CHAPTER 372: CHAPTER 371: RESOUNDING SLAP

"Why don’t you leave? Is taking care of a useless person really that meaningful? Or does it help to show off your greatness and your spirit of self-sacrifice? Let everyone see your selflessness and your Lei Feng spirit." These words were cutting to the extreme, but they had almost no effect on Gu Xiaoqing.

This wasn’t the first time Fang Shaohan had spoken like this. Over the past period, he had been talking to Gu Xiaoqing in this manner all along.

"Yeah, isn’t this another chance to show everyone how much I’m willing to sacrifice, how selfless and great I am? I’m even thinking of asking Officer Li for a commendation later. I already got a title of ’brave young hero’ when I was a child because of Fang Shaonan. Maybe this time I can get an honor too."

Gu Xiaoqing pretended to say casually. Such nitpicking was really just a piece of cake for Gu Xiaoqing. Faced with daily verbal poisons, these small malicious words couldn’t hurt Gu Xiaoqing.

Fang Shaohan was frustrated. He had tried almost every method during this time, using all sorts of ways to no avail, as if Gu Xiaoqing was immune to everything.

He wanted to contact his parents, but for some reason, Gu Xiaoqing managed something, and He Cui and Fang Jianguo simply wouldn’t show up. Even when Fang Shaohan saw them, they only exchanged a few short sentences. The moment he brought up Gu Xiaoqing, He Cui and Fang Jianguo would retreat immediately.

This gave Fang Shaohan no chance to replace Gu Xiaoqing. Even the nurses and doctors at the hospital took Gu Xiaoqing’s side when he tried to discuss replacing the caregiver with the doctor.

The doctor’s response was that the hospital was understaffed and there were not enough caregivers. If Fang Shaohan wanted a caregiver, he would probably have to wait six months, and the doctor advised him to endure for now.

Endure, my ass!

Fang Shaohan glared coldly at the doctor, who was so intimidated that they broke out in a sweat, yet still refused to change their stance, insisting on a firm "no".

His helpless anger towards this pitiful situation was growing; his legs seemed to be at odds with him, with no sensation at all, even though everything above his waist had significantly recovered. As for his legs, beyond supporting him to stand for one second, there was no real progress.

Without support, all it takes is for the body to collapse onto the ground.

These damn legs.

Even though they were stuck with countless needles every day, even though they were subjected to various treatments by different instruments, there was still no response. Even the slightest sensation of pain was better than none at all.

At least that would be some sort of hope.

This feeling of despair, of being lost at sea without seeing a way out, could really make one want to die. Fang Shaohan couldn’t help but think why the explosion back then hadn’t killed him.

If he had died, he would have been a martyr, a hero, without this wretchedly despairing end, without having to face people’s sympathetic gazes at every turn.

He wouldn’t be a burden to his family and Gu Xiaoqing.

It really feels worse than death.

"Gu Xiaoqing, are you really so reluctant to leave me, do you really like me that much? So much so that you’re willing to give up your career and studies for me, I’m so touched I could die." Fang Shaohan’s flippant demeanor was cultivated during his days in the hospital.

Originally, Fang Shaohan was not suited to such a temperament, but by now it seemed everyone had gotten used to it.

Gu Xiaoqing chuckled lightly, "With your current state, only ghosts would think I like you. Can’t you see everyone’s gaze? They’re all filled with sympathy for you. I think everyone believes I’m here out of pity, pity for you. Do you know that?"

It’s not just Fang Shaohan who can be sharp-tongued and hurtful; Gu Xiaoqing is just as adept.

Fang Shaohan was mad with anger, wanting to grab Gu Xiaoqing’s wrist and pull them in front of him. Unfortunately, this close distance was still too far for him to achieve that.

Gu Xiaoqing nimbly rolled away, getting up from the ground, and crouched nearby, at a distance not far but just enough beyond Fang Shaohan’s reach, just a few centimeters away.

In those crescent-shaped black eyes was a look of compassion, and a faint mocking smile at the corners of the mouth—this was what Fang Shaohan couldn’t stand the most. How many people have observed him with that gaze, how many times have people repeated the same sympathy, pity, and compassion as if looking at a pathetic stray dog.

"Look at you now, lying here, unable to even deal with a wheelchair. Without my help, you’d just be lying here like a helpless animal, waiting for rescue.

And yet you still want to get angry at me. What makes you so confident that I would willingly put myself in your hands to get hurt? Last time when you injured me, it was my carelessness, but after learning the hard way, who would foolishly let you hurt them again?

I like you, can’t bear to leave you? Do you even believe that yourself? Back when there wasn’t anything wrong with your legs, when you were pestering me relentlessly, I didn’t like you. Now, what makes you think I would?

Because of sympathy? Sympathy isn’t food. I’m a dignified university student with my own career; my yearly income from my chain of stores is in the millions, I can easily make tens of millions in the stock market with just my fingertips.

Do you think I need to humble myself to like you? When I said back then that we weren’t a match, it was based on us both being independent, complete individuals. Do you think we still are?

Seeing you in such a pathetic state, I can’t bear it, don’t you understand? If it weren’t for Uncle and Auntie’s relentless pleading, for their parental affection, do you think I want to stay here facing such a useless person every day?"

Gu Xiaoqing’s eyes were gleaming with a maliciously cold light, with those disdainful, mocking, and pitying looks visible for all to see. Fang Shaohan’s face flushed deep red, an unspeakable mix of shame and rage rising inside, a furious exposure stripping him of all cover.

The overwhelming urge to tear everything apart, the desire to destroy everything, at this moment Fang Shaohan wanted Gu Xiaoqing to shut up, as the hurtful words spilling from her mouth made Fang Shaohan wish he could choke her.

And he actually acted on it.

"Slap..."

The loud slap echoed even louder and more resonantly in the empty room, stunning both of them.