Meng Yan's Transformation

Chapter 597 Zhang Defu is here again

When Zhan Yu sobered up the next day, he had no recollection of Zhan Mengyan running away with Zhan Yingying. The whole family was relieved for Zhan Mengyan.

After breakfast, Zhan Yu was asked to make another house call—to treat a patient with shingles in General Village.

Zhang Defu, dressed in bell-bottoms, a leather jacket, and a white shirt, with his slicked-back hair parted in a spiky manner, staggered into the Zhan family compound.

“Hello, Auntie. My mom asked me to invite Zhan Yingying to my house for lunch. She said that yesterday was chaotic and she was in a rush to see patients, so Zhan Yingying didn’t eat well and she insists on making up for it today.”

As Zhang Defu spoke, he looked at Zhan Yingying with a smile.

"I'm not going, I ate well yesterday."

Zhan Yingying spoke with obvious impatience.

"You silly child, Defu has come all this way. He sincerely invited you! How can you say you won't go? Pack your things and come with Defu."

Yunqing spoke with an expression that brooked no argument. "Your father also said you two are a perfect match," Yunqing whispered in Zhan Yingying's ear.

Yunqing's words were like fine needles, pricking Zhan Yingying's already weary nerves. She couldn't muster the urge to rush towards that calculated "suitable" situation. She wanted to explain the potential hidden risks of stepping into a strange man's home, and the discomfort of being pushed along by the schedule, but seeing the increasingly deep wrinkles at the corners of Yunqing's eyes, and that look in his eyes that was a mixture of worry, anxiety, and undeniable expectation, all the prepared words stuck in her throat.

The pressure from her mother wasn't a sudden storm, but rather a slow, persistent tide that seeped in from every nook and cranny, making it hard for Zhan Yingying to breathe and leaving her powerless to break free.

Zhan Yingying looked helpless, as if she had no will to live, but at the same time she was very nervous.

"Zhan Mengyan, quickly change your clothes and come with me."

After reluctantly agreeing, Zhan Yingying turned and called out to Zhan Mengyan.

This sudden decision caused a moment of stillness in the room.

Zhan Mengyan was lying on the corner of the kang (a heated brick bed), working on the homework she hadn't finished yesterday. She hadn't expected her sister to make such an arrangement. Yunqing, peeking out from the kitchen with wet hands, gently interjected, "They invited you; it's probably not appropriate for you to bring your sister along."

Yunqing's tone revealed some concerns, probably because she worried that Zhan Mengyan was too young and might cause some trouble along the way. Furthermore, she was afraid that she would feel constrained in an unfamiliar environment and would cause unnecessary trouble for the man's family.

Zhan Yingying walked over to Zhan Mengyan, took the workbook from her hand, and said in an unquestionable tone, "What's wrong with that? My sister is doing her homework alone at home, and her head is spinning. It's good for her to go out for a walk to clear her head. When she comes back, her mind will be clearer, her thinking will be more focused, and she'll be able to do the problems faster."

Zhan Yingying lowered her head to look at Zhan Mengyan, her eyes softening. She gently straightened Zhan Mengyan's collar, but her hands trembled slightly with nervousness. "Go quickly, wear the red plaid coat I brought back for you."

Zhan Yingying had always been the most composed person in the family. From the production team to driving the horse-drawn cart to harvest the autumn crops, she had never shown any hesitation in borrowing from the Zhang or Li families, whether at home or outside. But at this moment, the slight trembling of her fingertips and her evasive gaze pointed to some unspeakable unease.

Zhan Mengyan recalled the image of Zhan Yingying sitting blankly at the Zhang family banquet during the small family meal; the comfort of escaping the Zhang family banquet with her; and the fact that Zhan Yingying was always the first to stand in front of her whenever she was bullied in her childhood.

"Okay." Zhan Mengyan packed up her notebook. "Sister Yingying, I'll go with you."

Zhang Defu stood by the door, his warm smile momentarily froze, a hint of surprise flashing across his face, but it quickly softened into a smile of understanding and acceptance. He then invited, "Yes, Mengyan, come along too, it'll be more fun with more people."