115: Panicked
Xu Zimo looked quite mature.
However, he was still considered young, and with a charisma score of 70, he was quite striking.
Standing next to Lin Zhuimiao, they looked quite well-matched.
"Miao, who is this...?" one of the Relatives asked.
"He..."
Lin Zhuimiao looked at Xu Zimo, who, with a faint smile, replied, "I am Miao's friend."
Friend?
At this, the Relatives exchanged glances, murmuring amongst themselves.
What kind of friend would pay a 100,000 yuan deposit?
In Lotus City, most families' dowries for their daughters didn't even reach that amount.
Their relationship must be extraordinary.
However, Xu Zimo and Lin Zhuimiao clearly maintained a certain distance, indeed not looking like a couple.
"Thank goodness for you, otherwise, these medical expenses..."
A sixty-year-old man approached, took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled out two, and offered them to Xu Zimo.
"This is my second grandfather," Lin Zhuimiao said softly.
"Second Grandfather, you're too kind."
Although Xu Zimo didn't smoke, he politely accepted them.
It seemed like a normal greeting, but when Lin Zhuimiao heard his form of address, she paused slightly, then her cheeks inexplicably flushed.
That was clearly her second grandfather... why was Xu Zimo calling him that too?
Lin Zhuimiao wanted to say something, but she opened her mouth and then said nothing.
After a few polite pleasantries, the atmosphere quickly grew heavy again, and Lin Zhuimiao went to her grandmother's side.
After waiting for almost another hour, the doctor finally came out.
"Doctor, how is he?"
Lin Zhuimiao and her grandmother immediately stood up.
"Don't worry, he has regained consciousness, but his nerves are damaged; he'll need some time to recover before he can get out of bed and walk..."
The doctor truthfully explained the situation, then, amidst the Relatives' profuse thanks, went to rest.
Not long after.
Lin Zhuimiao's grandfather was wheeled out of the emergency room. He had opened his eyes, but he couldn't speak yet.
At this, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Although Lin Zhuimiao's grandmother was crying, her tears were mixed with joy.
In old age, if one loses their spouse, they would truly be alone and helpless.
Next, a Nurse came to inquire about choosing a ward.
There were special care wards and general wards. For Lin Zhuimiao's grandfather's condition, which required rehabilitation, a special care ward was certainly necessary.
However, even the most basic special care ward cost 600 yuan a day.
Hearing such a price, Lin Zhuimiao's family was filled with worry.
Special care wards, unlike surgery, were not reimbursable. Calculating a minimum of one month for rehabilitation, that would be close to 20,000 yuan.
For an ordinary family, this was a huge expense.
The Relatives discussed it and decided to choose a general ward, then hire a caregiver, which would only add 200 yuan a day.
However, general wards were three people to a room.
"A private special care ward, please," Xu Zimo said to the Nurse.
Stroke recovery requires a quiet environment, so a private room would be better.
"A private special care ward might be more expensive, at 1,200 yuan a day," the Nurse said, looking at him.
"Alright."
All the Relatives looked at Xu Zimo.
Although Lin Zhuimiao hadn't said anything, everyone could guess that Xu Zimo had also paid the previous expenses.
That was 100,000 yuan.
Now, he was going to pay for the ward, which was also not a small sum.
He was neither a relative nor an old acquaintance... Xu Zimo followed the Nurse, and Lin Zhuimiao followed him.
Lin Zhuimiao's grandfather was pushed by other Nurses and doctors to the inpatient department.
The Relatives, of course, followed.
"Nurse, how long will the patient's recovery take approximately?" Xu Zimo asked the Nurse on the way to pay.
"Because the patient fell into the paddy field at the time, leading to a certain degree of asphyxiation, the nerve damage is quite severe. It might take one to two months to recover. However, once he can walk, the family can choose to continue hospitalization or recuperate at home. However, he will still need to come to the hospital daily for rehabilitation sessions. If the situation is good, he might recover in about half a year..."
Hearing that her grandfather's nerve damage was quite severe, Lin Zhuimiao's tears immediately fell. Moreover, she had to consider the upcoming hospitalization and physiotherapy costs, and her mood became even heavier.
Half a year!
This was why, for very ordinary families, a major illness could lead to poverty, or even a mountain of debt.
"Half a year..."
Xu Zimo did a rough calculation. If he stayed in a special care ward continuously, the hospitalization fees alone would be around 200,000 yuan.
And there would be medication and physiotherapy, etc.
"Let's pay 300,000 yuan first."
At this, the Nurse looked at him with some astonishment.
This was not a small sum; it could buy a decent house in Lotus City.
This family didn't seem wealthy at all... but the Nurse quickly reacted, "Alright."
She entered the amount into the machine. When Xu Zimo took out his phone to scan and pay, Lin Zhuimiao looked at him with some hesitation, "Brother..."
Xu Zimo was her roommate Jiang Yuwei's boyfriend!
Although they were friends, it was just ordinary friends.
Adding the previous 100,000, this was 400,000 yuan!
How could she, a university student, repay it?
Beep!
However, Xu Zimo had already scanned and paid. Only then did he look at her: "What's wrong?"
"I..."
Lin Zhuimiao didn't know what to say, and her emotions at this moment became very complex.
She was, of course, grateful to Xu Zimo.
If Xu Zimo hadn't come along, she truly wouldn't have known what to do, and things wouldn't have gone so smoothly.
But at the same time, she was a little uneasy, and a little scared.
She was afraid that if her good friend Jiang Yuwei found out, she might misunderstand something between herself and Xu Zimo.
How should she face it?
Xu Zimo, of course, knew what she was struggling with, and immediately comforted her softly, "Money is a small matter, as long as Grandfather can recover."
The young girl in front of him, with her red eyes, looked a bit haggard, but it added a touch of delicate charm.
Lin Zhuimiao was stunned.
Money being a small matter was only true for Xu Zimo.
400,000 yuan was enough to crush her entire family.
Xu Zimo was, in essence, saving her family.
What made Lin Zhuimiao freeze was his seemingly unintentional form of address.
It was the second time.
Did he... also have feelings for her?
Lin Zhuimiao's heart pounded rapidly.
She actually knew that although Xu Zimo was Jiang Yuwei's boyfriend, his relationship with Feng Fangfang was also ambiguous.
Undoubtedly, he was a scoundrel.
But for some reason, Lin Zhuimiao didn't dislike Xu Zimo.
She thought of the bits and pieces of time they had spent together, especially that day... when Xu Zimo looked at her with that meaningful gaze as he ate the scallops she had picked for him.
Her heart became even more flustered.