Novel Full Chapter 388: 388: Elder Pei's Final Days
Chapter 388: Chapter 388: Elder Pei’s Final Days
“I’ll be there right away.”
Pei Jue abruptly stood up, uttering a brief explanation before preparing to leave for the hospital.
Elder Shen looked somewhat worried and put down the chopsticks in his hands.
“Qingwu, you go with him to check on the situation!”
“Alright.”
Elder Shen was well aware of Elder Pei’s medical condition.
Not to mention, Qingwu had been the one attending to Elder Pei’s treatment, performing his surgeries and prescribing his medication. She understood his condition better than anyone else and would surely be of help!
Qingwu, being Pei Jue’s fiancée, going with him to check on Elder Pei’s condition was only natural, and the Shen family didn’t think much of it.
Zuo Wanjun escorted Qingwu and Pei Jue out of the house, watching until the car disappeared from sight.
After mulling it over, Zuo Wanjun still felt uneasy and said, “I should give Zhongshuang a call and have him take a look too. How could this happen all of a sudden?”
…
Qiao Xi Hospital, operating room.
A large group of doctors gathered at the door, looking somewhat helpless!
When they saw a crowd of people swarming as Pei Jue arrived, an emergency department doctor immediately approached him.
“Chairman Pei, his condition is very critical…”
“Where’s Professor Chen?”
“He’s in the operating room!”
The door of the operating room opened, and Chen Jianhong’s gaze landed on Qingwu who stood beside Pei Jue. For a moment, it was as if he had found his savior; he even completely ignored Pei Jue!
“You’re finally here! Quick!”
Qingwu gently squeezed Pei Jue’s palm, signaling him to relax, “I’ll go check on Elder Pei’s condition.”
“Alright!”
There was a hint of complicated emotion in Pei Jue’s eyes. It seemed like he wanted to say something, but he swallowed it back.
He trusted Qingwu! He didn’t want to burden her with too much pressure and understood that Qingwu would give her all to save his grandfather!
Inside the operating room, the pressure Qingwu felt would be no less than his own!
The operating room’s door closed again, and the surgical light flashed on.
Elder Pei’s wife sat on the long bench. Her expression appeared extremely composed, but her slightly trembling hands betrayed her emotions!
“Grandma, how could Grandpa fall ill so suddenly?”
“He stayed up late working on something.”
Pei Jue pressed his fingers to his temple, a flicker of anger in his tone, “Ridiculous! What could be so important that Grandpa had to stay up late handling it?”
Grandma Pei raised her slightly drooping eyelids, casting a faint glance at Pei Jue.
“Ah Jue, everyone has their fate, and it can’t be forced. He wanted to do something for all of you one last time—this was his choice!”
“Grandma! How could Grandpa treat his own health like a joke?”
“Be quiet.”
Grandma Pei, a bit displeased, lowered her gaze. The prayer beads in her hands rolled back and forth between her fingers, though not a single word of her prayers managed to be uttered!
Among everyone, she understood Elder Pei’s condition better than anyone!
Half an hour later.
The surgical light dimmed, and Qingwu emerged from the operating room while removing her mask.
Her expression toward Pei Jue carried a deep, restrained sorrow.
Chen Jianhong followed closely behind Qingwu, sighing, “We’ve done everything we could, but the surgery wouldn’t have made much difference. Elder Pei refuses to undergo tracheostomy treatment.”
Pei Jue frowned, “Refuses?”
How could he refuse?
Was this the time to be headstrong?
Grandma Pei stood up, tightening her grip on her cane. “Enough, Ah Jue, let him keep his dignity!”
Chen Jianhong pulled out a treatment directive previously signed by Elder Pei.
It clearly stated that Elder Pei was fully aware of his condition. During this time, every dosage of his medication was administered voluntarily by his consent!
He also declined tracheostomy treatment. After navigating the storms of life and bringing the Pei Clan to its pinnacle, the old man wished to leave this world with his back straight!
He refused to cling to life in disgrace, nor did he want his family to linger in his suffering for too long.
Grandma Pei said calmly, “I’m going to see him. Ah Jue, you and Qingwu should start preparing the arrangements!”
She paused slightly.
“At the very least, let Qingwu see him off as a granddaughter-in-law.”
This was a request Qingwu couldn’t refuse.
“Alright.”
Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. The elderly woman’s steps were unsteady but determined as she walked slowly toward her husband’s ward!
Pei Jue inhaled deeply and turned to look at his anxious fiancée.
Meeting Qingwu’s gaze, the chaos in his heart instantly settled. Gripping her hand tightly, Pei Jue asked, “How much time does Grandpa have left?”
“At best, a month, if we try our hardest.”
Chen Jianhong sighed, “It’s fortunate Qingwu’s here. Otherwise, with Elder Pei’s condition, it would’ve been a matter of a few days.”
The weight of the situation hung heavy as Chen Jianhong turned toward the ward. “I’ll go check on him. You two talk.”
Even during the day, the hallway’s motion-sensor lights hadn’t activated, casting a faint gloom over the space.
Qingwu spoke softly, “…Sorry. Elder Pei’s condition has been deteriorating for a while. He didn’t want you all to know.”
Pei Jue pulled the girl in front of him into a hug, placing his large hand firmly on her shoulder, gripping slightly.
“It’s not your fault. Grandpa’s condition—having you and Professor Chen keep it a secret for so long—must’ve been hard on you both.”
Elder Pei was as stubborn as they came.
He had been a mule his whole life, unyielding once he made up his mind!
Determined to keep it from his family, he had Qingwu and Chen Jianhong under immense pressure as well.
Pei Jue gently brushed a hand over Qingwu’s hair. “Don’t worry about me, I’m fine! How’s Grandpa now?”
He didn’t want Qingwu stressing about him!
“He’s awake now. Go talk to him.”
“You go first. I’ll call my older brothers.”
“Alright.”
This had to be communicated to the rest of the Pei Family. While non-essential relatives could be left for Annie to reach out to, Pei Jue still needed to personally inform the key family members.
Just outside the ward door, Qingwu overheard Grandma Pei quietly conversing with Elder Pei.
“Did I give you a scare?”
“Hmph, you think I’m made of paper? After all these years, what storms haven’t I weathered?”
Elder Pei chuckled, his vision clouded with a faint yellow hue.
“Lanyi, sing me a song, would you? That one… ‘Peony Pavilion.’ The first time I saw you, you were singing ‘Peony Pavilion’ at a ballroom. You were stunning!”
“At a time like this, you still want a song? Do you think I’m here to amuse you?”
After a brief silence, a slow, melodic tune drifted from the room. The lingering Kunqu melody carried decades of affection, only to dissolve into the bittersweet choke of tears.
Elder Pei clumsily tried to comfort her, “Hey, don’t cry… When you cry, it tears me to pieces…”
“You’ve got it wrong.”
The Kunqu melody continued in the background.
Qingwu pulled her hand away from the doorknob and didn’t step inside.
Chen Jianhong motioned with his chin, “Shall we head to my office? Elder Pei will still need close observation. You’ll need to set a care plan.”
“Alright, let’s go.”
Qingwu took one last glance at the ward, letting out a faint sigh before following him.
In the office, Chen Jianhong handed Qingwu a file.
“Here’s a record of all the medications Elder Pei’s been using recently. We’ve thrown everything at it. The only reason he’s held on this long is because he said he wanted to see your engagement!”
“He was afraid that if he passed on your happiest day, it would bring you bad luck!”