CHAPTER 264: CHAPTER 264: A LIFE AT STAKE (FOURTH UPDATE)

Granny Tang is getting on in years, and during her youth, she bore the brunt of raising five kids, which left her with some underlying health issues. Now, with the onset of a cold, she seems unable to cope.

Tang Zhengde and Tang Zhengyuan stayed in the village to take care of her.

Tang Yue was working on her test papers when she suddenly heard a hurried knocking at the door. Her heart skipped a beat, fearing that something had happened to Granny Tang.

Tang Yue hurried to the door, only to see a very unexpected person.

Tang Xian, dressed in a white shirt stained with fresh red blood.

"What happened?" Tang Yue asked, furrowing her brows as she looked at Tang Xian. Seeing that he had no wounds on his body, she felt relieved and guessed that Tang Xian might have been in a fight. She asked, "Whose blood is on you?"

"I..." Tang Xian appeared flustered and pale. Upon seeing Tang Yue, he walked in, looking around, "Where’s Uncle?"

"He’s at home. Granny is sick." Tang Yue answered, "I’m the only one home, just tell me what’s going on."

"I..." Tang Xian hesitated.

Tang Yue bluntly said, "If you tell me, maybe I can think of a solution. If you wait to go back to the village, it will be too late."

"Help me, Tang Yue." Tang Xian dropped his usual disdain, and at this moment, he seemed fragile.

"Tell me what’s the matter first, otherwise how can I help?" Tang Yue replied impatiently. She wanted to ignore Tang Xian, but seeing the blood on him, she was also worried. What if someone had died?

"Lili, she’s bleeding." Tang Xian struggled to get the words out.

"Who is bleeding?" Tang Yue’s mind raced, recalling that last year, she heard Tang Xian was with a woman when her uncle got married. She asked, "Is she—could she be pregnant?"

"It seems like..." Tang Xian was uncertain.

"Where is she now? Where is this person?" Tang Yue asked urgently.

"She’s nearby; I didn’t dare carry her here." Tang Xian’s head hung low, his panic barely concealable.

"Then why aren’t you rushing her to the hospital?" Tang Yue guessed that Lili might be having a miscarriage. Her voice carried a scolding tone. Just as she was about to step out, she added, "Wait for me a moment."

Tang Yue hurried back home to grab some money, then pulled Tang Xian, asking him to lead the way.

Just a short distance from Tang Yue’s house, under a large tree, a girl sat on the ground, leaning against the tree, seemingly passed out.

"She..." Tang Xian looked at Lili, who seemed motionless, and grew even more fearful.

Tang Yue slapped him hard, shouting, "Hurry up and carry her to the hospital."

"Okay." Tang Xian, without further words, picked up Lili and followed Tang Yue to the hospital. Once there, Tang Xian had no idea what to say, but Tang Yue kept her composure and told the doctor that she might have had a miscarriage, prompting the doctor to prepare.

After being informed they needed to pay for the surgery, Tang Yue went to make the payment and returned to the emergency room’s entrance, finding Tang Xian dazedly sitting there. She glared at him, annoyed, thinking now he’s scared, why didn’t he take precautions before?

"Tang Xian, you wait here, I’ll go get you and Lili some clothes." Tang Yue instructed Tang Xian not to leave, as the surgery would take at least half an hour. She’d quickly run back to get a set of clothes, which should be fine.

"Don’t leave." Tang Xian instinctively shouted after Tang Yue. His back was drenched in cold sweat, and as the surgical room’s light remained on, he sat in the hallway, feeling utterly insecure.

Tang Yue thought for a moment, then sat down beside him.

In the afternoon, just past three o’clock, the hallway was nearly empty, eerily silent, filled with the smell of disinfectant.

"Tang Xian, have you informed her parents?" Tang Yue suddenly asked.

Tang Xian had his head lowered.

Tang Yue asked again, "So, what do you plan to do now?"

After all, the girl had an abortion because of you, you have to take responsibility, right?

"I... don’t know." Tang Xian was still unable to shake off the fear he felt at that moment when he and Lili were together, unaware of her pregnancy until they uncontrollably wanted to be together again, and Lili suddenly experienced severe abdominal pain and bled profusely.

Tang Xian was scared and didn’t dare to take Lili to the hospital alone, besides, he had no money. It just so happened that he was near Tang Yue’s house, so Tang Xian thought to seek help from his uncle and aunt.

"You..." Tang Yue, hearing his repetitive uncertain answers, was so frustrated she wanted to grab Tang Xian and give him a beating.

Tang Yue, with a stern face, questioned, "You have the audacity to do such a thing, but not the courage to be responsible? The girl had an abortion because of you, do you think ’I don’t know’ can solve everything?"

"You are just nineteen years old, and that girl is about the same age, right?" Tang Yue glanced at him and continued, "Maybe even younger than you. Now, what do you think she should do after this incident?"

Even in future generations, having an abortion while still in school is a highly dishonorable matter, not to mention in the year 1989.

Tang Xian lowered his head, for the first time not retorting Tang Yue’s words.

As time ticked by, Tang Yue also grew anxious, hoping Lili was safe and sound. It’s okay if the child is lost, as long as there are no other issues.

Half an hour later, Tang Yue saw the doctor come out, and she quickly approached to ask, "Doctor, how is it?"

"It’s fortunate that she was brought in early. If it had been later, it might have resulted in death for both." The doctor glanced at Tang Xian and said, "It’s fine, just need good rest."

"Will this affect her ability to get pregnant in the future?" Tang Yue inquired.

The doctor answered all her questions.

Reassured, Tang Yue then took Lili to the ward. Lili had already woken up, her complexion still pale but much better compared to a while ago.

"Lili." Tang Xian sat beside the bed, looking at the pain in Lili’s eyes, he gradually came back to his senses.

"I was pregnant." Lili, with her head lowered, started sobbing and said, "And now it’s gone."

"Don’t cry." Tang Xian comforted her. "We can have another child in the future."

Tang Xian held Lili’s hand, earnestly saying, "Lili, I will marry you."

Lili stopped crying, lifted her head with tears streaming down her face, and looked at Tang Xian, asking, "Will your parents agree?"

She was very aware of her family situation; her father was a gambler, and her mother was obsessed with wealth, often joining her father in playing mahjong. Their livelihood depended on them picking up odd jobs when they were out of money.

"They will," Tang Xian answered firmly.

Tang Yue stood aside, muttering to herself that her aunt, always with her head in the clouds, would never agree, considering Lili was just an ordinary girl.