Chapter 289: Aphasia

The Qin Family watched as the child was wheeled out and then into a hospital room.

They hurriedly followed.

Qin Wenze had already arranged for a private room.

A nurse was setting up an IV drip and checking the needle in the back of her hand.

It was then that Qin Ruqiao woke up.

The moment she opened her eyes, they were filled with terror, and she shrank back instinctively.

She was especially terrified of strangers—even the doctors and nurses.

Mrs. Qin and the others were heartbroken to see her in such a state.

She rushed forward to hug Qin Ruqiao, but the girl’s reaction was even more violent. Luckily, having been starved for days on top of undergoing surgery, she was utterly weak and limp.

She could barely lift a hand, let alone push anyone away.

All she could do was lie there stiffly, but the terror and resistance in her eyes were unmistakable.

"Qiaoqiao, it’s Grandma—"

Mrs. Qin called out to her, her voice gentle and soothing.

Perhaps it was the familiar voice, but Qin Ruqiao slowly began to calm down.

But then she began to cry—tears streamed endlessly down her face.

’She wanted to call out for Grandma, but no sound would come out.’

Qin Wenze hurried forward as well. "Qiaoqiao, it’s Dad—"

Hearing her father’s voice, Qin Ruqiao could hardly believe it.

When she looked up and saw that it was really him, the tears came even faster.

’Dad... Did Dad come to save me?’

Standing to one side, Qin Wenhao was the first to notice something was wrong.

"What’s going on? Did my niece injure her vocal cords?"

His words sent a shock of alarm through the rest of the Qin Family.

"Qiaoqiao, it’s Grandma. Come on, say ’Grandma’—"

Fear still filled Qin Ruqiao’s eyes, and her body trembled uncontrollably.

’She was scared. She was so, so scared—’

’Grandma... She wanted to call out, but she didn’t dare.’

’Because if she made a sound, that person would hit her.’

’It hurts so much—Dad, save me!’

The nurse went to get Doctor Xie.

The moment Mrs. Qin saw her, it was as if she were looking at a savior.

"Doctor Xie, please, take a look at my granddaughter. Why can’t she speak?"

Doctor Xie frowned. "All of you, please step back. Don’t crowd around her like this."

The Qin Family immediately backed away from the bed.

But as Mrs. Qin started to move, Qiaoqiao grabbed her sleeve. The little girl’s small hand clutched the fabric tightly, refusing to let go, her eyes filled with a deep-seated fear.

She was terrified that her grandmother would leave.

Seeing this, Mrs. Qin’s heart ached terribly.

"Don’t be afraid. Grandma’s here. Grandma isn’t going anywhere. Doctor Xie is here to help you get better. How about we let Doctor Xie take a look at you now, Qiaoqiao, okay?"

Seeing this, Doctor Xie didn’t insist she leave and instead began to examine the child.

Perhaps it was the white coat, which still inspired a sense of security in a child’s mind, because Qiaoqiao stopped resisting.

"Good girl. Come on, open your mouth."

When facing the child, Doctor Xie’s cold expression vanished.

Her voice was very gentle.

The Qin Family watched intently as she conducted the examination.

When she was finished, Doctor Xie asked them to step outside the room.

"Doctor Xie, how is she?"

Qin Wenze asked urgently.

Doctor Xie glanced at him.

"Her throat and vocal cords are not damaged, so this is likely temporary. After such extreme terror, it’s not uncommon to be unwilling to speak for a while. Give it a day or two. Once her fear subsides and she understands that she’s safe, she should start talking again."

"Of course, there’s another possibility—psychogenic aphonia. In that case, it will be up to you, her family, to comfort her and provide psychological support. If you do, the aphonia should resolve on its own without further medical treatment."