Su Rao ultimately didn't wait for Su Qing to wake up.
When her wrist fell.
Jiang Sui's pupils shrank, and he stood there blankly, unable to utter a single word.
It all happened so suddenly.
No one was prepared.
They had been talking and exchanging instructions just moments before.
Mei Yeqin hadn't expected to watch Su Rao lose all signs of life in front her very eyes.
The chaotic ward and hallway.
The sounds of emergency medical services and the hum of electrical equipment filled the air.
As if sensing something, Su Qing opened her eyes wide, and the ventilator began to vibrate violently.
Jiang Sui felt as if his heart had fallen into an ice cellar, plunging into a freezing cold. He stared at the girl not far away, her eyelashes fluttering, and he could even feel the slight tremor of her breathing.
A nightmare.
Su Qing felt like she had a beautiful dream.
In the dream, she clutched Su Rao's wrist with one hand while holding Jiang Sui's hand. They smiled knowingly at each other.
But the scene shifted so quickly, in that split second.
Su Rao smiled, holding her and Jiang Sui's hands, and then intertwined them.
"You two must be well, my Nannan. Mommy will always love you, you know."
"Nannan, let's hug, come here."
The vivid dream in her mind felt like a real experience.
Su Qing struggled to grasp Su Rao's hand, but after waving, nothing came.
"Mom!"
The weak cry gradually cleared Su Qing's eyes. The blank light above her head was blinding.
Feeling only her own breathing grow weak, Su Qing strained to open her eyes.
"The patient is awake!"
"Qing Qing, are you awake?"
The call bell rang, and amid the bustling crowd of examinees, Su Qing gradually regained consciousness.
Knowing she was in a hospital, Jiang Sui stood by the bedside. Mei Yeqin finished examining Su Qing and breathed a deep sigh of relief.
"Qing Qing, you're finally out of danger." These words held so much pent-up anger in her chest. Mei Yeqin's frown relaxed for a moment before she looked at Su Qing lovingly.
Su Qing forced a faint smile, but it was a struggle. She pursed her lips, wanting to say thank you, but she was too weak.
"Qing Qing, keep your strength. Don't speak for now."
Su Qing blinked, saying she understood.
Jiang Sui stared blankly, unblinking, his eyes filled with cold tears that, after a moment, fell.
Like jade, like pearls.
Silently.
He seemed oblivious. The corners of his mouth tugged at the slightest smile he offered Su Qing, but it refused to come.
Su Qing blinked anxiously, the oxygen mask still preventing her from speaking. Seeing the tear marks covering the boy's face, she felt a pang of grief.
"Qing Qing, don't move. I won't cry."
The girl struggled to move her fingertips, only to be discovered by the boy.
Jiang Sui half-knelt in front of Su Qing's bed and wiped his tears with the back of his hand. The boy had completely forgotten all about mysophobia.
He hadn't showered in days, and even his face was covered in stubble. Dark shadows formed under his eye sockets, and Su Qing saw it all.
She opened her mouth slightly.
"I'm fine."
Her mouth remained blank, no sound coming out.
Jiang Sui gently grasped Su Qing's fingers. "Qing Qing, don't say anything. Be good."
His heart was still pounding.
She had been unconscious for so long. Seeing the girl's frail form, her pale face devoid of any color, she looked so fragile, as if she could die at any moment.
Su Qing nodded gently.
This lucidity didn't last long; Su Qing quickly fell back asleep.
Her energy was too weak.
When Jiang Sui rushed to find Mei Yeqin, Mei Yeqin examined her and confirmed that everything was normal and she was no longer in danger.
After leaving the ward, Jiang Sui looked at Mei Yeqin, "Auntie, Mother Su..."
Mei Yeqin's expression was dazed, and her fingers slowly clenched.
"The morgue can't hold the body for too long, but I'm worried Su Qing might want to see her mother one last time."
Mei Yeqin pursed her lips, observing the young man's expression.
"The old people said, 'Stop for three days and wait for seven days, so let's keep it for seven days.'"
This was a momentous decision. Mei Yeqin watched Jiang Sui gaze at the ward, knowing the young man's concern for Su Qing.
But the joys and sorrows of this human world are most unforeseen.
The young man clenched his fists.
"Auntie, Qing Qing and I will no longer have a mother."
His voice was hoarse and low.
For the first time in many days, Mei Yeqin felt Jiang Sui's emotional outpouring.
His pupils were devoid of color.
People say that death is the only thing between us and our parents...
The truth was clear. Mei Yeqin's throat choked. "Ah Sui, you and Qing Qing will both be my children from now on."
Mei Yeqin knew that saying this was a drop in the bucket.
"Su Qing needs to rest for a while. Once she's feeling better, tell her what's going on."
The only person who shouldn't be kept in the dark about this is Su Qing.
Mei Yeqin knew Jiang Sui was suffering mentally.
Jiang Sui pinched his fingers, pursed his lips, and looked up at Mei Yeqin, as if he had made a major decision.
"Auntie, I want to tell her now."
Mei Yeqin was stunned. "Ah Sui, are you sure..."
This excitement...
Jiang Sui's dark eyes fixed on Mei Yeqin with certainty, and he nodded.
"Yes, Auntie, I'm sure. I want to tell her now."
Mei Yeqin seemed to instantly understand the boy's thoughts.
He must have had a similar experience before, and based on his understanding of Su Qing, perhaps this was the best option.
Mei Yeqin followed Jiang Sui into the ward, stunned.
The girl's face was pale, her breathing and heartbeat weak, and the boy's eyes were red with fear.
Mei Yeqin could sense the boy's entire being was in immense torment.
The two of them stood there for an unspecified amount of time.
They didn't know how long they stood there, as the sky outside, bright white, dimmed.
Mei Yeqin walked over to the side and turned on the light. As the room began to light up, Mei Yeqin saw the person on the bed slowly waking up.
"Qing Qing."
Jiang Sui's voice was hoarse, the pain on his face no longer concealed.
Su Qing blinked, signaling she was about to speak. Mei Yeqin stepped forward, removed the girl's ventilator, and replaced it with another breathing tube, inserting it into her nostrils.
Su Qing's complexion looked better than when she woke up that morning.
"Jiang Sui, what's wrong with you? I'm awake now, no need to cry."
The girl smiled softly.
Mei Yeqin, heartbroken, turned her back and heard Jiang Sui's voice.
"Qing Qing, Mother Su, there are no vital signs."