Chapter 092: If You Can't Cure Me, Will You Lock Me Up Forever?
Ye Zhen still lay in the hospital ward.
After a brief emotional outburst, she quickly calmed down again.
As time passed, the bandages on her arm had been removed, and the daily IV drips had been reduced by more than half.
Of course, the number of visitors had also dwindled by more than half.
Only He Ying and Huang Li visited her daily, each time bringing something new.
Sometimes they brought premium fruits, other times just street-side pancakes, or even toys meant for children.
Ye Zhen was still grateful to them…
Though most of what they brought ended up being eaten by themselves.
Those toys were just for them to play with.
Hmm…
"Ugh, this is so boring. I want to get out of the hospital."
Ye Zhen touched her bandaged face, feeling a bit down.
Had this thing been wrapped around her head for so long that it might actually make her face look thinner?
Well, of course, whether her face was slim or not was secondary now.
Once the bandages came off, she was bound to be faced with a sight so horrifying it would make anyone's soul flee.
Huang Li handed her a cup of ginger-flavored cola: "Senior, want some?"
Under Ye Zhen's disgusted gaze, Huang Li started drinking it herself, looking utterly delighted.
This made Ye Zhen wonder if this girl's taste buds were wired differently from normal humans.
He Ying's offering was much more to her taste.
"Where did you get such huge cherries?"
"Bought them online. You can find anything online."
Ye Zhen took a bite and found them less tasty than ordinary cherries.
After finishing it, He Ying handed her a peeled red grape.
"This thing… doesn't need peeling, right?"
"I think it does! Open wide, ah~"
Looking at the grape, now stripped beyond recognition, Ye Zhen felt a pang of sadness, but she didn't want to disappoint her friend's kindness.
"Want to try some chili-fried chicken-flavored potato chips?"
"Yellow Hair! Get those junk foods away from me! Are you trying to poison my little sister?"
"Pinkie, call me Yellow Hair one more time, and don't blame me for hitting a girl."
"Ha! You'd dare hit me? How many millions do you have in the bank to act so cocky?"
……
……
The first day of school was just around the corner.
In her current state, Ye Zhen obviously couldn't go to school. But Ye Dad had already packed up all the textbooks she needed and brought them home.
These past days had left Ye Dad emotionally and physically drained. Neglecting his appearance, he looked much older.
Ye Zhen didn't quite dare to face him.
"Next week, a team of specialists will conduct a consultation. Zhenzhen, get yourself ready."
Ye Dad, too, didn't quite dare to face her.
Her arm injuries were relatively minor, yet they had already left several unsettling scars.
If the injuries on her arms were this bad…
What about her face?
Burns weren't that easy to treat.
They had given Ye Zhen the best medical care and the finest medicines, but the attending physician had warned them not to hold out too much hope—her face would inevitably bear scars.
At first, Mrs. Ye genuinely felt heartbroken for her, but as time passed, her pain gradually subsided into a calm acceptance.
She still visited Ye Zhen at the hospital every day, though her stays grew shorter each time.
She often stared blankly at Ye Zhen's bandaged face.
Her gaze held an emotion Ye Zhen couldn't fathom.
"I want to be discharged," Ye Zhen told her father. "It's been so long. I should be able to leave now, shouldn't I?"
Her father, sitting by her bed and carefully peeling an apple, lifted his head slightly. "After the expert team finishes their consultation, I'll take you abroad for treatment. I've already made an appointment with a renowned specialist who specializes in burn injuries…"
His answer sidestepped her question.
Ye Zhen sighed softly. "I want to leave the hospital."
"I remember Zhenzhen saying she loves snow-capped mountains, grasslands, and endless starry skies. The convalescent home I've arranged for you has scenery just like that. You'll love it."
Ye Zhen clenched her fingers weakly. "I want to leave the hospital."
"Zhenzhen, stop being stubborn."
The apple peel suddenly snapped, dangling precariously over the edge of the trash can before swaying gently and falling to the floor.
Outside the window today was perfect weather—not a cloud in sight, bright sunshine, yet not too hot.
A cool breeze swept in, rustling the pages of Ye Zhen's open textbook.
The maid standing on the other side closed the window.
Ye Dad continued peeling the apple with his knife, his tone growing stern again. "How can you go out looking like this?"
"I don't mind being ugly."
Ye Dad glared at her. "No one dares to dislike you for being ugly!"
"Then I want to leave the hospital. I don't need treatment anymore."
Ye Dad shook his head. "No. Zhenzhen, you can't."
Under his intense gaze, Ye Zhen slowly lowered her head.
She made no further demands to leave the hospital.
"Dad, if I stay this ugly forever, will you lock me up in a nursing home until the day I die?"
Ye Dad paused before replying, "You will be cured. As long as our family doesn't go bankrupt, we'll keep seeking treatment. You will be cured."
"Even if I say I don't need treatment anymore, you'll still keep going?"
Ye Dad handed her a peeled apple.
He sighed softly.
He offered no further reply.
Truthfully, he lacked the courage to face Ye Zhen's expression, nor did he have the courage to confront the gossip swirling around them.
His daughter had always been beautiful and adorable, growing up showered with compliments.
Now, to see her like this…
If she were to step outside the Ye family gates, the volume of criticism and ridicule she would face was beyond his imagination as a father.
There was no doubt he cherished this daughter.
But he couldn't help but care about the opinions and whispers of others.
Such things would wound not only him, but Ye Zhen as well.
This time, taking Ye Zhen abroad, his true intention was for her to stay overseas for several years—perhaps four or five, perhaps seven or eight.
The nursing home was in an excellent location, with exorbitant fees, first-rate service, and a top-notch environment.
Ye Zhen wouldn't feel lonely there.
"Alright, Zhenzhen. Get plenty of rest and read fewer books. Dad has to head to the office now."
"Mm."
Ye Zhen watched him leave, then turned her head to glance at the maid staring at her.
Ever since the bandages were removed from her leg, Ye's parents had sent this maid over to ensure she took her medicine and rested properly.
Ye Zhen hadn't resisted at all, remaining fairly obedient.
"Young Miss, it's time to rest."
The maid took the book from in front of her and placed it back on the bookshelf by the window.
Immediately afterward, she drew the curtains.
The room instantly grew much darker.
Ye Zhen sighed, pulled the quilt up, and covered herself.
She stared at the maid, who stared back at her.
People tend to feel sleepy during seasonal changes. The maid was yawning constantly but dared not slack off.
"There's plum juice in the refrigerator. You can have some to perk yourself up."
"Miss, that belongs to you. I can't touch it."
Ye Zhen smiled faintly, deliberately teasing, "But what if you fall asleep and I run away? You don't want to work anymore, do you?"
Hearing this, the maid's expression shifted slightly.
She stood up, walked to the refrigerator, and took out a box of plum juice. "Thank you, Miss."
The plum juice the rich drank seemed different from anything she'd ever tasted.
The maid downed it in one gulp, letting out an accidental burp.
The room was quiet, filled only with the sound of wind rattling the windowpanes.
The sky gradually darkened.
The maid sat in the chair beside Ye Zhen, chin resting in her hand, growing drowsy.
Just as she couldn't hold herself up any longer and finally slumped forward, Ye Zhen pulled back the blanket covering her and got out of bed.
"Looks like I guessed right—those white round pills are sedatives, not painkillers. All that acting to hide the pills for days wasn't for nothing."
[Host, you're getting more and more wicked—daring to drug others!]
"I only gave it because you said it wasn't lethal."
Ye Zhen pulled the needle from her arm, walked barefoot to the wardrobe, removed her hospital gown, and carefully unwrapped the bandages from her face.
The facial injuries had been simulated to appear scabbed over.
Since it didn't hurt anyway, Ye Zhen wasn't worried about anything.
First, she changed into an unremarkable tracksuit and slipped on ordinary flat shoes.
Next, she donned a mask and sunglasses, let her hair fall loose, and pulled on a large woolen hat.
She studied her reflection in the mirror for a moment, satisfied that everything looked right before stepping out of the ward.
[Host, are you planning to just run away?]
"Like I could?"
Ye Zhen tugged at the corner of her mouth, revealing a meaningful smile.
"If I could really slip out of the hospital this easily, I'd have to start looking down on Ye Fuli from now on."
[Host, what are you… Σ(⊙▽⊙"a]
The dog system sensed its lazy host was getting increasingly off-kilter.
Why did it feel like something was seriously wrong?!