That very night, when Shi Nuan mentioned this to Fu Chengyan, he shot her a smile and squeezed her hand. “You’re that curious about the Prosperous Group?” he commented.
“Not really.” Shi Nuan looked at the kitchen. “Tell me, what happened to Huan and Li Heng?” After that incident, she thought Pei Huan and Li Heng would get back together, but the opposite happened. They hadn’t talked for days.
Fu Chengyan knitted his brows and shook his head. “I don’t know. It’s between them.”
Shi Nuan sighed. “Then what about the report by Dr. Su? Can Huan donate her bone marrow to Aunt Ning?”
“We’re not sure for now. Shaoqing is still discussing with Dr. Paul. I don’t know the specifics.” Both he and Li Heng weren’t experts, so even if they followed Su Shaoqing 24/7, they’d still be clueless.
“What are you talking about?”
Pei Huan was walking out of the kitchen with Bao after helping him wash his hands. “By the way, Chengyan, my body checkup report should be out, right? What did Su Shaoqing say?”
It was over a week, but there was no news from Su Shaoqing. He also didn’t inform her to prepare for the surgery, so Pei Huan knew something was wrong.
“The report is out. Shaoqing said you’re too weak to donate your bone marrow.”
“Then what shall we do?” Pei Huan panicked at his words. “My mom’s condition—”
“Don’t worry. Shaoqing wants you to rest at home for now and recuperate. When you are healthier, you can do a second checkup and donate your bone marrow then.”
“But I can’t wait.” Pei Huan uttered anxiously. “My mom can’t wait that long. I don’t think I’m that unhealthy. Let’s go for another checkup tomorrow and proceed with the surgery.”
“Huan, stop it. This isn’t something to joke with. You and Aunt Ning’s health are at stake!” Fu Chengyan grew stern. “We’ve waited for three years, so Aunt Ning can still wait. It’s getting late so you should go and rest now.”
“But—”
“Go upstairs!”
As Fu Chengyan was upset, Pei Huan dared not say anything. After all, he was her elder brother and the heir of the Fu clan. Therefore, his words carried weight.
Pei Huan scooted upstairs reluctantly. After entering her room, she called Su Shaoqing without hesitation. “Dr. Su, please arrange for another checkup tomorrow.”
“Another checkup?” Su Shaoqing frowned. “Pei Huan, your body can’t keep up with that. You’re…”
“What about me?” A line appeared between Pei Huan’s brows as she suspected Su Shaoqing knew something. “What’s wrong with my body?”
“It’s because you overworked yourself for the past few years. You need to recuperate at home. When you’re fine, I’ll arrange for the surgery.” Su Shaoqing hung up after saying that and promptly called Fu Chengyan and Li Heng. “Pei Huan just called me to ask for another checkup. Has she found out?”
After confirming that she knew nothing, Su Shaoqing heaved a sigh of relief. He glanced at Dr. Paul, who had been up for twenty-four hours, obsessed with analyzing the virus. Pinching his brows, he looked very tired, “Paul, let’s take a break.”
Paul was exhausted, so he nodded. “I’ve never seen such a strange virus.”
“Me, too!” Su Shaoqing thought he was a medical expert, but this virus had rendered him helpless. “I’ll ask someone to give you a ride back. We can continue tomorrow!”
After Paul left, Su Shaoqing massaged his temples and leaned back in his chair, he was completely drained.
He hadn’t gone home or slept properly for days.
What a strange virus!
Pei Huan waited for a few days with no updates. Her instincts told her they seemed to be hiding something from her. She got really suspicious when Ning Xin suddenly had a relapse and fell unconscious.
The doctor said Ning Xin couldn’t hold on much longer unless she received a bone marrow transplant right now. She could live a few years more if that happened. But if Ning Xin didn’t receive a transplant right now, she would die.
That was what Ning Xin’s doctor told Li Heng and Fu Heng when Pei Huan wasn’t at the hospital. Alas, they didn’t know she was right outside the door and overheard their conversation.
She pushed the door open forcefully and glared at Fu Heng and Li Heng in disbelief. “Why won’t you let me donate my bone marrow?” Pei Huan could understand if Li Heng refused to let her take the risk because he loved her. However, Fu Heng was married to Ning Xin. As their daughter, she thought it was her responsibility to donate her bone marrow to her mother.
Pei Huan stared at Fu Heng. “Dad!”
Fu Heng seemed torn. Of course, he hoped Pei Huan could donate her bone marrow to save Ning Xin’s life, but he knew Pei Huan’s health wouldn’t allow her to do so.
He had just found out Pei Huan was infected by a virus. If they insisted on carrying out the transplant, both Ning Xin and Pei Huan would be in danger. As no one knew what the virus was, even if the surgery was a success, Ning Xin might get infected with the virus.
“Dad!” Pei Huan demanded crossly. “Tell me now. Why did you disagree? Do you want to watch Mom suffer?” She pointed at Ning Xin, who was hooked to the oxygen tank. Tears welled up in her eyes as she declared, “I’ll go to Su Shaoqing myself. You can disagree, but I’ll ask him to be my surgeon. I’ll bear the consequences!”
“Huan!” Fu Heng stopped her. “Good girl, listen to me. Your current condition isn’t suitable to do any surgery now. Let’s wait till you get healthier—”
“What do you mean? Dad, both Mom and I can’t wait any longer!” Pei Huan glanced at an unconscious Ning Xin and ran out of the ward.
“Huan!”
“Dad, I’ll go and look for her.”
With that, Li Heng ran out after her. When Pei Huan was about to enter the elevator, he hurried in and grabbed her hand. “Huan, calm down and listen to me.”
“Go away!” Pei Huan flung his hand away and glowered at him icily. “This is our family’s business. It has nothing to do with you.”
“Pei Huan!” Li Heng’s brows snapped together before he took her hand again. “Your business is mine. I know you’re worried about your mom, but you should understand the risk of the surgery. Your current condition doesn’t allow you to undergo the surgery.”
“I don’t understand all that.” Pei Huan roared impatiently. “All I know is that the one lying on the bed, unconscious, is my mom. I’ve only been back for a few days, but she has grown so much older! I didn’t get to spend the first twenty years of my life with them, then I left them three years ago. I don’t want to waste any more time. Do you get it?”
“I get it. I really do!” Li Heng’s gaze darkened at the sight of his beloved woman losing control. His heart ached for her. Pulling her into his arms, he patted her gently. “I know, but Huan, even if you donated your bone marrow to Mom, her body might reject it because of your current condition. I don’t want you to take the risk.”
“You’re just being selfish! You’ve never considered my mom’s condition!” Pei Huan shoved him away. “You’re not me, so you will never understand. We’ve been apart for twenty years. After our reunion, we could’ve stayed together forever, but because of you, I left Jiang City and abandoned them. It was all my fault. I’m not a good daughter.”
“Huan!”
As Li Heng’s hand froze midair, Pei Huan slapped it away. Right then, the elevator doors open, so she scurried out before he could react.
I don’t want to leave any regrets. No one can stop me from saving Mom. I will make sure our family stays together again.
Nothing is better than being with my parents.
Pei Huan dashed ahead, while Li Heng stood rooted to the spot. He felt sorry for her, but he couldn’t allow her to act recklessly.
At Su Shaoqing’s office, Pei Huan pushed the door open and demanded, “Su Shaoqing, arrange for the surgery asap!”
After her announcement, she belatedly realized there were a few people in Su Shaoqing’s office. Fu Chengyan, Pei Jingxiu, and a foreigner she didn’t recognize were huddled together in the middle of a discussion. They stopped talking and looked at her when she barged in.
Fu Chengyan narrowed his gaze and was about to say something when Li Heng walked in. The latter came over to Pei Huan and took her hand. “Huan, listen to me. We will treat Mom, but now’s not the time.”
“Not now? Then when?” Pei Huan shoved him away once again. “I don’t know why you’re so terrified. I am the one donating my bone marrow, not you. I’m not worried at all. Why are you then?”
“I…”
Li Heng took a deep breath and gripped his fists before looking at Fu Chengyan.
Fu Chengyan frowned slightly and met his gaze. He instantly understood what his friend meant. Rising to his feet, he went to Pei Huan. “Huan, listen to Li Heng. Your current condition doesn’t allow you to donate your bone marrow to Aunt Ning. Otherwise, you’ll both be in danger.”
“How dangerous can it be? I’ve been fine for three years. I can’t wait any longer, Chengyan. Do you know how upset I’ve been? I can’t help but blame myself for leaving my parents because of a man. I—”
