I'm Done with the Elite Marriage - Chapter 66

After spending a few days recovering in the hospital, Zhou Youling was finally discharged.

On the day Zhou Youling left the hospital, Xu Jiaze and his agent, Yu Wenwei, made a special trip to visit her.

Xu Jiaze felt deeply guilty about Zhou Youling’s fall, and he had been restless and uneasy for days. As soon as his work was finished, his first thought was to visit Zhou Youling in the hospital.

The past few days had been tumultuous online regarding Xu Jiaze’s fans, but thanks to a timely Weibo post from Zhou Youling, the situation had calmed down considerably.

Every time Zhou Youling opened her Weibo, she was greeted with unanimous praise.

“Elder sister is beautiful and kind-hearted, please get well soon.”

“Elder sister is one of us Yijiaren, we hope she stays happy forever.”

“[Heart][Heart][Heart] Thank you, Elder sister, for your understanding. You’re wonderful.”

“Love you, love you, love you.”

Zhou Youling was someone who couldn’t resist compliments; as long as people praised her, all her bad moods would vanish. Moreover, these days, someone had been quietly sending her flowers, and she found out it was Xu Jiaze’s fans.

The fans were careful not to disturb Zhou Youling, so even though they knew which room she was in, they didn’t dare to come directly. Instead, they asked the nurses to deliver the flowers to her.

Zhou Youling happened to love flowers, which suited her perfectly.

Seeing Xu Jiaze still feeling guilty, Zhou Youling reassured him once again, “Really, don’t worry, I’m fine.”

Xu Jiaze nodded, “As long as you’re okay, I’m relieved.”

However, Xu Jiaze couldn’t stay long at the hospital. After visiting Zhou Youling, he and his agent, Yu Wenwei, left in a hurry.

On the day of her discharge, Zhou Youling specifically didn’t ask her parents to come, fearing they would be too nagging. So Bai Lingxue took the lead in escorting Zhou Youling home.

Afraid that Zhou Youling might catch a cold, Bai Lingxue came well-prepared, with hats and masks, wrapping Zhou Youling up tightly.

Perhaps because she was dressed too warmly, Bai Lingxue looked Zhou Youling up and down and couldn’t help but exclaim, “You don’t look like you’re over five months pregnant! I’d believe you if you said you weren’t pregnant.”

Zhou Youling glanced down at herself; indeed, it was hard to tell she was pregnant.

Bai Lingxue was a bit worried, “Zhou Youling, can’t you put on some more weight? You’re driving me crazy!”

Zhou Youling replied, “Actually, my belly has grown a lot, you know that. You can see it when I take off my clothes. And the doctor said that in the later stages of pregnancy, the belly grows faster, and it’ll be more noticeable then.”

Bai Lingxue nodded, saying, “Being a mother is truly great. Please make sure you don’t overwork yourself. Don’t bother with the restaurant; there are people to manage it.”

“Got it, got it!” Zhou Youling stuck out her tongue, surprised that Bai Lingxue could be so nagging now.

On the way home, Zhou Youling quietly watched the scenery outside the window, her thoughts wandering.

Noticing Zhou Youling’s unusual state, Bai Lingxue couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong? Are you still feeling unwell?”

Zhou Youling shook her head, remaining silent.

After a while, Zhou Youling sighed softly and turned to Bai Lingxue, asking, “Do you know how Xue Yining is doing lately?”

Bai Lingxue was puzzled, “Why are you suddenly asking about her?”

Zhou Youling felt a pang in her heart. She didn’t know why she suddenly brought up Xue Yining, but Fu Xunzhou’s words from that night kept lingering in her mind. Zhou Youling knew Fu Xunzhou well enough to sense that he had more to say.

Bai Lingxue glanced at Zhou Youling, “Do you really want to know?”

Zhou Youling thought for a moment and nodded.

Bai Lingxue said, “I heard some things. Apparently, Xue Yining has been diagnosed with a mental illness and is receiving treatment in a hospital. But since the Xue family is quite prominent in Nanzhou City, not many people know about it. Still, you know how it is-bad news travels fast.”

“Mental illness?” Zhou Youling was genuinely surprised; she had no idea.

Bai Lingxue continued, “Seems like it’s depression and anxiety disorder, which are types of mental illnesses. You know how the internet is always buzzing with stories about people suffering from depression? Probably nothing too serious.”

With the internet providing so much information, many illnesses have become common knowledge.

Zhou Youling had heard of depression but hadn’t looked into it deeply. She pulled out her phone and started searching for information on depression.

“Patients with severe depression may experience pessimism, hopelessness, hallucinations, delusions, reduced functionality, and serious suicidal tendencies, even attempting suicide.”

Zhou Youling was startled by this explanation.

Considering the stories she often heard about celebrities committing suicide due to depression, she suddenly felt a chill down her spine.

“Why did Xue Yining end up with these mental disorders?” Zhou Youling asked Bai Lingxue.

Bai Lingxue shrugged, “I heard the Xue family is quite complicated. Xue Yining was abused by her stepmother as a child, and later, the daughter her stepmother gave birth to outshone her in every way. No matter what Xue Yining did, she couldn’t satisfy her family, so maybe it’s unresolved feelings? In any case, even those who seem hateful have their own struggles.”

Zhou Youling fell silent.

Although the Xue family was a well-known family in Nanzhou City, Zhou Youling usually kept to herself and wasn’t aware of these dynamics.

Coincidentally, the car passed a traffic light, and not far away was a major hospital. Bai Lingxue pointed at the hospital and said to Zhou Youling, “I heard Xue Yining is staying in this hospital.”

“Can I go see her?” Zhou Youling still couldn’t believe that the once formidable Xue Yining could suffer from depression.

Bai Lingxue didn’t stop Zhou Youling but said, “It’s okay to visit. They say people with depression typically don’t harm others, just themselves.”

Zhou Youling nodded.

With Bai Lingxue’s knack for gossip, she quickly found out which ward Xue Yining was in and led Zhou Youling there.

It was Zhou Youling’s first time visiting a ward for psychiatric patients, and it felt like she had entered a different world.

Unable to go inside, Zhou Youling and Bai Lingxue stood outside.

Bai Lingxue looked at the people inside, who seemed less than human, and said to Zhou Youling, “Let’s just go back.”

Zhou Youling tugged at Bai Lingxue’s hand, signaling her to look ahead.

In the corridor not far away, Xue Yining sat quietly.

Following Zhou Youling’s gaze, Bai Lingxue spotted Xue Yining.

Compared to a few months ago, Xue Yining seemed unchanged. She wasn’t even wearing a hospital gown, just sitting quietly in the corridor. To the unknowing eye, she might not seem ill at all.

It’s said that depression is like this; when not manifesting, one hardly appears to be a patient.

“It’s truly a pity,” Bai Lingxue remarked.

Zhou Youling remained silent, her emotions mixed.

Just then, a woman dressed in glamorous attire emerged from a room and slapped Xue Yining.

The sharp “smack” startled everyone.

“If you want to die, just die completely. What is this? I have to come and sign when you need saving. Do you think I have nothing better to do?” The woman, full of fury, seemed to be Xue Yining’s notorious stepmother.

Medical staff approached to intervene, but the woman shoved them aside. “I’ve been more than generous! The Xue family has a lunatic like this! We can’t hold our heads high! Dying would be the end of it!”

As she spoke, she forcefully pushed Xue Yining, causing her to fall off the chair.

A loud “thud” echoed as her head hit the ground heavily.

“Get up! Who knows if you’re faking it! Depression, huh? When you ask for money from the family, you don’t seem depressed! Always causing trouble for the family! Just to compete with your sister for attention, right?”

Throughout it all, Xue Yining remained motionless, like a piece of wood. She neither retaliated nor responded, sitting there blankly, her thoughts a mystery to all.

Even Bai Lingxue couldn’t help but sigh, “Ah, what a misfortune.”

Zhou Youling continued her silence.

In this situation, she was unsure whether to hate Xue Yining or to pity her.