"Excuse me, who are you looking for?" A nurse who had just finished changing the patient's bandages in the ward looked at Lu Chen standing at the door and asked curiously.
This handsome guy is so stylish!
Tall and well-built like a model, his sunglasses couldn't hide his good looks. Holding a bouquet of flowers, he looked like he had walked straight out of a romantic drama, making the young nurse's heart skip a beat.
Lu Chen smiled at her and said, "I'm here to visit Teacher Ye."
His voice wasn't loud, but everyone in the room heard him clearly. The group of men and women arguing heatedly around the hospital bed finally stopped and turned to look at him.
Even Ye Xiaolian, lying in the hospital bed, opened her eyes. Lu Chen removed his sunglasses and walked straight over. At over 1.8 meters tall with striking good looks and an aura that couldn't be ignored, the two middle-aged men standing in his way instinctively stepped aside to make room.
The nurse holding the medical chart widened her eyes in shock, he looked just like the person she remembered!
Lu Chen walked up to the bed and placed the flowers on the bedside table. Smiling, he asked the stunned Teacher Ye, "Teacher Ye, are you feeling any better?"
Ye Xiaolian groped under her pillow and pulled out her glasses. She squinted at Lu Chen. After a moment, her expression lit up in surprise: "Lu Chen, it's really you!"
It had been four or five years since they last met. Lu Chen's appearance had changed quite a bit, but she still recognized him quickly.
"It's me," Lu Chen said with a smile. "I attended the class reunion last night, and when I heard from Huang Shan that you were sick, I came here today on behalf of all the classmates. They'll be coming to visit too."
Ye Xiaolian struggled to sit up. Lu Chen quickly helped her and tucked a cushion behind her back to make her more comfortable.
Teacher Ye held Lu Chen's hand, deeply moved. "It really is you. I almost didn't recognize you. You've become even more handsome and mature!"
Lu Chen nodded gently, holding her rough and cold hand. He had indeed grown up and matured, but Teacher Ye had become old and frail. Time is merciless.
Thinking of how much care and attention she had given him back then, Lu Chen felt a painful pang in his heart. It was as if he had done something wrong, he hadn't even contacted her in all these years.
The people gathered around the bed looked at each other awkwardly.
"Aaaahhhhhh---!"
A shriek suddenly broke the silence, pulling everyone's attention away.
The young nurse was blushing furiously, covering her mouth. Embarrassed by the attention, she hurriedly left the room, though not before glancing back at Lu Chen one last time.
Ye Xiaolian chuckled. "I heard you're a celebrity now. I even saw some news about you online. You've done really well, and I'm proud of you."
Maybe it was the joy in her heart, but some color returned to her cheeks and she looked a bit more energetic.
"Have things settled down at home?"
Lu Chen felt a surge of warmth in his chest. He knew Teacher Ye had always cared about him since high school.
"Yes," He replied. "All the debts have been paid off, and we got our house back."
Ye Xiaolian nodded in relief. "That's good. Now that you're earning, make sure to take good care of your mom. She's had it really tough."
Lu Chen's nose stung. "She's doing well now. But you must also take care of yourself. If anything comes up, call us. We're all your students, we're not ungrateful people!"
The other people in the room looked visibly embarrassed, as if Lu Chen's words had slapped them in the face.
Ye Xiaolian had three sons and a daughter, all of whom were present today, plus two daughters-in-law. Moments earlier, they had been arguing fiercely about how to split the medical expenses and whether to hire a caregiver, it all boiled down to money.
In reality, teachers like Ye Xiaolian had health insurance and a stable income. But with today's medical costs, a serious illness could still place a heavy burden on anyone, even after reimbursements.
Hiring a caregiver wasn't cheap either, as spending thousands to tens of thousands per month was normal. It wasn't easy for an average family to afford. That said, if her four children split the cost, it wouldn't be an unmanageable sum. And Ye Xiaolian wasn't expecting them to cover everything. Yet they still argued so fiercely.
Lu Chen had heard it all and felt deeply disgusted.
His mother, Fang Yun, had known Ye Xiaolian. She'd told Lu Chen long ago that her children lacked a conscience.
Ye Xiaolian had taught for decades, never once accepting gifts or bribes from students' parents. Her husband passed away early, and she'd raised four children on her own through unimaginable hardship.
Yet after they became adults, they showed little gratitude.
And now, Lu Chen saw it for himself.
One of the middle-aged men couldn't take it anymore and shouted angrily, "Hey, you punk, what are you saying!"
Lu Chen's expression darkened. He stood up abruptly and stared the man down, eyes sharp and cold.
The man's wife turned pale, tugging his sleeve and whispering to him in a low voice.
She had heard of Lu Chen and knew exactly who he was. Fear surfaced in her heart instinctively.
"Cough, Cough!"
Ye Xiaolian coughed angrily and waved her hand. "I'm talking to my student. All of you, out! Go!"
Her children looked at one another, hesitant and unwilling to move.
Lu Chen sat down again and apologized, "I'm sorry, Teacher Ye."
Ye Xiaolian insisted firmly, "Just go. I don't need your money for the medical bills, and I don't need a caregiver."
"Then Mom, we'll visit you later."
Her children and their wives left hurriedly, disappearing without a trace, none of them seemed interested in actually staying to help.
Ye Xiaolian gave Lu Chen a bitter smile. "I've embarrassed myself in front of you. I've taught so many students, yet I failed to raise my own children properly. But… they have their own difficulties too."
Lu Chen shook his head. "It's fine. You still have us. I'll talk to the hospital and have you moved to a private care room."
He reached for the call button.
Ye Xiaolian stopped him. "No need for all that. I'm fine here. These are old problems anyway."
"I know you want to help, but I'm not at that point yet. My insurance and salary are enough. If you have money to spare, use it to help those who need it more."
She held Lu Chen's hand again and smiled gently. "I know all about how you raised money for that girl with leukemia. I'm really proud of you!"
"What makes me happiest isn't that you became a celebrity or someone famous, it's that you have a kind heart."
"Never forget why you started. That's how you'll go further in life."
Lu Chen nodded firmly.
After chatting so long and with her emotions stirred, Ye Xiaolian began to look tired.
Lu Chen quickly said, "Teacher, you should rest."
She nodded. "You should go too. Don't stay here. Come home when you have time."
With that, she closed her eyes. Lu Chen quietly removed the cushion and helped her lie down, tucking her in gently and watching her fall into a peaceful sleep.
Once he was sure she was resting, he left the ward.
As soon as he stepped out, he felt several pairs of eyes on him, blazing with curiosity and admiration. They came from the nurses at the station. Clearly, they all knew who Lu Chen was by now. If not for their professional responsibilities, they would have swarmed him already.
Lu Chen quickly put his sunglasses back on and casually walked up to the nurse's desk.
"Hi," He said. "I'd like to upgrade the patient in Room 1870 to a private care room. Could you tell me the procedure?"
"Room 1870… that's Teacher Ye, right?"
The nurse blushed and replied softly, "I'll check if there's a private room available."
Lu Chen smiled. "Thank you."
Private care rooms provided round-the-clock nursing care, no need for family to stay, and were quite convenient, but it's very expensive, with no insurance coverage.
For Lu Chen, though, the cost meant nothing.
He was in luck. It was close to the New Year, so the hospital wasn't too full. A private room was available, but according to hospital policy, only the patient or their family could sign for the room transfer.
Fortunately, Lu Chen's celebrity status did the trick. When the on-duty deputy director of the hospital heard he was there, he personally came over and approved the request immediately.
Respecting teachers and valuing education was a virtue, and Lu Chen was a major public figure in Binhai.
Lu Chen also learned that Teacher Ye had serious stomach bleeding and early signs of stomach cancer. Years of overwork had taken a toll, and her liver and kidneys weren't functioning well. She would need long-term care.
He deposited money into her medical account and left his phone number with the hospital.
If the funds ran low, they could contact him directly. Of course, he also left behind his autograph, and took photos with the staff.
By the time he left the hospital, it was almost noon. He drove out of the parking lot, intending to go home for lunch. But just after starting the car, his phone rang.
He answered via the hands-free system. "Hello?"
"Lu Chen." A familiar voice came from the other end. "Where are you?"
It was Chen Fei'er.
Lu Chen smiled. "I'm in Binhai. Just visited my teacher at the hospital. Heading home now."
Chen Fei'er asked, "Can you pick me up at the high-speed rail station? I'm almost there."
"What?" Lu Chen was stunned. "You came to Binhai?"
Chen Fei'er laughed. "Yeah, it's my first time here. Are you happy to see me?"
Lu Chen was speechless, this was such a surprise!
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 60 chapters on my patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395