Chapter 16

It just so happened that Gu’s mother wasn’t home, so I could order some takeout.

I put on my slippers.

Leisurely, I walked downstairs, but before I had taken a few steps, I saw Gu Xuchen already collapsed on the floor, his face as pale as paper, with beads of cold sweat on his forehead.

“Gu Xuchen!”

I was startled and hurried over.

Gu Xuchen was already semi-conscious, his lips clearly bitten and bleeding, his whole body looking fragile and weak. The phone by his hand hadn’t even been unlocked yet…

My mind buzzed, and a flashback hit me.

When he came knocking on the door, he already looked unwell…

The ambulance wailed as it sped by.

Watching the nurse take Gu Xuchen’s blood pressure, my heart felt as if it were being squeezed, unable to calm down even after we reached the hospital.

The doctor’s expression was grim.

I couldn’t help but get nervous. “What’s wrong?”

The doctor frowned. “He has a fever. It should be appendicitis. We need to operate immediately.”

Surgery?

My mind went blank. I had never had surgery before, but just hearing the word made my legs go weak.

“It’ll be over in half an hour.”

With the doctor’s reassurance, my anxious heart eased a little.

But I didn’t expect that I would wait a full three hours without seeing Gu Xuchen come out.

“Family of the patient?”

“I-”

“And you are?”

“I’m his… his wife.”

I was a bit flustered.

The nurse explained that Gu Xuchen’s fall was quite serious, possibly causing internal bleeding, so the surgery might take longer and I should be prepared.

As the nurse left,

I collapsed onto the seat, my scalp tingling, nervously pulling out my phone to search the keywords the nurse mentioned. I wanted to learn more to calm myself, but the more I read, the more frightened I became.

The corridor outside the operating room seemed to harbor a cold wind; even a passing draft sent chills through me.

[Client]

Seeing a message from a client, I forced myself to reply one by one despite my discomfort.

But as I scrolled, I saw the messages Gu Xuchen had sent at noon.

[Gu Xuchen]: It’s lunchtime.

[Gu Xuchen]: I just wanted to ask you to have lunch.

In that instant,

Guilt and remorse surged through me. Seeing the words “in surgery” on the screen, my throat tightened with bitterness.

After a sleepless night,

The surgery finally ended. Seeing Gu Xuchen with an oxygen tube, I sat exhausted at his side.

“Didn’t you say there was nothing wrong with your health?”

Looking at him still unconscious, I couldn’t help but chide him.

The wait for Gu Xuchen to wake up was excruciatingly long, so long that I grew fearful and couldn’t help but start praying, begging the gods to bless him and let him wake up soon.

I used to think praying was just superstition, but now I realize it’s simply a beautiful wish.

One morning,

I was still groggy when I heard hurried footsteps.

“Mom.”

I spoke instinctively.

Gu’s mother opened the door, her face cold and full of displeasure. “If I hadn’t come, were you not planning to tell me?”

I hesitated.

“Honestly, I never liked you. I thought your family background wasn’t good enough, but he always truly cared for you, didn’t he? Bought you cars and bags, even more than he bought for me. Is this how you take care of him?”

I lowered my eyes, not daring to speak.

Gu’s mother, still angry, looked at the unconscious Gu Xuchen and said immediately:

“Enough. Ever since I found out you two haven’t shared a bed, I knew your heart was never with my son. Just go. I’m angry right now, and I don’t want to make things difficult for you.”

“I’m sorry.”

I apologized softly.

Gu’s mother turned away, sat by the bed, held Gu Xuchen’s hand, and said nothing more.

“Actually… my marriage with Gu Xuchen is fake.”

Seeing the deep hatred in Gu’s mother’s eyes, I tried to keep it brief and bowed to show my apology:

“I’m truly sorry for hiding this from you. I’ve already signed the divorce agreement. Please rest assured, I haven’t taken any of his assets, and I’ll move out of his house as soon as possible.”

Gu’s mother was so shocked she couldn’t speak.

I looked up, glanced at the still-unconscious Gu Xuchen, and left the hospital room.

Leaving him.

And leaving behind the time when I once longed for him.