Eric's mum seldom spoke to her son so harshly. But seeing her son end up in a male specialist hospital because of a girl, how could she swallow her anger?

  Actually, she felt more heartache than anything else. She was heartbroken for her son. What kind of decent girl could land a man in a male specialist hospital?

  "Don't be angry, Auntie. Be careful not to upset your health," said Clara, whose own tears hadn't yet dried, as she stepped forward to soothe Eric's mum's back and help calm her anger, putting on an obedient and sensible front.

  "Mom, stop making a scene!" Eric, hearing his mother's words, sat up abruptly in agitation, only to accidentally pull on his injured area. The pain instantly twisted his face into a grimace: "Sss—"

  "Stop moving around!" Seeing this, Eric's mum hurriedly stepped closer to check on him. "How is it? Should I call the doctor?"

  Beads of sweat formed on Eric's forehead from the pain, but he still looked earnestly at his mother and pleaded, "Mom, I'm begging you, please don't go cause trouble for Grace anymore. I can handle the matters between us myself."

  Truth be told, Eric somewhat resented his mother. Because the day Grace abruptly broke up with him was the very day his mother had privately met with Grace.

  After that meeting at the café, everything went wrong. He didn't know what his mother had said to Grace, but he firmly believed his mother was inevitably involved.

  So he couldn't let his mother go find Grace again. Right now, he was already like an ant on a hot pan, truly unable to withstand any other variables, no matter how small.

  "Eric, please be reasonable!" Eric's mum was once again angered by her son's stubbornness. "You're in this state and you're still thinking about her? Do you just naturally like being abused?"

  "Yes!" Eric nodded sharply. "I just like being abused by Grace! I like it when she hits me! I just like her!"

  Seeing his mad state, Eric's mum was momentarily speechless, choked up.

  Her face was full of grief and helplessness; in that moment, she seemed to have lost all her strength and methods.

  After a long pause, she took a deep breath and nodded. She also knew her son's health was the most important thing right now. She took a step back and said, "Fine. I won't make things difficult for her for now. But if your body ends up with any real, lasting problems, I will definitely not let her off!"

  "The doctor said I won't have any major issues," Eric said with a dark expression.

  Eric's mum snorted coldly and didn't say anything more. Instead, she opened the thermos of nourishing soup she had brought and sat down. "Have some. The maid simmered it all night. It's very tonic."

  "Just leave it for now. You all go. I want to sleep."

  He was genuinely tired and sleepy; these past two days he really hadn't slept well, often waking up from the pain.

  Eric's mum originally wanted to stay longer, but Eric had already turned on his side to lie down. She took a silent, deep breath and sealed the thermos again.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  "Remember to drink it. Focus on recuperating first."

  After saying this, she left the hospital room. Clara looked at Eric reluctantly, but he couldn't even be bothered to glance at her. Immediately, her lips puckered in grievance, and she turned and followed Eric's mum out.

  "Clara, go help Auntie ask the doctors for a copy of Eric's medical report," said Eric's mum in the corridor, looking wearily at Clara.

  Hearing this, Clara was startled. "Auntie, didn't you say you weren't going to the university?"

  Eric's mum sneered, "I said that for Eric's benefit. Thinking she can hurt my son like this and act like nothing happened? Impossible!"

  Clara's face immediately brightened with joy, and she nodded repeatedly in agreement. "Auntie, you're absolutely right. That Grace is nothing but a born calamity. Keeping herby Eric's side will harm him sooner or later."

  "But Auntie, don't be too angry with Eric. He's just completely under Grace's thumb right now, it's the peak of his infatuation. It's normal he can't listen to you. Later, when he comes to his senses, he'll understand that everything you did was for his own good."

  Eric's mum couldn't help but show a comforted smile at Clara's words. "If only Eric were half as sensible as you are. Hurry and go, Auntie will wait for you here."

  The temperature had suddenly risen today, but the dorm room, with its air conditioning, was quite comfortable.

  Grace, holding half a watermelon, was squeezed together with Scarlett watching a variety show. The two of them burst into laughter from time to time, extremely relaxed and happy.

  Scarlett wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes and asked Grace casually, "Sweetie, are you going back to your hometown for the National Day holiday?"

  The smile hadn't yet faded from Grace's face, but upon hearing this, her expression froze momentarily. She slowly withdrew her smile and finally nodded. "Yes, I'll go back."

  She had handled some things wrongly last time, and for decades afterward, she had failed to achieve self-redemption, carrying guilt towards her mother until the very end.

  Even now, knowing she had a chance to choose again, whenever she recalled her mother on her sickbed, holding her hand in her final moments and saying, "I hope you can forgive me," her heart ached as if being gouged by a knife.

  She had long forgiven her mother. But she never got the chance to tell her mother she was sorry, and to hope her mother could forgive her too.

  Seemingly sensing something was off about Grace's mood, Scarlett subconsciously put down her piece of watermelon. "What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"

  Grace shook her head, her expression returning to normal as she smiled. "No. I just miss my mom."

  "I remember you have a younger brother, right?"

  Grace nodded. "Yes, taking the college entrance exam next year."

  "That's nice. I'm the only child in my family. I actually wish my mom could have given me a younger sibling, but I don't really like kids. It would be perfect if I could just directly have a sibling about to take the college entrance exam."

  Grace laughed at her serious expression. "With the imagination in that brain of yours, it's a pity you didn't join our astronomy department."

  Just as she spoke, Grace's phone rang. It was a voice call.

  Usually, Advisor Lee would send text messages for matters, rarely making direct voice calls. Grace knew it might be urgent, so she got up and walked to the balcony to answer.

  "Advisor Lee."

  "Grace, are you on campus? Whether you are or not, come to the principal's office right now. It's urgent."

  "The principal's office?"

  Grace was baffled. To be honest, after over a year at the university, she had no idea where the principal's office was.

  She had never been there!

  "Yes. Just come first. I'll explain the specifics via message. Think about how to handle it on your way."

  Hearing the tone in Director William's voice, Grace knew it must truly be a major issue.

  After hanging up, Grace didn't delay. Scarlett, seeing she was going out, wanted to go with her, but Grace pressed her back down. "It's deadly hot outside. Just stay in the dorm. I'll be back soon."

  Sensing Grace had serious business, Scarlett didn't insist on tagging along. She nodded and advised, "Message me if anything comes up."

  Leaving the girls' dormitory, Grace opened her parasol. As she walked, she checked her phone for the message from Advisor Lee to understand the situation, completely unaware of her surroundings and the people around her.

  So, when someone suddenly jumped out from one side as she cut through the basketball court, Grace was genuinely startled!