Chapter 54: Don’t Leave, I’m Afraid

“In your heart, am I really so contemptible?” A shadow passed over Ye Yingtang’s eyes as he rebuked in discontent.

Ye Zehong sneered and retorted, “When have you ever been short of women over the years?”

“You unfilial child, you won’t be satisfied until you anger me to death, will you?” Ye Yingtang raised his hand as if to strike, but when he met the burning hatred in Ye Zehong’s eyes, he let it drop with a helpless sigh. “If you insist on seeing me as a libertine, I can’t stop you. But I have no improper thoughts about Lu Yao. There’s more than two cycles of age between us—I could be her father. I have no taste for those sorts of relationships. It’s just that whenever I see her, I inexplicably feel a sense of kinship. So many of her gestures and actions remind me of your mother in her youth.”

Lost in reminiscence, a faint smile touched Ye Yingtang’s lips. He said softly, “Lu Yao is a simple, upright child. It’s just a pity she was born into an ordinary family. Otherwise, I might have considered matching her with Zema.”

Ye Zehong’s gaze turned cold and disdain flickered in his eyes. He would never trust Ye Yingtang’s words so easily—he believed only in the truth he’d uncovered himself!

The truth was that, apart from Yang Lan, Ye Yingtang’s heart held another woman. He’d even built a castle for her, forbidding anyone but himself from approaching. No matter how hard his investigators tried, all they could manage was a photograph of the castle’s outer walls. The identity of the person living within remained an unsolved mystery.

Ye Zehong laughed derisively. “Don’t try to play the devoted lover in front of me. My mother has been dead for years. No matter how convincing you are, she’ll never see it. And stop meddling in other people’s lives. Even someone from a humble background has the right to plan her own destiny.”

“How did I end up with such a little debt collector for a son?”

“It was my mother who gave birth to me.”

“You—!” Ye Yingtang was so enraged by Zehong’s every word that he nearly exploded. Fury surged within him; he wanted to point at Zehong and curse, but he forced himself to breathe deeply and suppress his anger. After all, it was he who had failed Zehong’s mother all those years ago.

Ye Zehong produced a bag of medicine and tossed it onto the car seat, saying coolly, “Since you know you’re getting on in years, you should cut back on drinking, stay up less, and steer clear of women. Otherwise… it would be a pity if you didn’t live long enough to be a grandfather.”

“Nonsense!” Ye Yingtang barked.

Ye Zehong acted as if he hadn’t heard, opening the car door and leaving without another word.

The driver watched Zehong’s retreating figure and said earnestly, “Master Ye, please calm down. I actually think the young master cares about you quite a bit. All these years, every single medicine you’ve taken was prepared by him personally, with detailed instructions for each dose.”

A faint ache pricked at Ye Yingtang’s heart, and a trace of sorrow flickered in his eyes. After a pause, he murmured, “His are the only medicines I trust.”

The driver understood and smiled quietly.

…

Ye Zehong returned to the emergency department, where the attending physician informed him that Lu Yao’s diagnosis was ready. Without asking, he picked up the CT report and scrutinized it thoroughly. Only after confirming it was a mild concussion did he finally feel at ease.

He made his way, as if by habit, to the VIP ward. He’d barely taken a seat by the bedside when Lu Yao awoke.

She opened her eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling. For a full minute, she didn’t blink once.

Ye Zehong stood up to pour her some hot water, but the moment he did, she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

She pressed her head against his chest and mumbled, “Don’t go. I’m scared…”