Chapter 154: Facing the Facts
Su Shuochi finished several IV bags, but when his wife still hadn’t appeared, he deftly pulled the needle from his arm.
He wheeled himself over to the medicinal herb field to find Gu Jiaojiao and saw her from a distance, smiling as beautifully as a goddess.
She was already fair-skinned, with delicate and lovely features. When she smiled, dimples appeared on her cheeks, making her even more captivating.
Just as Gu Jiaojiao was beside herself with excitement, she heard Su Shuochi’s voice. It was clear and bright, like the clinking of jade, yet more beautiful than a sound from heaven.
The couple gazed at each other affectionately. Everyone has their own little world, their own private thoughts.
Su Shuochi’s little world was filled with nothing but Gu Jiaojiao, and he knew that he was in her little world, too.
"Jiaojiao~ I long to walk with you hand-in-hand through the river of time until our hair turns white, to never leave your side, and to enjoy every little moment of happiness together."
Su Shuochi wheeled himself forward and spoke with deep affection, afraid that she might cast him out of her heart to make room for someone else.
"Shuo Ci, don’t be so shameless, trying to sweet-talk me. Hehe~ We should maintain a calm state of mind."
"We can experience a simple yet real happiness in the trivial matters of daily life."
"There’s a kind of true love that doesn’t change with the passage of time. Its passion isn’t worn away by tiny specks of dust."
"Even after all the splendor fades, its smooth luster will still shine. What remains is the smile of weathering storms side-by-side. I will love you forever."
"Jiaojiao~ You are destined to be the scenery that captivates my heart in this life, the one I can never bear to leave."
"For you, I would prick my finger and draw a circle with my blood to enclose your deep affection. Even if roses wither and are ground to dust, I would willingly watch over you for a lifetime."
As Su Shuochi spoke, he took Gu Jiaojiao’s hand, pulled her onto his lap, and kissed her lips passionately.
His fiery kiss seemed to lift her onto the clouds, surrounded by drifting mists, pulling her deeper...
At Uncle Song’s house, Wang Gang held Song Xiaxia’s hand. "Xiaxia, I’ve already had my blood drawn. We’ll have to wait for the test results tomorrow to know anything."
"Gang, if your liver isn’t a match, are you really going to try and stop me?"
"I... I won’t stop you. It just breaks my heart to see you like this. I wish I could use mine. You’ve suffered so much these past few years."
"It’s not your fault. Jiaojiao said that if I can’t stand up for myself, no one can save me~"
"Xiaxia, I told you a long time ago, if we can’t have a child, we can just adopt one. It’s no big deal. You don’t have to be so subservient and cater to my mom."
Wang Gang spoke, his heart aching. He wished his wife could go back to how she used to be, not this timid and cautious version of herself.
"Gang, are you starting to resent me?" Song Xiaxia asked, a little worried.
She had looked in the mirror today and realized that her once youthful and beautiful self was gone. The person in the reflection had a sallow complexion and a face full of bitterness.
"Xiaxia, I would never resent you, and I have no right to. It’s all my fault. I didn’t take good care of you."
"Gang, don’t blame yourself. I won’t be like this anymore. The Divine Doctor said I’ll be able to get pregnant and have a baby in a year."
"Okay, Xiaxia. You need to take good care of yourself. Go to sleep. I have to work tomorrow, but I’ll come see you after I get off."
Uncle Song was also talking to his wife. "That young man, Wang Gang, isn’t bad. He’s not going to stop Xiaxia from donating her liver."
"Then what were you two doing just now? You left in such a hurry, you scared me to death."
"Wang Gang said Xiaxia isn’t in good health and wants to use his liver instead, so we went to the Su family’s place to get his blood tested."
"Hmph! Don’t think I’ll forgive him just because of this. His mother actually dared to hit my daughter in the street."
"Once my son gets better, I’m going to the Wang Family’s house and give that old hag a good beating."
Uncle Song: ...
"Get some rest. We have to get up early tomorrow to make chicken soup for the kids."
***
Uncle Dong drove several VIPs to the guesthouse, then rode an old-fashioned bicycle back to the Dong Family home.
In the living room, the whole family was waiting for him. Some were waiting for the donkey meat he might bring, as they hadn’t gotten their fill yesterday.
Seeing him return empty-handed, they were filled with disappointment but didn’t dare to ask anything.
Second Uncle Dong, however, was waiting for his guidance. "Brother, you’re back. Were the people from the Imperial City easy to talk to?"
"What? Are you still thinking of bailing out your brother-in-law?" Uncle Dong’s tone was uncharacteristically stern.
He rarely projected an intimidating aura at home. What he didn’t know was that even when he reined in his presence, his family was still afraid of him.
Now that he was deliberately releasing his formidable aura, those who had been hoping for donkey meat deeply regretted waiting for him in the living room.
This included his stepmother Ren Xiaofang, his younger sister Dong Yuanyuan, his wife and daughter, and Dong Qiming.
"Brother, I have a performance tomorrow, so I’m going up to bed." As soon as Dong Yuanyuan finished speaking, she fled as if escaping.
The others also scurried upstairs to bed.
The others also went upstairs to sleep, leaving only Mr. Dong, Uncle Dong, Second Uncle Dong, Dong Qiming, and Aunt Dong in the living room.
"Jianping, I’m asking you a question."
"I... I wasn’t. I was just asking if your work went smoothly." As Second Uncle Dong spoke, his wife nudged him.
He pretended not to notice. At the hospital, he had felt sorry for his wife and placated her, saying he would ask his older brother to save her younger brother.
"Good that you weren’t. That kid from the Li family picked a fight with the wrong person this time. No one can save him."
Seeing his sister-in-law still nudging his brother with her arm, Uncle Dong said bluntly, "The city’s party secretary is taking that matter very seriously. If you get involved, you’d better watch out for your job."
Second Uncle Dong said sheepishly, "I already said I absolutely won’t get involved. I made it clear to my mother-in-law—if she keeps pushing me, I’ll get a divorce."
After speaking, he shot his wife a fierce glare, as if he wasn’t the one who had promised in the hospital to help her find a solution.
Aunt Dong: ...
Her Li family’s sole heir versus her husband’s job—it put her in a difficult position, and she didn’t know how to choose.
Having said his piece, Second Uncle Dong went upstairs to wash up. He had to go to work tomorrow; he couldn’t afford to lose his livelihood.
Aunt Dong could only hurry after her husband. In that moment, she saw things clearly.
Her husband, son, and daughter held an important place in her heart. Her son was right—she couldn’t ruin herself for her younger brother.
She remembered the coldness in her son’s voice when he’d said, ’Mom, if you insist on doing things your way, you’ll only end up destroying yourself. Dad is handsome and has a respectable job. It wouldn’t be hard for him to find another woman, someone younger and prettier.’
At the time, she had been so angry she wanted to slap him a couple of times, but hadn’t his words struck a chord deep in her heart?
That’s why she had been so furious and wanted to hit him. Only now, after hearing what her brother-in-law said, did she recognize the reality of the situation and truly wake up.
At this moment, Aunt Dong still didn’t know that the person her younger brother had offended was Gu Jiaojiao. If she had known, she would have certainly run to the Su family’s home to throw a hysterical fit.
Uncle Dong was thinking, ’Tomorrow, I should also go visit Su Shuochi and Jiaojiao’s medical clinic.’
’Without my knowledge, they’ve accomplished so many things that inspire envy and jealousy. Even those VIPs from the Imperial City are very interested.’
"What are you thinking about?" Mr. Dong asked his eldest son.
"Dad, I never would have imagined that the Gu Family was hiding this much power and wealth. It’s truly incredible!"