For Your Happiness - Chapter 45 - With You by My Side, I Can Face Anything...

Shao Han had no idea how long she had been asleep, lying face down, until she felt someone cover her with a blanket. Through her half-closed eyes, she saw a familiar figure.

“Why are you back again?” Shao Han asked.

“Back again? Do you know what time it is?” Wu Di said, somewhat displeased.

“What time is it?” Shao Han felt utterly exhausted, her body sore all over as she stretched.

“It’s after six in the morning now.”

“Ah? Is it daylight already?” Shao Han finally woke up fully.

“Yes, it is. Didn’t you say you were going to sleep on the cot? How did you end up sleeping here?” Wu Di said, his voice full of concern.

“Heh, I just meant to lie down for a bit. I didn’t expect to fall asleep for so long,” Shao Han yawned lazily.

“You’ll wear yourself out like this,” Wu Di gently chided.

“I won’t do it tomorrow. Heh heh.” Shao Han chuckled naively, leaning into Wu Di’s embrace. “Oh, your arms are so warm.”

“Naughty girl,” Wu Di scolded.

By then, the other patients in the room were waking up, and Wu Di and Shao Han stopped their intimate exchange. Wu Di had brought rice porridge and some breakfast, which he began to serve.

Shao Han noticed that Mrs. Shao was also awake. Since the doctor had advised against Mrs. Shao moving around or getting out of bed, Shao Han immediately adjusted the bed to a sitting position.

“Mom, did you sleep well?” Shao Han asked gently.

“Mhm.” Mrs. Shao, somewhat dizzy and hard of hearing in one ear, responded faintly.

“Mom, have some rice porridge,” Wu Di handed the porridge to Shao Han.

Mrs. Shao nodded, and Shao Han gently blew on the porridge on the spoon before bringing it to her mother’s lips. Mrs. Shao moved her lips slightly and managed a few bites before she could eat no more.

“You’ve eaten too little. How will you regain your strength like this?” Shao Han worried.

Seeing this, Wu Di patted Shao Han on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. Mom needs to recover a bit before she can eat more. Eating too much at once isn’t good either.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Shao Han felt distressed, and Wu Di squeezed her shoulder to offer comfort.

Shao Han took meticulous care of Mrs. Shao, who after a day’s rest and treatment, regained some strength. Concerned, Shao Han asked her mother about what happened before she fainted.

Mrs. Shao began to slowly recount the events after settling down.

“I saw how Shao Bin and Liu Xin had to take care of the baby at night and work during the day. I worried it was too exhausting for them. Since I was just resting at home, I thought I could take over at night to let them get some good sleep. So, during the half-month your father was away on a business trip, I took the baby down to care for him.”

“But perhaps I was too anxious. Any little sound from the baby would wake me up, so I wasn’t resting well at night. I didn’t dare say anything because I was afraid that if Shao Bin and Liu Xin knew, they would worry and take the baby back to care for him themselves. It continued like this until last night. The baby needs to be fed at three in the morning every day, so I got up to make formula, but suddenly I felt dizzy and collapsed onto the bed.”

“I knew something was seriously wrong, so I immediately grabbed my phone to call Shao Bin. It took a while, but he finally answered. I don’t even know what I said to him, and then I blacked out.”

After listening, Shao Han reproachfully said, “How could you joke about your health? If you’re feeling unwell, you need to tell us. Besides, we have a domestic helper. Let’s have her stay overnight from tomorrow to take care of the baby. Why put yourself through such hardship?”

“It’s my fault,” Mrs. Shao admitted, with Shao Bin and Liu Xin having told her the same. “But I don’t feel comfortable leaving my grandchild with someone else. I always want to do it myself.” She was visibly upset. “I never felt it was a challenge caring for both of you back then, but now, it seems I’m no longer capable of even caring for one child.” Tears began to stream down Mrs. Shao’s face.

“Mom, please don’t be so hard on yourself. You have high blood pressure; you can’t compare yourself to how you were before. The continuous lack of sleep at night has definitely taken a toll,” Shao Han comforted her mother.

“Oh, I really feel useless,” Mrs. Shao sighed.

“Mom…” Shao Han also felt sad seeing her mother this way.

“When grandma was raising us siblings, she managed so many children without ever feeling like this. And here I am…” Mrs. Shao lamented, too overwhelmed to continue.

“Mom, don’t say that. You already have high blood pressure, and raising kids back then wasn’t as meticulous as it is now. You’re just too anxious and careful,” Wu Di comforted her as well.

“Yeah, don’t overthink it. For now, just focus on getting better, okay?” Shao Han said, feeling sorry for her mother.

“Ah, yes, I shouldn’t be of no help and then cause more trouble for you,” Mrs. Shao sighed again.

“Mom, you are still young, don’t worry too much. This was just an accident, you were too tense,” Shao Han reassured her.

“Yes, yes,” Wu Di agreed, echoing Shao Han’s words.

“Alright, let’s not dwell on this anymore. You’ve talked enough, try to get some more sleep,” Shao Han said, noticing her mother hadn’t rested all morning and worried she might be tired.

“Mm,” Mrs. Shao murmured softly, closing her eyes. Although Shao Han knew her mother was still somewhat upset, she didn’t try to persuade her further; some things, after all, needed to be resolved by Mrs. Shao herself.

“Shao Han,” Mrs. Shao suddenly spoke, “you should go home and get some sleep during the day, don’t overexert yourself.”

“Mm, don’t worry, we’ll manage it.”

“Good,” Mrs. Shao said no more.

Wu Di gently touched Shao Han’s face and asked softly, “Tired?”

“Not really,” Shao Han smiled back at him, but Wu Di felt a pang of heartache seeing her worn-out and exhausted.

“You should go home and rest for a while. I’ll stay here with Mom.”

“No, Mom would feel awkward asking you to do things,” Shao Han refused.

“But it hurts me to see you struggle like this.”

“It’s okay. Don’t worry,” Shao Han smiled, looking up at him.

Shao Bin came in from outside and saw Wu Di and Shao Han, “You two should go have lunch. I’ll take care of Mom this afternoon.”

“Did you manage to sort everything out at work?” Shao Han asked.

“Mm, it’s all taken care of. You look pale, you must not have slept well last night. Go home and get some rest,” Shao Bin commanded.

“But…” Shao Han started to speak.

“No buts. I’m Mom’s child too, and I want to do my part,” Shao Bin interrupted her.

“Oh,” Shao Han was at a loss for words.

“Wu Di, take her home, let her take a shower and rest properly,” Shao Bin told Wu Di.

“Mm, alright, then I’ll leave Mom in your care for now.”

“Go on, hurry up,” Shao Bin urged them away.

Shao Han glanced again at her mother, then at Shao Bin. Shao Bin’s expression urged her to leave, and with frequent backward glances, Shao Han left her mother’s Ward.

Once in the car, Shao Han finally felt the fatigue setting in. Wu Di looked at her and asked, “What do you want to eat?”

“I don’t feel like eating; I have no appetite. You go ahead, eat whatever you want. I’ll keep you company.”

“Then I won’t eat either. Let’s go back to your place first so you can get some rest.”

“Okay.” Shao Han’s eyes were nearly closing, and Wu Di understood that the most important thing now was to let her sleep well. So, after fastening his seatbelt, he drove straight to the Shao Family home.

Shao Han took a hot shower, changed her clothes, and climbed into bed. Snuggled in the warm covers, she softly said, “Wu Di, I’m not going to talk anymore. I really need to sleep for a bit.”

“Okay, sleep. I’m here with you,” Wu Di replied, lying beside her and letting her lean on him. He knew she liked sleeping close to him, as it gave her a sense of security. Nestled against Wu Di, Shao Han quickly fell asleep.