Xia Qingtian had originally intended to rush to the hospital alone, but her observant sister, Xia Qingyu, noticed the unusual expression on Xia Qingtian's face when she answered the phone. Before Xia Qingtian left, Xia Qingyu caught up to her.
"Sister, where are you going this late at night?" Xia Qingyu pursed her lips, probing, "Did something happen?"
Looking into Xia Qingyu's eyes, Xia Qingtian struggled for just a moment before deciding to tell the truth. "Qingyu, Shi Xingwu is injured, quite seriously. Xirui is also missing. I'm going to the hospital now."
"I'll go with you." Upon hearing this news, Xia Qingyu swayed slightly but immediately forced herself to calm down. "Take me with you!"
Although Xia Qingtian had intended to refuse, she couldn't bring herself to say it when she met Xia Qingyu's gaze. Instead, she nodded and said, "Go put on a coat so you don't catch a cold. I'll go tell Mom and Dad so they don't worry themselves sick."
"Okay." Xia Qingyu responded, then turned and hurried upstairs. Xia Qingtian, meanwhile, gave Xia Honglang and Aunt Liu a plausible reason: "Shi Xingwu was scraped by a car and fell, injuring himself. He's been sent to the hospital, and I'm taking Qingyu to see him. You two should get some rest."
"Heavens, is it serious?" Aunt Liu immediately asked, her voice laced with concern. Despite their short acquaintance, she had developed a fondness for the frank and cheerful young man.
"Yes, why don't we all go see him?" Xia Honglang also had a good impression of Shi Xingwu.
"It's nothing serious; he's a martial artist, strong and healthy," Xia Qingtian replied. "We're just going to see him. It's so late, and if too many people go, Shi Guan's parents might have to divide their attention to entertain us. It's better if just the two of us go."
"Alright then, call us anytime if anything comes up," Xia Honglang and Aunt Liu finally nodded, reminding Xia Qingtian and Xia Qingyu to be careful themselves.
The sisters repeatedly agreed before getting into a car to head to the hospital.
When Xia Qingtian and Xia Qingyu arrived at the hospital, Shi Xingwu had just been wheeled out of the operating room. The anesthetic had not yet worn off, his eyes were tightly shut, and his face was pale from excessive blood loss. He was completely devoid of his usual lively, cheerful, and fearless demeanor.
The moment they saw Shi Xingwu, the sisters' eyes welled up with tears.
"The patient's surgery is complete. His vital signs are still unstable, and he needs to be transferred to the ICU for observation," the doctor said, his own eyes red, seemingly having given his all, his voice filled with exhaustion. "If he can get through the critical period and be transferred to a regular ward, there's still hope. If not... alas..."
The patient was so young, arriving covered in blood and in critical condition. The doctor had done his best.
Upon hearing the doctor's words, Shi Guan, normally robust and forthright, fell silent.
Shi Xingwu's mother had already been weeping uncontrollably when she saw him being pushed out.
"Thank you, Doctor," Xia Qingtian stepped forward and asked, "Are there any more procedures we need to handle?"
"You go..." the doctor briefly explained the remaining details.
"Sister, I'll go with Li Xiaozhong to handle it. You stay with Master and Mistress," Xia Qingyu immediately stepped forward, taking on the errand tasks.
"Okay." Xia Qingtian nodded before accompanying Shi Xingwu's parents to the intensive care unit with the medical staff.
Family members were not permitted to stay with patients in the ICU. They could only watch with anxious eyes as Shi Xingwu, with his eyes closed, was pushed inside, unable to help in any way.
As soon as the door was tightly shut, Shi Xingwu's mother's knees buckled, and she fainted into Shi Guan's arms.
Shi Guan's face seemed to have aged considerably, his lips pressed tightly together.
"Nurse! Nurse!" Seeing Shi Xingwu's mother faint, Xia Qingtian quickly called for nearby medical staff to help.
After a temporary bed was arranged with some difficulty and Shi Xingwu's mother was settled, Shi Guan sat by the bedside, his eyes cast down, silent.
"Shi Guan, you..." Xia Qingtian wanted to comfort him, but she knew in her heart that anything she said now would be useless. She could only place her hand on Shi Guan's shoulder and urge him, "Shi Xingwu and Auntie both need you."
"I know," Shi Guan replied in a low voice, taking a deep breath. "They can't do without me. I can hold on."
Hearing Shi Guan say this, Xia Qingtian felt a little relieved. She knew her presence here was superfluous and that it would be better to let Shi Guan have some quiet time alone. She announced that she was going to find Xia Qingyu and Li Xiaozhong and left the room, only glancing back at Shi Guan's retreating figure with a pang of sorrow.
Meanwhile, after Xia Qingyu and Li Xiaozhong had completed the other procedures, Xia Qingyu suddenly felt her strength drain away, stumbling and nearly falling.
"Careful," Li Xiaozhong caught Xia Qingyu and asked in a low voice, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Xia Qingyu shook her head and held onto Li Xiaozhong's arm. "Lend me your support; my heart is pounding, and I can't muster any strength."
"Mm." Li Xiaozhong could understand how Xia Qingyu felt. When he had first seen Shi Xingwu covered in blood, he had felt the same way – as if all his strength had been instantly drained, his mind went blank, and his heart was so flustered that he couldn't even stand steadily.
Xia Qingyu had done her best to hold on until now.
Gripping Li Xiaozhong's arm, Xia Qingyu found that the more she tried to stand, the less strength she had. Tears streamed down her cheeks, drop by drop.
She could never have imagined that Shi Xingwu, always so full of vigor, charging forward as if he had inexhaustible energy, would one day be so disheveled, lying on that narrow hospital bed, as pale and fragile as a piece of paper, being pushed out of the operating room.
She had never seen Shi Xingwu like that before. The feeling of almost losing him forever pressed down on her chest, making it difficult to even breathe.
Noticing Xia Qingyu was crying, Li Xiaozhong also felt a tightness in his chest. In the end, he could only reach out, awkwardly putting an arm around Xia Qingyu's shoulders, and softly said, "Cry. I'll help shield you."
Xia Qingyu then leaned her head on Li Xiaozhong's shoulder and began to cry, her sobs suppressed and agonizing.
On the other side, Tarik learned of Shi Xingwu's injury only after leaving the research institute. By the time he reached the hospital, as soon as he entered the lobby, he witnessed this scene.
His steps faltered, and Tarik clenched his fists at his sides. Ultimately, he did not take another step forward. Upon seeing Xia Qingtian coming down from upstairs, he immediately turned and left.
His adoptive father's enemy was his enemy. He shouldn't have come here. He shouldn't have.
Xia Qingtian only caught sight of a familiar back from afar but was too preoccupied to dwell on it. She quickly walked towards Li Xiaozhong and Xia Qingyu and asked, "Li Xiaozhong, tell me the entire process of Shi Xingwu's injury."
"Mm."