When Hua Manman rushed to the hospital, she found that Song Yixian was there too.
The head nurse told them that Hua Yusen had quietly slit his wrist with a fruit knife while others were asleep.
Fresh blood flowed down from his wrist, gradually spreading across the floor.
The patient in the next bed got up in the middle of the night to use the restroom. When they turned on the light and saw the floor covered in blood, they screamed in terror and nearly fainted on the spot.
Hua Yusen had now been taken to the emergency room, and his condition was still unknown.
The head nurse handed a form to Hua Manman.
"This is the consent form for emergency treatment. Please sign here."
Technically, the hospital wasn’t supposed to perform surgery without signed consent from the patient’s family. But the situation was urgent; if they hadn’t intervened, the patient might have died. It was an exceptional circumstance that called for an exceptional response, so the hospital had no choice but to rush him to the emergency room first.
Hua Manman glanced over the form, and after confirming there were no issues, she signed her name.
She looked back at Song Yixian and saw her staring at the electronic display board outside the emergency room, her expression fraught with anxiety.
Song Yixian’s eyes were red as she murmured under her breath.
"It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have brought Doctor Wang to see him. If we hadn’t provoked him, he wouldn’t have done something so impulsive and stupid."
Even though she no longer had feelings for Hua Yusen, she wasn’t so detached that she could watch him die without feeling a thing.
If Hua Yusen really did die by suicide because of this, it would become a burden on Song Yixian’s conscience that she could never get rid of.
’It’s one thing to break up with someone and forget them.’
’The worst is when they die.’
’Once a person is dead, they leave an indelible mark on your memory.’
’So much so that your heart aches every time you think of them.’
Just then, a nurse pushed open the door to the emergency room and spoke urgently to the family.
"The patient has lost too much blood and needs an emergency transfusion. Our hospital’s blood supply is low. Could a family member possibly donate some blood?"
Song Yixian turned to look at Hua Manman.
Hua Manman agreed without hesitation.
"I’m his daughter. I’ll do it."
She went with the nurse to the blood collection room next door.
Fresh blood flowed out through a thin tube.
When the nurse removed the needle, she noticed Hua Manman’s face was frighteningly pale and quickly asked,
"Are you all right?"
Hua Manman shook her head weakly. "I’m fine. Just have a little low blood sugar. I’ll be okay after some rest."
She hadn’t eaten lunch or dinner the day before, had taken a fall in the bathroom, hadn’t slept all night, and had now just given a large bag of blood.
Even a body of iron couldn’t withstand such abuse.
The nurse and Song Yixian quickly helped her to a bed to lie down. They also got her some warm milk and chocolate, carefully feeding them to Hua Manman.
Lying in bed, Hua Manman drifted off to sleep.
When she woke up, the sky outside was already bright.
Song Yixian had been keeping watch by the bed. Seeing her awake, she quickly asked,
"How are you feeling? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"
Hua Manman sat up and patted her stomach. "I’m fine, other than being a little hungry."
Song Yixian said, "I had someone buy some congee. It’s still warm. You should eat."
Hua Manman took the container and spoon, asking while she ate the congee,
"How’s Hua Yusen?"
"The doctor said they were lucky the emergency treatment was timely. His life isn’t in danger anymore, but he needs to stay in the observation ward for a day so they can monitor him."
Song Yixian paused here, then continued hesitantly.
"After Hua Yusen woke up, he kept calling your name. He said he was sorry, that he let you down."
Hua Manman’s movements paused as she ate her congee.
Song Yixian wanted to ask if she would go see Hua Yusen.
But thinking about all the things Hua Yusen had done in the past, Song Yixian couldn’t bring herself to say it.
Hua Manman finished the entire bowl of congee.
With some food in her stomach, her spirits improved considerably.
Song Yixian asked if she was full and if she wanted another bowl.
Hua Manman said there was no need.
She threw back the covers, got out of bed, and bent down to put on her shoes.
Song Yixian asked worriedly, "Why are you getting up already? Don’t you want to lie down a bit longer?"
Hua Manman stood up. "I’m going to see him."
Although she didn’t say his name, Song Yixian immediately understood who she was talking about.
Song Yixian was surprised. "You’re still willing to see him?"
Hua Manman replied, "Some things need to be said clearly."
She didn’t want to be called to the hospital in the middle of the night to sign forms for this kind of thing again, nor did she want hospital resources to be wasted on it.
In the observation ward, Hua Yusen lay on the hospital bed, his left wrist wrapped in thick gauze and an oxygen tube in his nose.
After not seeing him for just one day, he had not only lost weight, but a few strands of white hair had even appeared at his temples.
He looked much older overall.
When Hua Yusen saw his daughter arrive, a flicker of light returned to his once-empty, numb eyes.
He struggled to open his mouth, his voice hoarse.
"Manman, I’m sorry..."
Hua Manman stood still by the bed.
She looked at the man on the bed, at his weak and haggard appearance, and spoke slowly.
"If you have the courage to commit suicide, why don’t you have the courage to face your own problems?"
Hua Yusen’s eyes filled with guilt. "I was wrong."
Hua Manman said, "You’ve said similar things many times, but you’ve never truly tried to correct your mistakes."
Even when Hua Yusen had agreed to her bet that he wouldn’t hit people anymore, it was only to ease the conflict between them; he never truly recognized his mistake.
Hua Yusen’s eyes reddened, and his voice cracked with a sob.
"Give me one more chance. Just one last time. I’ll change, I promise."
Hua Manman stared at him fixedly.
Hua Yusen begged, "I’ll do anything, as long as you can forgive me."
Hua Manman said, "Get the tumor surgery."
Hua Yusen hesitated.
But when he saw the frown on his daughter’s face, he panicked and hurriedly said,
"Okay, I’ll do whatever you say."
’Over the years, he had run a small business and earned some money, all of which was saved in the bank.’
’He had originally planned to leave that money for Manman, but now he would have to use part of it for the surgery.’
Hua Manman continued, "After the surgery, you’re going to see a psychiatrist."
Hua Yusen didn’t want to see a psychiatrist.
’Because seeing a doctor would be admitting that he really did have a mental problem.’
’But his daughter was more important than his pride.’
So, he gritted his teeth and agreed.
"Okay."
Hua Manman went to finalize the specific time for the surgery with the attending physician.
The day before the surgery, Song Yixian heard from somewhere that the Bodhisattva at Mingxin Temple was very responsive to prayers. She decided to go to Mingxin Temple to burn incense and pray for the success of Hua Yusen’s surgery.
Song Yixian asked her daughter if she wanted to go with her.
Hua Manman had originally wanted to refuse, but thinking of her son in another world, she reconsidered and agreed.
’She wanted to pray to the Bodhisattva to protect her son and keep him safe, so he wouldn’t face any more danger.’