In that instant, the flickering light in Su Huan's eyes was extinguished.
Su Huan's face turned pale as paper as she murmured and shook her head, "Impossible... you must be lying to me, it's impossible!"
How could Shen Xiaoyu, who loved her so much, be with someone else?
This must be Shen Xiaoyu conspiring with Shi Qiubai to deceive her, it must be!
"I don't believe it, you must be lying to me!" she choked out, her red-rimmed eyes streaming with large tears, "I, I know I was wrong, Xiaoyu, I won't do anything to hurt you anymore. Forgive me, please forgive me, okay?"
Su Huan struggled to climb up from the hospital bed. The needle in the back of her hand became twisted due to her movements, pulling at the wound and causing blood droplets to seep out and drip down her hand.
But she seemed oblivious to it, stretching out her hand trying to grab Shen Xiaoyu, as if trying to catch that ray of light that belonged to her.
Seeing the blood on her hand, Shen Xiaoyu's eyelids drooped as she imperceptibly stepped back two paces, avoiding Su Huan's touch.
Sensing her rejection, Su Huan's eyes became even redder. She yanked out the needle from her hand and stumbled forward, falling beside the bed. "Xiaoyu! Xiaoyu!"
She screamed frantically, "Don't abandon me, please don't abandon me again! I love you, I do love you!"
Su Huan cried miserably, supporting herself on the bed as she tried to stand and walk toward Shen Xiaoyu.
Shi Qiubai, who had been standing beside her, stepped forward to block between the two, stopping Su Huan's path.
She frowned and warned, "President Su, please conduct yourself properly. Don't try to steal someone's partner right in front of me."
"Get lost!" Su Huan glared at her viciously, the fury in her eyes seeming ready to burn everything to ashes. "It's all because of you! It's because of you that Xiaoyu wants to leave me!"
Shi Qiubai laughed in confusion, spreading her hands with an innocent expression. "Be reasonable, President Su. It's because you broke my sister's heart that she gave up on you. Why are you blaming everyone else for your own actions? You had your lovey-dovey CP with other women, let fans cyberbully and hurt Sister - that's why she was disappointed in you. Do you think pushing the responsibility onto me will erase what you did? Dream on! Someone like you deserves to die alone!"
Shi Qiubai spoke freely, not forgetting to turn back and check Shen Xiaoyu's expression, afraid that her words might cause displeasure and affect her favorability rating.
Fortunately, Shen Xiaoyu just kept her eyes lowered with no particular expression, showing no discernible emotion, but she didn't seem angry either.
Seeing this, Shi Qiubai's heart completely relaxed, becoming even more radiant. "We've said everything we needed to say. Rest well, President Su. We'll be going now."
Shen Xiaoyu looked up at Su Huan. "Before you're discharged, I'll take good care of Nian'an."
After they finished speaking, the two turned to leave. Watching their departing figures, Su Huan's rationality, which had been stretched taut like a string, completely snapped.
She stood up like a madwoman and rushed toward Shen Xiaoyu, tightly grasping her arm and pleading humbly, "Xiaoyu, don't abandon me! I beg you not to abandon me again. Without you, I'll die! I really will die!"
Without Shen Xiaoyu by her side, she would surely die!
She couldn't bear Shen Xiaoyu not being with her - she didn't want to live even one more day like that!
Shen Xiaoyu stopped, looking down at the person beside her. Under her gaze, she gently brushed off Su Huan's hand and frowned. "Su Huan, are you still going to threaten me with death even now? Then go ahead and die."
Hearing these words, Su Huan's head buzzed as she stared blankly at her face, unable to say a word.
She had been abandoned. She had been completely abandoned.
Su Huan turned to look at the table nearby.
Shen Xiaoyu and Shi Qiubai, who had already reached the door, suddenly heard the sound of glass shattering.
The two turned around to see Su Huan kneeling on the ground, broken porcelain pieces beside her legs. She gripped a shard tightly in her hand, blood dripping from her palm along the fragment onto the floor. The smell of blood instantly filled the entire hospital room.
Shen Xiaoyu frowned, her heart tightening. She couldn't help but step forward and demand, "What are you trying to do?"
Su Huan's eyes were brimming with tears as she pressed the shard against her other wrist. The porcelain cut through her skin, and blood immediately beaded up and rolled down from her wrist.
She stared at Shen Xiaoyu, her eyelashes trembling slightly. Her movements were slow but determined as blood dropped one by one, like her heart that had been cut to pieces.
"I really can't live without you." She whispered softly, "Shen Xiaoyu, I really, really know I was wrong. Could you, could you..."
Could you give me one more chance?
Shen Xiaoyu, please, just look back at me. If you just look at me once, I'll crawl at your feet and spend the rest of my life begging for your forgiveness.
[Villain corruption value +2]
[Villain corruption value +5]
[Villain corruption value +10]
...
The system's voice jumped in her ears, with Shi Qiubai's unique values constantly rising.
But Shen Xiaoyu couldn't spare a thought for the system's assigned mission. Her eyes were fixed on Su Huan, growing colder and colder.
"Are you threatening me with your life?" she said coldly. "Su Huan, can't you stop being so selfish?"
Su Huan's movements paused, her whole body trembling. "What else can I do? What else can I do?"
She had exhausted every method she could use. She was out of options!
What would it take to get Shen Xiaoyu to come back to her side? She had finally managed to pull Shen Xiaoyu back from another world, thinking that without her memories, they could start over.
But what was the reality?
The reality was that even without Shen Xiaoyu's memories, they still couldn't be together.
"Doing this only makes me more and more disgusted by you!" Shen Xiaoyu was so angry she was losing her rationality. "I'm really glad I didn't get back together with you, or it would be the most regrettable thing in my life."
Shi Qiubai beside her raised her eyebrows high, a hint of joy showing in her eyes. The smile at the corners of her mouth couldn't be suppressed.
Keep making a scene, keep making a scene, keep going until sister hates her more and more!
The system's voice paused for a while, then began reporting another set of values.
[Villain corruption value -5]
[Villain corruption value -8]
[Villain corruption value -11]
...
Shen Xiaoyu's expression paused as she glanced sideways at someone beside her, her gaze somewhat speechless.
Did she have to be so realistic?
The corruption value was about to explode just moments ago, and now it was dropping?
She rolled her eyes internally and continued speaking to Su Huan: "It doesn't matter if you want to die. After we leave, you can do whatever you want, just don't die in front of me - I find it unlucky!"
Su Huan closed her eyes, scalding tears sliding down from the corners of her eyes. She didn't say a word, her whole being seeming drained of vitality as she collapsed weakly on the ground.
She was completely without hope now.
The sounds from inside the room made Shen Nian'an, who had been waiting outside, unable to sit still any longer. She walked in from outside and, seeing the chaos in the room, stood frozen at the doorway as if frightened.
Only then did Shi Qiubai remember that Shen Nian'an was still there. Afraid of affecting the little girl's psychological health, she quickly stepped forward and said, "An'an, you..."
Shen Nian'an ignored her. After seeing Su Huan's disheveled state, her eyes immediately reddened.
She looked up at Shen Xiaoyu, her crystal-clear eyes brimming with tears, then ran to throw herself into Su Huan's arms, tightly holding her bleeding hands and gently blowing on them. "It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt. Mommy don't cry, Mommy don't cry."
Shen Xiaoyu had wanted to say something, but only saw the little girl quickly move past her. Seeing the two embracing each other, she remained silent.
Shi Qiubai beside her comfortingly held her hand, silently saying: It's okay, Sister, I'll always be with you.
Shen Xiaoyu gave her a forced smile, then looked toward Shen Nian'an.
She didn't rush or speak, just waited quietly.
Hearing the voice, Su Huan released the hands covering her face and looked through her tears at the small person in front of her. Her collapsed rationality regained some composure as she reached out to hold the child tightly in her arms. "I'm sorry, An'an. I'm sorry."
She couldn't give An'an a complete family. For a long time, An'an had been suppressing her own emotions, pretending to be well-behaved and cute in front of her, just so Su Huan wouldn't worry.
Shen Nian'an understood Su Huan's hardships and was very considerate and caring toward her. Often, she didn't act like a five-year-old child - she was too mature for her age.
Su Huan stroked her head, her voice choked with emotion. "Mommy was wrong. Mommy didn't take good care of you."
Shen Nian'an shook her head. "No, Mommy is the best mommy!"
The little girl hugged her neck fearfully, her voice trembling. "Mommy, don't scare me. Nian'an is afraid."
She couldn't understand the current situation, but the oppressive atmosphere in the room let her know that she could no longer have a complete family.
Shen Nian'an's little mouth turned down, tears quickly filling her eyes. She suppressed the urge to cry and, like a little adult, patted Su Huan's back with her small hands, trying hard to comfort her emotions.
"Mommy, no matter what happens, An'an will always stay with Mommy. Don't be afraid, and don't be sad anymore." She wiped away the tears on Su Huan's face with her small hands and said with a bright smile, "An'an will always love Mama."
That one sentence made Su Huan break down again.
She hugged Shen Nian'an tightly and looked up at the two people standing in front of her.
Shen Xiaoyu's feelings were indescribably complex. She could only look at Shen Nian'an's back, her eyes full of heartache.
She suddenly met Su Huan's gaze, especially her tear-streaked cheeks. Her fingers moved slightly, but in the end she only silently warned her—
Don't make An'an worry anymore.
She was only a five-year-old child. Adult matters shouldn't involve her. She only needed to grow up healthy and happy.
Su Huan understood her meaning and silently hugged her daughter tighter. I'm sorry, I almost made my daughter lose me.
After a long while, Shen Nian'an sensed that Mommy's emotions had stabilized. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief, carefully patting her back, then looking at her wrists and saying with heartache: "Mommy, let's call the nurse auntie."
This time, Su Huan didn't resist anymore.
Soon the nurse came over. Seeing the mess in the room, she was startled and quickly bandaged her wounds and gave her a new injection.
Shen Nian'an stood guard beside her, watching, her little face scrunched, inhaling sharply from heartache.
"Please be gentle, okay? Mommy is in a lot of pain." She muttered to herself.
Shen Xiaoyu and the other person waited outside the door, leaning against the wall without saying anything or making any rush.
Even if they took Shen Nian'an away now, she wouldn't feel at ease. She might even be too sad to eat when she got back. It was better to let her watch Su Huan being treated now.
After all of Su Huan's wounds were treated, Shen Nian'an lay by the bedside sighing, "Mommy, you must take good care of yourself and never get hurt again, okay?"
Su Huan sat on the hospital bed, her head hanging low as if she had lost her soul, responding in a low voice, "I know."
She turned her head to look at Shen Nian'an and forced the corners of her mouth into a smile, "I will take good care of myself. Don't worry."
Shen Nian'an stared at her worriedly for a long while before reluctantly nodding, "You must take good care of yourself, okay? I'll come see you again, okay?"
"Okay, I understand."
Though she agreed with her words, Shen Nian'an couldn't feel at ease at all. She walked to the door, turning back with every step.
"An'an, are you ready to go?" Shen Xiaoyu asked.
Shen Nian'an hesitated, "I..."
She looked back at Su Huan and asked, "Mama, I don't want to leave. Mommy needs care. I want to stay at the hospital to accompany Mommy."
Everyone was stunned upon hearing this, not expecting her to say such a thing.
Shen Nian'an grabbed Shen Xiaoyu's hand and shook it coquettishly, "Mama, please? After Mommy is discharged from the hospital, I'll come to you, okay?"
Shen Xiaoyu frowned and refused, "No, you're still young and need rest. Your mommy will have aunties here to take care of her. If you're worried, you can video call her after we go back, but now you need to come back with us."
"Video calls can't take care of Mommy." The little girl's mouth turned down, her eyes slightly red, pitifully hugging her, "The aunties won't chat with Mommy either! If I stay, I can talk with Mommy and bring her tea and water."
Most importantly, she really couldn't feel at ease leaving Mommy alone. She always felt that Mommy would do more things that would make her sad.
She had to watch over Mommy to feel at ease.
Thinking this way, she continued hugging Shen Xiaoyu's arm, trying to convince her to agree to let her stay, even bringing in Shi Qiubai for help.
"Auntie Shi, please help me talk to Mama!"
Shi Qiubai blinked and spread her hands, "I'll listen to your mama."
Though the little girl always argued with her, if they left her here, Sister would definitely be restless, constantly thinking about Su Huan.
It would be better to have the little girl come with them!
Shen Nian'an puffed out her little face and looked at Shen Xiaoyu pitifully.
Shen Xiaoyu didn't speak, but looked up and glared angrily at Su Huan, using her eyes to accuse her of being inconsiderate.
If it weren't for her recent actions frightening Shen Nian'an, she would never have actively begged to stay.
Su Huan felt both sweet and bitter in her heart, saying softly: "An'an, go back with Mama. The brothers and sisters at the hospital will take good care of me."
"But..."
Shen Nian'an wanted to say something more but was interrupted by Su Huan, "I promise I'll call you every day to report that I'm safe. If you want to come to the hospital to see me, I'll have someone pick you up, okay?"
The little girl was still reluctant, "Mommy~"
"Alright, go back quickly."
Since she had said this much, it was useless for Shen Nian'an to persist. She could only leave reluctantly, giving a long string of instructions before leaving, telling her to take good care of herself and not get hurt again.
Su Huan agreed verbally, but after the three people left, the expression on her face completely disappeared.
She leaned against the headboard, staring out the window for a long time. Not knowing what she was thinking of, her gaze moved to the bedside table, and she suddenly picked up the flowers at the bedside.
The thorns on the flower stems pierced her fingers, but she seemed oblivious. Her five fingers contracted, tearing open the bandages on her palms, and fresh blood flowed out again, soaking the gauze.
She wouldn't give up, and it was impossible for her to give up!
Shen Xiaoyu was hers!
On the other side, Shen Nian'an sat in the car watching the hospital get farther and farther away, feeling anxious and uneasy.
She didn't speak, only hugged Shen Xiaoyu's hand tightly, as if only this way could give her a sense of security.
Shen Xiaoyu's eyes dimmed. She reached out to hold the little girl in her arms, her hand gently patting her back, "Alright, don't be unhappy. Your mommy will be fine."
The little girl made a muffled sound of agreement but didn't speak.
Shi Qiubai, sitting beside them, pinched her little paw, thinking about how to make the little girl happier. She calculated her recent work schedule in her mind and suddenly clapped her hands.
"An'an, let's go on a trip!"
A trip?
Shen Nian'an lifted her head from Shen Xiaoyu's embrace to look at her, "Go on a trip?"
Shen Xiaoyu also looked over with the same question in her eyes.
"That's right!" Shi Qiubai said with a smile, "It's hot weather right now, let's go to the seaside to play. Tonight we'll go back and pack our clothes, then buy tickets to go to the seaside! We can play for a long time."
She pinched the little girl's soft little paw, "Then you can build sandcastles, catch crabs, and collect shells to string into wind chimes!"
Shi Qiubai spoke while winking at Shen Xiaoyu.
In any case, it was to give Shen Nian'an something to do so she wouldn't think about those unnecessary things.
Shen Nian'an was somewhat tempted. She had never been to the seaside before.
But thinking of Su Huan still in the hospital, she buried herself back in Shen Xiaoyu's embrace and shook her head listlessly.
"Don't want to go. I just want to stay by Mommy's side."
"Let's go, let's go. Your mommy is receiving treatment in the hospital. There are doctors and nurses, plus aunties from home taking care of her. There won't be any problems." Shi Qiubai encouraged, "While I'm free now, let's go play together. Otherwise, when I start working, I won't have time to go out and play."
Shen Nian'an shook her head, "Not going, don't want to go."
No matter what Shi Qiubai said, she kept repeating this one sentence.
Not going, just not going.
Seeing her firm attitude, Shi Qiubai had no choice and sighed disappointedly, "Alright then."
Shen Xiaoyu felt her low mood and patted her back, asking softly: "What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"
Shen Nian'an slowly shook her head without speaking, only burying herself deeper into her embrace, staring blankly at a certain spot.
She seemed to be beginning to understand the relationships among these adults.
In her small world, she still couldn't fully understand adults, but she was beginning to observe Mommy's complex feelings toward Mama, and she could also understand Auntie Shi's feelings toward Mama.
And Mama—her resistance toward Mommy.
She finally understood what Mama had said before: they wouldn't be together, and the happy family she had hoped for wouldn't exist.
In the near future, they would all have new families and new children, and might even share their love with those other sisters.
Shen Nian'an fearfully gripped Shen Xiaoyu's clothes, her big eyes filling with tears as she buried her face in Shen Xiaoyu's embrace.
"Mama..."
Shen Xiaoyu didn't understand what was happening and patted her back, softly comforting her: "It's okay, it's okay. Your mommy is safe and won't be in danger."
Shen Nian'an shook her head and asked through her sobs, "Are you going to marry the bad auntie?"
Both adults froze, not expecting her to ask such a question. For a moment, neither knew how to respond.
Originally, saying the two were dating was just an excuse, but now facing Shen Nian'an, they couldn't bring themselves to say it.
But they couldn't deny it either, or else if a certain someone found out, there was no telling what kind of scene she would cause.
Shen Xiaoyu's mind raced for comforting words, but for the moment she said nothing.
Shi Qiubai beside her grinned and smiled, reaching out to hold the child in her arms and gently comforting her: "Are you afraid that after I'm with your mama, we won't care about you anymore? Don't worry, no matter who your mama is with or who she marries, you'll always be her daughter. Of course, your mama will only be with me. So you're my daughter too." She touched the little girl's head, coaxing her as if taking advantage. "So, good daughter, do you want to call me mama too?"
Shen Nian'an glared at her with red eyes. "I don't want to! Bad auntie!"
The 'bad auntie' chuckled. "What's wrong with being my daughter? I'll be very, very good to you, and love you together with your mama. Our home will be your home too. As long as I'm here, I won't allow anyone to bully you! I'll buy you lots and lots of gifts, lots and lots of little dresses, and dress you up as the most beautiful princess. We'll also take you out to play and travel together, living our little family life of three."
She slowly described the future she envisioned, noticing Shen Nian'an's longing expression and feeling quite pleased with herself.
She was much more qualified than that pervert Su Huan. Otherwise, such a good daughter would sooner or later be corrupted by that person.
"Really?" Shen Nian'an fidgeted. "But you'll have your own children too, and I, I..."
She had some classmates who, after getting stepmothers and stepfathers, didn't live as well as before.
She had also heard people at Mommy's company say that stepmothers would mistreat children, so she should be wary of those wanting to become her stepmother.
Thinking of this, she stole a glance at this 'bad auntie' who wanted to be her stepmother. She didn't seem like the type who would mistreat her, and she was so good to Mama. Perhaps Mama being with her would be the best choice.
Although she thought this way, Shen Nian'an still felt somewhat restless and fidgety, even somewhat resistant to Shi Qiubai's approach.
Shi Qiubai paid no attention, ignoring her resistance as she kissed the little girl's cheek with a blissful expression. "Nian'an, no one will affect your place in our hearts. If you don't believe me, you can ask your mama."
Shen Nian'an said nothing, carefully looking toward Shen Xiaoyu.
Shen Xiaoyu was staring at Shi Qiubai in a daze. After hearing her words, she nodded slightly. "Yes, I will always love you."
She leaned down to kiss the little girl's forehead, but her emotions were very complicated because of Shi Qiubai's words. She was truly considering Shen Nian'an as part of their future together, which was indeed very touching.
But thinking of the system's mission, she couldn't help feeling guilty again. After all, this was all fake - she couldn't deceive Shi Qiubai's feelings.
For a moment, she suddenly had an impulse to confess everything to Shi Qiubai.