"Wei Wei, I'm talking to you, why are you looking at Sister Fei? Bringing a dog home so suddenly was already ill-considered. The right thing to do now is to send it away immediately," Yan Jingheng said.
Perhaps realizing his tone had been too harsh earlier, he softened his voice considerably this time, as if trying to reason with Chi Wei.
But Chi Wei's expression remained cold.
Yan Zhilang was frightened by Yan Jingheng and clung to Chi Wei's arm, whining, "Mom, we just brought Snowball home. I don't want to send Snowball away."
"We won't send him away. I promise you, no one will take your Snowball away today," Chi Wei bent down and gently comforted Zhi Lang. But these words undoubtedly struck a nerve with Yan Jingheng again.
Yan Jingheng said, "Wei Wei, what do you mean by that? Yueyue is already so sick, and you still plan to indulge him in keeping a dog?"
"And what if I am?" Chi Wei retorted. "Yan Jingheng, let me ask you, is Qiao Shiyue's dog hair allergy something that just happened overnight? As a mother, doesn't Qiao Mingfei know her own daughter is allergic to dog hair? Zhi Lang wanting to keep a dog was never a secret. Even yesterday, when I took Zhi Lang to buy the dog bed, Qiao Mingfei saw it. There were so many opportunities for her to explain everything, but she never mentioned it. Only after Zhi Lang brought the dog home does she say Qiao Shiyue is allergic to dog hair and demand he send it away. Why? If dogs aren't allowed in this house, why wasn't it said earlier? Why wait until Zhi Lang has already bonded with the puppy before forcibly taking away his happiness? Don't you think that's cruel for a father?"
Chi Wei didn't like to think the worst of people, but Qiao Mingfei's actions now made it impossible for her not to suspect more.
At this point, she also recalled the last time they returned from the kennel, when Qiao Shiyue went to the hospital that same night. Back then, Qiao Mingfei explained it as a dust allergy, but now it seemed that might not be the whole truth.
Chi Wei looked at Qiao Mingfei. "Sister Fei, shouldn't you explain why you never mentioned Qiao Shiyue's dog hair allergy? Do you really not know your own daughter's condition? And after Qiao Shiyue went to the hospital that day, was the diagnosis really just a dust allergy?"
Qiao Mingfei said, "Madam, I'm sorry for hiding Yueyue's condition. But I did it all for the young master. The whole household knows the young master likes dogs and wants to keep one. Yueyue is, at most, just a nanny's daughter. How could I let the young master change his mind for her sake? You and the young master are the masters of this house. Even if Yueyue can't tolerate dog hair, she should adapt to the young master's preferences."
She spoke with righteous conviction.
Hearing this, Yan Jingheng angrily exclaimed, "Nonsense! Zhi Lang keeping a dog is just a passing fancy. But Yueyue's dog hair allergy is a matter of life and death. Sister Fei, how could you be so foolish? What if something happens to Yueyue because of this?"
After being examined by the doctor, Qiao Shiyue had already been carried upstairs by the butler. Though her coughing was no longer heard here, it did nothing to diminish Yan Jingheng's determination to stand up for her.
Qiao Mingfei said, "Jingheng, you're overstating it. Children from poor families can't afford to be so delicate. The madam was kind enough to take in me and Yueyue."
"If we let Yueyue affect the young master's mood because of her own reasons, wouldn't that make us too ungrateful?"
Yan Jingheng looked at Qiao Mingfei's considerate demeanor, a flicker of pity passing through his eyes. When he turned to Chi Wei, his gaze grew cold again: "Wei Wei, you heard it too. Sister Fei is also thinking of Zhi Lang.
No matter what, a dog is just a dog—it can't compare to a person. Tell Zhi Lang to send it away. I'll buy him other toys in the future."
"Impossible. Zhi Lang has already formed a bond with Snowball. I absolutely won't let my son suffer for someone else's sake.
If Qiao Shiyue really can't stand dogs, I can take Zhi Lang and move out." Chi Wei laid her cards on the table.
After all, she had already planned to move out.
Whether she said it sooner or later made little difference.
Yan Jingheng's expression tensed at Chi Wei's words. He tried to persuade her again: "Wei Wei, are you really going to move out over a dog? Is it worth it?
You…"
"It is worth it. All I know is that Zhi Lang has finally found something he likes and is finally this happy. I don't want to disappoint him.
If you insist on protecting Qiao Shiyue, I'll take Zhi Lang and leave." Chi Wei said.
She called for Zhi Lang and headed upstairs to pack.
Although she hadn't found a place yet, she would rather take Zhi Lang to stay in a hotel than let him endure this injustice here.
Qiao Mingfei spread her arms, blocking Chi Wei's path: "Madam, please don't be impulsive.
How can the young master leave because of Yueyue?
How about this: I'll keep an eye on Yueyue. From now on, if the young master brings the dog out, I'll make sure Yueyue stays in her room. Is that acceptable?"
"How can that be?" Yan Jingheng said. "Sister Fei, you took care of me a lot before, and I was the one who brought you here. How can we make your daughter give way to a dog?"
Qiao Mingfei replied: "Jingheng, don't say anymore. I'm already grateful that you still remember us mother and daughter.
The young master is the master here, so his dog is naturally noble too. Let's settle it this way.
I'll go check on Yueyue first. You should hurry and comfort Madam. Don't let us mother and daughter upset her."
Qiao Mingfei cast another apologetic glance in Chi Wei's direction before heading to Qiao Shiyue's room.
Only then did Yan Jingheng turn his attention back to Chi Wei. He said: "Wei Wei, you see, Sister Fei truly means no harm. You've misunderstood her.
I hope you won't deliberately target her in the future.
She's had a hard life these years and took good care of me before. I brought her here to let her enjoy life, not to make her suffer."
Did Qiao Mingfei mean no harm?
Chi Wei might not have been sure before, but after this incident with Qiao Shiyue's allergy, she could no longer believe that Qiao Mingfei had kept quiet out of consideration for Zhi Lang.
Chi Wei said: "I already told you—if you think I'm not doing well enough, I can take Zhi Lang and move out."
"Wei Wei, don't be stubborn. We're husband and wife. If you take our son and move out over such a small matter, what will others think?
Sister Fei has conceded. Let's keep the dog for now. And don't talk about moving out again." Yan Jingheng said.
Perhaps shaken by Chi Wei's threat to leave, Yan Jingheng's tone now carried a clear desire to smooth things over.
The doctor was still in Qiao Shiyue's room, and through the door, faint sounds of her violent coughing could still be heard. Yan Jingheng comforted Chi Wei a few more times before saying, "You should take Zhi Lang back to his room to rest first. I'll go check on Yueyue."
Zhi Lang was also frightened, holding onto the puppy tightly, his little face pale. Chi Wei couldn't spare the time to discuss anything else with Yan Jingheng and took Zhi Lang upstairs first.
Only after returning to his own small room did Zhi Lang dare to put the puppy down. He asked, "Mom, did Zhi Lang do something wrong? Should Zhi Lang not have kept Snowball?"
"Why would Zhi Lang think that? Because of Qiao Shiyue?" Chi Wei asked.
Zhi Lang mumbled in agreement, "She seems to have gotten sick because of Snowball, but I really like Snowball. I don't want to send Snowball away either. Mom, what should I do?"
Chi Wei said, "Her getting sick isn't your fault, Zhi Lang. Remember, she's always been sick. She could have told you earlier, but she didn't say anything and let you bring Snowball home. So, the responsibility shouldn't fall on you.
To put it bluntly, her falling ill now is her own fault. You don't need to feel guilty.
I saw how seriously you worked with Aunt Ruan to bring Snowball home. I won't allow anyone to send Snowball away either.
Be good, and don't let others affect you."
If possible, Chi Wei wouldn't have wanted to use words like "her own fault" to describe a five-year-old girl.
But this time, Qiao Mingfei had gone too far.
If she had discussed it properly from the start, Chi Wei wouldn't have insisted on Zhi Lang bringing the dog home.
But she waited until Zhi Lang had formed an attachment to the puppy before quietly causing this scene, making Yan Jingheng step in to put Zhi Lang in a difficult position. How could Chi Wei just stand by and watch?
Zhi Lang seemed to understand Chi Wei's words vaguely and asked again, "Then, Mom, can I still play with Snowball at home?"
"Of course you can. Zhi Lang should play as he always does. I'll find a place for us to move into as soon as possible. After that, you won't have to worry about anyone else," Chi Wei said.
Snowball seemed to sense his little owner's unhappiness and trotted over, gently nuzzling Zhi Lang's leg with his head.
Zhi Lang was quickly distracted by him, squatting down to play with him.
Seeing that Zhi Lang had completely forgotten the earlier unpleasantness, Chi Wei stood up and left the children's room. Worried that Zhi Lang might be affected, Chi Wei didn't go to the company for the next two days, staying home to accompany him instead.
Qiao Shiyue's illness kept recurring, and that very night, Yan Jingheng took her to the hospital.
According to the family's nanny, Qiao Shiyue's allergic reaction was quite severe this time, and she would likely need to stay in the hospital for about a week.
Yan Jingheng went to the hospital to take care of her, rarely returning to Jiahe Jingting.
Even many matters at Yan Group were delegated to Chi Wei for handling.
Once Zhi Lang's condition stabilized somewhat, Chi Wei entrusted him to Aunt Liu and went out again to look for a house.
Finding a suitable place wasn't easy, especially since Zhi Lang's kindergarten was about to start. Chi Wei also wanted to find somewhere close to the kindergarten, making the selection process even more challenging.
For several days in a row, she left early and returned late. Although she found a few options, none of them fully satisfied her.
She had originally scheduled viewings with two real estate agents, but at six in the evening, just as she had finished attending a meeting on behalf of Yan Jingheng at Yan Corporation, a torrential downpour began outside, making it impossible to even keep her eyes open. Chi Wei had no choice but to postpone the appointments until the next day.
When she returned to Jiahe Jingting, she spotted Yan Jingheng’s car in the courtyard first, and only then did it dawn on her that today was the day Qiao Shiyue was being discharged from the hospital.
Before she even stepped inside, she could already hear Zhi Lang’s crying.