The Forty-Third Night (1)
Feng Jing hung up the phone and apologized to Jiang Ran. “My sister is in the hospital. I need to go see her now.”
“OK.” Jiang Ran followed him and asked, “What happened?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Do I need to go with you?”
As soon as she had said that, Jiang Ran frowned. Her question sounded like she couldn’t wait to see Feng Jing’s family so that she could be officially registered under his family’s name.1Meeting the parents implies they’d like to get married soon
“Don’t get the wrong idea, I just want to help you at the hospital—” Jiang Ran hurriedly explained herself before Feng Jing could do anything.
The man looked at her with an inexplicable expression. After a while, he offered her his hand with a smile. “Let’s go.”
Jiang Ran inwardly breathed a sigh of relief and accepted his gentle palm. “OK.”
“Woof, woof!” Seeing the two of them about to leave made Er Huang want to follow them. As Jiang Ran changed her shoes at the door, she shook her head and said, “No, Er Huang, you can’t come with us. I’ll be back soon. Be good and stay at home.
“Woof.” Er Huang wagged his tail and slouched on the ground.
❆
Feng Jing’s sister was admitted to the Central Hospital. Since Mi Xie Er was not available at the moment, they had to call a taxi. Fortunately, there were many cabs in this area, Jiang Ran stood at the curbside and quickly flagged down one.
They swiftly settled in the back seat. Jiang Ran looked to the front and said to the driver, “Please take us to Central Hospital. Hurry.”
“OK.” The driver looked at Feng Jing while starting the car, and asked Jiang Ran, “Is your boyfriend sick?”
“—” Jiang Ran looked at the black mask and cap the man beside her was wearing and nodded towards the driver. “Yep!”
Feng Jing: “—”
It was after work rush hour at this time so the roads were blocked for a while. After arriving at the hospital, Feng Jing gave the driver a hundred yuan bill and got out of the car without asking for change.
Jiang Ran followed him and quickly the two entered the hospital. Feng Jing’s mother told him the number of the inpatient ward while they were on their way. So, at this moment, the pair were running as fast as the wind and straight towards the said location. One reason was they were worried about his sister’s condition, another the fear of someone recognizing Feng Jing.
Feng Ya was on the top floor in her own separate ward. There were significantly fewer patients on the top floor than on the lower floors, and the environment was much better. After finding the room, Feng Jing knocked twice on the door and strode right into the room.
“Mom, how’s Sister?”
The only people in the room were Mother Feng and Feng Ya. Feng Jing was quite tall, so he was able to see over his mother’s head and notice the cast on his sister’s legs.
“What happened to you? Car accident?”
Mother Feng replied, “She fell down from the stairs. Fortunately, she didn’t hurt her head. She only broke her leg,” she said before adding, “But even though her head wasn’t hurt, it’s still in the same state.”2Meaning Feng Ya was still the fool
Feng Ya: “—”
“Why did you randomly fall down the stairs?” Feng Jing looked around, and his frown deepened. “Why didn’t my brother-in-law stay with you?”
Mother Feng said, “He’s the one who pushed your sister down.”
“Mom, I told you that it was unintentional—” Feng Ya had more to say but her voice grew softer and softer before finally disappearing under her mother’s gaze.
[MamaGoose: Dear readers, if you’re ever in such a situation… NO. Remember it isn’t your fault the abuser is a piece of shit, and it’s not okay to be thrown around like that. And inform people if you can, seek help ASAP.]
Jiang Ran came in with Feng Jing together, but up until now, no one had noticed her. When Feng Ya saw her at this moment, it was just like she was grabbing a life-saving straw. “Oh wow, who is this beautiful young lady? Why don’t you introduce her?”
When Mother Feng heard her words, she also turned around. After seeing Jiang Ran, who was behind Feng Jing, her gaze turned curious.
Jiang Ran suddenly became nervous under both of their gazes. Feng Jing let out a dry cough and embraced Jiang Ran’s shoulder as if to encourage her as he said, “This is my girlfriend, Jiang Ran.”
As soon as the word “girlfriend” fell, both mother and daughter spaced out for a while. Finally, it was Feng Ya who shouted first. “Wow, when did you get yourself a girlfriend?! You hid that fact so tightly?!”
“Ahem, it hasn’t been that long. It happened last month.”
Mother Feng didn’t speak, but her eyes remained trained on Jiang Ran. Her shoulder-length tawny hair looked soft, the camel sweater matched her suede skirt and was complemented by her caramel coat. Her style was proper but not rigid. As for her face, that’s the type her son liked.
“Hello, Auntie. Hi, Elder Sister.” Because Feng Jing was beside her, it gave Jiang Ran a little courage to greet them with a smile.
“Hello.” The bedridden Feng Ya grinned, but because facial movements required agitating the bruise on her face, she hissed in pain.
Mother Feng looked at Jiang Ran and also smiled at her and said, “Hello.”
Feng Jing took Jiang Ran’s hand and said to his mother, “Ran Ran heard that my sister was hospitalized, so she came to see if she could help.”
“Aiyo, Ran Ran, my teeth hurt!” Feng Ya covered her teeth comically as she made that pun.3Meaning Jiang Ran’s so sweet, Feng Ya got a toothache
Feng Jing: “—”