CHAPTER 208: CHAPTER 208: OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN

Although I knew this day would eventually come, Li Sihe’s health has been poor for quite some time now, I should have been mentally prepared for it, but I’m still deeply trapped in this painful emotion...

This is a feeling I haven’t experienced in a very long time, death feels so close to me.

So close that even breathing seems to sting with difficulty.

The hospital ward is filled with the strong smell of disinfectant; Bian Yue stands in front of the operating room, looking at the constantly bright surgical lights, feeling a sticky sweat in her palms. Her heart is making a racket, beating nervously in a place unknown to others.

Meanwhile, Su Youxue is crouching aside, crying. Her shoulders shiver continuously as if she’s at her last gasp and about to shatter.

Bian Yue knows that facing loss is a very painful extreme punishment, yet she has no comforting words to say.

In the hallway, there’s only the choked weeping of Su Youxue, restrained and suppressed...

Bian Yue’s thoughts drift away for a moment.

Many scenes from the past, like a revolving lantern, pass by in front of her eyes.

Between her and Li Sihe, so much gratitude and resentment, right and wrong, have long been entangled like a mess, but now, those beautiful memories have become very clear.

They have truly treated each other sincerely and have truly protected each other there were days like that.

But human hearts change easily, and although they have come a distance together, they’ve now thoroughly drifted apart.

Bian Yue’s mind goes blank; she leans against the wall as a bone-chilling coldness starts to spread throughout her body.

The ringing of a cellphone breaks the silence; Bian Yue lowers her head and sees Shen Jinci’s incoming call.

Bian Yue pauses for a moment and answers, "Jinci..."

The latter’s voice, warm and mild as ever, comes from the phone, still so comforting, "Yueyue, it’s already very late, why haven’t you come home?"

Bian Yue frowns in annoyance, her voice laced with regret, "Jinci, I’m at the hospital. Li Sihe is critically ill, I’m waiting for news."

Before Bian Yue could even hear Shen Jinci’s reply, Su Youxue, who had been squatting on the ground, suddenly stands up as if a sensitive nerve has been struck, rushes at Bian Yue, snatches her cellphone away, her voice hysterical: "Shen Jinci! What on earth did you say to Shiheng! Why did he suddenly become critically ill after seeing you!"

Bian Yue’s face turns cold, "Miss Su, Li Sihe hasn’t woken up yet, you have no basis for speculation, why do you arbitrarily assume that his sudden critical illness has anything to do with my husband!"

And on the other end of the phone, Shen Jinci’s tone is indifferent, "Give the phone back to Bian Yue, I warn you, don’t do anything to her!"

"Are you feeling guilty? What can I do to Bian Yue? She is the one Li Sihe likes! I wouldn’t hurt her!"

"Su Youxue, give me back the phone!"

With her face smeared with pathetically ashamed tears, Su Youxue keeps dodging Bian Yue’s attempts to snatch back the phone, urgently and angrily saying, "Shen Jinci! Shiheng is the Li Family’s only son, and you, a man of unknown origin, are not even in the same class as him! If you dare to do anything to him! The whole Li Family will not let you go!"

Bian Yue’s movements, in the midst of Su Youxue’s angry shouts, gradually come to a halt.

Su Youxue, upon hearing the busy signal from the phone, seemed to lose all her strength and collapsed to the ground.

She covered her face, crying uncontrollably.

Bian Yue picked up the phone that had been thrown on the ground, her frown deepening, and her voice growing heavier, "What did you just say? What do you mean by unknown origins?"

Su Youxue’s expression was a mixture of crying and laughing; she looked at Bian Yue, and after a long moment, suddenly laughed out in desperation, seemingly in disbelief, "You actually know nothing..."

"What do you mean?" Bian Yue’s expression grew more serious, and her voice carried a hint of urgency, "Please, make yourself clear."

"There’s nothing to say, just think of me as going mad," Su Youxue took a deep breath, calmly wiping away the tears on her face. She looked at Bian Yue with wet eyelashes, all teary, and spoke softly, "Miss Bian, I’m sorry, I just lost control of my emotions. Please don’t take it to heart, I know I must have looked terrible just now, but Shiheng is just too important to me, which is why I was so out of control."

Before Bian Yue could respond, the door to the operating room slowly opened. Su Youxue’s attention was immediately drawn, and she hurried over.

On the hospital bed, Li Sihe’s face was pale as paper, still unconscious. The usually refined face was now covered with a sickly pallor and untold exhaustion, making one feel as if life was on the verge of ebbing away.

"Doctor!" Su Youxue looked towards the doctor anxiously, her voice trembling, "How is Shiheng? Is he alright now? When can he recover?"

Her rapid questions were filled with despair. The lead doctor removed his mask, his expression grave, "Are you a family member of the patient?"

"I’m not..."

"Contact the patient’s family immediately!" the doctor said sternly, looking at Su Youxue with utmost seriousness, "His condition is very critical; there isn’t much time left."

Bian Yue stood on the side, her blood turning cold in an instant.

She stood there silently, her heart a tumult of emotions as she looked at Li Sihe on the hospital bed.

"What do you mean there isn’t much time left? What nonsense are you talking about? He was fine earlier today!" Su Youxue slowly shook her head, her eyes full of horror, "I don’t believe it! You must be lying to me!"

"Miss, I have no reason to lie to you. Please stop causing trouble here and contact the patient’s family immediately!" After the doctor had spoken, he gestured to the nurses to push Li Sihe away.

Su Youxue prepared to follow; her reason was beyond her control, and she almost threw herself onto the hospital bed.

Bian Yue grabbed her arm, holding back the weeping Su Youxue, her voice grave, "Don’t panic just yet. The Li Family must be informed about this situation. Neither of us can make any decisions for Li Sihe."

Su Youxue silently cried, her young and beautiful face marked with fear.

She pursed her lips and slowly closed her eyes, taking a long time to calm down.

"Bian Yue... you love Shen Jinci very much, don’t you?"

Bian Yue frowned slightly and replied in a low voice, "Of course I love him."

"Can you even imagine Shen Jinci losing his life in front of you day by day? Every day you are on tenterhooks, afraid that he might suddenly be gone," Su Youxue stared at Bian Yue, her eyes filled with despair, "Every day... every day, it feels like the time spent by his side is time stolen. Bian Yue, can you understand that feeling?"

Bian Yue looked at Su Youxue wordlessly, her frown slightly easing, she spoke softly, "I understand what you mean, Su Youxue... But things have come to this point, if possible, I hope you won’t sink further into this. Jinci and I are in love, but between you and Li Sihe, it’s just you struggling alone in vain."

Su Youxue looked at Bo Biyue’s composed face, her eyes showing a hint of bewilderment. Her lips quivered, and with a hoarse voice, she said, "Bian Yue, how can you be so indifferent? Don’t you know how much Shiheng has done for you over these years?"