Chapter 31: Pei Qizhou, You Should Go-Após fingir a própria morte por câncer, o marido canalha e o filho ingrato choram como cães(O imortal busca a imortalidade)

Pei Qizhou’s heart sank heavily. He understood the weight of Chu Xun’s words and felt a profound sense of helplessness.

Chu Xun’s tone softened slightly, yet remained solemn: "The most important thing right now is her condition. Your personal grievances can be set aside for the time being."

Pei Qizhou nodded, taking a deep breath as he struggled to compose himself. "I understand."

Chu Xun said nothing more and turned back into the emergency room, leaving Pei Qizhou standing alone, his heart a turbulent mix of emotions. He recalled the fragments of his time with Yao Shan—the once-cherished memories now intertwined with current indifference, leaving him with an overwhelming sense of pain and regret. He thought of their past laughter and the time they had spent together, which now felt so impossibly distant. Pei Qizhou felt a deep, hollow loss; he did not know how to make amends, and could only stand there, silently enduring his inner torment.

Seeing this, Xu Miao approached and asked in a soft, feigned voice, "Qizhou, is Yao Shan’s condition truly that serious?" On the surface, she appeared concerned, but Pei Qizhou seemed completely oblivious to her hypocrisy.

Pei Qizhou did not respond to her concern. He cast a faint glance at her before turning to sit on a nearby chair, covering his face with his hands and sinking into deep contemplation. Seeing this, Xu Miao felt a flicker of dissatisfaction, but she could only stand by sullenly, offering no further words.

Under the harsh white lights of the emergency room, Yao Shan slowly opened her eyes to see the familiar figure of Chu Xun. He stood by the bed, his gaze filled with concern and worry.

Yao Shan parted her lips slightly, her voice weak and raspy: "Chu Xun, I’ve troubled you once again."

Chu Xun sighed softly, comforting her gently: "The most important thing for you right now is to rest. Do not dwell on anything else."

Yao Shan nodded and closed her eyes, though her heart remained unsettled. She knew her time was running out, yet she was still burdened by so many things left undone—the unfulfilled attachments and unfinished dreams.

Outside the emergency room, Pei Qizhou suddenly stood up and walked with heavy steps toward the door. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the waves within him; he knew he had to face reality now and could no longer hide. He knocked softly, and the door slowly opened to reveal Chu Xun, who looked at him and gestured for him to enter.

Pei Qizhou stepped inside and saw Yao Shan lying weakly on the bed. An indescribable ache surged in his heart. He walked to the bedside and asked softly, "Yao Shan, what on earth has happened to you?"

Yao Shan opened her eyes and saw Pei Qizhou. A flicker of complex emotion crossed her gaze, but she ultimately replied faintly, "I am fine."

Chu Xun could no longer hold back; he wanted to tell Pei Qizhou about the true state of Yao Shan’s health. However, before he could speak, Yao Shan cut him off. "Chu Xun, what did you promise me?" Though her voice was frail, the firmness in her tone left Chu Xun with no room to argue. He looked at her and shook his head helplessly. He could not understand why she refused to let Pei Qizhou know, especially when she was suffering so much.

Pei Qizhou looked at her, his heart full of confusion and worry. "Pei Qizhou, leave," Yao Shan said. Having him and Xu Miao here only caused her more distress.

Xu Miao chimed in with a sharp, insincere tone: "Miss Yao, Qizhou is only worried about you. Why are you driving him away?"

Yao Shan turned her head away in pain, unwilling to engage with them. Chu Xun immediately understood her intent. He opened the door and looked at Pei Qizhou and Xu Miao. "Yao Shan needs to rest. I must ask you both to leave." His voice carried an unquestionable firmness.

Pei Qizhou stood at the doorway, as if frozen in place, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He gazed deeply at Yao Shan, as if trying to look through her eyes into her very soul. Yet, in the end, he turned silently and left the room. Xu Miao had no choice but to follow him, casting one last look of resentment before she left, clearly filled with suspicion and dissatisfaction.

Inside the room, Chu Xun closed the door and returned to Yao Shan’s side. He gently held her hand and comforted her, "Don’t worry. I will always be by your side, no matter what happens."

Yao Shan nodded slightly, a single tear sliding down the corner of her eye. Her heart was filled with endless sorrow and helplessness. She knew what Pei Qizhou’s departure meant, but she could not bring herself to ask him to stay.

***

Pei Qizhou walked out of the hospital and stood in the cold wind, his mind a blank void. He did not know what to do next or how to face it all.

"Qizhou, what is really going on with her?" Xu Miao asked, her tone laced with a mixture of concern and skepticism.

"She didn't tell me," Pei Qizhou said, looking straight ahead, his voice low and firm. He wanted to know the truth about her health, but her refusal to share it left him feeling utterly helpless and defeated.

"I just get the feeling she’s faking it," Xu Miao said with a slight frown of doubt. "If she were truly suffering from a major illness, I don’t believe she wouldn’t tell you." She let out a cold snort, clearly dissatisfied with Yao Shan’s behavior.

Upon hearing this, a sharp, indescribable pain pierced Pei Qizhou’s heart. Yet, he did not argue, for he knew Xu Miao’s suspicion was not entirely baseless. Even so, deep down, he was more inclined to believe in Yao Shan’s hidden hardships.

He took a deep breath, attempting to settle his chaotic thoughts, and turned to face Xu Miao, asking calmly, "Why do you think that?" He was desperate to understand her reasoning and discover why she harbored such intense doubt.

"She wasn't like this at work," Xu Miao said, raising an eyebrow, seemingly trying to disrupt his thinking, fearful that his sympathy would lead him to favor Yao Shan.

Pei Qizhou frowned, lost in thought for a moment, before speaking slowly: "That is true." He recalled Yao Shan’s performance at work, where he could not detect any issues at all. However, her sudden and serious decline left him suspicious, and it was hard not to wonder if she were putting on an act, given how vibrant and energetic she usually was.

"I must go back and get to the bottom of this," Pei Qizhou said, his brow furrowed with anxiety. He was filled with uncertainty and wanted to see for himself exactly what was going on in Yao Shan’s mind.