Chapter 157: Dad, I Want to Pursue Ye Zhen
Ye Fuli collapsed unconscious in Ye Zhen's arms.
The pain that surged with the sudden return of her memories was overwhelming, even for someone with her exceptional endurance.
Seeing her barely clinging to life, Ye Zhen felt a complex mix of emotions.
Memories surfaced one by one, fragment by fragment, before finally settling into stillness.
"Those who are overly obsessed always end up hurting others and themselves."
"Ah…"
"Why bother, Ye Fuli?"
Ye Zhen thought that if it were her, she probably wouldn't cling to restoring painful memories.
Whether they were illusory or real…
For Ye Zhen, happiness was all that mattered!
Isn't life all about seeking joy?
But for Ye Fuli, the meaning of her existence seemed fundamentally different from most people in this world.
No wonder.
After all, she is a chosen one.
Things that bring joy to ordinary people rarely bring her any happiness.
When she finally catches a glimpse of joy, giving her life a special meaning, it slips away no matter what she does…
It was truly miserable.
But she truly deserved it.
Ye Zhen hadn't yet figured out how to face Ye Fuli in the future. With the start of the new semester approaching, she decided to temporarily avoid the situation.
"You lot, go settle this Ye family heiress in properly, then fetch two doctors to treat her thoroughly."
Ye Zhen entrusted the young lady to the reliable female workers at the factory and gave them some instructions.
"Whatever she wants to eat or drink, you give it to her. Don't be stingy—charge it to my account."
Everyone in the factory understood perfectly!
The way they looked at Ye Fuli was like gazing upon a living money tree.
This was a billionaire heiress, after all.
How could they not serve her well? Would they dare to betray the ancestral spirits?
"Rest assured, Director! Leaving her to us is the right choice. We guarantee she'll gain a pound a day, grow plump and healthy, and be as white as snow." The factory's feed research technician assured him.
"Ah, this…?"
Ye Zhen listened to this and felt something was off.
Her mind inexplicably conjured an image of Ye Fuli in her Pro Max version, sending a shiver down her spine.
"There's no need to fatten her up too much."
Another technician snorted. "Exactly! Do you think caring for patients is like raising pigs? Patient care requires balanced nutrition and a cheerful disposition. I'll sing her a lullaby every night, and if necessary, I can even use my ancestral massage techniques…"
The conversation spiraled out of control at this point.
So the others started chiming in too.
"How about we all wear nurse uniforms?"
"Role-playing, huh? Might as well go full maid outfits."
"You guys are seriously out of your minds! How about we hire a male model group too?"
Ye Zhen felt increasingly uneasy as she listened.
She quickly called a halt to the group's wild ideas.
"Stop doing unnecessary things! If you piss her off, you'll have to deal with it yourselves. I'm not getting involved."
After getting her point across, Ye Zhen picked up her suitcase and prepared to slip out of the factory grounds.
However.
The moment she reached the factory gate, she spotted a familiar minivan with an auspicious license plate.
Ye Zhen's heart skipped a beat, and her feet froze in place.
The van pulled up slowly, and the door opened.
The person stepping out wore a thick down jacket. Though most of his hair had turned white, his eyes were bright and he looked remarkably energetic.
That face—the one Ye Zhen often thought of with a pang of guilt.
The moment their eyes met, Ye's father visibly froze.
But he quickly averted his gaze.
"How could it be…"
Ye Dad simply couldn't believe that his disfigured daughter, missing for so long, was alive and well—and had even grown so beautiful.
The thought that he had been searching for traces of his daughter in a stranger filled him with guilt.
Yet, as Ye Zhen walked past him, he couldn't help but steal another glance.
"Sigh."
He let out a long sigh, giving his head a sharp tap to force himself to stop fantasizing.
"Enough! I should go check on Ye Fuli's condition first."
This New Year's Eve, he, the old father, spent alone.
Lonely. Truly lonely.
In a villa over 500 square meters, hearing only the echo of his own voice—how could he not feel lonely?
But then he thought of Ye Fuli, who would have his other daughter by her side. They could have snowball fights together, set off fireworks, go shopping…
He felt his loneliness wasn't quite so unbearable after all.
This accident had made him see things more clearly.
He would no longer impose his will upon his daughters. He only wished for their happiness, even if they were not by his side…
As for himself?
He had his own retirement life—fishing, sipping tea, listening to music and watching plays—all things he enjoyed.
Finding Ye Fuli hadn't cost him much.
After all, Ye Fuli was different from Ye Zhen, who had run away from home years ago. She hadn't deliberately concealed her whereabouts; her trail was easy to follow.
Ye Dad came today merely to quietly check on Ye Fuli's situation.
If Ye Fuli was living happily, he had no intention of bringing her back home.
But if Ye Fuli was in a bad way, or causing serious trouble for others, then he would have to bring her home, take her to the hospital, and continue her treatment.
…
"Ye Fuli? She's in this room!"
After providing his identification and explaining his purpose, the receptionist at the factory immediately led him to the door of Ye Fuli's room.
"She's doing okay! Our boss arranged for excellent doctors to treat her…"
Ye Dad cautiously stepped into the room.
Seeing Ye Fuli lying on the sofa with an IV in her arm, his heart ached.
At that moment, Ye Fuli had just regained some consciousness.
Her ears could pick up sounds from outside, but her eyes remained tightly shut.
She twitched her fingers, trying to lift her arm, but let it fall limply.
"Sweetheart, rest well. Don't move around."
Ye Fuli heard these words and indeed stopped moving about.
The people in the room discreetly withdrew, leaving father and daughter alone to speak.
Ye Dad sighed and said, "You saw Zhenzhen, didn't you? Where is she? Can you let Daddy see her?"
"She…"
Ye Fuli's voice was faint and slightly hoarse.
Thinking of Ye Zhen now, she felt a pang of envy.
"She's doing well. She's happy, living the life she wants…"
Hearing this, Ye Dad felt much relieved.
Ye Fuli forced her eyes open, gazing at Ye Dad through a haze.
She expected him to demand Ye Zhen's whereabouts or order her to bring Ye Zhen back.
But he did neither.
He had truly changed.
This man was utterly different from the one in her memories from her previous life.
Ye Dad simply said gently, "Knowing she's alive and well is probably the best gift I've received this New Year."
"Don't you want to see her again?"
Ye Dad shook his head. "Meeting each other requires consideration for both parties' feelings, not just our own, right?"
Ye Fuli, lying down, closed her eyes once more.
She bit her lip and shed silent tears.
The fragmented memories of that period of her life remained etched firmly in her mind.
Through this accident, she had glimpsed a different landscape—and witnessed Ye Zhen's life, one she would fight to the death to protect.
She had always believed Ye Zhen was a domesticated kitten, her claws clipped and wildness tamed. She had always thought that without her protection, Ye Zhen would meet a tragic end beneath the bridge.
But now…
She realized her mistake.
Without her, Ye Fuli, Ye Zhen thrived—she lived well and happily.
It wasn't that Ye Zhen couldn't live without her. It was that she, Ye Fuli, couldn't live without Ye Zhen.
"Dad, I need to tell you something."
"What is it?"
Ye Fuli paused for a moment before speaking slowly, "I want to pursue Ye Zhen and become her lifelong partner. Will you agree?"