"What? Stomach cancer? Why? Is it early or late stage? Is there any possibility of recovery..."
The doctor, sensing Zhao Shuyao's emotional instability, comforted her,
"We still need to conduct a comprehensive examination to determine. We are just giving you the worst-case scenario. If it really is stomach cancer, it might be advanced. The elderly lady's physical condition isn't ideal. It's evident she's been managing, but recently, for some unknown reason, this situation has arisen..."
Seeing Zhao Shuyao sway precariously, the doctor quickly added, "However, we must remain optimistic. Cooperate with the treatment actively. Nothing can be definitively concluded so quickly."
When Zhao Shuyao returned to the ward, Qin Yusheng glanced at her and immediately noticed something was wrong. "You look so pale, like you've been dead for days."
Zhao Shuyao seemed not to hear him. She walked straight in, knelt beside Wu Guifen's bed, and began to cry.
After her mother passed away, it was her maternal grandmother who had always taken care of her and cheered her up. Even when she moved abroad, she frequently called her grandmother to ask how she was doing.
Her grandmother was also the only one, besides the old man, who knew she had donated a kidney to Qin Yusheng.
When her father berated her, it was always her grandmother who protected her.
Thinking of this, Zhao Shuyao cried even harder.
Qin Yusheng found the noise irritating. "What are you wailing about? She's not dead, is she? She's right here."
"What do you know! You heartless thing! You have no feelings, you're cold and distant. Do you understand what emotions are? You don't!"
Qin Yusheng simply didn't understand how devastated she was at that moment.
Just as he didn't understand how long she had loved him.
"You..." Qin Yusheng's temples throbbed faintly. "If you cry again, I'll sew your mouth shut."
After a few more wails, Zhao Shuyao fell silent.
The next day, upon hearing that Wu Guifen had been hospitalized, Le Haitian and Li Huiyun rushed to visit.
As soon as Li Huiyun entered, she began to mutter, "I knew something like this would happen..."
Hearing Li Huiyun's voice, Zhao Shuyao frowned sharply. "You knew? If you hadn't abused my grandmother all these years and deprived her of food, how could she have developed stomach problems?!"
Le Haitian, before even entering, heard Zhao Shuyao's words. His anger flared instantly, and he roared with a flushed face.
"Zhao Shuyao! Try saying another word, and see what happens. Your aunt has worried herself sick for this family all these years, and you, you're blaming us! If it weren't for your grandmother's health, I wouldn't have let your aunt come today!"
Before they had even entered, this father and daughter were already at each other's throats, the air in the entire ward thick with tension.
"Haitian!" Li Huiyun tugged at Le Haitian's clothes and shook her head.
Signaling him not to say anything further.
"Huiyun, look at this. This is the consequence of your constant indulgence. This unfilial daughter just keeps pushing her luck. She doesn't understand your good intentions at all!"
Zhao Shuyao sneered. "Who understands better than you? My mother had barely passed away when you brought that woman from outside into the house. Even Zhao Shuhui is older than me. You were already involved with her, yet you claim it was for my own good. Perhaps it was for your own..."
Upon hearing this, Le Haitian's blood pressure surged. Just as he was about to retort, Li Huiyun interrupted him.
"Enough, enough. A father should say less! You start arguing the moment you meet. We're here to visit Grandma, not to quarrel."
Le Haitian had no choice but to suppress his anger.
Zhao Shuyao let out a cold scoff, feigning an attempt to mediate. If it weren't for Li Huiyun, she and her father wouldn't be arguing so fiercely. The source was Li Huiyun, and she was still playing the role of the gentle mediator in front of her father!
Wu Guifen was disturbed by their commotion and opened her eyes hazily.
"Mom, are you feeling any better?" Li Huiyun approached with fruit and placed it on the bedside table.
Wu Guifen's condition had improved, and she could eat a little. "Why are you here?"
Le Haitian stepped forward. "Mom, how many times have I told you not to starve yourself? Your stomach is not good, and you can't go hungry. You always starve yourself and eat random things. You need to pay attention to your meals even when watching dramas!"
Wu Guifen covered her ears. "I heard you, I heard you. I'll be careful from now on!"
Le Haitian looked at Wu Guifen with a mixture of anger and helplessness, wanting to say something but hesitating.
Li Huiyun tugged at his arm, signaling that Zhao Shuyao was present and he shouldn't speak carelessly.
Zhao Shuyao watched Li Huiyun's subtle gesture with cold eyes, feeling only annoyance.
She suddenly stood up and walked out.
The ward door closed, and silence descended for a few seconds.
Le Haitian sighed heavily. "Mom, have you forgotten how your daughter died? It was from stomach cancer! Now your stomach is also not well. We are more worried about your health than you are! We didn't take you out because the food outside isn't healthy. The housekeeper at home cooks yam porridge for you every day to nourish your stomach. You always forget to eat when you're watching dramas..."
Wu Guifen sniffled aggrievedly. "I know, I know..."
Li Huiyun stroked Wu Guifen's hand. "Mom, we're not lecturing you. Your health is important. You're already sixty or seventy. If you don't take care of yourself, it could be very dangerous."
"Knock, knock."
A knock at the door. Le Haitian and Li Huiyun looked towards it.
"Wu Guifen's family members, please step outside."
Le Haitian froze for a moment and followed. Li Huiyun, worried, also followed him out.
"The patient has advanced stomach cancer. We need a family member to sign the surgical consent form. There is only a probability of recovery, and we cannot guarantee complete healing. It will depend on the patient's condition."
"What?" Li Huiyun covered her mouth.
Le Haitian confirmed he hadn't misheard. While signing, he asked, "Is the surgery dangerous?"
"We cannot guarantee it. The patient is elderly. The specific situation will only be clear after the operation."
After the doctor left, Li Huiyun stood frozen for a long time. After a while, she grabbed Le Haitian's arm. "Don't tell Yao Yao about this, and don't tell Mom. Let them not worry."
When Zhao Shuyao returned, she saw Li Huiyun feeding Wu Guifen porridge. The bowl contained steaming yam porridge.
"Yao Yao, you must be tired too. Go back and rest. I'll take care of things here for the next few days."
Zhao Shuyao hadn't slept all night and was indeed very sleepy. She gave Wu Guifen a few instructions and planned to find a hotel nearby to sleep.
As she went downstairs, she happened to encounter Qin Yusheng in the elevator.
Beside Qin Yusheng stood a doctor, speaking to him.
"Mr. Qin, Miss Shen's condition is stable. We are contacting recovery specialists in America to try and wake Miss Shen. However, we still advise Mr. Qin to visit and spend more time with Miss Shen, as it will aid her awakening..."
As Zhao Shuyao pressed the elevator button, she heard the voices behind her and her body trembled slightly.
Soon, she regained her composure.
The corner of her lips curled into a sarcastic arc.
For four years of university, she had watched Qin Yusheng and Fu Yanxue hold hands almost every day, swallowing her tears.
Hadn't she gotten used to it yet?