Chapter 223

“Vomiting blood?” Mu Haoxuan turned pale with fright when he heard this.

“Mom.” Mu Yongnian also called out anxiously.

But Mu's mother, who was lying on Mu Shi'an's back, showed no reaction.

“I'll carry her.” Knowing that time was of the essence, Song Nianchu handed the flashlight to Mu Deyi and prepared to carry Mu's mother herself.

“It's all right. I can do it,” Mu Shi'an said firmly.

“You're not as familiar with the way out as I am. Don't waste any more time. You hold the flashlight and let me carry her.” Without another word, Song Nianchu took Mu's mother onto her back.

Mu Shi'an was about to say something, but Song Nianchu had already started walking.

“Stop dawdling and keep up!” Song Nianchu strode forward.

Mu's mother had always been thin. Ever since learning that Mu Jingmei had gone missing, she had wasted away until she was little more than skin and bones.

Song Nianchu could barely feel any weight as she carried her.

Mu Deyi had originally intended to go with them, but Mu Haoxuan and Mu Yongnian were still at home, so Song Nianchu asked him to stay behind while she and Mu Shi'an went to the hospital.

Although Mu Deyi was worried, he still agreed.

Song Nianchu hurried along and reached the county hospital at ten that night.

Fortunately, there was still a doctor on duty. The moment Song Nianchu called out, the medical staff rushed over.

After Mu Shi'an explained Mu's mother's condition, they immediately wheeled her into the resuscitation room.

As family members, Song Nianchu and Mu Shi'an were not allowed inside and could only wait outside.

Mu Shi'an pressed his lips tightly together, staring fixedly at the closed door of the resuscitation room.

“Shi'an, don't worry. Your mother will be fine.” Knowing how worried he must be, Song Nianchu stepped forward and took his hand, hoping to give him some strength.

Mu Shi'an said nothing. He simply clasped her hand tightly.

Time passed second by second. It was not until the sky began to lighten that the tightly closed door of the resuscitation room finally opened from within.

The doctor came out, looking utterly exhausted.

“Doctor, how is my mother?” Mu Shi'an immediately went up to him.

“The patient's condition has stabilized for now, but her body is extremely weak. She'll need careful recuperation going forward.” The doctor removed his mask.

“Thank you. Thank you!” Hearing that Mu's mother was out of danger, Mu Shi'an finally let out a sigh of relief.

“She'll be taken to a ward shortly. Keep a close eye on her. If anything urgent happens, come and get us immediately,” the doctor instructed.

“Understood.” Mu Shi'an nodded emphatically.

After the doctor left, a nurse soon wheeled Mu's mother out.

Her face was deathly pale, and both cheeks had sunk inward. Even her breathing appeared faint.

Song Nianchu had visited Mu's mother before, and Mu Shi'an, Mu Haoxuan, and Mu Yongnian went to see her every day.

Song Nianchu had been busy and had missed two days. She had never expected Mu's condition to deteriorate so drastically in such a short time.

It seemed that what had happened to Mu Jingmei had dealt her a truly devastating blow.

Song Nianchu and Mu Shi'an followed the bed all the way to the ward.

Only after the nurses had finished settling everything did Mu Shi'an slowly sit down beside the bed.

After staying up all night, his eyes were bloodshot.

“You stay here and watch your mother. I'll go to the cafeteria and get some breakfast,” Song Nianchu said gently.

“…All right.” Mu Shi'an's voice was hoarse.

Song Nianchu looked at him with concern before turning and leaving.

When she returned, she was carrying several lunch boxes.

She left one portion for Mu's mother and split the rest with Mu Shi'an.

Mu Shi'an had no appetite and said he couldn't eat.

But Song Nianchu still stuffed a large meat bun into his hand.

“Your mother has already collapsed. Do you want to collapse too? Who's going to look after you all then? Eat it. Now.” Song Nianchu put on a stern expression.

Seeing her like this, Mu Shi'an said nothing more. He lowered his head and began stuffing the bun into his mouth in large bites.

Song Nianchu also had a meat bun. She had gotten a large bowl of millet porridge as well, drank half of it herself, and gave the rest to Mu Shi'an.

Mu Shi'an did not mind at all and finished it in one go.

“I'll go wash the containers.” Song Nianchu took the lunch boxes from him and turned to leave the ward again.

“…”

Mu's mother woke up around noon.

When she opened her eyes, only Song Nianchu was in the ward.

Mu Shi'an had thought that since Song Nianchu had gotten breakfast that morning, he would go get lunch.

He never imagined that Mu's mother would wake up just after he left.

“You're awake. Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere? Shall I call the doctor?” Seeing Mu's mother open her eyes, Song Nianchu immediately went over to her.

Mu's mother seemed somewhat dazed. It took her a long while to come to her senses before she slowly turned her head and looked at Song Nianchu, confusion flashing through her eyes.

“Where am I…?” Her voice was terribly hoarse.

“You're in the hospital. Yesterday, Shi'an said you had vomited blood and passed out, so we brought you here right away,” Song Nianchu explained.

Only then did Mu's mother remember what had happened the previous night.

She vaguely recalled Mu Shi'an coming to see her, but her consciousness had been hazy at the time.

He seemed to have said something to her, but she had not been able to take it in.

“You…didn't need to bring me to the hospital…” There was a bleakness in Mu's mother's eyes.

“I know you're in a lot of pain right now. But Mu Jingmei is only missing. There's no evidence that she's gone. The way you're acting now is only tormenting yourself—and the people around you,” Song Nianchu said slowly.

“After an accident that terrible, doesn't being missing mean…there's nothing left of her?” Mu's mother's eyes were terribly red.

Seeing her like this, Song Nianchu slowly sat down on the chair beside the bed.

“Did Shi'an ever tell you that he nearly died during the rescue operation too?”

Mu's mother whipped her head around at those words.

“What did you say?”

“When he went to block the breach in the dam, he accidentally fell in…” Song Nianchu told Mu's mother in detail what had happened to Mu Shi'an at the time.

By the time she finished, Mu's mother's pupils were trembling violently.

“He…never told us.”

“You've become like this because of what happened to Mu Jingmei. How could he bring himself to tell you?”

“I…” Mu's mother was suddenly at a loss for words.

“I know that as a mother, no matter what her character may have been, you would be devastated when something happened to her. But among all the victims, Mu Jingmei is the only one whose body hasn't been found. They didn't even find anything that could confirm her identity. So you can still hold on to a little hope. Just like Shi'an—perhaps she's still alive and well somewhere.” Song Nianchu wanted to give Mu's mother a reason to hope.

After all, once someone had given up on living, no matter how skilled the doctors were, they could not save them.