Chapter 45 - 45: Father and Son Brush Past Each Other
Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Father and Son Brush Past Each Other
“Doudou is sick, and I want to bring Ningning over to keep her company.”
The man’s words caught Ning Yichu somewhat by surprise, and helplessly, she said, “I’m afraid that’s even less convenient, because Ningning is sick too and is currently in the hospital.”
A solemn expression flashed across Li Lingyang’s handsome face as he thought of the little guy’s spirited appearance, and he said with concern, “Is she doing alright? Do you need me to contact a specialist for you?”
“No need, it’s just a normal cold and fever, and the fever has already gone down; she just hasn’t woken up yet. Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Li!”
Ning Yichu quickly cut off his suggestion.
Has he gone mad? Having him contact a specialist would just blow her cover regarding her relation to Ningning.
But his proactive offer to find a specialist for Ningning did catch Ning Yichu off guard, and she followed up by asking, “How is Doudou? Is it serious?”
“It’s nothing major, but I want to make a very presumptuous suggestion,” Li Lingyang said through the phone with his cool voice, “As far as I know, you are looking for a kindergarten for Ningning, and as it happens, my daughter attends Saint Peter Kindergarten, a top educational institution in the country. I hope Ningning can enroll here. I will arrange for her to be in the same class as Doudou, and as for the tuition, you don’t need to worry about it, I will take care of it.”
Ning Yichu understood, “You want Ningning to be your daughter’s playmate?”
Li Lingyang’s brows lightly rose, “Doudou really likes her, and they get along very well.”
“Sorry, I refuse!” Ning Yichu didn’t hesitate to decline, “She is an independent person, not anyone’s accessory. I will figure out the school situation myself. Don’t bother yourself, President Li!”
Let alone attending the same school as her ex-husband’s child and the myriad of problems that would bring, just the underlying meaning of Li Lingyang’s invitation for Ningning to transfer schools was enough for her to firmly disagree.
Li Lingyang seemed not to have anticipated the rejection, his thin lips lightly pursed, “I don’t think transferring schools would make Ningning an accessory to Doudou; they are friends. Or if you have any other demands, you can bring them up all together.”
Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Ɲονɡο.сο
What does this jerk mean, trying to buy her off with money?
“He who receives a benefit should never forget it; who gives should never remember it! I welcome Doudou and Ningning being friends, but transferring schools to study alongside her is out of the question. No matter how poor or how hard it gets, I will never sell my daughter, and President Li, please don’t call again!”
Ning Yichu angrily hung up the phone. How was this any different from the ancient practice of having a prince’s study companion?
The reason she tacitly allowed Ningning and Doudou to play together was that Doudou and her mother were two extremes.
If Shen Jiangqing ever discovers Ningning’s relation to herself, who knows what she might do to Ningning!
Meanwhile, in a private hospital, Li Lingyang listened to the busy tone with a hint of disbelief, soon followed by a trace of admiration. Not bowing for money meant Ningning was genuinely friends with Doudou.
Granny Li, anxious, asked, “How did it go, what did Ningning’s mother say?”
“She refused.” Li Lingyang pocketed his phone, speaking indifferently, “She said she wouldn’t sell her daughter.”
“How can it be considered selling her daughter? It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement…” Granny Li, somewhat exasperated, said, “Did you speak to her using that same approach you do with your subordinates? With your frosty tone, who would be happy to listen? Hand me the phone, I’ll talk to Ningning’s mother.”
Li Lingyang passed the phone to Granny Li, however, this time the call didn’t go through.
“Did she block your number? Oh no, this won’t do; our Doudou needs friends to be less sick…” Granny Li was flustered, giving disapproving looks at Li Lingyang.
Li Lingyang, with an indifferent tone, said, “Ningning is sick, she might be busy taking care of her; it wasn’t a good time for a phone call.”
“What? Ningning is sick? Which hospital, let’s go quick, we should show our sincerity.”
Granny Li genuinely liked Ningning and, upon hearing she was sick, found it to be a strange coincidence but also a good opportunity.
Li Lingyang’s stern gaze softened to stop her, “Granny, don’t go; your birthday celebration is coming up, you should rest well. I will visit in person.”
“Then you’ve got to talk to her nicely when you see her, and don’t mention anything about money. She isn’t befriending Doudou for money. That’s insulting,” Granny Li incessantly reminded him.
Mr. Li’s expression turned a few shades more serious, he didn’t say anything, and instead had Special Assistant Xu investigate the hospital where Ningning was.
…
Knowing that his sister had been hospitalized with a fever, how could Chen Bao sit still?
He immediately took a taxi to the hospital.
Ningning’s high fever had subsided, but the corners of her mouth were still so dry that they were peeling.
He went to pour a cup of warm water and dabbed his sister’s mouth corners with a cotton swab, saying reproachfully, “I should have come to accompany her sooner, Mommy, Ningning didn’t suffer last night, did she?”
Brother and sister had been inseparable since birth, and although the two little ones quarreled from time to time, most of the time Chen Bao took his role as an older brother seriously.
The hospital room was quiet; Ning Yichu pinched his cheek, consoling him, “I was here with Granny Wang last night, Ningning didn’t suffer much, and the doctor also said that she could be discharged after another checkup when she wakes up.”
“Hmm…”
In her sleep, Ningning murmured softly.
Barely hearing her name being called, her pale little face scrunched up, and she slowly opened her eyes to see her dearest Mommy and brother, her thick eyelashes trembling involuntarily.
“Mommy? Brother Chen Bao…” Ningning, just awake, her big eyes bleary, her voice milky, “I feel like I’ve slept for a long time.”
“You’ve slept the whole night; do you feel uncomfortable anywhere now?”
“My tummy feels bad…”
Ning Yichu, while touching her forehead, asked anxiously, “Isn’t it a fever? Why does your tummy hurt now…”
Chen Bao, “I’ll go call the doctor over.”
“It’s not that.” Ningning said embarrassedly, covering her face, “My tummy doesn’t hurt; I’m just really hungry!”
Ning Yichu and Chen Bao were both startled; in their concern, they had been chaotic. Of course, the little girl hadn’t really eaten since last night, and it would be strange for her not to be hungry when she woke up.
Ning Yichu warmed up the breakfast in the nearby microwave and coaxed her to finish it.
After eating her fill, Ningning’s slightly pale face gradually gained some color, and mother and son finally felt relieved.
Ningning still needed a checkup, and Ning Yichu, fearing the hospital’s crowds and the situation from the amusement park last time, had Chen Bao return to the orphanage first.
Although Chen Bao wanted to stay with his sister until she was discharged, given the circumstances, he had no choice but to leave early.
Unexpectedly, just as he reached the main hall of the inpatient department by elevator, he saw a tall figure walk in from the around the corner, carrying a fruit basket and striding forth with a resolute expression.
Chen Bao’s heartbeat skipped a beat, he clenched his jaws tightly, and quickly sidestepped to hide behind the crowd at the nearby payment window.
Through the crowd, he saw Li Lingyang on the phone, “Which room is she in? Send me the room number… V602, okay, I got it.”
Chen Bao’s little fist clenched suddenly.
602, wasn’t that Ningning’s hospital room number?
Was that good-for-nothing father here to visit Ningning??