The last sentence of the dialogue lingered on a photo sent by her, a picture of Lan Lan and Jiaozi. In the photo, Lan Lan and Jiaozi were lying on a mat, basking in the sun together, Jiaozi's paws playfully batting at Lan Lan's ears. The scene was incredibly harmonious.
Xing Zheng gazed at the photo for a long time. His slender fingers pressed against the screen, deleting and rewriting in the chat box. In the end, he still couldn't send a single word. What right did he have to speak to her now? Everything was uncertain. Promises that couldn't be kept were better left unspoken.
He finally put down his phone, staring blankly at the opposite wall. He hadn't slept all night, not until the sky outside the window began to show the first light of dawn.
As the sun rose, the entire corridor brightened. Medical staff arrived to make preparations for Xie Qin Jia's surgery.
Because it was a head surgery, all her hair needed to be shaved off. Xie Qin Jia, who was so vain, was naturally unwilling. But at the moment, her spirits were low, and even though she didn't want to, she didn't have the strength to make a fuss.
Xing Sha crouched down beside her, gently taking her hand. He watched her long hair fall to the ground, his heart aching, his eyes turning red.
Xie Qin Jia asked weakly, "Am I very ugly?"
"No," Xing Sha smiled and said gently, "You've always been beautiful."
Xie Qin Jia didn't believe him. "You only lie to me."
Xie Qin Jia didn't know that Xing Zheng had gone to New York with her, nor did she know that at this very moment, Xing Zheng was outside, witnessing her interaction with Xing Sha. After the pre-operative preparations were done, Xie Qin Jia was to be taken to the operating room.
Xing Zheng went directly to the surgical waiting area. A while later, Xing Sha also arrived. Father and son sat down together, neither of them speaking, the air thick with tension.
Even though Xing Zheng had personally experienced surgery once, with Xie Qin Jia as the patient, he was still incredibly nervous. Even though he knew that surgical risks were very small, he couldn't control his worry. When it came to loved ones, all logic went out the window.
Xie Qin Jia's surgery lasted for over three hours. The surgery was very successful. When she came out, the anesthesia had not yet worn off. Xing Zheng took the opportunity to accompany Xing Sha to the ward and see Xie Qin Jia, who had just finished her surgery.
Her head was wrapped in bandages. Although it was minimally invasive surgery, the incision was not small. Xing Sha was naturally heartbroken, staying by her bedside, his gaze never leaving Xie Qin Jia.
The surgery was over. The outcome would only be confirmed when Xie Qin Jia woke up. Whether she would remember past events because of it was what Xing Sha worried about the most. If the surgery was successful, but she remembered nothing, that would be the best outcome for him.
The caregiver bought coffee. Xing Zheng and Xing Sha drank coffee, sitting in the ward, waiting for Xie Qin Jia to wake up. Along the way, Xing Sha asked Xing Zheng, "Have you contacted Lin Mei these past few days?"
Xing Zheng sipped his coffee, remaining silent. Xing Sha guessed the answer. With his personality, now that he had broken up, he probably wouldn't take the initiative to go back, unless Lin Mei offered him a way to save face. However, Lin Mei had already suffered too much injustice this time. It wouldn't be fair to ask her to take the initiative again. "The surgery was successful. After the doctor does a post-operative check and she recovers, you and Lin Mei can reconcile. I'll keep an eye on her, and I won't let her interfere with you anymore."
Xing Zheng remained silent, not saying a word. Xing Sha knew that talking to him further was useless. By then, he would probably have to take action himself.
A few hours later, Xie Qin Jia woke up. Xing Zheng, along with the doctor, went to Xie Qin Jia's ward. As soon as he entered, the eyes of mother and son met.
When Xie Qin Jia looked at him, although the disgust in her eyes was gone, there were no other emotions. She was as cold as ever, as if looking at a complete stranger. Her demeanor was nothing like how a mother should treat her son.
At this moment, the doctor was already performing a post-operative check on Xie Qin Jia. "The surgery was very successful. After a period of recovery, you can resume normal life. During this time, family members must take good care of her emotions."
The success of the surgery was expected. This place had the most advanced technology and the most professional doctors in the world. Xing Zheng knew their capabilities, which was why he felt at ease bringing Xie Qin Jia here for surgery.
After the doctor finished the examination, he withdrew. Only the three of them were left in the ward. Xing Sha asked Xie Qin Jia, "What do you want to eat? I'll have someone prepare it for you. How about some milk and oatmeal porridge first?"
Xie Qin Jia replied with a "hmm." After the surgery, her emotions were noticeably more stable than before. Even in the same space as Xing Zheng, she didn't throw a tantrum like she used to. However, she also didn't speak to him proactively, her gaze indifferent, as if he didn't exist.
Xing Sha went out to instruct the caregiver to prepare food. The ward was left with mother and son. Xing Zheng's gaze had never left Xie Qin Jia. He stared for a long time, finally speaking, "Does your wound hurt?"
These simple four words took a great deal of effort to utter. He was not good at showing concern, and facing her, he was even more at a loss.
However, Xie Qin Jia did not give him the expected reply. "What are you doing here?"
Xing Zheng: "You are my mother." The implication was that if she was undergoing surgery, he, as her son, had every reason to be there.
Xie Qin Jia did not vehemently refute him, but calmly said, "Xing Sha can take care of me. Go and attend to your own matters."
There was no anger, but there was no indication of care either. At least, as a mother, at such a time, she should want her child by her side, shouldn't she?
If Xing Yan were the one appearing now, she certainly wouldn't be so indifferent. You see, when it comes to emotions, people are always so greedy. Once they get something, they want more.
"I'm not busy." Xing Zheng did not leave as she asked. Xie Qin Jia did not urge him further, and the mother and son sat in silence.
Not long after, Xing Sha returned with milk porridge and bread. Xie Qin Jia sat up and began to eat. During the meal, she said to Xing Sha, "I'm a bit tired. I want to sleep after eating. Unimportant people can leave for now."
This "unimportant" person couldn't possibly be referring to Xing Sha. Xing Sha understood immediately and looked at Xing Zheng. Father and son walked out together.
Xing Sha said to Xing Zheng, "You haven't rested for several days either. Go back and get some rest. And explain things properly to Lin Mei."
Xing Zheng did not reply, turning and leaving. After Xing Sha returned to the ward, he said to Xie Qin Jia, "The hospital and doctors for your surgery were all contacted by Ah Zheng. He cares about you very much. He hasn't slept for days for your surgery."
Xie Qin Jia remained silent, not uttering a word. She had only recovered, not lost her memory.
She remembered everything that had happened before very clearly. She still couldn't bring herself to like Xing Zheng; at most, she could manage not to dislike him.
"He's had a difficult time all these years, alone. If you can be good to him in the future, please be a little kinder to him," Xing Sha said earnestly to Xie Qin Jia. "We only have this one son."