Inside the emergency room.
Shen Jiazhou sat with a grim expression. Lin Yan held the payment slip and said, "Boss, let’s go. It's time for the IV drip."
The doctor looked at Shen Jiazhou's face and cautioned, "Don't focus only on work and ignore your health. Health is your greatest asset."
Shen Jiazhou whispered his thanks and walked out of the emergency room. Lin Yan followed behind, saying, "Boss, let’s go get the infusion."
Looking at Shen Jiazhou's face, he added, "The doctor is right. Health is your greatest asset."
Only then did Shen Jiazhou speak: "Go to the car and get my laptop."
Lin Yan sighed, having no choice but to agree.
Originally, they were supposed to head home after the dinner meeting tonight. However, halfway there, Shen Jiazhou felt it was still early and went to the office to finish up some pending work.
Shen Jiazhou had always been a workaholic. As an assistant who was on call twenty-four hours a day, Lin Yan naturally followed. But he hadn't expected that shortly after starting work, Shen Jiazhou's old ailment would flare up again.
Shen Jiazhou's private doctor had gone to the old family residence today to check on Elder Shen and wouldn't be back for another hour. Thus, Lin Yan hurriedly brought him to the nearest hospital.
He knew it! This much work wasn't meant for humans!
He thought that entering the hospital would finally allow the man to rest, but he hadn't expected his boss to remain so competitive even here!
Guided by a nurse, Shen Jiazhou entered the infusion room. It was already one in the morning, and while the number of people in the room had dwindled, there were still a few sickly-looking adults sitting there.
The strong scent of disinfectant in the hospital made him frown, and the discomfort in his stomach seemed to intensify.
Shen Jiazhou walked to a seat by the window and felt slightly better only after raising his hand to open it a crack.
"Sir, your medicine is here."
Shen Jiazhou sat in the chair and exposed the back of his hand. The nurse inserted the needle for him. After finishing, her ears turned slightly red as she pulled a milk candy from her pocket. "Sir, please have this."
Shen Jiazhou replied, "Thank you, but I don't eat sweets."
The nurse withdrew the candy with a hint of disappointment and turned to leave.
He leaned back against the chair, feeling a sense of irritability rising in his heart. Had he known, he wouldn't have listened to Lin Yan’s nonsense and come to the hospital. Waiting for the doctor to return from the old residence wouldn't have taken that much longer anyway.
"Baby, wake up. We’re going home."
A woman’s gentle coaxing came from the other side. Shen Jiazhou instinctively looked over. The woman was looking down at the child in her arms; it seemed they had also just finished an infusion.
Wen Shuqiao saw that the little male lead in her arms wasn't responding. Assuming he was fast asleep, she had no choice but to take off her jacket and wrap it tightly around him. She shook out her arm and stood up while holding him.
As long as she could get outside and into a car, it would be fine. Fortunately, the little male lead wasn't heavy; if he were any heavier, Wen Shuqiao might not have been able to carry him.
However, after only two steps, the soundly sleeping little male lead woke up. He opened his eyes and called out, "Auntie."
Wen Shuqiao stopped and whispered, "Is Can Bao feeling better?"
Can Can nodded weakly. "Auntie, are we going home?"
Wen Shuqiao gave an "mm" and continued walking out with him, not forgetting to reply, "Yes, the infusion is finished. We're going home."
Can Can struggled to get down from her arms. Wen Shuqiao had to stop again, looking down to ask, "What’s wrong?"
Can Can said, "It’s tiring for Auntie to carry Can Bao. Can Bao will walk by himself. I won't sleep."
Wen Shuqiao was nearly moved to tears by his obedient and sensible behavior. The little male lead was so thoughtful! How could his fate be so miserable in the book?!
She hurriedly said, "Auntie isn't tired. If Can Bao isn't going to sleep, how about you wrap your arms around Auntie's neck?"
Can Can agreed, so Wen Shuqiao shifted her posture and let Can Can sit on her arm, which made carrying him much easier.
Can Bao circled his small arms around his auntie and buried his face in Wen Shuqiao's neck, all traces of sleepiness gone.
Wen Shuqiao continued carrying Can Can toward the exit. As she reached the door, someone happened to be coming in. The man, carrying a laptop bag, glanced at her twice and stepped aside to let her pass.
Wen Shuqiao whispered her thanks and continued walking out with the little male lead.
Can Can asked, "Auntie, are you tired?"
Wen Shuqiao freed a hand to pat his head. "Not tired. Sleep if you want to."
Can Can felt much better now. Having already had a nap, he was full of energy. "I'll help Auntie carry the medicine."
The medicine bag was light anyway, so Wen Shuqiao handed it to him and praised, "Can Can baby is so wonderful. Thank you, Can Can baby."
Can Can shyly buried his little face in the crook of Wen Shuqiao's shoulder again, then whispered in her ear, "Auntie is wonderful, too."
Wen Shuqiao smiled and carried him out of the hospital.
Lin Yan entered the infusion room carrying the laptop. Meeting Shen Jiazhou's sour expression, he consoled, "Boss, we'll be able to go back soon. Just bear with it."
Shen Jiazhou only gave him a cold look. Lin Yan very proactively handed him the laptop and added, "By the way, Boss, I just saw that daughter from the Su family."
The story of the Su family's real and fake daughters had long since spread throughout their circle. As Shen Jiazhou's assistant, Lin Yan naturally had to keep his eyes and ears open. He had been a bit shocked to see that fake daughter at the door just now—why was she carrying a child?!
"And she was even holding a little kid in her arms."
He hadn't heard anything about the fake daughter getting married and having children. And judging by the child's size, he had to be at least two years old.
Shen Jiazhou opened the laptop without even raising an eyelid. "If you're so interested, you might as well quit and become a reporter."
Lin Yan silently made a gesture of zipping his lips. However, thinking back, she seemed to have called out "Can Can" just now?
Lin Yan wanted to mention it to Shen Jiazhou, but seeing that his boss had already started working, he swallowed his words in the end.
After all, there were tons of kids named Can Can; he was probably just overthinking it.
Lin Yan also opened his other laptop and silently began to work.
It was already past one-thirty by the time Wen Shuqiao brought the little male lead home. After all the commotion, she was already quite sleepy. She got the little male lead settled and changed back into her pajamas. Just as she lay down, she found the little male lead beside her staring at her with wide, round eyes, seemingly not sleepy yet.
She thought for a moment, then turned on her side and asked, "Is Can Bao not sleepy?"
Can Can nodded, then shook his head. He said, "Auntie, there's a voice in Can Bao's head."
Wen Shuqiao was puzzled. "What voice?"
Can Can opened his mouth, but he couldn't find the words.
That voice had been babbling incessantly ever since he woke up. It was annoying Can Bao to death!
Wen Shuqiao didn't rush him, guessing it might be a lingering effect of the fever, or perhaps just a child’s thought that he couldn't quite articulate.
She said, "Auntie is sleepy. Shall Can Bao sleep with Auntie?"
As soon as Can Can heard Wen Shuqiao say she was sleepy, he immediately nodded. "Okay. Can Bao will sleep with Auntie."
Wen Shuqiao touched his head. After the infusion, the fever had indeed broken, though he still looked a bit drained. She would have to see how he was tomorrow.
She turned off the light and thought to herself: Finally, I can rest.
She was truly exhausted!
Just as she closed her eyes, she noticed her sleeve being tugged.
She let out a breath and proactively pulled the little male lead to her side, holding him with one arm. "Go to sleep. Auntie is right here."
Can Can was pleasantly surprised and immediately switched to gripping the hem of Wen Shuqiao's clothes. Being by Auntie's side was so warm!
Meanwhile, inside the little male lead’s mind, the System, having witnessed everything, felt… finished.
This child is probably beyond saving.