Cheng Xi was happy to see his mother. However, his severed hand was dangling from his empty sleeve, making him appear especially sad.
"My child!" A deep pain appeared in Ning Tangxi's eyes. "I'm here. Don't be afraid!"
Cheng Xi threw himself into his mother's embrace.
Ning Tangxi looked at Gu Ruochu with a sense of wariness and disgust.
Gu Ruochu did not react. She simply put down the storybook in her hand and stood up to leave.
As she made her way towards the door, Gu Ruochu subconsciously raised her head and bumped into Huo Nanchen.
She had not seen him for the past few days. His body exuded a cold and stern aura, and his thin lips were curled into a smirk.
Gu Ruochu averted her gaze and brushed past him. It turned out that he had gone to fetch Ning Tangxi and bring her to Country M.
Li Tezhu stood calmly outside the ward. Huo Nanchen signaled for him to get in and carry Cheng Xi out.
"Gu Ruochu, are you satisfied with my son's current state?" Ning Tangxi roared at Gu Ruochu. "I won't let you off! You are responsible for my son's sorry state."
The ward fell silent. Gu Ruochu shot a cold look at Ning Tangxi and replied, "Ning Tangxi, did I shirk my responsibility? Was I the one who performed the surgery on Cheng Xi? Did I abandon Cheng Xi's side during his surgery?"
Ning Tangxi's breathing was short and rough as she glared at Gu Ruochu condescendingly.
"Ning Tangxi, you always act as if the whole world has let you down. The truth is that you are responsible for all of your mistakes. It's not right to build a memorial when you're a white lotus flower."
Gu Ruochu's words hurt Ning Tangxi, and her heart ached as she sighed, "I admit that I've been irresponsible, but have you forgotten how Cheng Xi injured his hand? Ruochu, you're still at fault for his accident."
"Is that so?"
Gu Ruochu paused and looked at Huo Nanchen. There was no emotion in his deep, dark eyes.
She did not want to bother with Ning Tangxi anymore. Gu Ruochu walked towards the door and kept her gaze on Huo Nanchen.
"Huo Nanchen, can I talk to you for a moment?"
Huo Nanchen acknowledged her and followed her out.
"When do you plan on returning to Nan Cheng?" Gu Ruochu asked.
"I'll have to stay until Cheng Xi is completely recovered. He's still so young. The doctors want to fit him with a prosthetic arm..."
Huo Nanchen suddenly laughed sarcastically and said in a cold tone. "Ruochu, it's my fault for not protecting him. Have you ever had a helpless feeling when you know that you can't do anything to help the person you love?"
Gu Ruochu did not answer him. She only turned around and hugged him before letting him go. At that moment, her heart was in pain.
Huo Nanchen was in pain, and she could not do anything about it.
Gu Ruochu lowered her eyes and nodded, "All right. I'll head back to Nan Cheng. Take care of yourself."
She turned around and slowly walked away from Huo Nanchen.
"Ruochu!" Huo Nanchen called her from behind.
"Hmm?"
Gu Ruochu turned around and tried to maintain her composure as she looked at him.
"Do you know what oath I swore to Yue Chen before he drowned in the river?" Huo Nanchen's eyes seemed to have lost focus as his thin lips curled into an indifferent smile.