The past two days had been agonizing for Xiao Zhan. He had called Sang Zhi more times than he could count, sent countless messages, even stopped by her apartment, but each attempt went unanswered. Her sudden disappearance weighed on him, a dull ache of worry that refused to ease. His mind raced with all the possible scenarios, each one worse than the last.
By the second evening, he could no longer sit idle. Anxiety gnawed at him, an urgent whisper that kept telling him something was terribly wrong. Deciding he couldn't wait any longer, he drove to her apartment building, hoping he'd find some clue as to where she was or why she had gone silent.
When he arrived, the housekeeper was there, a kind, elderly woman who had been working there for years and knew both him and Sang Zhi well. She greeted him with a solemn nod, and he noticed the worry etched in her face.
"Good evening," Xiao Zhan said, his voice a mixture of politeness and urgency. "Do you know where Sang Zhi is? I've been trying to reach her, but she hasn't answered."
The housekeeper sighed, her face softening with sympathy. "Oh, Mr. Xiao, I thought you would have known by now," she said, her voice heavy with sadness. "Miss Sang's mother… she was in a terrible car accident two days ago. Miss Sang's been at the hospital ever since."
Xiao Zhan felt the world tilt slightly, her words crashing over him with a force that left him momentarily speechless. "Her mother… in an accident?" he echoed, his voice barely a whisper.
The housekeeper nodded, sympathy evident in her gaze. "Yes. She's in critical condition, I hear. Miss Sang has been by her side all day and night. She hasn't left the hospital since."
Without another word, Xiao Zhan turned and sprinted back to his car, his heart pounding with a new sense of urgency. The worry he'd been feeling these past few days now crystallized into sharp, immediate concern. He couldn't imagine what Sang Zhi was going through—her mother was her world, the person she cherished most. He had to be there for her, to offer her whatever comfort he could.
The drive to the hospital was a blur. His mind raced with memories of Sang Zhi's mother, her warm smile, her kind voice. She'd always been welcoming to him, treating him like family. The thought of her lying there, possibly fighting for her life, was almost too much to bear.
When he arrived at the hospital, he rushed to the ICU waiting area, where he found Sang Zhi sitting alone, her eyes red and swollen, her face pale. She was staring into the distance, her expression one of quiet devastation, a reflection of the exhaustion and heartbreak she'd been through.
"Sang Zhi…" he called softly, his voice filled with a gentleness he reserved only for her.
Her head lifted, and her eyes widened as she took in his presence. For a moment, she seemed too stunned to react, as if she were trying to confirm that he was real, that he was actually there.
Without a second thought, Xiao Zhan closed the distance between them and wrapped her in his arms, pulling her close, holding her with all the warmth and strength he could muster. She froze for a brief second, and then, like a dam breaking, she collapsed against him, burying her face in his chest as the tears she had been holding back finally spilled over.
"I… I can't…" she choked out between sobs, her voice breaking. "I don't know what to do. I'm so scared, Xiao Zhan. I'm so, so scared…"
He tightened his hold, running a comforting hand through her hair as he murmured softly, "I'm here. I'm here for you, Sang Zhi. You're not alone. I promise, you're not alone."
She clung to him, her body wracked with sobs as she poured out all the fear and sorrow she'd been bottling up. He could feel her trembling in his arms, and it tore at his heart to see her in so much pain. He wished he could take it all away, to shoulder her grief, to ease the weight that was crushing her. But he knew all he could do was be there, to hold her and let her know that she wasn't alone.
Minutes passed, but he stayed with her, unwavering, a silent anchor in her storm. Gradually, her sobs began to subside, and she leaned into him, drawing comfort from his warmth and steady presence. She took a shaky breath, pulling back slightly, though her gaze remained on the ground, as if she were still gathering the strength to meet his eyes.
"I've… I've tried to be strong," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But it's so hard. I keep thinking… what if… what if she doesn't…"
"Don't think like that," he interrupted gently, his hand still resting on her shoulder. "Your mom's a fighter, Sang Zhi. And you're here for her. You're doing everything you can."
She nodded, though a new tear escaped down her cheek. "I just feel so helpless. There's nothing I can do but wait, and it's killing me. I can't bear to lose her, Xiao Zhan. I just… I can't."
He reached out, gently wiping away the tear on her cheek, his touch soft and comforting. "You don't have to bear this alone," he said, his voice steady. "Whatever happens, I'm here for you. I'll stay with you as long as you need."
Her eyes finally met his, and he saw the raw vulnerability in her gaze, the pain and fear she had been carrying alone for days. It broke his heart, but he held her gaze, letting her see the sincerity in his own eyes, the unwavering support he was offering her.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath. "I… I don't know what I would have done without you."
He shook his head, a soft, reassuring smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You don't have to thank me, Sang Zhi. I care about you, and I'll be here, no matter what."
For the first time in days, Sang Zhi felt a flicker of warmth in the cold emptiness that had been consuming her. Xiao Zhan's presence, his strength, his unwavering support—they were a lifeline in the storm she was drowning in, a reminder that she wasn't alone, that someone was there to catch her if she fell.
They sat together in silence, her head resting on his shoulder, her hand still clutching his as they waited for whatever news might come. The hours passed slowly, but Xiao Zhan never wavered, his presence a quiet, steady comfort as he stayed by her side, giving her the strength she needed to face the uncertain road ahead.