Chapter 174

Chapter 174

“Right… What did I just say?” After calming down, Yao Qin pinched the bridge of her brow and looked at Liu Shubai in confusion. “You smashed up Wanzi’s house?”

Liu Shubai, who was walking toward Yao Qin: “…”

“Ah, yes. Uncle Liu was just messing around.” Xia Wanzhi smiled, letting Liu Shubai take the blame.

Before she left, Liu Shubai had told her not to worry, that he could take care of Yao Qin on his own. Xia Wanzhi had trusted him, which was why she had felt comfortable going out.

In the end, she came back to find the house smashed into a complete mess, and Liu Shubai had not even tried to stop it. If not him, then who was there to blame?

“A grown man, and you’re still messing around? Hurry up and pay for it.” Yao Qin frowned as she looked at the shattered porcelain and glass all over the floor, then carefully tiptoed around it and sat down on the sofa.

Liu Shubai went over to support her, nodding and admitting his mistake again and again. “All right, all right, I’ll pay. I definitely will.”

Like mother, like son. They really were on the same wavelength.

One after the other, they both told him to pay up. Anyone who didn’t know better might think the mother and son had teamed up to fleece him.

The heart Xie Qiyan had been holding in suspense gradually settled back down.

Xia Wanzhi glanced at him and quietly hooked her fingers around his hanging hand.

People carried warmth in their bodies.

And Xia Wanzhi’s warmth always seemed to reach him exactly when he needed it.

“It’s fine.” Xie Qiyan smiled and had the servants come in to clean up.

Yao Qin needed care in every aspect while staying here. Aside from Dr. Ude, Xie Qiyan had also arranged for a chef and several servants to be on standby at all times.

He had stayed in Ireland for too long, and many matters at the company had piled up. Just as the chef finished preparing the meal and invited the family to eat, Xie Qiyan took a phone call and said he had to go to the office.

Xia Wanzhi hurriedly ladled out a bowl of soup for him to drink.

“No need. I’ll just eat in the staff cafeteria when I get to the company.” Xie Qiyan went upstairs, changed his clothes, and came back down, ready to leave in a rush.

Xia Wanzhi had no choice. She was just about to set the bowl down when-

Yao Qin snatched the bowl from her, carried it over, and called after him, “Stop right there. Don’t you know a man who doesn’t listen to his wife will suffer for it? Can your staff cafeteria compare to a warm bowl of soup from your wife?”

The moment Yao Qin called out, Xie Qiyan’s steps had already halted.

He stared at her, dazed and transfixed, watching as Yao Qin scolded him.

She was still like she had been when he was little. Whenever she lectured him, her brows would unconsciously draw together. She was clearly scolding him, yet her tone was still gentle.

The bowl of soup was handed to Xie Qiyan, and Yao Qin continued urging him, “It’s only the time it takes to drink a bowl of soup. It won’t delay you much. If you refuse to drink it, wouldn’t you be hurting Wanzi’s feelings?”

Xia Wanzhi blinked and nodded along. “Exactly, exactly.”

“Sorry. It won’t happen again.” Xie Qiyan promptly admitted his mistake.

As if she had completed a mission, Yao Qin watched him finish the soup, then carried the empty bowl back to Xia Wanzhi to report in.

Xia Wanzhi smiled and gave her a thumbs-up.

Xie Qiyan’s lips curved. He lingered, reluctant to leave.

“Wasn’t someone in a hurry? What are you standing there looking at?” Xia Wanzhi raised a brow, pulled out a chair for her mother-in-law to sit, then shot Xie Qiyan a smug look.

It really felt wonderful to have her mother-in-law backing her up.

Xie Qiyan smiled. “Wait for me to come back.”

Xia Wanzhi waved, telling him not to worry about home.

After the meal, it was time for Yao Qin to take her medicine. Based on Yao Qin’s condition, Dr. Ude had reduced the dosage of quite a few medications. Even so, just watching Yao Qin put the handful of pills spread across her palm into her mouth without so much as blinking made Xia Wanzhi’s skin crawl.

Beyond that, she felt even more sorrow and heartache.

After Yao Qin took her medicine, Dr. Ude ran several depression assessments on her.

After developing schizophrenia, Yao Qin could not control her own awareness. Fortunately, when she returned to a normal state, she was able to acknowledge her condition and cooperate with treatment.

In her earlier years, her desire to seek death had still been very strong. But from her behavior and the various assessments over the past few years, it was clear that her suicidal thoughts had slowly lessened.

That was a good thing. It proved that her depression had improved.

However, the number of times she slipped into hallucinations had increased.

People often said that patients with schizophrenia were prone to anger, but Yao Qin rarely lost her temper. At first, Dr. Ude thought it was because she also suffered from depression, but later, he gradually came to understand that it was simply due to her nature.

There were certain people who, even when ill and stripped of themselves, still maintained their grace.

Yao Qin was one of them.

“How is it?” Liu Shubai asked Dr. Ude anxiously.

“Judging from the answers, there isn’t much of a problem. But I can’t be sure whether Ms. Yao answered the questions seriously.” Dr. Ude sighed and repeated the same point as before. “She takes this assessment once every six months. I’m afraid Ms. Yao is already very familiar with the question types in the test bank, so the results can’t be considered entirely reliable.”

“Then the reason you reduced her medication just now was…?” Xia Wanzhi handed Yao Qin’s test papers back to Dr. Ude. Thinking of Yao Qin’s behavior over the past few days, she was willing to believe in the results of this assessment.

Dr. Ude took the four thin sheets of paper, clasped his hands behind his back, and drew in a deep breath. “Because Ms. Yao’s condition has improved. I wanted to see whether reducing the use of certain medications would be appropriate. If there aren’t any major issues, this is a very good sign.”

Liu Shubai’s pupils contracted slightly. Thinking he had misheard, he asked excitedly, “What did you say? Say that again.”

“In fact, Ms. Yao’s condition had already begun developing in a positive direction a year ago. It simply wasn’t very obvious, and we didn’t dare to be one hundred percent certain, so we didn’t tell you. But after observing her during this period, especially over these two days in Beicheng, judging from some of Ms. Yao’s daily behavior, I have a new recommendation.” Dr. Ude looked at Liu Shubai seriously.

Yao Qin was his patient. He had been her attending physician for more than ten years, and he likewise hoped that through his own efforts, his patient would be able to recover.

Liu Shubai was still frozen in place. A man who usually seemed utterly rational became like a fool whenever anything involved Yao Qin.

Xia Wanzhi felt both anxious and excited. “What recommendation?”

Dr. Ude was just as nervous and excited inside. “I recommend that Ms. Yao undergo stereotactic brain surgery.”