Xie Cangyue took a taxi to the hospital. Instead of turning into the inpatient ward as she usually did, she rushed into the doctor’s office.
There was someone else in Luo Keming’s office. He looked rather annoyed, but he gestured for the visitor to leave first before calling out, “Little Junior Sister.”
Xie Cangyue asked, word for word, “What do you mean by saying the heart source was given to someone else? Is my mother’s priority not supposed to be the highest?”
Luo Keming felt a headache coming on, but he explained, “There is someone with a higher priority.”
Xie Cangyue looked at him. “That is not right. You are hiding something from me. You would not have called me to give me false hope unless it was a done deal.”
Not long ago, she had received a call from Luo Keming saying that a car accident had occurred on Center Road and the victims were brought directly to their hospital. One of the patients had sustained such severe injuries that they were already being evaluated for brain death. Based on urgency and waiting time, Xie Xiangxue was at the top of the priority list. However, before she even arrived at the hospital, she received another call from Luo Keming saying that things had changed.
Luo Keming had no choice but to say, “There was another person injured in the same car accident.”
Xie Cangyue knew this was not the whole story. She clenched her fists and took a deep breath. “If you will not tell me, I will investigate it myself.”
Luo Keming, knowing her temperament, sat back in his chair and rubbed his temples. “It was a wealthy second-generation heir driving a sports car. He hit someone and sustained severe injuries himself. His family background is complicated, and they intercepted the heart.”
The office remained silent for a long time before Xie Cangyue asked, “Do the patient’s family members know?”
Did they know the heart was being donated to the person who caused their child’s death?
Luo Keming shook his head. “It is standard practice that neither party knows the other’s identity.”
Xie Cangyue sneered.
Luo Keming continued, “I will keep a close eye on your mother’s condition. For now, we can only wait.”
“I understand.”
Xie Cangyue’s reaction after learning the truth was too calm. She was calm to the point of being terrifying. Luo Keming urged, “Do not do anything impulsive. You cannot afford to provoke people like that, and you still need to take care of your mother.”
Xie Cangyue nodded. “I know. Sorry to trouble you, Senior Brother.”
Luo Keming stood up. “Let us go. I need to do my rounds, and I will accompany you to see your mother.”
Xie Cangyue was not a medical student, but to better understand Xie Xiangxue’s condition, she had often attended lectures at the medical school. The professors there discovered she was a bright student and often let her tag along. Upon learning of her family situation, they even instructed their star pupil, Luo Keming, to look after her. Xie Cangyue was essentially Luo Keming’s unofficial junior sister; she possessed nearly all the knowledge regarding cardiac care, only lacking clinical practice.
As they walked toward the ward, they brushed past a middle-aged couple escorted by a group of bodyguards. Luo Keming glanced at Xie Cangyue and felt even more anxious seeing her expressionless face. This junior sister of his appeared sensible, but when it came to her mother, she seemed like a different person, sometimes acting in radical ways.
By the time they reached the ward, Xie Cangyue had already put on a smile. She pushed the door open and called out, “Mom, how are you feeling today?”
Xie Xiangxue was surprised. “You got off work so early today, child?”
Xie Cangyue replied, “My performance was good this month, so they gave me the day off.”
Xie Xiangxue did not understand Xie Cangyue’s work, but she picked up an orange and placed it in her daughter’s hand. “This was given to me by the aunt in the next bed. They grew it themselves.”
Previously, Xie Cangyue had wanted to arrange a single room for Xie Xiangxue, but her mother feared the expense and said she liked the company of others, so she stayed in a shared ward. She had only agreed to hire a caregiver because Xie Cangyue threatened to quit her job to stay and accompany her. Xie Xiangxue then stuffed an orange into Luo Keming’s hand. “Eat one too, Little Luo.”
Luo Keming smiled. “I am still doing my rounds, Auntie. I will eat it later.”
Xie Xiangxue replied, “Fine, fine. I will have Little Yue send it to you later.”
Luo Keming performed the daily check-up and left. Only then did Xie Xiangxue take Xie Cangyue’s hand and ask, “Did something happen? Did you and Little Luo have an argument?”
“No.”
“I know you too well. You are so stubborn.”
Xie Cangyue laughed. “I have been very well-behaved lately.”
Even in her frail state, ravaged by pain, Xie Xiangxue remained gentle and beautiful. In the past, Xie Cangyue felt that even if she were not biologically related, she and Xie Xiangxue were very much alike. Only after seeing Shen Zhaoran did she realize there were some genetic traits she could never match.
Xie Cangyue stayed to chat with Xie Xiangxue until the caregiver arrived with dinner before she left. Once she stepped out of the ward, her smile vanished, and her face turned cold as ice. Luo Keming, who had returned from his rounds, walked around her, terrified that he would provoke this vengeful spirit just by walking in front of her with his left foot first.
Xie Cangyue did not go home after leaving the hospital. Instead, she took a taxi to Hengyu. She did nothing but order a coffee in a cafe across from the building. She sat there until the coffee was finished, finally seeing Shen Junhuai get into his car and leave.
Previously, she had not sought help from the Shen family because she could not guess their intentions, and she was still capable of paying for Xie Xiangxue’s medical expenses. However, surgery required more than just money. She could not hope for a heart source that might never arrive; Xie Xiangxue’s body could not endure the delay.
Shen Junhuai returned to the old Shen residence immediately after work. Before he could even take off his coat, he heard Xia Qiaoya say to Shen Zhaoran, “My precious, look at how handsome this is! He is the son of one of my business partners. He is of French, German, and Chinese descent. Look at these refined features and this build. It is remarkable.”
Shen Zhaoran leaned over, took a look, and nodded. “He is quite handsome.”
Shen Junhuai: “Hello.”
Shen Junhuai: “Mom.”
Xia Qiaoya did not even look up but acknowledged him and continued showing Shen Zhaoran photos of models, asking, “What kind does my precious like?”
Shen Zhaoran pondered for a moment. “Mature and steady, tall and handsome, quiet, capable.”
Xia Qiaoya listened and then looked at Shen Junhuai. “Does that not sound just like your brother?”
Shen Junhuai: “No.”
Shen Junhuai silently walked over and placed a small cake in front of Shen Zhaoran. Her attention was immediately captured.
“Is this from the shop downstairs at the office?”
“Yes, I had my secretary order it in advance.”
Xia Qiaoya looked at her son and asked one more question, “How have things been with Miss Xu?”
Shen Junhuai dismantled the cake box and replied indifferently, “Nothing much. We just had a meal together.”
Xia Qiaoya felt a headache brewing. Before she could speak, Shen Zhaoran took the lead and held the cake up to her mother. “Mom, you have to try this. This bakery is delicious!”
Xia Qiaoya: “I see.”
Both siblings were equally adept at avoiding serious topics.