Chapter 116: Someone Has Been Trying to Harm Her!

Xiao Xuezhen pressed his thin lips together, momentarily at a loss for how to respond to his grandmother’s words. Indeed, without a suitable heart donor, Grandpa likely wouldn’t last much longer. Yet now, as the pillar of the Xiao family, he could not burden his grandmother and aunt with such worries and anxieties.

Xiao Xuezhen walked over, took his grandmother’s frail hands in his own, gently massaging them to soothe her. “Grandma, don’t worry. Grandpa is a good man favored by heaven. There will definitely be a suitable donor. Please don’t be anxious.”

Nearby, Shi Runrun listened to his words, glancing at the grandmother who was weeping uncontrollably, her heart tightening with bitter sorrow.

...

Grandpa had been unconscious for an incredibly long time this time. In recent days, Shi Runrun had been shuttling between home and hospital. Since Grandma’s health was poor and Xiao Xuezhen had to work, she took on the responsibility of caring for the two elders. When Grandpa was unconscious, she could remain by his bedside, fulfilling her filial duties at all times. But once he regained consciousness, she knew she could no longer enter the ward.

Grandpa hated her—deeply, utterly hated her.

Having endured a harsh childhood, Shi Runrun had grown up with a heart that repaid kindness with even greater kindness. Grandpa had once showered her with affection. So even though he had changed and was no longer as kind to her as before, Shi Runrun harbored no resentment. As a granddaughter-in-law of the Xiao family, she would never abandon him.

Still, she had heard Aunt Xiao Shujing’s counsel: Grandpa had barely awakened; to avoid disturbing his fragile mood, it would be best if she appeared less often before him.

Obediently, Shi Runrun followed this advice.

That evening, when Xiao Xuezhen arrived at the hospital after work, he noticed Shi Runrun quietly stepping out of Grandpa’s room. Seeing her small, lonely figure, he could not help but feel a pang of sympathy. His little wife was so understanding...

In the corridor, Shi Runrun did not walk far. She stood outside the door, peering secretly through the small glass window. Grandpa’s condition fluctuated; this was his second awakening. She watched his aged eyes open, his lips moving as he spoke with Grandma. Though worried for him, a faint joy crept onto her face.

At least Grandpa had awakened and regained consciousness...

After a while, she pursed her lips, sighed softly, and turned to leave. But after only a few steps, her wrist was suddenly grasped from behind.

...

Startled, she turned around, only to be pulled into a familiar, broad, warm embrace. Xiao Xuezhen wrapped his arms tightly around her, his handsome face lowering to rest against hers. His sharp nose pressed gently to her cheek as he exhaled warm breath and softly kissed her. In a low voice, he said, “You’ve worked hard these past days.”

Shi Runrun’s eyes instantly grew moist and reddened. She nestled into his embrace, her body trembling slightly before she could not hold back her sobs.

“I know the matter with the contraceptive pills was not your doing. You wouldn’t not want to have my child,” he murmured deeply, causing a sharp pang of ache and bitterness in her heart.

Yet she felt grateful—grateful that he understood her and did not wrongfully blame her like Grandpa had.

Trust between husband and wife was, after all, paramount.

Her face pressed against his chest, she listened to his steady heartbeat and found great comfort in his words.

After a moment, drawing a breath in his arms, she spoke softly, “Xiao Xuezhen, Grandpa doesn’t like me now. So when he wakes, I try not to appear in his room. Grandma is unwell, and Aunt is very busy. I think you should find another caregiver for Grandpa.”

Xiao Xuezhen said nothing, pressing his thin lips together, merely hugging her tighter. He felt a pang of guilt and tenderness for her.

As her husband, yet letting her bear all the burdens and make all the sacrifices for him...

...

Regarding the contraceptive pills, that day Shi Runrun took the bottle to see the doctor. After examination, it was confirmed that the bottle contained long-acting contraceptive medicine designed to prevent pregnancy.

The doctor found it strange—why had the fertility medicine initially prescribed turned into contraceptives?

Shi Runrun also inquired at the pharmacy. The staff there were certain they had not dispensed the wrong medicine. So where had the problem occurred?

She was utterly baffled. Who had swapped her medication?

Recalling the entire process—from her hospital checkup to the prescription and medication pickup—something suddenly struck her.

She went to the hospital director and requested access to the surveillance footage from three months ago.

Hospital surveillance was retained for no longer than three months, so she was grasping at straws.

With a serious expression, Shi Runrun watched as the staff retrieved the video—from her entering the hospital, visiting the doctor’s office, picking up medicine at the pharmacy, to leaving.

She scrutinized the footage repeatedly. At first, everything appeared normal. But when the video switched to the moment she went to the restroom, a hand reached into her medicine bag resting on the sink.

Suddenly, it all became clear.

Someone had indeed changed her medication!

Shi Runrun’s eyes widened in shock as she stared incredulously at the hands on the footage.

...

They were the hands of a woman—beautiful and fair, adorned with a delicate bracelet.

But the restroom was in a blind spot, and the camera angle did not capture the woman’s face.

Yet Shi Runrun understood—there had long been someone hiding in the shadows, intent on harming her!

Instinctively, she clasped her abdomen tightly, a chill running through her body, her skin crawling with dread.

She did not understand who she had offended for someone to want to do this...

From now on, she would have to be far more cautious.

Indeed, not announcing her pregnancy had been the correct decision!

...

Time passed swiftly, and soon it was mid-July.

Grandpa’s condition fluctuated; most of the time he remained unconscious. When he briefly awakened, Shi Runrun conscientiously avoided entering his room.

When Grandpa was unconscious, she spent more time in the hospital, staying with Grandma, comforting her, and caring for Grandpa.

Shi Runrun held firm to one belief: since Grandpa had once been kind to her, she would care for him to the end, no matter how much he now loathed her.

By late July, the weather grew increasingly sweltering.

Qiao Yu returned from America and came to the hospital to see her.

That day, Grandpa had awakened. Unable to enter his room, she waited downstairs and chatted with Qiao Yu.

“Runrun, you’ve lost so much weight in the month I was gone...” Qiao Yu said with a frown, concern etched on his face.

Shi Runrun smiled bitterly, touching her cheek lightly. “Although school’s on break, these days have been even more exhausting than when I was studying.”

Qiao Yu’s eyes narrowed as he asked solemnly, “Has Xiao Xuezhen treated you badly? And what about the Xiao family...?”

“No!” Shi Runrun immediately denied, her reaction and her pale, changed complexion drawing a sigh from Qiao Yu.

“Runrun, promise me, don’t let yourself suffer in silence, okay?”

Hearing those simple words, Shi Runrun’s eyes reddened, tears spilling down her cheeks.