Meng Yao stayed by the bedside. No matter how much she talked to Song Jiaping every day, he showed no reaction.
She had been in good spirits after her successful divorce from Jiaxi, and had shared this good news with Song Jiaping for several days.
But the miracle she had hoped for still hadn't appeared. She had also consulted with the expert Qin Tianyi found online.
Meng Yao understood the expert's meaning. Given Song Jiaping's current condition, surgery was the only option, but the risks were also obvious.
The neurosurgeon advised that the earlier Song Jiaping underwent surgery, the lower the probability of risk.
Meng Yao couldn't make a decision for a while. She wished Song Jiaping would wake up, even for just a second.
She wanted to know what Song Jiaping himself would choose if he were conscious.
It was truly difficult for her to make this decision now.
Meng Yao held Song Jiaping's hand, her upper body almost entirely slumped over the edge of the bed, whispering in his ear, hoping her persistence would wake him.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door. She immediately sat up straight and said, "Come in."
She didn't look to see who had entered, assuming it was a nurse coming for rounds, and lowered her head to gaze at Song Jiaping.
"Meng Yao, are you alright?"
Hearing this voice, Meng Yao couldn't help but look up and saw Meng Qi entering the room, carrying nutritional supplements.
"Sister, why are you here?" Meng Yao asked in surprise.
Meng Qi put down what she was holding and chided her, "You didn't even tell me something this big happened. Are you really trying to cut ties with me as sisters?"
"No," Meng Yao explained. "I was afraid you were still angry with me, so I didn't tell you."
Meng Qi walked to her side and said, "If I hadn't heard from someone else that you and Hong Jiaxi were already divorced, I would have thought you and Song Jiaping had left Lancheng. But upon inquiring further, I learned that Song Jiaping had a car accident. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known you were still in Lancheng."
After speaking, she glanced at Song Jiaping lying in bed, feeling that she might have spoken too loudly. She quickly added, "I'm sorry, I was angry and didn't pay attention to my volume. Will it disturb his recovery?"
Meng Yao shook her head and said with a wry smile, "No matter how loudly we speak, he can't hear us. If you could shout loud enough to wake him, I would be grateful."
"Ah, what happened to him? Was the car accident that serious?" Meng Qi saw Song Jiaping's current condition with her own eyes, and it was even more serious than she had understood.
Meng Yao said sadly, "He might... he might never wake up. Actually, besides this car accident, he had a head injury abroad before. He was also in a coma for a long time, and after waking up, he had amnesia for a period. He only recovered with great difficulty. He then decided to return with me, but I didn't expect his head to be so severely injured again."
Meng Qi asked in surprise, "What exactly happened to you abroad? Weren't you doctors at a field hospital?"
Meng Yao told Meng Qi why she went abroad and how she accompanied Song Jiaping and helped him recover.
After listening, Meng Qi no longer hated Song Jiaping as much. Instead, she felt that Meng Yao had truly suffered.
Meng Yao had sacrificed too much for this relationship. Even if she didn't object now, they still couldn't be together happily, which made her feel very distressed.
"So much happened abroad, why didn't you tell me after you came back?"
"I wanted to tell you, but you couldn't accept me being with Song Jiaping, and I didn't have the chance to tell you much."
"Dad was right, I haven't paid enough attention to you," Meng Qi said with some regret.
Meng Yao asked, "Did you see Dad again?"
Meng Qi nodded and said, "I saw Dad again later. He told me that he actually doesn't object to you being together. I've also come to understand. Mom and Dad wronged Song Jiaping's family, and Song Jiaping hurt our parents for revenge. Let's consider all this settled. When will the cycle of revenge end? This animosity should end with us, and not continue."
"Sister, you mean you don't object to us being together anymore?" Meng Yao asked with surprise and joy.
Meng Qi smiled at her and said, "Let your love for each other end the grievances between our two families. I bless you! You don't necessarily have to leave Lancheng. You can always come back to the Huangfu family to live if you wish."
"Jiaping, did you hear that? You were right, my sister will bless us." Meng Yao said excitedly, leaning over him. "Wake up quickly. As long as you wake up, I'll marry you immediately, and we'll never be apart."
While Meng Yao was talking to Song Jiaping, Meng Qi watched Song Jiaping lying in bed, hoping he would show some reaction.
But she found that Song Jiaping showed absolutely no reaction, not even a twitch of his eyelids.
What would Meng Yao do if he didn't wake up?
She was truly worried that Meng Yao's efforts would be in vain. She could only hope that heaven would stop testing Meng Yao and Song Jiaping.
Meng Qi stayed with Meng Yao in the ward for a while. Seeing that it was getting late, she got up to leave.
Meng Yao walked Meng Qi to the door of the ward, wanting to escort her to the hospital entrance.
Meng Qi waved her away, saying, "No need to see me off. I can walk by myself. You should stay and look after Song Jiaping."
Meng Yao agreed and prepared to escort her to the elevator before returning to the room.
Meng Qi walked with her to the elevator. Seeing that the elevator hadn't arrived yet, she asked, "Will Song Jiaping get better in this condition? What did the doctors say? Should I help you find some renowned experts?"
Meng Yao said sadly, "The doctors here are also unsure about his condition. However, Mr. Qin has helped me contact experts from abroad. It's just that the plan provided by that expert carries risks, and I'm still hesitant."
"Mr. Qin? Qin Tianyi?" Meng Qi asked in surprise.
"Yes, it's Qin Tianyi. He's a good friend of Jiaping's. When Jiaping first had the accident, I was completely panicked and didn't know who to ask for help, so I contacted him."
Meng Qi was surprised that when Song Jiaping had the accident, Meng Yao sought help from outsiders but didn't contact her.
It seemed her previous attitude had frightened Meng Yao, and she had gone too far.
She wanted to make amends and said, "How about I help you find some more experts to take a look? Perhaps there are other feasible methods without risks."
"Okay, thank you, sister. I'd like to hear more expert opinions before making a decision."
Meng Qi saw the elevator arrive and quickly said, "Then it's settled. I'll tell you once I've contacted some neurosurgery experts."
Meng Yao hummed and watched Meng Qi get into the elevator, feeling that everything was getting better now, but Jiaping still had no consciousness.
She returned to the ward, looking at Jiaping lying motionlessly on the bed. She rallied her spirits again, unwilling to give up so easily.
"Wait a moment, I'll get a basin of hot water and wipe you down," she said with tears in her smile. "I know you love cleanliness and must dislike having an odor on your body. Don't worry, I'll never leave you. I'll wash your face and wipe your body every day. You have to keep going and get well soon!"
She would say these words to Jiaping several times a day, and it was also a way to encourage herself!