Fu Bing didn’t answer.
"I’m heading back first."
"Aren’t you staying for breakfast?"
"I have other things to do."
Fu Bing walked back to her villa and drove away in the Mercedes-Benz from her garage.
By the time she arrived home, Su Junling and Aunt Mei were already there.
Su Junling was relieved to see Fu Bing’s complexion had improved significantly. But his eyes dimmed slightly when his gaze fell on the hickey on Fu Bing’s collarbone, which even foundation couldn’t completely hide.
Fu Bing knew Qin Jinhai had done it on purpose.Last night, Qin Jinhai had desperately bitten and gnawed at places her clothes wouldn’t cover, clearly wanting to embarrass her.
Fu Bing didn’t mind, but being naturally shy, her face still reddened slightly. Her cheeks were rosy, and her eyes, glistening with moisture, made her look exceptionally beautiful.
Su Junling swallowed hard and averted his gaze.
He cleared his throat. "I’m troubling you today."
"I’m being paid for my services, so it’s no trouble at all."
Fu Bing sent a message to Wu Shi, asking him to come over and return the car to Imperial Garden. The pink car was now used alternately by Xiaomei and Uncle He. She had given them the Ford, but they complained it was too big and inconvenient for navigating the narrow alleys.
Fu Bing got into Su Junling’s Audi.
Su Junling said, "I’m sorry for the unpleasantness you experienced when you visited my home last time."
"It’s all in the past."
Having interacted with Su Junling for over a month, Fu Bing had come to understand his personality quite well. At first, she thought he was arrogant and didn’t take others seriously. But after getting to know him better, she discovered he was someone who could listen to others’ suggestions. Fu Bing was willing to check on Mrs. Su partly because she considered Su Junling a friend.
The sanatorium had an excellent environment. It didn’t resemble a hospital; instead, it looked more like a top-tier villa community.
After Su Junling and Fu Bing changed into sterile gowns, they entered the ward.
When Fu Bing saw Mrs. Su’s condition, she still felt a jolt, despite being mentally prepared. She was terribly thin. Her skin also had an unhealthy, deathly pallor. If it weren’t for the monitors indicating she was still alive, her condition would seem more like that of a corpse.
Su Junling asked in a low voice, "Do you need me to step out?"
"First, explain to Mrs. Su. I will only proceed if she doesn’t resist my touch."
Su Junling was unaware that medical treatment could be conducted this way.He knew Fu Bing wouldn’t mislead him.
Sitting by the bed, he took Mrs. Su’s emaciated hand and said gently, "Mom, I brought Fu Bing to see you today. She’s skilled in acupuncture and just cured Grandma. Let her take a look at you."
After Su Junling finished speaking, he looked at Fu Bing, who nodded.
Su Junling rose and walked out, and Aunt Mei came in to replace him.
Su Junling watched from outside, through the large transparent window. His gaze lingered mostly on Fu Bing.
He was only seven when his mother fell into a coma. Now he was 28. For most of his life, the role of a mother had been absent. To speak of deep affection felt somewhat forced. Their father had always emphasized her presence. It was through this constant reinforcement that they developed a childlike attachment and bond to the woman who had lain in a hospital bed for years.
Fu Bing couldn’t read the data on the monitors, but she could take a pulse. Due to prolonged sleep, Mrs. Su’s body had suffered some functional degradation. Her muscles were atrophied and weak, and her internal organs also had problems. The most serious problem was with her back. Because she had been lying down for so long, the blood circulation in her back was poor, and her skin had become especially fragile.
Fu Bing signaled Aunt Mei to draw the curtains.
Understanding their intention, Su Junling went to the small garden outside the ward to wait.
Fu Bing unbuttoned Mrs. Su’s clothes and began to administer acupuncture. At the same time, she fed Mrs. Su the crushed medicine pill. Mrs. Su’s swallowing reflex was poor, so they could only feed her bit by bit. It took an hour to feed her the entire dose.
Fu Bing looked at the motionless Mrs. Su and sighed.
"If you’re unwilling to wake up, even the most skilled doctors can’t cure you. Whether it’s self-blame or guilt, you have to get up to deal with it. Everyone understands that your illness stems from longing for your daughter. But if you keep lying in bed, who will protect your daughter?"
"She was supposed to be the Su Family’s only precious daughter, cherished by her parents and elder brothers. She disappeared because of the adults’ negligence. As her mother, instead of searching for her, you’ve chosen to escape by sleeping all these years. Is this how you love your daughter?"
"Miss Fu, there are many things you don’t know," Aunt Mei interrupted.
"You all keep making excuses for her, which is why she feels justified in pretending to be asleep. If she continues , she’ll be nothing but a burden to you all, serving no purpose whatsoever," Fu Bing said coolly.
She had once fantasized that her biological parents were still looking for her.Or perhaps, they had wanted to abandon her all along.Whenever she felt wronged, she would imagine her real family suddenly appearing to protect her.But she was always met with disappointment.Whatever happened, she had to grit her teeth and endure it alone.
Fu Bing realized she was unconsciously viewing the situation from the perspective of Mrs. Su’s lost daughter. She quickly reminded herself to maintain her professional composure and continued to administer acupuncture to Mrs. Su.
Just then, Su Kexin arrived with Su Jiang and Su Junxian.
Facing the critical gazes of his father and eldest brother, Su Junling braced himself and explained, "I insisted on letting Fu Bing try. It has nothing to do with Aunt Mei."
Su Jiang retorted, "You’re being ridiculous! Fu Bing learned some shoddy acupuncture in prison; what could she possibly cure? Saving your grandmother last time was just a fluke. Do you really believe she has any actual skill?"
"Third Brother, are you trying to wish death upon Mom?" Su Kexin speculated maliciously. She had a delicate and pretty appearance and always acted submissive and demure. She was timid in both her actions and speech. Everything she said carried a tinge of pitiable helplessness, making her seem rather pathetic.
Su Junling had once felt some pity for this younger sister.But recently, after observing her attitude towards those outside the family, her timid and pitiable act only filled him with revulsion.
"Was it you who told Dad and Eldest Brother?" Su Junling asked, his expression grim.
Su Kexin, startled by Su Junling’s glare, hid fearfully behind Su Junxian, who was closest to her.
Su Jiang snapped, "How dare you glare at Kexin?"
Su Junling wanted to retort, but Su Junxian interrupted him.
"Dad, Junling has already brought her here. Just let her try. Maybe Fu Bing really can wake Mom up," Su Junxian said.
"I don’t believe someone with no medical training can cure illnesses," Su Jiang stated coldly and strode towards the ward.
Su Junling, afraid his father might harm Fu Bing, quickly followed.
Su Kexin, seeing she was now alone with Su Junxian, felt her eyes redden. Tears immediately welled up.
"Eldest Brother, I was just worried about Mom, and Third Brother actually yelled at me."
"Your Third Brother has always been hot-tempered. Don’t take his words to heart," Su Junxian said, lacking the patience to console her.
He, too, was eager to know if Fu Bing could wake their mother.Among the five brothers, he had spent the most time with their mother and held the deepest affection for her.Like his father, he desperately hoped she would awaken.
Seeing the closed ward door and that even the viewing window’s curtains were drawn, Su Jiang fumed, "Why is it sealed up so tightly? Are you in there humiliating my wife with some despicable tricks?"
"Get the spare key!" Su Jiang ordered.
The ward’s soundproofing was usually very effective, but Su Jiang’s voice was so loud it still carried clearly inside.
Aunt Mei said anxiously, "Miss Fu, the Master is here! The medical staff have a spare key to the ward. If we don’t open up, he’ll be furious."
Fu Bing was sweating profusely from the effort of inserting the acupuncture needles. Mrs. Su, lying on the bed, had also broken out in a profuse sweat, and her complexion was no longer as deathly pale as before. Her face, surprisingly, finally had a hint of color.
"Mei Xue, open the door this instant! Liying has always treated you well. How can you stand by and let someone defile her body?"