When Yi Roujing arrived at the hospital, Wang Qiushuang had just woken up. Mrs. Kang was feeding her water, soup, and porridge.

Upon seeing Yi Roujing come in, Wang Qiushuang was very excited and tried to move, but it pulled on her wound, and her face instantly turned pale.

"Don’t move around." Yi Roujing walked over quickly.

"Niuniu..."

"Niuniu is fine. She’s at my house, and my mom is taking care of her. I saw her sleeping before I came here. I’ll bring her to see you tomorrow." Yi Roujing said as she sat down by the bed.

Upon hearing this, Wang Qiushuang’s face showed a relieved smile, but then she remembered Li Xipei and her smile faded. "Have Li Xipei and his group been caught?"

"Yes, rest assured, you won’t encounter such things in the future." Yi Roujing assured.

"That’s good."

"Thank you." Yi Roujing said sincerely to Wang Qiushuang, "I didn’t expect they had guns. If it weren’t for you, I might have died."

"If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have encountered such a thing." Wang Qiushuang felt remorseful. "If they hadn’t used Niuniu to threaten me, I wouldn’t have brought you into danger."

"In the end, it’s I who owe you an apology."

"Let’s not go back and forth with thanks and apologies." Yi Roujing changed the topic, "What’s most important now is for you to recuperate well. After you’re discharged, come to my home to continue your recovery."

"When I get discharged, I want to take Niuniu back to Jiang Province." Wang Qiushuang planned. "I’ve taken quite some time off. After knowing Niuniu’s not seriously ill, I feel alive again. I’ll live well and take good care of the child."

"Don’t rush anything." Yi Roujing advised, "Your health is most important. When Niuniu comes to the hospital tomorrow, she should also have a checkup. The university isn’t going anywhere."

"I have good friends in Jiang Province. Once your health is fully restored, I’ll introduce you to them, so we can be assured when you’re in Jiang Province."

"And don’t rush to decline." Yi Roujing said, seeing Wang Qiushuang hesitate, "Even if not for yourself, you should consider Niuniu."

"You’re alone with a child, needing to study—juggling everything. Even if you hire someone to help, they need to be trustworthy. Having someone known in Jiang Province can introduce reliable people to you."

Wang Qiushuang didn’t refuse this time, her eyes filled with gratitude, "I owe you so much."

"Saying that means we’re strangers. We’re like friends who have been through life and death together." Yi Roujing said with a smile.

Wang Qiushuang, hearing this, also smiled.

"Yi Roujing, I’m Wang Qiushuang. Can we get to know each other again as friends?" Wang Qiushuang asked hopefully.

"Of course." Yi Roujing readily agreed, nodding in agreement, "Wang Qiushuang, let’s become true friends."

Women’s friendships come suddenly. It might be a random compliment, shared interests, or a favor out of mutual benefit.

But true friendship is born out of adversity, is about speaking directly to each other, and is based on mutual trust and support.

Yi Roujing left after Wang Qiushuang fell asleep. It was already midnight when she stepped out of the ward and saw Xu Ancheng gazing out of the window, bathed in moonlight.

"Let’s go home." Yi Roujing walked up, grabbing Xu Ancheng’s hand while leaning her head against him.

"Okay." Xu Ancheng clenched the soft hand in his palm.

On June 7th, Yi Roujing held Niuniu in one hand and Baozi in the other, accompanied by Xu Ancheng and Li Hongying, as they headed straight to Wang Qiushuang’s hospital room.

"Mommy—" As soon as the hospital room door opened, Niuniu saw Wang Qiushuang lying on the bed and let go of Yi Roujing’s hand to run towards her.

"Hey, Niuniu, slow down, your body just got a little better." Despite the wound’s pain, Wang Qiushuang sat up slowly. Niuniu, though young, was understanding, stopping as she reached the bedside.

"Auntie Roujing said mommy is sick and cannot be bumped." Niuniu said in her childish voice, "Mommy, are you okay?"

Wang Qiushuang slightly moved her right hand to cover her daughter’s, "Mommy is fine, just like when you were being treated by doctors in white coats before. After staying a few more days, I’ll be back to normal."

"That’s great." Niuniu grinned widely.

"Qiushuang, are you hungry? Auntie made soup and tomato dumplings. The doctor said you should still have liquid food these days." Li Hongying opened the thermos and began feeding Wang Qiushuang.

"Auntie, I..."

"You shouldn’t move around now. Eat on your own when you get better." Li Hongying said.

"Mommy, Grandma’s dumplings are so delicious." Niuniu said happily, "The best I’ve ever had."

Yi Roujing and the others sat on chairs, peeling fruit and offering them to the two children.

"Big brother, you can have the big one; I’ll take the small one. Mommy said it’s polite." Niuniu said earnestly, "I can’t finish too much anyway."

Baozi thanked her and started eating strawberries.

"Big brother, what is this? It’s my first time eating it." Niuniu asked, curious, after being taken by the sweet fragrance of strawberries.

"Strawberries," Baozi replied, "Children should eat slowly, savoring each bite. If you like them, you can have them all."

Baozi pointed at the plate of washed strawberries and said, "And since you’re calling me big brother, a big brother should let his little sister eat more."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Being a big brother is not easy."

...

The gentle sunlight, the warm hospital room, the innocent, childish conversations, and the caring whispers made for a very beautiful scene.

After eating, Wang Qiushuang underwent a check-up with Yi Roujing and Niuniu, with normal results. The doctor completed her discharge procedures. Hospital expenses totaled eighty-five yuan, and along with the food expenses for that period, Yi Roujing was refunded two hundred and seven yuan by the hospital.

Back in the hospital room, Yi Roujing handed the refunded money to Wang Qiushuang, "With our relationship now, you won’t refuse, right?"

Wang Qiushuang gave a helpless smile, "Okay, I’ll accept it and repay you slowly when I earn money."

"Okay."

During Wang Qiushuang’s hospitalization, daily meals were delivered by Mrs. Kang or Li Hongying. Thanks to the nutritious intake, Wang Qiushuang’s wound healed well.

On June 10th, the Dragon Boat Festival, that day Xia Xingchen had a cesarean section. Two days earlier, Xia Xingchen was admitted to Harmony Hospital, as her due date came without any signs of labor, prompting the doctor to decide on a cesarean.

Two hours later, a loud cry echoed through the delivery room: Xia Xingchen and Gu Shizhao’s son was born.

Due to the cesarean, the hospitalization time was slightly longer. Li Hongying delivered soups to Xia Xingchen every day, while also attending to Wang Qiushuang, and busied herself with the commute.

On June 20th, Xia Xingchen and Wang Qiushuang were both discharged on the same day. They both went to Beiluo Lane, where the main house had three rooms: one for Ding Wei and Li Hongying, and the remaining two for them.

With Ruan Qingru taking care of Dumplings and Tangyuan, Li Hongying had no trouble looking after the two newly discharged patients.