Discharged on the 17th

  Mu Siqi found Lin Peipei's ward, separated by the door, and saw Qin Feng sitting anxiously beside the bed, using a towel to wipe away the cold sweat on the forehead of the girl lying in bed. Lin Peipei was still drowsy, Mu Siqi didn't see Lin Peipei, but recognized Qin Feng, whom she had met at the airport when picking him up. She knew the relationship between Qin Feng and the Lin family, and the person who could make him so tense and concerned must be Lin Peipei without a doubt.

  Lin Sizhi stood at the door for a while, feeling that it was not a good time to disturb them either, so he turned around and left, running into Lin's father and son who had come after hearing the news.

  After exchanging a few pleasantries, Mu Siqi called out to Lin Haotian as they passed each other.

  "Vast Sky..."

  Ever since in the ambulance, Mu Siqi called Lin Haotian's name, he didn't change it again. Lin Haotian felt that it should be like this all along, and always calling him "Officer Lin" seemed distant.

  "Thank you... Thank you for being with me when I was helpless, thank you for letting me spend the happiest days of my life, thank you for teaching me how to love someone."

  Lin Haotian listened to the simple two words, but understood the meaning behind them. He smiled slightly at Mu Siqi, tilted his head, and used two fingers to gesture a half-bow, before turning around and entering the ward.

  Mù Sī Qí was amused by his actions, and the small resentment in her heart disappeared without a trace. Seeing him enter the ward, she turned around and left.

  Lin Peipei stayed in the hospital for a week and finally received notice that she could be discharged. She said that if she had to stay any longer, she would have grown fur. When she first arrived, she was still running a fever and slept dazedly. After her fever broke, she refused to lie honestly on the hospital bed again, always calling for discharge and wanting to go home. No matter how Qin Feng coaxed her, it didn't work. Qin Feng had no choice but to threaten her, saying that if she didn't behave well in the hospital and dared to sneak back home, if she fell ill again, he would never take care of her or pay attention to her again. Lin Peipei's brain was a bit dull from illness over the past two days, and she didn't catch the nuances in Qin Feng's words. Hearing that he wouldn't take care of her anymore, she obediently stayed in the hospital until the doctor said she could be discharged. Lin Peipei was so excited that she almost jumped up, immediately acting like a child and asking Qin Feng to carry her back home. Qin Feng was startled by her request, and in this crowded hallway, he didn't dare do it, although he wanted to and was willing to carry Lin Peipei. But the timing wasn't right, and the place wasn't right, so he flatly refused her. Lin Peipei was just teasing Qin Feng to get back at him for bullying her over the past few days. She didn't really dare let Qin Feng carry her out, and seeing his changed expression, she didn't force him anymore. She turned around and ran out, leaving Qin Feng to handle the discharge procedures. As she put it, only an idiot would still stay in the hospital room.

  "Pepe..."

  Lin Peipei, who was strolling in the small garden downstairs, heard someone calling her. She turned around and saw a sturdy young man standing by the road, looking very familiar, but couldn't think of who he was for a moment. Squinting her eyes, she thought to herself, "Who is this?"

  "Peipei, Lin Peipei, is that really you... don't you remember me? I'm Shi Tou... Zhao Shi Tou... from that year when we got drunk..."

  "Ah! I remember now, Stone! How did you end up like this? You've really become a block of stone, haha..."

  Lin Pei remembered the person in front of her, no mistake, even if she turned into ashes, she would still remember, otherwise the wine she drank would be wasted, and it would harm her to lie in the hospital for a day.

  Zhao Shitou, also known as Zhao Chunsheng, was the one for whom Lin Peipei had a drinking contest with Heilao and suggested that her father send him away. Ten years later, when they met again, Lin Peipei felt a moment of daze.

  Zhao Shitou saw Lin Peipei and remembered him, excitedly dancing with joy, but also somewhat strangely, wondering how she appeared here.

  "What are you doing here? Are you uncomfortable?"

  "Oh, it's nothing, just got caught in the rain and came down with a bad cold... What are you doing here? Who's sick? When did you get back?"

  "My mom's old illness has relapsed, I came back to see her, and just arrived yesterday. You don't know, as soon as I stepped inside the door, my dad grabbed me and said 'you're back', told me to go find you and thank you properly, and asked me to remember your kindness for the rest of my life. I was just thinking about it, after visiting my mom I would come find you at home. This time, won't you let me in?"

  "What's the point of bringing up old things? You're Gold Brother's brother, and you're my brother too. If I don't help you, who will? Stop saying thank you all the time. Be careful or I'll really ignore you. And when you come to my place, it's fine, just don't bring that big pile of stuff, or else be careful I'll sweep you out with the trash together. Don't say I didn't treat you like a brother then."

  "What can I do? If you don't like something, how would I dare to do it? From now on, just call me for anything, I may not have any other skills, but my physical strength is considerable, I'll be your long-term laborer..."

  Zhao Shitou said with great enthusiasm, gesturing to his own sturdy build, which made Lin Peipei burst out laughing and give him a playful punch. Although they had been apart for ten years, the affection from growing up together since childhood was still there, and Lin Peipei didn't feel any awkwardness between them, feeling like it was still the same little Shitou who used to follow her around.

  Qin Feng settled the discharge procedures and walked out of the hospital building, only to see Lin Peipei chatting with a burly man by the roadside. He thought to himself, "So soon I've run into familiar faces again?" They were laughing and joking loudly in the middle of the hallway, completely disregarding their surroundings and lacking any sense of decorum that a young woman should have. It's really not like her, she needs to be taught a lesson. Ah, Qin Dashi, you're so narrow-minded, can't you just admit it when you see others having fun?

  Qin Feng walked over in a few steps, as if to show his identity, closely following Lin Pei Pei and standing shoulder to shoulder with her. He also introduced himself generously, "Pei Pei, I've met an acquaintance...hello, I'm Qin Feng."

  Zhao Shitou was somewhat perplexed by Qin Feng's sudden appearance, but after a glance at Lin Peipei's attitude towards him, he quickly understood the situation. This person had an unusual relationship with Lin Peipei. Immediately, Zhao Shitou also shook hands with Qin Feng enthusiastically, while suppressing the words that were about to come out of his mouth.

  The three of them stood by the road like that, chatting idly for a few more sentences. Finally, Zhao Shi Tou invited Lin Pei Pei and Qin Feng to have dinner together in the evening, after fixing a place, they each went their separate ways.

  Zhao Shitou watched the two people walking away together, lost in thought. Although he knew that Lin Peipei had gotten drunk that year to help him, there were also many things between her and Jin Ge that went beyond friendship. That time she got drunk, it was possible that Jin Ge was a factor. Just now, seeing her and Qin Feng's eye contact, he didn't dare to confirm whether Lin Peipei still had a place for Jin Ge in her heart. He wasn't sure if the words he hadn't said were necessary to say. Because just now, he wanted to say that Jin Ge was coming back.

  Annie has also been discharged from the hospital, although she hasn't fully recovered yet, but is already able to support herself on her way back home. Although Mais acknowledges Wu Shulan's surgical method, he still needs to wait until he returns to his home country to confirm the operation plan and further handle related matters. Wu Shulan stated that she will draft the plan, with Mais having the final say in confirming it, but the surgery must be performed at her hospital, as they already have a mature operating procedure, equipment, and experienced nursing staff. If she were to transfer to an unfamiliar environment, she cannot guarantee that every detail would be taken care of, and even a slight oversight could lead to surgical failure, which would put Annie's life in danger. Mais also understands Wu Shulan's requirements are completely reasonable, and after discussing with Lawrence, he agreed to it. The final confirmation of the surgery date will be arranged after Annie returns home.

  The day Annie and her daughter left, Lin Hongjiang, Wu Shulan, Lin Haotian, and Mu Siqi went to the airport to see them off. Lin Hongjiang also gave Annie a landscape painting he had asked his daughter for. When Annie saw the signature on the painting, which was in the pinyin name of Lin Peipei, she got excited again, pulled Lin Hongjiang aside and asked if he knew the author of the painting. The date on the painting indicated that it was painted recently, so it couldn't be a bought painting. Did he know her personally? She liked Lin Peipei's paintings very much and asked if he could introduce them to each other.

  Lin Hongjiang was pulled by Annie, thinking that something had happened, and was a bit at a loss, afraid that she would be too excited and her heart wouldn't be able to take it. After the translator translated Annie's words, he finally let out a sigh of relief, comfortingly patted her hand, and coaxed her, saying, "Don't worry, don't worry, don't get excited, the person who painted this painting can't run away, she's right in my home, she's my daughter. Next time you come, I'll definitely introduce you to each other, okay?"

  Annie was overjoyed and turned to Laurence with shining eyes, "Daddy, when I'm a bit better, I'll come back here again."

  Lawrence didn't tell Annie that he would have to come back for surgery, afraid of burdening her mind. Seeing his daughter's expectation, he smiled and agreed, secretly looking forward to it, perhaps witnessing a miracle next time.

  After Annie left, the news that Lin Peipei was making a fuss about seeing her somehow spread quickly, and soon everyone in the entire government compound knew about it. The Lin family's daughter is really something else, studying abroad and returning to China, painting so well that foreigners are scrambling for them. In the future, if there's any diplomatic reception or something like that, don't bother thinking about what gifts to give to appear high-end and classy, just go find Lin Peipei and ask her for a few paintings, that would definitely be impressive.

  Rumors have always spread the fastest, and once this matter was passed on, even those business giants and commercial companies heard about it. With Lin Peipei's identity in the background, who wouldn't want to take advantage of the opportunity to build some connections? Even if her paintings weren't that good, as long as everyone said they were good, then they must be good. One after another, people began to take notice of Lin Peipei.

  Of course, if you want to ask Lin Pei Pei for a painting, you can't get past her father, Governor Lin. Those who have a private relationship with Lin Hong Jiang can make an exception and ask him, but those who can't even see him normally will try to find connections and relationships everywhere, best of all being able to talk to Lin Pei Pei directly. As a result, Wen Jia, Miss Wen was dragged into this, her parents asked her to speak up, and her brother also begged her to intervene, annoying her so much that in the end she could only say one sentence: as long as Governor Lin agrees, she can let Lin Pei Pei help them first.

  Lin Hongjiang also knew that his daughter was now very popular, and even the comrades from the Painting Association had found him to ask Lin Peipei to work at the association. He thought that his daughter had indeed studied painting abroad for a few years and had won some awards, so there was no reason not to let her show off her talents after returning home. However, this matter couldn't be taken lightly, as there were also people with ulterior motives. Therefore, he decided to let Lin Peipei take charge of the matter of working at the association herself, and for the painting requests, there had to be some restrictions. He would let his secretary help screen the manuscripts, and the fees for the paintings also had to be clearly defined to prevent people from taking advantage of this opportunity for personal gain.

  Lin Pei Pei was frustrated and helpless about the hot potato her old man had handed to her, who made him agree with others anyway? She had no choice but to muster up her spirit and embark on this "painting-selling" journey.