Time ticked by, second by agonizing second. Outside, no one knew the situation within. Some were consumed by anxiety, others harbored ill intentions.
Shen Zixuan, however, was remarkably nonchalant. She had fallen asleep, leaning against Ju Honglan's shoulder.
Around four in the morning, the operating room light finally extinguished. Ju Honglan, in her excitement, jolted to her feet. Shen Zixuan's head promptly bumped against the wall.
Clutching her head, Shen Zixuan grumbled, "Mom, why are you..."
Before she could finish, a doctor in a white coat and mask emerged. Everyone rushed forward. Fearing she would miss out on even a sliver of benefit, Shen Zixuan immediately got up and scurried over.
"Doctor, how is my nephew?"
"Although the patient sustained severe injuries, his will to survive is strong. He is out of danger."
Instantly, everyone's expressions shifted, a mix of joy and sorrow.
Shen Zhengming's family was astonished that Shen Chi Yan's life was so resilient. After such a serious car accident and so much blood loss, he had still managed to pull through.
Meanwhile, Song Qi Nian, Shen Ke Qin, and their companions, upon hearing the news, felt their hearts, which had been lodged in their throats, finally settle.
Shen Ke Qin, overcome by a wave of relief, even burst into tears, though mostly tears of joy.
"Sister-in-law, see? I told you my brother has guardian spirits. He wouldn't die that easily."
Song Qi Nian, sniffing, nodded and stifled her tears.
Not long after, Shen Chi Yan was wheeled out by two nurses and taken to a VIP room.
Shen Zhengming's family, their greedy schemes thwarted, had no desire to linger at the hospital.
Ju Honglan said to Shen Liu Bai, "Liu Bai, Chi Yan is fine, so we can rest assured. There's no point in so many of us staying at the hospital. Your Uncle and I are getting old and can't stay up all night. We'll head back now. Let Zixuan stay to accompany Chi Yan."
Shen Zixuan immediately protested. She disliked hospitals, and she was utterly exhausted.
More importantly, Shen Chi Yan utterly disliked her, and she had no desire to see his cold, somber face.
However, after a stern look from Ju Honglan, Shen Zixuan reluctantly resigned herself to the task.
Shen Liu Bai said calmly, "We don't know when A Yan will wake up. Zixuan staying here isn't of much use. It's almost dawn, you all should head back. I'll contact you once A Yan wakes up."
Shen Zixuan was about to nod when Ju Honglan pinched her, then smiled and said, "Zixuan loves Chi Yan the most. She cried so much when she heard about Chi Yan's accident. Let her stay with Chi Yan."
Shen Liu Bai noticed the silent exchange between mother and daughter and replied indifferently, "As you wish."
After Shen Liu Bai entered the ward, Shen Zixuan looked at Ju Honglan with a wronged expression. "Mom, I want to go home too. It's so cold, I don't want to stay in the hospital!"
"Go home? Absolutely not. You stay here and keep an eye on Shen Chi Yan. If there's any news, you call me immediately. Understand?"
Ju Honglan's definition of "keeping an eye" was akin to surveillance. Despite her strong reluctance, Shen Zixuan had no choice but to agree.
Shen Qi Wen also remained. Seeing Lin Qiu Tong push past Song Qi Nian and rush into the ward first, his expression soured, and his jealousy was palpable.
"A Yan..."
Lin Qiu Tong looked at Shen Chi Yan with heartbreak, tears streaming down her face.
Shen Chi Yan's head was wrapped in white gauze. One arm was fractured, his waist had sustained significant bleeding, and both legs bore contusions of varying degrees.
In short, he was a mess.
But his most critical injury was to his head. The doctor said they would assess the situation after he woke up, and there was no certainty about potential sequelae.
Song Qi Nian felt a pang in her chest as she watched Lin Qiu Tong tightly grip Shen Chi Yan's hand.
Everything that had happened tonight was too sudden; she still hadn't fully processed it.
Shen Ke Qin, seeing Lin Qiu Tong's possessive demeanor, felt a surge of anger. Her fifth brother and sister-in-law weren't officially divorced yet, and Lin Qiu Tong couldn't wait?
With this thought, Shen Ke Qin walked up to Lin Qiu Tong and said, "Miss Lin, my brother just came out of surgery. His most important need is rest. How can he rest with you crying and wailing by his bedside?"
Lin Qiu Tong, noticing everyone in the room watching her, slowly stood up and said faintly to the crowd, "I apologize. I was just too worried about A Yan."
"Who here isn't worried about my brother? If all of us were to cry endlessly by his bedside like you, he would cry himself unconscious even if he woke up!"
Shen Ke Qin, who feared nothing, certainly wasn't afraid of offending Lin Qiu Tong.
If it weren't for this Lin Qiu Tong, her brother and sister-in-law wouldn't have reached this point.
Lin Qiu Tong was rendered speechless and flushed by Shen Ke Qin's retort. Shen Zixuan, unable to bear it, chimed in, "Shen Ke Qin, that's going too far. Everyone knows Sister Qiu Tong and Fifth Brother grew up together. They have a deep childhood sweetheart bond. What's wrong with her crying a little out of worry for Fifth Brother? It's better than some people who show no emotion even when Fifth Brother is injured because of them."
"You..."
Shen Ke Qin was about to retort when Shen Liu Bai interrupted, "That's enough. A Yan needs to rest. Those who need to leave, please go. Qin Qin, Nian Nian has been through a lot of fright. Take her home for a bath and some rest, and you can come back tomorrow."
Song Qi Nian's jacket was still stained with Shen Chi Yan's blood. The sight of it would constantly remind her of Shen Chi Yan lying in a pool of blood, causing her heart to ache.
Shen Ke Qin looked at Song Qi Nian. "Sister-in-law, let's go back first."
Song Qi Nian's mind was a chaotic mess. After a deep look at Shen Chi Yan, she left the hospital with Shen Ke Qin.
On the way back, Shen Ke Qin held Song Qi Nian's ice-cold hand, feeling a deep unease. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing Song Qi Nian's dazed expression, she remained silent.
Upon arriving at the entrance of Qili Xiangdu, Song Qi Nian saw the very spot where Shen Chi Yan had his accident. There were still brown bloodstains on the ground.
She didn't know what kind of emotions Shen Chi Yan must have had that day to rush forward and push her out of the way.
Shen Ke Qin, fearing Song Qi Nian would be overcome by memories, quickly pulled her towards their home. "Sister-in-law, let's go home, it's freezing."
As soon as they returned, Song Qi Nian took a bath. When she emerged from the bathroom, Shen Ke Qin had already fallen asleep on the bed.
Song Qi Nian was also exhausted and sleepy, but lying in bed, she couldn't fall asleep. Whenever she closed her eyes, her mind was filled with the image of Shen Chi Yan pushing her away and then being hit by the car.
She stayed awake until morning.
Since Shen Chi Yan remained unconscious, Song Qi Nian and Shen Ke Qin returned to the hospital after waking up the next morning.
Lin Qiu Tong was also at the hospital, though she had changed out of her costume.
Shen Ke Qin's mood soured upon seeing Lin Qiu Tong. She leaned in and whispered to Song Qi Nian, "She's quite attentive, isn't she? One would think she's my fifth brother's wife!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Shen Ke Qin regretted them. She cautiously glanced at Song Qi Nian and lightly smacked her own mouth.
Her tongue sometimes moved too quickly.
"Big Brother, I'll stay here. You should go back and rest for a bit. We don't want you fainting when Fifth Brother wakes up."
"I'm fine."
As long as Shen Chi Yan remained unconscious, no one could truly feel at ease.
Lin Qiu Tong, seeing Shen Ke Qin speaking with Shen Liu Bai, said to her faintly, "Let's go outside and talk."