When he held her underwater just now, An Nuan did not struggle. Perhaps she felt it was a form of release.
Thinking about it, wasn't it indeed a release?
"Are you actually the patient's husband? If not, then please notify the patient's family," the doctor said without giving Shen Xizhou a chance to speak. "Since you brought her here, you most likely know her."
"Let her family come. I need to discuss the treatment plan with them."
"However, it's likely hopeless."
"No, I won't let anything happen to her. She will live well."
Shen Xizhou exuded a dark aura, his eyes bloodshot as he spoke. The doctor, looking at him, was genuinely intimidated.
"As long as I am here, she will not die."
"No, she wouldn't dare to die. Her brother is still in my hands! She still has her brother. If she dies, what will happen to her brother?"
"Therefore, she will not die. She doesn't dare to die either."
The doctor looked at the man before him, shaking his head, but still spoke, "Sir, I know this is difficult to accept, but facts are facts, and they cannot be changed."
With that, the doctor left. He had another surgery scheduled, and he had said what he needed to say.
Xizhou, you will stay with me for a lifetime, right? You will protect me and love me for a lifetime, right?
Xizhou, when will we get married?
Xizhou, you said our children would be beautiful? Smart?
Xizhou, you said would we have a son or a daughter? No, I like daughters. I can dress her up nicely. But I also like boys. When a boy grows up, he can protect me.
Xizhou, what should we name our children?
Xizhou… Xizhou…
Back then, she had smiled so brightly. She had also told him many plans for the future. She said she wanted to be a wedding planner.
Yes, she still had so many things to do. How could she possibly die? She still needed to find her brother. She hadn't found her brother yet, so she wouldn't die.
Shen Xizhou, as if driven mad, pounded the wall with his fists.
On the hospital bed, Shen Xizhou looked at the pale woman, his heart clenching with pain.
His hand fell on An Nuan's face, caressing the familiar features.
Her face had always held a smile, but when did that smile disappear, replaced by pain?
An Nuan, you cannot die, do you understand?
Didn't you say you wanted to atone? How could you break your promise?
A week later, An Nuan woke up.
She realized someone was tightly gripping her hand.
Opening her eyes, she met a man's deep and affectionate gaze.
A voice had been calling in her ear all along: Nuan Nuan, Nuan Nuan.
Seeing the man's bloodshot eyes, An Nuan momentarily thought she was dreaming.
She felt her hand being held. Her gaze fell on her hand. Seeing that Shen Xizhou was holding it, she didn't hesitate, quickly withdrawing her hand and looking at the man with extreme caution.
"Shen Xizhou?"
An Nuan's eyes were filled with wariness. "What are you doing here?"
She remembered fainting. She had no memory of what happened afterward. When she woke up in the hospital room and felt her hand being held, facing Shen Xizhou's deep gaze, she felt an indescribable aversion.
"Heh, what else could I be doing here? Just checking if you're dead," Shen Xizhou said, standing up and looking out the window with a sarcastic tone. "Your life is truly tenacious. You were dying, yet you were saved. Indeed, bad people don't die easily."
Shen Xizhou's words were exceptionally cold and carried a deep sense of disappointment, as if he were unhappy to see An Nuan alive.
She let out a soft scoff. She didn't react much to Shen Xizhou's words. After all, she was used to it. No, he had said much more brutal things to her. These words almost seemed 'gentle' to her.
She watched Shen Xizhou, not speaking, her eyes filled with deep caution.
Shen Xizhou said darkly, "Also, your brother is still in my hands. How could you bear to die?"
An Nuan, who had been calm, showed a flicker of emotion upon hearing this. She looked at Shen Xizhou, her eyes containing a hidden light.
She knew Shen Xizhou said this, waiting for her to speak.
Then she would grant his wish, as it was something she wanted to know.
"So, Mr. Shen, are you planning to tell me where my brother is?"
Upon hearing An Nuan's words, Shen Xizhou stiffened. He suddenly realized that at some point, "Mr. Shen" had become "him" in her mouth. Before, she had always called him "Xizhou," or at the very least, "Shen Xizhou." But now, she couldn't even be bothered to say his name.
But what did it matter?
Indeed, only matters concerning her brother could make her proactive.
Shen Xizhou walked towards An Nuan step by step. His gaze fell on her, his deep eyes fixed on her as if he were planning something.
"An Nuan, you think you can ask me and I'll answer you? Don't you need to do something, perhaps show some sincerity?"
"Then, Mr. Shen..." An Nuan asked with a calm smile on her face, "How do you want me to please you? Just tell me, and I'll do it."
He reached out and gripped An Nuan's chin, saying menacingly, "Now you're unwilling to even put in effort for me? Or is it that you have more men to cater to, and that's why you're being so perfunctory?"
His gaze was fixed on An Nuan, not missing any expression on her face.
He wanted to find some loophole from her expression.
"Mr. Shen, whatever I do, you won't be satisfied. It would be better if you just told me directly, and I could do it properly. I don't dare to gamble. My life is not valuable, but my brother's life is."
Shen Xizhou's eyes darkened. Was she like this with Huo Yunshen too? Did she try to please him by him telling her directly?
"Good, very good. An Nuan, you truly live up to your name. Hmm, since that's the case, I'll go along with your wishes."
He actually said "good"? He didn't mock her? He didn't say she was wishful thinking?
He agreed?
An Nuan was inwardly excited, but she congratulated herself for not getting carried away.
She looked at Shen Xizhou and said calmly, "Then I will await Mr. Shen's notification. Anytime, anywhere. I hope Mr. Shen will keep his word this time. After all, I've been stood up many times. Trust fades slowly."
"An Nuan, you... " Shen Xizhou finally didn't finish his sentence but looked at the person on the hospital bed. "This time, it will be as you wish."
Shen Xizhou's gaze remained on her, as if trying to see through her. He seemed to understand her less and less.