Xing Zheng’s expression also turned serious. He adjusted his clothes. "Did something happen to her?"
"Yes, come over. I'll tell you in person."
Xing Sha hadn't said much over the phone. Lin Mei only knew that Xie Qin Jia was in trouble, so she also started tidying her clothes. After Xing Zheng finished the call, Lin Mei said to him, "I'll go with you."
"I'll go alone," Xing Zheng refused her suggestion without hesitation, his attitude firm and unyielding. "You wait at home."
"I want to go," Lin Mei did not obey his command. She looked up at him, her expression earnest. "We are together now, aren't we? Whatever the problem, I want to face it with you."
Xing Zheng was speechless. Lin Mei continued, "I'm not as fragile as you think. When I decided to be with you, I knew what I might encounter."
Xie Qin Jia had never approved of them, and her obstruction was expected. However, she would not give up on him just because Xie Qin Jia interfered. Knowing he lacked security, Lin Mei promised him, "No matter who tries to stop us, I won't break up with you."
Xing Zheng remained silent but pulled her into his arms forcefully, holding her tightly. She could barely breathe, but she didn't struggle at all.
In the end, Lin Mei accompanied Xing Zheng to the hospital and met Xing Sha. Xing Sha hadn't expected Lin Mei to come with Xing Zheng. He tried to exchange glances with Xing Zheng, but Lin Mei saw him. "Uncle Xing, I'm his girlfriend and also Aunt Xie's good friend. You don't need to hide anything from me."
The more Lin Mei said this, the more guilty Xing Sha felt. After hesitating for a long time, he finally told them about Xie Qin Jia's recent condition.
As Xing Zheng listened, his expression grew colder. He questioned Xing Sha, "You've been giving her sedatives all this time?"
These few words revealed his deep affection and concern for Xie Qin Jia. Lin Mei felt a pang of sadness and injustice for him. Even after being hurt by Xie Qin Jia to this extent, he still loved her, suppressing and controlling it, yet it would erupt in small details.
Xing Sha looked exhausted and told Xing Zheng, "The only solution now is surgery."
"Then let's proceed with the surgery. I've already made arrangements in America!" Xing Zheng's eyes were deep as he looked at him. "You're still thinking of hiding her past? Even if she remembers, what then? Is it more important than her life?!"
"That's not the issue!" Xing Sha glanced at Lin Mei beside Xing Zheng. "I've already spoken to her about the surgery, but she refuses to cooperate."
Yesterday, Xie Qin Jia's condition had been relatively stable, so Xing Sha took the opportunity to discuss treatment with her while she was awake. However, Xie Qin Jia disagreed with the surgery.
Xing Sha patiently persuaded her for a long time, and Xie Qin Jia then presented her condition: "I'll agree to the surgery, but you must make him break up with Lin Mei! Otherwise, I don't want this life either."
Xie Qin Jia's condition for cooperating with the surgery was for Xing Zheng to break up with Lin Mei. Xing Sha struggled for nearly a day before making up his mind and calling Xing Zheng. He felt immense guilt. Not long ago, he had said he would no longer interfere with his relationship with Lin Mei, and less than half a month later, he was making such an unreasonable demand…
"You mean, unless we break up, Aunt Xie won't agree to the surgery?" Lin Mei listened carefully to Xing Sha's account, extracting the key information from his words.
Xing Sha could sense Lin Mei's disbelief and felt even more guilty. "I know this is very unfair to you, but her condition is critical right now. If she doesn't have surgery soon, her life will be in danger."
Lin Mei understood these reasons. "But if that happens, then in the future, you and I..."
"I agree to break up." Before Lin Mei could finish, Xing Zheng had already made his decision.
Five words, spoken with conviction and decisiveness, so decisive that it seemed he hadn't needed to think.
This short sentence sent a chill through Lin Mei. She looked at the man beside her, his face pale. Many words churned in her abdomen but got stuck in her throat. He would give up their relationship so easily, without even a word of protest.
Not only Lin Mei but even Xing Sha was surprised. He had expected to spend considerable effort persuading Xing Zheng to give up, but he had made his choice so decisively.
Xing Sha reflexively looked at Lin Mei. He saw her pale face and the redness around her eyes, likely hurt by Xing Zheng's decision. Just as he was about to comfort her, Xing Sha saw Lin Mei take Xing Zheng's hand.
She asked, "Am I someone you can give up with just a word?"
Xing Zheng remained silent, offering no explanation. This reaction made her even more distressed, and tears fell uncontrollably. She could accept a temporary breakup, but she couldn't accept that he would abandon her so readily without even trying to fight for them.
She had thought that once Xie Qin Jia recovered from surgery and returned to normal, she might no longer object to them as she did now, and then she and Xing Zheng could be together openly. But this was merely a possibility.
Even if Xie Qin Jia recovered, she might still object. If that were the case, would he not fight for them at all?
What she wanted wasn't the successful outcome of his efforts, but his attitude of trying to be with her. Even if he didn't succeed, it wouldn't matter; at least she would know that he cared.
She waited, but he still offered no explanation, only saying to her, "Go and explain things to her later, and make her agree to the surgery."
His demeanor was too heartless. Even Xing Sha couldn't bear it. He said to Xing Zheng, "Be more considerate."
Xing Zheng turned and left without responding to Xing Sha or even looking at Lin Mei. Lin Mei reflexively moved to follow him but stopped herself, remembering his words.
She continuously wiped away her tears, making Xing Sha feel distressed as well. He apologized to Lin Mei, "This matter, it's truly my fault. I said before that I wouldn't interfere anymore, and now I've gone back on my word. If you blame anyone, blame me. Ah Zheng doesn't express himself well; he actually cares about you a lot."
Lin Mei couldn't speak. She had thought the same, but his easy agreement to break up just now showed no sign of caring for her.
Xing Sha told Lin Mei, "Ah Zheng agreed to my request for a reason."
Xing Sha explained the situation to Lin Mei, recounting the agreement made between him and his son on the hospital rooftop. "If I hadn't been desperate, I wouldn't have chosen to take her for surgery. Ah Zheng knows that I only said that because I had no other choice."
"Once she has the surgery and recovers, everything will be fine. For now, you'll have to bear with it..." Xing Sha apologized to Lin Mei, "I'm truly sorry."
Lin Mei did not blame Xing Sha or Xie Qin Jia, nor could she blame Xing Zheng. She was his mother, and his love for her was understandable.