Daddy, Mommy Ran Away

An Ruoxi managed a faint smile, tinged with bitterness, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on the familiar face lying on the bed. She couldn’t bring herself to look away, her eyes lingering for what felt like an eternity before she let out a long sigh and turned to Shen Jun.

As if sensing her unspoken question, Shen Jun’s expression flickered briefly with discomfort before he quickly reverted to his usual carefree demeanor, his handsome face breaking into a grin. “It’s acute gastric bleeding. He’s had surgery, but he’s not going to die, so don’t worry. But hey, did you bring me any local specialties from your hometown? I haven’t eaten since noon, and I’m starving here!” He exaggeratedly clutched his stomach, putting on a dramatic display of hunger.

Hearing this, An Ruoxi felt her tightly wound heart relax slightly. Seeing his antics, her heavy mood lightened a bit. But as he bent down, her eyes caught sight of faint bloodstains on his white shirt near the shoulder. Her gaze instantly sharpened. Shen Jun had carried Leng Haoyin onto the ambulance-those bloodstains must have come from him. “I came back in such a rush that I didn’t have time to prepare anything. Next time, I promise I’ll bring so much you’ll be stuffed to death,” she said with a small smile, grateful for everything he had done.

“Sister-in-law, you must be starving after rushing back here,” Leng Qiuling said, walking over with her bag and taking An Ruoxi’s hand. “Stay here with my brother. Shen-Ge and I will grab some food and bring you something as well.”

“Alright,” An Ruoxi nodded. “Shen-Ge, you should head home for now. Come back tomorrow when he wakes up.”

Shen Jun’s face stiffened briefly, a strange look flashing across his features before he vigorously shook his hands. “No, no, I’m not coming back. Leng Haoyin’s health is fragile-you should spend more time with him. Do something meaningful, okay? Don’t let him watch TV or go online. Don’t rush him out of the hospital; let him recover properly. The company’s got Qiuling and me-it’s not going to collapse.”

An Ruoxi raised an eyebrow in suspicion but didn’t press further.

After the two left, the room fell into a deep silence, with only the sound of their breathing intertwining in the still air.

The bright lights illuminated the hospital room as if it were daytime. White walls, white curtains, white sheets, white pillows-and his pale face. He seemed to blend into the sea of white.

An Ruoxi sat down beside the bed, her small hand reaching out to gently touch his cheek. The rough stubble on his jaw pricked her skin, his furrowed brows stung her eyes, and his haggard appearance felt like a sharp brush scraping against her heart. Tears welled up in her eyes, sliding silently down her cheeks and landing on the sheets. She covered her mouth with her hand, afraid her quiet sobs might wake him.

From this close, she could see his brows relax slightly under her touch. So close, she could smell the familiar musk of his scent, now mixed with the sharp odors of tobacco and alcohol. Her heart ached even more. How much had he been drinking these days? Had he been living on cigarettes and alcohol alone? She gazed at him through her tears, wondering how someone his age could be so reckless. He had always been healthy-how had it come to this?

Perhaps her soft sobs disturbed his sleep, or maybe her loving touch and the warmth of her fingertips stirred his consciousness. Slowly, he opened his eyes, his entire being trembling with disbelief.

An Ruoxi hurriedly wiped away her tears, leaning closer to him. “You’re awake?” she asked, unable to hide the joy and excitement that lit up her face.

For a long moment, he didn’t respond. He didn’t speak or move, just stared at her with wide eyes. Then, he reached out his large, calloused hand, gently cupping her small face. Finally, he believed it was real. “You came back?” he murmured, his familiar voice breaking the spell, confirming it wasn’t a drunken hallucination like the ones he’d had in recent days.

“Yes, I’m really back.” She had just stood up, her hand still resting on his, when he lightly pulled her back down. His hand lovingly caressed her face, as if only by feeling the coolness of her skin could he truly confirm her presence. “You really came back.”

His arms wrapped around her tightly, his head burying itself in the crook of her shoulder as he inhaled deeply, taking in her scent. The emptiness in his heart was instantly filled. His voice choked with emotion, but the corners of his lips curled upward. “You’re not leaving again?”

“No, I’m not leaving. Never again,” she replied, her arms wrapping around him in return. His warm embrace, the familiar rhythm of his heartbeat-it all brought a smile to her lips.

“Stay by my side forever. Don’t ever leave me again,” he said, his tone commanding.

“Alright,” An Ruoxi agreed without hesitation.

He released her, sitting up fully, his gaze fixed on her face. “Is it really you? Have you forgiven me?” he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

“I’m the one who should be apologizing,” she said, her lips trembling as tears streamed down her face. She clenched her fists and lightly pounded his chest. “Why didn’t you tell me the brakes had been tampered with? That it wasn’t your fault? Why didn’t you tell me and instead took all the blame on yourself? How could you do that? You’ve made me feel so guilty I can’t even face you now.”

“How did you find out?” he asked, stunned, letting her small fists land softly on his chest as he wiped away her tears.

“If Ouyang Pei hadn’t investigated, I wouldn’t have known the truth. You’re so infuriating! You deserved to be misunderstood, deserved to drown your sorrows in alcohol every day!” She pouted, leaning against his shoulder with a playful punch. “From now on, no more drinking or smoking.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied cheerfully, wrapping his arms around her waist and leaning down to capture her lips in a tender kiss.

The kiss was soft and beautiful, making An Ruoxi’s heart race wildly. It lingered for a long time, until she was completely melted in his embrace. Only then did he reluctantly let her go. Her delicate face was flushed with a suspicious blush, her hands naturally wrapping around his neck as she greedily absorbed his scent, enjoying the comfort of his broad chest. Suddenly, she exclaimed, “Wait, why do you smell so bad?”

His face froze, disbelief written all over it. “How many days has it been since you last showered?” she asked, astonished. A man with such a strong sense of cleanliness enduring not bathing? This was headline-worthy news.

Leng Haoyin childishly raised ten fingers, counting them off one by one in front of her. “One day, two days… eighteen days.”