LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 680: Defeated by Reality
Xiao Han hung his head, seemingly understanding Chen Zihan.
As a daughter, with a father who had lost the ability to work and a mother facing a terminal illness, how could she stand by idly?
"Why didn't you come to me?" Xiao Han suddenly asked.
"Could you come up with five million?" Chen Zihan suddenly laughed and said, "Even if you sold your shop and your training classes, I estimate you couldn't put together five million, right? But the Jiang Family can, and maybe after spending that five million, they could give me another five million!"
"Yes..." Xiao Han suddenly felt a sense of despair. There were many things he wanted to say, but they got stuck in his throat, and he didn't want to say them anymore.
"Xiao Han, I didn't betray you," Chen Zihan said with her head lowered and in a soft voice, "I was defeated by reality."
"I understand you," Xiao Han took a deep breath and said, "But I can't believe you."
After saying that, Xiao Han stood up, turned around, and walked outside.
Chen Zihan also hurriedly followed him out.
"Stop!" Chen Zihan suddenly shouted.
Xiao Han stopped in his tracks and asked, "Is there anything else? Future Madam Jiang."
In truth, Xiao Han knew he had no reason to be angry, nor the right to be. For one, he himself had had more than one or two girlfriends; for another, if it had been him, he probably would have made the same choice as Chen Zihan.
However, Xiao Han wouldn't allow his emotions to be betrayed. As a testament to his loyalty to love, he felt as if Jiang Xiaoliang was mocking him.
"Do you look down on me?!" Chen Zihan asked loudly.
"No!" Xiao Han shook his head.
"If you were in my shoes, you would make the same choice!" Chen Zihan hysterically shouted at Xiao Han's back, "Because among the choices that defeated me, there was no choice!"
Xiao Han nodded and said, "Take care."
After that, Xiao Han immediately jumped into his car and drove away.
Watching Xiao Han's fading figure, Chen Zihan felt extremely heartbroken.
She didn't want to ruin the relationship between the two of them, but if she didn't act this way, Xiao Han would not become ambitious. She heard that Xiao Han was now proudly featured in domestic news and on television, presenting himself as a successful young man, not realizing that this would only bury his talents and gifts.
Truthfully, Chen Zihan still loved Xiao Han in her heart. But reality is reality, and everyone has to face it.
In the past, her family was well-off, without a care in the world, freely talking of love. Yet now, with the family's fortune gone, her father unable to work, and her mother suffering from a dire illness in urgent need of money, Chen Zihan had no choice but to be defeated by reality.
Screech...
At this moment, two Porsches stopped in front of Chen Zihan.
"Zihan, what are you doing here?" Jiang Xiaoliang opened the car door and asked, "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing!" Chen Zihan shook her head and said, "I'm fine."
"Then why are you crying?" Jiang Xiaoliang asked, puzzled.
"I... My stomach hurts!" Chen Zihan bit her lip with teary eyes.
"Get in the car, I'll take you home," Jiang Xiaoliang hurriedly helped Chen Zihan into the car and after getting in, he handed her a tissue and said, "Here, wipe your tears!"
Chen Zihan took the tissue, looked at Jiang Xiaoliang, and seemed to find him not as annoying as before.
Now already engaged to Jiang Xiaoliang, even though there was no love between them, it was only right to nurture some feelings, as they were to live together for the rest of their lives. Chen Zihan had to accept reality, accept the fate that had been arranged for her.
Back at home.
Chen Qiao opened the door, Chen Zihan came up by herself, Jiang Xiaoliang had dropped her off at the front door and left not because he didn't want to come in, but because Chen Zihan had asked him to go back. To curry favor with Chen Zihan, Jiang Xiaoliang had no choice but to obey.
As he was leaving, Jiang Xiaoliang glared viciously at Chen Zihan's silhouette and said, "Wait until you marry me, I'll see how I can torment you!"
Chen Zihan was unaware of the anger in Jiang Xiaoliang's heart.
There was a time when Chen Zihan had insulted Jiang Xiaoliang for Xiao Han.
There was a time when Chen Zihan had humiliated Jiang Xiaoliang for Xiao Han.
All along, Jiang Xiaoliang had pursued Chen Zihan like she was a goddess, but he could never win her favor. Now, Chen Zihan was finally going to be his fiancée, and once they married, he was determined to vent all his pent-up anger on her.
"Zihan, you're back?" Chen Qiao looked at her daughter and asked, "How is your mom doing now?"
"Uncle Jiang has already contacted cancer specialists from Beijing Union Medical College Hospital to have a consultation in Linjiang City," Chen Zihan nodded slightly and said, "The results should be out tomorrow, we'll see what the experts say. If it doesn't work out, we'll have to go to the United States for treatment."
"The United States is too expensive," Chen Qiao said, shaking her head immediately upon hearing this, "Though medical science in the United States is advanced, the cost is really too high, something ordinary people can't afford."
"Isn't there the Jiang Family?" Chen Zihan smiled and then said, "I am now the daughter-in-law of the Jiang Family, are they really unwilling to pay this little amount of money?"
"Silly child, spending too much of your in-laws' money will get people talking," Chen Qiao shook his head and said, "Our family and the Jiang Family just aren't equal at all. You're at a disadvantage marrying into their family."
"Dad, how can I be at a disadvantage?" Chen Zihan shook her head and said, "If it comes down to it, I'll just get a divorce. This is a lawful society, surely their family wouldn't dare to mistreat me, right?"
"Ah..." Chen Qiao sighed deeply and said, "Marriage in China isn't as simple as you imagine. Especially after marrying into a wealthy family, it's not so easy to just get a divorce whenever you want."
"This is a lawful society, not a feudal one," Chen Zihan smiled and said, "If he's not good to me, I'll get a divorce."
Chen Qiao silently made his way to the sofa with the help of his cane.
Chen Zihan supported her father.
"Dad, I'm going to cook," Chen Zihan said, "I'll take the food to Mom in a bit."
"Alright, go ahead!" Chen Qiao nodded.
Chen Qiao had aged a lot suddenly. In the past half-year, to allow his daughter and wife to live more comfortably in the United States, he had spared no effort to work multiple jobs. He taught at school during the day and tutored in the evenings. It was extremely hard work and turned the hair of Chen Qiao, not even fifty, quite white. And ever since the car accident, when the driver had fled the scene, the police had still not been able to find the person responsible. All the medical expenses had to be paid out of pocket.
Now, with no income and such large expenses, Chen Qiao was even more anxious, and his hair turned completely white overnight.
When Chen Zihan saw her father for the first time, her heart shattered. It was precisely because of her father's head of white hair that Chen Zihan accepted the Jiang Family's support. Otherwise, with her personality, she would have flat-out refused any financial aid from the Jiang Family.
Chen Zihan entered the kitchen and prepared several of her best dishes.
She then packed the meals into a lunch box and hurried to the hospital. Chen Qiao watched his daughter's retreating figure, and the wrinkles on his face deepened.
Chen Zihan had never cooked before, but now she was forced to. It was an unprecedented event. Chen Qiao felt an even deeper guilt towards his daughter. Tears flowed down uncontrollably into the bowl, mixing with the rice as he scooped it into his mouth.
These days, Chen Zihan was almost too busy to manage. She was heartbroken over her mother's illness.
But besides her, there was no one else to help. Although Chen Zihan was now just over twenty years old, the burden she bore on her shoulders was far heavier than any adult. Her father had lost the ability to work and could only retire early to rest at home; her mother was in the hospital with breast cancer, waiting for a consultation with the doctors. And for the sake of her family, to offer a glimmer of hope to their once-comfortable home now fallen into poverty, she had no choice but to accept the pursuit of a man she did not like and become his fiancée.
Whenever she thought of this, Chen Zihan felt an overwhelming urge to weep without tears.
............
In the hospital.
Chen Zihan brought the boxed meals to her mother's ward.
Because the lesion had not yet been determined and the cause of the illness had not been found, and also because the Linjiang City hospitals were seeking cooperation from many sources, especially guidance from experts at Beijing Union Medical College Hospital, Chen Zihan's mother had been staying in the ward all along.
Ever since learning that she had a terminal illness, she appeared increasingly unwell and was deteriorating daily. Especially at the beginning, when she first found out she was seriously ill, she almost collapsed and visited several hospitals for a definite diagnosis. After being diagnosed at Shanghai Fudan University Affiliated Hospital, she resigned herself to acceptance of the reality.
"Mom, it's time to eat," Chen Zihan entered the ward.
At that moment, Mother Chen stood by the window, dressed in a hospital gown.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Chen Zihan looked at her mother with concern.
"Zihan, what do you think would happen if I jumped from here?" Mother Chen asked softly.
"Mom, you mustn't think like that," Chen Zihan hurried over and took hold of her mother.
"I won't do anything foolish," Mother Chen shook her head and said, "I just feel... like life is meaningless."
"Mom, don't worry, experts from Beijing Union Medical College Hospital are already consulting on your illness," Chen Zihan said hastily, "Don't worry, it will be alright."
"Hmm," Mother Chen nodded and said, "I understand."
"Hurry and eat," Chen Zihan urged.
Mother Chen turned and walked to a chair and sat down to eat.
Chen Zihan took out the meal she prepared, one box with rice and another with the dishes.
Upon opening the box, the aroma wafted out.
"Has anyone from the Jiang Family come looking for you?" Mother Chen inquired.
"Yes," Chen Zihan nodded.
"Did they mention marriage?" Mother Chen asked again.
"Not yet," Chen Zihan shook her head and said, "How could it be that quick? We have just started dating, how can we talk about marriage so soon?"
"Why not?" Mother Chen became anxious upon hearing this, "You've already accepted five million from them, doesn't that amount to a betrothal gift? You're already their fiancée now. If the Jiang Family suggests that the two of you should get married, then you should just agree."