Chapter 68: Ch 68: Weight of a Guardian’s Heart
Chapter 68: Ch 68: Weight of a Guardian’s Heart
The private room in Jiankang Hospital was bathed in the soft, fading light of the setting sun. Golden-orange rays filtered through the large window, illuminating the sterile white walls and the single bed where Shen Guoxing lay sleeping. The room carried the sharp, clean scent of antiseptic mixed with the faint, comforting aroma of fresh orange.
Monitors beeped steadily in the background, their rhythmic sounds a constant reminder of the fragile life they were watching over. The air felt heavy yet intimate, the kind of quiet that wrapped around the three figures like a fragile blanket.
Su Wanyan sat beside the bed, her fingers gently stroking Shen Guoxing’s soft hair. Her eyes were puffy from earlier tears, and though her expression remained mostly neutral, the natural small upcurve of her mouth made her look even more sorrowful in the warm light.
The child remained unmoved, not even the slightest twitch disturbing her peaceful but unnaturally still face. Su Wanyan stayed calm, already familiar with this side effect from the earlier close call. Still, the sight tugged painfully at her heart.
Beside her, Mo Xingxue watched the two with a small, sad yet determined smile. She carefully peeled an orange in her hands, intending to feed it to Su Wanyan—she knew her alpha hadn’t eaten enough in Tianze. Quietly, Mo Xingxue then passed the orange to her.
Su Wanyan snapped out of her daze and blinked at the bright slice. She looked back at Shen Guoxing for a moment, then opened her mouth with a soft "Ah~."
Mo Xingxue’s movements paused. She blinked rapidly at Su Wanyan, whose mouth remained open expectantly. Before her mind could fully catch up, her body moved on its own, gently feeding the orange slice to Su Wanyan.
Su Wanyan closed her mouth around it, but because Mo Xingxue was still in a daze, her fingers lingered a second too long. Su Wanyan’s warm lips brushed against them, leaving a trace of moisture.
Mo Xingxue felt the unmistakable sensation and yanked her hand back as if burned. A deep blush spread across her face as she stared at Su Wanyan, waiting for a reaction. But Su Wanyan was still lost in her thoughts and didn’t seem to notice anything amiss. Even if she had, she likely wouldn’t have minded.
Seeing no awkwardness or change in Su Wanyan’s expression, Mo Xingxue secretly breathed a sigh of relief, though a strange flicker of disappointment lingered in her chest. Wait, Mo Xingxue thoughts paused. Why would I be disappointed? She questioned inwardly, frowning slightly.
Mo Xingxue snapped out of her thoughts when the small figure on the bed began to stir. "Ah," Su Wanyan let out softly, her stroking motion stopping. Shen Guoxing shook her head left and right, as if caught in a nightmare. Su Wanyan grew anxious and resumed stroking the child’s hair with gentle, soothing movements, careful not to do anything drastic.
Mo Xingxue grew worried as well and unconsciously reached out to hold the child’s hand, offering silent comfort. As soon as she did, Shen Guoxing stopped thrashing. Mo Xingxue felt the small hand grasp hers tightly—not painfully, but with an intensity that revealed the child’s deep anxiety.
"Is she okay?" Mo Xingxue asked, looking at Su Wanyan, who had regained her composure.
Su Wanyan met her gaze and smiled gently, trying to calm her. "She’s okay. She usually has nightmares like this," she explained. But her voice trembled slightly on the last words, betraying the anxiety she tried to hide.
Mo Xingxue studied her carefully. Su Wanyan still carried that calm air around her, but Mo Xingxue had known her since childhood. She could see through the mask.
Without hesitation, Mo Xingxue stretched out her free right hand and clasped Su Wanyan’s left one. Su Wanyan took it immediately and grasped it tightly. Their hands spoke volumes—a silent conversation of shared worry and mutual support.
The two women watched the small figure on the bed closely. Shen Guoxing’s eyebrows twitched, but her eyes remained closed. Su Wanyan let out a disappointed breath, then smiled softly. Yeah, that was to be expected, she thought.
She released some of the tension in her body and slumped back in her chair, her free hand falling weakly above Shen Guoxing’s shoulder. The room fell into a gentle silence once more. Just then, someone knocked softly on the door.
Without looking back, Su Wanyan called out, "Come in."
"Su Wanyan," a familiar voice said.
Both women turned, shocked to see PD Xu Cui standing at the doorway with a light-hearted smile. "PD?" Su Wanyan questioned, standing up to greet him properly.
"Yeah, it’s me," PD Xu Cui replied, gesturing for her to sit back down. "No need for formalities. I just dropped by."
Su Wanyan smiled wryly and sat down again. Meanwhile, Mo Xingxue, who had been quiet, looked at him questioningly. "Where’s Mo Yan?"
"She’s in the van, napping right now," PD Xu Cui said, sighing in relief at Mo Xingxue’s approving look.
Su Wanyan looked at him with the same worry she had shown earlier that morning. PD Xu Cui turned to her and smiled kindly. "Don’t worry, she was in good hands."
Mo Xingxue nodded, and Su Wanyan breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s good." Su Wanyan murmured.
"Su Wanyan," Mo Xingxue called out softly.
"Hm?" Su Wanyan hummed questioningly.
"I have to go now," Mo Xingxue said.
Su Wanyan looked at her and smiled gratefully. "Yeah, thank you for staying with me, Xuexue."
Mo Xingxue smiled and gently ruffled her hair. "I’ll be back tomorrow," she then looked at PD Xu Cui. "If it’s okay with PD Xu Cui."
PD Xu Cui laughed softly and shook his head. "Of course."
Mo Xingxue smiled at him, and Su Wanyan looked at PD Xu Cui with deep gratitude. "Thank you so much, PD," she said, standing up and bowing a perfect 90 degrees.
PD Xu Cui waved his hand dismissively. "No need for that," he grumbled, though his eyes were warm. Su Wanyan straightened up, her heart warming. In the novel, PD Xu Cui had been portrayed as someone who would do anything for ratings, often clashing with the main characters. But experiencing it herself, Su Wanyan realized he was a genuinely good man.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Mo Xingxue and PD Xu Cui left. Su Wanyan was left alone in the quiet hospital room once more. She looked at Shen Guoxing’s peaceful face and smiled softly. She stretched out her hand and held the child’s small one, rubbing her thumb along the soft skin. It’s going to get better soon, she thought.
Su Wanyan brought Shen Guoxing’s hand to her forehead, pressing it gently against her skin. She closed her eyes, wishing desperately for the child’s well-being.
+-+-+-+-+-+
The next day, the private hospital room was bathed in the soft, early morning light filtering through the curtains. Golden rays stretched across the floor and the white sheets of the bed, casting a gentle warmth that contrasted sharply with the sterile scent of antiseptic and the quiet hum of medical equipment.
Su Wanyan slept awkwardly in the chair beside the bed, her arms crossed over her chest and her head hung uncomfortably to the side. Her neck was bent at an unnatural angle, and anyone who saw her posture would instinctively feel their own body ache in sympathy—the kind of position that promised stiffness and soreness upon waking.
Just then, a soft knock sounded at the door. Su Wanyan jolted awake, her eyes snapping open as the sound pulled her from her restless sleep. She blinked, disoriented, and glanced outside the window where the sun had already risen, painting the sky in soft hues of pink and gold. She stretched her upper body slowly, easing the sharp ache in her neck with a quiet wince. "Come in," she said softly, her voice husky from sleep.
The door opened quietly, and Doctor Li entered, accompanied by two nurses. The three of them approached Su Wanyan and bowed respectfully. "Sorry for disturbing your rest, Doctor Su," Doctor Li said, his tone apologetic.
Su Wanyan smiled at them gently, trying to put them at ease. "No, you guys didn’t disturb anything," she reassured them, her voice warm despite her exhaustion. The three straightened up, visibly relaxing.
Doctor Li handed her a medical report. Su Wanyan took it and scanned the contents, her frown deepening. "Looks like we really need to perform the surgery as soon as possible," she murmured.
Doctor Li nodded in agreement. "Agreed," he said. He glanced at the small, pitiful figure on the bed and hesitated before asking, "Should we report this to her parents?"
Su Wanyan lifted her gaze from the report and looked at Shen Guoxing, then nodded slowly. "Yeah, they are, after all, her parents. They have the right to know," she said softly, though her voice carried a hint of reluctance.
Doctor Li nodded and signaled one of the nurses to call Shen Guoxing’s father. The nurse obliged immediately, dialing the number. The phone rang and rang, but the call was hung up. However, no one was surprised by this. After all, everyone in the room was already accustomed to this pattern. The nurse tried again. This time, after three rings, the man answered.
"What?!" a man’s voice barked, irritated and slurred with the unmistakable thickness of someone who had been drinking.
Su Wanyan’s smile froze, and she frowned, her face darkening. In the original owner’s memories, this kind of response happened often, but experiencing it personally made her discomfort impossible to mask. Still, she forced herself to stay calm. She took the phone and spoke directly. "Hello? This is Su Wanyan," she said, keeping her tone soft and peaceful.
"Su? What do you want?!" the man exclaimed impatiently.
Despite being yelled at, Su Wanyan maintained her gentle tone. She briefly explained what had happened to Shen Guoxing the previous day and how critical her current situation was. The man kept interrupting, demanding she speak faster, but Su Wanyan remained composed. "And so, we are asking you to give your permission to perform Shen Guoxing’s surgery," she finished calmly.
The man laughed hysterically on the other end. "Doctor Su, do whatever you want with that brat," he said dismissively. Su Wanyan frowned at his complete lack of concern for his own child.
Su Wanyan suppressed the urge to reprimand him and listened as he continued rambling. "You’re a legal guardian of that brat, why do you keep asking me about this? I don’t even care whether that brat dies," he slurred, his voice growing more incoherent.
When Su Wanyan heard those words, her hand clenched tightly around the phone. She hung up without letting him finish, her jaw tight.
"Three days," Su Wanyan said suddenly, handing the phone back to the nurse.
"Huh?" Doctor Li let out unconsciously.
Su Wanyan turned to him and smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "In three days, let’s perform Shen Guoxing’s surgery."
Doctor Li nodded fearfully. "Un-understood," he said.
Su Wanyan nodded gently to him and looked back at the child on the bed. When she turned away, Doctor Li felt his back drenched in sweat. Although Su Wanyan had been smiling, it hadn’t reached her eyes, and when she spoke those words, they had come through gritted teeth. Doctor Li sighed inwardly.
Those people.. they don’t deserve the titles of parents. He signaled the two nurses that they should leave, and they immediately obliged. At the door, Doctor Li looked back at Su Wanyan’s back and smiled softly. At least Shen Guoxing has a guardian like the Young Lady, he thought before quietly closing the door behind him.
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Hey, guys! I apologize I wasn’t able to update yesterday, my phone got confiscated by my elder cousin (fyi, I’m a full-grown adult). I apologize again for the inconvenience I caused. To make it up to y’all, I’ll posts two Chapter today. I’mma revise the second Chapter now, toodles~
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Guys, so I got some news to tell y’all... AshesOT, yuriconnoisseur, ShiiroNovax, riyoko_xin and Sara_Charles_4707 kept telling me to unalive the poor child... should I do as they say? Ha... those heartless hyenas, tsk! Also, I wasn’t aware that y’all can’t see my replies. But I swear I’m replying to y’all, it’s just that I think I’ve been banned (curses, curse their buttho—AHEM! That wasn’t me, that was Queen_of_stupidity...)