Chapter 66: Ch 66: A Shoulder to Cry on
Chapter 66: Ch 66: A Shoulder to Cry on
The afternoon light spilled gently into the private hospital room at Jiankang Hospital, illuminating the crisp white walls and sterile equipment with a soft, peaceful glow. The room carried the faint, clean scent of antiseptic and fresh linens, a stark contrast to the earlier chaos.
On the single bed lay a small child, Shen Guoxing, her tiny frame looking even more fragile against the white sheets. An endotracheal tube was carefully positioned on her face, helping her breathe. She had thick, heroic eyebrows and an adorably soft face, even in unconsciousness. Her eyes remained tightly closed, but the heart monitor beside her now showed a steady, reassuring beep.
The doctors and nurses surrounding her still wore expressions of lingering worry and exhaustion. Sweat glistened on their foreheads and dampened the backs of their scrubs, evidence of the intense effort they had poured into reviving the child. Doctor Li let out a long, shaky sigh of relief as he checked the monitors one final time.
He had been conducting a routine checkup when Shen Guoxing suddenly went into cardiac arrest. The moment her heart had stopped—even briefly—panic had flooded the room. This child was under the care of the young heir of the Su family, and the weight of that responsibility had terrified everyone.
Doctor Li had feared for his job, and he was certain his colleagues shared the same dread. Though they all knew Su Wanyan’s gentle temperament and understood she wouldn’t act unreasonably, the fear had still gripped them tightly.
Fortunately, Shen Guoxing’s heartbeat had returned—a near-miracle after several terrifying moments of flatline. The team had worked tirelessly, their skills and quick thinking pulling her back from the brink. Her condition was still unstable, as expected after such a severe event, but the immediate crisis had passed.
Doctor Li wiped sweat from his brow, exchanging weary but grateful glances with his colleagues. The room felt both heavy with relief and light with hope.
Just then, the door to the room opened. Su Wanyan entered, looking disheveled—her golden-rimmed glasses sat crookedly at the edge of her nose, and her hair was in complete disarray from the rushed journey. Behind her, Mo Xingxue followed in a similar state, her elegant sage silk dress slightly rumpled and her hair tousled, yet she still carried herself with quiet grace. Both women looked as though they had run the entire way from Tianze.
"How’s Shen Guoxing?" Su Wanyan asked immediately, stepping inside but stopping a respectful distance from the bed. She didn’t dare approach closer yet—she might carry germs from outside, and she refused to risk that for the fragile child.
Mo Xingxue caught her breath and followed, her eyes fixed on the frail child with visible heartache. How pitiful, she thought, her chest aching at the sight of the small, pale figure. The girl looked so young and vulnerable, tubes and monitors making her seem even smaller.
Doctor Li turned toward them, relief washing over his face. "Doctor Su, she’s stable for now," he said, walking over. "We were able to revive her, and her heart is beating on its own again. Although she’s not out of danger yet—the next 24 to 48 hours are critical while we monitor for brain injury, heart function, and any complications." He offered a wry smile, glancing at Mo Xingxue. "Although I’m aware you already knew that."
Su Wanyan nodded, some of the tension in her body easing. "I see....." She looked at the pale child on the bed, breathing shallowly through the tube, then back at Doctor Li. "Thank you, everyone," she said, bowing politely. Mo Xingxue, snapping out of her concerned examination of the girl, bowed as well in gratitude.
Doctor Li immediately waved his hands. "No, no, this is what we should do, Doctor." Su Wanyan straightened with a gentle, tired smile. "Still, thank you."
Doctor Li sighed. Then, he glanced at his colleagues and then handed Su Wanyan a clipboard. "You should see for yourself."
Su Wanyan took it carefully and reviewed the results thoroughly. After confirming everything aligned with expectations, she nodded gratefully at her team. Doctor Li and the staff quietly explained the events leading to the arrest and the monitoring plan moving forward. Once they finished, they prepared to leave, giving them space.
Su Wanyan didn’t follow them out. Instead, she stood there quietly, gazing at the dangerously pale child. "Doctor Li," she called out suddenly, still looking at Shen Guoxing.
Doctor Li paused at the door. "Yes?"
Su Wanyan turned to him, her face still carrying that gentle, tired smile, but her eyes were resolute and firm. "In the next few days, after her situation stabilizes.. let’s prepare her for surgery."
Doctor Li paused, glancing at the fragile child. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then pursed his lips and nodded. "Understood."
Doctor Li and the rest of the staff quietly excused themselves, leaving only Su Wanyan, Mo Xingxue, and the sleeping child in the hushed room. The door clicked shut behind them, sealing the three in a bubble of heavy silence broken only by the rhythmic beeps of the monitors.
"Is she your....?" Mo Xingxue questioned gently, not finishing the sentence but letting the implication hang. Her eyes were filled with quiet worry as she looked between Su Wanyan and the child.
Su Wanyan met her gaze, her expression complex. "Biologically? No," she answered softly.
Mo Xingxue nodded slowly. "I see...." Mo Xingxue turned her attention to Shen Guoxing, her features softening with genuine concern for the child she had only just met. Su Wanyan felt a warmth bloom in her chest at the sight. Xuexue has such a soft heart, she thought, deeply moved.
Su Wanyan then turned her full attention back to the frail figure on the bed. You’ll get better soon with surgery, kiddo, she thought, her resolve hardening. She sighed quietly. I didn’t want to do this, but it’s for your own good.
The reason Shen Guoxing had gone so long without surgery—despite the original owner’s resources and repeated suggestions—was the child’s own stubborn refusal. In her words, she didn’t want the original owner spending "another meaningless penny" on her when so much had already been invested. She preferred spending time together rather than risking surgery; if she died, she died.
The original owner had been hesitant at first, terrified of losing the child, but had ultimately respected Shen Guoxing’s wishes. Su Wanyan understood that desire for autonomy, but she couldn’t accept the risk of losing the child.
The memory of that long, flat beep from the monitors earlier had shaken her to her core. Even though—technically—this was the first time Su Wanyan had met the child, she and the original owner were one and the same. She would do whatever it took to keep this child alive and safe.
Su Wanyan walked over to the sofa in the corner of the room. On the coffee table, she picked up a bottle of hand sanitizer, coating her hands thoroughly before applying some to her polo shirt as well. She passed the bottle to Mo Xingxue, who accepted it gratefully and did the same.
Su Wanyan then approached Shen Guoxing’s bed slowly, her steps careful and quiet. Seeing the child’s face up close—the pale cheeks, the delicate features, the small tubes helping her breathe—sent another wave of heartache through her chest.
She stretched out her hand and gently stroked Shen Guoxing’s hair. "It’s going to be okay, sweetie," she whispered, her voice gentle and comforting, though she wasn’t entirely sure whether she was reassuring the child or herself.
Looking at Shen Guoxing’s peaceful but vulnerable face, Su Wanyan couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. Her shoulders shook as low sobs echoed softly through the quiet room. "I’m sorry," she murmured.
Just then, she felt a warm hand stroke her back. By the size and the familiar coolness that quickly warmed with contact, Su Wanyan knew it was Mo Xingxue. Even though Mo Xingxue’s hand had started cold, it brought undeniable warmth to Su Wanyan’s heart, reminding her that she wasn’t alone in this.
And that was exactly what Mo Xingxue intended to convey. After all, while Su Wanyan cried often, this was one of the rare times Mo Xingxue had seen her break down so miserably. It pained her deeply to see her alpha like this.
Just as Su Wanyan had always reached out her hand without hesitation, this time Mo Xingxue wanted to return the favor. She had once pulled away, terrified by the mere possibility of pain—pain she knew, even then, that Su Wanyan would never inflict. That fear had left Su Wanyan to bear the weight of caring for their frail child alone all these years. Now that her mind was finally clear, Mo Xingxue would stay.
Su Wanyan turned to Mo Xingxue, tears streaming down her face. She pulled the omega into a tight hug, crying pitifully against her shoulder. Mo Xingxue hugged her back without hesitation, one hand reaching up to stroke Su Wanyan’s hair soothingly. "She’ll be fine," Mo Xingxue comforted her softly.
Su Wanyan nodded against her shoulder, still sobbing.
Mo Xingxue glanced at the child on the bed and, with her free hand, gently took Shen Guoxing’s small one. "She’ll be fine," she repeated quietly, stroking the child’s knuckles with her thumb. Mo Xingxue closed her eyes, her decision firmer than ever.
Unbeknownst to the two women, the child on the bed had her eyebrows twitch slightly. A single small tear slipped from the corner of one closed eye.
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I AM NOT WELL, GUYS! (I just finished watching Zombie Stage, lol). THEY SHOULD’VE JUST KILLED ME OR BETTER YET SKIN ME ALIVE, TAKE MY INSIDES OUT, CHOPPED MY BODY PARTS—spoiler warning!!—JUST LIKE WHAT THEY DID TO MIZI AND SUA! ALSO, WHY IS IT 87/86 AGAIN?!! JUST EFFING KILL ME!
Sigh... Toxic Yuri is so peak (still gonna hold grudges against Vivinos though).
What, y’all expecting something else? Nah, don’t have that today. Y’all can tap the exit button now...
Seriously, is what wrong with y’all?? Smh.
SERIOUSLY???? Tsk!