Chapter Seven: A Flood of Memories

After returning home, Pei Qizhou had comforted Xu Miao and was now sitting on the sofa, his brows slightly furrowed.

Yao Shan had indeed looked rather unwell.

He thought it best to call and ask first.

The call went through, but for a long while there was no answer.

An inexplicable anxiety welled up in Pei Qizhou’s chest, and he began to worry about Yao Shan’s condition.

He dialed again, but still no one picked up.

Pei Qizhou rose and paced back and forth in the living room, weighing whether he should go to the hospital and see for himself.

He knew Yao Shan’s nature well; she rarely ever showed weakness. Yet the weariness and helplessness in her voice that day left him unable to feel at ease.

He decided not to hesitate any longer. Taking his keys and coat, he prepared to leave for the hospital.

But just as he stood up, Pei Yi came running over.

“Daddy, Daddy, I’m playing hide-and-seek with Mommy Miao Miao. Do you want to play too?” Clinging to Pei Qizhou’s leg, Pei Yi spoke in a tone that was impossible to refuse.

Pei Qizhou frowned slightly and looked over at Xu Miao nearby.

There was a hint of expectation in her eyes as well.

“All right.” He agreed.

He took off the coat he had just put on and stayed to play with them.

Pei Qizhou did his best to immerse himself in the game, but his thoughts remained fixed on Yao Shan.

Now and then he glanced toward the door, hoping that Yao Shan on the other end of the line would answer and give him a reassuring sign.

Yet time passed by the second, and the call still went unanswered.

Yao Shan, who had just returned from her examination, looked at the missed call on her phone, her fingertips tightening slightly.

She hesitated, wondering whether she should call back.

“Why are you still not lying down? The nurse will be here to give you an injection soon.” Chu Xun’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

Yao Shan looked at Chu Xun and smiled.

She switched off her phone and obediently lay down on the bed.

Why call back?

Just to make herself miserable?

Yao Shan closed her eyes. She did not want Chu Xun to see the sadness in them.

She knew Chu Xun truly wanted to help her, but deep within her heart, she had long since lost all hope for the future.

Her heart was as though frozen over, no longer able to feel warmth.

Chu Xun sat beside the bed, keeping quiet vigil over her, his gaze never leaving Yao Shan’s face.

He could feel her pain, and he could feel her despair.

Yet he did not wish to give up. He would do everything in his power, and even if there were only the slightest hope, he would make Yao Shan find the will to live again.

The ward was filled with a heavy atmosphere, but Chu Xun’s presence brought something different to the room.

His existence was like a beam of light, trying to pierce the gloom in Yao Shan’s heart.

Time passed in silence. Chu Xun did not speak again, knowing that what Yao Shan needed at that moment was not words, but companionship.

He simply sat there quietly, holding her hand and offering her wordless support.

It was only when the nurse came to give the injection that the room’s stillness was broken.

“Thanks to Miss Yao, our hospital was able to bring back such an excellent doctor as Doctor Chu,” the nurse said while administering the shot.

One must know that the hospital had tried many times before to invite Chu Xun back from overseas, but every attempt had ended in failure.

This time, Chu Xun had volunteered to come to their hospital entirely because of Yao Shan.

No one could fail to see that.

After all, Chu Xun had been staying by Yao Shan’s bedside all along.

Chu Xun gave a slight smile and politely accepted the nurse’s praise, though his mind was nowhere near the conversation.

His gaze never left Yao Shan, watching every tiny reaction of hers, fearing that she might feel uncomfortable from the pain.

His concentration made the nurse feel somewhat awkward. She quickly finished the injection, then quietly withdrew from the ward.

Only then did Chu Xun finally relax a little. He gently stroked the back of Yao Shan’s hand, trying to convey strength and comfort through the touch.

Though Yao Shan had her eyes closed, she was not asleep. She could feel Chu Xun’s concern, but the frost in her heart seemed not to melt because of it.

Her feelings were filled with contradiction. On one hand, she was grateful for Chu Xun’s steadfast devotion; on the other, she felt unworthy of such care.

“Chu Xun, you really don’t have to do this.” Yao Shan finally said, her voice tinged with helplessness.

Chu Xun did not answer. He only held her hand a little more gently.

“Shan Shan, do you still remember the things that happened when we were children?”

He thought that speaking of something lighter might ease her mood.

Yao Shan slowly opened her eyes, and a ripple of memories flashed through them. “I remember. How could I forget?”

Though faint, her voice carried a trace of warm amusement.

Seeing her reaction, a spark of hope rose in Chu Xun’s heart.

“Back then, we were always so carefree,” he said, trying to lead her back to those beautiful days, hoping she might for a moment forget the pain of the present.

Yao Shan nodded gently, her thoughts carried back into the past.

“Yes. Back then, we had nothing to worry about.” Her voice held a note of nostalgia.

Chu Xun went on, “Do you remember how we used to go to the river to catch tadpoles, and you fell into the water? I jumped in to save you, and in the end both of us came home drenched, only to be scolded by the adults.”

With that, he laughed.

It was obvious that Yao Shan was affected as well, beginning to recall the scene.

The corners of Yao Shan’s lips lifted slightly, revealing a long-lost smile. “We really were so foolish back then,” she said softly, a mischievous glimmer flashing in her eyes.

Seeing her smile, Chu Xun finally let out a breath of relief.

He knew that as long as she could still smile, there was still hope.

He continued, “And there was that time we secretly sneaked into the orchard to steal apples, only to be chased all over the mountain by the orchard owner.”

Yao Shan’s laughter gradually became natural. It seemed she had temporarily forgotten the room around her and her own pain.

“That’s right. We almost got caught by a dog that time too,” she recalled, her face brightening with a more radiant smile.

Looking at her, Chu Xun knew his efforts had not been wasted.

He went on, “We also flew kites together, remember? That day the wind was strong, and the kites flew so high. We ran after them until we were exhausted and stretched out on the grass, staring up at the sky.”

Yao Shan nodded, her smile growing even more natural, as though those happy memories had carried away the gloom in her heart.

“Yes. The sky back then was especially blue, and the clouds especially white.” Her voice was full of longing.

The two of them talked and laughed, and the atmosphere in the ward became much warmer.

Yao Shan felt she had not been this happy in a very long time. How could she not wish to return to the past?

If she were given another chance, she would never choose this path again.

Her thoughts drifted far away, and it was as though she had once more returned to those care-free days.