She Is Seriously Ill - Chapter 34

Chapter 34

I’m planning to move out.

Knowing someone was waiting for her, Jiang Chen quietly left early as the banquet was nearing its end.

She wanted to avoid running into acquaintances later and getting delayed by small talk.

But unexpectedly, when she went downstairs, only the driver was in the car.

Just as the driver was about to explain why he hadn’t picked up the person, Chen Guo called.

It turned out that a student from her class had suddenly developed severe stomach pain after returning to the dormitory from evening self-study, rolling around in agony on the bed.

Chen Guo, who had already reached the school gate, was called back by the phone call and went to the hospital with the ambulance.

Chen Guo’s voice sounded hoarse and weary. Jiang Chen asked with concern, Which hospital? I’ll come see you.

No need. Chen Guo’s voice suddenly became clearer. It’s acute appendicitis, not serious. Just a minor surgery.

Jiang Chen: I’m worried about you. Were you frightened?

As a young teacher, encountering such situations would naturally cause some panic.

There was a two-second pause on the other end. A little, but you don’t need to come. The emergency room is packed right now, and it wouldn’t be good if you were photographed.

Jiang Chen was silent for a moment. When will you be back?

Right now—I’m not sure, but I’ll return as soon as possible. You’ve worked all day, so go back and rest early. Don’t worry about me.

It sounded quiet on the other end of the phone. Jiang Chen wondered if Chen Guo was hiding in some corner to make this call, and her heart softened inexplicably. Then call me if anything comes up. And come back early.

Lowering her voice deliberately through the phone, she added, I can’t sleep at night when you’re not here.

Okay.

After hanging up, Jiang Chen looked up and asked the driver, Did you see her?

The driver shook his head, glancing in the rearview mirror. Miss Chen called to say I didn’t need to pick her up.

Jiang Chen glanced at the evening gown she had deliberately kept on and smiled wryly.

Seems like she wasted her effort.

Someone wasn’t fortunate enough to see it today.

As Jiang Chen adjusted the shawl on her shoulders and was about to call Tang Jing to see if she had come down—

Mommy!

Turning her head, she saw Peng Yiyi holding up her dress, running toward her.

Tang Jing and the assistant followed behind, carrying things with slightly subtle expressions.

Jiang Chen paused, not yet reacting, when Peng Yiyi had already opened the car door and climbed in without ceremony.

You left without telling me, Peng Yiyi said, turning her head to look at Jiang Chen with a pout.

The corner of Jiang Chen’s mouth lifted slightly. What’s wrong? Did you need something?

We’ve tried to schedule dinner so many times without success, and today we finally meet. Peng Yiyi spread her hands. Are we really just going home separately like this?

Before receiving Chen Guo’s call, Jiang Chen had indeed planned to do just that. But now, with the school incident keeping Chen Guo occupied, plus the fact that she and Peng Yiyi had made several dinner plans over WeChat—

It was rare to meet, and refusing again would make her previous words seem insincere.

Jiang Chen thought for a moment and asked, What do you want to eat?

Peng Yiyi’s eyes lit up. How about some crayfish?

Jiang Chen smiled. Sure.

After changing clothes, the group of six or seven—including the manager and assistants—went to the Shrimp Emperor Restaurant that Peng Yiyi recommended. By the time they finished eating crayfish, it was already past 1 a.m.

Thinking it was so late that Chen Guo must have returned home, Jiang Chen was surprised to find the house empty when she got back.

The WeChat messages she’d sent Chen Guo during dinner and on the road remained unanswered.

Jiang Chen found it somewhat strange and decided to call Chen Guo. The phone rang twice before being picked up.

Hearing Chen Guo’s voice, Jiang Chen finally breathed a sigh of relief. Still at the hospital?

Chen Guo hummed softly in response. The student lives far away, and the parents haven’t arrived yet.

Jiang Chen glanced at the wall clock. Send me the address. Which hospital are you at?

There was silence on the other end for nearly ten seconds. Jiang Chen thought the call had been disconnected when suddenly, she heard Chen Guo chuckle lightly.

Miss me that much?

Chen Guo was usually quiet and reserved. Apart from in bed, Jiang Chen rarely heard flirtatious words from her.

Caught off guard by the remark, Jiang Chen’s mind went blank, forgetting what she meant to say.

I miss you too, Chen Guo said.

Jiang Chen froze for two seconds before laughing. Then hurry up and send me the address.

I don’t want you to come. It’s too much trouble, Chen Guo’s voice was unusually gentle. Rest early. I’ll return as soon as I’m done here. I promise you’ll see me first thing when you wake up tomorrow.

Jiang Chen hadn’t expected that at her age, she could still be so easily charmed by someone much younger with just a few words—and she actually agreed.

After hanging up, Jiang Chen still found it unbelievable.

But she felt quite happy.

With Chen Guo not around, Jiang Chen tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. She got up and put on a quiet movie by the bedside for background noise.

It wasn’t until the movie was nearly halfway through that she finally dozed off.

But her sleep was restless. She woke up repeatedly throughout the night and was fully awake as soon as the sky began to lighten.

Turning to check her phone, she saw it wasn’t even 7:00 yet.

The room was silent, everything exactly as she’d left it before falling asleep.

Chen Guo still hadn’t returned.

Opening WeChat, there were no new messages either.

Jiang Chen lowered her hand, placing the phone screen-down on the pillow, intending to rest a little longer.

Her phone suddenly chimed.

Thinking it might be a message from Chen Guo, Jiang Chen quickly picked it up to check.

It was a news push from a webpage. Jiang Chen hadn’t planned to look closely, but the headline began with her own name.

Last night, when their group left the restaurant, they’d encountered a few fans—all young girls who weren’t being noisy or blocking the path, just filming with their phones.

So Jiang Chen hadn’t intervened and let them be.

Unexpectedly, the fans had posted the videos online, and it had trended.

The reason it went viral wasn’t just because they’d run into Jiang Chen, but because in the video, Peng Yiyi had unconsciously wrapped an arm around her waist.

While filming, Peng Yiyi had often clung to her like this on set too. Their names had been linked together in several trending topics before.

Tang Jing had mentioned more than once that while Peng Yiyi was genuinely enthusiastic, she sometimes lacked awareness of appropriate boundaries.

She’d even suspected that some of those trending topics were orchestrated by Peng Yiyi’s team, intentionally marketing some kind of cross-generational friendship or mother-daughter bond to tie herself to Jiang Chen.

Having been in this industry for so many years, Jiang Chen had considered this possibility too. But with the movie yet to be released and promotional work still ahead, it wasn’t wise to strain their relationship.

Besides, those trending topics essentially aimed to show the public that she and Jiang Chen were close—which could also be seen as indirect promotion for their film.

So both she and Tang Jing had chosen to turn a blind eye to it.

But Jiang Chen hadn’t expected that the mother-daughter relationship they’d been promoting would suddenly take a strange turn today.

Are Jiang Chen and Peng Yiyi dating?

Just the title alone was absurd enough, yet netizens were all eagerly watching the drama unfold, exclaiming how they were totally shipping it.

A simple waist-embracing gesture was instantly interpreted in countless ways, until everyone firmly concluded that these two must be dating.

Gossip-loving netizens dug up some old stories and teased in the comments section.

Jiang Chen, I thought you had changed.

Jiang Chen, you clearly haven’t been drinking your Traditional Chinese medicine.

Both of them need to go back and drink some Traditional Chinese medicine for regulation.

I don’t know if Peng Yiyi needs Traditional Chinese medicine for regulation, but it’s definitely useless for Jiang Chen—she’s a repeat offender.

Seems like we’re all eating the same melon from back in the day.

After scrolling through just a couple of comments, Jiang Chen turned off her phone. Staring at the ceiling, she was lost in thought when she suddenly heard the electronic lock disengaging.

Jiang Chen froze for a moment, then immediately sat up.

Chen Guo had just entered the house, her bag still in hand, when the bedroom door suddenly swung open.

She looked up at the person who had hurriedly emerged, her expression slightly stunned.

You… didn’t sleep all night?

I slept, then woke up again. Seeing Chen Guo return fully bundled up, Jiang Chen walked toward her with concern. What’s wrong? Do you have a cold?

Chen Guo paused, as if just realizing something, then removed her hat and mask while lowering her gaze. No cold. It’s just a bit cold outside, so I dressed warmly.

Jiang Chen breathed a sigh of relief. Did the parents show up?

Yeah.

How’s the student? Feeling better?

Yeah.

Chen Guo probably hadn’t slept much all night—she looked completely drained and answered distractedly. Jiang Chen didn’t press further, stepping forward to take her bag and suggesting she get some rest first.

Auntie. Chen Guo suddenly looked up and called out to her.

Jiang Chen instinctively raised her eyes. Hmm?

Chen Guo looked at Jiang Chen for about ten seconds before speaking. I’m planning to move out.