Chapter 374 - 224: Jiang Ming is Going to Call Him Brother-in-law?! A Breakthrough in His Relationship with Yixia?

Chapter 374: Chapter 224: Jiang Ming is Going to Call Him Brother-in-law?! A Breakthrough in His Relationship with Yixia?

The phone rang a few times before it was answered. A groggy voice came through, "Dad? What’s wrong?"

"Your mother fell! She fell down the steps and her back hurts so much she can’t move!" Jiang Guoqiang’s voice was frantic and trembling.

Jiang Ming was instantly wide awake. "What? I’m coming home right now!"

After hanging up, Jiang Guoqiang called Jiang Yixia.

The phone rang twice before it was picked up. Jiang Yixia’s voice was tinged with anxiety. "Dad? What’s wrong?"

She knew her parents wouldn’t call her in the middle of the night unless it was something serious.

"Your mother fell. She can’t move her back. You need to come home quickly..." Jiang Guoqiang’s voice choked up.

Jiang Yixia grew tense. "I’m coming home right now! Dad, don’t panic, and don’t try to move Mom. I’ll be there as soon as I can!"

After hanging up, she scrambled to change her clothes, quickly grabbed a few things, and ran out the door.

Just as she got downstairs, her phone rang again. It was Jiang Ming.

"Sis, did you hear Mom fell? I’m heading to your flower shop now. We can hire a car from there and go straight home," Jiang Ming said urgently.

"I know, I’m on my way," Jiang Yixia said anxiously as she pressed the elevator button.

Jiang Ming hesitated for a moment, then added, "Sis, maybe I should call President Lu? He knows people at the hospital. What if Mom’s injury is serious..."

Jiang Yixia froze for a second, not saying a word.

Jiang Ming continued, trying to reassure her, "Don’t overthink it. I’m just worried the county hospital won’t be good enough. President Lu has resources..."

"Go ahead and call him," Jiang Yixia cut him off, her voice a little calmer.

After hanging up, Jiang Ming immediately dialed Lu Fan’s number.

The phone was answered on the first ring. Lu Fan’s voice was perfectly clear, as if he hadn’t been sleeping at all. "Jiang Ming? What’s wrong?"

"President Lu, my mom fell. She fell down the steps and her back hurts so much she can’t move. My sister and I are heading back now. I’m worried the county hospital won’t be good enough, and I was wondering if you..." Jiang Ming spoke quickly, but tried his best to stay calm.

Lu Fan immediately reassured him in a steady tone, "Don’t worry. I’ll make the arrangements right away. You two head home first to check on the situation, then take her to Donghua Hospital. I’ll contact the director. Be careful on the road."

"Okay, thank you, President Lu." Jiang Ming hung up and immediately rushed toward the flower shop.

After hanging up, Lu Fan immediately dialed the number for Donghua Hospital’s director. The phone rang a few times before a groggy voice answered, "President Lu?"

"Old Jin, my mother-in-law fell and injured herself. She can’t move her back. She’ll be brought to your hospital shortly. I want you to personally oversee this. Get the best orthopedic doctor, run a full check-up. There can be no mistakes." Lu Fan’s voice was commanding.

The director was instantly wide awake. "Yes, President Lu. I’ll arrange it immediately. We’ll have the CT and X-ray machines ready before she arrives, and the specialist team will be on standby."

Lu Fan then added, "Send an ambulance to meet them on the road from Qingshan Village. They can start treatment on the way. Also, prepare a VIP room, the quietest one you have."

"Understood. I’ll arrange it now." The director hung up, and the entire hospital sprang into action.

Lu Fan called Jiang Ming again.

When the call connected, Lu Fan explained, "Everything’s been arranged at the hospital. An ambulance is already on its way. Just head straight for Donghua Hospital; you’ll meet it on the road. When you arrive, go straight through the emergency green channel. Someone will be there to meet you."

"Okay, thank you, President Lu," Jiang Ming said, his voice filled with gratitude.

"Don’t thank me. Just drive safely." Lu Fan hung up and started getting dressed as well.

He dialed Jiang Yixia’s number while putting on his shoes.

The phone rang several times before she answered, her voice a little hoarse. "Hello..."

"Don’t worry. Everything at the hospital has been arranged—the best doctors, a VIP room. You and Jiang Ming be careful on your way back," Lu Fan said in a steady voice.

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the line.

Jiang Yixia’s tears suddenly started to fall. She bit her lip, trying to keep from making a sound.

She remembered how, just moments ago, when Jiang Ming had suggested, ’I’ll call President Lu,’ she’d wanted to tell him not to bother.

But now, hearing his voice, so steady and calm, having arranged everything so perfectly, she couldn’t stop the tears.

"Mm," she managed to reply, her voice trembling.

Lu Fan heard it in her voice. He said softly, "It’s okay. I’m here."

Jiang Yixia didn’t say anything and hung up the phone.

She wiped her tears and rode her electric scooter toward the flower shop.

Soon, she met up with Jiang Ming, and they immediately headed toward Qingshan Village.

Just as they were about to reach the village entrance, Jiang Guoqiang called again. "Did you guys call an ambulance? There’s an ambulance in our village already."

Jiang Ming quickly explained, "Brother Lu called it! We’re almost at the village entrance, Dad. Let the paramedics check on Mom."

"Okay, okay, okay," Jiang Guoqiang replied hastily.

After hanging up, Jiang Ming reassured Jiang Yixia, "Sis, don’t worry. The ambulance is already there."

Jiang Yixia nodded, a pang of guilt in her heart.

’At such a critical moment, we, her children, haven’t even made it home yet, but the ambulance Lu Fan called is already there treating Mom.’

And so, Pan Lanfang was loaded into the ambulance.

Since space in the ambulance was limited, Jiang Yixia suggested that Jiang Ming accompany their mother.

She would follow behind with Jiang Guoqiang.

Before long, when Jiang Yixia arrived at Donghua Hospital, the sky was still dark.

The emergency building was brightly lit, and several cars were parked at the entrance.

Just as she and Jiang Guoqiang got out of the car, they saw Jiang Ming run out from inside.

"Sis, this way!" He pulled her inside, running as he spoke. "Mom’s getting examined. The doctor said it’s a lumbar compression fracture. It’s not serious, but she’ll need to be hospitalized to recover."

Jiang Yixia’s heart finally settled a little, and she followed him inside.

Outside the CT room, Pan Lanfang was wheeled out.

Her face was pale, but she seemed to be in good spirits. Seeing Jiang Yixia, she managed a weak smile. "It’s nothing. Just a little fall. You’re all making such a fuss."

Jiang Yixia held her hand, her eyes red. "Mom, you scared me to death."

Pan Lanfang patted her hand and smiled. "It’s fine, it’s fine. The doctor Xiaolu arranged is wonderful. He just finished my examination and said I’ll be able to go home after a few days in the hospital."

"I told you to be careful, I told you to be careful, but you just don’t listen..." Jiang Guoqiang stood beside them, his eyes also red as he muttered.

Pan Lanfang shot him a glare and waved her hand dismissively. "Alright, alright, stop nagging."

The group pushed Pan Lanfang into the VIP room.

The room was spacious, with a sofa, a television, and a private bathroom.

A bouquet of fresh flowers sat on the bedside table, which the director had arranged to be prepared.

Jiang Yixia looked at the flowers, a sudden complicated feeling welling up inside her.

She sat by the bed, holding Pan Lanfang’s hand.

Pan Lanfang had already fallen asleep, her complexion a little better than before.

Jiang Guoqiang was sitting on the nearby sofa, also asleep, snoring softly.

Jiang Ming pushed the door open and whispered, "Sis, President Lu is here."

Jiang Yixia paused for a moment, then stood up and walked out.

「Outside the hospital room.」

Lu Fan looked at Jiang Yixia, who hadn’t slept all night. Seeing her tired expression, he asked, "Is Mom okay?"

Jiang Yixia shook her head, her voice a little hoarse. "The doctor said she just needs to be hospitalized to recover."

"That’s good." Lu Fan nodded. "Then you don’t have to worry so much. You should get some rest, too."

"I don’t need to. I’m not tired," Jiang Yixia said, shaking her head.

After a moment, she spoke, her voice very soft. "Thank you for today."

Lu Fan looked at her and smiled. "What’s there to thank me for?"

"If you hadn’t arranged for the hospital, I don’t know how long we would have struggled."

Lu Fan didn’t speak. He reached out, gently patted her shoulder, and said again, solemnly, "Your business is my business. Your mother is my mother."

Jiang Yixia lifted her head and looked at him.

She suddenly felt like crying again.

She took a deep breath, nodded, and turned to walk back into the room.

After a few steps, she stopped and glanced back at him.

Lu Fan was still standing there, watching her.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then didn’t.

She turned and quickly walked back into the room.

Lu Fan remained where he was. He smiled, then turned and went downstairs.

Just then, his phone vibrated. It was a message from Jiang Ming.

Jiang Ming: "President Lu, my mom’s asleep. The doctor says it’s nothing serious. Thank you."

Lu Fan: "Take good care of our mom. Call me anytime if you need anything."

When Jiang Ming saw this message, he noticed Lu Fan had used the words "our mom." He thought to himself, ’Before long, I won’t be able to call him President Lu anymore. I’ll have to call him brother-in-law, won’t I?’