"Don't talk nonsense! We went together, after all. I feel guilty for watching her get bullied and not being able to help. That's why I'm concerned," I explained frantically.
"Bullied? Was she beaten too? What kind of people did you run into who would hit a woman?" Li Ke asked.
It was only then that I realized my mother-in-law must not have given them the full details—after all, it involved Luo Tong's reputation.
"Let's not talk about them anymore. Try not to go to Jiangcheng unless necessary—Yuncheng is much safer." I quickly steered the conversation away, feeling an underlying unease about Hu Sanyong.
Li Ke nodded thoughtfully and didn't press further.
My wife wasn't paying attention to our conversation at all—her focus was entirely on me. Gently cradling my heavily bandaged hand, she carefully stroked it, her eyes reddening as she asked, "Honey, does it still hurt?"
"As long as you're by my side, I wouldn't even feel the pain if I lost a limb," I replied with a tender smile.
"Don't say such things! I want you to be okay," she protested urgently.
"Hey, there's still someone else here," Li Ke interjected with a cough, then suddenly gave me a peculiar look.
"What do you want?" I immediately grew wary.
"You know, this uncle-style look actually suits you quite well," Li Ke remarked with a laugh.
"I'd almost forgotten about it—help me take it off," I said, suddenly remembering I was still in disguise. Though much of the foundation had been washed away by blood and sweat, the beard and wig remained intact.
"Why remove it? After knowing you for so many years, this is finally a look I can appreciate. Keep it a while longer," Li Ke teased.
"He really does look handsome, honey. If Keke likes it, let her enjoy the view. Who knows—she might even fall for you," my wife said, smiling for the first time that night.
"Oh, so Li Ke has a thing for older men! I'll dress like this every day from now on and charm you to death," I joked.
"Get lost," Li Ke retorted, her cheeks flushing as she feigned anger. "You two are teaming up to tease me again, aren't you?"
"Exactly," my wife and I answered in unison, exchanging amused glances.
"Oh my god, how did I end up with friends like you? One wants to flirt with his wife's best friend, and the other helps her husband do it. What a sin," Li Ke sighed, covering her forehead in mock despair.
My wife and I burst into laughter, filling the hospital room with a cheerful atmosphere.
The three of us chatted noisily until 3:30 a.m. Eventually, I could no longer fight off my exhaustion and began to drift off.
Though my wife and Li Ke had joked about keeping my disguise, they worried it might bother me and helped remove it before I fell asleep.
The hospital room had a caregiver's bed—a bit cramped, but just enough for my wife and Li Ke to squeeze in together.
Severe physical exhaustion had left me utterly drained. The moment they finished removing my makeup, I fell into a deep, heavy sleep.
I didn't wake until the next morning when a nurse came in to administer my IV drip.
Li Ke had already left for work, leaving only my wife in the room.
Seeing me awake, she quickly fetched a warm towel and gently cleaned my face, taking extra care to avoid my injuries.
Afterward, she opened the breakfast she had prepared earlier. Since my hands were inconvenient, she fed me bite by bite.
"I asked Keke to take a few days off for me. I'll be here taking care of you during this time. Also, your manager called earlier—I answered since you were sleeping soundly. I explained the situation and got your leave approved, so just focus on recovering," she said softly as she fed me.
I said nothing, gazing tenderly at my wife as an inexplicable emotion welled up in my heart. Marrying such a virtuous woman must have been the culmination of eight lifetimes of accumulated blessings. Silently, I vowed to myself that I would do everything in my power to fulfill her wishes, as long as it made her happy.
Just as this tender moment enveloped us, my mother-in-law pushed the door open and entered.
"Xiao Fan, how's your injury?" she asked, taking a seat by my bedside, opposite my wife.
"Mom, I'm fine. I just need some rest," I replied.
"Nan Nan, have you taken time off work? Take good care of Xiao Fan. I'll also find time to come and help look after him," my mother-in-law said to my wife.
From the moment my mother-in-law entered, my wife hadn't uttered a word. Now, she seemed to completely ignore her mother's words, focusing instead on stirring the breakfast with a spoon and occasionally feeding me a bite.
I immediately sensed something was off with my wife and quickly asked, "What's wrong, Nan Nan? Are you feeling unwell? Did you stay up too late last night?"
My wife remained unresponsive, though I noticed a slight tremor in her body.
"Nan Nan, are you angry with me?" my mother-in-law asked.
Finally, my wife reacted. She slowly raised her head and fixed her gaze on her mother, her eyes blazing with anger. Two streams of tears instantly rolled down her cheeks as she said in a trembling voice, "Why did you make Liao Fan do something so dangerous? He's not your employee. What right do you have to make him risk his life for you?"
Her words startled me. My wife had always been an obedient daughter, fearful of her mother and never daring to talk back. I never expected her to say something so harsh today.
"Nan Nan, what are you talking about?" I interjected hastily.
But my wife completely ignored me and continued, "In your eyes, is everything about profit? As long as there's money to be made, even your son-in-law is just a tool to be used, isn't he?"
Her words grew increasingly severe. She was clearly at the peak of her anger, tears streaming down her face, her body trembling uncontrollably.
I was utterly stunned, staring blankly at my wife, unsure of what to do.
"Nan Nan, this was an accident. I never wanted Xiao Fan to get hurt," my mother-in-law finally spoke, her tone tinged with helplessness.
Snapping out of my daze, I quickly said to my wife, "Nan Nan, could you go downstairs and buy me a pack of cigarettes?"
My wife stood motionless, her eyes fixed fiercely on her mother. Her rage made her breathing rapid, her chest heaving violently.
"Listen to me, Nan Nan. Go buy the cigarettes first and calm down, okay?" I urged again.
My wife glanced at me, bit her lip, wiped her tears, then turned sharply and stormed out of the hospital room.
"Mom, Nan Nan is just worried and confused because of my injury. She didn't mean what she said. I'll talk to her later—please don't take it to heart," I hurriedly explained to my mother-in-law.
"Do you think I don't know my own daughter? She never talks back to me. For her to say such things today, she must be truly furious," my mother-in-law sighed. It was rare to hear her speak in such a tone.
Today, the roles of mother and daughter had completely reversed. My usually gentle wife had lost her temper, while my typically stern mother-in-law remained soft-spoken throughout.
"Xiao Fan, I was truly in the wrong this time," my mother-in-law suddenly admitted.
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