CHAPTER 158: THE MATTER HAS BEEN LEFT UNSETTLED AND UNRESOLVED.

After listening to what Shui Lian said, Yao Fangfang was furious. She immediately pointed her finger and said, "Tian Sangsang, do you even know how to watch over a child? At noon, you promised my cousin you’d take good care of her, and now Qianqian ended up in the water. If Shui Lian hadn’t passed by coincidentally, I can’t even imagine! If anything happened to Qianqian, you’d better think about how you’d compensate for it."

Xu’s mother also frowned with discontent and said, "Yiyuan, honestly, how could you leave your own daughter with an outsider? Qianqian, my precious Qianqian, hasn’t suffered anything like this since she was born." Normally, it would be rude to say things like this in front of others, and the ’outsider’ obviously referred to Tian Sangsang. But now her granddaughter had fallen into the water, and Xu’s mother’s dislike for Tian Sangsang had grown stronger. The fact that she could still vent her emotions rationally instead of resorting to physical action was already commendable. She made it a point to deliberately say these words in front of Tian Sangsang.

Ever since their family had come to know her, troubles had increased.

"I’m sorry, truly sorry," Tian Sangsang apologized sincerely. No amount of explanations would help; ultimately, the accident happened while the child was under her care.

She turned to look at Xu Yiyuan. His gaze was indifferent as he stared fixedly at the hospital room door. Tian Sangsang suddenly felt a pang of sorrow.

Shui Lian said, "Auntie, Fangfang, Sangsang has business to handle at home, so it’s understandable that she wasn’t entirely focused on watching the child. What’s done is done; Qianqian fell into the water, and we can’t turn back time by talking about it. Let’s just hope she’s okay. Once bitten, twice shy—let’s be more careful in the future."

Xu’s mother was uneasy—this was her granddaughter, after all; how could she not worry? However, after Shui Lian’s comforting words, she felt her nervousness ease somewhat. "Luckily you were the one who saw her today, otherwise... sigh!"

After some time, a doctor dressed in a white coat emerged. "Fortunately, the child was rescued in time. She swallowed some water, but nothing serious. With proper rest and care for a few days, she’ll recover fully."

"Thank you, thank you, doctor," Xu’s mother said gratefully. "Can we go in to see her?"

"Yes," the doctor replied with a sigh. "A child so young, to have fallen into the water like that... luckily it’s not winter, or there might’ve been long-term health issues."

Yao Fangfang, the more she heard, the angrier she became as she looked at Tian Sangsang. She immediately stopped her: "You should just leave. There’s nothing for you to do here. Qianqian wouldn’t want to see you."

Though Tian Sangsang was deeply concerned for Qianqian, the relationship between the two families wasn’t strong. Since Qianqian was now out of danger, and the family had said such things, she couldn’t insist on staying.

"Don’t worry. Qianqian’s fine, and we’ll take good care of her," Xu Yiyuan said, a hint of fatigue in his expression.

"Alright." Tian Sangsang bowed slightly and looked at him apologetically. "I’m truly sorry. You entrusted Qianqian to me, yet in no time..."

"She’s alright, that’s all that matters. You don’t need to blame yourself," Xu Yiyuan said with an air of detachment.

The more indifferent his tone, the tighter Tian Sangsang felt the pang in her heart, as though she were suffocating.

After falling into the water, Xu Xixi had become unwilling to be close to anyone, except for wanting to stay in Xu Yiyuan’s arms. During this period, Tian Sangsang brought her meals several times, but the Xu Family was cold toward her, and Xu Xixi merely responded with disinterest. Today, Shui Lian visited the hospital room to see Xu Xixi, bringing along a pile of snacks and toys popular among young girls.

"Qianqian," Shui Lian said gently, sitting by the bedside.

"Shui... Aunt Shui..." Xu Xixi’s clear, almond-shaped eyes glinted with fear.

"Look what Auntie brought for you—a bunny hairclip, headbands, White Rabbit candies... all the things Qianqian likes, right?"

Xu Xixi pursed her pale lips and stared blankly at her. This cheerful aunt today was nothing like the terrifying aunt from yesterday.

Shui Lian seemed to ignore her frightened expression, speaking to herself. "Qianqian, what you did this time was very brave. See, after you fell into the water, your Aunt Sangsang can’t be your mother anymore. So, Qianqian, don’t blame me, okay? I pushed you into the water for your own good. It’s alright now; everything will be fine moving forward. I’ll take good care of you."

She held Xu Xixi close in her arms.

Xu Xixi trembled uncontrollably in her embrace.

At that moment, the door creaked open. Xiao Yiyuan walked in and, upon seeing Shui Lian, nodded amicably. "You’re here to see Qianqian again."

"Yes, I was worried she might develop psychological scars. Talking to her helps calm her fears," Shui Lian replied with a smile.

"We’re lucky to have you," Xu Yiyuan said softly, his eyes slowly growing moist as he seemed to drift into memories.

"When I saw Qianqian lying in the hospital bed, it reminded me of Xiao Wei lying there back then. I was busy working in the city at the time, hardly ever at home, and I never cared about Xiao Wei the way I should have. Then she passed away suddenly—I failed her. If Qianqian ended up like her, I’d never be able to forgive myself."

"Qianqian’s doing well now," Shui Lian reassured him. "If Xiao Wei knew how you are now, she’d rest in peace."

Xu Yiyuan feebly nodded, saying no more. Resting in peace wouldn’t change anything. During her lifetime, he hadn’t fulfilled his duties as a husband; only after her death did he regret. The hardest thing in life to obtain is a cure for regret.

"Xiao Wei was truly lucky. Honestly, I’ve always envied her," Shui Lian said, her eyes betraying a hint of bitterness. "Because of that, you could reject me. Do you really intend to go your whole life without plans for remarriage?"

Xu Yiyuan now viewed Shui Lian as no more than a regular friend, not as someone who cared for him romantically. He spoke frankly: "Given my circumstances, I don’t want to entangle another woman. And I won’t compromise when it comes to Qianqian. So, I’ve never considered remarriage."

"What about Tian Sangsang, then?" Shui Lian lowered her gaze thoughtfully. "You treat her differently. Is it because she reminds you of Xiao Wei? I remember Xiao Wei had a darker complexion, though she wasn’t as plump. But both are simple and kind."

Xu Yiyuan paused and gazed outside the window, lost in thought.

From the bed, Xu Xixi seemed to grasp only snippets of their conversation. Suddenly, she puffed her cheeks and said sweetly, "Daddy, I’m hungry."

In the hallway, Tian Sangsang stood pressed against the wall, wiping her tear-streaked face. Quickly, she walked forward and, seeing a trash bin by the wall, tossed the meal she had brought into it.

How laughable. The tears streamed down Tian Sangsang’s face, blurring her vision until she could no longer see the way home. She hadn’t even experienced love, yet she felt she’d already lost it. She had once believed that love called for courage to pursue it—but pursue what? He never planned to marry anyone. From the beginning, his kindness toward her was simply because she reminded him of his late wife.

Crying all the way home, Tian Sangsang saw Meng Shuyan and held his small body tightly in her arms. She broke down into sobs, choking out, "My son, it seems Mommy was destined to grow old alone. Mommy only has you. Later, you have to find Mommy a good daughter-in-law. She doesn’t need to be beautiful, just kind and filial. Waaaa~~~"