The divorce comeback system arrived right after I was born.

When Li Zhiyi came out after washing the dishes, Chen Zhi was still sitting at the dining table.

Only a small piece of the strawberry cake on the table was cut.

The living room lights were warm, but the silence between the two of them felt suffocating.

There was a small, yellowed cardboard box next to Chen Zhi.

Li Zhiyi saw it.

In the past six months, she has learned a lot.

For example, asking some questions may not yield answers that will make you feel better.

She dried her hands, took off her apron, and placed it on the back of the chair.

"There's still half a cake left."

Chen Zhi looked up.

Li Zhiyi closed the cake box, her tone as usual.

"I put it in the refrigerator; it can be used for breakfast tomorrow morning."

For the past six months, she has taken care of his leg, helped him change his dressings, accompanied him during rehabilitation, organized his class schedule, and cooked for him.

"Understand."

"Um?"

Just as Chen Zhigang was about to speak, Li Zhiyi's phone, which was on the coffee table, suddenly vibrated.

The screen lights up.

Caller ID: Grandma.

When Li Zhiyi picked up her phone, her fingertips paused for a moment.

She quickly answered the call and turned to walk towards the balcony.

"grandmother?"

She gently closed the balcony door.

Chen Zhi couldn't hear the whole thing, only a few fragmented sentences.

"……Hospital?"

"……coma?"

"The doctor told the family to come as soon as possible?"

Chen Zhi stopped holding the fork.

Outside on the balcony, Li Zhiyi stood with her back to the living room, her body tense.

She kept her voice down, as if afraid of disturbing the people inside.

"Grandma, don't panic."

"I'll think of something right away."

"Keep the inspection form safe and don't throw it away."

"I know, I know..."

A few minutes later, the call ended.

Li Zhiyi stood on the balcony for a while before pushing the door open and coming in.

Her face was pale, but she tried her best to pretend that nothing was wrong.

"What's wrong?"

Chen Zhi looked at her.

Li Zhiyi held her phone tightly in her palm.

"fine."

"The water pipes at home are broken, and Grandma doesn't know how to fix them, so she called me to ask."

Chen Zhi countered with a question.

"The water pipe is broken, should we go to the hospital?"

Li Zhiyi lowered her head and turned off her phone screen.

Did I just mention the hospital?

Chen Zhi pushed the chair back quietly.

"Li Zhiyi, before you lie to me, can you at least practice a little?"

Li Zhiyi stood still, not speaking immediately.

The living room was quiet for a few seconds.

She spoke very softly.

"Grandpa isn't feeling well."

"I'll go back and take a look."

Chen Zhi looked at her.

"Are you feeling a little unwell?"

"Um."

"Being in a coma is considered feeling a little unwell?"

Li Zhiyi's eyes slowly reddened.

She turned her face away and spoke a little faster.

"The doctor didn't say it was necessarily serious, he just told me to come over and get checked out, so that I wouldn't disrupt your plans."

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhi's face darkened.

"Li Zhiyi".

She looked up.

Chen Zhi said it word by word.

"Your grandfather is sick, and you're still scheduling time for me?"

Li Zhiyi stood there, tears not falling, but her voice becoming hoarse.

"I didn't mean to hide it from you."

"I just..."

She paused for a long time.

"I just don't want to become the kind of trouble you have to deal with anymore."

Chen Zhi was stunned.

Li Zhiyi raised her hand to wipe her eyes, but the more she wiped, the more messy her eyes became.

Deep Space Technology just finished its financing round, and tomorrow is your birthday.

"You're sitting here today, looking at that box, and you're acting completely out of sorts."

She sniffed and tried to finish her sentence.

"I've been trying my best not to cause trouble."

"real."

"I didn't mean to make things difficult for you."

Chen Zhi fell silent.

Li Zhiyi is usually too well-behaved.

She was so well-behaved that people forgot she wasn't without emotions.

She just rarely shows her emotions.

Chen Zhi reached out his hand.

Give me your phone.

Li Zhiyi subconsciously took a step back.

"Chen Zhi, really, it's not necessary. I can buy a ticket and go back myself."

"cell phone."

"I……"

"Li Zhiyi".

She eventually handed the phone over.

Chen Zhi dialed his grandmother's number back immediately.

As soon as the call connected, the old man's voice, trembling with tears, came through the phone.

"Zhiyi, have you gotten on the bus yet? Your grandfather is still asleep, and the doctor wants me to sign some papers, but I don't understand them..."

Li Zhiyi swayed slightly upon hearing these words.

Chen Zhi grabbed her wrist and pulled her to sit down on the sofa.

"Grandma, it's me, Chen Zhi."

There was a pause on the other end of the phone.

"Chen Zhi? Little Chen?"

"Hmm, please don't rush."

Chen Zhi turned on the speakerphone and placed the phone on the coffee table.

"Which hospital is Grandpa in now?"

"People's Hospital".

Which People's Hospital?

The old man gave his name.

Chen Zhi immediately took out his phone and sent a message to his assistant.

[Please provide me with the nearest referral routes to top-tier hospitals and information on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular emergency resources for this hospital within ten minutes.]

The assistant replied instantly.

【receive】

Chen Zhi continued to ask the old man questions.

"Grandma, when did Grandpa collapse?"

"Around 4 p.m., he suddenly fell to the ground."

"Did you have any seizures? Did you vomit? Did you slur your speech?"

"I don't know, I was terrified, he collapsed and never woke up."

What tests did the doctor perform?

"I had a CT scan, blood drawn, and an electrocardiogram. The doctor said I should be transferred to a higher-level hospital, but they made me sign all sorts of forms, which I'm afraid to sign."

The old man started crying again as he spoke.

"Zhiyi's parents are gone, and she's been alone since she was little. If I were to lose her grandfather too, how would I face her...?"

Li Zhiyi suddenly covered her mouth.

Tears finally streamed down my face.

Chen Zhi reached out and pressed down on her shoulder.

"Grandma, please listen to me."

"Take photos of all medical records, examination reports, electrocardiograms, and CT reports and send them to Zhiyi via WeChat."

"It's okay if you don't know how to take pictures, let the nurse take them for you."

"Take a picture of the payment receipt as well."

"Don't sign up for out-of-pocket items indiscriminately now, but you can sign an informed consent form for transfer to another hospital, provided that the hospital arranges for a doctor to accompany the ambulance."

The old man on the other end of the phone was extremely panicked.

"I'm looking for a nurse, I'm looking for a nurse right now."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Zhi immediately dialed a contact person.

This is the number Pei Ningxue left for him when she was organizing medical resources.

"Director Wang, this is Chen Zhi."

"Sorry to bother you so late."

"An elderly person suddenly fell into a coma. The county hospital's initial examination revealed no clear cause, but suspected cerebrovascular or cardiac problems. The patient needed to be transferred to a higher-level hospital for emergency treatment."

"Yes, could you help me contact the nearest top-tier hospital's neurology and cardiology departments?"

"I'll send you the information right away."

Li Zhiyi sat on the sofa, her hands trembling violently.

She flinched when she heard the words "high risk".

"Chen Zhi..."

"Um."

"Will this interfere with your plans for tomorrow?"

Chen Zhi put down his phone and stared at her for two seconds.

"Li Zhiyi, do you think my birthday is more important than your grandfather's life?"

That's not what I meant.

"Then shut up."

Li Zhiyi, with tears still on her face, was stunned by his harsh words.

Chen Zhi picked up his coat, his tone softening slightly.

Don't overthink it.

"Pack your ID cards and two pieces of clothing, we're leaving right away."

Li Zhiyi stared blankly at him.

"Where to?"

"Your home."

Chen Zhi made a phone call while changing his shoes.

"Arrange a car to take us to the Wanliu Academy building."

"Contact the private jet again, find the nearest flight path, and get to the nearest airport."

"If there are no available flights, fly directly to the provincial capital and then transfer to an ambulance."

The person on the other end of the phone was clearly taken aback.

"Mr. Chen, what's wrong...?"

"The elderly person is critically ill."

Chen Zhi paused for a moment.

"My family."

Li Zhiyi was just getting up to get her bag when she heard those four words and suddenly stopped.

Chen Zhi hung up the phone and looked back at her.

"What are you spacing out for?"

Li Zhiyi's voice was very low.

"No need for such a big fuss."

"I can take the high-speed train back."

Chen Zhi walked over, took the bag from her hand, and stuffed her ID card, charger, and tissues into it.

"You can compromise yourself."

"But you should think about your grandfather."

Li Zhiyi couldn't say a word.

At the door, Chen Zhigang picked up his cane when his phone rang again.

Pei Ningxue.

The tone on the other end of the phone was indifferent.

"Mr. Chen, I've cancelled all your plans for tomorrow."

"You'd better not tell me you're planning to fly to Boston."

Chen Zhi didn't try to beat around the bush with her.

"Li Zhiyi's grandfather was critically ill, so I went there overnight."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

When Pei Ningxue spoke again, her tone had changed.

Which hospital?

"I don't know, we haven't received the documents yet."

The sound of files being turned over came from Pei Ningxue's side.

"I've contacted the Pei family's medical connections there. There's a top-tier hospital; we've donated equipment there before. The head of neurology should be able to accept it."

Chen Zhi glanced at Li Zhiyi.

Li Zhiyi sat on the sofa, her hands clasped together, her knuckles white.

On the phone, Pei Ningxue suddenly called her name.

"Li Zhiyi".

Li Zhiyi looked up.

Chen Zhi handed over the phone.

"President Pei..."

"Don't cry."

Pei Ningxue's voice was very steady.

What you need most right now is to stay calm.

"I'll contact the hospital for you. Once we get there, Chen Zhi will find a doctor. You stay with Grandma for now."

Li Zhiyi nodded vigorously, knowing full well that the other person couldn't see her.

"Thank you, Mr. Pei."

"What are you thanking me for?"

Pei Ningxue paused for a moment.

"He may be a scumbag, but he's reliable when it comes to getting things done."

Chen Zhi: "..."

Pei Ningxue added another sentence.

"Keep an eye on him on the road, don't let him show off recklessly."

Chen Zhi couldn't help but interject.

"President Pei, I'm still right here."

"That's perfect, you listen too."

"..."

After hanging up the phone, Li Zhiyi looked at her phone with a complicated expression.

She always thought Pei Ningxue would hate her.

At the very least, he would mind her.

But those few words just now weren't at all difficult.

The car arrived downstairs quickly.

After the two got into the car, Chen Zhi dialed Zhang Guifang's number again.

It was already past 9 p.m. in China.

Zhang Guifang's tone was disdainful when she answered the phone.

"Not coming home again for your birthday tomorrow? Are you getting more and more extravagant now that you have money?"

"Mom, Grandpa Zhiyi is critically ill. We're going to her hometown now."

There was a sudden silence on the other end of the phone.

Two seconds later, Zhang Guifang panicked.

"What illness? Why is she suddenly critically ill? Where's Zhiyi? Is she terrified?"

Li Zhiyi, sitting next to him, burst into tears again upon hearing this.

Chen Zhi briefly explained the situation.

Zhang Guifang immediately spoke up.

"Take good care of Zhiyi."

"She doesn't like to bother people, so you should take good care of her."

"Did you hear me?"

Chen Zhi glanced at the person next to him.

"I heard you."

Zhang Guifang was still worried.

"Your dad and I will go there first thing tomorrow morning."

"No need, you're in Jiangcheng..."

"What don't you need?"

Zhang Guifang interrupted directly.

"Zhiyi's grandparents are getting old, how can a young girl like her manage?"

"You have the money to arrange doctors, but who will keep the elderly company? Who will help with the paperwork?"

"Your dad is taking the day off tomorrow, I'll book the tickets."

Chen Zhi didn't try to persuade him any further.

"Okay, I'll have someone arrange a car to pick you up."

Zhang Guifang gave her final instructions.

"Give the phone to Zhiyi."

Chen Zhi handed over the phone.

Li Zhiyi called out softly.

"Aunt."

"Don't be afraid."

Zhang Guifang's voice softened immediately.

"With Chen Zhi around, if he dares to mess things up, you tell Auntie, and Auntie will fly over and give him a good thrashing."

Li Zhiyi finally couldn't hold back and laughed through her tears.

"Um."

Zhang Guifang sighed.

"Silly child, it's okay to cry, don't hold it in."

The car drove all the way to the airport.

Old Zhao has already completed the formalities.

Chen Zhi kept making phone calls in the car—to doctors, hospitals, airlines, and ambulances.

Li Zhiyi sat next to her, clutching the photo her grandmother had sent her.

The medical record was photographed and made crooked.

The old man's hands were shaking, and several photos were blurry.

She resent them to Chen Zhi one by one.

Chen Zhi handed the information to the doctor.

Ten minutes later, Director Wang called back.

"Mr. Chen, based on initial observations, the situation doesn't look good."

"The CT scan did not show any obvious massive bleeding, but the elderly patient had been in a coma for an extended period of time, and the electrocardiogram also showed abnormalities, so we cannot rule out cerebral infarction complicated by arrhythmia."

"I recommend transferring to the nearest top-tier hospital immediately."

Chen Zhi hummed in agreement.

"I've already made the arrangements. Could you please keep an eye on the patient reception?"

When Li Zhiyi heard that "the situation is not good," her face turned even paler.

Chen Zhi took her hand.

This time she didn't pull it back.

1:40 a.m.

The plane landed.

Ambulances and vans were already waiting outside the airport.

More than an hour later, the two arrived at the county hospital.

The air was filled with the smell of disinfectant.

As soon as Li Zhiyi entered, she saw an elderly man with gray hair sitting on a bench.

The old man clutched a stack of payment slips in his hand, with a cloth bag beside him, and kept wiping away tears.

"grandmother!"

Li Zhiyi rushed over.

The old man looked up and saw her; the moment he did, he lost his balance.

"You understand..."

Li Zhiyi hugged her grandmother, and the emotions she had been holding up all the way finally collapsed.

"Grandma, I'm home."

"I'm back……"

The old man patted her back, crying so hard he could barely speak.

"Your grandfather hasn't woken up yet. The doctor keeps urging me to sign the papers, but I'm afraid I'll sign the wrong ones..."

"I'm afraid I'll hurt him..."

Chen Zhi did not go over to disturb them.

He took off his coat, draped it over Li Zhiyi's shoulders, and then turned and walked toward the nurses' station.

Where is the doctor on duty?

The nurse glanced at him.

Are you a patient's family member?

"I am."

"The office next to the emergency room."

Chen Zhi nodded, but after taking only two steps, an impatient voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Which of you is a family member of Li Jianjun?"

A middle-aged doctor in a white coat came out of the office, holding several forms in his hand.

"Sign it quickly."

"If this drags on any longer, don't blame the hospital if something goes wrong."

Li Zhiyi helped her grandmother to her feet; her face was still pale.

"Doctor, I'm a family member."

The middle-aged doctor handed the form to her.

"Transfer risk disclosure, confirmation of self-paid expenses, and ambulance dispatch slip."

"Pay after signing."

Chen Zhi walked back and took the order from him.

He glanced at it, then looked up at the doctor.

Who is the on-board doctor?

The middle-aged doctor frowned.

"And who are you?"

Chen Zhi put the list back on the table.

"Patient's family member."

"Then sign it."

"I'm asking you, who is the on-board doctor?"

The middle-aged doctor didn't look too good.

"Why are you having so many questions about transferring hospitals?"

Chen Zhi took out his phone, and on the screen was a message from the director of the Third Provincial Hospital.

"The Third Provincial Hospital has already sent people."

"If your transfer facilities are insufficient, I will have an ambulance from the province come down to pick you up."

"But if the elderly person has any problems while waiting for transfer in your facility, I will check each and every one of their emergency records, medication records, and consultation records."

The corridor fell silent.

The middle-aged doctor glanced at Chen Zhi, then at the contact information on his phone.

Their attitude changed immediately.

"Have you already contacted the Third Provincial Hospital?"

"Um."

"Then...then I'll arrange for the director to come over right away."

The middle-aged doctor didn't urge him to sign the papers again, and turned to walk towards his office.

Li Zhiyi stood behind, holding her grandmother, staring blankly at Chen Zhi.

Chen Zhi turned around.

"Don't space out."

"Go keep Grandma company."

Just as Li Zhiyi was about to nod, the door to the emergency room was suddenly pushed open.

A nurse came out quickly.

Are Li Jianjun's family members here?

Li Zhiyi's expression changed.

"exist!"

The nurse spoke very quickly.

"The patient's blood pressure suddenly dropped, and the doctor asked the family to come in immediately to sign the resuscitation consent form!"

Li Zhiyi's legs went weak, and she almost couldn't stand up.

Chen Zhi stepped forward and helped her up.