"Are you crazy, Shu Yao? You don't even contact that scumbag anymore. What business is it of yours if he's dead?"
Shu Yao tried to comfort herself.
She put down her phone and continued with her face mask.
But after the mask, her mood remained unsettled, and she couldn't help but call back.
"Ring, ring, ring..."
The call went through and rang a few times before the other party answered.
Shu Yao immediately asked, "Hello, did you call me just now?"
"Oh, it was my colleague. Are you family of the phone owner? Please come to the hospital to pay the bill."
"Hospital?"
"Yes. The patient fainted on the road and was brought to the hospital. The situation doesn't sound optimistic, and further examination is needed. But you'd better come and pay the medical..."
"Dr. Li, the patient's condition is very serious. Look, these are the examination results, showing signs of cancer cell spread."
"Cancer cells? Let me see."
As Shu Yao was talking to the doctor, another female voice chimed in from the phone.
Hearing the words "cancer cell spread," Shu Yao's heart sank. She was terrified.
How could this happen?
"Hello, patient's family? Please come to the Third Hospital quickly, the patient's condition is very bad," the doctor said to Shu Yao.
Shu Yao paused, "Okay, I'll be right there."
Hanging up the phone, Shu Yao got up, washed her face, quickly changed her clothes, and then drove straight to the hospital.
It took half an hour to drive from the villa to the Third Hospital. The doctor's words kept echoing in Shu Yao's mind, making her restless.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Meng Jingwei inquired about the situation at the front desk and then went to the emergency room.
However, as soon as she reached the corridor of the emergency room, she heard a commotion at the entrance.
"Sir, your condition is very dangerous, please cooperate with the treatment."
"Yes, yes. You have liver cancer, and the cancer cells have spread. If you don't get timely treatment, you won't have much time left."
"I know you're worried about money, but how can money be more important than your health?"
Several medical staff were blocking Qing Si Huai, but he pushed them away. "Let go! I told you, I'm fine, what liver cancer?"
"We did a CT scan, and it's very clear," the doctor said, grabbing Qing Si Huai's arm. "You must get treatment as soon as possible."
Unexpectedly, at the next moment, Qing Si Huai pushed the medical staff against the wall, his large hand gripping the doctor's neck. "I'll say it again, I'm not sick. And if this matter gets out, I'll make sure this entire hospital goes down with me!"
A sudden roar made everyone freeze, not daring to speak.
Qing Si Huai then released the doctor's neck, snorted coldly, and walked towards the elevator.
He saw Shu Yao standing at the elevator entrance.
He couldn't help but pause, his brow furrowing slightly, and he walked straight towards Shu Yao.
Shu Yao had heard their conversation and only then realized that he was indeed ill.
But...
Could it be an act?
Shu Yao was half-believing, half-doubting.
She thought Qing Si Huai would speak to her as he approached, but instead, he walked past her, stood at the elevator entrance, pressed the down button, and faced the elevator, not saying a word.
Throughout the entire process, he seemed to not see Shu Yao standing beside him.
The two were separated by such a distance.
Even after not seeing each other for half a year, Shu Yao still felt that flutter of the heart upon seeing Qing Si Huai again.
Even the thought of him having cancer brought a surge of pain from the depths of her heart.
Ding—
The elevator door opened.
Qing Si Huai directly entered the elevator, then closed the doors, and left.
He didn't even glance at Shu Yao, as if she didn't exist at all.
At this moment, a medical staff member walked over. "Are you that gentleman's wife?"
"Ah? Oh, yes, I am." Shu Yao came to her senses and asked anxiously, "What's wrong with him? Why was he so agitated just now?"
The person standing in front of her was the doctor whose neck Qing Si Huai had just grabbed. He pointed to the CT report in his hand and said to Shu Yao, "The patient has late-stage liver cancer and needs treatment now. But from his agitated state just now, I assume he can't accept the reality. As the patient's family, you must persuade him to cooperate with the treatment. Fight for even a sliver of hope. Otherwise, I fear he won't have much time left."
"What? What do you mean 'not much time left'?"
Shu Yao nervously clutched her handbag, too scared to breathe.
"Look, the liver cancer has spread severely," the doctor said, pointing to the CT report. "If the cancer cells worsen further, he may not live to see another year."
The doctor sighed deeply. "In my many years of practice, I've seen too many patients react this way. Most of them are unwilling to face reality."
"Okay, I... I understand."
Shu Yao nodded, her mind a blank.
In the end, she didn't even know how she got into the elevator or how she left the hospital.
After returning to the villa, Shu Yao expected Qing Si Huai to contact her, but she waited an entire day without receiving a call.
...
Meng Jingwei had agreed with Chu Xue to go to Country C the next day, but today she received a call from Chu Xue saying that the fashion show arranged in Country C had been canceled.
Chu Xue asked Meng Jingwei, "Then... are you still going to Country C?"
She knew Meng Jingwei was in a bad mood and was seeking her opinion.
"Of course, I am. I don't go back on my word when I promise you something."
So, the two boarded a plane the next day and headed straight to Country C.
Meanwhile, Shu Yao tossed and turned, unable to sleep all night, her mind preoccupied with Qing Si Huai's affairs.
The check was on her bedside table, further stirring her thoughts.
Finally, she couldn't resist calling Qing Si Huai.
"Ring, ring, ring..."
The other party answered.
After the call connected, Shu Yao waited for him to speak.
They both knew who the other was, but Qing Si Huai had no intention of speaking.
"You... what are you busy with?"
Shu Yao hesitated for a long time before asking.
"Work."
Qing Si Huai's tone was slightly cold. "Is there something?"
"I... I..." Shu Yao didn't know what to say. She glanced at the check on her bedside table and then asked, "I just wanted to ask, why did you give me a check?"
"Didn't Jingwei explain clearly? That check isn't for you, it's for the child."
His attitude was cold, with a distant unfamiliarity.
This attitude repeatedly struck Shu Yao's heartstrings, making her vaguely feel that Qing Si Huai's attitude towards her was too unusual.
Could it be... he had some unspeakable difficulty?
"The child, I'll raise the child. Where are you? I'll return the check to you."
"No need."
He refused directly.
But Shu Yao was stubborn. "I don't want your things."
"...I'm at the company."
"Okay, I'm coming to find you now."
Shu Yao picked up the check from the table and drove to Qing Si Huai's company.
Everyone has curiosity, especially since she deeply loved Qing Si Huai and was carrying his child.
Now that she knew Qing Si Huai had cancer, her heart ached.