Xie Jingyi was staring at Wang Xue, who was sitting in a wheelchair on the private ward. He was just standing there quietly; he wasn't sure how many seconds,minutes, or hours he had been standing here. The look in his eyes was full of sorrow, regrets, and sorry for the girl in the wheelchair.
"President Xie."
Xie Jingyi finally snapped from his thoughts as he turned around to face the doctor who was examining Wang Xue.
The doctor who was examining the patient bowed slightly. He approached Xie Jingyi, who was currently the guardian of the girl.
"How is she?"
The doctor let out a deep sigh, hugging the chart as he looked at Wang Xue with pity. "It would take some time for her to be back to normal. It would be good if she took some therapy."
The doctor then gave out a detailed report regarding her condition. The doctor was aware of what kind of things the patient went through, and even he couldn't believe that she had been through such horror. Although the doctor was also aware the patient was previously Xie Jingyi's fiancee, he admired Xie Jingyi for taking care of the patient despite his situation.
"We just have to believe in her. She'll probably open up to the therapist soon enough,," the doctor added.
"Do everything you can to help her recover," Xie Jingyi said in a low voice. "Give her the best treatment and notify me if there's an improvement. She's a pitiful woman who has given through a lot; her family was even destroyed."
"Yes, President Xie," the doctor said with determination. "I will do everything in my power to help Miss Wang recover."
"You're a good man," the doctor said softly. "Most wouldn't do what you're doing for her."
Xie Jingyi didn't respond. He simply glanced back at Wang Xiu, who seemed so small and fragile in the wheelchair. "I owe her this much."
Xie Jingyi remained silent for a moment as the doctor walked him out.
The doctor bowed slightly, knowing better than to push further.
As he turned to leave, he hesitated for a moment. "Will you be visiting your wife next?"
Xie Jingyi's icy glare was enough of a response.
The doctor quickly lowered his head. "My apologies, sir."
Xie Jingyi didn't say anything.
He didn't stay for a long time as he sauntered off, putting his hands in his pocket.
The doctor stayed silent as he looked at Xie Jingyi's back, turning to the other side of the hall.
"Poor man. What's the use of such wealth when his wife is hospitalized?" He shook his head gently.
Although the Xie family kept everything private, some people still know what's going on, especially those who were in the same circle as the Xie family.
Not long ago, the second young master of the Xie family was proclaimed dead. His ex-fiance was now hospitalized.
The most tragic thing about Wang Xue was that she had been hospitalized for about two years and a half, and she didn't even know his fiance, now his ex-fiancee, was now married.
There was a lot of speculation, such as that it was just a contractual engagement between them or that she wasn't really his fiance.
What everyone knew was that she wasn't his wife.
"He managed to protect his wife, but..." The doctor sighed in pity, looking at the young woman in a wheelchair.
"Miss Wang Xue." The doctor called as he told her that it was time for her to drink her medicine and rest.
After Xie Jingyi visited Wang Xue, he immediately went to the top floor, where VVIP patients were admitted.
The VVIP ward was silent except for the faint hum of machines.
Standing in front of one of the particular doors, he was just standing there quietly, clenching his fist. There were a lot of emotions inside him, such as longing, nervousness, and fear.
"I wonder if she remembers who I am today," he wondered before opening the door.
When Xie Jingyi opened the door, there was someone inside he didn't expect.
It was Yang Yichen, her only brother, and relatives left.
"Yichen," he called softly.
He had been visiting frequently here, so he thought he wouldn't visit today.
Yang Yichen simply cast him a look; he didn't even bother to nod at him. Xie Jingyi let out a shallow breath and smiled weakly as he sat on the other chair.
"She had already fallen asleep," he said coldly.
Xie Jingyi stayed silent, afraid that he might say something that would trigger Yang Yichen. He had been sensitive since her health had been deteriorating lately.
Yang Yichen didn't bother to respond, his gaze never leaving his sister. The silence was suffocating.
"I'll stay tonight," Xie Jingyi offered, taking a step forward.
Yang Yichen scoffed, his voice cold and biting. "Stay? To do what? Watch her suffer because of you?"
Xie Jingyi flinched but said nothing.
"I'm sorry," Xie Jingyi whispered, his voice trembling. "But I'll do whatever it takes to make things right."
Yang Yichen laughed bitterly. "Make things right? Don't make me laugh, Xie Jingyi. You can't undo the damage you've caused."
Yang Yichen's heart felt so stuffy, seeing his only sister lie on the hospital bed.
Yang Qinru, Yang Yichen's sister, was suffering from psychosis. But that wasn't what scared him the most; it was when she would suddenly cough up blood. Whenever that happened, it was like his heart was being ripped out.
No family member could bear watching such a sight.
"If only I could... I would willingly be the one to suffer such pain," he said, his voice trembling.
Yang Yichen then held her hand; it was cold, which made him sob quietly. "Xiao Ru, brother, is sorry for everything, please. Just get better."
Yang Yichen was crying while apologizing. Meanwhile, Xie Jingyi hung his head low.
Xie Jingyi remained silent. This wasn't the first time he saw Yang Yichen cry while looking at his sister. But it was still painful to witness; after all, he was the reason why this was happening.
When he was left alone, sitting beside the bed where Yang Qinru was sleeping, he would reach her hand. He would squeeze her hand softly, his eyes looking at her apologetically.
He didn't say anything and just sat there, staring at her, wondering why... Was his life so tragic?
Probably because he was sinful, coveting what wasn't his in the first place. This was his punishment—the punishment Yang Qinru gave him for everything that he had done.
Hours passed before her fingers twitched, and her eyes fluttered open.
"Qinru," Xie Jingyi called softly, leaning closer.
Her gaze was unfocused, but as her eyes settled on him, something flickered within them. Recognition? Confusion? Hatred?
"You..." she murmured, her voice hoarse.
Xie Jingyi's heart pounded. "It's me. I'm here, Qinru."
He bended over and held her hand.
He smiled lovingly at her, brushing the hair that was sticking on her cheeks. "Honey, are you hungry?"
Yang Qinru blinked slowly, looking down; she felt that this scene was familiar.
Seeing Yang Qinru not saying anything, he was anxious. He hoped that she wouldn't recognize him; he was okay with anything, even if she asked, "Who are you?" or even if she recognized him as 'him'.
Yang Qinru tilted her head to the side as she slowly lifted her arm to touch his cheeks. "It's funny. Seeing you reminds me of something... something... I really miss." She said as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Yang Qinru winced in pain; her head was starting to hurt again. She then saw a silver ring with a small ruby on her right finger.
A wedding ring. She can't remember anything, but she was sure that this was a wedding ring.
Xie Jingyi saw that Yang Qinru was looking at the ring, and he had a bad premonition.
"You..." Her lips trembled. "You're not... Xingxing"
Yang Qinru looked at the man in front of him. He looked like the Xingxing he was talking about, yet she knew he wasn't him.
"Qingru." He called.
Yang Qinru looked at him and saw that his eyes looked like they were hurting.
Ha. If he was hurting, then she was the worst. She felt miserable! She wanted to die!
"Don't call my name!" Yang Qinru yelled. She looked around and saw she was in a hospital. She tried remembering something, but some of her memory was blank.
The last thing she remembered was Xingxing dying in front of her.
"Qinru, please..."
"Don't touch me, or I'll kill myself," she threatened as she started crying hysterically. She cried as she kept calling the name 'Xingxing'.
Her sobs drowned out his words. She clutched at the sheets, calling out the name of a man who wasn't him—a man he could never be.
She hated him more than anyone in this world, and him? He loved her more than anyone in his world.
All she cared about was that bastard, not even sparing him a glance. He thought it was unfair for him to know her first and love her first.
He thought that as long as he persisted, his feelings would bear fruit. But he was wrong; the feelings he held more than anything turned out to be the ones that made her hate him.
Her hate towards him wasn't one-sided; the feelings were mutual.
Yet, despite the deep hatred he had for her, his love for her was just as intense. He hated her death, yet he loved her more than he loved himself, which was driving him insane.
"President Xie." The doctors and nurse called outside the ward.
"It's okay," Xie Jingyi said. "We're fine. Don't scare her."
"But..." One of the doctors was about to say something.
"Enough!" Xie Jingyi shouted. He was panting heavily, and his heart was heavy.
The doctors and nurses looked at each other in worry.
It was obvious this wasn't the first time this happened. There were times that Yang Qinru would forget him; sometimes she would be aggressive and yell at him, but the most often she would cry while hugging Xie Jingyi and call another name.