Chapter 120: But Never Gave Her Any Status

Zhu Yuan froze in place, her mind going blank for a moment.

Her grandfather had been perfectly fine before she left home...

With no time to think, Zhu Yuan gripped her phone and ran toward the back door, her heart beginning to ache with anxiety.

Enzo, who was resting with his legs crossed in the car by the back door, caught a glimpse of a figure running over out of the corner of his eye and took a casual look.

Hmm?

The public performance is this afternoon; where is Miss Zhu going?

When he saw Zhu Yuan's red eyes, he immediately sat up straight!

Who was bullying his new boss!

"Enzo, go to my grandfather's hospital." Zhu Yuan's voice was forced to be calm but still trembled.

"Understood, Miss Zhu. Please don't worry, I'll start the car right away." Enzo started the vehicle without hesitation.

In a place where Zhu Yuan couldn't see, he took out his phone and sent a message.

As it turned out, after Zhu Yuan left the hospital, Zhu Qi had been pushed downstairs in his wheelchair by his caregiver to soak up the sun.

"Old Master Zhu, it seems a bit windy. If you feel cold, we should go back," the caregiver asked considerately.

Zhu Qi waved his hand, revealing a kind smile, his aged voice slightly hoarse, "It hasn't been sunny for several days; these old bones of mine need to soak up some sun."

"Then I'll go upstairs and get you a blanket."

"Alright, go ahead."

The caregiver reminded him repeatedly, "Just wait here for me, I'll be down very soon."

Zhu Yuan would instruct her every time before leaving, and the commission she paid was higher than others, so she dared not forget her duties.

After the caregiver left, Zhu Qi watched a child in a hospital gown not far away eating fruit porridge fed by his grandfather.

Judging by the child's tone, it was the fruit porridge their grandfather made that they liked best.

Thinking that it had been a long time since he had made the soybean paste noodles that Yuanyuan liked, he felt a bit moved.

He would be discharged next week; he hoped his body would hold up.

Thinking this, he picked up the cane the caregiver had left to the side, stood up with the help of the cane, and trembling, walked back and forth in place step by step.

Yuanyuan said he had to act according to his ability and cooperate with the doctors.

He wanted to be an obedient grandfather.

So he didn't dare walk far.

"Grandpa Zhu!"

Suddenly, he heard a clear, beautiful voice.

He turned his head and saw Zhu An'an carrying fruit, then walked back leaning on his cane, smiling and saying, "An'an, why are you here?"

Zhu An'an went up to meet him, supporting the old man's arm, "Grandpa Zhu, I remember you can be discharged in a few days, so I came to see how your recovery is going."

"Everything is good, everything is good," Zhu Qi looked at her with gratification.

Yuanyuan rarely mentioned things about the Zhu Family to him; he had guessed whether she was having a hard time in the Zhu Family, but Zhu Chaoqin and his wife had visited him a few times, and Zhu An'an had also come a few times; their regard for him was their regard for Yuanyuan.

It must be that he was overthinking; Yuanyuan had just been too busy lately to have extra time to share with him.

Zhu An'an helped the old man sit back into his wheelchair.

She crouched beside the old man's legs, "Is Yuanyuan having a new play premiere today?"

"Yes, she's been busy rehearsing lately and has even lost weight from exhaustion."

Zhu An'an raised her eyes, a flash of sharp light crossing her gaze, "It was such a hard-won opportunity, how could she not work hard? This is such a great chance; if the premiere goes smoothly and the response is good, she will be the pillar of the theater troupe in the future."

Although Zhu Qi felt heartache for Zhu Yuan's hard work and didn't demand that she achieve any great success, a look of pride appeared in his eyes involuntarily, "Yuanyuan has always been excellent."

"That's true, I think so too," Zhu An'an echoed.

She looked at the sincere pride in the old man's eyes and sneered inwardly, but on the surface, she was very much in agreement with his view, "Yuanyuan is excellent, otherwise the Lu Family wouldn't protect her, and the Sheng Family Crown Prince wouldn't have taken a fancy to her and even paid for your medical treatment."

"The Lu Family? The Sheng Family Crown Prince?" Zhu Qi was puzzled.

Zhu An'an acted as if she suddenly realized she had said the wrong thing and immediately covered her mouth, "It was my loose tongue."

The Lu Family and the Sheng Family—Zhu Qi had been hospitalized in Jingdu City for half a year, so he had naturally heard of them.

But what did this have to do with Yuanyuan?

Zhu Qi frowned calmly, looking at Zhu An'an's expression, which seemed to be one of hesitation.

He pretended not to care, preparing to ask Yuanyuan himself when she returned. He could feel that Zhu An'an had let it slip on purpose, wanting to lead him to ask further.

Such ill intentions—he hoped he was just overthinking.

Seeing that he didn't press for more, Zhu An'an felt a bit colder, "Grandpa Zhu, you must not know how much Yuanyuan sacrificed to pay for your treatment."

She said softly, "I actually feel especially sorry for Yuanyuan; you probably don't even know that she once performed a 'spirit-marrying' ritual for the comatose Lu Family Eldest Young Master, do you?"

Zhu Qi's expression stiffened, and his fingers resting on the wheelchair armrest began to tremble slightly.

Zhu An'an understood in her heart.

Zhu Yuan had indeed hidden it very well.

She stood up and walked behind Zhu Qi's wheelchair, pushing him forward to avoid the line of sight of the caregiver who was coming downstairs with a blanket.

They reached a secluded corner.

She crouched in front of Zhu Qi again, a smile on her face.

"Grandpa Zhu, you really should thank Yuanyuan for being able to soak up the sun so comfortably now. After the Lu Family Eldest Young Master passed away, my father's company faced a crisis and had no money to pay for your treatment, so Yuanyuan had to seek out the Sheng Family Crown Prince. Your Yuanyuan is so beautiful and willing to be obedient; whatever the Sheng Family Crown Prince wants her to do, she does. Apart from the time spent rehearsing, doesn't she often not come home at night?"

Watching the blood drain from the old man's face, she curled her lips, "Because she needs to accompany the Sheng Family Crown Prince. You can go out and ask around, and you'll know—Yuanyuan is the Sheng Family Crown Prince's woman, but the Sheng Family Crown Prince has never given her any status. Do you know what this means?"

It means that Zhu Yuan is acting as someone's mistress.

Zhu An'an took out a phone and opened the text message interface.

Her finger slid across the screen.

Zhu Qi's reddened eyes suddenly froze.

It was Yuanyuan's phone.

"Look, this is the number of the Sheng Family Crown Prince; these are the messages he sent to Yuanyuan."

【Come over.】

【Back door.】

【Come down, downstairs of the inpatient department.】

【One second late and you'll bear the consequences.】

【Don't care about your grandfather's illness anymore?】

Such a commanding tone, as if he only treated Yuanyuan as an object.

A salty, metallic taste surged up in Zhu Qi's throat.

Zhu An'an heard the caregiver's shout; she stood up and patted the old man's trembling shoulders, as if he would shatter at a touch.

"Grandpa Zhu, don't feel guilty. You are Yuanyuan's grandfather; how could she not care about you? As long as you get better, let alone being a mistress, she could even do things more base than that."

The caregiver walked through the corridor and finally saw Zhu Qi.

"Zhu Lao Xiansheng!"

Zhu Qi sat in his wheelchair with his back to her.

She ran over anxiously, but Zhu Qi suddenly spat out blood and lost consciousness.

Medical staff crowded around.

Amidst the noisy sounds and the beeping of instruments in his ears, tears kept sliding from the corners of the unconscious Zhu Qi's eyes.

He did not know how much time had passed.

He heard sobbing by his ear in a daze: "Grandpa, what on earth happened to you?"

Zhu Qi struggled to open his eyes; it was Yuanyuan's voice.

His most precious granddaughter.

Looking at Zhu Yuan, who was teary-eyed beside the hospital bed, the old man's eyeballs trembled, and tears slid from the corners of his eyes into his temples.

He tremblingly raised his hand to touch Zhu Yuan's head, his choked voice intermittent from the shaking: "Child... you've been wronged."

Zhu Yuan was suddenly stunned.

"Grandpa?"

Realizing something, she grabbed Zhu Qi's hand and said hurriedly: "Grandpa, I..."

Just then, the ward door was gently pushed open from the outside.

Zhu Yuan turned her head, the tears she was holding back fell, and her vision gradually cleared.

She stared blankly as Sheng Yu walked toward her, came to her side, and stroked her hair with his warm palm, rubbing it.

"What are you crying for? Isn't your grandfather fine now?"