CHAPTER 259: CHAPTER 259: IT’S WHAT WE OWE HER

Su Junxian came back after paying the fees and said, "Third Brother’s situation won’t be resolved quickly; there are still hurdles to overcome. You two should head back to the hotel and rest first."

Han Liying didn’t move.

Su Junxian looked at Su Jiang. "Dad, you know Mom’s health. She’s held on this long; that’s enough."

Su Jiang took Han Liying’s hand. "Let’s not make the children worry. We’ll go back to the hotel first."

Han Liying also understood she couldn’t offer much specific help by being here. She subconsciously felt that staying by his side would give her a little more peace of mind.

She hadn’t been part of their upbringing or their struggles. How could she miss out now?

"I wasn’t there for you when you were children. Please, give me a chance to make it up to you."

Su Junxian said, "Your health isn’t good; don’t push yourself. Besides, Su Junling is a very proud person. He likely wouldn’t want too many people to see him like this. You and Dad also need to find a way to suppress the news."

Han Liying looked hesitant, and Su Jiang joined in trying to persuade her.

"Su Junxian is right. Let the children handle it themselves."

Han Liying wanted to stay but was afraid of causing them more trouble. She felt utterly helpless.

She was very formal with her children, and they, in turn, were more respectful than close. Their family interactions were polite, yet they lacked deep familial affection.

Su Junzhe escorted Han Liying and Su Jiang to the hotel. Su Junxian told Su Junzhe to get some sleep at the hotel too and not to come back to the hospital.

In the VIP ward, only the sounds of medical equipment broke the silence.

Su Junxian lay fully clothed on the companion bed in the hospital room.

Even though the air conditioning maintained a constant temperature, the early spring night still felt cold.

Su Junxian was exhausted but couldn’t sleep.

He figured Xi Simiao would be awake by now, so he sent her a message. She replied instantly.

"I’m fine over here; you should get some rest. Call me anytime if something comes up. I can rearrange my work and come over."

Her words eased much of Su Junxian’s fatigue.

"Don’t worry, it’ll be alright. Once Su Junling’s condition stabilizes, we’ll return to Jiangcheng immediately."

"I’ll be waiting for you at home."

Su Junxian put down his phone, moved the companion bed closer to the hospital bed, and gently took Su Junling’s hand—the one without an IV drip.

A doctor came by every hour to record Su Junling’s vitals, and Su Junxian thanked them each time. Everyone appreciates a patient’s family member who is both handsome and polite.

Su Junling had many nightmares, and his sense of dread intensified.

Su Junxian sensed his distress, and his eyes, which had just closed, snapped open again.

"Junling! Junling, wake up! You’re just having a nightmare."

Su Junling thrashed violently in the bed.

The pain in his leg jolted him awake, and his eyes flew open.

The moment he saw Su Junxian, he still hadn’t fully come to his senses.

A pang of heartache shot through Su Junxian. "I should have been by your side then."

Su Junling’s face was pale. "Where... where am I crippled?"

"Don’t talk nonsense. You’ll be fine. Doctor Yang performed your surgery. His skills are excellent; you don’t need to worry."

Su Junling, as if he hadn’t heard a word, asked, "Where is Fu Bing? Where is she? Why did she let Xiaomei stream for her?"

"She has her reasons."

"Did she know all along? Is that why she’s always been so indifferent to me?" Su Junling gritted his teeth.

"She must have been so smug, knowing I liked her. She’s been playing me for a fool, like a monkey!"

As he spoke, his eyes turned bloodshot.

"Junling, you shouldn’t say such things!" Su Junxian’s voice was laced with anger. "You were the closest to her; you should understand her best. She’s not the kind of person you’re making her out to be!"

"How do you know she isn’t?! She inherited Qin Jinhai’s assets and has managed them quite well. Her cunning surpasses all of us put together."

"If that’s what you truly think, I won’t let you see Fu Bing anytime soon. You’ll destroy the relationship between us and her." Su Junxian pulled back the hand that had been holding Su Junling’s.

Su Junling trembled. "She hasn’t even returned to the Su Family, yet your heart is already so biased towards her."

"It’s the Su Family who owes her!" Su Junxian retorted sharply. "She was abducted by traffickers, she escaped, she met Fu Ya... She was imprisoned! She clawed her way out of hell, step by step! Have you forgotten all the suffering she’s endured? She could have had a good upbringing, just like us!"

The color drained from Su Junling’s face as Su Junxian spoke.

Su Junxian gently patted his shoulder. "I understand how you feel right now. Don’t be afraid; I’ll face this with you."

Covering his face with one hand, Su Junling began to weep softly.

Su Junxian felt a knot in his stomach.

He stepped out of the hospital room, giving Su Junling some space.

Among the five brothers in the family, Su Junling was the one he worried about most. He was passionate and true to his feelings, often taking unconventional paths and disdaining rules. In the entire Su Family, he was the most driven by his emotions, while the others were, to varying degrees, more detached or indifferent.

Su Junxian sighed, feeling helpless.

「In the mountains.」

After two days of admiring the mountain scenery and finishing the breakfast Qin Jinhai had prepared, Fu Bing said, "Let’s head down the mountain later today."

He wasn’t a man known for his restraint. If they stayed any longer, what might happen between them was all too clear.

"So, you dislike being with me that much?"

"Just staring blankly at each other isn’t exactly enjoyable," Fu Bing sighed softly. "I’m not in the mood for a soul-baring conversation right now; it’s too exhausting."

Qin Jinhai glared at her. "You have some nerve saying that."

"Please, think about our relationship. And think about your past actions. I had just narrowly survived a car accident, only to hear news of your death. Our last conversation wasn’t pleasant, and then you were just... gone."

"Did you ever once consider my situation or my feelings? And then, you left me all your assets and connections. I... I really don’t know how to feel about that."

"It feels like I don’t even have the grounds to hate you anymore."

"Qin Jinhai, this feeling is awful!"

"I don’t feel like someone you love, but more like your toy! You play with me as you please. If I get angry, you toss me a piece of candy, and then onlookers say, ’Oh, you’re so good to your toy.’"

"If I were truly ignorant and hadn’t loved you, I would have shut you out, taking only the wealth and status I wanted from you, without a second thought for what you felt or thought."

Fu Bing looked at him calmly. "I’m not even sure what’s going on in your head right now, or what schemes you’re concocting."

The room fell silent, filled only with the sound of the mountain breeze rattling the wooden window.

Qin Jinhai gave a roguish smile. "I’d almost forgotten how sharp-tongued you are."

"Let’s go down the mountain."

Without another word, Qin Jinhai headed upstairs.

Fu Bing remained silent.

A few minutes later, he came quickly down the stairs.

He tossed two words at her:

"Let’s go."

Fu Bing followed him down the mountain.

It was spring, and snakes were plentiful in the mountains.

Qin Jinhai carried a long wooden stick, using it to beat the grass on either side of the path as they walked.

Fu Bing followed quietly behind him.

It was a beautiful spring day, perfect for an outing. This... this counted as a spring outing too, she supposed.

Suddenly, Qin Jinhai stopped walking.

Fu Bing approached him, puzzled. "What’s wrong?"

Without a word, Qin Jinhai took her hand and started walking forward again.

As they walked, his grip on her hand tightened.

As they passed the spot on the path they had traversed the day before,

Qin Jinhai cursed under his breath, pulled Fu Bing into his embrace, and bent down to kiss her fiercely.

Fu Bing hammered his chest with her fists, but only managed to hurt her own hands.

The man holding her seemed to feel nothing.

Furious, Fu Bing bit his tongue.

Qin Jinhai flinched, but his kiss only deepened.

The metallic taste of blood spread between their lips...