I stood up from the bench, and Mi Cai walked down the hospital corridor to join me. She did not greet me or Yan Yan first. Instead, she stood by the glass window, gazing at Jian Wei, who had never looked so peaceful before. Mi Cai showed no expression, so I couldn’t tell what she was feeling inside. It wasn’t until she gave a soft sigh and closed her eyes that I realized she was also emotionally stirred beneath her calm exterior… At last, I understood that our lives had once been inseparable, like waves chasing waves. Under my intense sorrow, how could she, who had been chasing me desperately, not be infected by it?
I stood beside her, looking at the “sleeping” Jian Wei. I had never imagined that the three of us, bound together by fate, would face each other like this—silent, each of us internally broken…
After a long while, Mi Cai finally turned her body, removing Jian Wei’s suffering figure from her sight. In the next second, I also turned with her.
She took out a breakfast bag from her handbag, still warm, and handed it to me, saying, “I just bought this for you on the way here. Eat it while it’s hot.”
“I…” I managed only this single word before my voice choked. At this moment, how much I wanted to hug her, to recall the past, instead of being like now—having crossed the winter river, yet separated by a spring river of water.
Mi Cai gently placed the bag in my hands and said nothing more. She simply sat down beside Yan Yan, gazing somewhat thoughtfully at the people coming and going in the hospital. I could tell her mind was occupied; how could she possibly be without thoughts? After all, this contemplation on life had given us too much emotion, prompting us to make decisions to change our original lives… As for me, I no longer craved the ordinary life I once desired. But what decision would Mi Cai make?
Finally, amidst complicated emotions, I finished the breakfast Mi Cai had brought, and only then did she say to me, “Zhaoyang, later you and I will meet the neurology experts coming from Shanghai. They will provide an auxiliary treatment plan based on Jian Wei’s current condition.”
I nodded. Mi Cai then glanced at her watch again, falling silent once more. This silence filled the space between us with an indescribable sense of distance.
…
At some point, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor again. Instinctively, we turned our heads. At first glance, I couldn’t recognize who it was because his head of white hair made it impossible for me to associate him with anyone I knew. It was only later that I confirmed the person to be Jian Bo Yu, Jian Wei’s biological father, followed closely by two plainclothes law enforcement officers.
I realized this was a father-daughter meeting granted with mercy outside the law… However, Jian Bo Yu, once an invincible overlord, had aged far too much. His eye sockets were sunken, and his head of white hair told of inner sorrow.
As he approached the ward, his steps became unsteady and his body trembled. He seemed afraid to come close to the glass window, standing a meter away, looking into the room. Deep sorrow covered his aged face…
He raised his head, crying, and mumbled something incoherently, his entire body collapsing under unbearable pain and despair.
Yan Yan and Qin Yan supported him from either side, yet no words could comfort his current anguish and hopelessness.
“Xiaowei, Daddy is guilty… It’s Daddy’s fault to you… If I could choose again, there are many things Daddy wouldn’t stubbornly do wrong. Alas… Alas, Daddy realized too late!” Jian Bo Yu’s voice was filled with heartfelt pain. He took a step closer to the only glass window through which he could see Jian Wei, the unbearable pain striking him again, making him tremble.
The two plainclothes officers gave him some space, reminding him shortly after to hurry up. Every second he spent looking at Jian Wei was now a luxury. His visit was only a mercy granted outside the law, and eventually, he had to return to where he belonged, awaiting legal judgment.
Jian Bo Yu restrained his grief and came to my side, speaking in a low voice filled with remorse, “Zhaoyang, my time is limited, so I’ll make this brief… Please take good care of Xiaowei, help her wake up, and let her live a healthy life in the days to come… Her mother and I no longer have the ability to do anything for her. The only people she can rely on now are you, her friends!”
Looking at Jian Bo Yu’s pitiful state, all my past resentment towards him had already dissipated with the wind of time. I nodded and said, “Uncle, don’t worry. I will definitely do my utmost to help Jian Wei wake up.”
Jian Bo Yu nodded, then turned to look once more at the seemingly sleeping Jian Wei. He pressed his forehead, trying hard to control his emotions, and said, “Back then, the most foolish thing her mother and I did was to prevent you two from being together… At that time, we wanted a decent son-in-law, someone with methods and means, capable of taking over our family business in the future, so we disliked you. Our opposition to your relationship with Xiaowei was because we viewed you superficially through the lens of fame and fortune… But what exactly are fame and fortune?”
Jian Bo Yu shook his head again, bitter laughter on his lips, tears in his gaunt face as he continued, “What you can keep is true fame and fortune; what you can’t hold onto becomes a deadly blade… But her mother and I realized this too late. We failed Xiaowei, causing her to lose a man who valued love and loyalty. Back then, so many people wanted to become our in-laws—officials, wealthy merchants—but after our family’s downfall, the only one who remained by Xiaowei’s side, without seeking returns, was you… I have a favor to ask. If… there’s still a little affection left between you and Xiaowei, please marry her once she wakes up. Then her mother and I can die in peace…”
I looked at Jian Bo Yu, and time seemed to shift in this moment. If he had allowed us to go free more than three years ago, why would we have had to elope to Suzhou, living in darkness? If three years ago, Jian Wei’s mother had seen through the essence of fame and fortune and fulfilled her duties, how could she have cut off all paths of return… Yet the greatest tragedy is that there is no such thing as “if” in this world. That rugged path was simply placed before us, and we had to walk it, whether standing or kneeling.
But what kind of creature is man, then? Why do we always regret only after paying a heavy price, while the wisdom to foresee such outcomes is so rare!
I glanced at Mi Cai again. She had already turned her back to me, facing a somewhat withered potted plant in the corner. I had no idea what she was thinking at that moment, or whether she hoped I would agree to Jian Bo Yu’s request, so she could leave without lingering on the past with me—the man who had repeatedly broken her heart.
Finally, I said to Jian Bo Yu, “Uncle, I did love Jian Wei deeply, but over these years, we have drifted further and further apart. The love we lost is truly irretrievable. But I can promise you this: if I have even a penny in this world, I won’t give her nine, and if she wakes up, I will give her everything except love… Please believe me, she will be happy, with or without me!”
“Do you still hate her mother and me… for realizing too late?”
“I don’t like hating anyone. It’s just that Jian Wei and I have truly gone our separate ways… Or, let me put it this way: getting Jian Wei to wake up is the most urgent matter now, and that is the premise of any future. Don’t you agree, Uncle?”
It took Jian Bo Yu a long while before he nodded. He came closer to me and whispered in my ear, “Zhaoyang, if Xiaowei ever wakes up again, find a way to send her abroad… Don’t pursue whoever caused her injuries anymore. Letting her live peacefully and safely will be her greatest happiness!”
I immediately became alert and asked, “Uncle, do you know something?”
Jian Bo Yu’s expression turned grave, but eventually, he shook his head and said, “Human nature is terrifying. You’re all too kind. Staying away is the safest choice.”
“Uncle, was this act of violence committed by enemies you and Aunt made in your pursuit of fame and fortune?”
My heart pounded violently. If Jian Bo Yu gave me a definite answer, then it wasn’t Yan Zhuo Mei’s doing, and between Mi Cai and me, there would be one fewer insurmountable obstacle…
“Zhaoyang, listen to your uncle’s advice. The less you know about this matter, the better. Remember not to seek the truth. Some things are beyond the reach of people in your circle. Her mother and I were investigated too suddenly, and we still haven’t figured out the details.”
At this point, the two plainclothes officers reminded Jian Bo Yu that his visiting time was up and asked him to leave immediately…
Before leaving, Jian Bo Yu took one last deep look into the intensive care unit, seemingly aging another year in an instant. Then, with heavy steps, he walked toward the end of the hospital corridor. His back was filled with helpless sorrow. At this moment, who would still believe he was once a man who commanded power and influence in the world of fame and fortune? Yet time has such power—to change a person beyond recognition. Jian Bo Yu was such a case, and so was Jian Wei.
…
The hospital corridor gradually returned to calm. I temporarily set aside my doubts and looked at Mi Cai, who had not left but was still turned away from me. At this point, I had practically no suspicion left toward Yan Zhuo Mei. Gathering my courage, I walked to her side and softly said, “I’m sorry. I was too impulsive yesterday…”
“It’s normal for you to suspect her. These days, we’ve given ourselves too many psychological hints… Zhaoyang, I don’t want to mention the past anymore. Soon, you and I will meet the neurology experts from Shanghai and learn about their treatment plan… Also, Yan Zhuo Mei will return to the country this afternoon. I think… she will definitely come to talk to you and me. We need to prepare ourselves mentally for what’s coming between us. Eventually, there must be an ending, right?”
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