Chapter 23: These Parents Are So Difficult to Handle

Hua Li told Xiao Xiu that because he was injured, he had to see a doctor at the hospital. Xiao Xiu was terrified, but he still obediently followed Hua Li to the hospital.

Dr. Li was surprised to see Hua Li carrying one child while leading another. Upon hearing that the little boy was a stray Hua Li had found and that he had injuries, Dr. Li was full of admiration for her kindness. After examining Xiao Xiu, Dr. Li confirmed that there were no internal injuries or broken bones, which finally put Hua Li’s mind at ease. Dr. Li also took the opportunity to check Luo Yan’s nose, which was also perfectly fine.

After thanking Dr. Li, Hua Li left the clinic, only to run into Luo Shicheng and Liu Jingqiu coming from the opposite direction.

"Comrade Luo Shicheng, I am so sorry to trouble you again..." Liu Jingqiu leaned weakly toward Luo Shicheng, but he held her arm with one hand, exerting enough force to keep her from leaning in even an inch.

Noticing Hua Li holding Luo Yan and accompanied by a little boy, Liu Jingqiu suddenly let out a cry and fainted. Luo Shicheng could hardly let her fall to the ground, so he had to use both hands to hoist her up. Seeing this, Luo Yan felt both annoyed with her "scumbag" father and intently watched Liu Jingqiu’s neck, confirming she wasn't wearing the jade pendant; she figured it must be with An Xiaotong.

Seeing Liu Jingqiu nearly pressed against Luo Shicheng, Hua Li turned and headed toward the stairwell. Hearing the footsteps, Luo Shicheng turned around and saw it was Hua Li. Veins bulged on his forehead as he called out anxiously, "Hua Li, wait!"

Luo Shicheng handed Liu Jingqiu over to the medical staff who had arrived to take her to emergency care and hurried after Hua Li. He blocked her path with his tall frame, while Hua Li glared at him, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Hua Li, it’s not what you think. You’ve misunderstood..."

*Scumbag Dad, why waste so much breath? Can't you just explain the reason clearly?* Luo Yan sighed, her small hands clenched into fists in frustration. *Oh, these parents are just too difficult to handle.*

Hua Li sneered, "You and I are getting a divorce soon. Misunderstanding or not, there’s no need for Major Luo to explain."

Luo Shicheng replied, "Liu Jingqiu was beaten by Liu Fengling and her daughter. You know I bear some responsibility for that, which is why I brought her to the hospital for a check-up. Please, can you stop being angry?"

"No, I won't!" The more Luo Shicheng explained, the angrier Hua Li became. She didn't know why her rage was so intense, but since she couldn't control it, she decided not to try.

Luo Shicheng picked up Xiao Xiu and tried to coax Hua Li, asking, "Did you come to the hospital for Yan Yan’s follow-up?"

"That’s none of your business. Go tend to your Liu Jingqiu." Hua Li carried Luo Yan and walked past him, heading straight downstairs.

Luo Shicheng started to follow, but a nurse called out from behind, "Family member of Liu Jingqiu..."

Hearing this, Hua Li stopped and glared fiercely at Luo Shicheng. "Give me Xiao Xiu."

Luo Shicheng didn't want to deal with Liu Jingqiu either, but since he had brought her to the hospital, he couldn't just abandon her halfway. He set Xiao Xiu down and said apologetically, "You two go back first. I'll try to get home as early as I can tonight..."

*You're already officially her family, why would you even come home?* Hua Li took Xiao Xiu’s hand and walked downstairs.

Once outside the hospital building, Hua Li sat down on the edge of a flower bed and burst into tears, unable to hold them back any longer. *With a blockhead of a father like this, he’s destined to be alone forever,* Luo Yan thought as she used a handkerchief to wipe Hua Li’s tears. "Mom, don't cry."

Luo Yan’s comfort only made Hua Li cry harder. In the midst of her sobbing, she heard a man grunt in pain. Hua Li looked up to see Chen Yuanshan clutching his forehead, grimacing. Hua Li was momentarily confused.

Xiao Xiu had picked up another rock from the ground and thrown it at Chen Yuanshan as he approached Hua Li, but Chen Yuanshan caught it easily. "Whose child is this? Why is he hitting people?" Chen Yuanshan rubbed his forehead, gasping in pain.

Realizing that Xiao Xiu had thrown a stone at him, Hua Li quickly stood up and pulled Chen Yuanshan’s hand away from his forehead to take a look. A bump had already formed—she hadn't realized the boy had hit him so hard!

"I’m so sorry, Comrade Chen Yuanshan. The child doesn't know any better. Please don't hold it against him. Go see a doctor; I’ll cover the medical expenses."

Chen Yuanshan chuckled. "It’s not that serious. No need to see a doctor." He then asked Hua Li, "Is this a relative’s child?"

Luo Shicheng, who had just finished paying for Liu Jingqiu’s emergency fees, was standing by the window feeling agitated when he saw Hua Li and Chen Yuanshan standing close, talking and laughing. Overcome with heat and jealousy, he rushed down. "What are you two doing?"

There had been nothing going on, but at Luo Shicheng’s shout, Hua Li felt guilty and abruptly let go of Chen Yuanshan’s hand. Luo Shicheng glanced at Hua Li, who had turned her head away to ignore him, and asked, "Chen Yuanshan, what are you doing at the hospital?"

Chen Yuanshan looked at the sour-faced Luo Shicheng and then at Hua Li, who was deliberately ignoring him, and guessed they were having a marital spat. "I had some stomach discomfort, so I came to see a doctor for some medicine."

"What a coincidence," Luo Shicheng said. *What a coincidence to run into my wife and insist on holding her hand while talking to her.*

Chen Yuanshan seemed to miss the sarcasm in Luo Shicheng’s voice and smiled. "It certainly is. If it weren't such a coincidence, I wouldn't have seen you, sister-in-law, crying here all alone with two children." *You’re unhappy that I’m talking to your wife? Then how could you let your wife cry her eyes out all alone with two kids?*

Luo Shicheng caught the mockery in Chen Yuanshan’s words and sneered, "With me, her husband, here, it’s not your place to worry about her."

Hearing Luo Shicheng say such ridiculous things, Hua Li addressed Chen Yuanshan, "Comrade Chen, don't pay him any mind. Let’s go, I’ll accompany you to see the doctor." She just wanted an excuse to get away from Luo Shicheng, and since Xiao Xiu had injured Chen Yuanshan, she felt responsible for paying his medical bills.

Chen Yuanshan had originally wanted to mediate, but since Luo Shicheng had judged him without asking for the facts, he decided not to play the peacemaker.

Seeing that Hua Li was actually going to leave with Chen Yuanshan, Luo Shicheng grabbed her wrist. Hua Li looked up coldly. "Go be the family member for your little childhood sweetheart and stop bothering me."

Luo Shicheng was shocked by the coldness in her eyes and inadvertently let go of her hand. Chen Yuanshan let Hua Li follow him as he went to register, see the doctor, and pick up his medicine. Once he was finished, he called to Hua Li, who was sitting on a bench in a daze.

"How much was it?" Hua Li asked, coming back to her senses and reaching for her pocket to pay, but Chen Yuanshan pressed his hand over hers to stop her.

"The child didn't know better, so I can't blame him. Besides, I came for my stomach; this little bump on my head is nothing."

Seeing Chen Yuanshan touching Hua Li’s hand again, Luo Shicheng was so furious he almost lunged, but Luo Yan quickly called out to Hua Li, "Mom, brother loves mom."

*She couldn't bring herself to say 'protect,'* Luo Yan thought, feeling speechless.

The distraction worked; Chen Yuanshan pulled his hand back, and Hua Li understood. She noticed that Chen Yuanshan wasn't in uniform today—just a undershirt, long pants, and sunglasses—making him look a bit like a troublemaker. Hua Li held Xiao Xiu’s hand and asked, "Did you hit the uncle because you thought he was going to bully the auntie?"

Xiao Xiu nodded.

*Oh, this child...* Hua Li felt a pang of heartache and gently ruffled Xiao Xiu’s hair. She stood up from the bench and said to Chen Yuanshan, "How about this? Let’s go to a restaurant and have a meal together. Consider it my apology on behalf of Xiao Xiu."

Chen Yuanshan laughed, picked up Xiao Xiu, and said, "Alright, let’s go. Let’s get something good to eat."

Watching Hua Li walk out of the hospital with Chen Yuanshan, each carrying a child, looking for all the world like a happy family, Luo Shicheng’s eyes burned red.