Su Man’s mother was stopped cold by a single sentence from her daughter.

“You only walked him to the elevator??” Su Man’s mother glared at Su Man with a look of utter helpless frustration. “Do you understand that if that man hadn’t stepped in today, your father might not be here right now?!”

Su Man’s father said sheepishly: “Well, I was resuscitated…”

Su Man’s mother spun around to glare at him: “Being resuscitated means you don’t need to be grateful?!”

Su Man’s father, in a small voice: “That’s not what I meant…”

“This child has been spoiled rotten by you! Not an ounce of basic social grace!” Su Man’s mother lectured sternly.

Su Man was used to being scolded. She picked at her ear and said: “He was the one who said not to bother walking him out…”

Su Man’s mother: “He was just being polite!”

Su Man had had enough and raised her voice: “Fine! I know! Next time, even if he says not to, I’ll shamelessly follow him all the way downstairs, escort him right to his door—will that do?!”

Su Man’s mother pointed at Su Man and said to her husband: “You see that temper? All your fault for spoiling her!”

Su Man pursed her lips and muttered: “Grandma and Grandpa both say that temper’s inherited from you.”

Su Man’s mother squeezed her eyes shut and waved a hand: “That’s enough. Don’t say another word. Get home. Come back early in the morning, and don’t forget to bring your father’s toothbrush and cup.”

“Mm,” Su Man replied, picking up her bag. “I’m going then.”

Su Man’s father had no desire to sit through any more of their bickering: “Go, go. Drive carefully. Watch yourself on the road.”

Su Man’s mother: “Make sure you tell Auntie Zhang—no pork or seafood for the next few days. Bring some vegetable porridge and plain steamed buns for breakfast tomorrow. Don’t forget.”

Auntie Zhang was the cooking aunt at their home.

“Got it.”

Su Man slung her bag over her shoulder and left.

……

Tonight, with Su Man’s father in the accident—and then the narrow escape—her emotions had swung wildly. Now, walking out of the ward, she felt both relief and a bone-deep exhaustion.

Her phone suddenly rang.

She pulled it out to look. It was Li Li calling. Her heart warmed at once.

——Li Li and she could practically be called childhood sweethearts. They had grown up together, and their parents had been close friends for decades.

Tonight, when she and her mother had heard about Su Man’s father’s accident, they had rushed out to the car in a panic. While reversing, she had accidentally scraped the railing, alarming the Li family next door. Li Li calling now was probably to ask about her father’s condition.

Su Man answered the call. Li Li’s voice came through:

“Man Man, are you two at the hospital?”

Mixed in with his voice were urging questions from Li Li’s parents:

“Ask how things look!”

“Ask if her father is in danger! Whether they need us to help find a doctor! And the person who caused the accident—have they caught them yet?!”

Li Li said in an irritated tone: “Can you just let me finish asking? I’m asking right now!”

Su Man held the phone, feeling a faint, small deflation…

It was Li Li’s parents who had asked him to call.

Su Man walked and replied in a low voice: “Dad’s injuries aren’t too bad. Nothing too serious. Just… the crash brought on a heart attack. Luckily a kind stranger happened to be there and got him to the hospital in time. He’s fine now.”

“Good, that’s a relief.” Li Li let out a breath, then said to his parents: “You heard? Everything’s fine. You can go to sleep now, can’t you?”

Li Li’s father’s voice carried over:

“So long as he’s safe, that’s what matters. But your father being in the hospital means you and your mother will have to work hard for a while. Man Man, whatever you need us to help with, just say the word.”

Su Man stepped into the elevator. “Mm, thank you, Uncle. I’m in the elevator now—I’ll hang up first.”

“All right, all right, you hang up. We’ll come visit your father at the hospital tomorrow…”

She could faintly hear Li Li saying in the background: “My award ceremony…”

Then the elevator cut the signal. The call dropped.

Su Man counted the numbers as they flashed past above the elevator door. The doors opened on the first floor. She walked out.

As she turned to head toward the exit, her gaze caught on something—Lu Yuwen, standing near the emergency department payment window, asking about something.

Su Man paused slightly.

Strange. Why was he still here?