He tricked the female lead into becoming his boyfriend, but then went on to criticize the male lead.

The time spent in the sanatorium was quiet and gentle. Sang Jiuning sat with Fu Xulan in the ward, talking for a long time.

She spoke softly about her life from childhood to adulthood, about her daily life in college, and about interesting things that happened on campus, her tone gentle and affectionate.

Fu Xulan listened quietly, a faint smile in her eyes, occasionally responding with a few words. After so many years, the mother and daughter finally sat down together for a heart-to-heart talk.

Time slipped away silently, and before we knew it, it was four o'clock in the afternoon.

Sang Jiuning glanced at the clock on the wall, then reluctantly stood up, straightened her clothes, and prepared to return to school.

As soon as she stood up, Fu Xulan beside her immediately tensed up, her fingers clenching nervously together, her eyes filled with apprehension and dependence. She looked at her cautiously and whispered, "Ningning, will...will you come again?"

His tone was like that of a child afraid of being abandoned, full of fear and reluctance.

Sang Jiuning's heart softened, her nose tingled slightly, and she nodded gently with her eyes crinkled. Her tone was firm and warm: "Mom, don't worry, school starts summer vacation tomorrow. I'll come over whenever I have time and come to keep you company every day."

Upon hearing this, Fu Xulan's face instantly blossomed into a gentle smile, her eyes crinkling, and her voice as soft as cotton: "Okay, my Ningning, you must keep your word and come to see Mommy tomorrow. Mommy will be a good girl, cooperate with the doctor for the examination, take your medicine properly, and try to get better and be discharged from the hospital as soon as possible."

Looking at her expectant face, Sang Jiuning's eyes welled up with tears, and she nodded vigorously: "Yes, I believe Mom can do it. Once you're better and discharged from the hospital, we'll move out together and never be apart again."

"Okay, we won't separate..." Fu Xulan murmured repeatedly, her eyes full of longing.

Sang Jiuning stayed with and comforted her for a while longer before reluctantly saying goodbye and leaving room 303.

When she got to the bottom of the sanatorium, she looked around but didn't see Fu Yanchen.

She was slightly surprised, thinking he would be waiting here to take her home.

Before she could think further, a middle-aged driver dressed in a black suit and with a respectful attitude quickly stepped forward and bowed slightly: "Ms. Sang, Mr. Fu had an urgent matter and had to leave first. He specifically instructed me to take you back to school. Please get in the car."

Sang Jiuning paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement: "Thank you for your help, driver."

She didn't think much of it, assuming that Fu Yanchen was busy as the group's president, so she got into the car and drove smoothly towards the school.

An hour later, the car came to a smooth stop in front of the girls' dormitory.

Sang Jiuning thanked the driver, got off the bus, and quickly walked into the dormitory building, returning to her room.

The dormitory was quiet; my roommates had all gone out for a stroll, a rare moment of peace and quiet.

Exhausted, she took off her shoes and climbed directly into bed, lying on her back. Her nerves, which had been tense all day, finally relaxed.

I had only closed my eyes for a few seconds when my phone on the pillow suddenly started buzzing.

She picked up her phone, opened WeChat, and saw a message from Wen Zhaoci.

[ZC: What's the baby doing? He hasn't replied to my messages.]

Upon seeing this message, Sang Jiuning felt a pang of guilt.

In the morning, I was busy coordinating with Fu Yanchen and rushing to the sanatorium. Later, I spent the whole day talking with my mother. I didn't have time to check my phone at all and completely forgot to reply to Wen Zhaoci's message.

She tapped the screen lightly to reply:

[The ruffled-haired little Totoro: I had some personal business to take care of, just got back to the dorm.]

The message was sent out and received a reply almost instantly.

[ZC: Summer vacation officially starts tomorrow. What are your plans for the summer? Are you planning to go back to your hometown or stay in Beijing?]

Sang Jiuning stared at the screen, remaining silent for a few seconds.

She will definitely stay in Beijing during the summer vacation and come to the nursing home to visit her mother every day. She has been keeping this matter to herself for too long, and she feels both bitter and emotional. She also wants to find someone she trusts to confide in.

After a moment's thought, she chose to tell the truth.

[The ruffled little Totoro: I plan to stay in Beijing. And one more thing… I saw my mother. I always thought she was long gone; I never imagined she was still alive.]

After the message was sent, the other end remained silent for a moment before sending a question mark full of shock.

【ZC: ? ? ? 】

When Wen Zhaoci saw this message, she was completely stunned.

He was still feeling resentful and jealous because he saw Sang Jiuning get into Fu Yanchen's car during the day, and he was filled with suspicion and discomfort. But when he saw this sentence, all his irritation was instantly replaced by surprise.

Sang Jiuning has always been from a single-parent family and has never mentioned her mother. He always thought that her parents might be divorced, but he never expected that her mother would come back to life.

Sang Jiuning looked at his question mark, sighed softly, and typed a reply:

[The ruffled little Totoro: This matter can't be explained in a few words; it involves many things. I'll tell you the details another time when I have the chance.]

The other party replied quickly, in a gentle and considerate tone, without asking any further questions, showing exceptional understanding.

ZC: Okay, I'll wait until you're ready to talk.

These simple words, just over ten, convey a great deal of accommodation and patience.

Looking at the chat box, Sang Jiuning felt a little more at ease. She put down her phone, turned over, and her heart was filled with the bittersweet feeling of seeing her mother. She slowly drifted into thought.

Meanwhile, Wen Zhaoci stared at his phone screen, his eyes dark and brooding. The gentleness in his eyes had faded, replaced by a deep sense of inquiry and gloom.

Sang Jiuning's mother is still alive, but she has been recuperating in a private sanatorium under Fu Yanchen's name.

Today, Sang Jiuning went to see her with Fu Yanchen. How could the two of them be completely unrelated?

The two people my subordinates found to have no connection were completely a hoax!

Why would Fu Yanchen help her settle her mother?

What untold connection exists between the Fu family and Sang Jiuning's mother?

Countless questions swirled in Wen Zhaoci's mind, a mixture of possessiveness and a thirst for knowledge.

He quickly opened the chat window with his assistant Lu Xiangyang, tapped the screen, and sent a command in a cold and purposeful tone:

[Investigate thoroughly, find out exactly what connection or entanglement Sang Jiuning's mother has with the Fu family and Fu Yanchen, leave no stone unturned.]

After sending the message, Wen Zhaoci leaned against his desk, a turbulent undercurrent in his eyes.

He not only needs to figure out Fu Yanchen's purpose in approaching Sang Jiuning, but also to uncover all the secrets hidden behind it.

He wanted to know everything about Sang Jiuning.

No one can be kept in the dark about him, especially not about Fu Yanchen.