Chapter Thirty-Seven Madam Shen’s Condition Worsens

By the time the banquet ended, Jiang Yunzhu was so exhausted she could barely stand. After seeing off all the guests, she finally returned home and headed straight for the bathroom.

When she emerged, her phone was vibrating urgently, as if demanding her attention. Picking it up, she saw dozens of missed calls and nearly a hundred messages—all from Shen Ruizhang.

She opened the messages, and as she read through them, her brow furrowed deeply.

“My mother’s condition has worsened. I’m in Country M now, accompanying her for treatment.”

“Location.”

“Yunzhu, if you have time, come visit her.”

Jiang Yunzhu hurriedly changed into a tracksuit, barely taking time to speak to her parents. “Something urgent came up—I may not be back tonight.”

“So suddenly? Did something happen at the company?” Jiang Zhen looked up from the latest news.

Chen Li, clutching a book, added anxiously, “Do you need our help? Money or manpower, just say the word. Don’t try to shoulder everything yourself.”

“I know,” Jiang Yunzhu replied. At that moment, she wasn’t clear on Madam Shen’s condition. She wanted to assess the situation herself before informing her parents. Although she’d lived with the Shen family for years, and by rights her parents should visit Madam Shen, Shen Ruizhang hadn’t explained things clearly over the phone, and she wasn’t sure whether she ought to tell them about Madam Shen’s illness.

She drove herself to the hospital, trying to call Shen Ruizhang on the way, but the call wouldn’t go through. It seemed likely Madam Shen was in dire straits. Anxiety gnawed at her.

Halfway there, a sudden bang startled her. The car shuddered, and she felt it lose balance. She applied the brakes carefully. Once outside, she discovered that her front tire had burst.

It was already past eleven at night. In Country M, hailing a ride wasn’t as convenient as at home. She stood by the roadside, called for a tow truck, and was about to phone her family’s driver to bring another car.

A black car passed by, then reversed and stopped beside her. The window rolled down, revealing Shen Tingxiao’s flawless face.

“Yunzhu?” He glanced at her car. “Flat tire?”

“Yes,” she replied, too preoccupied to engage further.

“Where are you headed? I’ll give you a ride.” He pushed open the passenger door.

She instinctively refused. “No, I—”

“You’re going to the hospital to see Madam Shen, aren’t you?” Shen Tingxiao looked straight ahead as he spoke.

Her fingers froze above her phone. “What?”

“Nothing. I happen to be heading to the hospital as well. Get in.”

She tried calling the driver but got no answer—he was probably asleep.

Just then, her phone vibrated. It was a call from Shen Ruizhang. His voice was hoarse and weary; for a moment, she barely recognized him.

“I was busy just now. Yunzhu, can you come see Grandma?”

Hearing his voice made her feel oddly distant, as if from another life. “Yes, I’m on my way, but my car broke down, I—”

“So late? The car broke down? Send me your location, I’ll pick you up.”

She was about to reply when a sharp, anxious voice sounded in the background.

“Ruizhang, the doctor says we need to sign a critical condition notice. What should we do?” That was Zhou Qingpei.

Suddenly, Jiang Yunzhu felt much more alert.

She said quietly, “It’s fine, I can get there myself.”

But the call ended abruptly.

Knock, knock, knock.

“It’s too late to get a taxi now,” Shen Tingxiao said, standing before her.

A cold wind swept by, making her shiver. The next moment, a warm coat, still carrying the heat of his body, settled over her shoulders.

“Let’s go.” He climbed back into the car.

Jiang Yunzhu hesitated for a moment, then got in as well.

The car glided quietly through the night. Shen Tingxiao gazed out the window, his demeanor distant.

Once she was warm enough, she removed the coat and handed it back. “Mr. Shen, your coat.”

“Keep it on,” he said, his tone icy.

She was accustomed to seeing him smile—this coldness was rare, as if someone had provoked him.

Since he insisted, she didn’t argue. Wrapping the coat around herself, she sent Shen Ruizhang a voice message: “Uncle, I’ve found a ride. On my way now, don’t worry.”

There was no reply.

She was used to that. After locking her phone, she turned to look out the window. The silence was oppressive; she felt uneasy.

She glanced at Shen Tingxiao, searching for something to say. “Mr. Shen, are you also visiting someone in the hospital?”

“What’s it to you?” His tone was almost harsh.

Strange. Who had offended him?

She gave up on further small talk.

As the hospital came into view, she straightened up and sent another message: “Uncle, I’ve arrived at the hospital. Heading upstairs now.”

Since they’d mentioned a critical condition notice, Grandma must be in the emergency room.

The car stopped. Jiang Yunzhu jumped out, and before closing the door, she said, “Mr. Shen, thank you so much. I’ll treat you to a meal sometime.”

She closed the door and hurried toward the emergency room.

Outside, she spotted Shen Ruizhang and Zhou Qingpei standing close together.

“Uncle.” She strode up to them. “How’s Grandma?”

“Mother…” Shen Ruizhang’s gaze lingered on her, then shifted away.

“How is she?” Her heart pounded anxiously.

“We’re still waiting,” he replied, his face slightly pale.

“How did she suddenly get so ill?” Jiang Yunzhu frowned, her urgency lending a hint of reproach to her tone. “She was fine before I left—I even visited her before I went away.”

Madam Shen had known she was leaving, and on her last night, Yunzhu had gone to see her. She’d looked well—her cheeks had been rosy, almost as if she’d recovered.

“It was because of me,” Shen Ruizhang said quietly, his face tinged with blue.

“Because of you?” Jiang Yunzhu was bewildered.