Chapter 236: How He Can Make Up for Her Trauma

"Zhaozhao, I will never divorce you."

The marriage certificate was still in his possession. Divorce? ’Don’t even think about it!’

"But... but you’ve been acting so strange these past few days." Su Zhaozhao decided to lay her cards on the table. "Did you already know that I’m not the one you had a child betrothal with?"

Xie Huaizheng hadn’t expected Su Zhaozhao to know as well.

’She must have only found out today. That’s why the stress overwhelmed her and made her sick.’

Guilt and regret washed over him like a tidal wave. Xie Huaizheng felt that he was to blame for Su Zhaozhao ending up like this!

Xie Huaizheng couldn’t put his feelings into words. Even breathing felt a little difficult.

The guilt was about to swallow him whole.

"I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Zhaozhao. I should have come clean with you sooner, but I was too much of a coward. I was afraid to face an outcome I didn’t want. I never thought that my hesitation would end up scaring you instead..."

Xie Huaizheng was drowning in regret.

’Su Zhaozhao must have gotten sick because she found out the news and kept dwelling on it until she just couldn’t take it anymore...’

Xie Huaizheng kept reassuring her. "Zhaozhao, I know you’re not the one from my child betrothal. I didn’t tell you because I was worried you would leave me. I never realized you were worried about the same thing. I promise you, I will never leave you in this lifetime, not even in death."

Hearing Xie Huaizheng’s promise and the urgency in his tone, Su Zhaozhao knew he wasn’t lying.

The anxiety that had been weighing on her heart vanished without a trace.

"That’s good, then."

She felt a little more at ease.

Xie Huaizheng kissed Su Zhaozhao’s hair. The hand supporting her waist moved to her back, stroking it again and again as if he were soothing a cat.

But this time, the gesture held no trace of lust, only tender pity.

Xie Huaizheng’s heart truly ached for Su Zhaozhao.

And she was sick because of him. He couldn’t help but clench his other hand into a fist to restrain his churning emotions.

"It’s okay, it’s okay, Zhaozhao. Get some sleep. Everything will be fine when you wake up. I’ll make you something to eat."

Su Zhaozhao was already weak, and after a long cry, her consciousness was fading.

She fell asleep leaning against Xie Huaizheng’s chest.

Xie Huaizheng gently wiped the tear stains from her face, looking at her red eyes and nose, her cheeks flushed from the fever.

She looked so fragile it felt like his heart was shattering.

He held Su Zhaozhao, remaining perfectly still, until he heard her breathing deepen into a steady rhythm. Only then did he gently lay her down on the bed.

Xie Huaizheng only let out a sigh of relief after he had tucked Su Zhaozhao back under the covers.

He never imagined that Su Zhaozhao’s fear of losing him was just as strong as his own.

And what about him?

He hadn’t trusted Su Zhaozhao, and that was why he’d delayed revealing the truth for so long.

Xie Huaizheng desperately wanted to slap himself a couple of times.

It was all his fault. He knew the truth but kept it hidden, not trusting Su Zhaozhao enough, and that’s what had made her sick.

Looking at Su Zhaozhao’s fever-flushed face, Xie Huaizheng felt like a real piece of shit.

’Once Su Zhaozhao gets better, I’ll let her hit me and yell at me all she wants!’

Things never should have gotten to this point. It was all because of his own damned indecisiveness...

Xie Huaizheng truly wished that all of Su Zhaozhao’s suffering could be transferred to him instead.

He gazed at Su Zhaozhao for a while before getting up to go to the kitchen and cook.

Su Zhaozhao was unwell now, so her diet needed to be light.

There weren’t many vegetables left in the kitchen, and it was too late to go to the market.

So, Xie Huaizheng went to find Zhou Xiaoyun.

Zhou Xiaoyun happened to be cooking as well. When she heard why Xie Huaizheng had come and that Su Zhaozhao was sick, her expression grew serious.

"Is Zhaozhao’s illness serious? Oh, dear, I have to go see her."

Xie Huaizheng didn’t refuse her. He figured Zhou Xiaoyun was definitely more experienced at taking care of people than he was.

Zhou Xiaoyun gave Xie Huaizheng some leafy greens.

"When you’re sick, you shouldn’t eat anything too greasy. You can make some congee—plain congee is fine, or lean pork congee. Simmer it until it’s very soft. Then just stir-fry some greens. That’ll do."

Zhou Xiaoyun went to check on Su Zhaozhao. Seeing Su Zhaozhao’s flushed face, she sighed, her heart aching for the young woman.

She reached out and felt Su Zhaozhao’s forehead.

"Did you give her medicine?"

Xie Huaizheng nodded. "Yes."

"Her temperature feels okay for now. She probably just needs to rest well. Keep an eye on her. If she starts getting better, it’s fine. But if the fever persists, you need to take her to the hospital."

After a quick look to confirm that Xie Huaizheng had things under control, she told him, "Just let her sleep more. When the congee is ready, have her drink it. Even if she doesn’t have an appetite, you have to make her eat. She needs enough nutrients to fight off the virus."

"Okay, I understand. Thank you, Sister-in-law Yun."

After seeing Zhou Xiaoyun out, Xie Huaizheng got busy in the kitchen.

He rarely cooked, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t. He knew how to make simple dishes like this.

He made lean pork congee and added plenty of shredded ginger to drive out the cold. Zhou Xiaoyun had said it would help Su Zhaozhao recover faster.

As for the greens, he simply blanched them in water and drizzled a little soy sauce on top.

Xie Huaizheng carried the cooked lean pork congee and greens into the bedroom.

Su Zhaozhao was still fast asleep. He had been busy for over an hour, and it was already seven o’clock.

Although Xie Huaizheng didn’t have the heart to do it, he still had to wake her. "Zhaozhao, wake up and have some congee."

Su Zhaozhao was woken by Xie Huaizheng. She pulled the blanket over her head. "I don’t want to. Let me drink it after I wake up for real."

Her head felt dizzy, and she had no appetite whatsoever.

"Be good, you have to eat. It’s just a little congee and some greens. You can go right back to sleep after you finish, okay?"

Xie Huaizheng tugged at her blanket, coaxing her like a child. It seemed all the patience he possessed in this lifetime was reserved for Su Zhaozhao.

Su Zhaozhao was getting annoyed by Xie Huaizheng’s persistence. With the blanket pulled down, she knew he wouldn’t let her be until she ate.

She could only sigh and let Xie Huaizheng feed her spoonful by spoonful.

She managed about half a small bowl before she couldn’t eat anymore, shaking her head. "No more, no more."

Xie Huaizheng looked at the remaining congee in the bowl; there wasn’t much left.

Getting Su Zhaozhao to eat even half a bowl was already pushing it.

He put the bowl down, took a napkin to wipe her mouth, and said, "Alright, you can go back to sleep. If you need anything, just call me."

Su Zhaozhao quietly lay back down on the bed and went to sleep.

Xie Huaizheng watched Su Zhaozhao sleep with her eyes shut tight, his mind recalling her usual lively and cheerful demeanor.

Deep in his eyes, a painful and desolate emotion was suppressed.

’It’s all my fault she’s like this now.’

’How could he ever make up for the pain he had caused her?’