Qin He's eyelashes fluttered slightly.
All the memories flooded back, the two years with Gu Qichen, and the nearly one year that had just passed.
Qin He tried to push herself up, but her hands slipped, and she fell back onto the bed.
With all her might, she managed to turn over, only to find herself utterly without strength. She could only lie there, staring at the ceiling.
After a long while, Qin He curled her lips into a self-deprecating smile.
She was truly insane.
Where did she get the confidence to think that she and Gu Qichen could start over?
Qin He lowered her gaze. As all the memories surged back, her heart felt as if it would explode.
It was as if the gates of emotions had been flung open, her mind consumed by Gu Qichen.
That sense of humility, which she had once found unfamiliar, began to creep into her heart like a vine, slowly enveloping it.
Qin He lay there for a while before raising her eyes to look at the sky outside. The sky had just begun to lighten, suggesting it was only around five or six in the morning.
Not wanting to disturb her aunt, she lay quietly until seven-thirty.
Fang Meiyan rubbed her eyes as she got up, only to meet Qin He's dark, serene eyes from the hospital bed.
Fang Meiyan froze, closed her eyes, and then opened them again.
A quiet smile touched Qin He's lips. "Aunt, how long have I been asleep?"
After all, she was a medical professor.
In the two hours since she had woken up, Qin He had already assessed her own condition.
To have become so thin, she must have been unconscious for about a month.
Fang Meiyan was stunned, and tears began to stream down her face.
"You've been asleep for a month, and now you're finally awake! I'll call Director Shen right away!" Fang Meiyan fumbled for her phone.
After calling Director Shen, she immediately rang Ming Yuzhu and Qin Yun.
"He'er is awake!"
An hour later, in Qin He's hospital room.
Ming Yuzhu cried and laughed, her hands hovering between wanting to hit Qin He and being reluctant to do so, appearing utterly flustered.
Qin He, lacking strength, sat up halfway and weakly embraced Ming Yuzhu.
"Mom, I'm sorry. I made you worry."
"What, have you become more sensible after being sick?" Qin Yun said with a smile, his eyes also glistening with tears.
Xu Wanwan stood beside him, wiping her eyes. "You little rascal, your brother only told me about your coma today. How could you not tell me about something this big?"
Qin He let out a weak laugh. "I was unconscious, how could I tell you? You need to settle this with my brother."
"That's exactly what I'm going to do," Xu Wanwan glared at Qin Yun.
The atmosphere in the room was joyous. Fang Meiyan took her phone to call the Ming family to share the good news.
"He'er is awake, can she eat something now?" Ming Yuzhu asked worriedly.
Fang Meiyan came back in with her phone. "Director Shen Bin just came to see her. He said she can eat, but it needs to be gradual. It's best to only have some thin congee on the first day."
"Thin congee is good, better than those useless nutrient drips!" Ming Yuzhu smiled.
"Alright, Mom, He'er just woke up. Let her rest a bit longer," Qin Yun said.
Ming Yuzhu looked at Qin He with some concern. "You should wake up now that you've slept."
Qin He's heart ached at her mother's expression. She put on a smile. "Don't worry, Mom. Director Shen has already examined me. Since I've woken up, I won't fall into a coma again."
Only then did Ming Yuzhu leave the room, looking back repeatedly.
Qin He watched as the people in the room gradually departed, with Qin Yun being the last.
She suddenly spoke, "Brother, wait a moment."
Qin Yun turned around. "What is it?"
Qin He clutched the corner of the quilt. "Brother, there are some things I want to talk to you about."
Xu Wanwan stood beside Qin Yun and said softly, "I'll wait for you outside. You and He'er can chat slowly."
Soon, only the brother and sister were left in the room.
Qin Yun sat by Qin He's hospital bed, looking at her with concern.
"What's wrong? He'er."
Qin He lowered her head, and after a few seconds of silence, her voice was hoarse.
"Brother, I was foolish before. I made things difficult for you and Mom, and made you worry so much about me."
Qin Yun let out a hearty laugh and gently stroked Qin He's hair.
He then patted her shoulder lightly. "It's rare to see you so well-behaved. Don't worry, isn't that what big brothers are for, to clean up their little sisters' messes? You just snuck out for a bit of shopping, it's nothing."
Qin He gritted her teeth. "Brother, I remember everything now."
"Remember what everything?" Qin Yun was taken aback.
A few seconds later, he looked at the expression on Qin He's face, and his expression gradually became grave.
"You remember?"
Qin He nodded. "I remember all the memories I lost during those two years."
Qin Yun's face immediately tensed. The two years Qin He was married to Gu Qichen were the hardest years of her life.
He didn't understand why his sister loved Gu Qichen so deeply.
But when his sister had a car accident and completely forgot Gu Qichen, he had felt a sense of relief.
But now—
Qin Yun's throat felt dry. "Since you remember everything, what do you want to do now?"
Qin He's lips twitched into a light smile. "What else can I do? We're divorced now."
"Did you also recall your love for him?"
"I remember everything."
Qin He took a deep breath. "Brother, please don't tell anyone that I've recovered my memory. I just wanted to tell you first, so we can discuss things..."
"Not even Mom?"
"Let's not tell her. I'm afraid she'll worry."
Saying this, Qin He looked up at Qin Yun. "And don't let Gu Qichen know."
Upon hearing Gu Qichen's name, Qin Yun's expression turned cold. "I know that."
"Brother, I want to be discharged," Qin He said softly.
Qin Yun immediately frowned. "You haven't recovered yet, how can you be discharged?"
"When I woke up this morning, I checked my pulse. And when Director Shen Bin came for the examination, I also looked at my medical records and X-rays," Qin He said with a faint smile. "I'm sure there's nothing serious. Trust me. I don't want to stay here anymore. I want to go home."
Qin Yun hesitated.
Qin He's gaze swept towards the window. During her unconscious state, she hadn't been entirely unaware.
She was certain that Gu Qichen had visited.
But now, she didn't know how to face him.
The memories of their trip to Haicheng felt like yesterday.
But the image of him throwing the check and divorce agreement at her, his indifferent and cold expression, also felt like yesterday.
Fragments of memory surged, her mind a mess. She didn't want to face Gu Qichen.