Ou Xueman sat in a daze, her eyes hollow and unfocused, fighting dizziness. The hospital’s nauseating smell intensified her vertigo, but she couldn’t collapse. She wanted to see the man who had given her infinite fatherly love walk out of the surgery room doors. If anything happened to him, she would regret it for the rest of her life, as all of this was caused by her.
If she hadn’t eavesdropped, if she hadn’t rushed in to tell him everything, perhaps he would still be cherishing her with his gentle fatherly love, and not lying on the cold operating table. Everything was her fault.
Li Mingguang patted Tong Baifu’s shoulder, “He’s in the intensive care unit now, go see him, and say anything… as soon as possible.”
Liu Qiusi hurried towards the nearby intensive care unit and accidentally knocked down Ou Xueman. Just as she was about to hit the floor, he caught her, but she pushed him away, supporting herself against the wall as she continued to the unit.
Inside the ward, the cold instruments beeped softly. Tong Baichuan was covered in tubes, various liquids slowly dripping into his body. The occasional fog in the oxygen mask was the only sign he was still alive.
The person who once loved and protected her could now only be kept alive by machines. She wanted to see him smile again, to feel him stroking her head and calling her “Xuan Xuan, my precious daughter.”
She walked to his bedside, softly calling, “Daddy, Daddy…”
Liu Qiusi held his hand, urging him, “Baichuan, wake up. I’ve called Huang the lawyer. Wake up quickly.”
“Her voice was more anxious than sorrowful.
Amidst the repeated calls, Tong Baichuan awakened. His once clear eyes now sensed his impending departure. His dry lips moved, but his words were inaudible.
Ou Xueman quickly removed his oxygen mask, while Liu Qiusi rushed out and returned with Tong family’s exclusive lawyer.
“Baichuan, say what you need to say. The lawyer is here,” Liu Qiusi urged anxiously.
Ou Xueman tightly held his hand. “Daddy.”
