Chapter 51: I advise you not to swear on your life

Xia Xi showed no fear at all, not even blinking, she reached out to block Miao Cuixia's swinging arm, but another hand was faster—Chen Songbai—he grabbed Miao Cuixia's wrist, face dark, and shouted, "Can't you stop causing trouble!"

Xia Xi wouldn't hit him for no reason; surely after Xia Xuan woke up, she told her something.

When he returned home from work yesterday, the situation was chaotic; he had no idea what happened, only hearing his mother say that Xia Xuan suddenly had a heart attack and collapsed, and a kitchen knife hit his foot.

He knew his mother's nature well; she was surely hiding something, but he was exhausted and had no time to argue with her.

Moreover, even if he asked, she might not tell the truth.

He only hoped that Xia Xuan would wake up soon and recover.

Miao Cuixia was held back by her son, her face full of disbelief: "What did you say?! How can you talk to me like that? I'm your mother! Am I making a fuss? I'm doing this for you, and she even hit you!"

Chen Songbai's face showed utter exhaustion, his tone filled with pain and pleading: "Please, I'm begging you, just stop, okay? Xia Xuan is my wife; I failed to take care of her, causing her injury and hospitalization—I deserve to be hit."

Miao Cuixia was stunned by his words, froze for a few seconds, then cried and beat him: "What's the use of raising you as a son? I might as well go die. After marrying a wife, you start despising your old mother, never thinking who gave you life or who raised you! I'm going back to drink medicine and end it all—no longer a burden on you!"

The surrounding relatives were just watching the spectacle, no one dared to step forward to mediate.

Chen Songbai was pulled back and forth by his mother, his exhausted body swaying on the verge of collapse, a fresh red handprint still on his face, looking pitiful. Someone whispered: "Alas, every family has its hard-to-recite scripture; saddled with such a mother, who wouldn't be weary, yet can't just ignore her."

Chen Songbai took those words to heart, feeling embarrassed, and dragged his mother out.

Miao Cuixia refused to back down; the more people around, the louder she became, simply sitting on the ground to chastise Chen Songbai's faults, completely unaware of what "face" meant. Finally a nurse came over to remind them that this was a hospital and noise was prohibited.

*Xia Xuan was observed in the ICU for three days with no issues, then transferred to a regular ward.

To make her stay more comfortable, Xia Xi requested a single room.

After settling her in, Xia Xi went out to pay the fees, while Chen Songbai stayed in the ward.

Xia Xuan was recovering well, but hardly spoke; after Xia Xi left, she turned her face toward the window, eyes empty and lifeless, like a rag doll.

Chen Songbai went around the foot of the bed, about to speak, but saw Xia Xuan close her eyes—signaling she didn't want to talk. He knelt on one knee, gently holding her hand, heart aching: "Sorry, Xuanxuan, it's all my fault."

Xia Xuan ignored him.

Before marriage, she had visited the Chen family several times; Miao Cuixia wasn't like this back then—though not overly warm, things were generally fine. After learning of her condition, Miao Cuixia expressed dissatisfaction both openly and secretly, but Chen Songbai blocked her each time.

It was Chen Songbai's steadfast support and his repeated promises that they wouldn't live with his parents that eased her many worries, leading her to marry him.

Not long after, the beautiful married life she had imagined turned into utter chaos.

The insults Miao Cuixia hurled that day still echoed in her ears; the expression on her face when she spoke them resembled a man-eating beast, and recalling it filled her with fear.

She has only one life, a life bought with the money her sister sacrificed much to earn. If she continues to abuse this body, it's not just a disservice to herself, but also to her sister.

Tears seeped from the corners of her closed eyes, slid past her ears, and fell onto the pillow, leaving a damp patch.

Chen Songbai helplessly reached out to wipe her tears, over and over apologizing: "Sorry, sorry, don't cry, it's bad for your health. I've figured everything out—my mom went too far, but I'm also responsible; I was overconfident, always thinking my mom was sharp-tongued but soft-hearted, at most harsh in words, never actually hurting you. I never expected her to treat you like that behind my back. Sorry, will you forgive me?"

Xia Xuan opened her eyes, lashes wet, her blurred vision showing the man's face, pale and exhausted from days without rest.

"Do you know what she said?" she asked hoarsely.

Chen Songbai stared, shook his head. "She cursed me as worthless as a chicken and said my family are no good." Xia Xuan sobbed, "Chen Songbai, family is my bottom line—you know that?"

"I know." Chen Songbai nodded, his voice equally low and hoarse, uttering three words with a choked throat.

"I can't let my marriage drag my family into being scolded; they've already sacrificed so much for me. When I'm hospitalized, my mom and sister have to revolve around me, and even my grandmother, whose health is already poor, has to worry about me. I really can't..."

She had wet half the pillow with her tears, her throat choked, unable to finish her words.

"I guarantee this won't happen again." Afraid she might leave him, Chen Songbai gripped her hand tightly, lowered his head, forehead resting on the back of her hand, tears flowing no less than hers: "I've already sent her away; she won't come to disturb our lives. From now on, if filial duty is needed, I'll handle it—she gave birth to me and raised me, I can't turn a blind eye."

Outside the ward, Xia Xi had already returned, leaning against the wall without entering to disturb them.

After a long while, Chen Songbai emerged, his shirt wrinkled, his stubble uneven, looking utterly disheveled. He held a hot water kettle, about to fetch water from the boiler room, when he bumped into Xia Xi, who stared for a moment, her expression unnatural: "Sister."

Xia Xi did not respond.

Chen Songbai said, "Sorry, I know you're all angry with me; it's my fault for not handling the relationship between my mother and Xuanxuan well. I swear on my life that I will never let Xuanxuan get hurt again."

Xia Xi spoke up, but not to accept his apology, her tone icy: "I advise you not to swear on your life; the last person I heard say that was my dad, and then he died suddenly."

Chen Songbai: "……"

Xia Xi expressionlessly brushed past him and walked into the ward behind him.

*The National Day seven-day holiday ended, but Xia Xuan still couldn't be discharged; Chen Songbai wanted to take leave to care for her, but she refused, as he was at a crucial point for promotion, and taking leave would leave a bad impression on his superiors.

Seeing her sister like that, Xia Xi knew she intended to give Chen Songbai another chance.

Although she didn't fully approve in her heart, she still gave Chen Songbai a cold face, but she also knew she couldn't make the decision for Xia Xuan; even as a family, each person has their own life.

Thus, after discussion, Su Jinru, besides picking up and dropping off the two children at school, would spend the rest of her time at the hospital accompanying Xia Xuan, and they also hired a caregiver to help.

During these few days off, Xia Xi spent most of her time in the hospital with her laptop, squeezing in drawing whenever she could, pulling two all-nighters, with part of the work still unfinished; she planned to go to the office to continue.

Xia Xi walked into her office, just sat down and turned on the computer without even drinking water, when her phone chimed with a WeChat notification.

She logged into WeChat on the computer and checked the messages.

It was from Xu Yanfeng, as a client, rightly asking her for the floor plan and elevation renderings.

Xia Xi rubbed her temples, silently sighing, "What a pain," then typed on the keyboard, deleting and revising, crafting an apologetic explanation: "Sorry, something came up at home during the holiday, and a few details aren't done yet; I'll send them over once finished."

There was no rule requiring work during the holiday; she had imposed it on herself to reduce contact with Xu Yanfeng, having promised him at the villa that she'd finish the project using the seven-day break—she wanted to wrap it up as soon as possible.

Who would have thought Xia Xuan would have an accident, derailing her plans?

Xu Yanfeng: "Not finished yet is perfect; I have a few other ideas to add. Come over, and I'll explain in detail."

Xia Xi: "?"

Xu Er, can't be bothered to call you out...

(End of chapter)