Chapter 102

Once Chi Wanzhao had composed herself, she emerged from the bathroom and returned to the hospital room to find that Xie Dan had already arrived. In the few short months since they'd last met, Xie Dan had aged considerably—her temples streaked with white, her eyes vacant, and her face etched with sorrow.

In the room, Chi Xuan was still sobbing quietly, but Chi Chao could no longer hear her.

Chi Wanzhao tore her gaze from the hospital bed and called out, "Mom."

Kong Xiyan stood behind her, holding her hand. At the sound of her name, Xie Dan looked up and offered a gentle, warm smile. "Xiao Wan."

Then her gaze shifted to the woman behind Chi Wanzhao. "You must be Xiyan?"

Kong Xiyan exchanged a glance with Chi Wanzhao, then stepped forward to stand before Xie Dan. "Mom."

Xie Dan nodded in acknowledgment, wiping away her tears.

It wasn't exactly the ideal atmosphere for a first meeting, but Kong Xiyan understood the circumstances and could fully sympathize.

Xie Dan, for her part, seemed a bit embarrassed. She took Kong Xiyan's hand and led her to the sofa in the hospital room, her face tinged with guilt. "I'm sorry. We should have met at home..."

Kong Xiyan patted the middle-aged woman's hand soothingly. "It's fine. I understand."

Xie Dan looked at Kong Xiyan with relief in her eyes. "Xiao Xuan must have caused you a lot of trouble this time."

Kong Xiyan shook her head. "Not at all. Xiao Xuan is very sensible."

Hearing this, Xie Dan smiled wryly. "Xiao Xuan has always been impetuous. We've told her time and again, but she never listens. This time, she went to City B behind my back."

She lowered her gaze and continued, "As for you and Xiao Wan, she's told me about you. You're a good girl. Having you join the Chi family is Xiao Wan's fortune."

Kong Xiyan's cheeks flushed slightly. She'd known that Chi Wanzhao would discuss her with the family during their trip to Country A, but she hadn't been told exactly what was said. Hearing Xie Dan praise her so warmly caught her off guard and left her feeling shy.

Xie Dan kept her company, chatting about trivial matters. She reminded Kong Xiyan a bit of Chi Yifan—both had a gentle, considerate nature, always mindful of others' feelings.

Chi Wanzhao and Chi Xuan, by contrast, were polar opposites—one cold and reserved, the other hot-tempered.

It was quite a curious mix.

Just as Kong Xiyan was marveling at this, Chi Yifan approached. He said to Xie Dan, "Mom, let Xiao Wan and the others go back to rest. They haven't slept since the long flight."

Xie Dan looked up, forcing a wan smile. "Yes, you should go rest."

Seeing her expression, Kong Xiyan felt a pang of sympathy and gave her hand another reassuring pat.

Soon, Chi Wanzhao returned with Chi Xuan in tow. Chi Xuan's eyes were red and swollen from crying, her voice hoarse. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She went to Xie Dan's side and said, "Mom, I want to stay here."

Xie Dan stroked her head. "Be good. Go back with your second sister and get some sleep."

"You'll feel better after a rest."

Chi Xuan tried to move forward, but Chi Wanzhao caught her by the wrist. She bowed her head, silent for a moment, then said, "Alright."

After saying their goodbyes to Xie Dan and Chi Yifan, Chi Wanzhao led Kong Xiyan out of the hospital room.

Kong Xiyan cast one last glance back at Chi Chao.

He was still gaunt, his eyes bulging, but this time he was facing the door—perhaps sensing they were leaving.

The moment the door closed, Kong Xiyan's eyes reddened.

The three of them walked out of the hospital in silence. Zhou Sheng, who had been waiting for them, opened the car door as they approached. Kong Xiyan and Chi Wanzhao settled into the back seat, while Chi Xuan took the passenger seat.

Not long after they set off, Chi Xuan fell asleep against the headrest, exhausted from crying. Even in sleep, a glistening tear clung to the corner of her eye, making her look pitiful.

Kong Xiyan turned to Chi Wanzhao. "Your father... should we tell Haining?"

Chi Wanzhao glanced at her. "Let's discuss it once we're back."

Kong Xiyan nodded. Chi Wanzhao rested her head on Kong Xiyan's shoulder, wrapping an arm around her neck. Pale-faced, she said, "When my mom first found out about Wang Haining, she was furious. She fought with my dad every day at home, and I couldn't take it, so I moved out."

"Later, she ended up in the hospital."

Chi Wanzhao's voice was low and flat as she recalled the past. "It wasn't until recently that I learned she wasn't sick from anger. She tried to kill herself."

Kong Xiyan's pupils contracted. She turned her head in shock to look at Chi Wanzhao, and after a few seconds of meeting her gaze, understanding dawned. "Xiao Xuan knows about this. That's why she got so agitated when she saw Haining."

Chi Wanzhao remained leaning against her shoulder, letting out a faint hum of agreement. "Xiao Xuan was still young then, and the shock was too much for her. She actually found Wang Haining three years ago, but I stopped her."

If she hadn't intervened back then, who knows what trouble Chi Xuan might have stirred up.

Chi Wanzhao shifted to find a more comfortable spot on Kong Xiyan's shoulder before continuing. "Later, when my mom recovered, she wanted a divorce. She asked for our opinion, and we readily agreed."

"But then my dad fell ill."

"At that time..."

She looked at Kong Xiyan, her tears having left her eyes bright and glistening. "I was already in City B by then."

"For years, I was afraid to go back. I was afraid that, like my big brother and my mom, I'd end up spending every day with my dad, and that I'd soften. I was afraid that seeing how pitiful he was, I'd forgive him without any principles."

"So I never dared to come home."

Kong Xiyan wrapped her arms around her and patted her shoulder firmly. "Whatever decision you make, I'll support you."

A faint, gentle smile curved her lips, and her eyes crinkled at the corners. Chi Wanzhao was momentarily mesmerized. She buried her face in Kong Xiyan's neck, her voice muffled. "Xiyan, thank you."

Kong Xiyan held her close, biting her lip as she gazed out the window.

A faint blush crept across her cheeks.

It was over half an hour before they reached the apartment. Zhou Sheng dropped them off, and Chi Wanzhao gave him the rest of the day off, telling him to go home and get some proper rest.

Zhou Sheng looked at Chi Wanzhao as if about to say something, then turned to Kong Xiyan instead. "Madam, please take good care of President Chi."

Kong Xiyan replied, "I will."

Only then did Zhou Sheng say his goodbyes and leave.

Once inside, Chi Xuan made a beeline for her room. Kong Xiyan looked at Chi Wanzhao with concern, but Chi Wanzhao said calmly, "It's fine. Let her cry."

"Being able to cry means she'll be alright."

Chi Wanzhao then had the servants prepare a simple meal. She and Kong Xiyan ate in a hurry before heading back to their room.

Kong Xiyan wasn't particularly tired, but she could see that Chi Wanzhao was exhausted. As soon as they were inside, she urged Chi Wanzhao to take a shower and get some sleep. Chi Wanzhao didn't argue, just nodded and headed to the bathroom.

She was out again almost immediately, still in her clothes. Kong Xiyan was about to ask why when Chi Wanzhao spoke first. "I've drawn you a bath. Go soak."

Kong Xiyan's heart melted at the gesture. She bit her lip and said, "No need. You go first. I'll just take a quick shower later."

"Go on."

Chi Wanzhao didn't give her a chance to refuse, taking her by the shoulders and guiding her to the bathroom door. Kong Xiyan opened it to find the tub already filled with water. Seeing Chi Wanzhao was about to help her undress, she quickly declined.

After shooing Chi Wanzhao out of the bathroom, Kong Xiyan stood before the mirror, removing her black cap. The wound was at the back of her head—she couldn't see it, but she knew a patch of hair had been shaved.

Fortunately, the wound wasn't large, and not much hair had been cut. Combing the surrounding hair over it should hide it well enough.

She stood in front of the mirror, trying to arrange her hair this way and that, but after a few attempts, she sighed and put the cap back on.

After her bath, she returned to the bedroom to find Chi Wanzhao already standing by the window in a bathrobe. Kong Xiyan walked over and stood beside her, looking outside. The trees, now two stories tall, swayed in the breeze with a gentle rustling sound.

Chi Wanzhao saw Kong Xiyan's reflection in the window. She turned, pulled Kong Xiyan to the window, and wrapped her arms around her from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder. "Does your head still hurt?"

Kong Xiyan instinctively reached up to touch her head, but Chi Wanzhao caught her hand. She smiled. "It doesn't hurt anymore. It's about time to get the stitches out."

Chi Wanzhao said softly, "I've already arranged with my big brother. Tonight, you're coming with me to the hospital."

She paused, then added, "To keep watch. Is that alright?"

Kong Xiyan turned her head to look at her, her gaze tender and her smile faint. "Okay."

Chi Wanzhao met her eyes and unconsciously tightened her embrace, as if she wanted to melt Kong Xiyan into her own body.

Before going to bed, Kong Xiyan made a phone call to Wang Haining. The other end was muffled, sounding as if she'd just woken up. Kong Xiyan apologized, "Haining, did I wake you?"

Wang Haining rubbed her forehead. "No, I was just about to get up anyway."

Kong Xiyan breathed a sigh of relief. "How are you feeling? Should I come over?"

"No need."

Wang Haining refused outright. "I've got something to do in a bit. Don't come."

Kong Xiyan frowned slightly but didn't press, simply saying goodbye and hanging up.

Wang Haining clutched her phone after the call ended.

She glanced at the note beside her, on which a phone number was written in bold, black handwriting—the strokes vigorous, pressing into the paper.

After a moment's thought, she dialed the number.

"Hello, is this Mr. Chi Yifan? This is Wang Haining."