Chapter 104

Chi Xuan's words hit like a stone thrown into still water, sending ripples through everyone present.

Kong Xiyan instinctively tried to rise, but Chi Wanzhao pressed a hand on her shoulder. The doctor glanced at their expressions and quickened his pace.

Within two minutes, they reached the hospital room door.

A group of white-coated doctors stood inside, all wearing expressions of regret. Chi Wanzhao walked slowly, each step feeling as heavy as lead. She heard Chi Chao call out in a hoarse, aged voice: "Xiao Wan."

"Is Xiao Wan here?"

Xie Dan held his hand and looked at Xiao Wan, a plea in her eyes. Chi Wanzhao, her face tense, walked over, knelt down, and took Chi Chao's hand.

Chi Chao, who had been limp, suddenly gripped her hand tightly.

"Xiao Wan."

"Is it you, Xiao Wan?"

"Why isn't anyone saying anything..."

The room was filled with Chi Xuan's intermittent sobs. Several doctors exchanged glances and shook their heads. Kong Xiyan went to Chi Xuan and wrapped her arms around her.

Chi Chao, still lying on the hospital bed, spoke in a broken voice: "Xiao Wan, let me tell you a secret, okay?"

"Your father has done bad things."

"Very, very bad things."

He was already delirious, not even aware of what he was saying. He only knew to keep talking, his lips moving faintly as his hoarse voice continued, leaving everyone in silence.

Xie Dan turned her back to them, her face tilted toward the ceiling, tears welling in her eyes. She bit her lip, refusing to make a sound.

Chi Chao, lying on the bed, suddenly fell silent.

His eyes widened, as if staring at the ceiling, his hand resting on Chi Wanzhao's. After a long moment, he asked, "Xiao Wan, did you find that child?"

"Right, you found her."

"You told me last time that you had found her."

"But you didn't want to bring her to see me."

As he spoke, tears streamed down his aged face. With withered fingers, he gripped Chi Wanzhao tightly: "Why doesn't she come to see me..."

Chi Xuan could no longer hold back. She ran to Chi Chao's bedside and shouted, "I'll bring her to see you! I'll bring her!"

With that, she turned and ran out the door, so quickly that Kong Xiyan didn't even have time to react. Chi Wanzhao quickly rose to her feet and called out, "Chi Xuan!"

Chi Xuan, as if not hearing, kept going.

Kong Xiyan, worried something might happen, said to Chi Wanzhao, "I'll go check on her."

Chi Wanzhao glanced at Chi Chao, her expression darkening. "I'll go too. You're not familiar with this area."

She was about to leave but Chi Chao grabbed her hand with force. Her face soured, and finally she released Chi Chao's hand and walked out with a rigid expression. Kong Xiyan watched her, a lump in her throat, feeling deeply uneasy.

As they exited the hospital, they ran into Chi Yifan.

Chi Yifan had clearly come in a hurry. His hair was slightly messy, his clothes thrown on hastily, with his pajamas still visible underneath. On seeing Chi Wanzhao and Kong Xiyan, he immediately asked, "Xiao Wan, where are you going?"

Chi Wanzhao: "Looking for Xiao Xuan."

Chi Yifan frowned. "Where did Xiao Xuan go?"

Chi Wanzhao sighed. "She went to find Wang Haining."

Chi Yifan was momentarily stunned, then waved his hand. "Go and bring her back quickly."

Only then did Chi Wanzhao take Kong Xiyan's hand and leave.

They got into the car Chi Yifan had driven. Chi Xuan hadn't driven, so she probably took a cab, which made Kong Xiyan feel a bit relieved—at least there wouldn't be a traffic accident.

Along the way, Chi Wanzhao's face remained taut, her lips pressed into a thin line, her brows once again sharp and formidable. She sat in the back seat without making a sound, while Kong Xiyan sat beside her, looking out the window.

Under the streetlights, countless fallen leaves settled on the ground, then were blown up by the wind, swirling in the air.

When they reached the villa, Chi Xuan was standing outside the gate engaged in a fierce argument with Wang Haining. Chi Xuan's voice carried clearly to Kong Xiyan from over a dozen meters away.

"He's dying! Can't you at least go see him?"

"He was just talking about you a moment ago."

"Wang Haining, please, just go."

Wang Haining stood before her, frowning. "Chi Xuan, I came to Country A not to see him."

Chi Xuan froze. "Then why..."

Wang Haining stood firm, the wind lifting the hem of her coat. Her expression remained calm: "Chi Xuan, go back. I won't go with you. I'm only in Country A to take care of some matters."

"I don't plan to see him."

Seeing Wang Haining's resolute attitude, Chi Xuan stammered, "Not even one last look?"

"You know, he can't see or hear anymore now. I think if you went, he might feel it."

"This is something he's always been talking about."

Wang Haining shook her head. "Chi Xuan, I'm sorry."

Seeing her about to leave, Chi Xuan reached for her wrist. Her face was streaked with tears, eyes swollen, and her voice grew even softer: "Just consider it a plea, okay?"

"Consider it pity for him."

Wang Haining shook off her hand. "Chi Xuan, I pity him?"

"Who pities you all?"

"Who pities your mother?"

"Just because you've accepted me doesn't mean you can force the whole family to accept me."

"People can't be that selfish."

Chi Xuan looked up. "But my mother and my eldest brother don't mind you going to see him. They..."

Wang Haining sighed. "No one would be okay with it."

"Chi Xuan, you're still too young. Some things are complicated."

Scolded, Chi Xuan bowed her head, sobbing quietly.

Chi Wanzhao and Kong Xiyan stood not far from the two. Listening to Wang Haining's words, both fell silent for a moment. Then Chi Wanzhao hurried forward and took Chi Xuan's hand. "Come back with me."

Kong Xiyan stood in front of Wang Haining. "What are you really doing in Country A?"

Wang Haining gave her a faint smile. "You'll know in a couple days. Go to the hospital first. I'll talk to you."

With that, she nudged Kong Xiyan toward Chi Wanzhao. Chi Xuan, still refusing to give up, called out, "Wang Haining..."

Chi Wanzhao, face tight, looked at Chi Xuan. "Enough."

Scolded again, Chi Xuan lowered her head, biting her lip hard, her face pale.

Just before getting in the car, Chi Xuan suddenly ran back to Wang Haining and said, "Is it because you're upset about what happened before? I'm sorry. Can I apologize to you?"

Wang Haining placed a hand on her shoulder. "Chi Xuan, why do you insist on me going?"

Chi Xuan choked out, "I just don't want him to have regrets."

"Before, whenever my mother and brother tried to find you, I would throw tantrums to make them stop. I made them give up the idea."

"If it weren't for me... they would have found you long ago."

"Maybe then Dad could still see."

"And it wouldn't be like this now..."

"His lifelong regret... I caused it."

Wang Haining frowned. "Chi Xuan, it's not you."

"And it's not anyone else."

"His regret was caused by himself."

"Even if your family had found me, I still wouldn't have come to see him. Do you understand?"

Chi Xuan shook her head. "I don't understand."

Wang Haining lowered her gaze.

Chi Xuan clearly didn't want to let her go. Her hand clung desperately to Wang Haining's sleeve, her fingers gripping hard, her whole body trembling.

Wang Haining, held in place, didn't move either. The two stood there, letting the cold wind sweep past them.

The atmosphere was tense.

Heavy snowflakes began to fall from the sky. Kong Xiyan looked up at them, then heard Chi Wanzhao's voice.

"Hey, big brother."

"Okay."

Two brief sentences, then she hung up. Kong Xiyan saw Chi Wanzhao walk to Chi Xuan's side, gently pull Chi Xuan's hand away, and say slowly, "Dad is gone."

"Just now."

Chi Xuan stepped back, her hand dropping.

Wang Haining didn't utter a word. She turned and walked toward the apartment building, her figure standing straight.

Snowflakes scattered over everyone. The driver, getting out with an umbrella, looked at Kong Xiyan, then at Chi Wanzhao and Chi Xuan, a look of hesitation on his face.

Kong Xiyan took the umbrella from him and walked over to Chi Wanzhao.

Chi Xuan had already collapsed onto the ground, breaking down in tears. Chi Wanzhao also crouched down, holding her. Kong Xiyan stood beside them, holding up the umbrella for them.

Her gaze drifted toward the apartment.

Behind the French window on the second floor, a figure was also crouched.

Chi Xuan cried for who knows how long, eventually fainting. Chi Wanzhao lifted her horizontally, laying her in the back seat. Kong Xiyan quickly got in after.

In Chi Xuan's condition, she couldn't go to the hospital.

Chi Wanzhao directly told the driver to go to the villa. Kong Xiyan knew Chi Wanzhao was worried about Chi Xuan, so she told Chi Wanzhao she would stay at the villa to look after Chi Xuan and that Chi Wanzhao should get to the hospital quickly.

The room was heavy with silence. Chi Wanzhao, her face tight and lips pressed, nodded: "Okay."

Seeing her turn to leave, Kong Xiyan suddenly stood up and called out, "Xiao Wan."

Chi Wanzhao turned around.

Kong Xiyan opened her mouth but hesitated: "Haining, she..."

Chi Wanzhao gave Kong Xiyan a deep look. "I said from the start that I would tell her about my father's condition. Whether she comes or not is her choice."

"I can accept her choice."

Kong Xiyan looked at the sincerity in Chi Wanzhao's brows and nodded. "Go quickly."

Chi Wanzhao left the villa hurriedly.

The whole room fell silent again.

Chi Xuan was still mumbling in bed: "Dad..."

"Wang Haining..."

"Will you go..."

Her intermittent sobbing was mixed with unintelligible murmurs. Kong Xiyan used a dry towel to wipe the tears from her face. Watching Chi Xuan sleep restlessly, Kong Xiyan felt complicated.

After some time, Kong Xiyan's phone rang.

She quickly answered.

It was Wang Haining.

Wang Haining spoke first: "Xiyan, let's meet in a couple of days. I have something I want to talk to you about."

Kong Xiyan frowned slightly.

"Okay."

She answered briefly.