Chapter 177

Chapter 177

On the day of the operation, Dr. Ude emphasized again and again, “Even if the surgery is successful, it won’t be a permanent solution.”

Xie Qiyan’s breathing grew slightly heavy, his gaze fixed on the operating room doors. “I know.”

But this was Yao Qin’s own choice.

If she hadn’t heard that this surgery offered a chance of recovery, Yao Qin might still not have found the courage to face her own child.

Standing beside Dr. Ude was the director of neurosurgery at Beicheng Hospital. This surgery would be performed jointly by him and Dr. Ude. Seeing both sides looking so grim, he couldn’t help offering a few words of reassurance. “Everyone, this procedure is already quite mature both domestically and overseas. And from what I’ve observed, Ms. Yao has been very cooperative, and her mindset is good. That will be beneficial to her recovery.”

After saying that, he glanced at Xia Wanzhi.

Xia Wanzhi naturally linked her arm through Xie Qiyan’s and echoed, “Dr. Xu is right. Uncle Liu, everyone, try to relax.”

The surgery took a little over an hour. Dr. Ude’s entire team attached great importance to the patient’s condition, so before the anesthesia wore off, Yao Qin remained in the monitoring room under the full-time care of medical staff.

Dr. Xu came out with the news that the surgery had been very successful.

Xia Wanzhi let out a breath of relief and sincerely thanked him.

“No need to be so polite with me.” Dr. Xu smiled. Thinking of Yao Qin’s condition, from a doctor’s perspective, he couldn’t help saying a little more. “Judging from her medical records, your mother-in-law’s condition was much more severe in the early years than it is now. Why didn’t she undergo surgical treatment sooner, and instead delay it until now?”

Xia Wanzhi coughed lightly and instinctively glanced at Liu Shubai out of the corner of her eye.

She understood the meaning behind his words. Dr. Xu was practically telling her outright that Dr. Ude’s team hadn’t been good enough.

If that team had been truly capable, Yao Qin would not have suffered from her illness for so many years.

How could Liu Shubai not hear the implication in those words?

“She refused.” Liu Shubai clenched his fingers tightly and said slowly, “Back then, the risks were too high.”

Aside from the fact that Yao Qin’s physical condition had not been suitable for surgery, the more important reason was that Liu Shubai had been unwilling to take any risk at all.

Compared to surgery, he had been more willing to trust conservative treatment.

Every surgery carried risks. And at that time, Yao Qin’s desire to die had been far too strong, while the surgery itself was closely related to the brain.

What if Yao Qin had, during the operation…

He had been afraid that one surgery would take his Ah Yao away from him.

With that explanation, Dr. Xu understood everything.

Any surgery required the consent of the patient or their family. If the patient refused and the family disagreed as well, there was nothing a doctor could do.

“Don’t worry. Everything will get better,” Dr. Xu said with a slight nod.

Xia Wanzhi took a deep breath. “Thank you for the trouble.”

Dr. Xu chuckled. “It’s no trouble. It’s rare that I’m able to help.”

Only then did the restless expression on Xie Qiyan’s face shift ever so slightly.

“You know Dr. Xu?” At that moment, Xie Qiyan had no defenses up, and everything he was thinking was written across his face. But Dr. Xu’s bald crown was already right there in plain sight, so even if Xie Qiyan wanted to be jealous, there was no reason for it.

Realizing he had nearly overthought things, Xie Qiyan couldn’t help feeling a little awkward.

It was rare for Xia Wanzhi to see any other expression on his face. Smiling, she leaned against his arm. “He’s my teacher’s husband, and also my client. Back when I chose to become a Dream Painter, it was my teacher who brought me into the field. They have a daughter who’s just turned seven this year, and every year I paint a family portrait for them as a gift.”

That was why Dr. Xu had said it was rare for him to be able to help.

Xie Qiyan nodded. He thought back to the information about stereotactic surgery from a few days ago; it had probably come from Dr. Xu.

Later that evening, after Yao Qin woke up, she was finally transferred to a regular ward. Hearing her call out each of their names one by one with their own ears, everyone wept with joy. The hearts that had been suspended in anxiety all day finally settled back into place.
“A successful surgery doesn’t mean she’s completely cured. She’ll still need to take medication for the rest of her life, and there remains a possibility of relapse in the future. I hope you understand that,” Dr. Ude said, looking at Liu Shubai. Then he added gently, “If she wants to live, then she will live.”

Liu Shubai broke down sobbing.

Yao Qin still needed rest, so Liu Shubai went outside to cry. When he saw Xie Qiyan hand him a tissue, he finally lifted his head with a bitter smile. “You should hate me. I’m the one who hurt her.”

If he had known that letting Yao Qin return to Beicheng to see Xie Qiyan would give her the will to live, he never would have kept her trapped.

Xie Qiyan said nothing.

Because, in truth, he did hate him a little.

But fortunately, it wasn’t too late.

Everything was moving in a better direction.

That was enough.

After the surgery, Yao Qin still had to remain in the hospital for half a month of observation. During those days, whenever Xie Qiyan came to visit her, he would stop by Xingyao on the way and pick up Xia Wanzhi.

It happened to be the spring equinox. The spring woods were just beginning to flourish, and the white magnolias were blooming especially beautifully.

At this time of year, Yun Li’s flower shop had the greatest variety of flowers, and they were at their brightest, fresh with the dampness of spring, delicate and dewy.

Knowing that Yao Qin liked flowers, and also wanting to help her recover her social skills and gradually adapt to her surroundings, Yun Li brought over whatever she learned Yao Qin liked.

Including Jiang Baichuan.

After all, he was the childhood friend her son had grown up with. Yao Qin had missed far too many important moments in Xie Qiyan’s life, and that guilt and self-reproach showed from the inside out.

Fortunately, Jiang Baichuan had a silver tongue.

Over the past few days of visiting Yao Qin, he had practically spilled every story there was about Xie Qiyan’s childhood.

Xia Wanzhi listened with endless delight as well.

“Look at you, grinning like a fool.” Yun Li peeled a mandarin orange and popped a segment into Xia Wanzhi’s mouth, then suddenly lowered her voice. “Have you heard about the Zhou Family?”

The smile vanished from Xia Wanzhi’s lips. “What does that have to do with me?”

She had been so busy lately that she had no time to pay attention to anything outside her own window.

She had yet to sort out her own family’s mess. Where would she find the leisure to care about other people?

“It happened a few days ago and got exposed by the media this morning. This time, the Zhou Family is basically done for.” Yun Li shrugged. Seeing Xia Wanzhi’s lack of interest, she simply shut her mouth.

“Exposed what?” Xia Wanzhi turned her head, blinking at Yun Li.

Yun Li laughed. “Didn’t you say you weren’t interested?”

Xia Wanzhi shot her an annoyed look.

“See for yourself.” Yun Li opened a social media app and casually searched a keyword. The results were full of trending videos related to Zhou Yu.

#ZhouYuScumbag

#MistressPregnantTryingToMarryIntoTheZhouFamily

#MistressJumpsOffBuilding

Xia Wanzhi’s pressed lips suddenly parted into an O.

“Explosive, right?” Yun Li shrugged and sighed. “Last time, that Sun-something Zhi came to you begging you to save her child. And now look-she actually took the child and tried to jump off a building.”

Xia Wanzhi frowned, but asked, “Was she threatened by the Zhou Family?”

“Maybe it’s true that they threatened her to abort the child, but the jump… She was probably driven into a corner.” Yun Li smiled bitterly and shook her head. “What do you think she was thinking?”

Threatening the Zhou Family with her life, all just to keep her and Zhou Yu’s child.

As for the Zhou Family, they were afraid she would ruin Zhou Yu’s future. They also refused to let her stain the Zhou Family’s spotless reputation, and feared she would show up at their door with the child in the future. So they absolutely would not allow her to give birth.

Xia Wanzhi shook her head. “I don’t know. So? Did she jump?”

“She didn’t manage to. But the scene was huge. It was probably arranged in advance. Otherwise, how could it have turned into a public hot topic?” Yun Li smiled and commented, “That woman has some tricks up her sleeve. Under the pressure of public opinion, I reckon the Zhou Family will have no choice but to welcome her in.”

Xia Wanzhi nodded and was about to say something else when Yao Qin’s laughter drew her attention. She turned her head and joined the topic Jiang Baichuan was chatting about.