Chapter Eight: Things Have Gotten Out of Hand

"What? Cough, cough... What did you say? Since when are you in charge?" Master Tan's cane struck the floor several times, his refined face contorted, his beard trembling, and he coughed until his cheeks flushed red.

"Why can't I make my own decisions? I'm not a child anymore. Besides, this isn't the old days—it's the twenty-first century. How can there still be arranged marriages? I refuse to marry a hooligan who bullied me when we were children. A leopard can't change its spots... Anyway, I won't marry him. No one can force me."

Tan Xue spoke with absolute determination, leaving no room for negotiation.

Chu Dong, standing nearby, felt awkward. Even if he had cast a shadow over Tan Xue's childhood, hearing it said so bluntly in front of everyone embarrassed him to the point he didn't know where to put his hands.

"You—you..." Master Tan pointed a trembling finger at his usually gentle and obedient eldest daughter, unable to speak for a long moment. Suddenly, he couldn't catch his breath, nearly fainting from the shock.

The warm breakfast atmosphere was shattered by Tan Xue's words, like a gentle breeze stirring the willows by a tranquil lake—only for a meteor to fall from the sky and send waves crashing to the shore.

At first, Tan Xue wanted to argue further, but she remembered her father suffered from severe heart disease and asthma. Years of careful care meant he rarely fell ill, but when he did, it was never a minor matter. Seeing him struggle so, she panicked. "Dad, Dad, please don't be upset, I—I..."

She didn't know what else to say, but her father's condition didn't improve just because she stopped. Watching his chest rise and fall violently, unable to recover, Tan Xue shrieked toward her stunned younger sister.

"Call the doctor, quickly!"

"Oh, I'll call, I'll call." Tan Yu'er, as if waking from a dream, grabbed the phone, fumbling with it for a while, her voice trembling with tears, "What's the number? I..."

"Dial 120!" Aunt Tan rushed out from the kitchen, shouting the emergency number to Tan Yu'er and telling Chu Dong and Tan Xue not to move Master Tan.

The ambulance arrived swiftly. Several doctors in white coats administered first aid on the spot, and when Master Tan's condition stabilized, they carried him onto the ambulance, which sped away with a shrill siren.

Chu Dong was calmer than the Tan family at this moment. "Don't worry, everyone. I'll go to the hospital and check in. Aunt Tan, you stay at home. The doctor just said it isn't too serious. He needs to be examined at the hospital and should be fine once he recovers, as long as he rests and avoids stress."

"I'm going too." He quickly stopped Tan Yu'er, "You stay home with Mom, don't cause trouble." Tan Xue grabbed her small bag and rushed out after Chu Dong.

"Who's causing trouble? It wasn't me who upset him!" Little Yu'er pouted, shouting at her sister's retreating back, but with no car, she could only pace around in place.

Chu Dong and Tan Xue hurried downstairs one after the other. Once in their respective cars, both anxiously tried to start their engines.

Whether from nerves or some other reason, Tan Xue's car failed to start several times. Chu Dong didn't leave, honking his horn to signal her to get in his car.

Tan Xue shot Chu Dong a fierce glare, slapped the steering wheel in frustration, but since her car wouldn't cooperate, she stomped out and climbed into Chu Dong's borrowed Audi.

"Don't worry, Uncle Tan—"

"Just drive! It's all because of you anyway." Tan Xue turned away from Chu Dong, refusing to look at him. At some point, two lines of tears had appeared on her cheeks.

Chu Dong was left speechless, so he started the car and drove to the hospital. All the way there, Tan Xue's face was cold as ice, giving him no chance to communicate. For someone used to talking, the silence was suffocating, and only when Tan Xue got out did he feel the weight lift, taking a long, relieved breath.

By the time Chu Dong parked, Tan Xue had already gone inside. He asked around and learned Master Tan was in the intensive care unit, so he hurried over, finding Tan Xue pleading with the nurse.

"That's my father. Please let me see him!"

"Are you the patient's eldest daughter?"

"Yes, I am."

"I'm sorry, but the patient requested not to see his eldest daughter. Please leave, so his condition isn't aggravated. Don't make things difficult for me."

The nurse firmly blocked the way, unmoved by Tan Xue's beauty or the tears shining in her eyes.

"Nurse, could you please tell us how Uncle Tan is? We won't disturb him," Chu Dong pleaded, hands raised in a gesture of submission.

Perhaps it was the difference between the sexes; the nurse's expression softened slightly toward Chu Dong, though she still didn't smile. "The patient's condition is under control and stable now. There are professionals watching over him. He'll be fine, so please go home."

Tan Xue seemed utterly drained, her earlier resolve gone. Her legs gave way, and she nearly collapsed, but Chu Dong caught her just in time.

"Let go," she struggled free, went to sit in the waiting area, and silent tears streamed down her face.

"Xue," Chu Dong called, but she didn't even lift her head, turning away in obvious blame for her father's hospitalization.

"I know you don't want to listen, but I have to say this," Chu Dong sat beside her, regardless of her wishes. "Let's put our matters aside for now. I know you resent me, and that's normal—I can't blame you for it. Still, don't go against Uncle Tan anymore. Whatever he says, just agree. As for us, it's not like he can control everything."

Hearing his words, Tan Xue slowly turned, her misty eyes still clear and bright like precious gems.

"Don't you know any strategy? I remember you were a bit slow as a child, but you haven't gotten much smarter as an adult. Even if you don't know how to pay lip service, can't you play along and do as you please? Let the old man say whatever he likes, you do what you need to do. I won't tattle on you, so what are you afraid of?"

Seeing his words had an effect, Chu Dong continued, mixing in some teasing about Tan Xue's stubbornness. She raised her little fist theatrically, and he pretended to dodge, but failed to notice the edge of the chair and landed hard on the floor.

Tan Xue, her face streaked with tears, felt lighter after Chu Dong's advice. Seeing him embarrassed, she couldn't help but burst out laughing, and for a moment, Chu Dong sat stunned on the floor, forgetting to get up.