CHAPTER 370: CHAPTER 369: WHAT IF HE CAN’T RECOVER?

"Hypocritical! You’re my friend, and yet you say this. You should know, I’d be very willing for you to be my sister-in-law. By saying that, you’re admitting you have feelings for my brother, but it’s only the family background issues that are holding you back.

I can’t see it otherwise; your actions don’t seem unrelated to Fang Shaohan. Moreover, I’ve already decided to step aside, so there’s no need for you to keep it from me.

But think about it, no matter which family you marry into, family issues aren’t going to be less. There’s no family in the world without some disputes among relatives. Why worry about others? You have feelings for my brother, and he has feelings for you. After this incident, my parents will definitely support you becoming our daughter-in-law.

Isn’t that enough? It should give you confidence to face any difficulty. Besides, I think if my brother recovers, he’d never let you go."

Fang Shaonan was speaking from the heart.

Gu Xiaoqing shook her head, "I haven’t really thought about anything right now. My only thought is to help Fang Shaohan stand up. As long as he recovers, I can retreat gracefully. Everything else I’ll just take as it comes; I haven’t thought about the future."

Fang Shaonan didn’t speak further; he had no room to meddle in these matters of the heart.

Besides, nobody really knows the exact situation between Gu Xiaoqing and Fang Shaohan. If it turns out there’s nothing developing between them, Fang Shaonan might not think this way.

This is hardly a pleasant topic.

"I’m going back tomorrow; I came out on leave today. From now on, my brother will be entrusted to you, and it will be hard work." Today, Fang Shaonan experienced firsthand how tough it is to care for a patient needing rehabilitation. It’s not just as simple as it seems; it requires extraordinary physical strength.

Looking at Gu Xiaoqing’s petite frame, Fang Shaonan truly believed it was a daunting task and couldn’t help feeling a bit envious of Fang Shaohan.

Ugh, Fang Shaonan berated himself, is there any need for such envy?

Does Fang Shaohan really wish to lie on a hospital bed living like neither dead nor alive? And it’s very possible the rehab might not turn out so ideally. If the ultimate result is...

He shook his head, knowing his second brother’s temperament, perhaps...

Fang Shaonan didn’t dare to continue thinking. He suddenly wished it would all end soon, like waking up from a nightmarish dream to find everything is beautifully perfect.

"I will take good care of Fang Shaohan, after all, he’s been my friend for so many years. You can be assured." Gu Xiaoqing comforted Fang Shaonan, although she herself was not at peace inside.

Regretting might not be the right term, but caring for a patient is not as easy as one imagines, especially one who might explode with a bad temper at any moment. She touched her forearm, where the bandage seemed to remind her of the consequences of such temper.

Watching Gu Xiaoqing enter the guesthouse entrance, Fang Shaonan took a deep breath. Although he kept saying he had let go of Gu Xiaoqing, who could know how much willpower it takes to truly let go?

The courage required to end years of unrequited love was immense. Fang Shaonan still remembered how furious he was when he first learned Fang Shaohan had similar feelings. The sensation of having his own brother undercut him was anything but good.

The betrayal felt from a family member once had Fang Shaonan wishing he could kill Fang Shaohan. But in the midst of their physical fights, Fang Shaohan’s words also made him sober up. Fang Shaohan was right; emotions are not something one can control or hand over.

Even if Fang Shaohan weren’t there, Gu Xiaoqing might not necessarily like Fang Shaonan. His chances were still slim, whereas Fang Shaohan was just following his heart to pursue, and the outcome wasn’t guaranteed to be wonderful.

But if he didn’t try, Fang Shaohan would regret it for a lifetime.

Giving up his greatest love for the sake of brotherhood seemed unreasonable, too.

Fang Shaonan thought that if Gu Xiaoqing expressed liking him, he’d definitely not back out. It wouldn’t be about anything else but respect for his beloved, respect for his own choice and feelings.

Unfortunately, Gu Xiaoqing initially positioned him as a friend, which Fang Shaonan could sense. At least whenever Fang Shaonan and Gu Xiaoqing were together, she never blushed or felt awkward.

That wasn’t the look of a pair of mutually interested man and woman or their mode of interaction.

So Fang Shaonan straightforwardly let go. Being friends with Gu Xiaoqing was something he cherished in this lifetime. It was unrelated to gender, a genuine friendship. Perhaps subconsciously, he felt remaining friends with Gu Xiaoqing outweighed being her boyfriend.

He never realized, mistakenly believing this was a form of admiration. Otherwise, where did that immense relief come from?

Moreover, if Fang Shaohan managed to win Gu Xiaoqing over, in any case, she’d still be within the Fang Family’s realm.

Unfortunately, things were developing unfavorably. Fang Shaonan sighed; given Fang Shaohan’s current state, if he recovered, everything could still be discussed. If not, if he couldn’t stand up, then being with Gu Xiaoqing would be a hindrance.

Fang Shaonan didn’t want to think this way, but it was the truth, an inevitable reality.

His conscience wouldn’t allow Gu Xiaoqing to be dragged down by Fang Shaohan, even if he was his brother.

Yet, would his mother let go?

This grasping onto temporary lifelines makes a mother act desperately, even resorting to unscrupulous means.

Fang Shaonan didn’t want the two families to end up that way, turning into a situation of coercion and threats.

Doesn’t heaven seem blind?

Watching the lights light up in the third-floor room, Fang Shaonan felt increasingly heavy-hearted, thinking his initial meeting with Gu Xiaoqing was somewhat of a fateful misfortune.

Gu Xiaoqing encountering him was probably the unluckiest thing in this world.

Time doesn’t stop, it doesn’t rewind, and there’s no remedy for regret in this world.

Fang Shaonan told himself, regardless of the ultimate result, Gu Xiaoqing would always be his friend. He would stand by her side, definitely not ignoring her feelings over family ties.

Upholding reason over kinship.

He believed Fang Shaohan thought the same.

Extinguishing the butt, Fang Shaonan turned to leave.

What he didn’t see was Gu Xiaoqing at the window, watching his conflicted departing figure, also sighing inside.

Fang Shaonan’s demeanor today was different than usual, bearing a hesitance that he hadn’t shown before, unlike his previous straightforward and generous self.

Gu Xiaoqing knew it was related to Fang Shaohan.

Everyone was avoiding the issue of what would happen if Fang Shaohan couldn’t recover.