Chapter 176

She wasn’t jealous of the pine mushroom, only envious—she wanted to become it.

Even if it couldn’t speak, that was fine. As long as she could stay by Zhong Ning’s side and get a head pat from her, that was enough to make her happy.

A week later, she was wheeled into the operating room.

Xie Shiqing didn’t have many friends. The only ones waiting outside the operating room were the butler, Qi Wan, and the head of the bodyguard team.

Assistant Fang wasn’t there—she was busy managing affairs for both companies.

Several hours later, Xie Shiqing was wheeled out. The anesthesia hadn’t worn off yet, and she was sleeping soundly, her eyes wrapped in gauze.

Medication still needed to be applied, and the gauze couldn’t be removed immediately. It would take at least two weeks for recovery. The process had to be gradual—removing a few layers at a time so her eyes could slowly adjust to light.

Two weeks later, Xie Shiqing was finally able to remove the last layer of gauze.

The attending physician carefully unwrapped the gauze over her head, allowing this pair of eyes, which had endured immense suffering, to finally see light once again.

The butler held her breath, watching as Xie Shiqing’s thick eyelashes trembled slightly before she slowly opened her eyes, revealing a pair of dark, deep, and focused eyes.

This woman, who had been through so much, covered her mouth and let out a joyful sob. Her eyes brimmed with tears, like a sunshower had fallen. “That’s wonderful, so wonderful…”

The curtains in the room were drawn, casting a warm yellow light. The curtains themselves were a warm off-white, and a clock with a green frame hung on the sky-blue wall. Three people stood by the bed: a young woman with glasses wearing a light gray shirt, a short-haired woman in a black T-shirt, and the elderly butler.

Xie Shiqing’s gaze moved past them and landed on the butler’s tearful face. Looking at the fine lines at the corners of her eyes, she said in a daze, “You look older…”

The butler pressed the corner of her eye. “It’s been so many years. I’m not some immortal. How could I not age?”

The attending physician asked from the side, “Do you feel any discomfort or difficulty adjusting? Look at my finger. Eyes here.”

Xie Shiqing blinked and followed the movement of her finger in all directions. “No discomfort. Everything is clear.”

She let out a sigh. “…It’s great.”

The attending physician smiled slightly. “You just had the gauze removed. You still need to reduce eye strain for now. Don’t spend too long staring at your phone or computer. Don’t overuse your eyes, and avoid overly bright lights. Take good care of yourself.”

“Stay hospitalized for another two days for observation. If there are no issues, you can be discharged.”

Xie Shiqing thanked her. After watching her leave the room, she turned her gaze back.

Qi Wan, visibly moved, said again, “Congratulations.”

Xie Shiqing curled her lips. “Thank you, Aunt.”

She didn’t say what she was thanking her for, but Qi Wan understood. She simply smiled faintly and said softly, “I hope you can live a bit happier from now on.”

Xie Shiqing replied, “I hope so too.”

After everyone left, the first thing she did was pick up her phone, open Zhong Ning’s account, and watch her videos.

Green leaves, blue skies, a cheerful pine mushroom running around like a sunlit raincloud—and then the camera suddenly turned. Zhong Ning’s relaxed and smiling face abruptly appeared on screen.

She wasn’t jealous of the pine mushroom, only envious—she wanted to become it.

Even if it couldn’t speak, that was fine. As long as she could stay by Zhong Ning’s side and get a head pat from her, that was enough to make her happy.

A week later, she was wheeled into the operating room.

Xie Shiqing didn’t have many friends. The only ones waiting outside the operating room were the butler, Qi Wan, and the head of the bodyguard team.

Assistant Fang wasn’t there—she was busy managing affairs for both companies.

Several hours later, Xie Shiqing was wheeled out. The anesthesia hadn’t worn off yet, and she was sleeping soundly, her eyes wrapped in gauze.

Medication still needed to be applied, and the gauze couldn’t be removed immediately. It would take at least two weeks for recovery. The process had to be gradual—removing a few layers at a time so her eyes could slowly adjust to light.

Two weeks later, Xie Shiqing was finally able to remove the last layer of gauze.

The attending physician carefully unwrapped the gauze over her head, allowing this pair of eyes, which had endured immense suffering, to finally see light once again.

The butler held her breath, watching as Xie Shiqing’s thick eyelashes trembled slightly before she slowly opened her eyes, revealing a pair of dark, deep, and focused eyes.

This woman, who had been through so much, covered her mouth and let out a joyful sob. Her eyes brimmed with tears, like a sunshower had fallen. “That’s wonderful, so wonderful…”

The curtains in the room were drawn, casting a warm yellow light. The curtains themselves were a warm off-white, and a clock with a green frame hung on the sky-blue wall. Three people stood by the bed: a young woman with glasses wearing a light gray shirt, a short-haired woman in a black T-shirt, and the elderly butler.

Xie Shiqing’s gaze moved past them and landed on the butler’s tearful face. Looking at the fine lines at the corners of her eyes, she said in a daze, “You look older…”

The butler pressed the corner of her eye. “It’s been so many years. I’m not some immortal. How could I not age?”

The attending physician asked from the side, “Do you feel any discomfort or difficulty adjusting? Look at my finger. Eyes here.”

Xie Shiqing blinked and followed the movement of her finger in all directions. “No discomfort. Everything is clear.”

She let out a sigh. “…It’s great.”

The attending physician smiled slightly. “You just had the gauze removed. You still need to reduce eye strain for now. Don’t spend too long staring at your phone or computer. Don’t overuse your eyes, and avoid overly bright lights. Take good care of yourself.”

“Stay hospitalized for another two days for observation. If there are no issues, you can be discharged.”

Xie Shiqing thanked her. After watching her leave the room, she turned her gaze back.

Qi Wan, visibly moved, said again, “Congratulations.”

Xie Shiqing curled her lips. “Thank you, Aunt.”

She didn’t say what she was thanking her for, but Qi Wan understood. She simply smiled faintly and said softly, “I hope you can live a bit happier from now on.”

Xie Shiqing replied, “I hope so too.”

After everyone left, the first thing she did was pick up her phone, open Zhong Ning’s account, and watch her videos.

Green leaves, blue skies, a cheerful pine mushroom running around like a sunlit raincloud—and then the camera suddenly turned. Zhong Ning’s relaxed and smiling face abruptly appeared on screen.