Chapter 66 If We Had Known Each Other Back Then, Perhaps There Would Have Been a Glimmer of Hope
Not long after Tan Zheng left, Song Jing arrived. He couldn't rest easy without seeing for himself. Of course, he also had a small task: to hand over the household registration booklet to Song Ni. But... when Song Jing saw the mark on Song Ni's neck, his face darkened completely. He had figured Song Ni knew what she was doing last night and hadn't spoken up, but then he saw a hickey. Tan Zheng was too reckless, daring to lay hands on Ni Ni while she was injured!
"Where is Tan Zheng?" Song Jing's tone was not good.
Song Ni didn't understand why Song Jing was acting like he'd eaten gunpowder as soon as he arrived. She lazily slipped on her slippers and returned to the living room, curling up on the sofa to watch the script.
"How should I know where he went?"
Song Jing saw that Song Ni's gait was not abnormal and frowned again. Could it be that it was just a case of a momentary lapse that was quickly rectified? Even as siblings, this kind of private matter was not suitable to ask about. Song Jing could only suppress his various speculations, but he did not hide his displeasure.
"Is that how he takes care of you?" Song Ni raised an eyebrow, her attention finally shifting from the script to Song Jing. She sat up straighter and pretended to ponder.
"Is the company going bankrupt?"
Song Jing: ...
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Then why are you so explosive and hot-tempered? Or are you entering menopause ten years early?"
Song Jing: ... He was only in his early thirties, what kind of nonsense was menopause?
"Is that how you talk to your own brother?" Song Ni's eyes curved, and she extended her hand.
"Hand it over."
"What?" Song Ni raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't you come to deliver the household registration booklet?" They were getting their marriage certificate the day after tomorrow, and with her in this state, she clearly couldn't go home to get it, so Song Jing had to bring it.
Song Jing snorted. "If you want the household registration booklet, you'd better be nicer to me."
Song Ni immediately got up and sat next to Song Jing, lifting her hands to knead his shoulder and neck with just the right amount of force. Song Ni had learned her massage techniques from their mother. Because both men in the family worked long hours, their cervical spines were often uncomfortable. Their mother had specifically learned Tui Na and massage from a master of Traditional Chinese Medicine. As for why Song Ni learned it, it was because Song Jing would never let their mother massage him, so he had set his sights on Song Ni. Ever since their blind date, Song Jing hadn't enjoyed Song Ni's massages.
At this moment, Song Ni had only kneaded a few times, and Song Jing's furrowed brow had already relaxed. It was comfortable, but when Song Jing thought that Song Ni was doing this to get the household registration booklet, he felt a pang of discomfort. When had Song Ni ever been so agreeable? And it was because of Tan Zheng.
Song Jing's conflicted feelings resurfaced. He was nearly ten years older than Song Ni, and it could be said that he had watched her grow up.
"Ni Ni." Song Jing placed his hand over Song Ni's and asked, "Does Tan Zheng treat you well?"
Although he had seen how attentive Tan Zheng was to Song Ni last night, he was still worried. Song Ni lowered her eyes and carefully examined Song Jing's expression, confirming that he was indeed worried about her married life. Her lips curved into a slight smile. He had chosen the person himself, and now he was the one who was unsure.
"Do I look like someone who would let herself be taken advantage of?"
Song Jing shook his head. He knew Song Ni's personality perfectly well; she would never let herself suffer any losses. But Tan Zheng was clearly also a proud individual. He was afraid that two proud people would inevitably clash. But what couple didn't have friction? Song Jing was worried too much.
"Brother, I'm not that resistant to blind dates." She admitted that if the other person wasn't Tan Zheng, she would have thrown a tantrum. But there was no "if." The person Song Jing had chosen for her was Tan Zheng. Her brother, who had doted on her for over twenty years, knew what she liked.
"Sister-in-law will be back soon, right? You don't need to worry about me. It's time to prepare for having children. I can't wait to become an aunt." Song Jing was also getting older, and for his wife's career, he had proactively agreed to postpone having children for a few more years. Once Tang Tang returned from her advanced studies abroad, this matter would definitely be put on the fast track.
In the end, Song Ni got the household registration booklet from Song Jing. Before leaving, Song Jing couldn't help himself. He frowned, narrowed his eyes, and stared at the hickey on Song Ni's neck, admonishing her, "When you see people, at least pay attention to your image."
Song Ni was stunned for a moment. After the sound of the door closing, she understood what Song Jing meant. She raised her hand to touch the spot where Tan Zheng had bitten her last night and couldn't help but curse softly again.
Tan Zheng, who had just come out of the club, sneezed unexpectedly. He looked up at the darkening sky, his brows furrowed, and he drove quickly to his next destination: Cheng Ling's studio.
In their circle, very few people studied medicine, and even fewer studied psychology like Cheng Ling. They were all privileged individuals, who had so much time to care about others' emotions. Cheng Ling was an exception. After returning from his studies, he opened a studio. He worked extremely hard in the first two years, building a reputation. Now, most of his patients were handled by other doctors in the studio, and he only saw a few himself. He didn't expect that he would receive an unwelcome guest on his day off.
Cheng Ling poured Tan Zheng a cup of tea. At the racing club that day, Tan Zheng had stopped him for a brief chat. He only learned that Tan Zheng had a friend in America who had undergone years of psychological treatment and was now improving, but his condition fluctuated. The doctor there had suggested he return to China, so Tan Zheng needed to find a psychologist in China.
After listening to the basic situation, Cheng Ling frowned. Psychological illnesses arising from irreversible physical injuries were the most difficult to treat. It was no wonder that after so many years of treatment, the condition had only slightly improved.
"Who was his doctor in America?"
"Chang Li." He was also Chinese.
Upon hearing the familiar name, Cheng Ling was quite surprised. "Chang Li was my senior schoolmate when I was studying in America. He's very capable."
This time, it was Tan Zheng's turn to be surprised. He had sought out Chang Li initially for ease of communication, and he hadn't expected Cheng Ling to know him. That was even better. Since they were schoolmates, the handover of information would be convenient, and reaching an agreement on the treatment plan would not be difficult.
After Cheng Ling made a call to Chang Li, he suddenly remembered something. "Who performed the surgery back then?"
Tan Zheng knitted his brows. "I can't quite remember." The accident had happened too quickly, and by the time they reached the hospital, he didn't even know the doctor's name.
Cheng Ling sighed with some regret. "If we had known each other back then, perhaps there would have been a glimmer of hope."
Tan Zheng's heart jolted, his pupils contracted sharply, and his throat felt dry. "What do you mean?"
"Senior Brother Chang has a very good friend in China named Fu Yisi, known as the 'Golden Hand of Surgery.' The success rate of surgeries he performs is terrifyingly high, with almost no failures." If Fu Yisi had performed the surgery on Xi Jinjiang back then, perhaps his leg could have been saved, and it wouldn't have developed into its current state. But there was no "if." The accident had happened too far from Fu Yisi's city, and even if Fu Yisi had the ability, it would have been too difficult to rush over in such a short time.
* * *
Fu Cugu and Chang Li's surprise appearance!!!!
I've seen all your support and encouragement, my darlings!
Si Mei will work hard!!!
(End of this chapter)