Tian Yi insisted, "Before the surgery, I need to arrange everything, just in case."
An Jing had no reason to persuade him further or to argue. She quietly withdrew from his office, not knowing what else she could do besides pray for him.
...
In the blink of an eye, it was Christmas Eve. Tian Yi left the group early to pick up Susu, and then they went together to the boarding school to bring Xiao Xingxing home.
Xiao Mei had been busy for days, preparing a large table of Chinese and Western dishes. Everyone gathered to celebrate a lively Christmas Eve.
Now, besides her and Tian Yi, there were three children at home. Susu called Xiao Mei, Xiao Lin, and the nanny who helped with the children to the dining table, believing that a lively atmosphere was created with everyone present.
After dinner, everyone gathered under the Christmas tree. Susu signaled Xiao Mei to turn off all the bright lights in the living room. Instantly, the entire living room plunged into darkness and fell silent.
Susu clapped her hands forcefully, and Christmas music began to play. The fairy lights on the Christmas tree and the smaller decorative lights around them all lit up one by one.
Everyone let out soft gasps, finding the design fun and clever, perfectly creating the Christmas Eve atmosphere.
Susu smiled and looked at Tian Yi, only to see him holding Tiantian with wide eyes, his face devoid of any surprise, rather appearing expressionless as if he saw nothing.
"Tian Yi, isn't it beautiful?" Susu asked.
Tian Yi, however, said, "Why are you only playing Christmas songs? Why aren't the lights on yet? It's too dark, be careful not to scare the children."
With his words, everyone looked at him inexplicably.
Susu's heart skipped a beat. Xiao Xingxing quickly said, "Dad, can't you see? There are so many twinkling little lights, it's not dark at all."
Susu hurriedly waved her hand in front of his eyes and found that his eyes showed no reaction, as if he were blind with his eyes open.
"Tian Yi, what's wrong with your eyes?" she asked nervously.
Tian Yi just realized that his vision had temporarily failed again. He pretended to be able to see, put on a smile, and said, "Why are you so nervous? I was just joking with you all. Of course, I saw the little colored lights on the Christmas tree were lit, and they're beautiful."
Xiao Mei was the first to breathe a sigh of relief and said, "Young Master, this is the first time I haven't reacted to your jokes. But the joke you just made wasn't funny at all, you almost scared us all."
After speaking, she giggled innocently, and Xiao Lin echoed, "Yes, yes."
Susu didn't believe he was joking at all and waved her hand in front of his eyes again.
He could already see clearly. He grabbed her hand and said, "You really think I'm blind? Stop messing around. Go get the gifts hidden under the Christmas tree, let's open them together. We can't just sit under the tree listening to songs."
Susu still didn't understand what had happened to him just now, but she was sure that Tian Yi had truly been unable to see for a moment, and now he could see again.
She didn't want to spoil everyone's Christmas Eve mood, so she still smiled and distributed the gifts to everyone.
Xiao Mei, Xiao Lin, and the nanny were all surprised, not expecting to receive gifts themselves.
As everyone was opening their gifts, Susu secretly took out a flat, rectangular box with exquisite packaging and handed it to Tian Yi, saying, "You have a gift too."
"You prepared it for me?" Tian Yi asked with surprise.
Susu nodded with a smile and, under the colorful lights, carefully examined his face.
Tian Yi felt uncomfortable under her gaze, touched his face, and asked, "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing. Aren't you going to open it and see?" Susu smiled, wanting to know what was wrong with him, whether he had been injured outside today, or if his eyes were just overly tired.
Tian Yi held the gift dearly and smiled, saying, "I'll look at it later when we get back to the room."
At this moment, everyone had opened their gifts. Xiao Mei was delighted with the delicate pendant gold necklace and eagerly asked Xiao Lin to help her put it on.
Xiao Xingxing, holding his dinosaur toy, jumped up and exclaimed happily, "I have a big dinosaur!"
He jumped behind Tian Yi, grabbed his shoulder, and said, "Dad, after I put it together, I'm going to take a picture and send it to Xiao Xiao."
"Okay, I'll help you forward it to Uncle Xiao, he'll make sure Xiao Xiao sees it," Tian Yi said, turning to smile at him affectionately.
Heng Heng and Tiantian no longer wanted to be held by adults. The two little ones ran to pick up the wrapping paper and ribbons on the floor, treating them as toys.
After the excitement died down, they watched the two children fall asleep.
As soon as they returned to the bedroom and closed the door, anger appeared on Susu's face. Without a word, she started to unbutton Tian Yi's clothes, wanting to confirm if he had any injuries.
Tian Yi smiled and grabbed her hands. "Wife, why are you in such a hurry? You don't need to do it, I'll undress myself."
Saying this, he quickly took off his sweater and unbuttoned his shirt.
Susu didn't waste words with him and carefully examined him, finding him smooth all over, without any bruises or scars.
Tian Yi possessively embraced her, lowered his head, and kissed her lips lightly, smiling and asking, "What are you doing? Are you coveting my great physique?"
"I'm not in the mood for jokes," Susu pushed him away slightly, but kept holding his arm and said, "What's going on with your eyes? Why couldn't you see suddenly just now, and then you could see again after a while."
"I already told you, I was just joking with you all." Tian Yi broke free from her, picked up the gift he had just put down, and said, "I want to open it and see what good thing it is."
He sat on the chaise lounge with the gift box, carefully untying the ribbon, afraid of damaging even a tiny bit.
"Qin Tian Yi! Don't open it now. Can you please not avoid my question!" Susu knew he was definitely hiding something.
Tian Yi still smiled at her and said, "Tonight is Christmas Eve, we need to celebrate happily. You should also wear the jewelry set we bought together last time, let me see how beautiful you look wearing it."
His hands were still moving to open the flat box, but Susu stopped him and said, "I know you must have something going on. Why aren't you telling the truth? Didn't we agree to be honest with each other? What can't you tell me?"
Tian Yi was still teasing, pointing to his bare upper body and saying, "I've been stripped bare by you, isn't that honest enough..."
But before his joke was finished, he suddenly felt dizzy, and he couldn't see anything clearly. He quickly propped himself up with both hands on the exquisite box, trying hard not to let Susu notice anything unusual.
He was still holding on, telling himself silently, I can't collapse now, even if I will, it's not now!
Susu didn't notice his abnormality for a moment and sat next to him helplessly, saying, "Are you cold? I'll get you a coat."
Tian Yi, with a smile on his face, commanded, "Then why are you still standing there? Hurry up, you want to freeze me to death."
Susu was a little confused. She was clearly sitting down, and they were separated only by the gift, so why was he still staring in the direction she had just been standing?