Standing at the hospital entrance.

Watching the cars coming and going on the road, Liu Changqing didn't choose to drive away from the hospital, instead waiting as if expecting someone.

The weather was stifling hot.

Feeling sweat beginning to form on his body, Liu Changqing quickly moved to stand in the shade, glancing around. Suddenly feeling emotional, he reached into his pocket before remembering he hadn't smoked in a long time.

Looking down, he mocked himself, laughing at still wanting a cigarette at a time like this.

Then, he waited quietly.

Until... a taxi stopped at the hospital entrance.

The door opened, and a young man stepped out.

Seeing this, Liu Changqing no longer felt like waiting. He walked forward to meet his son.

Liu Zhiyue, who had just gotten out of the taxi, was briefly stunned to see his father. When he recovered, his eyes dimmed slightly.

After paying the fare, father and son watched the departing taxi.

Finally, Liu Zhiyue spoke first.

"How is... she?"

"Not too bad. Fortunately it wasn't long - stomach pumped, plus she slept for ages. She's mostly recovered now."

"That's good..."

Hearing his father's words, Liu Zhiyue visibly relaxed.

His wandering gaze now focused on his father's face. After hesitating, he asked:

"Why did she take sleeping pills?"

"I'm not sure about that. Maybe she'd been alone too long."

"......"

"Let's leave it at that for now. I'll take you to see her in her room."

Seeing the expression on his son's face, Liu Changqing had things he wanted to say but held back, instead turning to enter the hospital.

Liu Zhiyue watched his father's retreating back with an indescribable expression, but didn't stand there long before following.

Father and son walked side by side in silence.

Time passed quickly.

The son who used to be so much shorter than him had now surpassed his height. Compared to five years ago, he seemed much more mature now.

Like a real man.

Perhaps that was why he'd secretly been visiting Li Wanran on his own...

This kind-hearted child.

"When did you start visiting her?"

"......"

Standing by the elevator, Liu Zhiyue's eyes widened slightly at his father's question before quickly returning to normal.

After thinking for a moment, he replied:

"Second semester of sophomore year."

Hearing his son's answer, Liu Changqing showed little reaction, staring at the changing floor numbers by the elevator.

He asked again:

"Do you hate her?"

"......"

The question left Liu Zhiyue at a loss for words.

He instinctively looked at his father's profile, unable to discern the meaning behind the question from his expression.

After several seconds, Liu Zhiyue finally answered:

"I do."

"......"

"But she's still my birth mother, so I can't hate her."

His hanging hand clenched into a fist before relaxing again. A wry smile appeared on Liu Zhiyue's face.

"I really do hate her. She was the one who destroyed our original family with her own hands. No matter how much time passes, I'll never forget the day she left - Xiazhi's crying, your expression..."

"......"

"At that moment I felt everything was over. The home that belonged to me was completely gone. That fight at school - part of it was because of Zhao Xuanwen, but another part was that I didn't want to keep studying. I didn't want to see you suffering. And that time she came to the house - I had so much I wanted to say to her, but when it came down to it all I said was 'don't come again'..."

Glancing at his father, Liu Zhiyue straightened his back.

"Everything she did was wrong. She hurt me, hurt Xiazhi, hurt you... Growing up, I spent much more time with you than with her. From very young I thought you were an amazing person, Father - wearing yourself out every day for our family, doing everything to hold it together. But..."

"Ding!"

The elevator's arrival interrupted Liu Zhiyue. When father and son looked inside, they saw it packed with a hospital bed and several medical staff.

Choosing not to enter, Liu Changqing looked at his son and said:

"Let's take the stairs. You can tell me all those things you haven't said over the years."

"Okay."

Agreeing with his father's suggestion, they headed for the stairs.

Step by step they climbed.

After just a few steps, Liu Changqing suddenly stopped and spoke:

"So... you agree with your mother that I've gone too far?"

"......"

"Your mother is very kind. Even though Li Wanran hurt her so badly, when she came to see her yesterday, she still cried."

Pausing, Liu Changqing took a deep breath.

"After all... they were once best friends. Seeing her like this now, it's hard not to feel she's pitiful. Honestly, even I sometimes wonder if I've gone too far. She... is your and Xiazhi's birth mother after all..."

"Dad..."

"Let me finish."

Cutting off his son, Liu Changqing looked up at the dim stairwell, his expression inexplicably sorrowful.

"But your father... has no choice. I can't forgive her. Not because of what she did, but..."

Trailing off, Liu Changqing ultimately didn't continue.

Instead he looked at his son.

He stared for a long moment, then raised his hand to pat his shoulder.

"Never mind. Let's leave it... from now on, do what you think is right. You're grown now... I shouldn't interfere too much with your thoughts."

"Dad..."

"Let's go. No more talking. I'll take you to see her."

Lowering his voice:

"To see your mother..."

"......"

Watching his father continue up the stairs, Liu Zhiyue stood frozen on his step.

Eventually, he followed.

When father and son arrived at Li Wanran's hospital room door,

Liu Changqing, leading the way, didn't enter. Instead he stood by the door, signaling for his son to go in alone.

After all, their earlier conversation after she woke up hadn't been pleasant.

Liu Changqing didn't particularly want to see her again so soon.

Understanding his father's meaning, Liu Zhiyue said nothing and pushed open the door to enter.

But when his gaze fell on the hospital bed, he froze in place.

Liu Changqing at the doorway also noticed his son's strange reaction. As he asked what was wrong, he too looked into the room.

When he saw the empty bed,

he also froze.

Where... had she gone?