"Seeing how your spirit is looking so good, I almost thought that you were pretending to be unconscious all this while," said Mu Chenyan.
Xia Songbei didn't mind her words at all but even smiled weakly at her. His gentle eyes stayed on her face as he said, "I guess my will to live is still alive inside of me. I haven't completely given up on life. And to be honest, I'm a bit unwilling to leave the world just like this."
"Why is that so?" asked Mu Chenyan curiously.
"I keep worrying about my eldest son who is a loner," sighed Xia Songbei. "How can I leave the world with peace of mind?"
Mu Chenyan nodded her head in agreement, "He is truly a worrisome existence."
"Yanzi!"
"What? I'm just speaking the truth," said Mu Chenyan hurriedly. "But Uncle Song doesn't have to worry anymore. This worrisome existence belongs to me now. All of him." Saying that she held up her left hand flaunting the ring on her finger.
Seeing this ring on her finger, Xia Songbei was a bit stunned for a moment before his eyes wandered to his son's hands, and seeing the matching ring on his son's hand, his heart truly felt like a heavy weight had been lifted and he was feeling free.
"When are you getting married?" asked Xia Songbei with excitement in his eyes. He could not express his excitement in any other way because his body didn't allow it at all. He was feeling really weak but talking to Mu Chenyan, he didn't mind lifting up his spirit. Besides, just seeing them wearing the rings has already made him recover quite a bit. Or maybe it was all just in his head. Anyway, with this mentality, he was truly in a good mood.
"We already got married," informed Xia Zhao.
Xia Songbei's face fell, "And you didn't even think of telling your weak and old father?"
"Zhao, learn to talk first or keep quiet!" said Mu Chenyan then she turned to Xia Songbei. She lowered her voice and became a little gentle as she added, "Uncle Song, we registered our marriage today. It was a very random impulse of mine but your son followed my lead. So, it's not that we didn't want to tell you. It's just that we didn't think about it for a while."
Xia Songbei did not doubt her words even for a second. Who was Mu Chenyan? How could he not know? It was because he was all too familiar with the way she was that he wasn't even surprised when she said that they registered their marriage on impulse. Anyway, it was something she was very capable of doing. And as for his steady and mature son? His steadiness was nothing more than a joke in front of Mu Chenyan.
However, this news was enough to make him happy for days to come and help him in his recovery too. He didn't really care that they didn't inform him first. No matter how it happened, the only thing that mattered to him right now was that his eldest son was finally married and had started his own family. And that too with Mu Chenyan. What could be better news than this for him right now?
"Good! Good! That's really good!" said Xia Songbei repeatedly. He wanted to laugh right now but the pain didn't allow it. "Finally, my son is taken down by the only person who was capable of taking him down in this world."
"What are you talking about, Dad?" asked Xia Zhao.
"Don't give me that attitude," said Xia Songbei with a look of disgust on his face. "You can only show this attitude to me. Try doing it with Chenyan. Let's see how you fare."
"Why would I show her an attitude? I don't see a reason why I have to show her an attitude."
"So, I deserve to face this stinky temper of yours?"
"Maybe..."
"You!"
Mu Chenyan patted Xia Songbei's arm saying, "Uncle, relax. Don't get so excited right now. Your health doesn't allow it. So, be careful, please!" Then she glared at Xia Zhao, "You were so worried about him just now, and now, you wanna fight with him again? Can't you talk nicely?"
"Yanzi, you can't be so partial here. I didn't do anything."
"Don't act pitiful with me. I won't show any mercy!"
Xia Zhao tsked to himself and stayed silent. It was better for him to say less unless he really made his wife mad at him. It wasn't easy to coax her. So, he had to be careful. Seeing the way Xia Zhao listened to her, Xia Songbei pursed his lips to hold back his laughter. See? He said only she could control him. It was still fun to see it.
"Uncle Song..." Before Mu Chenyan could continue, Xia Songbei stopped her saying, "Wait! Why are you still calling me Uncle? Didn't you get the certificate? Why don't you change the title officially?"
Mu Chenyan didn't say anything. She knew that she was supposed to call her father-in-law Dad just like Xia Zhao but she couldn't do just immediately. It was difficult. Dad was the word she used the least in her life. Even when she considered Elder Xiang as her father with all her heart, it was very rare for her to call him Dad too. Now, calling Xia Songbei Dad was even more difficult. Especially since she was too used to calling him Uncle all her life.
Seeing her expression, how could Xia Zhao not tell what dilemma she was in? And she wouldn't allow her to dwell over it or put her in a difficult position too. So, he took the matter upon himself, "Well, she can't do that. She hasn't served you tea yet as the new daughter-in-law, how can she change names?"
"Then when are we serving the tea?" asked Xia Songbei.
"When Yanzi is in the mood to do so," he replied.
Both Mu Chenyan and Xia Songbei gave him a look and he pretended like he didn't say anything wrong right now. How could he wrong his wife? That was impossible. Don't expect so much from him. He was already considered a very unfilial son so adding more to that didn't really matter to him all that much.
Xia Songbei sighed to himself helplessly, "It's okay. I can wait. Uncle is also fine with me. I'm quite used to that too."
Mu Chenyan smiled thankfully at Xia Zhao who gave her a reassuring smile in return.
"Let's not talk about this. We have important matters to discuss," said Xia Zhao.
"Like what?" asked Xia Songbei.
"Like why are you here right now? How did you end up in the hospital?"
Xia Songbei went silent in response.
"Dad, I'm asking you something. Silence isn't gonna help anyone right now. You need to tell me what stimulated you to the point of getting a stroke. My grandparents are healthier than you at their age. Have you seen your own health?"
Xia Songbei said, "How can I compare with your grandparents? They have lived a very healthy lifestyle. How can they fall to my position?"
"I think a healthy lifestyle is one thing. A peaceful environment also helps a lot," said Mu Chenyan. "I know this from experience. You see, the doctors said Elder Xiang might not live for long after Godmother died. They asked me to focus more on his mental health and keep him surrounded by positive things. And I did that. I tried everything to make him happy and see, that he is still here with us which I am very thankful for in this life."
"That's true. Dad, you have too much on your mind and the people you keep around aren't really helping with your condition," said Xia Zhao straightforwardly.
"You're talking about your mother."
"Of course, I am talking about her. No matter how you hide it from me, I can still tell that she played a big role in bringing you to this place."
Xia Songbei didn't deny it but he didn't want to discuss this matter with his eldest son either. After all, he already knew how big the differences between his son and his wife were. It'd only get worse if he said anything. It's not that things would change if he stayed silent but at least, they could keep this superficial peace right now.
"My condition isn't as bad as you say," argued Xia Songbei.
"Uncle Song, I might have dropped out of medical school but I still come from a family of doctors. Reading the reports is a very basic thing and I can't be wrong. And I don't think you can doubt your own son's abilities. We aren't blind. We have met your doctor before coming to see you. We understand your condition better than you think."
"So, there is no reason for Dad to quibble over this uselessly," added Xia Zhao taking over Mu Chenyan's words who nodded her head along with his words in agreement.
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