The red light outside the operating room glowed harshly, like a wound that would never heal. Fu Sinian stood in the cold corridor, listening to his father Fu Mingcheng’s anxious pacing. The surgical consent form in his hand had already been crumpled slightly. He glanced at his phone again. The screen still showed no message from Su Wanning.
“When will Wanning get here?” Fu Mingcheng stopped pacing, his brows tightly furrowed. “With something this serious, how could she—”
“Dad, she has a very important project at her company and really can’t leave,” Fu Sinian interrupted, his voice so calm it sounded unfamiliar even to himself. “I’ve already contacted Aunt. She’ll be here soon.”
Fu Mingcheng looked deeply at his son. In those eyes, seasoned by years in the business world, a trace of understanding flashed, yet he did not expose the obvious lie. He only sighed and sat heavily back down on the bench. “Your mother dotes on Wanning the most. If she wakes up and doesn’t see her, how disappointed she’ll be.”
Those words were like a fine needle, piercing lightly yet painfully into Fu Sinian’s heart. He remembered the genuine smile on his mother’s face every time she saw Su Wanning, remembered how she would always hold her hand and say, “Our Sinian is fortunate to have married you. You’re a blessing to the Fu family.” Those warm memories now felt like sharp mockery.
The sound of hurried high heels echoed from the end of the corridor as his aunt, Fu Minghui, rushed over. She glanced at the red light outside the operating room, then at Fu Sinian standing alone, instantly sensing the unusual tension.
“Where’s Wanning?” Fu Minghui asked as she took the consent form from him and signed it.
“She had something urgent at work,” Fu Sinian repeated the pale excuse, a fatigue creeping into his voice that he himself didn’t notice.
Fu Minghui paused slightly as she signed, lifting her eyes to look at her nephew. In the end, she said nothing. She handed the signed document to the nurse and then sat beside Fu Mingcheng, gently patting the back of her brother’s hand.
The surgery lasted a full three hours.
During those three hours, Fu Sinian stood closest to the operating room, like a statue frozen in place. The sharp smell of disinfectant filled his nose. Occasionally, nurses pushed carts past, the wheels scraping against the floor, the sound piercing in the empty corridor. Read this novel at novelping.com for the best experience.
He remembered many years ago, in this same hospital, when Su Wanning had been admitted for acute gastroenteritis. At that time, he had just taken over the Huachen Group and was overwhelmed with work, yet he still insisted on coming every night to stay by her side. She would always say, a little embarrassed, “You’re so busy, you don’t have to come every day.” But he still remembered the light of surprise and gratitude in her eyes every time she saw him.
And now, his mother lay in the operating room, her life uncertain, yet Su Wanning had not even made a single call.
“Sinian,” Fu Minghui said softly at some point as she came to his side, “sit down and wait. Your mother will be fine.”
Fu Sinian shook his head, his gaze never leaving the operating room door. He didn’t dare sit. He feared that if he did, he would lose control of the panic and disappointment surging within him.
When the clock struck 5 p.m., the doors of the operating room finally opened. The lead surgeon removed his mask, a tired smile on his face. “The surgery was successful. Mr. Fu can rest assured.”
Fu Mingcheng let out a long breath and repeatedly expressed his thanks. Only then did the tension in Fu Sinian’s body ease, and he realized that his clenched fists had left deep nail marks in his palms.
When Shen Manjun was wheeled back to the ward, she had not yet fully awakened. Her face was pale, devoid of color. Fu Sinian sat by the bedside, gently holding his mother’s cold hand, feeling for the first time with such clarity how fragile life truly was.
About an hour later, Shen Manjun’s eyelashes trembled slightly as she slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze swept across the ward before settling on Fu Sinian. She spoke weakly, “Sinian…”
“Mom, how do you feel?” Fu Sinian immediately leaned closer, asking softly.
She shook her head faintly, her eyes drifting toward the door. “Where’s Wanning? She wasn’t frightened, was she? That child is timid… don’t let her worry too much…” Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Fu Sinian’s heart felt as though it were being gripped tightly, the pain almost suffocating. Looking at his mother, still thinking of her daughter-in-law even in her frail state, his throat tightened.
“She came,” he forced a smile, keeping his voice as steady as possible. “She just stepped out to buy you something to eat. The doctor said you’ll need nutrition after you wake up.”
Only then did Shen Manjun nod in relief and close her eyes again to rest. Fu Mingcheng and Fu Minghui exchanged a complicated glance but said nothing.
Fu Sinian stood and walked to the window, looking down at the bustling street below. The setting sun cast a golden glow over the city, yet he felt no warmth at all. He imagined where Su Wanning might be at this moment… was she with Gu Jingchen? Were they having dinner at some restaurant, or sitting somewhere he didn’t know, lost in each other’s company?
The thought made his stomach churn.
He took out his phone and opened his chat with Su Wanning once more. The last message was still the one he had sent, telling her where the surgery would take place. Beneath it was emptiness… not even a simple word of concern.
Outside, night gradually fell, and the city lights came on one by one. Fu Sinian looked at his reflection in the glass and suddenly felt that face was frighteningly unfamiliar. The man who once believed in love, who believed in marriage… had died on this very day.
He remembered the vows he had made to Su Wanning at their wedding: no matter in health or illness, in prosperity or adversity, he would always stay by her side. Now, those promises felt painfully ironic. He had kept his vows… while she had already turned away.
The ward was quiet, filled only with the steady beeping of medical equipment. Fu Sinian slowly closed his eyes, burying all the pain and disappointment deep within.
When he opened them again, those deep eyes held nothing but cold resolve.
He knew that from this moment on, everything had changed. The Su Wanning he had once loved was already dead in his heart. What remained was only a stranger… a woman who would soon become his ex-wife.