Over the next few days, Hua Yusen worked hard to control his emotions.
He wouldn’t get angry so easily anymore.
Even on the rare occasions he couldn’t hold back his anger, he did his best not to take it out on anyone else.
Even Song Yixian was surprised by Hua Yusen’s change.
’She never thought he could actually kick his habit of hitting people.’
Hua Manman made time to visit Hua Yusen in the hospital every day.
She also noticed Hua Yusen’s change, and was naturally very relieved.
’He wasn’t a lost cause just yet.’
With the twenty-day deadline fast approaching, Hua Manman made a special trip home to personally simmer a fish head and tofu soup.
It had been one of Hua Yusen’s favorite dishes.
The silky tofu soaked in the creamy white fish broth, giving off a rich, savory aroma.
Hua Manman also made some vegetable congee.
As she passed a cake shop, she couldn’t resist pushing the door open and buying a small cream cake.
A single, vibrant red strawberry adorned the pure white cream.
It looked delicious at a single glance.
Carrying the thermos in one hand and the cake box in the other, Hua Manman walked into the hospital with a spring in her step.
Hua Yusen had since been moved from the observation ward to a general ward.
In addition to Hua Yusen, there were two other patients in the room.
As Hua Manman reached the door to the ward, she heard a fierce argument break out inside, punctuated by Hua Yusen’s furious tirades.
Her heart sank, and she rushed inside.
Inside the ward, Hua Yusen was out of bed, pointing at Song Yixian and Wang Shiye and screaming abuse at them.
"Get the hell out! I never want to see you two shameless dogs again!"
Wang Shiye pulled Song Yixian behind him, taking a protective stance.
The other two patients were on their feet, and one had already pressed the nurse call button.
Wang Shiye frowned. "We were just trying to help. If you don’t appreciate it, that’s fine, but why resort to insults?"
It would have been better if he had remained silent. The moment he spoke, Hua Yusen’s rage flared even higher.
Hua Yusen snatched the water cup from the bedside table and hurled it violently at Wang Shiye.
"I don’t need your phony kindness!"
Shielding Song Yixian, Wang Shiye dodged, but his hand was still cut by a flying shard from the shattered cup.
When Song Yixian saw the back of Wang Shiye’s hand bleeding, she panicked.
"Doctor Wang, you’re hurt!"
She rushed to open a cabinet, pulled out a clean towel, and tried to press it against his wound.
Seeing how protective she was of Wang Shiye, a blaze of jealousy consumed Hua Yusen, incinerating his last shred of reason.
He lunged at Song Yixian, ready to strike.
He had struck Song Yixian countless times before, and the motion was already second nature.
Before anyone could react, Hua Yusen lunged forward and slapped Song Yixian hard across the face.
The slap not only stunned Song Yixian but also shocked everyone else present.
Wang Shiye was the first to react.
He rushed over and shoved Hua Yusen away.
He looked like he wanted to throw a punch, but he held back. After all, Hua Yusen was a patient, and he was a doctor in his white coat.
Wang Shiye steadied the swaying Song Yixian and said in a low voice.
"Let’s go."
The two of them headed for the door.
They stopped short when they saw Hua Manman.
Hua Yusen wasn’t about to let them go. He started after them, but then he saw Hua Manman standing in the doorway.
In that instant, it was as if he’d been hit with an immobilization technique. His feet were frozen to the spot, and his expression turned to one of panic.
"Manman..."
Apparently, Song Yixian hadn’t expected Manman to suddenly appear either.
She covered her red, swollen cheek, forcing herself to act as if nothing was wrong.
"Manman, what are you doing here?"
Hua Manman placed the thermos and cake box on a nearby stool and gave Wang Shiye a slight bow.
"I’m so sorry you had to witness that. Let me take you to get that wound treated. We’ll cover the medical expenses."
Wang Shiye said there was no need to be so formal.
But Hua Manman insisted.
She told Song Yixian to go wait in the car, and she accompanied Wang Shiye to the ground floor to get his injury treated.
The entire time, she never once looked at Hua Yusen.
Her disappointment was palpable.
A nurse hurried in, saw the floor covered in ceramic shards, and demanded to know what happened.
The other two patients looked at Hua Yusen in unison.
Hua Yusen said nothing, his eyes fixed on the thermos and cake box on the stool. His expression was ghastly.
Left with no choice, the nurse called the cleaning staff to sweep up the shards on the floor.
After finishing the cleanup, the cleaner noticed the thermos and cake box on the stool. Before leaving, they asked offhandedly.
"Whose things are these? If nobody wants them, I’m tossing them out."
That finally snapped Hua Yusen out of his stupor. He lunged forward and clutched the thermos and cake box to his chest.
The cleaner, startled by his sudden movement, muttered under their breath.
"What a psycho!"
With trembling hands, Hua Yusen carefully unscrewed the thermos.
But when he saw the fish head and tofu soup inside, it felt like he had been punched squarely in the chest.
It ached with a pain so intense he wanted to cry.
’I was so close.’
’So close to keeping my promise to Manman.’
’Why can’t I control my own damn hands?!’
...
Although Wang Shiye repeatedly refused, Hua Manman insisted on paying the medical fees for having his wound bandaged.
Hua Manman asked if he wanted to file a police report. If he did, she said, she would cooperate and give a statement.
Wang Shiye looked at her young face and felt a great deal of sympathy for her.
’Saddled with a father like that, she must have endured a lot.’
Wang Shiye said, "There’s no need for that. This is a hospital, after all. If we make a big scene, it won’t be good for me or the hospital."
Hua Manman nodded, respecting his decision.
After a moment’s thought, Wang Shiye couldn’t resist offering a suggestion.
"Forgive me for overstepping, but your father’s mental state doesn’t seem healthy. I suggest you find a psychiatrist for him. I have a former classmate who’s an expert in this field. If you need, I can give you his contact information."
Hua Manman replied, "Thank you for the kind offer, but I don’t think that will be necessary."
She had completely given up on Hua Yusen.
’She would pay for his medical treatment, but she would never come to the hospital to see him again.’
’From now on, what became of him was up to his own fate.’
Hua Manman went home with Song Yixian.
She boiled an egg for Song Yixian to press against her cheek to reduce the swelling.
Song Yixian placed the warm egg on her cheek, rolling it gently.
She thought Manman would ask why she and Hua Yusen had been arguing, but after waiting a long time, Manman never brought it up.
In the end, she couldn’t hold it in any longer and offered an explanation.
"I saw that Hua Yusen’s condition had been quite good lately, so I thought he had truly turned over a new leaf. I wanted to have Doctor Wang talk to him about the surgery.
Doctor Wang is an expert in this field, after all, so he can explain the pros and cons of the procedure more thoroughly.
But Hua Yusen wouldn’t listen. He thinks we’re trying to harm him by getting him to have the surgery."
Hua Manman said flatly, "A leopard can’t change its spots."