia Xiaolan finally had time to call Zhou Cheng. She had intended to talk about Grey’s approval, but after hearing about Zhou Yi, she sighed: “She still won’t break it off after this?”

She had originally decided not to get involved in Zhou Yi’s affairs, but hearing that Zhou Yi had nearly died, Xia Xialan felt this punishment might be enough!

In the face of death, other matters seemed trivial.

“You’re suggesting bringing Sister Zhou Yi abroad?”

Xia Xiaolan wondered what Zhou Yi could do overseas.

She wouldn’t even pass the language barrier.

Without passing the language barrier, many things would be difficult. Both study and work would require Zhou Yi to speak English, and since going abroad meant America, Xia Xiaolan had some understanding of the situation there.

“I suggested it to Uncle, but I don’t know what he thinks. Let’s wait until Zhou Yi recovers.”

Xia Xiaolan thought about how desperately Yuan Han had wanted to marry, even selling antiques. “I’m afraid Yuan Han won’t agree. He finally got hold of Sister Zhou Yi, and if he divorced a second time, no woman with any family background would fall for his tricks again. His sunk costs in losing Zhou Yi would be too high – do you think he’ll let go? I’m sure Yuan Han is trying everything to appease Zhou Yi right now. We need to stop Yuan Han while also giving Sister Zhou Yi a strong dose of medicine… Has Uncle found Yuan Han’s ex-wife?”