Plunder-Chapter 317: He Gave Up

"What are you doing going to the hospital?"

Lin Bohan looked utterly bewildered.

Zhou Jin’an paused, his eyes narrowing coldly as he swept over Lin Bohan.

He immediately broke out in goosebumps.

"Your eldest grandson is sick, don’t you know? Mr. Lin, if it weren’t for Youyou and Cheng Lu considering their deep parental love, your actions would have constituted kidnapping, which is punishable by imprisonment."

The prospect of prison suddenly entered Lin Bohan’s life for the first time.

He knew the law, but hadn’t realized he had broken it.

"Ah, I really was confused, Director Zhou, I... we really didn’t think too much, we just wanted..."

Zhou Jin’an raised his hand to stop him from continuing.

"Enough, don’t say anything now. Hurry to the hospital. If the child is fine, this matter can be easily resolved. But if something happens to the child, think about it, how will you explain it to Youyou?"

This time, it was Lin Bohan’s turn to panic.

If something happened to Beibei, would Youyou ever forgive them?

If Cheng Lu, in a fit of anger, reported this to the police, wouldn’t he and Mrs. Jia really end up in jail?

On the way to the hospital, he was extremely nervous, his hands clasped together tightly, drenched in sweat.

"I... I’ll make a call."

As the car stopped in front of the hospital, Lin Bohan proposed making a phone call.

Zhou Jin’an did not object, and in front of Zhou Jin’an, he dialed Mrs. Jia’s number.

"Where are you? Hurry to the hospital. If something happens to the child, you’re waiting to be imprisoned. It’s all your fault; what kind of bad idea did you come up with?"

Lin Bohan didn’t wait for Mrs. Jia to speak and angrily hung up the phone.

Zhou Jin’an had already walked away.

In the emergency building, Qiao En stood by as Youyou held the child to see the doctor.

Beibei underwent a CT scan and was diagnosed with acute pneumonia; it was lucky he was brought in, otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

After the examination, the doctor arranged for him to be hospitalized.

Youyou was extremely heartbroken, clinging to Beibei and refusing to let go.

Lin Bohan, clearly feeling guilty, followed them but stood outside the hospital room, unwilling to go in.

Until Mrs. Jia arrived.

"What are you doing outside? Why aren’t you going inside?" Mrs. Jia, holding a little bag, was about to stride in, but Lin Bohan swiftly grabbed her.

"It’s all because of your brilliant ideas, Beibei has developed pneumonia. The doctor said that if he had been brought just a bit later, it would have been a disaster."

Mrs. Jia pursed her lips and remained silent.

"Can you blame me?"

"Who else if not you? Who Youyou wants to marry is her choice. As her mother, why must you interfere? Do you realize that if Cheng Lu had called the police, we both could have been incarcerated?"

Mrs. Jia was startled, "Would he dare? This is my grandson, I’m their actual grandmother, this isn’t kidnapping."

Mrs. Jia continued to argue, but Lin Bohan shook his head, "Forget it, let’s put this behind us. The deed is done, just stop meddling."

"I’m telling you Lin Bohan, have you gone mad? We only parted for a few hours, and you’ve changed sides. Isn’t Youyou your daughter? Isn’t her happiness important?"

Their voices grew louder as they quarreled outside, while Youyou was wholly focused on her child, oblivious to the argument outside.

Qiao En stood up, came out, and opened the door, "Uncle, Aunt, please come in."

Mrs. Jia cast a disparaging glance at Lin Bohan before briskly entering the hospital room.

"Beibei, my darling grandbaby."

As she approached the child, Youyou, who had seemed frail and helpless, suddenly stood up, blocking Mrs. Jia’s path.

"Mom, please stay away from my child."

Her tone was stern, causing Mrs. Jia to recoil, "Youyou, I’m your mother. How can you talk to me like this?"

"You’re my mother, and you kidnapped my child? What kind of mother does that?"

Youyou cried out angrily.

Cheng Lu hurried over, pulling her into his embrace, tenderly patting her back.

"Youyou, calm down."

He then looked at Mrs. Jia, "Mom, Youyou is upset right now. Why don’t you and dad go home for now? Come back when Beibei’s condition improves."

"This is no place for you to speak."

Mrs. Jia, ungrateful, also raised her voice.

Lin Bohan hurried over to intervene, "Let’s go home. Let’s not cause any more trouble here."

"Who’s causing trouble? What have I done that wasn’t for her benefit?"

"You think you’re helping me? How has any of this been good for me? This is my life. I can make my own decisions and bear the responsibility, without your interference."

Youyou was adamant,

"Aunt, why don’t we go out and get something to eat?"

Qiao En tried to pull Mrs. Jia’s arm, attempting to lead her out of the hospital room. However, Mrs. Jia was now as agitated as a fighting cock,

She had nowhere else to vent her frustration, and suddenly, with a fierce sweep of her hand, she pushed Qiao En to the ground.

"En’en."

Zhou Jin’an rushed over anxiously, helping the fallen Qiao En up, checking her injuries with utmost care.

Youyou also panicked, "Young Madam, how badly are you hurt?"

"I’m fine."

Qiao En’s head had struck the door hard, and she was in severe pain.

"I’ll take you to see a doctor."

Zhou Jin’an, without further ado, carried Qiao En and rushed out.

Youyou couldn’t think of anything else at that moment; she wanted to follow, but Cheng Lu quickly stopped her.

"Stay here with the child, I’ll go."

Cheng Lu hurried out.

In the hospital room, only the three members of the Lin family remained.

Youyou returned to the bedside and sat down abruptly, her cold back facing Mrs. Jia.

"Youyou, I’m telling you, you agreed to me today—to break up with Cheng Lu. I’ve already arranged the blind date for tonight, at seven o’clock, you must go."

Mrs. Jia spoke authoritatively.

"Don’t push Youyou like this, respect her own wishes."

Lin Bohan urged.

Mrs. Jia fiercely pushed him away, "If I don’t push her now, should I wait for her to regret it later? She’s our daughter, only twenty-three years old, just two years out of college. Does she understand this society? There is no cure for regret in this world. We as parents must step in and take control during crucial moments. It’s our duty and responsibility."

Mrs. Jia said assertively.

Lin Youyou suddenly calmed down, realizing that the generational gap between her and Mrs. Jia was simply insurmountable.

"Mom, do you know why I have to marry Brother Lu?"

Qiao En did not turn around. She lay on the edge of the bed, gently patting the child.

"You have protected me too well since I was little. I don’t know how to protect myself. Yes, in your eyes, I’m excellent, obedient, but you don’t know how much I hate this version of myself."

"A year ago, I joined Nanchen and finally passed the probation period. However, on my first work outing, I was tricked. That night, I was bullied. I didn’t know what to do and chose to remain silent; later, I found out I was pregnant."

"It was Brother Lu. He always protected me and taught that bully a lesson. When I was most helpless, he was always there with me. The child isn’t his, but he never despised it. To preserve my dignity, he would rather be misunderstood and maligned by you all and would not tell the real situation."

"Dad, Mom, I know you care about your reputation. But apart from that, do you care about my feelings? Brother Lu is truly good to me. Being able to meet and be with him is my fortune. If you insist on opposing us, then I have no choice but to sever ties with you. Just pretend you never had me as a daughter."

Lin Youyou spoke slowly, her voice steady. Mrs. Jia listened, shocked.

"Why didn’t you tell us? Youyou, how can you be so foolish?"

Mrs. Jia sobbed uncontrollably.

She didn’t know that over the last year, Lin Youyou had been using her busy work schedule as an excuse not to return home, enduring tremendous disgrace alone, and had even had a child.

"What good would telling you do? For the sake of face, you would have me settle the matter quietly and get an abortion. Would you care about my feelings, my pain? Mom, Dad, I know you love and care for me very much, but there are some kinds of love I really don’t need. I am grown up now; I need respect, understanding, not your so-called love."

"Youyou, mom and dad are sorry."

Lin Bohan’s love for his daughter was intense; his eyes reddened, tears gathering.

"But the child isn’t his. Will you be happy marrying him? Youyou, people change. What if he shames you with this in the future? How will you live?"

Mrs. Jia began to worry about future problems.

"Mom—" Lin Youyou suddenly got up, "Enough, put away your well-intentions. I don’t need your reminders. Brother Lu and I will surely live our lives well. Please, leave now."

Lin Youyou was angry.

Lin Bohan held Mrs. Jia’s arm, "Let’s go. Don’t pressure Youyou any more, she’s already having a tough time."

"Youyou, we’re leaving now. Take good care of yourself, and if you need anything, call dad. I won’t leave you to fend for yourself."

Lin Bohan said, choking up.

After Lin’s parents left, Lin Youyou lay on the bed, sobbing deeply.

Being hurt is a pain that can be hidden inside and ignored, pretending it never happened as time passes.

But now, exposing the wound and tearing it open herself was a pain beyond description.

Qiao En was taken to the examination room, and Zhou Jin’an sighed heavily, "You should go back first, I’ll be here."

"Director Zhou, I’m really sorry about today..."

Zhou Jin’an patted his shoulder, "Enough said, go back now."

Cheng Lu hurried back, but by the time he got to the hospital room, Lin’s parents had already left, and Lin Youyou was still sobbing at the bedside.

He wanted to come closer, but he paused at the door.

Seeing Lin Youyou so heartbroken, he too felt tremendous pain.

He admitted he loved Lin Youyou very deeply, but if this love brought her not happiness but pressure, what was the point of him staying by her side?

So, he stood at the door for a while, then turned and left.

Qiao En’s test results were all normal, and Zhou Jin’an was very relieved.

"You, don’t be so impulsive in the future. You are my precious, how can I let others just bump into you like that?"

"I’m fine, aren’t I? Why are you making such a fuss?"

Zhou Jin’an supported Qiao En as they walked outside.

"You were lucky this time. If something had really happened, I definitely wouldn’t have let them off."

Qiao En smiled at Zhou Jin’an, "Got it, I’ll be more careful next time."

After her examination, she hurried back to the ward.

"Hasn’t Cheng Lu come back yet?"

Qiao En was surprised.

When she returned, both kids were crying, and Lin Youyou was frantically trying to take care of them.

"No."

Lin Youyou said with a sniffle.

"That’s not right, he should have been back by now."

Qiao En muttered in a low voice.

Zhou Jin’an made a shushing gesture to her, then he stepped out of the ward.

Next, he called Cheng Lu.

"Where are you?"

"Director Zhou, I’m sorry, I had some unfinished work, so I went back to the company first," Cheng Lu’s voice also sounded off.

"Running away so soon?"

Zhou Jin’an hit the nail on the head.

There was silence on the other end for a moment before Cheng Lu replied, "Director Zhou, I don’t want to give up either, but I can’t bear to see Youyou so heartbroken. Those are her parents, and it’s tough for her being caught between me and her parents."

This time, it was Zhou Jin’an’s turn to be silent.

"Giving up now isn’t fair to Youyou."

Zhou Jin’an didn’t say much else, as emotional issues ultimately have to be resolved by the parties involved.

After hanging up the phone, he returned to the ward.

The two kids were now settled, and the nanny had also arrived.

"Let’s go."

Zhou Jin’an said with a deep look in his eyes.

Understanding his intention, Qiao En followed Zhou Jin’an’s steps outside.

In the elevator, she asked, "What about Cheng Lu?"

Zhou Jin’an wrapped an arm around Qiao En’s shoulder, "Let’s not get involved in their matters, let them resolve it slowly on their own."

"But you see how helpless Youyou is right now, she needs Cheng Lu."

"But I need you more right now, my wife. Sister Rong has already called, the kids have been hungry for quite a while and have been crying."

Hearing the kids’ cries, Qiao En’s heart immediately became troubled.

Cheng Lu did not show up, and Lin Youyou had already understood his decision.

Just as she decided to accept the fact, she received a different kind of message.