Returning - Chapter 194

Chapter 194: Through the Fire

Daylight faded and returned. From morning to noon, then to evening, another day was slipping away, yet Zhao Yu had still taken no food or water, nor spoken a single word.

The setting sun streamed through the window, stinging her dry, aching eyes. She slowly closed them and continued lying there, utterly motionless, until a familiar voice reached her ears.

"Xi Xi."

Ever since she had been wheeled into the operating room, her ears had been filled with a cacophony of voices, so she still showed no reaction at all.

But the voice sounded again quickly, louder than before, and seemingly closer too.

After a dazed moment, Zhao Yu turned her head in disbelief, her pupils dilating sharply when she recognized the person standing by her bed.

Her frantic gaze lingered on her godmother and godfather for a few seconds, then slowly fell upon Xue Zhan.

In the next instant, she, who had refused to move until now, suddenly snatched up the object beside her and hurled it at Xue Zhan.

It was her mobile phone. It flew true, smashing hard against Xue Zhan's chest.

Along with the weight of the phone came her hoarse, screamed curse: "Bastard!"

From the look of her, she seemed intent on rising from the bed to strike Xue Zhan herself. Fortunately, Xue Zi'ang and Ling Jianwei, who had been in the hospital room all along, were quick of eye and hand, each pressing her down from one side.

Her wrist was still in a cast, the wound on her shoulder still unhealed—she absolutely could not move so violently.

Xue Zhan had no time to dodge, nor had he any thought of doing so. He simply looked at her and said, "I'm sorry."

"You bastard!" Zhao Yu was screaming herself hoarse, struggling desperately on the bed to rise, her bloodshot eyes fixed fiercely on him. "I trusted you so much, how could you... bastard... Xue Zhan, you bastard, bastard! I trusted you so much..."

"Xi Xi."

Another word from her godmother instantly halted all her movements. She dared not look at them, yet her body trembled uncontrollably.

"Xi Xi." Her godmother stepped closer, standing beside the bed, looking at her with eyes swollen red from crying. "Xi Xi..."

Tears rolled down in large drops. After a moment of silence, Zhao Yu suddenly twisted her head away, desperately burying her face into the pillow.

"Xi Xi." Her godmother sat down on the edge of the bed, carefully reaching out to touch her shoulder. "Xi Xi, it's Godmother."

Her body flinched sharply, but then Zhao Yu suddenly struggled again, trying to rise from the bed. Ling Jianwei and Xue Zi'ang had just loosened their grip; seeing this, they hurriedly pressed her down again. "Don't move recklessly, be careful of your wounds..."

Yet her strength was astonishing, completely unlike that of a severely injured person. Afraid of actually hurting her, the two dared not use too much force. To their utter surprise, she broke free.

Seeing her get out of bed and about to bolt outside, the IV line in her hand yanked taut. Xue Zi'ang, standing on her same side, quickly wrapped an arm around her waist. "Don't move, you're still on the IV."

Shang Lu had also rushed over, blocking her with his body while steadying her right hand, which was still receiving the fluids.

Seeing Shang Lu, she seemed to suddenly spot a savior and wept aloud, "I don't want to see anyone, I don't want to see anyone at all. Take me away, take me away..."

Shang Lu supported her limp body. "Alright, don't get upset first. Let's wait until this bottle is finished..."

Before he could finish, a heavy punch landed on his chest. He had no idea where she found such strength; in a flash, she had wrenched her hand free from his grasp.

The intravenous needle on the back of her hand was violently pulled out by this motion. Her waist still held by Shang Lu, her right hand was already clenched into a fist, shoving at his chest again. "Why are you doing this too? I trusted you all so much, why..."

Shang Lu grabbed her wrist once more. "I'm sorry, we had no other choice."

"Then why didn't you just let me die? Why..." Her entire body went limp, collapsing against him. "Why..."

"Xi Xi, if you died, how could we go on living? Godmother has already lost one daughter; I can't lose another."

Zhao Yu stiffened, turning her head to stare blankly at her godmother.

Her godmother approached again, gently taking hold of her flailing right hand. "Xi Xi, I know everything."

Tears continued to fall unchecked. Looking at the aged hand holding hers, all strength drained from Zhao Yu's body, and she slid powerlessly to the ground, sitting slumped on the floor. "I killed them. I was the one who killed them all..."

Her godmother was already choking with sobs, able only to shake her head repeatedly.

Her right hand slowly released, Zhao Yu clutched her head tightly, burying it against her knees, weeping uncontrollably.

Her godmother slowly crouched down, gathering her into her arms. "Godmother doesn't blame you. None of us blame you. Don't do foolish things anymore. Godmother only has you, this one daughter, now."

"I'm not... I don't deserve... Xiao Jin died because of me, didn't she? I'm sorry, it's my fault. I shouldn't have been scared. I should have just gone with them obediently. Xiao Jin... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... it's all my fault..."

A violent churning suddenly surged in her stomach. She abruptly wrenched herself free from her godmother's embrace, her right hand clutching her collar desperately as she bent over, kneeling on the ground, retching dryly.

She had taken no food or water for days, sustained only by nutrient drips. There was simply nothing to vomit, yet her internal organs felt as if they were all screaming, surging upwards to escape.

Shang Lu quickly crouched down, patting her back to help ease her breathing. Xue Zi'ang continued to carefully tend to her injured left arm, while Ling Jianwei hurriedly fetched water and tissues for her.

Xue Zhan's lips moved, but in the end, no words came out. He turned and walked out of the hospital room.

Song Xuan supported her godfather, who could no longer stand steadily. Looking at the wretched Zhao Yu on the floor, he closed his eyes in anguish.

Outside the hospital room, Zhuang Ye had similarly collapsed to the ground, his head buried against his knees, his whole body trembling with sobs.

Ji Sui leaned against the wall, listening to the heart-wrenching cries inside, his fists clenching tighter and tighter.

Seeing Xue Zhan emerge, Xu Chengyan, who had been standing far off near the doorway this whole time, suddenly snapped back from his daze. Only then did he realize his eyes felt hot, his vision already blurring slightly.

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