Chapter 298: Death?
The corridor outside the hospital's emergency room was silent. Lin Qingyun and Jiang Nianyu sat stupefied on the bench. Xu Qingyue, Tang Bing, Tang Yue, and the others also waited anxiously nearby, their hearts filled with worry.
A few moments later, the doors to the operating room opened.
Lin Qingyun's body trembled as she walked forward with red eyes. "Doctor, how is he?"
A doctor in a white coat pushed up his glasses and sighed softly. "The patient's internal organs were already damaged from a grievous injury. The bullet's passage through his chest created a pressure wave, causing massive internal bleeding..."
"Cut the crap! Tell us something useful!" Ling Feng barked from the side.
"I... I'm sorry..." The doctor bowed his head and said sorrowfully, "We... we really did our best..."
"What... what?!" Ling Feng stumbled back two steps, staring blankly at the doctor.
THUD. Lin Qingyun's bag fell to the floor.
Nearby, with a cry of pure anguish, Jiang Nianyu fell to her knees before the doctor, choking through her tears, "Please, Doctor, please save him! I'm begging you..."
"I... I truly am powerless. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." the doctor repeated, bowing his head.
"Enough!" Tang Yuntian cut in, stepping forward. His voice was hoarse. "So, is Zhao Dong... already dead?"
"Not yet. His body is remarkably strong; he might hold on for a few more hours. I suggest you take him home now so you can say your goodbyes," the doctor sighed.
A dead silence fell. Tang Yuntian looked at Lin Qingyun and Jiang Nianyu. After a long moment, he rasped, "Miss Lin, Miss Jiang, let's take him home... Let Zhao Dong's parents see him one last time."
Lin Qingyun's vision went black and she lost consciousness, slumping forward. Ling Feng quickly caught her, heaving a heavy sigh. "Fine! Take him back!"
Jiang Nianyu covered her mouth, silent tears streaming down her face. Her throat was already raw from crying, and she couldn't make a sound.
The setting sun pierced the curtains, its rays falling upon Zhao Dong. He was in the small courtyard of his former home in an old suburban alleyway. The courtyard was filled with the sound of continuous sobs.
A bed had been placed in the center of the main room, where Zhao Dong now lay. He was still breathing, but only just. He was on his very last breath.
Beside him, Zhao Kangyou and Liu Cuirong stood with red, swollen eyes, fresh tear tracks staining their faces. The elderly couple stared blankly at their son on the bed, as if their souls had been stolen away.
With a trembling hand, Liu Cuirong gently stroked Zhao Dong's face, fresh tears flowing as she choked out, "Dong'er, if... if you have any pity for your father and me, you have to hold on, child... How are we supposed to live without you!"
Liu Cuirong cried until she nearly fainted. Beside her, Zhao Kangyou wiped his own tears away endlessly.
Ling Feng's eyes were moist as he said in a hoarse voice, "Uncle, Auntie... Zhao Dong still has one last breath. Maybe we can try one more thing, but the rest is up to him now."
With that, Ling Feng took out several Life-saving Pills, which the alchemists had given them when they heard what had happened to Zhao Dong. However, his injuries were too severe. The battle with Kou Hongmin had already drained his Qi and blood, leaving him covered in wounds. The final bullet had all but sealed his fate.
After being fed a few pills, Zhao Dong's finger actually twitched.
Ling Feng exclaimed in shock, "Zhao Dong's hand moved!"
All eyes turned to the bed. At that moment, Zhao Dong's eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes to the familiar surroundings of his home.
His cracked lips parted as he rasped, "Why... am I here?"
"Dong'er!"
"Zhao Dong!"
A chorus of elated voices rang out. Zhao Dong looked around and saw their red, swollen eyes. When his gaze fell upon his terribly aged parents, his heart ached, and his own eyes grew moist.
"Dad... Mom... Your son has failed you..." A tear slid from the corner of his eye.
He could feel his life force rapidly fading. These Life-saving Pills can't save him; the leukemia in his body has also completely erupted. There's no hope. Absolutely no hope. These are his final moments.
With tears in her eyes, Jiang Nianyu walked toward him step by step. She rested her head on his chest and wept. "Zhao Dong, promise me... promise me you'll hold on... I'm begging you... please."
His heart aching and eyes wet with tears, Zhao Dong rasped, "Nianyu... I'm sorry..."
His gaze shifted to Lin Qingyun, to her beautiful, tear-streaked face. He managed a bleak, weary smile, using his last bit of strength to speak. "My wife... I... I might not be able to call you that anymore."
Lin Qingyun closed her eyes, tears sliding down silently. She said hoarsely, "Zhao Dong, if you really die, then we are divorced. I'll hate you, and I will forget you forever! Then I'll find another man! Zhao Dong, can you bear to see that happen?"
Zhao Dong gave a bitter smile, his eyes full of tears. "Qingyun... I just want you to be happy."
Lin Qingyun could no longer hold back and threw herself onto him. "You bastard! Zhao Dong... you bastard..." she cried, her words dissolving into wrenching sobs.
His head grew dizzy, and he felt his consciousness beginning to slip away. Is this death? My body feels so light...
Zhao Dong's world became hazy, his eyelids slowly closing. In the last moment, he saw the door burst open as an elegant figure rushed in.
It was Xu Yafei.
He smiled one last time. After a final glance at Xu Yafei, he closed his eyes completely.
There was only darkness. The sounds around him grew fainter until they vanished, and his consciousness faded, leaving him in a void of pitch-black nothingness.
Back in the room, the onlookers who had been holding back their grief could no longer endure it.
"Dong'er, Dong'er!"
Wails shook the house.
"Let the boy depart in peace..." Zhao Kangyou, fighting through his own immense pain, pulled Liu Cuirong up. He picked up the shroud prepared by the bed and swiftly dressed his son.
THUD.
Xu Yafei collapsed to her knees beside the bed, her face streaked with tears. "Why... You promised... You said you'd take me with you... Liar... Zhao Dong... you're a liar!"
An unknown amount of time passed before the crying finally subsided.
Lin Qingyun staggered to her feet, a bitter, unending smile on her face. I only learned to regret losing what I never cherished. Heavens, why... why are you doing this to me?
She took one last look at Zhao Dong, then slowly turned and left. In that moment, her heart died. There was nothing left in East Sea for her. Leaving was the best choice.
At the same time, Xu Yafei shot to her feet, a murderous glint in her eyes. "Hong Wu! This is all your fault! All your fault!"
With that, she bolted out the door.
On the way, Xu Yafei bought a watermelon knife and hid it up her sleeve.
Xu Yafei, if it weren't for your weakness, Zhao Dong wouldn't have died! You have to avenge him! Avenge him!
「Longtian Seaview Villa」
When Xu Yafei returned, Hong Wu was sitting on the sofa, smoking furiously with a vicious look on his face.
"Fuck! Where the hell have you been?" he demanded, glaring at her.
Xu Yafei replied indifferently, "You ran off and left me there. Of course I was taken in for questioning."
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to. I... I was just in a panic..." Hong Wu hurried over to apologize.
Xu Yafei took a deep breath and forced a smile. "It's fine. Given the situation, I don't blame you."
"Good, that's good..." Hong Wu nodded eagerly, then took her hand to lead her toward the sofa.
The moment he turned his back, a murderous intent flashed in Xu Yafei's eyes.
"Hong Wu! Die!" she roared, raising the hidden watermelon knife to stab him.
But just as she lifted her arm, Hong Wu's large hand clamped down on her wrist.
"You damn whore!"
SLAP!
A sharp slap landed harshly on her face.
"So you really were having an affair with that bastard Zhao Dong! Trying to kill me? I felt the knife in your sleeve the moment you walked in!"
With that, Hong Wu lunged at her, kicking and punching her mercilessly.
"Hong Wu! You'll die a miserable death! A miserable death!" Xu Yafei shrieked. She struggled to her feet and, with all her might, slammed her head against a nearby pillar.
Zhao Dong, I'm coming... I'm coming to be with you...
A bitter smile touched the corner of her lips.
Since I can't avenge you, I can join you in death. I'll be with you forever... and ever...