CHAPTER 365: CHAPTER 364: DETERMINATION

"Mom, you know what I mean. I don’t want to see Gu Xiaoqing anymore. Let her go. None of this concerns her. Back when I wanted to be involved, I couldn’t. Now there’s no need to drag her down."

Fang Shaohan was surprisingly calm this time. He wasn’t going to let his mother drag Gu Xiaoqing into the mess.

It was his legs that were disabled, not his mind, and he knew all too well what his mother intended to do.

The happiness he couldn’t give Gu Xiaoqing should end here.

He brought his parents here hoping Gu Xiaoqing could be freed quickly, not to find a shackle to imprison her.

He Cui gently said, "Shaohan, don’t you really like Gu Xiaoqing? Isn’t it great to have her by your side now? With the support of someone you love, wouldn’t you have the motivation to do anything?"

This kind of persuasion and gentle tone was something He Cui used countless times that day.

Fang Shaohan pounded the bed hard, angrily saying, "Mom, you know what my point is. Don’t pretend nothing has happened. I don’t need anyone’s sympathy. I don’t need your sympathy. I’m Fang Shaohan. I don’t need anyone’s pity.

As my mom, you should know better that a man’s dignity and respect are even more important. You can’t disregard your son’s feelings. If you do, it means you want me dead."

He completely couldn’t accept the phrase "the person you love most."

Would a loved one let the one they love suffer along with them, accepting what’s likely a hopeless outcome?

That’s not loving someone; that’s hating someone.

Dragging someone into hell to accompany oneself, Fang Shaohan wasn’t that kind of person.

No one would do something so cruel.

"Child, why are you so agitated? Take a rest. I know how you feel, understand what you mean, but I also know you’re willing to turn against both Gu Xiaoqing and your brother, so how can you say you don’t love her?

I’m your mom. I prefer to see you stand up and am willing to give everything for you. No one can stop my feelings."

He Cui looked at Fang Shaohan, her gaze firm, her tone resolute.

Fang Shaohan immediately understood He Cui’s implication, "Mom, if you’re my mom, let Gu Xiaoqing go today, or else I won’t cooperate with any treatment, or eat or sleep. If you want to see me die immediately, then do whatever you want."

He knew what could threaten He Cui.

He Cui grasped Fang Shaohan’s hand, tears streaming down, choking on sobs that took her breath away, but Fang Shaohan’s heart was as hard as a rock, allowing He Cui to cry.

In truth, Fang Shaohan felt bad inside too, seeing his mother in just a few short days, her hair already showing silver hints, more wrinkles at the eyebrows, yet still forcing a smile to care for him gently, counseling, and persuading him.

As a son, Fang Shaohan’s heart felt heavy.

But no matter how bad he felt, Fang Shaohan knew now wasn’t the time to compromise, otherwise, it would mean wanting to harm others.

Seeing Fang Shaohan unmoved, He Cui finally wiped her tears, saying, "Shaohan, alright, I get it. I’ll arrange for Gu Xiaoqing to leave tomorrow. Rest assured, I won’t go against your wishes. Isn’t that enough?"

She couldn’t go against her son; oh, the heart of parents in this world.

Fang Shaohan finally relaxed his brow, comfortingly gripping his mother’s fingers.

"Mom, thank you."

In the evening, He Cui went to Gu Xiaoqing’s room.

In the past two days, Gu Xiaoqing had been working with doctors to develop a rehabilitation plan for Fang Shaohan, preparing to discuss with He Cui and Fang Jianguo about the necessity of prioritizing rehabilitation over pampering and accommodating things.

Fang Shaohan had lacked the tempering of setbacks, hence couldn’t immediately handle the blows. The problem lay in how Fang Shaohan had always led a smooth life, always at the top, thus forming the character he had now.

Gu Xiaoqing watched He Cui and Fang Jianguo lowering themselves as if they were servants, constantly accommodating, becoming child slaves, while Fang Shaohan threw temper tantrums, knocking things over as a common occurrence, with shards and loud angry shouts everywhere.

It mirrored the way he behaved toward Gu Xiaoqing that day.

The unfortunate thing was, Gu Xiaoqing could shout back, but He Cui and Fang Jianguo wouldn’t dare.

All they could do was quietly clean up, speaking gently to please their son.

Gu Xiaoqing had long been unable to stand it.

Hearing the front door, Gu Xiaoqing opened it and was surprised to see He Cui.

Surprised because He Cui hadn’t left Fang Shaohan’s room recently, and appearing here meant she had something to say.

"Auntie, come in."

Gu Xiaoqing let He Cui in.

The two sat down on chairs. Gu Xiaoqing poured He Cui a glass of water; there was no tea, only plain water.

"Sit down, Xiaoqing. Auntie came specifically to see you."

He Cui looked at the lively girl in front of her, truly sighing in her heart.

It was my own fault for making many mistakes in the past. If it weren’t for the old notions of class and status, maybe everything today would be different. But who has foresight, who can predict the future?

That’s why there are no remedies for regret in this world.

Now, no matter what Fang Shaohan says, he wouldn’t be a good match for any woman. Even if I shamelessly begged Gu Xiaoqing, even if she agreed, Fang Shaohan probably wouldn’t consent.

He Cui understood her son. He was a child who would say and do as he pleased. What should I do now?

He Cui’s tears flowed once again. The frequency of her tears had been so high lately that even she lost count. She wasn’t a Lin Daiyu type person, but recently, her tears couldn’t stop.

She cried at the slightest thing.

Gu Xiaoqing sighed, handing He Cui a towel.

"Auntie, don’t cry. Anyone would cry in this situation, but now isn’t the time for tears. Crying won’t help Fang Shaohan, will it?"

That’s all she could say.

He Cui wiped away her tears, saying, "Xiaoqing, please leave tomorrow. I’ll contact the guard to buy a ticket for you in a bit."

This was a decision He Cui made resolutely.

Gu Xiaoqing was stunned.

"Auntie, why?"

She didn’t believe He Cui would want her to leave. The past few days, Gu Xiaoqing could see that He Cui preferred to have her beside Fang Shaohan during this period, and even in her attitude towards her—amicable beyond the past, even somewhat cautiously fawning, worried that she might abandon Fang Shaohan.

This didn’t seem like He Cui’s decision; it felt more like Fang Shaohan’s doing.