Volume 1, Chapter 141: I Beg You to Save Xiaobei, Mother

The group went out to eat together, leaving Mingting behind.

Mingting returned to his empty home; the cold stove and silent kitchen made his heart feel icy.

Lighting a cigarette on the sofa, he smoked quietly, unable to understand how his life had come to this.

He often recalled the days when Sheng was by his side. Back then, he had just taken over the company and was extremely busy, hardly ever at home. Yet every time he returned and saw Sheng, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

That satisfaction was more a feeling of peace.

Sheng was emotionally steady, never complaining to him, managing their life meticulously. With such a secure home base, he could charge forward without worries.

Even when Cong fell ill later, both he and Sheng were emotionally low. He knew Sheng often cried behind his back, but rarely in front of him.

Now, he realized that Sheng didn’t cry before him because she never truly saw him as one of her own.

Sheng never relied on him.

Was it because... he couldn’t be like Grandfather Jiu, who protected her recklessly?

Is that what love is?

—

During dinner that evening, Zhun’s eyes kept fixed on the two boys.

Xiaobei and Cong really got along well.

Sitting together, Xiaobei was the more talkative one, always fussing and leaning close to whisper to Cong now and then.

“This meatball is delicious, try it.”

“Ah, this dish is so spicy, my tongue’s all numb.”

Cong handed him some juice. “Take a few sips, calm down.”

Zhun was lost in thought, feeling increasingly uneasy.

“Second Brother, what are you looking at?” Sanshao snapped his fingers in front of Zhun. “Your gaze is like you’re eyeing a thief.”

Zhun said it was nothing.

Lintong looked at Zhun, their eyes briefly meeting mid-air.

“Xiaobei!”

Sheng’s urgent call made her stand up immediately. Everyone looked over, their faces changing.

Suddenly, Xiaobei had a nosebleed. Cong covered his nose, frowning. “Tilt your head back!”

Both boys were leukemia patients. Cong often had nosebleeds himself and was used to it, but seeing Xiaobei bleed like that made his heart clench painfully.

“I’ll handle it.”

Lintong stepped forward, taking Xiaobei from Sheng’s hands and told Sheng to take Cong to be tended to.

Cong’s hands were covered in blood, some dripping onto his clothes, looking even more alarming than Xiaobei.

Zhun and Sanshao also stood up.

“Should we go to the hospital?” Zhun asked.

Lintong checked Xiaobei’s forehead—no fever. It was probably just the air conditioning being too dry.

“It’s nothing. Just go borrow a first-aid kit.”

“I’ll go!” Sanshao hurried.

Sheng wiped Cong’s hands. Cong stared intently at Xiaobei, gently pushing Sheng toward him. “You’re the doctor. Take care of him.”

Cong looked up at Sheng. “Nosebleeds are really uncomfortable.”

As if pleading, Cong slightly bowed his head, tugged at Sheng’s clothes with his clean hand, then raised his eyes.

“Please, Mom.”

That long-lost word “Mom” stunned everyone in the room.

Xiaobei’s eyes went wide.

Sheng’s eyes suddenly reddened.

—

Lintong and Sheng were leukemia specialists; there was no real cause for panic.

But they were parents, and in moments like these, all theoretical knowledge was powerless against raw emotion. The heartache was undeniable.

Xiaobei was strong. Despite his nosebleed, he comforted the frightened adults. “I’m fine. It’s just too dry. The AC made me dizzy earlier. I’m okay now.”

Lintong said nothing, just looked at his son.

Sheng stroked his head. “You’re fine. But you’ll need to take a day off tomorrow. Dad will take you to the hospital for a regular check-up.”

“Ah, then...” Xiaobei looked at Cong. “Tomorrow, you’ll have to go to school by yourself.”

“No, I’ll go with you.”

The two boys sat close, holding hands tightly, their palms warm.

“I’ll have my dad take me for a check-up too.”

Xiaobei’s eyes brightened.

He didn’t like hospitals and was afraid of tests, but with Cong by his side, he wasn’t scared anymore.

“Sheng, can you do that?”

Xiaobei looked at Sheng, Cong turned to her too, their eyes full of pleading.

Sheng’s heart felt like it was soaked in water, sour and soft, her body tingling.

“Okay, I can,” she said, touching the faces of the two little ones. “I’ll arrange it.”

Sanshao’s car had a spacious backseat.

Xiaobei and Cong sat side by side, Lintong and Sheng sat together too.

Hands were held over there, and hands held here.

Lintong’s large hand enveloped Sheng’s, his thumb unconsciously stroking the back of her hand and fingers, a silent comfort.

Perhaps because of Xiaobei’s nosebleed, or maybe because Cong’s “Mom” had broken through Sheng’s defenses, she showed a rare vulnerability.

Someone usually so strong revealing fragility made one’s heart ache deeply.

Her fingers were squeezed twice, with a gentle but firm pressure. Sheng turned her head instinctively.

Her reddened eyes couldn’t be hidden.

Lintong saw her eyes glowing red and felt a sharp pang in his chest.

He squeezed her hand again, silently saying, “It’s okay, I’m here.”

—

Back home, Sheng called Mingting, telling him Cong wouldn’t be going home that night and would sleep at her place.

Even the least sensitive person could hear something was wrong in Sheng’s voice over the phone.

“What’s wrong, Sheng? Did something happen?”

“Nothing,” she paused, then didn’t hide it. “During dinner tonight, Xiaobei had a nosebleed. Cong was worried and wants to sleep with him.”

Mingting’s heart tightened. “Is Cong okay? Is he alright?”

“He’s fine, just a little scared.”

Sheng glanced inside. Lintong and Sanshao were helping the boys change out of their bloodied clothes and into clean ones, preparing to bathe them.

Zhun watched nearby, his eyes never blinking from the two boys.

Sheng continued, “If you have time tomorrow, come to the hospital with us. Cong needs a regular check-up. I’ll arrange for him and Xiaobei to go together. If you can’t make it, I’ll take him.”

“I’ll come!” Mingting immediately agreed. “I’ll come with you.”

“Okay.”

At this moment, Sheng spoke as a mother discussing matters with the father of her children. “Then come early tomorrow. After breakfast, we’ll go to the hospital together.”

After hanging up, Sheng approached, and Zhun finally turned to look at her.

“He’s really dedicated to the kids,” Zhun said.

Sheng knew “he” meant Mingting.

“Yes. After all, he’s their biological father.”

Hearing those words, “biological father,” Zhun raised an eyebrow.