If You Could Hear My Heart

Shen Shihan nodded, covered Mo Shuifu with the blanket, and then tiptoed out of the room.

After closing the door to the hospital room, the nurse led him to a quiet place.

“Sir, Doctor Zha has just sent a message through his assistant,” the nurse said with a grave expression.

Seeing her face, Shen Shihan braced himself, “What is it?”

“Doctor Zha said to prepare the patient’s family for the worst, as the situation is not optimistic,” the nurse whispered gravely.

Shen Shihan pursed his lips, remaining silent.

“Sir, I see Miss Mo is also very tired; it would be best to tell her gently and to avoid agitating her,” she advised.

Shen Shihan nodded, “I understand. Is there anything else?”

The nurse shook her head, “No, that’s all. Doctor Zha’s assistant said the surgery might be over in half an hour, so…”

Shen Shihan’s heart skipped a beat; he already had an inkling of the outcome of the surgery.

“Alright, I understand.”

“Then sir, I’ll go help out elsewhere. Call me if you need anything,” she said.

“Hmm.”

Shen Shihan slipped a hand into his pocket and stood by the window, silent.

After a long while, he lit a cigarette and silently watched everything outside the window.

In the springtime, countless willow catkins fluttered through the air. Shen Shihan’s chest felt hollow as he smoked one cigarette after another.

Life and death.

How was he going to tell her?

In the group, even with making countless major decisions, he had never hesitated like this, but at this moment, his heart was torn.

How was he going to tell her?

Just as Shen Shihan was about to leave the room, suddenly, the door to the operating room opened.

Across the long corridor, Shen Shihan looked up.

From there, it seemed like a century away, with dust obscuring the view, blurring the shape of the present world.

The doctors who had finished the surgery came out, removing their gloves and masks, silently washing their hands with sanitizer by the sink.

There was no smile on anyone’s face; the mood was very somber.

Shen Shihan recognized Doctor Zha and walked over to him.

“Doctor Zha, the surgery…”

The bespectacled man leading the group looked up, saw that it was Shen Shihan, and gestured, “Let’s talk over here.”

The two of them walked to a secluded corner where the doctor then shook his head and sighed, “We did everything we could, but the patient’s brain injury was too severe, and given the head impact from the fall, there was nothing more we could do.”

Shen Shihan’s heart still throbbed violently, even though he was fully prepared.

As composed as he was, he felt an immense desolation in his heart…

He truly didn’t know how Mo Shuifu would react when she found out…

“Doctor Zha, thank you for your efforts,” he said.

“No need to thank me, I couldn’t save the patient’s life,” Doctor Zha apologized with regret.

“Has the patient stopped breathing?” Shen Shihan asked.

“Yes, there are no signs of life left,” Doctor Zha replied truthfully.

“I see.”

“Then, Mr. Shen, I’ll take my leave first.”

Shen Shihan nodded and Doctor Zha left, heading back to his team.

Shen Shihan slowly entered the operating room and immediately saw Mo Shuifu’s mother lying on the bed.

She lay there just as he had seen her before, quiet and still, as if she had never woken up.

She had left this world quietly.

Shen Shihan slowly crouched down near the bed.

“You can rest in peace, I will take good care of Shuifu. All my life, I will cherish her as my own life,” Shen Shihan said softly.

Of course, no one would respond to him, and the operating room remained just as quiet.

Shen Shihan knew that Mo Shuifu’s mother’s suicide was entirely to alleviate Shuifu’s suffering, not wanting to be a burden to her any longer.

She must have seen the astronomical medical bills upon waking and knew that Shuifu’s tender shoulders couldn’t bear it.

She had fulfilled her daughter in her own way.

Of course, she also fulfilled herself.

As the clock ticked on slowly, after staying a long time in the operating room, Shen Shihan finally stood up and decided to go find Mo Shuifu.

No matter what, it had become a reality, and he had to make it clear to her.

In the high-level ward, an IV bag of glucose was almost empty. Mo Shuifu was still in a coma, not awakened.

Shen Shihan sat by her bed, waiting until all the glucose had been administered.

He removed the IV needle from her hand.

Maybe he hurt her, her fingers trembled slightly as she slowly opened her eyes.

“Why did I pass out… Shen Shihan, is the surgery over?” She supported her head, trying to sit up.

Shen Shihan held her shoulders, his eyes fixed on her intensely.

His expression was solemn as he quietly watched Mo Shuifu.

“Shuifu, I have something to tell you, and you must stay calm,” he said.

Upon hearing this, Mo Shuifu’s heart skipped a beat, and she instantly understood what was going on.

“Has something happened to my mom? Was there a problem with the surgery?” She pushed Shen Shihan’s hands away and tried to get out of bed.

“Shuifu, be calm, listen to me,” Shen Shihan held her back.

“Let me go see if the surgery is finished. Why didn’t you wake me? Shen Shihan!”

“Shuifu! Listen to me, the surgery wasn’t successful, so your aunt has… already left us.”

Mo Shuifu froze, her vision blank, her mind echoing with Shen Shihan’s last few words “your aunt has already left us”…

“Shen Shihan, why didn’t you wake me? Why?” she asked.

“Shuifu, don’t be impulsive, wait a moment, I’ll take you to see your aunt, but you must accept this reality.”

“My mom must have had something to say to me. Shen Shihan, why didn’t you wake me? Did you do it on purpose?”

As she spoke, Mo Shuifu began to cry, her tears falling like a broken dam.

She was on the verge of collapse, and without even putting on her shoes, she ran barefoot on the cold floor towards the door…

Shen Shihan, afraid of her impulsive actions, quickly took a large step forward and grabbed her arm.

“Shuifu, don’t be impulsive. Your aunt passed away suddenly, and she didn’t wake up during the entire surgery process. It’s a fact that cannot be changed now. I’ll accompany you to the operating room,” he said.

“Shen Shihan, let go! Why didn’t you wake me? Why didn’t you let me see my mom for the last time?”

“Your aunt’s departure was very sudden,” he explained.

“Liar! Don’t lie to me anymore! You could have woken me, you could have taken me to the operating room, but you didn’t.”

“No, Shuifu, calm down, listen to me. Your mother…”

“Let me go, can you let go? Shen Shihan, we never had any relationship to begin with, not even as friends! Now, my mother is gone, I’ve repaid my debt to you, and if you feel it’s not enough, I will slowly repay you the money. But please, keep your distance from me, will you?!”