The next morning, Er Ya, who had been thoroughly "educated with love" by Xia Qingtian for most of the night, absolutely refused to get up, burying herself deep in the soft quilt, determined to play hooky.
Xia Qingtian could only ask the butler to take good care of Er Ya, ensuring she had meals and that she and Xia Shang would return as soon as possible.
The butler, knowing Er Ya was no ordinary child, promised not to neglect her and simply urged Xia Qingtian to be careful.
The car to the hospital had been prepared by Yue Chengfeng long ago. After Xia Qingtian and Xia Shang got in, Yue Chengfeng appeared by the car: "Qingtian, there's something I need to tell you."
"Huh?" Xia Qingtian was momentarily stunned before opening the car door and getting out.
They walked to a spot a little further from the car, and Xia Qingtian asked, "Uncle, did something happen? Is it about Grandpa? Or the mine..."
"Neither," Yue Chengfeng gritted his teeth, glanced in the direction of the car, and then withdrew his gaze. "Qingtian, the hospital you're going to today is a private, membership-based hospital, only admitting shareholders. That means only the leaders of top medical institutions in the country and direct family members of esteemed medical families are qualified to receive treatment there."
"You mean..." Xia Qingtian was slightly taken aback.
"Your little uncle's biological parents might not be simple people. In any case, be careful. If things get difficult, it's fine to disown the relationship. Safety comes first." Yue Chengfeng hadn't been entirely sure at first, so he had someone investigate further.
Indeed, his suspicions were confirmed.
"Okay, I understand," Xia Qingtian nodded. "Thank you, Uncle."
"It's nothing," Yue Chengfeng gave Xia Qingtian a few more instructions before seeing her back into the car.
Once in the car, Xia Qingtian looked at Xia Shang, who was sitting beside her with his head bowed tensely, and took a deep breath.
She would face whatever came her way.
The car sped through the streets, soon leaving the city of Jingdu and arriving at a picturesque location with prominent white buildings.
As the car stopped, Xia Qingtian and Xia Shang walked to the entrance, where someone was already waiting to greet them.
The person seemed to know their purpose from the moment they saw Xia Shang and called for a shuttle car to take Xia Qingtian and Xia Shang to their destination.
"It's so big here, and the scenery is nice, but it seems... there's not many people," Xia Qingtian commented as she looked around casually.
"Because it's membership-based, it's not usually open to the public. Towards the end of the year or during the off-season, some members come here for check-ups or to relax and vacation," explained the person in the shuttle car. "This is the leisure area. The left side has detached villas available for guests, and the right side is the medical area."
"Oh..." Xia Qingtian responded and didn't ask further questions.
Soon, the shuttle car stopped in front of the inpatient building. The accompanying person went ahead to handle the visitor registration and other formalities before taking Xia Qingtian and Xia Shang to the top floor via elevator.
Upon reaching the top floor, Xia Qingtian raised an eyebrow at the luxurious furnishings, comparable to a five-star hotel.
Suddenly, she understood the worried tone of Yue Chengfeng's words earlier.
This place did indeed look quite extraordinary.
"This way, please."
Xia Qingtian and Xia Shang were led to the door of a room – if one could call it that.
The door was quickly opened from the inside by two people, and Xia Qingtian got her first look at the deluxe room beyond.
Compared to this opulent room, Xia Qingtian felt that the VIP rooms she had stayed in multiple times before were utterly pathetic!
"Please come in," a woman in what appeared to be a high-end nursing uniform stepped out and welcomed Xia Qingtian and Xia Shang in. "The President and his wife will be here shortly."
Hearing this address, Xia Qingtian's eyelids twitched, and she immediately looked up at Xia Shang beside her.
Xia Shang, however, seemed to have not noticed the address and was already gazing at the bed not far away.
Beneath the white sheets lay a frail elder. His face was indistinct, but his arm, hanging out from under the covers, looked like a withered branch, connected to an IV drip.
The quilt rose and fell with the elder's breaths, and the equipment by the bed emitted rhythmic monitoring sounds.
The woman glanced at Xia Shang and then discreetly stepped aside without saying anything.
Xia Shang withdrew his gaze and looked at Xia Qingtian. Understanding his unspoken question, Xia Qingtian pursed her lips, smiled faintly, and nodded.
Only then did Xia Shang slowly walk towards the hospital bed.
The closer he got, the clearer Xia Shang could see the elder lying there.
His condition seemed dire. He looked thin and small, connected to an oxygen tube, his brow furrowed as if even breathing was a struggle.
Upon reaching the bedside, Xia Shang hesitated to make any further move.
He seemed to fear that he might let the poor old man down in his final moments.
However, the elder appeared to have heard something and slowly opened his eyes.
His clouded eyes first showed a flicker of surprise as they landed on Xia Shang, then seemed to confirm something, growing brighter.
His dry, pale lips trembled, forming two words: "Sang Sang..."
Hearing the call, Xia Shang froze for a moment before nodding numbly.
"You're back," the elder's lips curved into a faint smile. He laboriously raised his withered hand, "It's good that you're back... it's good that you're back..."
Xia Shang slowly reached out and took the elder's hand, wanting to say something but finding himself at a loss for words, only feeling a pang of sorrow in his throat.
He wasn't sure if the sorrow stemmed from seeing this aging man or from the blood relation that connected them.
"Sang Sang, come closer." The elder's voice was very weak. Xia Shang bent down, pressing his ear close to the elder to hear him, his voice tinged with a slight sob. "Sang Sang, this... is for you. Keep it safe. The Miao family... I entrust it to you... My Sang Sang..."
As Xia Shang pondered, he felt the elder's hand slip from his palm, leaving something hard behind.
Xia Shang looked up at the elder again, only to find his clouded eyes tightly shut, tears tracing paths down his cheeks, his lips pressed together.
The quilt no longer rose and fell, and the device by the bed emitted a piercing beep.
Xia Shang stood there, utterly stunned.
A life had just vanished before his very eyes.
Immediately, medical personnel flooded the room. Xia Qingtian pulled Xia Shang aside first.
Xia Shang looked at the elder on the bed, beyond saving, the elder's hoarse, weak voice seemingly echoing in his ears.
A life, just like that... gone?
Xia Shang was completely dazed, staring blankly at the people coming and going.