She continued, “I can’t help but be reminded of my father. My father passed away because he tried to save me. Because of that, my mother sent me away to live in the countryside and left me to my own devices. However, it doesn’t matter. I still hold the same amount of respect for my father that I always had. He’s incredibly noble and respectable. He continued to live on in my heart, even until today. He was a remarkable father, and I’ll always be proud to have him as my father. Cousin had met with a traffic accident just like I did, yet her mother actually reacted so differently from my father. I can’t help but gasp in shock and feel sympathetic for Cousin. Second Aunt, I think you’re a rare breed amongst all parents. Very few parents in this world would watch their child die in front of them for the sake of keeping their own life. Even though you’re still alive now, you’ll forever be dead to Cousin.”
She raised her goblet and took a sip of red wine slowly.
Surprisingly, the elderly Mr. Mu did not lose his temper. Instead, he said, “Apart from her obstinate and capricious nature, Wansheng has always been an obedient child. If only that didn’t happen. She would have gotten married to Chief Fan and he wouldn’t be marrying someone else now.”
Wu Pingyang butted in, “The fact that Fan Shixin is getting married less than a year after Cousin’s death just goes to show that he doesn’t truly love her. If he truly loved her, shouldn’t he remain a bachelor for the rest of his life?”
Glaring at her angrily, Mr. Mu chided, “Stop trying to sow discord. He’s the only child in his family. Even if he doesn’t want to get married, his parents wouldn’t allow him to stay single. Besides, Wansheng has already passed away and we can’t expect him to stay single forever even if they were already married. It’d be too unreasonable.”
Mu Qixing chimed in, “You’re right, Grandpa. Pingyang, are you even that loyal yourself? How shameless and thick-skinned of you to be making such a remark.”
Too furious for words, Wu Pingyang rolled her eyes in annoyance. As soon as she did, she quickly looked down after realizing that Lu Jingrao had caught her in the act.
——
After New Year’s, Mu Wansheng was admitted to the hospital, where she waited to go into labor.
She had to deliver the fetus via a Cesarean section.
The gynecologist had suggested that she undergo a Cesarean section instead because the fetus had too large of a head and also because the umbilical cord was coiled twice around the fetus’ neck, hence making it difficult for her to deliver naturally.
Mu Wansheng did not mind going under the knife as long as her child could be delivered safely.
Since the surgery was to be performed in the morning, she was told to fast and skip breakfast, lest she gets nauseous during the surgery.
She and Tang Yucheng agreed.
The ward she was staying in was a double-bedded ward. Since the bed beside hers wasn’t occupied, Tang Yucheng could take the other bed.
“Happy, get some rest on your own first while I go out to buy some items like milk bottles, diapers, and other necessities. I heard from my sister-in-law that you won’t be… lactating right after labor, so I’ll have to get some milk formula for the baby.”
“Alright, go ahead, but be careful.”
“Okay,” Tang Yucheng said before leaving.
Tang Yucheng had long sewn the blanket that would be wrapped around the infant. It was an easy task for him, for he had picked up sewing ever since his parents passed away.
At the thought of her child’s arrival the following day, Mu Wansheng could not help but feel nervous and agitated. Even until now, she still did not know the gender of her child.
Regardless of the gender, she would love him or her nonetheless, because it would still be her flesh and blood.
She waited patiently for Tang Yucheng’s return. Half an hour later, the door was pushed open, and Mu Wansheng frantically sat up. “Has everything been settled?”
She did not cover her face at all because she was indoors. After all, the headdress was rather suffocating.
Hence, the person who barged into the ward managed to see her face clearly.
“Wan… Wan… Wansheng?” Zuo Xingwei asked in astonishment.
Upon hearing his voice, Mu Wansheng frantically put on her headdress and remained silent.
Zuo Xingwei sat on the bed and pressed his hands on her shoulders. “Wansheng, it’s you, right? You’re still alive! What’s wrong with your face?”
“You’re mistaken.”
“Mu Wansheng, I’ll never mistake someone else to be you! Didn’t you already die? What’s going on?”
Mu Wansheng struggled to break free and said, “You really got the wrong person.”
“No, I didn’t. You are Wansheng, aren’t you?” Zuo Xingwei said firmly. He wouldn’t have been able to recognize her if he did not see her face. However, he managed to do so at the instant that he saw her disfigured face.
Although her scars were too terrifying, Zuo Xingwei was too familiar with her appearance, and he could still recognize her despite her current appearance.
“I said, you’ve gotten the wrong person. Please get out of my ward!” Mu Wansheng exclaimed agitatedly while struggling to speak.
“Wansheng, don’t be like this. I won’t tell anyone that it’s you. Just believe me this once. I really won’t spill the beans!”
Zuo Xingwei grabbed her wrist and continued, “I know it’s you. I know it’s you. I really didn’t expect you to still be alive. I’m so glad you’re alive.”
Mu Wansheng let out a long sigh. Seeing that he had already recognized her, she had no choice but to say, “If you really want me to live well, please don’t tell anyone that you have seen me. Don’t come and look me up again either. I’ve already married someone else and we’re living a stable life. I’m begging you, will you leave me alone!?!”
Staring at her with tears in his eyes, Zuo Xingwei said, “Wansheng, you…”
“Zuo Xingwei, my life has already been ruined and I don’t have a future anymore. Please let me live the rest of my life in peace, will you?”
Upon hearing her melancholic voice, he conceded, “Alright, I promise I won’t tell anyone. Rest assured.”
“Leave. Just pretend that you didn’t see me today.”
Seeing that she was about to deliver, Zuo Xingwei turned around to leave without uttering a single word.
He didn’t expect to discover that she was still alive.
Zuo Xingwei was devastated and upset to see the state that she was in now.
He resented himself for failing to treasure her. If only he did…
However, no one could turn back time.
Mu Wansheng could not get a grip on her emotions. When Tang Yucheng returned, she said in frustration, “Yucheng, we must move to another ward. Someone recognized me.”
Tang Yucheng immediately asked, “Someone recognized you?”
“My first boyfriend did. I had no idea how he managed to enter, but I wasn’t wearing my headdress and he recognized me immediately.”
“Wait for me while I settle the transfer procedures.”
“Yes.”
