“Father!”
Su Xingci screamed as she watched him collapse her mind going instantly blank. The noise of the crowd and the train whistle faded into the distance. She tried to run forward but her legs would not obey and she stood frozen in place.
“Uncle Su!”
Huo Mingyue turned deathly pale and shrieked rushing to catch him. Amidst the chaos Huo Chenzhou moved faster than anyone. He stepped forward swiftly handed the tearful frightened Tangtang into Huo Mingyue’s arms then bent and lifted the unconscious Su Yuanshan securely into his arms in one smooth steady motion.
“To the hospital my car.” His voice was calm yet carried clearly to Su Xingci cutting through the panic and making her rigid body tremble.
Not far away Gu Yuanhang pushed apart by the crowd heard the commotion. He turned back just in time to see Su Yuanshan fall and Su Xingci cry out.
“Brother Su!”
Alarm shot through him and he instinctively turned to rush back.
“Yuanhang I feel dizzy…” Bai Miaomiao pulled weakly at his arm complaining softly. “I have traveled all day and night I am exhausted please take me to the guesthouse now.”
Gu Yuanhang stopped in his tracks. He saw the chaos unfolding and the man from the Huo family already carrying Brother Su toward transport. With others there surely nothing truly terrible would happen. Brother Su had always been strong this was likely just shock and anger catching up with him. Had he grown so frail in just a few years?
Gu Yuanhang hesitated only a moment then patted Bai Miaomiao’s hand soothingly his tone gentle. “All right we will go now.” He guided her away and vanished into the exiting crowd without looking back once.
The army green jeep raced over rutted dirt roads shaking violently. Su Xingci sat in the back clutching her father’s cold hand tears sliding silently down her face. Why was his hand so cold? She stroked the rough skin and raised veins over and over trying to warm him with her own body heat but his hand stayed cold the chill seeping through her fingertips deep into her heart.
Huo Chenzhou glanced at her in the rearview mirror. She looked frighteningly pale trembling with every jolt biting her lip to hold back her sobs and the sight tightened his chest.
“Do not be afraid.” His voice was low and steady. “The military hospital has the best specialists. He will be all right.”
The words steadied her. She squeezed her father’s hand and nodded through blurred tears gazing at the broad reassuring figure in the front seat. The jeep sped on rushing straight to the military hospital.
“Doctor please help him!”
Su Yuanshan was wheeled immediately into the emergency ward and the treatment in progress light turned on. Su Xingci’s heart clenched tight. Every ounce of strength seemed to leave her she sank slowly down the cold wall until she rested on the floor. Curled knees to chest she shook uncontrollably. What would she do if anything happened to him? It was all her fault. She had not handled things properly she had let him see that terrible scene and it had broken him.
Guilt and fear made her shiver uncontrollably her stomach twisting sharply. Huo Chenzhou did not leave. He quietly completed all the registration payment and paperwork then returned with an enamel mug. He knelt beside her and pressed the steaming cup into her cold hands.
“Drink this.” She looked up dazed. It was sweet warm brown sugar water its comforting scent filling her nose.
“You cannot fall apart.” He met her gaze firm and unyielding. “He will need you when he wakes.”
He was right. She could not break. He needed her. Su Xingci lifted the cup and drank slowly. The sweetness spread warmth through her limbs chasing away the cold and clearing her mind. The minutes passed each one feeling endless. Finally the light above the ward went out.
A doctor in a white coat walked out removing his mask his expression grave. Su Xingci sprang forward her voice shaking. “Doctor is he…”
The doctor sighed looking at her with sympathy choosing his words carefully. “His life is out of immediate danger but his condition is very serious. Our diagnosis confirms severe heart valve disease. This episode was triggered by extreme emotional distress which brought everything to a head.”
Heart valve disease? Su Xingci’s mind went blank. She had never known he was so ill.
“What can be done?” Her voice cracked.
The doctor shook his head gravely. “Surgery is required as soon as possible but it carries very high risk. Even major hospitals in the capital cannot guarantee success. The best option would be treatment abroad or bringing in specialists from overseas.”
Abroad? The very thought turned her blood cold. How could they go overseas in these times? With his position permission would never be granted. And the cost was something she could never manage. She had barely enough to support herself these past years let alone save money. He had no savings either. She had already lost her mother was she to lose him too?
Seeing how pale she had become the doctor spoke gently but firmly lowering his voice. “Listen carefully his heart is extremely fragile like thin glass it cannot bear any more shock especially strong emotion. If he is upset again nothing will save him.”
“Not a single upset.”
Every word weighed heavily on her chest. No more distress. What about Gu Yuanhang? If her father learned the truth it would kill him. A quiet resolve settled over her. She could not say a word. Not one. To save his life she must bury every hurt and every bit of anger. She might even have to keep up appearances with Gu Yuanhang for his sake. The thought made the world spin she tasted copper at the back of her throat and her vision darkened.
A strong arm caught her before she could fall.
“Hold on.” Huo Chenzhou stood close his voice steady beside her. “You are not alone I am here.”