Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
At long last, the two women were finally done with the humiliation. Perhaps, they were too angry. However, that had nothing to do with Xia Ruoxin. She put her hand down and turned around to walk towards that small box.
“Rainy, come to Mommy.” She stretched her hands out. She might have been beaten, but towards her daughter, she was always smiling.
“Mommy,” Rainy called out to her softly as she made her way out from behind the box. She dropped Dolly on the floor and embraced Xia Ruoxin’s neck with both hands.
“Mommy, does it hurt? Let me blow.” Rainy started blowing at Xia Ruoxin’s cheek. A layer of tears had clouded her bright eyes.
“It’s not painful for Mommy. Rainy, you can stop now.” She wiped her daughter’s tears off her little face before picking the doll up from the floor. She placed the doll into her child’s arms before putting her hand at the back of her tiny head.
It was all her fault. She had made her baby cry.
“Let’s go back.” Xia Ruoxin refused to talk about what happened earlier. Whatever happened was between the grown-ups. The adults would handle the problem. It had nothing to do with her young daughter. The child only needed to know that her mother loves her.
She scooped her daughter up and made her way back to the hospital. Rainy lay sprawling on Xia Ruoxin’s shoulders with her eyes closed. However, there were other emotions on her face which shouldn’t have appeared on an innocent child. All of a sudden, she seemed to have matured a lot.
Her tiny hands tightened together and were released. Then, she clutched Xia Ruoxin’s blouse, refusing to let go.
Once they were back at the hospital, Rainy fell asleep after her injection. Xia Ruoxin sat by her bed, arranged Dolly properly, and tucked her daughter’s tiny frame into the blanket.
“Miss Xia.” The doctor lowered his voice, worried that he’d wake the child who had just fallen asleep.
“What is it, Doctor?” Xia Ruoxin turned around. Half her face was still swollen. However, the doctor was smart enough not to question her. He was getting used to seeing her like this. She always had some injuries on her. He was puzzled and often wondered if she felt the pain.
“It’s like this, Miss Xia.” The doctor recollected his thoughts quickly. “Mr. Chu will be coming tomorrow to visit Rainy. We will also be discussing the details of the operation with him. Please prepare yourself.”
The doctor finished talking, but he didn’t notice the rigidness in Xia Ruoxin’s body.
“I understand. I will be prepared.” Xia Ruoxin nodded and turned back to pat her daughter’s shoulder in a dazed. Rainy, do you know? You will be seeing your father tomorrow. He does not know of your existence, and he won’t recognize you. Do you know? He will be saving you unknowingly.
Even though she felt bitter in her heart, she managed a smile. It was faint yet filled with satisfaction. She did not yearn for anything. As long as she had her daughter, she was willing to bear the bad name. She lay her hand against her face, and she could clearly felt the pain at the mere touch of her palm. As long as her daughter could be cured, she did not mind getting a few more slaps.
“Rainy, my darling baby, sleep well and be brave. We will be out of here soon, and you won’t have to be in pain anymore.” She rested her hand gently on her daughter’s face. Tears slid down her face from the corner of her eyes. Hastily, she reached out to wipe them off; but one teardrop fell on the back of her hand and began to smudge.
“You need not suffer anymore in the future, and you will get to live for a very long time. Mommy has not had the chance to send you to school. I know you are intelligent. You will be a model elementary school student.”
She smiled, but a roll of cold tears slid down her face.
The life she wanted was very simple. That was all.
Should there be any more suffering, let her be the one to bear them. Her daughter was too young. She only wanted her to grow up healthy into an adult. Rays of sunlight refracted on the window and shone on Xia Ruoxin and her daughter. It brought her a sense of tiny warmth.
Their world was really too cold.
At that moment—in the old Chu manor, Li Manni sat uneasily and wordlessly on the sofa. Chu Lui’s parents were present as well. They, too, were silent.
“Ah Lui, are you sure about this?”
Song Wan walked over to her son and put her hand on his shoulder. He might be reaching thirty years old and a married man, but to her, he would always be her child. She did not wish for him to do something this dangerous.
“Yes, Mom. I want to save that child. Besides, the doctor said it’s a simple bone marrow withdrawal. It will not cause any harm to my body. You can stop worrying.” Chu Lui’s voice sounded extremely mature and calm as he replied.
It was just a small procedure, similar to a blood donation. The promise was made when he registered. Since they had found him, he had no reason to decline. He had decided, and nothing would change his mind.
“Lui.” Li Manni bit gently on her red lips as she reached out to tug Chu Lui’s shirt. She did not want him to do it as well. After all, it was harmful to the body.
Chu Lui’s expression became somber as he pursed his lips tightly. His father sat at a side. He was the one with the most authority and most suited to voice his opinion.
Chu Jiang stood up, walked towards his wife, and held her. “I agree with Ah Lui on the matter.” His voice sounded strong and bright. Song Wan tugged at his sleeve. She had wanted him to persuade their son, not instigate him.
Agree? What had he just agreed to? What if something went amiss and their son was harmed? He was their only son.
“A member of the Chu family must be responsible. Besides, it involves a child who is only three years old. That child is innocent. We should help her. We may not know her, but that is a life. If I am a suitable donor for her, I will also do it. Not to mention Ah Lui.”
At the mention of a three-year-old child, Song Wan sighed; and she put her hand down. Her husband was right. The child was only three years old. If her son did not save her, the child would definitely lose her life.
Song Wan was a kind woman by nature. As soon as she heard that it was for a child, she relented.
“Are you sure it is safe?” she asked, still feeling concerned. “Is it really safe? Are you sure you’ll be fine?”
“Mom, you can rest assured that everything will be fine.” Chu Lui’s expression was serious as he promised his mother. As a son, he did not wish to worry his mother. However, he was a rational and mature man. On top of that, he was also a responsible man.
