Luo Chen’s words caught Li Jiayi off guard. In Yanjing, even second and third generation heirs from prominent families, whether business or political, would never dare to disrespect her like this. Yet here was a hot-headed young man from a county town, actually refusing to give her face?
Li Jiayi grew even more displeased. Aside from anything else, with her looks, she had never been treated so dismissively.
Was this guy doing it on purpose? Trying to catch her attention?
This kind of pick-up tactic was long outdated, making Li Jiayi’s impression of Luo Chen even worse.
If Luo Chen had acted more sincere and straightforward, without so many hidden motives, she might have felt somewhat favourable towards him.
Letting out a sigh, Li Jiayi suddenly spoke.
“But I still think it is necessary for me to tell you this.”
“I suggest you do not go looking for Aunt Yuelan.” Li Jiayi suddenly said this.
“She is my mother. Is it not only natural for me to look for her?” Luo Chen frowned.
“There are two reasons. Firstly, although the Shen family is a prominent family, everything is earned through the hard work of parents and children.”
“To put it plainly, even if you return to the Shen family, you will be looked down upon and met with cold stares. The achievements of the younger generation are far beyond your comprehension, and their social circle is not something you can blend into.” Li Jiayi was blunt, very blunt indeed.
Among the younger generation of the Shen family, who did not have a bright future? Who had not already achieved something significant? Luo Chen simply lacked the qualifications to join their circle and could not compare to them at all.
Not to mention you are from a county town. Even second-generation heirs from wealthy provincial families would be looked down upon by this Yanjing circle. Here, young people casually spend fortunes. A single meal could cost an ordinary person a month’s salary. How could Luo Chen possibly compare?
“Secondly, it is for Aunt Yuelan’s sake. If you are looked down upon, she will lose face by association and end up being laughed at as well.” Li Jiayi stated the second reason.
“I think very few people in this world are actually qualified to look down on me.” Luo Chen nodded slightly, effectively refuting Li Jiayi.
This made Li Jiayi sigh inwardly. She realised Luo Chen probably had no concept of the gap between himself and the younger or older generations in Yanjing.
“Fine, pretend I said nothing. But I still hope you consider it seriously. Unless you are the richest person in the country, then perhaps no one would dare look down on you.” Li Jiayi said.
“Maybe I really am.” Luo Chen shook his head.
“Sure, you are.” Li Jiayi rolled her eyes, feeling as if her good intentions were being thrown in the mud.
Her original intention was for the benefit of Luo Chen and Shen Yuelan. Who knew he would be so unappreciative?
Li Jiayi shook her head and focused on driving. In her mind, she decided to let it be. Once he fully realises the gap between himself and others, will he still speak like this? Besides, some things cannot be solved just by talking tough. When reality truly hits, let us see if he can still keep up this stubborn front.
The atmosphere in the car was silent and awkward, but Luo Chen did not mind at all. To him, the people around him were mere ants, fleeting clouds in the wind.
These people would only live for a few decades, but he was different. He could last for centuries, millennia, even tens of thousands of years!
In comparison, what were these people anyway?
With a different mindset, one naturally views things differently. This also made Luo Chen too lazy to explain. After all, you cannot talk about ice to a summer insect.
The car soon arrived at the hospital. After getting out, Luo Chen was taken straight to the ward.
The moment Shen Yuelan saw Luo Chen and confirmed his identity, tears burst from her eyes. She suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace.
How many years had it been? She had hoped day and night, praying for her child every single day. Until this moment, Shen Yuelan suddenly felt that even if she died right then, it would be worth it.
Luo Chen was somewhat more restrained, as he had already met Shen Yuelan before. Shen Yuelan, however, did not know this. She had completely lost all memories related to Xiangxi.
“I have made you suffer. For all these years, it is because I was useless. I was so useless.” Shen Yuelan held Luo Chen, patting his back.
“Mum, it is fine. Look, am I not perfectly well?” Luo Chen comforted her.
“By the way, how is your father?” Shen Yuelan asked.
“He is doing well. I will bring him over later.”
“If you want to cry, go outside to do it.” A voice suddenly interrupted Shen Yuelan.
It should have been a joyful moment of reunion between mother and son, yet someone chose this exact time to speak so tactlessly, or perhaps deliberately so.
“What did you say?” Luo Chen’s voice turned cold.
“What did I say?” The speaker wore a white coat and was slightly older. She was a nurse, and her face was now filled with disdain.
“You are the patient’s relative, I assume?”
“Go settle the medical bills first, otherwise leave immediately.” The nurse snorted coldly. She had long been bribed by Shen Yucheng to deliberately make things difficult for Shen Yuelan and the others.
“No payment, and you drive people out?”
“What did you expect?” The nurse crossed her arms, showing clear annoyance.
“Is this hospital a charity?”
“We operate on pay first, treat later. If you have no money, you can die outside for all we care.”
“Little nurse, I am sorry, I will call someone right away.”
“Mum, it is alright. Rest first. I will handle it.” Luo Chen patted Shen Yuelan’s shoulder.
“But, Xiao Chen.”
Shen Yuelan was about to remind Luo Chen when the nurse spoke again.
“Young man, let me remind you. This is a private hospital. The prices are extraordinarily high.” The nurse sneered.
“Alright, say no more. I will settle the bill.” Li Jiayi interjected from the side.
This was what her mother had instructed her to do today. In fact, her mother had given her a large sum of money the night before. The medical fees here were indeed frighteningly expensive. Ordinary people simply could not afford to come here. Moreover, this was not just a private hospital. The backing behind it was incredibly formidable.
Even if Shen Yuelan were currently favoured by the Shen family, she would not dare to act rashly here, let alone in her current unfavourable position. The hospital director behind it was somewhat special, an academician at the National Academy of Medicine. People with such status and position enjoyed special privileges. Even the Shen family could not simply order them around.
“Let me do it. This is my mother.” Luo Chen shook his head and spoke. This immediately made Li Jiayi frown. She was just about to ask whether he could actually afford it, when the nurse beside them spoke first, her tone dripping with mockery.
“Humph, you will pay?”
“Can you actually afford it?”