Chen Haotian regained consciousness on the third day after his surgery.
The moment he woke up, he began muttering about wanting to see Ruanruan.
Upon hearing that name, a flash of hatred appeared in Wu Peihua's eyes.
She turned and said to Chen Liuyue in a gentle tone,
"Xiao Yue, call her in."
"Okay, Mom."
Chen Haotian quickly sensed something was wrong.
"Mom, when did your relationship with Chen Liuyue become so good?"
"And why aren't you calling Ruanruan by her name anymore..."
Wu Peihua sighed, her tone distant and sorrowful.
"Haotian, Xiao Yue is your real sister."
"As for that child, I was confused back then. I should have sent her back to the Tao family from the start."
Chen Haotian grew agitated. Could it be that Chen Liuyue had been feeding his mother nonsense while he was unconscious? Why had her attitude towards Ruanruan changed so drastically?
"Mom, Ruanruan is my real sister. She belongs in the Chen family for life!"
After hearing this, Wu Peihua remained silent.
Meanwhile, Chen Liuyue had already brought Chen Ruanruan into the hospital room. The girl was wearing a white dress, her eyes rimmed red. The moment she saw Chen Haotian,
she cautiously called out, "Brother."
Seeing her, Chen Haotian's lips immediately curved into a smile. "Ruanruan, you're finally here. I'm glad you're okay."
His memory was still stuck on the image of the car flipping over.
He had been terrified that something might have happened to Ruanruan.
Chen Ruanruan stole another glance at Wu Peihua, who didn't even spare her a look.
Her heart felt heavy and unbearably hurt.
But she understood. After such a major incident involving her brother, it was inevitable that her mother would blame her.
For now, she could only focus on maintaining her relationship with her brother.
Chen Ruanruan said softly, "Brother, I'm fine. Thank you for protecting me."
Chen Haotian raised his hand,
wanting to touch her cheek.
But Chen Ruanruan stiffly moved away.
Chen Haotian felt a pang of disappointment but forced a smile. "Silly girl, I'm your brother. Protecting you is what I'm supposed to do."
Watching this harmonious scene between the siblings, Wu Peihua found it painfully grating.
She would rather Haotian and Ruanruan had a terrible relationship!
That way, her son wouldn't have gone to Tao Village for Chen Ruanruan, and he wouldn't have gotten into the car accident.
Thinking this, silent tears began to stream down her face again.
Chen Liuyue handed her a tissue. "Wipe your tears."
"Xiao Yue." Wu Peihua's eyes welled up as she looked at her biological daughter. As if finding her pillar of support, she suddenly hugged her.
Chen Liuyue patted her back with an indifferent expression. "Don't cry, Mom."
Chen Haotian was utterly dumbfounded.
"Chen Liuyue?! Did you say bad things about Ruanruan to Mom?" His tone was sharp, laced with undisguised malicious suspicion.
Chen Liuyue blinked.
"Brother, you're so slow."
Chen Haotian: "..." The anesthesia hadn't fully worn off, and he felt utterly exhausted.
But he still hadn't grasped what was abnormal.
"What do you mean?"
Chen Liuyue pointed at Chen Ruanruan. "Sister, aren't you going to tell Brother what happened?"
A jolt of alarm shot through Chen Haotian.
A terrible premonition flashed in his mind.
What did she mean?
Could the change in his mother's attitude towards Ruanruan be related to him?
Chen Ruanruan's mouth felt as heavy as if filled with lead. She simply couldn't say it.
After stammering for a long while, she finally broke down into choked sobs.
For a moment, the sounds of Wu Peihua and Chen Ruanruan crying filled the hospital room.
Chen Haotian couldn't get any useful information.
Frustrated, he tried to get out of bed, only to suddenly realize he had no sensation in his lower body.
He tried to move but found he couldn't exert any strength at all.
Chen Haotian finally felt fear.
His tone, no longer as arrogant as before, weakened slightly as he looked at Chen Liuyue.
"Liuyue, what's really wrong with me?"
Chen Liuyue curled her lip slightly, her tone calm.
"You were in a car accident while leaving Tao Village, trying to save your beloved sister Chen Ruanruan. It resulted in the amputation of both your legs."
"In short, Brother, you're now disabled."
Chen Haotian felt a ringing in his ears.
The world seemed to spin violently, his head growing dizzy.
The words were clear, yet he couldn't comprehend them.
"Nonsense! How is that possible? How could I be disabled?!"
He roared, he raged.
Wu Peihua cried even more bitterly, clinging to Chen Liuyue and wailing, "My poor son, wu wu wu..."
After his fury subsided, Chen Haotian's gaze slowly turned to Chen Ruanruan.
"Ruanruan, I don't believe what she said."
"Tell me... none of this is true, right?"
Chen Ruanruan couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes.
After Chen Haotian roared in anger once more, she could only helplessly give a slow, slight nod.
A moment later.
The hospital room erupted with the sounds of Chen Haotian smashing things, roaring and raging.
Chen Liuyue led Wu Peihua out of the room. "Mom, I'm sure Brother has a lot he wants to say to Sister. Let's give them some space."
Wu Peihua, though reluctant, nodded.
Ever since her son's accident, her trust in and dependence on her biological daughter had skyrocketed.
...
The door to the hospital room closed.
Chen Ruanruan tugged at the door handle. It wouldn't open.
Chen Liuyue had locked it from the outside.
Fuming, she tugged again, but it still wouldn't budge.
Chen Haotian's gloomy voice came from behind her. "Ruanruan, do you despise me for being a cripple? You want to leave?"
Chen Ruanruan slowly turned around, forcing a placating smile.
"Brother, no, I don't. I just wanted to go to the nurse's station to ask how many more IV bags you have left for today."
Chen Haotian beckoned to her. "Come here."
But Chen Ruanruan's body remained rigid, unmoving.
Chen Haotian's voice turned dark. "Ruanruan, why won't you come over? I'm your brother. Are you afraid of me?"
"Of course not, Brother," Chen Ruanruan said, though she dared not step forward.
Chen Haotian let out a low, derisive chuckle. "Ruanruan, break up with Qin Xuanye."
Hearing this, Chen Ruanruan reacted vehemently.
"Brother, you said before you would help me! That you wouldn't let him change the engagement."
Chen Haotian shot her a sidelong glance.
His tone was icy.
"I lost both my legs for you!"
"You should lose your love for me too."
Chen Ruanruan trembled all over, unable to meet his gaze.
That wasn't the look a brother should give his sister.
Chen Haotian had gone mad?!!
"Ruanruan, I was going to let you go, but now, you owe me!" Chen Haotian's gaze was sinister.
